Chapter 102: Let’s See How It Goes – What, you trust him this much?…

Yun Chu stayed with her the entire night, but it was surprisingly quiet.

Li Yunli began to doubt whether she should have shared her story with him. Perhaps the shock was too great, and it had left him stunned?

Seeing him silently leaning next to her, it was as if he had become a bird, unwilling to leave her warmth.

It seemed that it was better not to speak of it.

Li Yunli had not anticipated his thoughts. She initially thought, based on her understanding, that since she was a latecomer and didn’t have strong memories of the issues from the past life, he wouldn’t feel so guilty. This would allow their relationship to be more natural.

But unexpectedly, the memories and experiences that didn’t belong to this world brought him even deeper unease.

She could clearly feel that Yun Chu was afraid of her leaving.

Even though she had reassured him several times tonight, and he verbally expressed understanding, his actions betrayed his unease.

Suddenly, the sentry outside sounded the alarm!

Li Yunli’s gaze hardened, and Yun Chu immediately looked up.

It was still dark, and the voice outside was hurried, with footsteps rushing to stop right outside Li Yunli’s door.

“Report, Your Highness! Someone has escaped with a prisoner!”

Yun Chu stood up sharply!

Li Yunli took a few steps forward and flung open the door. The moonlight was bright, illuminating the pale face of the person outside.

“Who is it? What’s the situation?”

“We found the sentry knocked out during the shift, and the prison was filled with poisonous smoke. King Changling is missing! The sentry at the northwest corner was breached, and we’ve already sent people to chase after them!”

Li Yunli: “I thought King Changling was defeated and was useless to Zheng Siyin and others, but it seems there was a backup plan.”

Yun Chu no longer hesitated, his profile sharp under the moonlight. Without turning around, he coldly said, “I was supposed to interrogate him tonight. It was my oversight. Your Highness, please allow me to lead a team to pursue them!”

“No!”

Li Yunli refused outright without hesitation.

“Why?” Yun Chu’s coldness faded slightly as he turned to look at her, his expression full of confusion. He couldn’t help but advise, “They’re likely heading northwest, taking small paths under the dark night to avoid detection. Your Highness knows that I can catch them if we follow those paths.”

“No,” Li Yunli was visibly more calm than him, waving her hand toward the messenger. “You go back first.”

“Your Highness…”

Seeing Li Yunli turn and head back into the room, Yun Chu followed closely behind, still trying to persuade her.

“I said no.”

Before he could speak, Li Yunli had already cut him off.

“But if we don’t catch them tonight, it will be like letting the tiger return to the mountain, and I…”

“Are you rushing to chase because you want to make up for the mistake of not interrogating him tonight, or because you want to take all the credit for this battle, making sure I can’t intervene?”

Yun Chu stopped in his tracks, stunned by the question.

Li Yunli looked at him, “King Changling being kidnapped was unexpected, but you’re not an impulsive person. If it were usually the case, would you still rush to chase after him?”

Yun Chu opened his mouth but didn’t speak.

If it were usual, he would wait for Li Yunli to make a decision and never insist after being rejected.

Seeing him silent, Li Yunli sat down on a chair and asked, “Is there a big difference between me now and the Li Yunli you knew before?”

“No,” Yun Chu answered immediately, but his gaze dropped slightly.

They were clearly the same person, but the current Li Yunli had lived through a life she could never experience.

“If that’s the case, then after hearing my background, do you think I shouldn’t be here, that I can’t afford the risk of being in this war?”

Yun Chu turned his face away, as if unable to speak.

“Your Highness, if such a beautiful world truly exists, peaceful and prosperous, I hope you can return to it.”

“But I don’t want to go back.” Li Yunli replied flatly, “If you’re forcing me to return against my will, then that’s overstepping your boundaries.”

The words were harsh, and Yun Chu quickly looked at her, his speech quickening: “I can fight the battle for Your Highness! I can shield you from both open and hidden attacks! The responsibilities and righteousness, as long as I’m by your side, you can try to live peacefully as before, without needing…”

His words suddenly stopped.

“Without what?” Li Yunli looked at him.

If he dared to say she could stop worrying, that he would handle everything for her, and let her just eat, drink, and play…

Then Li Yunli would slap him right now.

“Well… I’m not qualified yet. My status as a princess isn’t enough for you to rely on. Right now, everything I have is given by you, but at least, when I’m by your side, you can try not to be so tired, and rely on me more… please?”

Li Yunli blinked slowly.

“In your previous world, you didn’t have to worry about survival. But now, you have no choice but to stand on the battlefield. Since you said you wanted to stay here, I think a part of you is willing to risk it for my selfishness.” Yun Chu finally raised his head, “But I want to truly stand by your side, to share everything with you.”

The conversation shifted quickly, and Li Yunli’s tone softened.

“I would, of course, want you to feel this way. But just now, I really couldn’t let you go after them.”

“Why?”

Seeing that he was no longer as stubborn as before, Li Yunli glanced at him and asked, “King Changling has already lost the battle. He has no value left. Why would someone risk breaking into the mansion and kidnapping him?”

Yun Chu furrowed his brows, then suddenly raised his eyes.

“Did you figure it out?”

“The victories we’ve had, Zheng Siyin lost his connection to King Changling. Now, his biggest concern, aside from you chasing him down to root him out, is that he won’t be able to hold his ground in Wurong.” Yun Chu looked at her.

The alliance between Wurong, King Changling, and Zheng Siyin seemed stable, but it was fragile. If any one of them fell, the whole alliance would collapse.

Now that King Changling had been defeated, if Wurong turned against Zheng Siyin for self-preservation, the most likely outcome would be them expelling Zheng Siyin and pledging allegiance to the Great Chu.

Zheng Siyin would need to keep King Changling alive, even if it was just a show, to maintain his value in Wurong’s eyes.

“In a desperate fight, they’ll use all their forces and strategies. The kidnapping tonight, although rushed, most likely involved full force.”

Li Yunli raised her eyes slightly, “We can’t act impulsively, but now that you understand this, you’ll have to go after them in this battle.”

Yun Chu understood, immediately saluting her in the standard military fashion.

“General Yun, awaiting orders.”

Li Yunli’s voice was clear and firm, her eyes lowered as she gave her orders.

Yun Chu quickly raised his head.

“The military in Yizhou is now divided into two. Generals Liu and Sun will follow your command. I will bring General Ji for backup, and you will coordinate with him to deal with the rebels!”

This was completely placing the responsibility of cleaning up Zheng Siyin on his shoulders!

He would capture the traitors, and she would clean up the remaining remnants. It was their mission, a tacit agreement between them that spanned two lifetimes, a silent understanding that they both knew.

Yun Chu steadied himself and responded, “Understood!”

In the Yizhou military camp, the night was filled with activity.

The high-ranking criminals had been taken, and the soldiers were ready for battle.

They had just fought a victorious battle under the princess’s command, and hadn’t even had time to celebrate when they were now called to pursue escaped prisoners. How could they tolerate this?

Each soldier’s blood surged as they waited for General Yun’s orders, morale rising immediately.

Speed was key. They would leave the city that very night.

At the city gates, there was a brief farewell. Li Yunli, in light armor, cupped her hands and said, “Be careful, we’ll be waiting for General Yun’s good news.”

Yun Chu had only a small team with him, and Liu and Sun were nowhere to be seen. He remained calm, “I won’t fail you. Seven days at most, and I’ll be at Wurong to welcome you.”

Li Yunli handed him a specially designed smoking pipe with intricate decorations, saying, “This is the princess’s personal signal. With it, one word is all it takes.”

Yun Chu solemnly accepted the smoking pipe, then turned and walked under the moonlight.

The soldiers of Yizhou marched out of the city, moving swiftly to pursue the rebels, showing no sign of hesitation.

Ji Wenxun and Li Yunli stood together, watching the smoke dissipate in the moonlight.

“This sudden prisoner escape seems simple, but it’s actually likely to be a tough battle. I thought you would go personally.”

Li Yunli’s lips moved slightly but she shook her head, her gaze focused on the distant horizon. “Now, it’s his battlefield.”

Ji Wenxun raised an eyebrow. “When you rescued him from the Ministry of Justice, I thought you had compromised, just wanting to keep him by your side. But now, it seems you’re genuinely trying to help him stand on his own and take the prince consort position with honor?”

Li Yunli tilted her head, looking at her friend. “What else would I do?”

“Are you going to cover for him?”

“Of course not.” Li Yunli smiled lightly. Though she didn’t know how Ji Wenxun had come to that conclusion, she guessed it was a misunderstanding. “I didn’t give him this chance just to make him the prince consort. He has to win this battle first. Only then will he be worthy of becoming the prince consort of Princess Nian’an.”

Ji Wenxun frowned, not quite understanding the difference between the two. However, she still worried, “This battle won’t be easy.”

“He has to win.” Li Yunli’s gaze became more determined. “After all, this is a path he must take.”

Ji Wenxun nodded thoughtfully.

No matter what, even if King Changling escaped, they could still report to the court.