Chapter 683: Chapter 493: Never Despicable _2
Only war can truly forge a person...
My eldest brother has really changed.
Feng Yun didn’t know what he had been through these past days.
For a moment, she didn’t know whether to be happy for him or to feel sad about the changes brought about by the war.
"Yaoyao—"
Wen Xingsu slowly reined in his horse and approached, his voice filled with joy.
Ye Chuang and other guards stood to one side, not moving or speaking up to stop him.
This was Wen Xingsu’s special treatment.
Although Pei Jue had ordered that no one should approach Feng Yun, Wen Xingsu could...
Even the king here couldn’t change that.
He was the person the Princess most wished to be close to.
Even his way of addressing the Princess was unique...
"Eldest brother." Feng Yun saw Wen Xingsu and was very happy, "Why did you come to meet me yourself? It’s such a long distance, aren’t you bothered by the trouble?"
Wen Xingsu smiled and said, "If you’re here, no matter how far, I would come to meet you."
Feng Yun smiled gently.
In an instant, the world seemed warmer and even the wind felt gentler.
She asked, "Is the camp not busy today?"
Wen Xingsu hummed, "It’s okay."
Hearing that, Feng Yun understood.
It was still busy, but he had taken the time to come to meet her.
This was her eldest brother’s treasuring of her, an irreplaceable affection between them as siblings.
On the way to the main camp, Feng Yun learned of the latest developments in the war.
This time, Yecheng Army, uncharacteristically resilient, arranged their troops and formations extremely meticulously. After several ineffective attacks, they withdrew their pontoon bridges and started hastily constructing defensive fortifications on the opposite riverbank, seemingly preparing for a protracted battle.
Today the weather was clear.
After entering the camp, Wen Xingsu took Feng Yun to a slope by the river. Looking out, they could even see the flags and rows of tents of the Yecheng Army.
Feng Yun asked, "Is the Prince of Zhuangxian doing okay?"
Wen Xingsu didn’t want to talk much about that timid prince.
"He’s fine."
Feng Yun gave him a look and broke into a smile.
She could always detect the true meaning behind his words from Wen Xingsu’s expression.
"It seems he hasn’t caused you too much trouble, has he?"
Wen Xingsu chuckled softly, "There is trouble, but I don’t need to bother with him."
A prince without the power to command troops was nothing but a figurehead, merely holding an honorary title.
Wen Xingsu asked, "Do you want to go see him?"
Feng Yun shook her head, "No need, I came especially to see you."
He was a prince, and she was still the Regent Princess after all.
Just as Feng Yun had said, there really was no need to make a special visit.
But Wen Xingsu was still somewhat puzzled by her words.
During her time in Andu, aside from when he was placed under house arrest in the Northern Yong Army camp, when had she ever come to the camp specifically to see him?
Wen Xingsu stared into her eyes.
"Yaoyao, is there something you need?"
Feng Yun pursed her lips and smiled, "There is. I’m here to help you solve the current big problem."
Wen Xingsu was slightly startled, "Yaoyao, what do you mean?"
Feng Yun said, "In warfare, use the orthodox to engage, use the extraordinary to win. Tomorrow, I plan to meet with Zheng Shoushan."
Ren Rude had already communicated with Zheng Shoushan’s side.
Thus, when Wen Xingsu sent a messenger across the river saying he wanted to negotiate with the other side to seek solutions to the current crisis, they readily agreed.
The commanding general on the other side of the river was Ge Pei, Li Zongxun’s cousin-in-law, but situated within Chuzhou’s domain, Zheng Shoushan, putting forth his family assets and lending full support, still held sway in the matter...
Both parties agreed to meet on the Tonghui River at dusk the following day.
At that time, representatives from both armies would each take a boat to the middle of the river.
If all went as planned, Zheng Shoushan would come in person.
However, Wen Xingsu was strongly against Feng Yun going to negotiate.
"It’s not like our army is out of options, how can I let Yaoyao take such a risk?"
Feng Yun knew he was worried about her and smiled with her eyes curving into crescents.
"I’m bringing guards; it’ll be fine."
"No," Wen Xingsu was very resolute, "I’ll go negotiate. You stay in the camp and wait for news."
"You can’t go, you won’t be able to handle it," Feng Yun slightly squinted her eyes, her lips curving into a smile: "It has to be me personally talking to him."
"But..."
"Big brother," Feng Yun stared at him, smiling faintly, "you’re the commander-in-chief, compared to me, you’re the one who can’t afford to take risks. You have to trust me, I can come back in one piece."
Wen Xingsu was not persuaded.
But he understood Feng Yun and knew further discussion was futile, so he remained silent.
With messengers exchanging messages between the two sides, the atmosphere along the banks of the Tonghui River, for once, eased up.
After fighting for so long, both sides’ soldiers were tired; it was time to sit down and have a proper talk.
No one suspected anything amiss with these negotiations.
Everyone was looking forward to the outcome of the upcoming meeting between the two armies...
-
Ao Qi, covered in dust, came from the Red Armor Army Camp; he did not oppose Wen Xingsu’s decision but instead sought his permission.
"Commander-in-chief, I wish to accompany the princess," he said.
Wen Xingsu looked at him.
After getting married, Ao Qi lost much of his youthful air, becoming more like a real man: brave, strategic, responsible, yet that spirited vigor had not changed.
And his feelings for Feng Yun, they hadn’t changed either.
His eyes would light up upon seeing her...
It was even difficult to define his affection in terms of romantic love; it was pure, unobstructed admiration.
"Fine." If Feng Yun had to be protected by someone, no one was more suitable than Ao Qi.
Wen Xingsu said, "At the negotiation table, the more you speak, the more likely you’ll slip up. General Ao, make sure not to overstep."
Ao Qi looked up, giving Feng Yun a glance.
"Rest assured, Commander-in-chief, I won’t talk much. I will just pretend to be the princess’s guard and stay by her side."
Feng Yun’s heart skipped a beat.
She looked over.
Ao Qi’s gaze rested on her face, his lips curling into a wide smile, just like the first time.
"Ye Chuang and I have a good understanding; others won’t notice anything off and won’t spoil the princess’s matters."
Wen Xingsu’s slightly narrowed eyes held a profound, inexplicable depth, "Fine."
Feng Yun’s lips twitched into a smile, and she didn’t speak.
She always knew Ao Qi harbored an obsession for her, but that was in the past.
After the marriage, the young man of yesteryear would eventually grow up, put the past behind him, and embrace the next spring.
But the moment Ao Qi suggested he disguise himself as her guard to accompany her, she suddenly felt a vague unease.
Before nightfall, the camp started to make fires for cooking.
Tonight, without any battles, there was a rare ease, and the soldiers were discussing animatedly outside, feasting and laughing...
Feng Yun looked out from her tent.
These vibrant faces, kind, familiar.
They shouldn’t have to sacrifice themselves on the battlefield...
So, the thing she had to do, as long as it could reduce casualties, was by no means despicable.
A few people in the camp had their evening meal; Wen Xingsu had to leave for the central army’s tent.
The night gradually darkened, and under the ink-black sky, torches flickered, carrying the scent of gunpowder in the wind.
Feng Yun found an opportunity to send others away and asked Ao Qi,
"Where’s Amir?"
Her tone was gentle, her face smiling.
Very much like an elder.
Ao Qi said with a laugh, "I was just about to discuss this with my aunt."
He inadvertently furrowed his brow, "Being on a campaign with a wife is inconvenient, I want her to stay at Huaxi for a while, but I’m afraid it’ll be an imposition on my aunt..."
Feng Yun smiled, "What’s the trouble? I naturally welcome her, I’m just afraid she wouldn’t agree."
Ao Qi’s gaze flickered slightly, showing a touch of helplessness.
"My aunt guessed right. She indeed isn’t very willing; otherwise, she wouldn’t have delayed until today..."
Speaking of his new bride Amir, Ao Qi’s sharp brows knitted together in apparent distress.
"But I think, my aunt will have a way to persuade her."
Feng Yun said with a smile, "Good, I’ll give it a try."
