If there had been no prior suspicion and probing, this matter naturally wouldn't have fallen upon Nan Chaoyin. But with everything that had happened, this incident suddenly seemed less simple. If it were merely a coincidence, then Nan Chaoyin and Nan Yuan'er would truly be favored by heaven, as timely as rain, blessed by destiny. Why bother being a prime minister when one could simply declare themselves king?
However, though they had their defenses, they hadn't expected Nan Chaoyin to do something so reckless to prevent Nan Yuan'er from marrying far away to Dali. He had shown utter disregard for the lives of the border populace and soldiers.
With the warriors mobilized, how many refugees, how many orphans, how many lost souls would the world gain?
"News from the border states that the patrol team guarding the city encountered a massacre of Lin Yuan civilians by a hundred Dali soldiers at Changming Slope. The leading general sent one man back to report, but he was discovered by the Dali soldiers, and in the end, only one man managed to struggle back to Huaicheng, and after delivering the message, he couldn't hold on any longer and died."
"Following this, the border garrison dispatched the vanguard camp to investigate and clashed with the Dali army at the foot of Changban Slope."
Ji Jinmo briefly recounted the cause of the incident. The most crucial point was that this sudden outbreak of a hundred-man battle ended with Lin Yuan's defeat.
Not a single one of the over a hundred men in Lin Yuan's vanguard camp survived.
One could imagine the immense stir this news would cause in the capital.
"Nan Chaoyin could not possibly have the ability to extend his influence to Dali and control everything there. Given the current situation, with the Dali princess and prince currently in Lin Yuan, a sensitive period, even if Dali intended to invade, they would never choose this time. Therefore, I suspect that the cause, the alleged deployment of a hundred soldiers by Dali to be stationed at Changming Slope and massacre Lin Yuan civilians, is baseless."
"Let's wait for news from Dali!"
Ji Jinmo nodded. Conversations between intelligent people could save a lot of words. While Nan Chaoyin might instigate a war between two nations for his own selfish reasons, he was absolutely incapable of manipulating Dali's border soldiers. But the entire patrol team perishing—if the cause was baseless, then what benefits could make them willing to die?
Or perhaps they did indeed see soldiers in Dali's armor, but those weren't actual Dali soldiers?
Everything was yet to be verified.
"Can you gather information about Dali?" Nan Shiying raised an eyebrow slightly.
Ji Hong said, "If Dali can reach into our Lin Yuan, we can naturally thrust our swords into their heartland. Let's wait. As long as the memorial is presented to Yuwen Yi's imperial desk, we will receive accurate news."
As Ji Hong said this, there was no hint of smugness, as if it were an ordinary matter. But then again, it made sense. If there were spies from opposing forces in various households, why not between nations?
After Ji Hong finished speaking, he pondered for a moment, his fingers playing with the lid of the tea cup, watching the tea leaves unfurl and drift in the cup.
...
The驛站 (Yìzhàn - postal station/inn).
Yu Chengxuan twirled the slip of paper in his hand and brought it closer to the candlelight, watching the flames turn the paper to ash, along with the information it contained.
Ji Wu stood to the side with his hands clasped. He had no idea why His Highness had summoned him, nor did he know what was written on the paper His Highness was burning. He only saw the flames engulf the paper, and the scorching light reflected on His Highness's profile, distorting the emotions emanating from his eyes.
"Your Highness?" he ventured.
Yu Chengxuan turned his head, brushed at the hem of his robe, and his gaze fell on Ji Wu's face, as if he were scrutinizing something.
Ji Wu's erect posture slightly stooped, as if the muscles in his back were too stiff, causing his nerves to bunch up and pull. Yu Chengxuan's indifferent gaze was like a mirror that peered into the human heart, and Ji Wu dared not look up.
"News from Weicheng states that Lin Yuan has invaded."
"What?"
Ji Wu trembled all over, almost fainting on the spot from the news.
Lin Yuan had launched an attack on Weicheng while they were still in the capital, harboring the intention of holding them hostage? If they were detained in the capital by Ji Hong, given the Emperor's disposition, he would likely never yield to Lin Yuan's Ji Hong for the sake of the seventh prince and princess. In that case, the seventh prince's fate would be nothing more than becoming a hostage or dying for the nation.
Considering this outcome, Ji Wu quickly suppressed his shock and said to Yu Chengxuan, "Your Highness, this minister will prepare the carriage immediately."
Yu Chengxuan showed no signs of anxiety. Hearing his words, he asked him, "Are you planning to abandon the officials of Dali in Lin Yuan's capital to fend for themselves, to become mere fish and meat?"
Ji Wu was taken aback by the question. At this moment, what was the point of abandoning them? Only His Highness's life and safety were of paramount importance. He just hadn't expected that at this critical juncture, His Highness would still be concerned about the officials of Dali.
Ji Wu was not moved by his compassion for the people and concern for his officials. Instead, he felt anxious and dissatisfied with his hesitation and indecisiveness at such a moment.
Yu Chengxuan seemed to not notice Ji Wu's expression. Instead, he sat down, picked up a teacup, poured himself a cup of tea as if no one else were present, and then gestured for Ji Wu to sit down and reply without looking up.
"Your Highness!"
Ji Wu was burning with anxiety and could not sit still. He wished he could immediately pack his belongings and prepare the carriage.
Yu Chengxuan lifted his eyes. The ink-black pupils were filled with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes; instead, it held a hint of piercing coldness. Ji Wu felt as if he had been doused with a basin of cold water, instantly calming him down.
However, despite his calmness, Ji Wu still could not reach Yu Chengxuan's level of composure, where his expression remained unchanged even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him.
"Dali and Lin Yuan's borders have enjoyed over a decade of peace. Although this peace was gained by Dali because Ji Jinmo massacred the entire imperial army, for the border populace, peace meant survival, the ability to live well." Yu Chengxuan took a sip of tea, his tone a mixture of sigh and pity.
But Ji Wu knew what kind of person Yu Chengxuan was. Let alone the lives of tens of thousands in Weicheng, even if hundreds of thousands died before his eyes, he might not even bat an eyelid. What was the reason for this sorrow now?
Human lives.
Having seen and experienced too much, one no longer cared. But while he didn't care, others did. She, who had toiled tirelessly her entire life, uprooting powerful families and eliminating foreign relatives, had only shown exceptional kindness to the common people.
She said, "My Great Yuan dynasty cannot deceive heaven, nor oppress the common people!"
It was just that he wondered how much belonging and affection she had for Lin Yuan now.
Yu Chengxuan collected his thoughts and continued, "Lin Yuan invaded, and our army annihilated their vanguard camp."
Ji Wu was slightly stunned. Since Dali's imperial army was annihilated by Ji Jinmo, the spirit of Dali had been shattered. From then on, when mentioning Lin Yuan soldiers, people mostly felt fear. Now, to suddenly hear that Dali's border army had annihilated Lin Yuan's border army's vanguard camp, it felt somewhat like a dream.
If these words hadn't come from His Highness, he truly wouldn't have dared to believe them!