PNB Chapter 434 The Substitute Bride Becomes a Reality (35)
Chapter 434 The Substitute Bride Becomes a Reality (35)
After a long while, Su Ziyu slowly raised her head, her eyes still wet with red marks, but her gaze had become firm again.
He raised his hand and forcefully wiped away the moisture from the corner of his eye, as if wiping away the vulnerability of that moment as well.
He forced himself to stand up straight, his gaze returning to the map on the desk, looking towards the front line where Qi Jinyu was located.
The internal troubles must be quelled, and the supply lines must be kept open. The more secure he is here, the less Qi Jinyu at the front will have to worry about, and perhaps... he will be able to draw his sword one less time and shed one less drop of blood.
This thought acted like the most effective tranquilizer, instantly overpowering all his physical and mental discomfort.
That night, the candlelight flickered, casting turbulent shadows on the walls of the military tent.
Su Zi summoned his two absolutely loyal confidants—the same two who had previously killed Wang Biao with a single sword strike—and handed them a jade talisman engraved with the Shen family's secret mark. He whispered, "Quickly dispatch a troop of light cavalry to secretly head northwest to meet my cousin Shen Qianlan's grain transport team. Make sure to protect him and the supplies."
The two men did not reach out to take it, but stood still, their bodies as hard as iron: "Your Highness has ordered that your safety be our top priority."
As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain was suddenly lifted by the wind.
A figure in a green robe strode in, carrying the chill of the night; it was Qin Wujiu.
He was covered in dust, his brows showing the weariness of days of travel, but the sharpness in his eyes had not diminished; instead, a layer of lingering ferocity remained.
“Mr. Su,” Qin Wujiu bowed respectfully, his gaze sweeping over the still-wet bloodstains on the ground, already understanding seven or eight parts of the situation, “His Highness is concerned about the situation in the rear and has specially ordered Wujiu to return to his command.”
With a formidable enemy at hand, even though Qin Wujiu still disliked Su Ziyu, he could still distinguish between what was important and what was not. At this moment, the only thing to do was to join hands and overcome the difficulties together.
A hint of joy flashed in Su Ziyu's eyes, and she quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "The strategist's return is truly a timely help."
As their eyes met, the two men understood each other perfectly, sharing the same assessment of the current predicament.
Su Ziyu first briefly inquired about the situation at the front, then led him to the sand table, his fingertip landing steadily on a dangerous spot: "I just received a secret report that my cousin's grain convoy was ambushed by the Xiongnu on the way and has now retreated to the outside of the Blackwater Valley."
Qin Wujiu stared at the winding, deep valley on the sand table, his knuckles slowly tracing the steep mountain ridges on both sides, his voice deep and calm: "Then... let them fall into the trap. I will immediately lead a team of elite cavalry to 'rescue' them tonight, and we will surely lure the Xiongnu ambush into the valley and annihilate them in one fell swoop."
Su Ziyu solemnly cupped his hands in greeting: "I entrust everything to the strategist."
Qin Wujiu returned the greeting respectfully: "Wujiu, I will certainly not fail in my mission."
-
Three days later, in the Black River Valley.
The sounds of battle shook the heavens!
Qin Wujiu personally led several hundred elite soldiers, protecting the supplies disguised as grain carts, and fought and retreated, successfully luring a large group of Xiongnu cavalry into a narrow canyon.
Just as the Xiongnu general thought he had succeeded, a rain of fire arrows suddenly appeared from the cliffs on both sides, and rolling logs and rocks crashed down, instantly blocking their retreat!
Amid the chaos, the real grain transport team, which had been lying in ambush on the other side of the valley, rapidly passed through along a hidden path under the command of Shen Qianlan and the cover of the support troops arranged in advance by Su Ziyu.
Upon seeing the agreed-upon signal rise in the sky, Qin Wujiu immediately ordered his men to use the terrain to their advantage and launch a desperate counterattack.
In the midst of the fierce battle, a cold arrow suddenly shot out from the chaos of the army, aiming straight for Qin Wujiu's back!
At the critical moment, Shen Qianlan beside him suddenly pushed him away, but was grazed by an arrow, tearing his clothes and splattering blood.
“You…” Qin Wujiu turned around and saw that dazzling red, his heart trembled violently.
"It's alright!" Shen Qianlan tore off a piece of her hem and hastily tied it up, her voice still calm. "Be careful when facing the enemy!"
At this moment, the past barriers and subtle emotions seemed to quietly dissolve in the shared life-and-death battle.
After a fierce battle, they finally shook off their pursuers.
With their relatively unscathed supply convoy, the two men finally broke through numerous obstacles and returned to the main camp just as the defending troops were about to run out of ammunition and food and the defensive line was about to collapse!
At dawn the following day, when the convoy loaded with provisions drove into the camp in a grand procession, the entire army cheered, and the gloom and anxiety of the past few days were swept away.
Su Ziyu went to greet them personally, her gaze sweeping over their tired faces and the blood-soaked bandage on Shen Qianlan's arm. Confirming that neither of them was missing an arm or a leg and that they had both returned safely, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He said gently to the two of them, "You've worked hard. Leave the rest to me, you two go and get some rest."
Qin Wujiu only rested for half a day, but with the battle at the front on his mind, he decided to set off. Before leaving, he hesitated, but finally turned towards Shen Qianlan's tent.
Inside the tent, Shen Qianlan was examining the wound on her arm by the light of the lamp. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Qin Wujiu. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, which quickly turned into a clear understanding.
The two stood facing each other, and the tent fell silent for a moment, with only the faint sound of the wind and the footsteps of the night patrolling soldiers outside.
Qin Wujiu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. His gaze swept over the blood-soaked bandage on Shen Qianlan's arm, and he finally spoke somewhat stiffly, breaking the silence: "Black River Valley... Thank you."
The words were brief, yet more solemn than any previous exchange.
Shen Qianlan looked at his unusual and awkward demeanor, so different from his usual coldness, and smiled slightly. The smile was faint, but it seemed to soften his cold temperament instantly.
He didn't respond to the thank you, but silently raised his hand and untied the tie inside his shirt, the movement carrying a subtle sense of reverence.
The next moment, he handed over a soft armor that was slightly warm to the touch and had a dull metallic sheen.
"The front lines are dangerous, and swords have no eyes," Shen Qianlan's voice remained calm, but his gaze was like a deep, still lake, fixed on Qin Wujiu's face. "Take this with you."
Qin Wujiu was slightly taken aback.
He recognized the item—the "Flowing Light" heart-protecting soft armor passed down through generations of the Shen family. It was neither gold nor iron, but exceptionally flexible, and rumored to be able to withstand divine weapons.
During the last attack on the Prince's mansion, he overheard Shen Qianlan and Su Ziyu talking about how this was a talisman he considered his lifeline.
This person just gave it to me like that?
He looked up and met Shen Qianlan's clear eyes. The other's gaze was as calm as ever, but it seemed to have an added layer of meaning that he couldn't quite make out, like still waters running deep, with hidden ripples.
Qin Wujiu felt as if something had gently bumped into his heart, and a strange, subtle tremor quietly spread through him, making him hesitant to delve into it for the moment.
The words of refusal circled on his lips, but ultimately remained unspoken.
He remained silent, then reached out, his movements slightly hesitant yet firm, to accept the soft nail polish still warm from the other person's body. The slight warmth from his fingertips felt almost burning to his touch.
"...Take care." He finally uttered only these two words in a low voice, clutching the heavy gift that was beyond his comprehension tightly in his hands, and turned to step into the morning mist outside the tent.
Shen Qianlan gazed in the direction he had left, and after a long while, she let out a barely audible sigh of relief.
-
The supplies arrived safely, greatly boosting the morale of the troops.
For the next three months, Qi Jinyu had no more worries at the front lines, and commanded with composure, winning one battle after another.
The Xiongnu allied forces suffered repeated defeats and their morale completely collapsed until the last tribe in the northern grasslands finally raised the white flag in defiance.
Qi Jinyu secretly sent the Xiongnu's letter of surrender, along with the irrefutable evidence of the Second Prince Qi Haolian's treason, to the capital via express courier.