The next day turned out to be unexpectedly nice weather.

Although they woke up before dawn to pack up their camp and prepare for departure, the faint morning light breaking through the east was a rare clear sight in recent days. As the sun gradually rose, a vast blue sky unfolded overhead, the bright blue color dazzling to the eye. Everything around was covered in dried grass, reflecting a golden hue under the sunlight, appearing boundless and vast, invigorating one’s spirit.

Yet this good mood was abruptly dispelled when she awkwardly stumbled down as she tried to mount her horse due to sore muscles and back pain.

"Ah!"

Shang Ruyi quickly grabbed the horse’s bridle, barely steadying herself, but her legs still trembled weakly, making it impossible to climb onto the horse.

Just as she began to feel anxious, a pair of hands reached over from behind and held her waist.

"Hmm?"

Shang Ruyi hesitated for a moment, but before she could turn around to look, she felt her body lighten as she was lifted onto the horse’s back. After all this exertion, she was drenched in sweat. Lowering her head, she saw Yu Wenye standing beside her, smiling up at her. She didn’t have the presence to thank him and instead bit her lip, blushing as she glared at him fiercely.

It was all his fault!

Even though she had initiated it last night, the way he had—was simply too much!

By this point, she didn’t remember much about last night, but even so, Shang Ruyi vaguely recalled that by the end of what he demanded, she had utterly no strength left, not even mentally able to sustain herself, breaking down and bursting into tears beneath him several times.

Even so, he wouldn’t easily let her go.

Thankfully, in the latter half of the night, a gale blew in, roaring like a tiger, concealing everything, including the overwhelming emotions that surged as she was pushed to her limits, with her lips bitten down hard, unable to suppress the little breaths that escaped.

She thought she’d die in his suffocating embrace; so, in her struggle, she clawed his back full of blood marks.

Luckily, this morning, though weary, she was still barely alive.

But looking at him now, so satisfied and energetic, while she herself felt weak all over, unable even to perform the simple task of mounting a horse, Shang Ruyi felt the urge to just bite a chunk out of him. The long road ahead seemed daunting, and it was unclear how she’d manage.

Yet the "culprit" had no sense of apology, and seeing Shang Ruyi’s resentful look, his eyes bore even deeper amusement. He steadied her on horseback before withdrawing his hands.

Turning back, he already donned his usual cold and stern demeanor.

By now, the troops had assembled; someone brought his warhorse, and after he smoothly mounted it, he glanced around to ensure everyone was ready, and then with a wave of his hand—

"Move out!"

Immediately, the army once again began its grand march southward.

Actually, yesterday’s campsite was already far away from the Turkic Yatai, so the further south they traveled, the safer it was. Moreover, the surrounding scenery was indeed delightful, steadily improving their mood; yet as they continued walking, a vague sense of unease slowly crept up.

Their crisis was never only from the north.

From what Shantong’er said yesterday, Yu Wenye did not enter Taiyuan City, meaning this battle was a futile effort for him; thus, the Crown Prince’s position had now become quite clear.

But is this really the endpoint of the "dispute" between these brothers?

Shang Ruyi felt it was not.

Yesterday, Yu Wenye had made it quite clear, not just because he has harbored great ambitions since childhood, desiring to establish a remarkable achievement, but also because the situation has progressed to this point, with those involved deeply entrenched, unable to break free; simply looking at the civil and military officials attached to both sides—since the assembly at Taiji Palace, it’s apparent these people have already chosen sides, wagering their lives, careers, and futures.

How could they possibly allow these two brothers to step back now?

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi endured the jarring pain from riding as she turned her head to look at Yu Wenye, who remained by her side at a slowed pace. Though their speed was quite fast for her, it was easy for him, and at this moment, his eyes were lowered, clearly still pondering something.

Shang Ruyi asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing her voice, Yu Wenye’s eyes immediately flickered, turning his head towards her without concealing, "I am thinking about how when we return this time, if there are no unforeseen events in Taiyuan, we need only rest for a while before heading back to Chang An."

"..."

"Then certain things need to be prepared in advance. At least, we must first calm the people below."

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s gaze dimmed a bit.

Yes, after the Taiyuan battle, they should return to Chang An.

And Yu Wenquan has to fulfill the promise made to the two brothers before the expedition—whoever takes Taiyuan will become the Crown Prince of the Dasheng Dynasty.

This battle was, after all, a "defeat" for them.

Thus, Yu Wenqian’s Crown Prince position is now stable. But this means those who helped or sided with Yu Wenye beforehand would surely have reactions, and some—might continue to follow him, like Shen Tu Tai, Shen Wuzheng, and even Pei Xingyuan, as Shang Ruyi could anticipate, though it’s hard to guarantee continued support from certain other influential figures in the court.

Chasing profit and avoiding harm, bowing to the high and stepping on the low, are common human behaviors.

Therefore, Yu Wenye must prepare in advance to appease these people; at least, if he can win over one, it’s one more.

Just as Shang Ruyi felt a bit dejected and even more guilty, a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed her mind. Recalling Yu Wenye’s words just now, she immediately turned to him: "Will there be any other accidents in Taiyuan?"

Yu Wenye also looked at her, though he did not smile, a hint of amusement rose in his eyes.

She truly is very meticulous.

Speaking of which, he himself was also a very meticulous person, not easily instigated, nor easily swayed by emotions. Yet this time, the two of them were coincidentally incited, trapped in an emotional maze. Ultimately, perhaps it was because, for the one truly let into the heart, there is always distrust.

Seeing him somewhat lost in thought, Shang Ruyi said, "What are you thinking about?"

"Uh? Nothing, nothing."

Yu Wenye shook his head, immediately put aside the somewhat unpalatable past, and when he looked at her again, his expression had calmed down, and he said: "Although I went to the Turkic Yatai just after the battle of Taiyuan ended, I don’t know what happened afterward, so I can’t make a conclusive judgment for now. But this time in the battle of Taiyuan, there was one person who did not participate."

"..."

"And he still has a large number of troops in his hands, we cannot take it lightly."

"...?"

Shang Ruyi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood: "Wang Shaoji?"

Yu Wenye nodded: "Yes."

Previously, it was heard that Yu Wenqian had defeated the troops of Wang Shaoji and the cavalry of Ashina Zhuxie near Shouyang. Afterward, Ashina Zhuxie led troops that had not suffered much damage to Qi County, captured himself, while Wang Shaoji disappeared after his defeat. Meanwhile, on that night, Yu Wenye and Yu Wenqian jointly captured Taiyuan.

So indeed, Wang Shaoji did not participate in the battle of Taiyuan.

Even though his troops suffered from Yu Wenqian’s attack in Shouyang, the fact that Yu Wenqian still had the strength to attack Taiyuan indicates the damage was not significant, meaning that the blow Wang Shaoji suffered was limited.

Therefore, he must still have enough troops in his hands.

Such a man, such a group of troops, wandering outside, no matter how you look at it, is a major threat to them.

Shang Ruyi said: "Are you saying he will return to Taiyuan?"

Yu Wenye thought for a moment and said: "Can’t say for sure."

"..."

"After all, he was struck in Shouyang, it won’t be easy to rally so quickly. Moreover, Taiyuan has already been captured by us, attacking again will be hundreds of times more difficult than previously conspiring with the Turkic people."

"But if he concedes, then in this northward move away from Jiangdu, he loses it all."

"..."

"Moreover, he has a brother detained in Taiyuan."

Wang Shaoqiu...!

At the mention of this person, Shang Ruyi’s eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.

Speaking of the Wang Brothers, she is more familiar with Wang Shaoji, since they have crossed paths multiple times before, whether confronting each other on the road from Taiyuan to Luoyang, or during the Xingluo Granary battle where he set traps to harm Yu Wenye, or even collaborating with the Ministry of Justice people to frame Yu Wenye after the victory at Xingluo Granary; and when she was trapped in Jiangdu Palace, Wang Shaoji also faced her.

This person’s mean, unkind, greedy, and arrogant nature was already branded in her heart.

However, it was also at Jiangdu Palace, on the night Chu Yang was driven to suicide by their coercion, that Shang Ruyi discovered, among the brothers, although the boastful and notorious one was Wang Shaoji, it was clear that the one manipulating everything behind the scenes, the one truly driving Wang Shaoji, was actually his younger brother, Wang Shaoqiu.

This person was sly and ruthless, more vicious than his brother.

Although Wang Shaoqiu was captured in the battle of Taiyuan, if he is not dealt with quickly, she will find no peace—moreover, ultimately, Chu Yang was driven to death by him!

Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi took a deep breath: "We should hurry back."

Yu Wenye nodded.

In the following time, they did not delay, galloping all the way at full speed. Luckily the weather was in their favor, although the wind arose occasionally over these days, there were no adverse rainy or snowy weather to obstruct, their journey went very smoothly.

Finally, on the tenth evening, the surrounding scenery became increasingly familiar, especially upon reaching that wide and flat avenue, looking southward, in the slanting rays of the setting sun, they saw the tall and majestic outline of Taiyuan City in the distance.

They were finally back!