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The originally planned time for the assault on the city was around the hour of Yin (3-5 AM).
However, Shen Ning remained awake in the large tent until the hour of Zi (11-1 AM), the flickering candlelight burning through the night. She sat alone at the desk, silent as a stone statue, with the candlelight casting a dim glow on her unusually calm face, making it impossible to discern her true emotions.
Ji Yucang leaned against the bed, studying the military map. Seeing Shen Ning hesitate as if making a significant decision, he felt puzzled but did not speak to disturb her, only glancing at her from time to time.
The two of them tacitly maintained silence.
Until the drumbeat of the hour of Zi (11-1 AM) sounded.
Shen Ning finally returned from her detached thoughts, stood up, and walked outside: “Ji Yucang, I need the finest bow.”
Ji Yucang put down his teacup, followed her out, and ordered Ling Feng to bring the finest bow from the army.
Ling Feng complied with the order.
After a stick of incense, the fine bow was handed to Shen Ning, and the soldiers, following her instructions, poured oil on the arrowheads and set them ablaze.
Shen Ning took the flaming arrow, nocked it, drew the bow towards the sky, and slowly pulled it taut. The fiery arrow shot swiftly into the sky like a meteor in the night, fierce and rapid, as if carrying the force of a thunderbolt.
The flaming arrow illuminated half the sky, and the soldiers in the army instinctively opened their mouths, looking up at the arrow as it flew higher and higher until it was almost out of sight before falling from a great height to the ground, where the fire did not extinguish.
Shen Ning turned and ordered another arrow to be lit.
The soldier in charge of the arrows did as instructed.
Three consecutive flaming arrows soared into the sky, showcasing an astonishing strength. They unexpectedly alerted the soldiers on the distant city tower, who all tensed up, everyone on high alert, ready at any moment for the Yong Kingdom’s army to attack the city.
However, Shen Ning did not order Ji Yucang to attack the city. After consecutively shooting three arrows that pierced the clouds, she handed the bow to a soldier waiting nearby: “Everyone, go back to sleep. We’ll attack the city at dawn.”
With that, she turned and walked towards the large tent.
The gathered generals in the army looked at each other, dumbfounded by the arrows the Regent’s wife had just shot. They obviously hadn’t expected that Shen Ning’s delicate and petite frame would harbor such formidable strength.
At the same time, they were somewhat puzzled by her action of shooting three arrows in succession, unsure whether she was trying to attract the attention of the enemy soldiers on the city tower or sending out some unknown signal.
“Those three arrows flew very high, as if they could pierce through the clouds, illuminating the sky very brightly, momentarily lighting up the imperial city like daylight.” One of the generals pondered. “If there are spies within the imperial city, they should also be able to see the signal sent by the Regent’s wife.”
“Signal?” Another general exclaimed in surprise. “You mean the Regent’s wife was using her unique archery skills to send a signal?”
“It’s possible, that’s just my judgment.” The leader said. “If you want to know the real reason, why not go and ask her?”
Hearing this, the generals turned in unison to look in the direction of the main tent, where the Regent’s wife and the Regent entered one after the other. The former seemed to be the main general of the army, while their powerful Regent followed like a silent shadow, step by step behind the Regent’s wife, obediently following her orders without complaint, not even a word of questioning.
The generals remained silent.
Ji Yucang entered the large tent and finally spoke: “Were you sending a signal just now?”
“Mm.” Shen Ning sat down and responded softly. “I used to have eight close subordinates. They were highly skilled in martial arts and were loyal to me. However, four of them died on the battlefield. The other four followed me until I retired and got married. After that, two of them were married off, and the other two were chosen by the Emperor to enter the palace as concubines.”
After listening, Ji Yucang showed no surprise: “So you were sending them a signal tonight?”
“Mm.” Shen Ning nodded. “I’m not sure if they have children, or if their hearts have changed, but it doesn’t hurt to try. If they are still the same as before, we can reduce casualties during the attack on the city.”
The method of shooting three arrows that pierced the clouds was once a unique code between them and also her most impressive skill on the battlefield.
If her former subordinates saw these three arrows piercing the clouds, they should be able to guess that among the Yong Kingdom’s army at the gates, their former princess was also present.