Lang Xuan carefully put away the things Linlin had given her, her heart breaking.
She couldn't bear to part with him.
But since this was the inevitable outcome, she could only try to calm herself down and think from his perspective.
"Will Wei Jun go with you?"
Lang Xuan suddenly remembered this very serious problem!
"He's going along too... Don't worry..."
"No, I can't trust him. He's not a good person; he'll hurt you..."
After she finished speaking, Lang Xuan realized that she seemed to have overreacted.
"... Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but just to put my mind at ease, don't take him along."
Wei Jun: Thank you!
So, Linlin really didn't take Wei Jun with her.
He led his army in several separate columns and pursued the Oirat in their victory.
On the first day he left, Lang Xuan cried.
The day after he left, Lang Xuan cried.
On the third day after he left, Lang Xuan cried.
On the fourth day after he left, Lang Xuan stopped crying.
She went up to the city wall with Yanran to patrol, inquired about the condition of the wounded and sick, and set up soup kitchens and distributed thick clothes to the poor and hungry people in the city.
She is trying her best to learn how to be a qualified Crown Princess.
She kept herself busy like a spinning top, so that when she got home she could lie down and sleep, using the least amount of time to miss and worry.
Longing Shang Ke be endured, but worry is a slow poison that seeps into the bone marrow, causing excruciating pain.
It has not been easy for them to get to this day.
If anything happens to Yuwen Duo, she won't survive.
Lang Xuan prayed silently again. If there was any calamity, she was willing to help him bear it; if he himself could not escape the calamity, she would only pray to God to spare his life.
As long as he lives, no matter what he becomes, she is willing to stay with him.
Heavens, have you heard the humble prayers of your devout followers?
Please, please, please.
Seeing Lang Xuan growing thinner by the day, Yanran comforted her, "Sister-in-law, don't worry! This is just us pressing our advantage. If it really doesn't work out, we can just stop. There's not much danger."
It wasn't her older brother who got beaten up when she was down!
Lang Xuan said she understood, but she remained worried.
Fortunately, Linlin sent a letter back in a few days.
Although it was just a few words, Lang Xuan pasted those few lines on the table, looked at them over and over, and even ran her hands over them until the edges of the paper were rough.
Two months later, as December arrived, she received the long-awaited news of a great victory.
Linlin told her that the Oirat had been utterly defeated by them, with fewer than 20,000 men fleeing in disarray, while the rest were either killed or captured.
Linlin also told her that he had already rushed back with his men.
He needs to come back to see her first!
Lang Xuan felt that every moment of waiting was unbearable.
But thankfully, he's safe and sound.
It's already the twelfth lunar month, and they'll be spending the New Year in Liaodong.
He is fifteen years old.
After the New Year, and with the arrival of spring, she reached the age of coming of age.
I wonder if they ended up in Liaodong or returned to the capital.
But no matter where she was, she was full of anticipation.
Yanran said to Lang Xuan in a carefree manner, "Look, sister-in-law, I told you there was nothing to worry about."
Lang Xuan laughed and said, "You're right, I was worrying unnecessarily."
--She would do anything, not just admit she was wrong, as long as he came back!
However, to everyone's surprise, just as Linlin was about to return, a sudden change occurred.
Goryeo mobilized its entire nation's resources, sending 20,000 troops to attack the city.
Clearly, there was a traitor in the city. Someone knew that the city's military strength was insufficient, and that half of the so-called six thousand soldiers were wounded.
Lang Xuan was both anxious and angry.
What happened to Zhao Yingzhu?
The one who gave the order to send troops this time was that useless man, Zhao Yingzhu.
Why hasn't Zhao Yingzhu eliminated him in her lifetime, allowing him to be so arrogant!
Others, however, were shocked.
While Goryeo did indeed engage in fighting, it was clearly a power struggle between Zhao Yingzhu and others.
Why have these people stopped fighting and started attacking the Central Plains?
Waste awakening?
Yanran was also very anxious.
Cui Xiaoqiu said, "I think it's like Zhao Yingzhu's work."
"She's gone mad! How dare she attack the Central Plains? Isn't she courting death?"
"It wasn't Zhao Yingzhu who sent them to attack the Central Plains; rather, it was Zhao Yingzhu who lured them here."
The mad dog was brought here by Zhao Yingzhu.
The Goryeo emperor's current thought is, "If you are unjust, I will be unjust too."
You actually helped my deposed empress, trying to depose me? Well then, I'll drag you down with me even before I die.
And so began this almost insane war.
These things wouldn't have been a big deal, after all, Jinzhou City was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and a mere 20,000 troops were nothing.
However, the problem was that Linlin led two thousand elite soldiers back first, and their whereabouts were discovered by the Goryeo people.
These people went to intercept Linlin.
Linlin naturally wouldn't sit idly by and wait to die, nor would she confront them head-on.
He led his troops in retreat to rejoin the main force, but the Goryeo pursued him relentlessly like mad dogs.
Yanran had already received the news and was extremely anxious, wanting to lead her troops out of the city to meet her elder brother.
"The Goryeo are nothing! Give me three thousand elite soldiers, and my brother has two thousand. If we attack them from both sides, we might just be able to defeat them!"
Cui Xiaoqiu advised her to be cautious.
Yanran said anxiously, "But what about my brother? I can't just abandon him!"
"No!" Lang Xuan said, "You're not allowed to leave."
Yuwen Duo once said that the troops guarding the city should not be moved under any circumstances.
She didn't know why, but she had to listen to him, even though her own heart was bleeding.
"Sister-in-law?" Yanran said in disbelief, "You actually objected! What if something happens to my brother..."
"It's my fault." Lang Xuan almost bit her lip until it bled. "We can't open the city gates! If we open them, what if the remnants of the Oirat, the Goryeo, or any other unforeseen tribes invade? The entire Jinzhou will be ruined!"
These are the people of the city; she cannot gamble with their lives.
Although doing so would put Yuwen Duo in danger.
Even if he returns safely, doing so might create a distance between him and her.
She gave up on saving him; it was she who gave up!
"But what if something happens to my brother if we're just a little bit of help away from him?"
"No buts, this is an order." Lang Xuan produced the Linlin Crown Prince's Seal.
She didn't know if she would regret what she did, but she knew that if Yuwen Duo were alive, he would definitely still ask him to prioritize Jinzhou City.
If anything happens to him, she will go with him!
Lang Xuan insisted on staying in the city and not venturing out.
Then, for some reason, Yanran changed her mind and stopped arguing with her. Instead, she comforted her, saying that things would definitely get better.
Lang Xuan nodded numbly, unaware of what she was thinking.
"He's back! He's back! The Crown Prince has returned in triumph!"
Linlin strode in, scooped Lang Xuan up, and held her tightly in his arms.
He said, "I'll return it to you intact."
His voice was fervent and excited, gentle and tender, instantly melting away all of Lang Xuan's worries.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Lang Xuan broke down in tears, leaning against him. "I'm sorry I didn't save you, I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry..."
"Sweetie, sweetie, don't cry. It was my fault for not opening the city gates, how could I blame you? I should thank you, thank you for protecting the people of this city."
She was obedient and endured the most painful torment, yet she still felt guilty towards herself.
A love that is pure and selfless, a love that is cautious and trembling, a love that offers one's heart out, yet fears nothing more than rejection.
Linlin understands and feels sorry for him; she is moved and cherishes it.
I wish to spend the rest of my life with her, to repay her purest love.
Yanran watched with Jinjin.
Tsk tsk, her older brother hardly ever cries.
A handsome man sheds tears; every time you see it, it's one less time you'll see it.
Finally, Cui Xiaoqiu had no choice but to forcibly take the person away.
"Let's never be apart again, okay?" Lang Xuan's tears soaked her Linlin front.
"We'll never be apart again." Linlin lowered her head and gently kissed the top of her head. "Never apart."
Take her back to the capital to meet the Emperor and Empress Dowager, and have her pay her respects as their daughter-in-law.
From this day forward, there will be only joy, no tears; only togetherness, no separation.