Apart from some military and government officials who stayed behind to continue discussing and handling state affairs, the other court officials dispersed and left.
Lord Lu Yunqi had never been involved in these matters; compared to the court officials who walked in small groups, chatting in low voices, he walked alone at the back, looking rather isolated.
Of course, no one would feel pity for him, nor would they take pleasure in his misfortune.
The Jinyiwei outside the palace waited and saluted him as he approached.
"Lord Lu."
A manservant, who seemed to be waiting for his own master, came over, holding a food box in his hands.
This manservant was promptly stopped by the Jinyiwei when he tried to approach, but he did not show fear or anger; he stood respectfully in place and saluted.
"Lord Huang will not come out for another quarter of an hour," Lord Lu Yunqi glanced at him and said.
"There is something I would like to entrust to your lordship," the manservant said. "My master is not in good health; this is the medicinal supplement prescribed by the imperial physician that he must take. I wonder if your lordship could help deliver it inside."
There weren't many who would dare to ask Lord Lu Yunqi to run such an errand.
Lord Lu Yunqi looked at him without saying a word.
"I heard the princess has been unwell, and this medicinal supplement is particularly effective for a cough, so your lordship specifically ordered two portions to be prepared," the manservant continued. "My master has always been concerned about the princess and Prince Huai, hoping that they will be free from all illnesses."
After saying that, he held the food box high above his head without uttering another word.
This kind of message might sound innocuous to others, just routine polite talk, but the Hundred-man commander Jiang, standing next to Lord Lu Yunqi, understood very clearly.
This was a transaction.
The message from Huang Cheng was that he would ensure Prince Huai's long-lasting safety.
If it had been anyone else, Hundred-man commander Jiang would have scoffed, but Huang Cheng's status in the emperor's presence made him believe.
If the emperor had the intention to kill someone and no one could persuade him otherwise, Huang Cheng could certainly achieve that; conversely, Huang Cheng could also make the emperor have the intention to kill someone.
The corner of Lord Lu Yunqi's mouth curled up slightly, and Hundred-man commander Jiang immediately understood, stepped forward, and took the food box. The manservant gave thanks and bowed before retreating.
Hundred-man commander Jiang opened the food box and saw, indeed, there were two covered bowls inside, emitting a fragrant aroma.
"Take it to Lord Huang," Lord Lu Yunqi said.
Hundred-man commander Jiang responded affirmatively, took out a covered bowl, and handed it to a Jinyiwei, who then hurriedly carried it towards the imperial palace.
"I wonder what Lord Huang wants you to do?" Hundred-man commander Jiang asked in a low voice.
"What can I do," Lord Lu Yunqi responded, "but to turn a blind eye."
That was already enough. For Lord Lu Yunqi to turn a blind eye was like The King of Hell turning a blind eye; for many, this could mean the difference between life and death.
Hundred-man commander Jiang responded with an affirmative and said no more.
"What is the Duke of Chengguo's heir doing now?" Lord Lu Yunqi asked.
Hundred-man commander Jiang exclaimed.
"Just now he was feeding the horses," he said. "The latest message says he's grooming the horses."
He snorted with laughter.
"He must know the news by now, and still he pretends to be calm."
"It's not a pretense," Lord Lu Yunqi spoke while looking ahead, "the man has a good father."
...........
The brush swept over the horse's body, the sorrel horse shook its tail in response, Zhu Zan raised his hand and patted it, and the horse sneezed, showing that it was enjoying the treatment.
"Brother, don't worry, the breach of the Juma River, the fall of Rongcheng, and the crisis in Xiongzhou are not because we are incompetent," Zhang Baotang urged anxiously.
Zhu Zan grunted and walked around the horse.
"I'm not worried," he said.
Zhang Baotang hurriedly followed him around.
"...The Jin thieves have concentrated all their forces on the Xiongzhou front. It's normal that they can't hold off to a retreat," he said.
"It's not normal," Zhu Zan stated, his hand movements not stopping.
Zhang Baotang nodded.
"Right, so you don't... uh... what did you say? It's not normal?" he said, realizing halfway through his words the implication of Zhu Zan's statement and suddenly looked stunned.
Zhu Zan's expression remained unchanged, his movements fluidly brushing the horse's mane.
"The defenses along the Juma River must have been strengthened by father after the last incursion. Even if fifty thousand Jin thieves could break through the Juma River, they would not be able to capture Rongcheng so quickly," he said. "The Ansu Army must have encountered problems."
Zhang Baotang's expression changed for a moment.
If the problem had arisen from their own ranks, that would be troubling.
"Don't panic," he said to Zhu Zan again, but compared to before, his tone was no longer quite as reassuring.
Zhu Zan uttered an acknowledgment.
"I'm not in a hurry," he said.
This was the third time he had declared his lack of urgency after being briefed on the current military situation in the northern lands.
Zhang Baotang thought the first and second times were to comfort himself, but after the third, it seemed clear Zhu Zan was truly not anxious.
Zhang Baotang glared at him.
"Why aren't you anxious?" he asked.
Zhu Zan patted the horse's back; the date-red horse appeared even more plump and strong under the early winter sunlight.
"Firstly, I believe my father can deal with this situation," he said, with a calm expression and a steadiness to his voice that was unlike before, "Secondly, being anxious here is useless, so why bother?"
Yes, what's the use of being anxious? With a thousand miles between, not even wings could carry one across.
This lack of urgency was both a relaxed confidence and a helpless bitterness.
Zhang Baotang fell silent for a moment.
"You're right, with uncle here, there definitely won't be a problem," he said with a smile, his face resolute.
"Of course," Zhu Zan replied, patting the horse's rump.
The date-red horse sneezed and walked away as another horse, which had been nibbling on a rope beside it, obediently positioned itself in front of Zhu Zan.
"You animals know how to enjoy yourselves, making me serve you," Zhu Zan scolded, "but you should pay for it."
Even as he scolded, the brush had already fallen upon the horse's back.
"Why not go trouble the emperor again?" Zhang Baotang suggested, "It would be best if we could return as soon as possible."
Zhu Zan snorted.
"Troubling him too much gets annoying," he said.
Was he implying troubling the emperor too much was becoming bothersome?
"It's both loyal and filial duty, a matter of course," Zhang Baotang remarked.
Zhu Zan laughed, patting the horse's back with the brush.
"There are plenty of matters of course," he said, frowning, "Alright, it's none of your concern, I have my own measure."
Zhang Baotang uttered an acknowledgment and nodded.
But Zhu Zan stopped his movements again.
"Don't worry, my father should arrive at Xiongzhou in two days at most," he said.
Two days?
Zhang Baotang calculated the distance, his expression grew uneasy.
"The Jin thief has already split into three divisions to intercept uncle," he said, "If push comes to shove, it might be better to give up Xiongzhou."
Zhu Zan held the brush, seriously and meticulously grooming the horse.
"A foot of the land for a foot of blood," he said, "how can the blood flow in vain."
......…
Blood never flows in vain.
The setting sun was like blood. The Xiongzhou Prefecture City was strewn with tattered flags, corpses, and bloodstains, with the clashing of arms forming a continuous din.
One by one, the armor-clad woodcutters, shouting, scaled the city walls with tall ladders to engage in a bloody fight with the Great Zhou Soldiers at the top.
At this moment, there was no concern for formation or tactics; it was a frenzied, inhumane struggle of blood for blood, flesh against flesh.
Following a ferocious bout of fighting, a combination of stones, boiling oil, and torches repelled the woodcutters attempting to breach the gates. The combat on the ramparts paused momentarily, but the mournful sound of horns continued to resonate from outside the city.
Li Xianlin stood atop the city wall, his body covered in blood—some his own, some that of others. After three consecutive days of brutal fighting, the man in his forties, battle-weary from many years, looked visibly haggard.
He took a few steps forward, seemingly trying to discern how many more woodcutters were gathering outside, but stumbled as he almost tripped over the body of a soldier who had died in an earlier battle.
Gazing around, the city walls were littered with dead or wounded soldiers, some writhing on the ground, others barely sitting up trying to bandage their own injuries, amidst crying, shouting, and groaning.
"Where are the civilians?" Li Xianlin shouted, irritation in his voice, "Hurry and take the men off the wall."
The five generals standing beside him wore expressions of deep sorrow.
"My lord, there are no civilians left," a general said in a hoarse voice.
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