Chapter 459: Emperor Wu Su is Impatient, Returning the Favor

Feng Xiang was just indignant. He quickly clamped an arm around Hu Lie’s neck, covering his mouth as he changed the subject.

"General Wei, how on earth did you realize Yu Wen Tiancheng had a hidden weapon?"

The few of them weren’t far away, but none of them had noticed that Prince Xijin had such a thing up his sleeve.

Wei Ting’s expression faltered for a moment. He looked up at the warm sun hanging in the azure sky.

Before he drew his sword, a strange flash had suddenly glinted from within Yu Wen Tiancheng’s sleeve. It looked just like a flicker of sunlight and had caught his attention. That was why Wei Ting had been secretly on guard against a hidden weapon in Yu Wen Tiancheng’s sleeve.

Wei Ting chuckled and sighed. "Looks like I’ll have to check the almanac for today when I get back."

With that, he went to report to the Emperor, who was holding the rear.

Feng Xiang and Hu Lie turned to watch Wei Ting’s retreating figure. Though they didn’t know exactly what had happened, they could both sense that Beili’s fortune was now unmatched. Everything they did was going smoothly.

The Xijin army was suppressed, and Emperor Wu Su dispatched elite troops to pursue Yu Wen Tiancheng.

However, this important task was not delegated to anyone else. To save as much time as possible, the Emperor led the troops himself, leaving the cleanup here to Wei Ting and Feng Xiang.

Wei Ting watched the cavalry kicking up dust as they galloped northeast. The man at the very front, clad in Xuan Armor, rode with an air of absolute determination.

The pursuit of Yu Wen Tiancheng didn’t necessarily require Emperor Wu Su to act personally; any of the generals in the Beili Army was capable of handling it.

But the Emperor took to the field himself. For one, it showed the importance he placed on the matter; for another, it meant he didn’t want to waste any time.

Emperor Wu Su was getting impatient.

When Wei Ting first heard of the seven-day pact, he thought it was impossible. Now, it seemed the Emperor hadn’t just been speaking casually.

He shook his head, a smile playing on his lips, as if amused that even the Emperor could have such an impatient day.

Wei Ting stared into the brilliant sunlight, which stung his eyes until they ached and a thin sheen of tears formed.

"Nothing can stop the Emperor’s determination to marry the Empress. Unless Yu Wen Tiancheng has nine lives, you should just accept it, General Wei."

Feng Xiang suddenly said this as he rode past Wei Ting on his horse.

Wei Ting let out a breath and jabbed the passing horse’s rump with his scabbard. Feng Xiang’s startled cry was lost to the wind.

*

「Xijin Imperial Palace.」

Gao Zhao Yue and Yu Wen Tianqing were locked in the same room. Guards stood watch outside, and they couldn’t even take half a step out the door.

Yu Wen Tianqing’s memories of his mother were already fuzzy. For all these years, Gao Zhao Yue had been in contact with Yu Wen Tiancheng after faking her death, but she had never once sent a message to him.

Yu Wen Tianqing sat to one side, silent save for an occasional cough. He didn’t know how to act around his mother, who had returned from the dead. A sense of unfamiliarity hung between them.

Gao Zhao Yue looked at her son, her eyes filled with tenderness and guilt, but she didn’t know where to begin to break the silence.

Suddenly, the sound of something heavy hitting the ground came from outside. Immediately after, the door was thrown open, and a cold gust of wind rushed in, carrying dust with it.

Yu Wen Tianqing sat up straight, instantly alert, but he had long been stripped of his weapons. He could only look on helplessly at the uninvited guest who had entered.

Gao Zhao Yue quickly moved to shield him. "Don’t be afraid, Tianqing."

Yu Wen Tianqing frowned, staring at her back.

The newcomer was dressed all in black, their figure as light as a swallow. After nimbly shutting the door, they stood quietly by its side.

Beneath the mask, their eyes seemed to hold a thousand words, swirling with complex emotions.

A Red Spider crawled onto Gao Zhao Yue’s fingernail, well-hidden against the scarlet polish. She asked, "Who are you?"

The person replied, "I’m here to save you. You need to leave, quickly!"

It was the voice of a young woman, which stirred a strange feeling in Gao Zhao Yue’s heart.

She couldn’t be sure if this person was one of Yu Wen Tiancheng’s, or a decoy he had sent to deliberately separate her from Yu Wen Tianqing and make a move against him.

Gao Zhao Yue said impassively, "And where could we run? Xijin is already in Yu Wen Tiancheng’s grasp. His people are everywhere."

The young woman’s tone was urgent. "Yu Wen Tiancheng was wounded by Beili’s General Zhenbei! He’s busy hiding right now and has no time to deal with you. I’ve taken care of the guards outside. Just go!"

Hearing that Yu Wen Tiancheng was injured, Yu Wen Tianqing let out a cold laugh. "I thought the Crown Prince had some brilliant move up his sleeve. Turns out he’s just another fugitive."

Gao Zhao Yue said suspiciously, "We are complete strangers. Such kindness from you, young lady, naturally makes one wary."

The young woman pulled off her mask, revealing her face.

Gao Zhao Yue was stunned. Yu Wen Tianqing stared at her eyes and brows, a tangled feeling of both strangeness and familiarity rising in his heart.

He asked tentatively, "Are... are you Tianxin?"

When Yu Wen Tianqing went to Beili, he had also searched for traces of her. He knew she was still alive.

Gao Zhao Yue’s eyes instantly welled up, her vision blurring with tears.

A cool, detached voice cut in. "My name is Lan Ling, not Tianxin. Perhaps I once had some connection to you, but now, I am only Lan Ling."

Yu Wen Tianqing pressed, "If you say you’re only Lan Ling, then why come and save us?"

Lan Ling’s answer was simple and direct.

"I wanted to see what the people who gave birth to me looked like, so I wouldn’t have regrets later."

She looked at Gao Zhao Yue, who was trembling as she cried, and frowned. "As for family, I don’t need one."

After speaking, Lan Ling glanced outside and urged them, "You need to leave now."

Yu Wen Tianqing also knew this was no time for reminiscing or sentimentality. They had to leave this place as soon as possible.

But Gao Zhao Yue remained standing where she was, her face buried in her hands.

Yu Wen Tianqing had already followed Lan Ling to the door. He turned back and called out, "Mother!"

Gao Zhao Yue wiped the tears from her face. When she looked up again, the sorrow in her eyes had been washed away, replaced by a faint smile.

"Why should we leave? Child, you don’t actually think Yu Wen Tiancheng can make a comeback, do you?"

Yu Wen Tianqing’s expression changed. He understood what she meant.

Gao Zhao Yue extended a hand toward him. "Tianqing, this opportunity is right in front of you. I can help you."

Lan Ling said helplessly, "Don’t you want to live an ordinary life? Must you get involved in the struggles of the Imperial Family?"

Yu Wen Tianqing placed a hand on Lan Ling’s shoulder. "Tianxin, whether you acknowledge your identity or not, in your brother’s heart, you will always be my sister."

"In the future, if you’re tired or weary, you can always come back. Wherever I am will always be your home."

Lan Ling watched as Yu Wen Tianqing walked over to Gao Zhao Yue and the two of them stood together. Shaking her head, she vanished out the door.

Yu Wen Tianqing asked, "What do you plan to do?"

Gao Zhao Yue lifted her fingertips, watching the poisonous insect crawl onto her nail. "The Beili Army launched a surprise attack. It’s time we returned the favor."