The imperial decree ignited the entire capital of Yan Jing.
Streets and alleys buzzed with discussions, people whispering to each other. Topics concerning the Yun King's manor were endless. First, the significant news of Yun Mo relinquishing his power due to illness, and before he had even recovered, he was to lead troops into battle.
Many lamented, and some were even indignant, believing the imperial family was too heartless to treat a meritorious official in such a manner. In court, ministers close to Yun Mo sighed with regret, foreseeing a period of unrest for the imperial court. With Yun Mo's departure, many feared suppression, questioning what reward their loyalty would ultimately bring.
A heavy, cold atmosphere permeated Yan Jing, and the common people felt immense sorrow at Yun Mo's impending departure. Amidst this somber mood, the first snow of winter arrived. The world turned white, cleansing the earthly strife and restoring all its true colors.
Early in the morning, Yun Xiao leaned against her bed, reading a book, appearing listless and lacking spirit. Her eyelids kept twitching, and her heart felt uneasy, as if something had happened, yet she remained oblivious in the deep palace. While the outside world was in turmoil, her surroundings remained tranquil, with no news reaching her.
However, a secret cannot be kept forever. Just as Yun Xiao was pondering what had gone wrong, Wanwan burst in frantically. Her short boots were damp, and traces of unmelted snow still clung to her head. Her beautiful face was etched with anxiety. Upon entering, she cast aside all etiquette and cried out to Yun Xiao.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
Yun Xiao's heart sank, and her expression darkened. It was as she suspected; something must have happened to the Yun King's manor.
"What happened to Father and my brother?"
"I heard that twenty thousand troops from Xiliang are pressing the border, and Fengya Pass is in urgent need of aid. His Majesty has ordered the King to lead troops to Fengya Pass for reinforcement."
Yun Xiao raised her eyebrows. It was not unusual for her father to be the commander; she had heard he was a cavalry general in his early years, slaying countless enemies on the battlefield. Moreover, she still had confidence in his abilities. But wasn't he ill? Why would His Majesty send a sick person to lead troops? Or perhaps her father wasn't ill at all, but had merely relinquished power as a last resort. However, would His Majesty truly let the people of the Yun King's manor off so easily? Intuitively, it seemed unlikely. His Majesty appeared to be in a life-or-death struggle with the Yun King's manor, and how could he easily back down?
"Is there anything else?" She suspected there was more, not just the matter of leading troops. If it were simply leading troops, there would be nothing to fear. What was frightening were the subsequent moves.
"I heard that the King was only given fifty thousand troops, and Young Master Yun was appointed as the vanguard officer. There's also someone called Feng Licheng as the deputy commander."
"Where did you get this news? Is it reliable?" Yun Xiao couldn't sit still any longer and rolled out of bed. Wanwan quickly attended to her, helping her put on her shoes and dress, while softly nodding, "Your Highness, I made an effort to inquire. It came from Jingfu Palace, so it cannot be false."
Good, very good. So the Emperor was truly intent on eradicating them, only giving Father fifty thousand troops for reinforcement. This truly made one wonder if he intended to chill the hearts of the people or the soldiers at Fengya Pass. As for her father, she wasn't worried. Even with twenty thousand Xiliang troops pressing the border, Fengya Pass already had its own soldiers and generals. It was just that she didn't know how many were left. Regardless, with a commander, they wouldn't be utterly defeated. However, Feng Licheng was clearly the Emperor's man, and she feared His Majesty might resort to underhanded tactics to harm her father. But if this battle could be won, her father would likely be safe for the time being.
Yun Xiao paced back and forth in her chambers, her brow furrowed in deep thought. It seemed her father's departure for Fengya Pass was a certainty. Next, she needed to leave the palace as soon as possible and head to Fengya Pass to lend him a hand. As his beloved daughter, it was necessary for her to stand on his side. But how could she leave the palace? Leaving rashly was not an option; it would only bring further charges against her father. It seemed the only way was to have the Emperor personally issue a decree to divorce her, thus avoiding any trouble. But how could she make him discard her?
As Yun Xiao was racking her brains, Xiuxiu rushed in from outside, calling out.
"Your Highness, the King has arrived! Eunuch Lin brought the King to see Your Highness."
"Father," Yun Xiao froze for a moment, then immediately rushed out. She surmised that her father was about to depart for Fengya Pass and had come to see her before leaving. The thought of him leaving, along with her brother Yun Zhen, filled her with a sudden wave of sadness, as if she were being abandoned. From now on, she would be alone in Yan Jing, still confined in this man-eating place. With her father gone, she feared her time in the palace would not be peaceful. However, precisely because he was leaving, she would be even more uninhibited. She would see who was more arrogant.
As Yun Xiao was about to enter the main hall, she stopped herself abruptly. Should she tell her father now that she was no longer mad? No, this was absolutely not the right time. She would wait until she left the palace and rendezvoused at Fengya Pass to tell them, to give them a surprise. Yes, that was it. With so many eyes and ears in the palace, it was best to avoid any leaks.
Wanwan and Xiuxiu followed behind her, supporting her on either side. "Your Highness, let's go. The King is waiting for you." The three of them passed through the corridor, turned the silken screens, and entered the main hall.
There, seated on one side of the hall, was the Yun King, whom she had not seen for many days. In just a few short days, it was evident he had suffered, appearing significantly thinner even without being ill. However, this did not detract from his resolute and handsome features. His three-dimensional face revealed a flash of paternal affection in his eyes as he looked at Yun Xiao emerging. He respectfully rose. "This minister greets Her Highness the Empress."
Yun Xiao couldn't help but walk over, disregarding her own foolishness. She reached out and pulled Yun Mo up, smiling at him without speaking.
"Is Xiao'er well?" Yun Mo tenderly reached out and stroked Yun Xiao's head. He was not worried about heading to Fengya Pass; his greatest concern was Xiao'er. She had a poor mind, yet she was alone in the palace. Today, with him gone, he feared the wolf-like and tiger-like people in the palace would not treat her kindly. However, he would never allow his daughter to be bullied. A flash of sharpness crossed his eyes as he turned to Eunuch Lin by his side and spoke in a low voice.
"Eunuch Lin, I have something to say to Her Highness. Could you please withdraw?" Lin An was startled. He was initially unwilling, but meeting Yun Mo's fierce gaze, he couldn't help but tremble slightly. He quickly smiled and said, "This servant will take his leave now."
Seeing him withdraw, Yun Mo glanced around the hall again and waved his hand. "Everyone, withdraw."
"Yes." All the eunuchs and palace maids in the hall filed out one by one. Wanwan and Xiuxiu also slowly retreated, but Yun Mo called Wanwan back.
"Wanwan, you may stay as well." The Yun King had commanded, and the others withdrew. Wanwan stood to the side, somewhat nervous, not knowing why the Yun King had asked her to stay.