Yu Mingyue stood there until Feng Yingying's back completely disappeared into the dark night. In that instant, she reconciled with everything in her past, the good and the bad, all of it a part of their irrecoverable youthful memories.
Farewell!
Mo Yuxi's body was quickly consumed by roaring flames, igniting the pitch-black night. Tears blurred her vision. The past could not be revisited, nor could the bonds of affection be let go. Growing up, it turned out, meant facing repeated partings and deaths. If she had known that every farewell would be so sudden, she would have loved those around her with all her might.
Yu Mingyue closed her eyes, her tears scattered by the wind. She personally sprinkled Mo Yuxi's ashes into the river. Her greatest aspiration was freedom outside the palace; let her spirit flow freely with the river.
...
The war Yu Mingyue had feared finally arrived, and it was more severe than she had imagined.
Hostilities erupted simultaneously in Youzhou, Yumenguan, and the southeastern seas. Great Wei was in grave peril.
After the mutiny in Youzhou years ago, the Khitans were crippled and pledged allegiance to Great Wei. Unexpectedly, the Uyghurs, taking advantage of the Khitans' weakness, seized military power and declared war on Great Wei.
Tibet had long coveted Yumenguan, and a conflict between the two peoples was inevitable. Meanwhile, the Japanese forces in the southeastern seas, disguised as pirates, were plundering coastal fishermen, posing a significant threat that had to be eliminated.
When the first snow fell in the capital, Yu Mingyue received a letter from her father. This letter had likely been written over a month ago.
There were changes on the Youzhou border. The Jizhou army led by Yu Zeyan had already marched towards Youzhou to reinforce. He would not be able to return to the capital for the New Year this year.
No news had come back from Yumenguan, but it was rumored that the fighting was fierce. A fire artillery diagram stolen by Tibetan spies was flawed; the cannons would explode in the barrel once heated to a certain degree. The Tibetan army suffered heavy losses, and their morale plummeted.
However, this war had been planned for a long time. The King of Tibet personally donned his armor and quickly rallied his troops, engaging in a desperate battle with our army. Both sides sustained considerable casualties.
As for the naval battle in the southeast, Yu Mingyue knew that many members of the Cui family had joined the battlefield. The noble families resented the Emperor's ingratitude, but ultimately, they were all citizens of Great Wei, and every man had a duty to his country in times of crisis.
The Crown Prince requested to be sent to the battlefield three times, but the Emperor refused. With the Crown Prince's position secure, the Emperor naturally would not let him take further risks.
In the twelfth lunar month of the twenty-third year of Yong'an, dire news arrived from Yumenguan: the valiant and skilled Marquis of Chenliu, after being struck by a poisoned arrow and falling from his horse, was trampled to death by a stampede of horses.
The Emperor was furious. Ye Feisheng, the Commander of the Northern City, volunteered to lead the troops. He hailed from a military family and had been personally tutored by the old Duke since childhood, possessing skills no less than his elder brother's. Otherwise, he would not have been feared and driven out of the family by the old madam.
After years of enduring hardship, he finally had the opportunity to display his ambitions, to vindicate himself and his deceased mother. He had to go to this battle.
The Emperor weighed the pros and cons and finally agreed.
Yu Mingjing was still young. If he failed, the western gate of Great Wei would be wide open, and Chang'an would surely fall. If he could repel the Tibetan army this time, the young general would achieve fame in one battle, and his influence would be unstoppable.
Ye Feisheng's timing in requesting to fight was perfect. For years, he had wanted to prove that he was no inferior to Yu Zeyan. The Emperor gave him this opportunity. If he proved capable, he could be used in the future to balance the Yu family father and son.
The snow outside the city gates had not yet melted. Yu Mingyue had been waiting for a long time at the Ten-Mile Pavilion. She did not want the Emperor to know about this farewell.
Ye Feisheng pulled on the reins of his horse, which whinnied and stopped. He dismounted and walked towards the pavilion.
On the stone table in the pavilion, Yu Mingyue had warmed some wine, its fragrance wafting through the air. Seeing him enter, Yu Mingyue poured him a cup.
"Sixth Lady sees off Fifth Uncle. I wish Fifth Uncle a triumphant return and a safe journey!" Yu Mingyue picked up one of the cups and held it in her hand.
Ye Feisheng also picked up his cup and drank it down in one go. "The items you left with me, I've had them sent back to the Duke's mansion."
"What Yu Liuniang gives, I never take back. I'll keep it for Fifth Uncle, and you can come back to the capital to ask for it as a dowry for your wife," Yu Mingyue said with a light tone.
Ye Feisheng laughed heartily, "You'd better keep it as your dowry. I'll be relying on you when I go to the Yu family this time."
"I will certainly look after the household and wait for your return."
"Good!" Ye Feisheng picked up the wine pot from the table and drank it dry before remounting his horse.
The sound of hooves faded, and the black figure disappeared into the vast expanse of white snow. Yu Mingyue pulled her cloak tighter and rode back in the direction of the capital.