Chapter 212: The Court Army Approaches

"Okay, then I ask you: are you and Miss Azi childhood sweethearts?" Mu Yuanzhi turned her head to ask Gu Rongjin.

Gu Rongjin nodded: "I've known her since childhood, but I can't say we're childhood sweethearts."

He always felt that saying that would cause a misunderstanding, as if he and Azi were very close.

"I just treat her as a sister, don't misunderstand." Gu Rongjin lowered his head, carefully observing Mu Yuanzhi's reaction.

"You treat her as a sister, but what about her? Does she also treat you as a brother?" Mu Yuanzhi asked.

"Is that so……" How would he know?

It's all Qi Shihuai's fault, spouting nonsense!

"Don't listen to Shihuai's nonsense; he just loves to stir up trouble, wanting to stick his nose in everything." Gu Rongjin said, gripping Mu Yuanzhi's hand: "Don't fall for his tricks and start overthinking."

Mu Yuanzhi smiled: "Then it depends on your performance."

"I'm doing great! Only the wife follows the horse's head!" Gu Rongjin hugged Mu Yuanzhi and acted coquettishly: "My love, let's go back?"

After they walked far away, Pei Shangling and Xiao Yichen in the distance finally appeared.

"How long do we have to sneak around like this?" Pei Shangling asked irritably.

They finally managed to enter the city with great difficulty, only to have to keep lurking in the shadows.

"Gu Rongjin's hearing is excellent; if we get even a little closer, we might be discovered." Xiao Yichen said.

Pei Shangling crossed his arms: "What do you suggest we do?"

"For now, let's hold our position and discuss a long-term plan."

Pei Shangling clicked his tongue in resignation.

"Where do you think the troops that just left the city are headed?" he asked Xiao Yichen.

At first he thought it was Qi Shihuai's army opposing the court, but they were actually heading in another direction.

Where exactly are they going?

"Where do you think that direction leads?" Xiao Yichen countered Pei Shangling.

Pei Shangling frowned, thought for a moment, and came to an unbelievable conclusion: "The border?!"

Then he saw Xiao Yichen nod, and felt it was unbelievable.

"What do they intend to do?!" Pei Shangling's expression grew grave: "Should we immediately send word to the Father Emperor?"

Xiao Yichen's expression was equally solemn as he speculated: "Maybe they're going to fight the allied army?"

"Impossible! There are fewer than twenty thousand there—how could they possibly attack the allied army? That would be suicide!" Pei Shangling didn't believe it, saying even someone with a brain disorder knows that fewer than twenty thousand fighting tens of thousands is just throwing away lives.

Xiao Yichen glanced at him and said: "You've forgotten that the court army once defeated an enemy force of a hundred thousand with just eight thousand?"

Upon hearing that, Pei Shangling suddenly recalled that glorious achievement.

At the time, the court army kept retreating, everyone thought they were done for, the main forces had withdrawn, yet they relied on Mu Yuanzhi's improved firearms and, with eight thousand men, defeated an enemy army of a hundred thousand!

And now A Zhi is already among those rebel forces.

"So is A Zhi improving their advanced weapons again for them?" Pei Shangling couldn't tell what he was feeling now—should he be angry or hopeful?

After all, the people of Fusang State and Splendid Severity State are truly overbearing, pressing step by step, while on the Father Emperor's side, the commanders sent to lead troops are all useless—there's not a single competent one!

"But Qi Shihuai isn't leading troops; it's an unfamiliar general commanding them, someone I've never seen before." Pei Shangling said.

What good would it do if Qi Shihuai led the troops? No matter how powerful your weapons are, they won't be effective—what matters most in marching and fighting is the commander!

"I've seen him." Xiao Yichen said.

"Who is it?"

"Prince Jia." Xiao Yichen had only met him once as well.

"Who is that?" Pei Shangling racked his brains but couldn't recall such a prince, then a flash of insight struck him and he exclaimed: "You couldn't be talking about that Prince Jia who was sent as a hostage to Infant Void State since childhood, could you?"

He had heard of such a prince but had never seen him; not only him, he believes most of the imperial family have already forgotten this hostage.

Xiao Yichen nodded: "Exactly him."

Pei Shangling was speechless: "Is Qi Shihuai crazy? Sending a hostage to lead troops into battle? Those ten thousand plus are just marching to their deaths, right?"

"He must have his reasons for doing this; you'd better not underestimate Prince Jia."

"What ability could someone who's spent decades as a hostage in a foreign land possibly have?" Pei Shangling didn't hold out any hope.

"Let's wait and see." Xiao Yichen was also curious about just what kind of person Prince Jia is.

Qi Shihuai and Gu Rongjin aren't fools, nor is A Zhi; the people they trust must have something exceptional about them.

Yet such a person has quietly defected to the rebel forces.

No, perhaps they've been allies all along.

If Prince Jia can return victorious this time, I can't even imagine how high his prestige would be; moreover, he is a legitimate member of the imperial lineage, and if he raises the banner, it's hard to say how many would rally to him.

"Never mind him for now, let's talk about A Zhi. The Father Emperor's worry is justified—A Zhi in the rebels' hands will be used by them, which is a major detriment to the court. Privately, she's my sister; I must find her and keep her safe. For now it's still possible, but later who knows?"

"Wait, wait until Gu Rongjin isn't around, then we'll go see A Zhi."

"Okay!"

These past few days they've been gathering intelligence in the city; there will surely be an opportunity.

But the city is crawling with rebel spies; their movements could quickly reach Gu Rongjin's ears.

At this moment, Gu Rongjin was having dinner together with Mu Yuanzhi.

"Heir Apparent!"

Azi came again, this time pushing the door open directly.

Mu Yuanzhi furrowed her brows: "Miss Azi, do you have some urgent matter? You didn't even knock?"

"Sorry, Heir Apparent's Consort, I'm used to prioritizing matters." The hurriedly entering Azi said sorry, but showed no sign of genuine remorse.

Gu Rongjin patted Mu Yuanzhi's shoulder, looking helplessly at Azi: "From now on, no matter how big the matter, you must knock first."

Azi pursed her lips and nodded reluctantly.

"What's the matter?" Gu Rongjin asked.

Azi glanced at Mu Yuanzhi, wanting to speak but stopping, and Gu Rongjin repeated his previous words: "The people here are all our own; Mu Yuanzhi is even more my wife; we have no secrets between us; just say it."

Azi then said: "The 50,000 troops sent by the court have already approached!"

Mu Yuanzhi: "That fast?"

They took quite a while to get from near the Black Sea here, and the court's action this time is so swift?!

"Who's leading the troops?" Gu Rongjin asked.

"Zheng Gui."

"Zheng Gui, a mere minor Right General? Not even worthy to hold Qiu Shihuai's shoes, yet constantly dreaming of stealing his power… an idiot… him leading the troops shows the court is really done for." Gu Rongjin mocked.

Azi: "The slightly better ones have all been sent to the border."

"Even if they went, it wouldn't help; they still couldn't win."