The Kongming lanterns rose higher and higher, conspicuous in the dark night sky.
Yu Mingyue looked up at the Kongming lanterns, her hands clasped together like the other young ladies.
However, her wish was different from theirs.
She wondered if the gods would grant her request. This method was cruel, but war was like that.
The gods are merciful. This believer does not want more innocent people to suffer. Please grant this believer's wish.
Xie Jia Yan and his party naturally saw them too. Song Wei, ever vigilant, asked, "Why are there so many Kongming lanterns in the middle of the night?"
"My lord, they seem to be coming from the direction of the別院 (biéyuàn - separate courtyard). Could it be the young ladies who released them?" a Gu family guard asked.
Gu Bohao nodded; they were indeed from the direction of the別院.
Gu Bohao immediately felt relieved. This child was truly playful. Even if she wasn't returning to the capital, she should have sent someone to deliver a message. Tingyun was also fooling around with her. It was simply outrageous.
"General Song, the children are just playing. I apologize for the amusement," Gu Bohao said. He wasn't sure what these children were up to, but he felt he should at least offer an apology for making the Qianniu Wei (千牛卫 - Imperial Guards) run an errand in the middle of the night.
Song Wei, a veteran of officialdom, was adept at weighing pros and cons.
Although he felt it was making a mountain out of a molehill, he couldn't show it. He couldn't afford to offend so many families.
Although many in the court rumored that Yao Zhinian would succeed Mo Xiang as the Prime Minister, he privately favored Gu Bohao.
Mo Xiang and Old Gu were known for their "Gu Mou Mo Duan" (顾谋墨断 - Gu strategizes, Mo decides) partnership. Gu Bohao had inherited his father's true legacy.
"Lord Gu is too polite. We are both parents. How can anything concerning children be a small matter? Besides, with so many young ladies, who wouldn't worry?"
Xie Jia Yan was not so optimistic. Even if Miss Gu was playful, Sixth Miss had always been steady and not one to act so recklessly.
Xie Jia Yan looked up at the Kongming lanterns drifting towards Phoenix Mountain, his worry growing. If his guess was correct, the rebels were ambushed there.
However, he couldn't tell everyone the truth now.
"Uncle Gu, General Song, although the Kongming lanterns were released from the direction of the別院, we should still go and check the situation. Logically, they should be resting at this hour. The Kongming lanterns are truly unusual..."
"Young Lord Xie is right. It is indeed so. We should hurry. I've already sent Xiao Guo to find Assistant General Hu to help mobilize troops. There will be no problem," Song Wei said.
It was not advisable to mobilize too many troops out of the city at night, as it might cause speculation and have negative repercussions. So, he sent Xiao Guo to the Northern Commandery to mobilize troops.
Gu Bohao thought the same, but he feared his unpromising child was indeed playing and had forgotten to return to the capital, which was why he had spoken that way earlier.
As the group continued forward, discussing their opinions, the sound of horses' hooves echoed on the silent official road.
This was the road leading to the capital. The city gates had long been closed. Their speed was astonishing; who could they be?
Song Wei was about to order everyone to scatter and hide on the sides of the road, but Xie Jia Yan stopped him: "General Song, judging by the sound, there are only two horses. We have so many people. Even if their identities are suspicious, we can stop them and ask."
Song Wei nodded and stopped to wait for them to approach.
"Jing Zhan, why is it you?" Gu Bohao recognized the person.
Song Wei heard the name Jing Zhan and realized this was Lord Gu's future son-in-law.
Although the engagement banquet was not held in the capital, everyone knew about it.
"Godfather, there are many rebels ambushed on Phoenix Mountain. We are trapped at the別院 and cannot return to the capital. I took advantage of the chaos to come out and deliver a message to General Han."
"What did you say? Rebels? Where did the rebels come from?" Song Wei was even more agitated than Gu Bohao.
If there were indeed rebels ambushed on Phoenix Mountain, he, the Qianniu Wei general, might as well resign. He hadn't even known they had infiltrated under his nose.
If the capital fell, his entire family would be doomed.
"I don't know yet, but the rebels are absolutely real..."
Before Jing Zhan could finish speaking, the Kongming lanterns began to descend, followed by more and more, disappearing almost instantly.
Xie Jia Yan was consumed by anxiety. Sixth Miss was too bold. A fire attack was indeed effective, but if the enemy counterattacked in retaliation, even fleeing soldiers would be more than enough to deal with them.
Xie Jia Yan quickly said, "General Song, there's no time to explain. The Southern and Northern Commanderies have always been on good terms. You are the person most trusted by the Sage. Hurry to the Northern Commandery to mobilize troops and repel the rebels. This can resolve the crisis in the capital."
Song Wei cared most about the Sage and the safety of the capital. Explaining too much to him now would only make him hesitant and constrained. It was better to be direct.
After all, no one could be 100% certain of the rebels' intentions at this moment.
Phoenix Mountain was engulfed in thick smoke, glowing red, merging with the black night, giving it an eerie appearance.
Xie Jia Yan's horse galloped faster and faster, as if racing against time. The sooner he arrived, the safer she would be.