Chapter 92

Suofang County is one of the border counties in the northern region. Jilugai, located along the Great Wall in the western part of Yinshan, is an important military stronghold in Suofang County. It serves as a gateway for communication and interaction between the Great Jing and Northern Liang. The terrain is complex, and sporadic battles often occur in the area.

When news of an offensive against Northern Liang emerged, a large number of troops were stationed in the western fields of Suofang near the Xihe River. Fortifications were constructed, and roads connecting over 20 li were established. The final preparations were nearly complete, and a full-scale advance northward was imminent.

The situation was initially very promising, with everyone awaiting the return of Duke Gu Chengye, the commander-in-chief.

Unexpectedly, Northern Liang struck first, launching an attack on Suofang.

Although the Liang forces were swiftly repelled due to vigilant defenses and inflicted little damage, two consecutive victories led to overconfidence on the Great Jing side. Encouraged by the eunuch overseeing the army, the General of the Guards personally led 50,000 cavalry beyond the pass in pursuit but fell into an ambush. The army suffered near-total annihilation.

The General of the Guards’ fate remains uncertain. The situation took a dramatic turn for the worse.

The General of the Guards was none other than Gu Xun, Gu Ci’s second brother.

The message from the heir of the Pingyang Marquis, who was at the frontlines, was undoubtedly credible.

Wang Muyi, though unfamiliar with military matters, couldn’t help but feel a chill of unease. She anxiously offered comfort, saying, “Battles always have wins and losses. Don’t worry.”

Nianxi, however, was overcome by a complex and indescribable feeling.

A few days ago, Gu Ci’s prolonged absence made her think something had gone wrong in the Gu household, and she spent her days in constant worry. Later, Pei Jian told her there was nothing to worry about, and Gu Ci himself reassured her that his father would return to the northern border soon, and the situation was still favorable.

So, she set her worries aside.

She thought this storm would be avoided and that the Gu household wouldn’t repeat past mistakes. But then the battle report from the front arrived.

Nianxi didn’t fully understand her own feelings. Perhaps, as her cousin Wang Muyi had said, victories and defeats are part of war. Yet the words from the messenger sent by the heir evoked in her a strong, unavoidable premonition—A sense of fate’s unpredictability and an inevitable foreboding.

Nianxi hurriedly returned home. It was clear that her father and brothers had also heard the news; concern was etched on everyone’s faces.

Previously, the entire Jing court had been swept up in unprecedented confidence. But now, the news of 50,000 cavalry being wiped out struck like a thunderclap, shattering the dreams of everyone, including the Emperor.

Cavalry is the military’s most expensive and elite branch, serving as Great Jing’s main force in confronting the Northern Liang invaders.

During the reign of the founding Emperor, battles with the Liang people were fought with infantry. It took decades of peace and recovery to breed warhorses and train cavalry. Now, with 50,000 cavalry lost, Great Jing suffered not just a devastating loss but a profound blow.

The Great Jing Dynasty fell into a gloomy atmosphere.

Gu Chengye, hailed by the Emperor as the “War God of Great Jing,” had his journey repeatedly delayed and could not return to the frontlines to command, remaining stuck in the capital. This was because the disastrous defeat was caused by the reckless advance of the Gu Family’s second son, and someone from the Duke Gu family had to bear the responsibility.

Gu Chengye became the prime target for blame.

No one had expected the defeat to come so easily.

When Gu Chengye knelt outside Jianzhang Palace for a day and night, pleading to return to the northern frontier, the Emperor refused to meet him or grant permission.

But the situation only worsened.

Reports from the frontlines kept arriving. The Northern Liang army, advancing with unstoppable momentum, swept through Suofang and Wuyuan Counties, pillaging and plundering as they went, leaving empty cities in their wake.

This plundering replenished the Northern Liang army’s supplies, while the remaining cavalry of the Great Jing army was continuously depleted in subsequent defeats.

By the time the Emperor finally realized the gravity of the situation and dispatched Gu Chengye to the northern border immediately, the Great Jing army was already surrounded by the Liang forces at Weichi City, forced into a desperate battle.

If this battle were lost and Weichi City fell, the Liang army could directly march south and threaten the capital. However, at the onset of the war, Gu Chengye had already injured himself from prolonged kneeling. Even if he were to travel day and night, it was difficult to salvage the crumbling situation.

“The general is unfit to lead!”

The Emperor delivered this eight-character critique to Gu Chengye and the Duke Gu family on the court.

Both thunder and rain are the grace of the Emperor.

The higher one is lifted, the harder the fall.

The Emperor and the entire court had gravely underestimated Northern Liang—their fierce courage, fearlessness, and desperate will to survive as a people. In fact, at the start of the war, the Emperor didn’t even dispatch reinforcements to the northern regions.

This left Weichi City isolated and without aid.

Thankfully, due to a suggestion by the Crown Prince, troops stationed in the western territories were moved northward. The reinforcements arrived just in time to lift the siege on the lone city, forcing a setback for the Northern Liang army and somewhat stabilizing the situation.

…

It had been many days since Nianxi last saw Gu Ci. In truth, she didn’t need to see him to know how dire the circumstances were.

In teahouses, wine taverns, streets, and alleys, everyone spoke of the Duke Gu household with gritted teeth, as if the blame for the defeat against the Liang army rested solely on the Gu family.

Gone were the days of admiration and reverence for them.

Nianxi sent people to the Gu residence twice.

On Gu Ci’s 20th birthday, the day of his coming-of-age ceremony, she personally visited and presented the gift she had prepared for him.

Duke Gu’s residence was desolate, with barely a soul in sight. The once-crowded scenes of carriages filling the courtyard seemed like a distant dream.

Madam Wang had fallen ill as soon as the news of the second son’s uncertain fate reached the family. The Duke himself was still detained at the palace, leaving the entire household in a state of despondency.

No one remembered Gu Ci’s birthday, not even himself.

Gu Ci welcomed her into his courtyard. In just a few days, he had changed so much. The clean and bright aura he once had was now veiled in a layer of gray.

“Nian’er.” When he saw her, his voice was earnest yet weary. “I’m sorry, truly sorry. I’ve been too busy lately—too much happening at home.” As he spoke, his eyes turned red.

Nianxi recalled how she once told him to always let her know, no matter what happened, so she wouldn’t worry.

This fool—he still remembered such a thing at a time like this.

How could Nianxi blame him? Seeing his powerless and helpless appearance made her heart ache as well.

Pretending not to notice the redness in his eyes and the bloodshot veins, she stepped forward, took his hand, and gently said, “Today is your birthday—did you forget?”

“Is it?” Gu Ci looked back at her, confused.

The upheaval at home had almost crushed him. He no longer had the mood of anticipation he once felt for his coming-of-age ceremony; a sense of despair now consumed him.

Each new battle report from the front was even more suffocating than the last.

“No,” Gu Ci, ever thoughtful, gently stroked Nianxi’s hair and said apologetically, “Let’s skip my birthday this year. But thank you for thinking of me.”

He spoke gently but seemed like a reservoir on the verge of bursting at any moment. Nianxi couldn’t bear for him to exhaust himself trying to comfort her—especially when he was the one who most needed comfort.

“What nonsense are you saying?” Nianxi looked at the dark circles under his eyes and said softly, “You haven’t been sleeping for a long time, have you?”

“What you need most right now is to get some proper rest. Everything will get better.”

Words felt so powerless at a time like this.

Even Nianxi didn’t know when things would improve, but she sincerely hoped Gu Ci wouldn’t have to endure so much suffering.

Gu Ci managed a faint smile, just barely curving his lips as if it took all his remaining strength. “I’ll escort you back to your house.”

How could Nianxi allow him to make another tiring trip? She shook her head firmly. “The carriage is just outside. I’ll go myself in a moment.”

Gu Ci took her hand and said earnestly, “Nian’er, I want to stay with you.”

In truth, these past few days, he had missed her deeply. Whenever his emotions threatened to collapse, it was the thought of his sweet moments with Nianxi that kept him going. Because he couldn’t fall—not when the Duke Gu household needed to stand.

“All right, then I won’t leave.” Nianxi held Gu Ci’s hand and led him into the inner room. It was her first time entering Gu Ci’s bedroom, yet neither of them harbored any romantic thoughts.

“Lie down and get some sleep. I’ll stay in the outer room to keep you company, all right?”

“You’re too exhausted; you need to rest,” she gently urged. “If even you collapse, who will take care of Madam Wang?”