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Taking a Risk in Battle—Maybe There’s Still a Chance to See Her…
“The two points on the eastern side have been cut off by the Chu forces. The Eldest Princess Nian’an only has five thousand men in her hands. Your Highness, do you have a plan?”
Inside the room, Zheng Siyin gathered with the others and directed his question toward Yun Chu.
It had been three days since they had rescued the Third Prince from the Chu army’s deadly Heart-Snatching Formation.
To the outside world, all they knew was that the long-awaited Third Prince had returned. On the first day, he had a long discussion with Chancellor Zheng throughout the night. On the following two days, he remained secluded, claiming illness.
Now, this was his first public appearance since then.
Everyone looked to him like he was their pillar of strength. The moment Yun Chu entered the room, spirits lifted. Conversations about strategies became more animated, filled with anticipation.
Yun Chu wore a plain, thick cloak, his entire frame enveloped in it. His lips were pale, and he looked as if he hadn’t fully recovered from his illness.
He stood to the side, originally silent as he listened to the discussion. But when Zheng Siyin called his name, he lifted his head slightly.
All eyes turned to him, filled with expectation.
At that moment, Yun Chu knew exactly what Zheng Siyin wanted.
He wanted him to take charge of the upcoming strategy against the Chu forces.
Trust was fragile—especially among the remnants of Wei, who had spent two years living like sewer rats, hiding in the shadows. Their thirst for victory was desperate. They longed for a leader who could bring them success and end their days of fleeing.
Since Yun Chu was here, he had to become their backbone. Otherwise, he would be doubted, discarded, and torn apart by these men who carried the hatred of a fallen nation.
He tugged at the tie of his cloak and coughed lightly.
Other than Zheng Siyin, no one here knew the full truth of how he had been rescued. No one knew about the four bloody whip marks on his back, earned while kneeling before the ancestral tablets.
That was the “dignity” Zheng Siyin had left him—a chance, but also a threat.
Yun Chu curled his lips into a faint smile. “She is looking for me.”
The crowd froze. Zheng Siyin’s gaze darkened.
Yun Chu inclined his head slightly toward them. “You may laugh at this. Two years ago, the Eldest Princess spared my life because of this face. For the past two years, I endured humiliation to gain her trust and extract intelligence from her. I never intended for her to grow attached to me. But now, because of that, my return has brought trouble upon us. However, you may rest assured—I will take care of it.”
Zheng Siyin’s expression eased slightly. He exchanged a look with Ah Si.
Ah Si responded with an “Mm,” nodded, and picked up Yun Chu’s words with a grin. “That’s right. The Third Prince has truly suffered these past two years—I can vouch for that.”
Ah Si had spent a long time attempting to infiltrate the Eldest Princess’s household and operating within the capital. Everyone knew he worked closely with Yun Chu. His words carried weight.
Hearing this, the gathered men sighed over the Third Prince’s hardships and condemned the “tyranny” of the Eldest Princess.
Ah Si then cleared his throat and raised his voice. “Now that the Third Prince has returned, everyone, we can finally move forward with our grand restoration!”
His call to arms ignited a spark in the room. The men erupted in cheers, congratulating Yun Chu on his return.
Once the excitement settled, Zheng Siyin spoke again.
“In that case, Your Highness, please suggest a plan to help us through this crisis.”
All eyes turned back to Yun Chu.
Yun Chu stared at the map spread across the long table, remaining silent for a long moment before finally picking up a piece of charcoal.
The meeting lasted until the afternoon.
When it concluded, the men left in small groups, leaving only Zheng Siyin and Yun Chu in the room.
Yun Chu’s tea had run dry. He had spoken at length during the meeting, and his cup had been refilled multiple times, ensuring that everyone left satisfied.
“With Your Highness’s strategy, knowing both our strengths and our enemy’s, victory is assured,” Zheng Siyin remarked.
Without lifting his head, Yun Chu smiled faintly at his empty teacup. “I thought you would accuse me of treason and punish me as a traitor.”
Zheng Siyin stroked his beard and said slowly, “No. You are the only remaining member of the Yun royal bloodline. You are important to us. Besides, Your Highness merely strayed from the path for a time. With me by your side, I will not let you falter again. One day, you will lead us in restoring the glory of Great Wei.”
The unspoken threat in his words was clear.
Yun Chu chuckled softly, ignoring the latter half of the statement. He turned to look at Zheng Siyin and said coolly, “Since you understand my value, then I trust you will choose your words wisely. Loyalty from subordinates is crucial for any leader. If I am not able to command absolute authority, it will also be a loss for your cause.”
He was referring to the recent incident where Ah Si had suspected him—an incident undoubtedly fueled by Zheng Siyin’s influence.
Zheng Siyin, seemingly oblivious to the subtext, gestured to the empty seat before him and changed the subject. “Returning with such dignity—you must be pleased, Your Highness?”
He smiled, a meaningful glint in his eyes.
“Your Highness, true dignity must be earned. We are all wolves waiting for the right moment to strike. We only follow the strongest alpha.”
Yun Chu’s expression turned cold. “Are you dissatisfied with my strategy?”
“Quite the opposite.” Zheng Siyin nodded approvingly. “Encircling the Chu forces from the east—what a brilliant move, striking at the heart of the enemy. As Your Highness said, you have spent two years enduring humiliation—you truly understand the Eldest Princess. I shall await your good news.”
He cupped his hands in a bow toward Yun Chu.
Yun Chu inhaled deeply, feeling as if a blade had pierced his chest.
He closed his eyes briefly and spoke.
“Leave.”
Zheng Siyin gave a dismissive snort and swept out of the room.
Yun Chu’s fate within this faction depended entirely on the success of his plan.
Zheng Siyin was waiting to see if he would succeed or fail.
Yun Chu clenched his fists. At last, he was alone.
He bent down and studied the markings he had made on the map during the meeting.
His fingers rested on a spot he had deliberately left unmarked.
At this moment, he had too few allies. He could only hope.
“Li Yunli, you are clever enough. You must understand what this means.”
On the fourth day, Lin Feng arrived.
He had received Ah Si’s secret message, revealing the location of the Wei faction’s hideout. Two men escorted him blindfolded through the dense forest before leading him into the camp.
Lin Feng understood the necessity of this—it was not to guard against him but to protect everyone.
As a spy, if he were tortured and revealed the location, it would spell disaster.
At a time like this, caution was paramount. Being able to see Yun Chu again was already a blessing.
“Young Master! At last, I’ve found you!”
Lin Feng saluted Yun Chu in his small cabin.
Yun Chu hadn’t expected to see him here. He was momentarily surprised.
Ah Si leaned against the doorway with his arms crossed. “He sent me a message by carrier pigeon the day you returned. Only after knowing you were safe did he calm down. He’s here to tell you the Eldest Princess’s latest movements.”
Hearing this, Yun Chu’s eyes darkened.
Maybe, just maybe—by taking a bold risk, he could see her again.