Chapter 957: Chapter 696: Preparing on Both Fronts

The sky darkened quickly.

When the whole grassland was shrouded in pitch-black night, the troops led by Yu Wenye found a small river that hadn’t frozen yet and set up camp by the riverside. For a moment, countless bonfires were lit, reflecting the sparkling stars in the dark sky.

Shang Ruyi was in the tent, using warm water she’d heated to wash her face, tidied up a bit, and then came out again.

Not far from her tent, a bonfire was burning fiercely, illuminating Yu Wenye sitting beside the fire, his eyes fixed on the flames. His high brow and straight nose, the clear contours of his side profile, were even more stunning under the night and firelight.

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but sigh lightly.

To be honest, she was quite a frivolous person, having been attracted by Yu Wenye at first sight, changed her mind as if by divine intervention, and altered her entire future. Looking back now, it was truly thrilling. What can a handsome face predict or guarantee?

That’s why she told him it was the divine intervention of God Buddha.

Her choice, blinded by attraction, was surprisingly correct.

But truly, the real divine intervention was the event that changed her destiny—"borrowing the dead to return a soul." It was because she seized things—perhaps memory, perhaps knowledge—from Yu Mingyue that she decided to change, and it was precisely because of that life-and-death struggle within her body, invisible yet life-threatening, that made her shiver at the sight of Yu Mingyue. Initially, even the familiar pain of the soul being torn apart would resurrect.

But now, it’s all over.

She had grown accustomed to that person’s appearance and accepted that perhaps the future would be full of treacherous and perilous destiny.

However, looking at Yu Wenye’s momentarily furrowed brow and his complex gaze, it seemed he was still a bit stunned.

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi stepped towards him, but just after taking two steps, a small figure suddenly rushed out, blocking her way like a little calf, almost knocking her over. She looked down and saw it was Shantong’er.

He hugged her happily: "Sister Ruyi."

Shang Ruyi was startled, but upon looking down and meeting those eyes that resembled crescents when he smiled, she immediately felt joy again, reaching out to stroke his short spiky hair, like a little hedgehog, and asked: "Are you cold?"

"Not cold."

"Why did you run over here?"

"I came to see you."

Saying this, Shantong’er collected his smile and said, "I knew you were caught by the Turkic people, I was so worried, Sister Ruyi, they didn’t hit you, did they?"

Shang Ruyi laughed: "No, look, I’m perfectly fine."

Shantong’er really stepped back and looked her up and down, confirming Shang Ruyi was not missing any limbs and had no injuries, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief and said: "That’s good."

"..."

"We were all so worried about you after knowing you were captured, everyone wanted to come."

"Everyone?"

"Yes, Big Brother Shen and Brother Mu Xian and the others."

"Oh..."

Shang Ruyi nodded.

Once again hearing news of Shen Wuzheng from others, even if just a few words, the reassurance that "he’s still alive" delighted her greatly. And Yu Wenye wasn’t wrong before, Shen Wuzheng indeed went to meet up with the following troops, because Mu Xian was the one leading them, and the two joined forces after passing Tongguan and rushed to Taiyuan together.

Then, during the attack on Taiyuan, they learned of her being taken.

Shantong’er added: "But for some reason, Yu Wen’s second brother—" as if realizing something, he stuck out his tongue and corrected himself, "Prince Qin, he wouldn’t allow them to follow together. Sister Ruyi, I don’t understand, isn’t it better if more people come to save you?"

"..."

"But for some reason, Big Brother Shen and the others actually agreed."

"..."

"Just before departing, Big Brother Shen told Prince Qin that if he couldn’t bring you back safely, he wouldn’t let him off. I was terrified, they seemed ready to fight."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this.

Looking at Shantong’er who still seemed scared, she softly laughed and said: "Don’t worry, they won’t fight."

Only then did Shantong’er nod.

While speaking, Shang Ruyi looked around again. Actually, before she mounted Yu Wenye’s horse and rode with him to the front, she realized the unusual composition of this troop. Although she saw familiar faces like Shantong’er and Shen Tu Tai, and their subordinates, who were the first to join Yu Wenye’s camp—loyal and battle-savvy people from Wanggang Village—there was also a group that clearly didn’t look like soldiers.

They were Turkic people.

At this moment, these people were placed in the southeast corner of the camp, freely allowed to move but watched over, mainly tasked with boiling water and cooking, evidently doing menial work.

She quietly asked: "Shantong’er, what’s going on with those people over there?"

Shantong’er merely glanced back and immediately said: "Them, they’re captives."

"Captives?"

"Yes, during the attack on Taiyuan, the Turkic troops inside barely resisted, quickly fled, but were completely captured outside by Prince Qin, his force totaling over ten thousand."

"..."

"But, their main generals have fled, so these people quickly surrendered."

Shang Ruyi took a deep breath, then turned to look, roughly estimating, and said, "At least five thousand troops were brought here, right?"

Shantong’er nodded, "Yes, nearly half of the surrendered soldiers were brought over."

"What are you doing with them?"

"Exchange."

"Exchange?"

"Yes,"

Shantong’er, as if it were a matter of course, said, "I overheard Prince Qin talking to Seventh Brother. But I didn’t hear what they said earlier. When I arrived, I only heard Prince Qin telling Seventh Brother that if there wasn’t any internal strife among the Turkic, then the only way to bring you back safely and intact is this."

"..."

"So, he instructed Seventh Brother to keep a close watch on these people on the way, and no matter what happens at the Turkic Yatai, no matter what he does at that time, Seventh Brother mustn’t act rashly, and must keep his subordinates in check."

Saying this, he pouted, "Especially me."

"..."

"But, I was really scared at the time. You were captured by the Turkic, and he went alone. If they attacked, wouldn’t you both——"

This possibility made the naive child a bit afraid, and he shrugged his shoulders subconsciously.

Shang Ruyi also took a sharp breath.

But it wasn’t because of the potential crisis, but the message conveyed in Shantong’er’s words—Yu Wenye was actually going to use five thousand surrendered soldiers to exchange for her return!

He was actually going to use surrendered soldiers to exchange for her return!?

Not to mention, such an action for him, a warlord known for his battles, was a rather "humiliating" thing. More importantly, neither he nor Han King had the authority to deal with surrendered soldiers this way.

In critical situations, they could detain them, or even kill!

But they couldn’t return them!

After all, now that they and the Turkic have fully declared war against each other after the battle in Taiyuan, returning surrendered soldiers in this situation would be tantamount to strengthening the enemy and weakening ourselves.

If this really happened, once they returned to Chang An, Yu Wenquan would likely not let him off easily.

Now, Shang Ruyi also understood why Yu Wenye dared to stride openly to the Turkic Yatai without concealing his whereabouts, because an entire five thousand men were a temptation even Ashina Shali would find hard to refuse.

After all, she was just one person.

While five thousand troops, once returned to the Turkic, in such chaotic times, and especially in the following confrontations between both sides, the extent of their potential influence needed no further emphasis.

However, things didn’t go entirely as he anticipated.

No, perhaps they did not entirely fail to.

Because Shantong’er just said that Yu Wenye previously mentioned something about a potential internal strife within the Turkic!

So, from the beginning, he had prepared two plans.

Either, as executed this time, he would single-handedly deter Ashina Zhuxie, who faced turmoil and urgently needed to stabilize the Turkic internal strife, to release him; or, he would use five thousand surrendered soldiers to exchange for her.

No matter the danger faced or the cost incurred...

He just wanted to bring her back.

When this thought emerged in her mind, Shang Ruyi suddenly felt an inexplicable shiver sweeping through her, but it wasn’t surprise or fear, rather, it was a shock originating from within, an intense feeling as if flames coursing through her veins, her heart pounding like thunder, blood surging like a torrent, instantly spreading warmth through every limb.

Even though at this moment, she was still some distance away from the bonfire, still a distance away from the body that brought her warmth.

But she, already felt the gentle breeze of spring.

"Sister Ruyi, why are you smiling?"

A sudden curious and naive voice jolted Shang Ruyi back to reality, she looked down, meeting Shantong’er’s tiger-like innocent gaze, and her face flushed crimson again.

Fortunately, the sky had darkened by now, and the bonfire was far enough away to conceal the view.

She shook her head and smiled, "It’s nothing."

Just as her voice faded, a gust of cold wind blew past, causing them both to sway slightly. Shang Ruyi instinctively reached out and grasped the child’s sturdy, firm arm, when suddenly a flash of insight dawned on her, realizing something.

She immediately tightened her grip on Shantong’er’s arm, speaking in a low tone, "Wait, did you just say after capturing Taiyuan, Feng Chen——Prince Qin, was outside the city?"

"Yes."

"He didn’t enter the city?"

"No, he didn’t."

Shantong’er honestly stated, "After capturing these people, he immediately turned his horse around, not resting even for a moment, and headed directly this way."