The runner delivering urgent news had not shouted through the streets with such fanfare for a long time.
According to custom, major victories were supposed to be celebrated loudly along the roads.
However, there hadn't been any cause for celebration in the past year.
Strictly speaking, this didn't count as a grand victory, but to penetrate deep into the Jurchen people's territory and return alive with the army—this was success enough for any officer or soldier of the Great Zhou to consider it a major triumph.
The streets were abuzz with excitement over the news, while the Princess Jiuli, hidden deep within the high walls and lofty mansions, set aside the needlework in her hands and listened intently.
"What's happening outside?" she asked.
The princess was asking about the outside world more and more often these days.
But how could they possibly know what was happening beyond the walls? The maidservants and attendants lowered their heads.
"This servant will go ask," one attendant finally volunteered and was about to leave when Lu Yunqi walked in.
"Outside, they're announcing a military victory," he stated directly.
The maidservants and attendants bowed their heads and retreated, leaving Princess Jiuli's face alight with joy.
"Victory?" she asked.
"The Duke of Chengguo is alive," Lu Yunqi replied.
He had received the news even faster than the urgent messenger, right when the Duke of Chengguo and his retinue stepped into the borders of Dingzhou.
Upon receiving the news, he immediately reported it to the emperor.
The emperor's reaction was difficult to gauge.
"Should I feel happy or unhappy about this?" he remarked.
The words seemed to be spoken to himself.
The room contained no eunuchs, only Lu Yunqi.
"Why is it that he didn't die?" the emperor asked, frowning as he gazed at Lu Yunqi.
It was evident that this news did not please him.
His expression was dark and brooding; gone was the kind and benevolent demeanor familiar to the ministers.
The emperor before Lu Yunqi was not the same emperor seen by the court officials.
"Because His Majesty hasn't decreed him to die," Lu Yunqi replied.
The emperor stared at him before bursting into laughter.
"Well said," he remarked. "Until I declare his death, he cannot die."
Just as he spoke, a eunuch's shrill, jubilant voice rang out from outside.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, great news!"
The emperor waved at Lu Yunqi to dismiss him. Lu Yunqi bowed, stepped back, and watched as the doors of the hall swung open. A eunuch rushed in brandishing a written report.
"...The Duke of Chengguo is alive and returning..."
"...He has already reached Dingzhou..."
The emperor emitted a cheer, his voice brimming with excitement, and hastily ordered the ministers be summoned.
Hearing the summons, the officials at the government office quickly assembled in court, making the imperial hall even noisier.
"...We lost tens of thousands of soldiers! This is the crime of greed for battle!"
"...That's not entirely fair to say. The Jurchen people outnumbered us greatly—losing soldiers was unavoidable..."
"...Even so, it's all the Duke of Chengguo's fault. Raising an army is no easy task, yet casualties come so swiftly. His Majesty explicitly ordered avoidance of conflict, yet he defied the command..."
As the officials expressed their righteous indignation, the emperor's expression flitted between joy, agitation, and unease.
"Regardless, it's good that he's alive," the emperor said.
"Your Majesty is truly too benevolent," an official immediately chimed in. "It is precisely because of such kindness that the Duke of Chengguo has become ever more brazen."
"Enough. Stop arguing," the emperor said, tapping the dragon-adorned desk before him. "Since he's alive, the most pressing matter now is the aftermath."
"Yes, anything else can be addressed after the Duke of Chengguo returns," Huang Cheng, who had remained silent until now, added.
The mention of aftermath brought forth discussions of military rewards and punishments, and the court once again erupted with opinions.
Lu Yunqi had already exited the hall, signaling the eunuchs to close the door to block out the noisy deliberations. He then turned and walked away.
He had no intention of relaying any of this to Princess Jiuli, for upon learning from Lu Yunqi that the Duke of Chengguo was still alive, the princess's face had already brightened with joy.
"Good people should live long lives," she remarked.
"In the end, it's all the same," Lu Yunqi replied. "Everyone dies sooner or later."
"Though everyone dies, there are different ways to die," Princess Jiuli said.
"There's no difference," Lu Yunqi responded blandly.
Princess Jiuli did not argue further, lowering her head to continue her needlework.
Lu Yunqi did not immediately leave either. Instead, he stood there watching her stitching a flower that seemed as if it would never be finished.
"Does the princess not inquire about Miss Jun's news?" he suddenly asked.
Princess Jiuli paused her stitching and smiled.
"No news is good news," she replied.
...............
For many others, the news of the Duke of Chengguo was undoubtedly excellent.
When rumors spread of his death in battle, the people of the southern lands were panicked and weeping, while those in the northern lands were overcome with sorrow and wailing.
Without the Duke of Chengguo, the entire northern region fell into a state of bleak despair. Some government troops stationed at Xiongzhou's borders even fled without a fight upon encountering the enemies.
When the government soldiers fled, the common people began packing up their families and heading south.
The Duchess, however, did not leave, nor did she display the sadness that others anticipated. Her demeanor remained composed, as if she hadn't even heard of the Duke's supposed death.
"What's there to be sad about with death?" she said to a little maid at her side. "Everyone dies—it's not a big deal."
But no one actually wants to die, the little maid thought to herself.
"That's not necessarily true. Some people truly don't mind dying," said Madam Yu, laughing.
It was at that moment the news arrived. With unrestrained excitement, Liang Chengdong rushed in, his voice trembling.
"It's said they've reached Dingzhou—it's absolutely true," he announced.
Since Miss Jun and her troops hadn't hastily returned to Hejian Prefecture, suspicions arose. Scouts sent out reported they couldn't find Miss Jun's trace in Bazhou. People began to assume the worst.
Still, it was difficult to believe—too shocking, really.
For the Duke of Chengguo to lead an army into the Jurchen people's territory was surprising but acceptable. After all, he was the Duke of Chengguo. But for a woman to bring the Shun'an Army there as well—that was simply... courting death!
And yet, she had actually pulled it off.
Madam Yu's expression turned conflicted, seemingly caught between joy and melancholy. She opened her mouth to speak but ultimately only sighed.
"That child," she murmured.
"Shall we head to Dingzhou immediately?" Liang Chengdong asked excitedly. "The Duke's heir must have already gone."
He paced back and forth.
"I wonder how badly the Duke is hurt."
Madam Yu laughed.
"What's there to worry about?" she said. "Miss Jun is there."
...................
At Anyang Pass near Tang County in Dingzhou, a massive military camp was set up. Troops were constantly coming and going, but many were barred from entering, including Dingzhou's military and civil officials.
"The Duke of Chengguo is recuperating and cannot be disturbed," a guard stationed outside the camp said impassively.
The officials from the military command were annoyed by this, but given that the Duke of Chengguo was inside and the camp soldiers appeared unusually fierce, they had no choice but to comply.
"Could the Duke be not just gravely injured but actually dead?"
The officials whispered amongst themselves.
Why else would he not come out?
"It's said the Duke's heir's wife led the troops to rescue him."
"Really? I've never heard of the Duke's heir being married."
Though denied entry to the camp, the officials did not disperse. Instead, they loitered nearby. Here and there, among the attendants and soldiers accompanying them, were figures who seemed ordinary yet not entirely so.
"Your people?" Lei Zhonglian remarked, retracting his gaze and looking at the nearby Eighteenth Jin.
Though the five Jinyiwei members, including Eighteenth Jin, were wounded to varying degrees, their lives were not in danger. Dressed in armor, they blended in with the surrounding soldiers.
At Lei Zhonglian's comment, Eighteenth Jin's expression remained cold and unresponsive.
"These people can't get in. You'd best behave yourself and abandon any mischievous thoughts," Lei Zhonglian warned. "Otherwise, you'll be detained for another half year."
"What's there to hide? And what can even be hidden?" Eighteenth Jin retorted aloofly.
As they spoke, another commotion arose outside the camp, as though someone else was trying to enter.
"What do you mean I can't go in?"
A man's loud, piercing voice shouted.
"Do you not know who I am?"
Hearing this voice, Lei Zhonglian didn't even need to look to know who had arrived. His expression flickered with excitement.
"...I'm the Duke of Chengguo's heir!"
Since it was the Duke's heir, naturally, he wasn't stopped. The accompanying officials watched as Zhu Zan rode straight past the gates into the camp without hesitation.
"Where's my father?"
"Where's my mother?"
"Where's my wife?"
His booming voice quickly filled the previously quiet camp, as though heating up the very air around them.
At the sound of his call, one of the tents was lifted, and out stepped a young woman.
"Who's calling for the heir's wife?" she asked loudly.
Zhu Zan's gaze flicked towards her, and he immediately rode over.
The woman had her face covered; she looked about sixteen or seventeen years old and was flicking a whip playfully in her hand.
Was this the heir's wife? She certainly had a martial air about her, wielding a weapon even for recreation.
This thought crossed Zhu Zan's mind, and the grin on his face widened.
"It's me," he said, "I'm your husb—"
Before he could finish, another figure lifted the tent flap and stepped out.
Her spring-colored garments were bright, her figure graceful. She slightly lowered her head as she emerged, revealing lustrous black hair and a jeweled flower ornament atop it.
"Husband, you're here," she said, her voice soft and clear.
Ah, so it's her... Zhu Zan thought, secretly rolling his eyes as he felt the countless gazes fixed on his back. He quickly plastered on an even more affectionate expression.
"Mother!" he called loudly, dismounting his horse.
The young woman lifted her gaze and smiled softly at him.
At that smile, Zhu Zan's legs nearly buckled beneath him.
"Ah…"
The "-wife" he had been about to utter turned into a mere sound, and he tumbled off his horse with a thud.
Miss Jun pressed her lips together to stifle her laughter.
"Husband, mother isn't here; she's on her way from Hejian Prefecture," she said, her eyes curving into crescents as she gazed at Zhu Zan. "Don't worry—Mother-in-law is doing just fine."
Zhu Zan clung to the horse's reins, leaning against it with an expression as if he had just seen a ghost.
"My goodness!" he blurted out again.