Chapter 216

First Volume, Chapter 216: The News of Disaster Arrives

From far away, Qin Xiaofu waved his hands and shouted: "Master, something's wrong—big trouble!"

Qin Feng felt a surge of annoyance; this was Tianzi Jiaoxia—what could possibly go wrong?

Always yelling and panicking—can't you be more composed?

Qin Xiaofu ran up to Qin Feng, hands on his knees, gasping for breath: "Master, hurry home—this time it's a massive crisis. Go ahead, I'll go notify the Misses right away."

Seeing Qin Xiaofu's panicked face, clearly not making it up, Qin Feng frowned: "What exactly happened?!"

As Qin Xiaofu ran toward the accounting room, he shouted: "Beidi Raiding Cavalry have invaded—target: Qin Family Ancestral Land—Madam is in danger!"

What?!

Qin Feng froze in place, eyes wide with disbelief.

The Beidi were targeting his mother?!

After a moment of shock, Qin Feng immediately understood: the Beidi clearly lacked full confidence in their strength, fearing Liang would focus its forces and launch a One-Strike Victory to push them back—so they took Madam as a hostage to disrupt Liang's strategic plan!

Qin Feng did not hesitate—he rushed toward the Qin Residence.

Liang Capital, Qin Residence.

Crack!

With a sharp sound, the Tea Cup shattered into pieces.

Qin Tianhu's face flushed red with rage, teeth clenched like a furious tiger: "Despicable! North Di Barbarians—truly unfit for the court, resorting to such low tricks! Have the guts to fight my Liang army head-on—what's the point of capturing my Qin Tianhu's wife and daughters?!"

Qin Tianhu's roar echoed through the Qin Residence.

The servants and maids standing nearby dared not even breathe.

Only when a voice announced from outside did the servants finally exhale in relief.

"The Master and Misses have returned."

Qin Feng rushed into DaTang with his three elder sisters.

No time for formalities—Qin Feng demanded straight out: "Father! What's the situation?! Mother and Third Miss—how are they?!"

Qin Feng received the news and returned at once.

Though he inherited most of the original body's memories, he knew little of his mother—likely because she left Jingdu years ago to return to the Ancestral Land, and they'd been separated too long.

To be honest, Qin Feng felt little emotion toward this mother he'd never met.

But without Madam's sacrifices and efforts back then, the Qin Family would not exist today.

Added to that, the debt of birth—no matter what, Qin Feng could never stand idly by.

Qin Tianhu had always avoided speaking of his wife, but now that the Beidi dared target her and disrupt the court's order, he could no longer evade it.

Recalling the scene when Madam left Jingdu, Qin Tianhu grew somber, fell silent for a moment, then sighed deeply: "Beixi County is our Qin Family Ancestral Land. Though still forty Li from the Border, there were many outposts in between. But since the Beidi concentrated their forces on the Eastern Front, the Border Army could only reinforce the East—leaving only minimal troops on the Xi Xian. If the Beidi sent Raiding Cavalry to sneak through the West and strike Beixi County directly, defense would be nearly impossible."

Qin Feng finally understood: if the Beidi launched a full-scale invasion, the Border Army could respond in time.

But if they only sent small Raiding Cavalry units, the Border Army would barely notice.

Beixi County was only forty Li from the Border—Raiding Cavalry at full speed could make a round trip in just one Envoy.

At this very moment, Madam was already in grave danger.

Compared to Qin Feng, the three Misses felt far deeper emotion toward Madam.

They had all been raised by her hands—after seven years of separation, the only news they received was this disaster.

Jing Qianying gripped her Jing Sword, said nothing, only cried out sharply: "Shu Feng, come with me to Beixi County!"

Seeing Jing Qianying move to leave, Qin Tianhu shouted to stop her: "Qian Ying, don't be reckless! The Son of Heaven has already sent an Imperial Urgent Report to the Border—if the Border Army arrives in time, they'll protect Madam. If they don't, what good will your leaving Jingdu do now?"

The usually cold and distant Jing Qianying had never been this agitated before.

Clutching the blade tightly, she stared at Qin Tianhu, each word deliberate: "If they're too late—I'll kill one Beidi for every one I see!"

Qin Tianhu held absolute authority in the Residence, yet now, facing Jing Qianying's defiance, he felt no anger—only pride.

For years, Jing Qianying either stayed deep in the Back Courtyard or wandered the martial world, rarely showing herself in public—all because of Madam's departure.

Among the four Misses, Jing Qianying was closest to Madam; back then, she had desperately wanted to leave with her, but for certain reasons, their mother ultimately chose Third Miss Li Xiaolan.

Jing Qianying had never forgiven herself for that.

No one knew that every time she left the Qin Residence to wander the martial world, she would secretly return to the Qin Family Ancestral Land, watching Madam from afar—only when she saw Madam was safe would she finally leave.

Shen Qingci bit her thin lips, brows furrowed with worry, but as Elder Sister, she forced calm: "Fourth Sister, Father is right—the Son of Heaven has already sent an Imperial Urgent Report to Biancheng. If it's fate, it's fate; if it's disaster, it cannot be avoided. Mother has been away from Jingdu for years—everyone had long forgotten. Yet the Beidi Spies are so pervasive."

Liu Hongyan was no better—after thinking it over, her eyes immediately turned to Qin Feng.

Qin Feng always had clever ideas—maybe he could find a way?

Liu Hongyan quickly asked: "Qin Feng, what do you think we should do?"

At these words, every eye in the room fixed on Qin Feng.

From the conversation, Qin Feng now understood the situation clearly—and for once, he grew serious: "Jingdu is a thousand Li from Beixi County—far beyond reach. Even if we send an Imperial Urgent Report and ride day and night, it'll take at least three days and three nights to reach Beixi County—by then, it'll be too late."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes dimmed with despair.

Qin Tianhu slammed his fist onto the table—the force made the table groan and creak.

"Damned Beidi Barbarians! If you have guts, fight our armies head-on—why resort to such low tactics? Targeting women?!"

To be honest, Qin Feng also despised the Beidi's methods.

But in war between nations, only the outcome matters—not the means. A winning tactic is a good tactic; no point calling it dishonorable.

Qin Feng lowered his head, thinking deeply: "The Beidi Spies must have sent all their observations from Jingdu back to the North. They know our Liang has already sharpened its weapons and prepared for decisive battle—so before the war even begins, they're trying to drain our willpower and disrupt our rhythm."

"And now, with unrest spreading across the Border, the longer this war drags on, the more our National Strength will be worn down. Time is not on Liang's side."

"Once Mother falls into Beidi hands, no matter what, the Son of Heaven will strip Father of his Command—and appoint another minister to oversee the war, causing catastrophic disconnection… No matter what happens to Mother, the Beidi have already achieved their Strategic Goal. So… even if heaven collapses, we cannot let Mother become the Beidi's hostage!"