Ren Yingying couldn't even cry; she felt completely dazed, as if she were dreaming.
Why was the Dog Meat thrown away?
She still can't accept this reality.
After being heated by the fire, Ren Yingying realized that her boots, pants, and Zidu wet, as her pants became damp.
It was just that it had gotten frozen outside, so I didn't notice.
"Qu Nian..."
She called out, but no one answered.
Qu Nian must have gone to find Dog Meat again; he didn't even change his clothes or shoes, and he didn't even drink a sip of hot water.
He knew she was anxious...
"Your Highness, Princess Consort." A man's voice came from outside.
Ren Yingying recognized the voice. After a moment, she realized it was Shang Ke's voice.
Shang Ke is a general in the army, and should be in his twenties this year.
His father, Shang Meng, was a veteran general, and even more so, a valiant one, living up to his name.
Both father and son went on the expedition this time.
Ren Yingying had never been involved in military affairs, so the people whose names she knew were all high-ranking officers in the army.
But what Shang Ke want with her?
"What's wrong?" Ren Yingying felt a sense of vigilance.
One should always be wary of others.
Especially now that Qu Nian isn't here, she has to be extra careful.
Ren Yingying stood up and walked to the door.
She was thinking about how to call a few people over to bolster her courage when she noticed a circle of soldiers surrounding her, all with their backs to her. Only Shang Ke bowed his head and saluted her.
Are these people planning a coup?
Ren Yingying clenched her hands tightly inside her sleeves.
If that's the case, what should she do?
She hadn't considered her own safety; instead, she was thinking about how she could face the Prince of Min's Residence if Qu Nian was ambushed while helping her find Dog Meat.
Then it occurred to me, how could I possibly face Tang Zhuyun?
"Princess Consort," Shang Ke said, her head bowed and her manner humble, "It's inconvenient to meet with you alone, so I called some of my brothers over. Please forgive me."
Surprisingly, their attitude was actually quite good?
Could it be a sugar-coated bullet?
Ren Yingying dared not let her guard down.
Even a salted fish has to force itself to stand up straight at this point; even if it's all bark and no bite, it can't lose face.
"Just say what you need to say," Ren Yingying said with a hint of aloofness, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant.
"Princess Consort, my father originally wanted to speak with you, but he has a fiery temper, and I was afraid he would offend you, so I volunteered..."
Shang Ke managed to hold onto his father with all his might.
If Dad comes, things will probably get out of control.
"Speak frankly," Ren Yingying said again.
Decisive and efficient, with a resounding impact.
"Your Highness, you love your dog, much like we love our horses... But on the battlefield, if supplies run low, sometimes we have to sacrifice our horses with tears in our eyes..."
Ren Yingying understood.
"... So many people have been searching all night. If we continue searching, it will further delay our journey... Please reconsider, Your Highness."
Shang Ke finished speaking with a heavy heart, already bracing himself for the storm that Ren Yingying would unleash.
But he really was being very tactful.
Based on the nasty things his father said in his rage, forget about finding the dog; the Crown Princess is a femme fatale who should hang herself.
Ren Yingying's eyes glazed over briefly before she quickly said, "General Shang is right, I was too selfish. Please have someone call the young master back, and tell him I'm looking for him..."
Bring the Crown Prince back?
Has she truly come to her senses, or does she simply want to cry and confide in the Crown Prince?
Knowing that she was the prince's woman, Shang Ke never approached her and didn't know much about Ren Yingying.
However, I have heard many stories from others about how the Crown Prince dotes on his wife, such as preparing all sorts of things for her in great detail.
Shang Ke Ke's mind was filled with conflicting thoughts, but she still had to agree.
He came here to resolve this matter; we cannot be afraid of trouble.
Even if the Crown Princess really complains, he will have to bear the consequences.
It's better than the father having to face blame again.
Thinking of this, Shang Ke grit his teeth and send someone to find Qu Nian.
When Qu Nian heard that Ren Yingying was looking for her, she quickly returned.
"Yingying, what's wrong?" he asked breathlessly as soon as he entered the tent.
Ren Yingying, who had been standing with her back to the door, took a deep breath upon hearing this and turned around with an unwavering gaze.
"Qu Nian, you may lead the army to break camp."
Qu Nian was stunned for a moment, then said angrily, "Say that again!"
As clever as he was, he had already understood what Ren Yingying meant.
She told him to leave, but didn't say she would leave herself, clearly indicating she intended to stay.
Was he really so unreliable to her?
Didn't he know how important Dog Meat was to her?
Was his love for her not enough to extend to everything related to her?
"Qu Nian, listen to me," Ren Yingying said with a bitter smile. "You are the commander-in-chief; you can't act recklessly. I'm heartbroken that the Dog Meat is lost, but I can't justify ordering the army to find it for me."
The significance of Dog Meat to her was merely a matter of her feelings.
Those soldiers, suffering from war and separation, had no obligation to help her search for her dog in the freezing cold.
Even in modern times, wouldn't she be drowned in spittle?
"I'll stay and continue looking for Dog Meat," Ren Yingying continued. "Don't rush, listen to me first. I know you're worried about me, so leave me a dozen or even dozens of people to accompany me for a few more days."
She can afford to pay the favor and the money.
I want to see the dog alive, or I want to see its corpse.
Just keep looking, until you're heartbroken.
The thought of Dog Meat tore at Ren Yingying's heart.
There were also some emotions that were hard to describe; her mind was in turmoil, and she had no mood to think about them carefully.
"Did someone come and say something to you?" Qu Nian narrowed his eyes.
His boots were covered in snow, almost unrecognizable, and his robe was stained with mud and torn beyond recognition by the grass and trees...
It's rare to see Qu Nian in such a disheveled state.
"No," Ren Yingying said, "It was my own idea. Making such a fuss was really inappropriate. What will people say about you, about Prince of Jin... Qu Nian, I know your feelings, I appreciate them. But you go first. Whether I find him or not, I will return to the border town to meet you."
The more urgent the situation, the calmer she became.
Ren Yingying thought to herself with a self-deprecating smile, "You never thought that one day she would also be so righteous."
Indeed, one is influenced by one's surroundings.
"Qu Nian, say something!" Ren Yingying suddenly felt a little flustered when she saw Qu Nian's staring eyes.
"Okay. I'll go arrange it right away!"
Qu Nian didn't say anything more to her, turned around, lifted the curtain, and went out.
Ren Yingying felt relieved, but also lost in thought.
Is it only through such separation that people can see their innermost feelings more clearly?
Fortunately, they still have a future.
But for the Dog Meat vendors, if they are abandoned in this vast snowfield, then they will have no future.
Ren Yingying was extremely anxious, but she still forced herself to eat and drink hot water.
She needs to conserve her energy so as not to hold them back and find the Dog Meat as soon as possible.
Hearing the commotion of the army breaking camp outside, she finally felt relieved.
She can't bear the stigma of being a femme fatale.
She won't give up Dog Meat!