The nights at the borderlands were cooler than those in the capital, and the flickering candlelight in the city lord’s mansion swayed with the wind.

The night was still young, yet the banquet had already dispersed.

The guards inside and outside the city lord’s mansion stood solemn and vigilant. No one dared to completely let their guard down before fully defeating Haozhou.

Most had retired to rest, leaving the mansion tranquil after the earlier commotion.

In the study, Wen Yuesheng sat quietly, her gaze resting on the person before her.

In a calm tone, she asked, “Why are you the one to come this time?”

There were still a few military officials left in the court, and it wasn’t as though reinforcements couldn’t be arranged by the Grand General of the Nation.

None of this had been mentioned in their correspondence.

Yan Ling spoke slowly, “The original commander of the reinforcements was the Grand General of the Nation. However, before the imperial decree was issued, His Majesty changed his mind.”

He paused slightly, his gaze deepening. “The Grand General of the Nation was reassigned to Guandong.”

Ever since Xiao Rui’s(Prince Heng Guang) treason in Guandong, the position of the commander there had remained vacant.

By rights, it should have been filled earlier, but it wasn’t.

Instead, it was suddenly filled at a time when reinforcements were needed for the borderlands, making the situation suspicious.

Moreover, the Grand General of the Nation was only a rank below the Imperial Chariot General and on par with Lu Zhenguo, who defended the border. Reassigning him to Guandong was essentially a demotion.

Given the pressing need for military leadership, such a decision was inexplicable.

Wen Yuesheng’s expression remained indifferent as she asked, “Who is the Emperor’s chosen commander for the reinforcements?”

Yan Ling raised his eyes to meet hers and stated plainly, “The Prince of Yong’an.”

Silence fell over the study.

If it had been a routine reassignment, it might have been justifiable. However, after Wen Yuesheng had led the border troops to their first victory against Haozhou, the Emperor’s decision became all the more intriguing.

Noting her cold gaze, Yan Ling spoke softly, “After the battle at Yuancheng, the County Princess’s fame soared.”

“The people of the borderlands do not recognize the imperial family; they only know the Great Hui’s God of War, County Princess Sining.”

After a brief pause, he added, “It’s not just the borderlands. The entire Great Hui now sings your praises.”

Though the empire remained embroiled in war, the Emperor had no reason to be dissatisfied with the generals defending the nation.

However, the glory and renown of such accomplishments were something he wouldn’t allow Wen Yuesheng to claim alone.

To the Emperor, Wen Yuesheng was, after all, merely a woman.

The person meant to be recognized and revered by the world should be the future heir to the throne.

“The Emperor’s intention was to have the Prince of Yong’an assist at the border and replace you as the commander of the entire army,” Yan Ling said coolly.

The war was far from over, yet the Emperor was already eager to secure credit for his favored prince.

“Fortunately, the capital is home to more than one prince.”

King Jingkang was frail, a fact known to all in the court and capital.

While he was unfit to lead at the border, he wouldn’t allow Xiao Jin to take the position unchallenged either.

Before the First Prince Xiao Rui’s rebellion, those aligned with Xiao Jin had likely underestimated King Jingkang.

That underestimation now led to their current setback.

As the two princes vied for dominance, the border could not afford to wait, leaving the command of reinforcements in Yan Ling’s hands.

Yan Ling’s gaze cooled as he spoke softly, “Not long after I left the capital, word came from there.”

“King Jingkang’s mother, Lady Liang, has regained the Emperor’s favor and has been moved out of the Cold Palace,” he said, pausing before adding, “The capital is abuzz with rumors that King Jingkang’s faction is about to rise again.”

Lady Liang, the former Noble Consort Liang, had once fallen from grace due to her family’s crimes. Her attempt to have her nephew marry Wen Yuesheng had angered the Emperor, leading to her confinement in the Cold Palace.

Everyone thought she would remain there for the rest of her life, yet now she had managed a comeback.

Coincidentally—or perhaps not—the timing of her resurgence aligned with Yan Ling’s departure from the capital.

Yan Ling understood this all too well but remained indifferent toward all members of the imperial family except Wen Yuesheng.

If King Jingkang and Xiao Jin wanted to fight, he would step aside and let them. His only concern was safeguarding Wen Yuesheng’s rear.

“Moreover,” Yan Ling continued, “the County Princess hasn’t sent a letter in days, which left me somewhat worried.”

His concern, it seemed, was justified.

He wasn’t worried that Wen Yuesheng would be restrained by anyone but rather troubled by the swarm of admirers around her.

Yu Shun was one thing, but in just a month, her side had attracted several more people, including even that unprincipled son of the Lu family trying to get involved.

Had he not come, given her temperament, she might have forgotten him in three to five months—or perhaps her ranks would have gained a few more brilliant young talents.

Since reaching adulthood, ascending the ranks, and serving in the court, Yan Ling had never been in such a state.

Wen Yuesheng paused slightly, raising her gaze to meet his.

That glance caught sight of his wrist, partly wrapped in bandages beneath his white sleeve.

She asked calmly, “What happened to your hand?”

Yan Ling lowered his eyes. “I twisted it in haste on the journey.”

Wen Yuesheng initially intended to have Zhou Manniang examine him, but the recent battles had left her exhausted. Hearing it was just a twist, she rose and walked to the basin.

Washing her hands in the clear water, she dried them with a hanging silk cloth before approaching him.

“Let me take a look.”

Her voice was neutral, but as she drew closer, the faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.

Yan Ling’s gaze wavered slightly as he rolled up his sleeve, revealing his slender wrist.

Wen Yuesheng’s fingers were icy cold, her fingertips as pale and smooth as jade. The moment they touched his wrist, Yan Ling’s eyes, deep and vast as a smoky expanse, grew darker.

Out of her sight, the back of his ears and the nape of his neck flushed crimson.

The skin beneath her touch was burning hot. Wen Yuesheng lifted her eyelids to glance at him. “Have you been drinking?”

Yan Ling didn’t answer, only lowering his gaze to conceal the emotions swirling within his eyes.

With every second her fingers lingered on his wrist, his emotions seemed to grow deeper and more turbulent.

Finally, Wen Yuesheng withdrew her hand and spoke in a calm voice: “Rest well in the coming days.”

He stared at her jade-like knuckles and replied in a hoarse tone, “Alright.”

Whatever she said was fine with him.

After the long journey, Yan Ling didn’t linger long in Wen Yuesheng’s study.

Outside, Diezhu waited.

Seeing Yan Ling emerge with his left hand gripping his right wrist, and a pale bandage wrapped around it, Diezhu froze for a moment.

Diezhu couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

Unlike most civil officials, Yan Ling had practiced martial arts since he left the palace at the age of seven. His skills rivaled even the secretive guards around him.

Yan Ling was known for his indifferent demeanor, not just toward others but even toward himself.

No matter how serious an injury he sustained, he rarely paid it any mind.

On the road here, he had merely twisted his wrist. Diezhu, accustomed to Yan Ling’s habits, didn’t think much of it.

But unexpectedly, before arriving in the capital, Yan Ling suddenly ordered him to fetch bandages.

At the time, Diezhu was so startled that he thought something serious had happened.

That evening, he saw Yan Ling use the bandages to wrap his “twisted” wrist.

… It was the kind of injury that probably would’ve healed on its own by the time he got around to bandaging it.

Now, watching Yan Ling leave the study, gripping his wrist with occasional glances full of uncharacteristic tenderness, Diezhu was utterly speechless.

He didn’t dare say a word.

With reinforcements arriving and a major battle looming, tension hung thick in the air.

Before Yan Ling departed, all the military commanders had gathered in Wen Yuesheng’s study to discuss their strategy.

A portion of the study had been cleared to place a large black desk.

On the desk lay a prominently displayed map of the frontier defenses, alongside a detailed terrain map of the entire border region.

To make things clearer, the terrain map was a recent creation, marked with the defensive lines between Da Hui and Hao Zhou, as well as the key cities in the vicinity.

The commanders were engaged in a heated discussion, but Wen Yuesheng, seated calmly before the desk, raised her hand and pointed to a spot on the map.

Her fingertip landed on a red X.

“What is this location?” she asked.

Nearly all the commanders of the border forces were present. Beside Wen Yuesheng stood Lu Tingyu, who paused briefly before answering, his expression complicated.

“That is Yuwang Town.”

Among the many grand cities at the frontier, this small town wasn’t particularly noteworthy.

Yet its location made it significant.

Yuwang Town sat directly on the border between Da Hui and Hao Zhou.

Long ago, it had belonged to Da Hui.

But when Hao Zhou launched its invasion, Yuwang Town became the first stepping stone for their army.

When Hao Zhou’s forces attacked, it wasn’t the cities that fell first—it was this small town.

For the next twenty years, Yuwang Town remained under Hao Zhou’s control.

But it wasn’t entirely typical.

Yuwang Town’s position was closer to Da Hui’s remote villages and much farther from Hao Zhou’s towns and cities.

The area was remote and its land barren—far from wealthy. Governing it properly would have been more trouble than it was worth.