The innkeeper brought the chrysanthemum cake to An Ning’s room and left.
“Care for a taste?” An Ning looked at Gui Ning, who was still resting with his eyes closed.
Gui Ning didn't answer. An Ning stood up and reached out to pat Gui Ning’s shoulder. Before she could touch him, Gui Ning leaned back abruptly, collapsing onto the bed, his face ashen.
An Ning froze, snapping back to reality after a moment. She stepped forward to check Gui Ning’s breath. Fortunately, he was alive.
An Ning stayed awake the entire night because Gui Ning was constantly complaining of feeling cold and hot.
When he was cold, she covered him with blankets; when he was hot, she removed his clothes.
Finally, before dawn, Gui Ning recovered to his normal state.
An Ning collapsed on the floor, exhausted.
When Wen Yuxi arrived, he was astonished by the scene.
He stepped forward to help An Ning up and asked, “What happened to you?”
An Ning looked behind Wen Yuxi. Wen Yuxi knew who she was looking at and said in a low voice, “She’s in the room.”
An Ning looked at Wen Yuxi and said, “He was restless all night, with a persistent fever. Fortunately, it’s gone now.”
Wen Yuxi nodded. “Leave the rest to me. You go and wait outside.”
An Ning walked out of the room.
Wen Yuxi stepped forward, helped Gui Ning up, and slowly channeled internal energy into him.
Soon, wisps of hot air began to rise from Gui Ning’s head.
Suddenly, Gui Ning’s eyes snapped open, as black as the darkest night, when one could not see one’s hand in front of one’s face.
Wen Yuxi withdrew his internal energy and said, “If you continue like this, you will deplete your internal energy and die.”
“My affairs are none of your concern,” Gui Ning said indifferently, standing up from the bed.
Wen Yuxi chuckled softly. “I don’t want to be concerned, but if you die, she will never wake up.”
Gui Ning’s gaze paused slightly. He turned to look at Wen Yuxi, who spread his hands and said, “I’m just stating facts.”
“I know,” Gui Ning replied.
“Since you know, why not make a decision soon? Xue Changan will not give up. She has sent people countless times to try and enter the Divine Hall. If it weren’t for the Thousand Jade Pavilion protecting it fiercely, she would have entered by now,” Wen Yuxi looked at him, his expression cold.
“Thank you,” Gui Ning said faintly.
Wen Yuxi sighed. “This cannot go on.”
Gui Ning withdrew his gaze and looked into the distance. “Give her a little more time!”
“Hesitation in decisive moments leads to greater trouble. The longer it takes, the more she will linger, and you will be unable to bear the immense backlash she brings.”
“You don’t need to worry about it. I have my own plans.”
“I truly don’t want to manage it, but with the formation activated, I cannot stand by and do nothing,” Wen Yuxi said to Gui Ning with a look of helplessness.
Gui Ning remained silent. Wen Yuxi followed Gui Ning’s gaze and saw a gap in the window. Through the gap, he saw An Ning’s back, and in front of her stood a young man.
“I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused you, young lady. It won’t happen again,” Wu Changling said, this time without offering flowers or making frivolous remarks, but with a serious expression.
An Ning was slightly taken aback, then said, “Thank you, young master.”
Wu Changling said slowly, “I am going to follow my uncle to campaign.”
“Campaign?” An Ning blinked.
Wu Changling nodded. “The Han Kingdom has unilaterally torn up the trade agreement, and their army of one hundred thousand has already reached a point less than two hundred li outside the border. My uncle is going to resist the Han army.”
“The Han Kingdom is truly…” shameless. It was their initiative to establish trade, and now they were the ones breaking it.
“Young lady, after so many days, I still don’t know your name. This journey may be one of no return. If I manage to return, please tell me your name,” Wu Changling looked up at her, his eyes filled with anticipation.
An Ning nodded. “Of course.”
Wu Changling’s face lit up with joy. “With your words, what does it matter if I die in battle? I bid you farewell. We shall meet again!”
Wu Changling bowed deeply, then turned and left.
“May you return safely!” An Ning couldn’t help but call out.
Wu Changling paused his steps, but he didn’t turn around. He continued to leave.
“Well done, Little General Wu!”
“Well done, Little General Wu!”
The surrounding onlookers couldn’t help but exclaim.
General Wu’s Manor
Wu Dakang, with a somber expression, waved the dust-covered messenger away. “Go and rest.”
“General, when will the reinforcements arrive?” Madame Wu, handing the infant in her arms to the wet nurse, stepped forward and asked.
Wu Dakang sighed and turned to Madame Wu. “Fanghua, pack up your valuables. I will send people to escort you out of the pass.”
Madame Wu trembled, her face turning pale. “General, why is this?”
Wu Dakang took a deep breath. “Without reinforcements, I can only hold Dongling Pass to the death.”
Madame Wu looked incredulous and shook her head. “How… how is it possible? A month ago, didn’t you send someone to the capital to report to the Empress? Isn’t a month enough for the Empress to dispatch troops and generals?”
Wu Dakang looked at Madame Wu. “The Empress refused to send troops, stating that such minor matters did not warrant sending troops.”
Madame Wu bit her lip. “An army of one hundred thousand? You call that a minor matter?”
“Madam, the current Empress is not the Empress of the past.”
“General, why don’t we leave together?” Madame Wu pulled on Wu Dakang’s sleeve, pleading.
Wu Dakang patted Madame Wu’s shoulder, his expression resolute. “Madam, I am the commander of Dongling Pass. Dongling Pass is not just inhabited by civilians; there are also twenty thousand soldiers stationed here with me. If I leave, where shall I leave them? Therefore, I cannot leave. The ancestral teachings of the Wu family also do not permit me to leave, not to mention…”
Wu Dakang released Madame Wu and walked a few steps forward, his voice strong. “When the Empress entrusted Dongling Pass to me back then, she made me promise to protect it with my life.”
“But… but she’s dead…” Madame Wu couldn’t help but say.
“Yes, she has passed away, but what I, Wu Dakang, have promised cannot be broken. Fanghua, quickly pack your things. You will leave Dongling Pass this afternoon.”
“Since the General is not leaving, neither am I. We will live together or die together,” Madame Wu said, biting her lip, word by word.
Wu Dakang trembled and turned to look at this woman who usually cried out at the slightest pain, but at this moment, was willing to share life and death with him.
“Fanghua, we still have Zhengdao,” Wu Dakang closed his eyes and said slowly.
Madame Wu’s body stiffened, and she collapsed onto the ground, weeping.
Wu Dakang stepped forward and embraced her. “Fanghua, I know your feelings, but you are my last vulnerability. I cannot let you be in danger. Forgive me. If there is a next life, I still wish to be your husband.”
“General…”
Wu Dakang’s eyes suddenly changed. With a swift movement, he struck down the woman in his arms, knocking her unconscious.
He looked at the unconscious woman for a few moments. Tears were streaming from her eyes. He leaned down, wiped away her tears, and whispered, “Fanghua, raise Zhengdao well. Tell him later that his father was not a man of broken promises.”