Chapter 163: Reunion

This fierce battle raged from the third watch of the night until dawn, with the Xiongnu army suffering defeat after defeat. Cha’ergua led his troops in a desperate resistance for six hours, but every single charge was battered back in humiliating defeat. With each wave, several high-ranking generals were killed or wounded, and the expressions of the soldiers around him grew increasingly panicked and demoralized. After severing the head of the third Xiongnu soldier attempting to flee the battlefield, Cha’ergua finally, with deep grief and bitter reluctance, faced the grim reality—

The battle they had meticulously planned for two months, a battle they had confidently sworn they would win, was lost.

As the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and touched the earth, Cha’ergua looked at his chipped, dulled blade, and then at the mounds of Xiongnu corpses piled high upon the ground. Helplessly closing his eyes, he ordered a retreat.

At this point, of their initial force of three hundred and fifty thousand, over two hundred thousand soldiers remained. Although nearly half had been killed or wounded, they had managed to preserve the bulk of their strength. If they could escape back to the Royal Court in time, they would still have a chance to turn the tables in the future.

Braving the dazzling morning light, Cha’ergua mounted his horse and led the remnants of his defeated army as they fled eastward.

…But they had not even fled twenty li before they ran headlong into the army of two hundred thousand led by Qiu Mingshan.

Cha’ergua fell into utter despair.

Soon, the pursuers led by Su Wei and Qian Feng caught up from behind. Within half an hour, Cha’ergua and his remaining soldiers were surrounded so tightly that not even a gust of wind could pass through.

Knowing there was no longer any hope of victory, Cha’ergua drew his sword and cut his own throat. The remaining officers and men all surrendered.

Accompanied by Nanny Liu, Bao Ning stepped onto the stone stairs still damp with morning dew, ascending to the highest point of the city wall to peer anxiously downward.

The ground below was a mountain of corpses, and blood flowed thick enough to float a shield; even the passing wind carried a pungent, sickening stench of iron and blood. Suppressing her urge to vomit, Bao Ning scanned the faces of the soldiers clad in black armor one by one, desperately searching for Pei Yuan.

In the vast sea of people, she could see nothing of him.

Refusing to lose heart, Bao Ning continued to wait, her eyes glued to the city gates as the victorious army marched inside like a winding dragon. Riding at the very front were the mounted generals. One by one, Bao Ning recognized Su Wei, Qian Feng, and even Wei Meng… but even after the very last mounted soldier passed through the gate, she still had not seen Pei Yuan.

As the cold wind swept across her cheeks, Bao Ning shuddered. Her mind began to drift toward worst-case scenarios, and all color drained from her face.

“Princess, don’t let your mind wander to wild thoughts,” Nanny Liu said, pulling Bao Ning’s collar tight and wrapping her arms around her in deep concern. She comforted her softly, “Perhaps we arrived too late and His Highness has already returned home, or perhaps we simply missed him in the crowd. His Highness is incredibly wise and possesses unmatched martial skill. He has fought in countless battles; you must have faith in him. Come, let us head back home and check.”

Looking at her with red-rimmed eyes, Bao Ning’s gaze was lost and frantic. “Nanny… I’m scared.”

“What is there to fear?” Nanny Liu took her hand, leading her down the city wall toward the prince’s estate. “We have survived for so long, and so many seemingly impossible problems have been resolved. Now that the enemy has been driven back, the heavens are surely watching over us. You must keep your spirits high; otherwise, when you meet His Highness at home and he sees you crying, his heart will break for you.”

Bao Ning forced a weak smile.

But when they returned home, Pei Yuan was still nowhere to be found.

Bao Ning completely panicked.

She sent servants to find Qian Feng and Su Wei, desperate to get any news of Pei Yuan. However, with the battle having just concluded, both Qian Feng and Su Wei were overwhelmed with duties, and the servants she sent could not locate them at all. Bao Ning waited anxiously for any word, but met with disappointment time and time again. She sat on the threshold, staring blankly at the entrance, unable to stop her mind from conjuring terrifying outcomes… Blades have no eyes on the battlefield. What if he was truly hurt?

Stunned by this frightening thought, Bao Ning froze for a moment. But after a brief hesitation, she tugged on Nanny Liu’s sleeve with tearful eyes. “Nanny, please send someone to the field hospital to ask…”

She truly could not think of any other way.

Nanny Liu felt an overwhelming ache in her chest. Her own eyes welling with tears, she hurriedly dispatched someone to inquire.

Watching her walk away, Bao Ning helplessly buried her face in her knees and began to sob quietly.

For so long, the only thing keeping her from breaking down was her unshakeable belief that Pei Yuan would return. When everyone else doubted, Bao Ning was the only one who remained resolute, never wavering for a single moment. Upon hearing that reinforcements were on their way, she had breathed a genuine sigh of relief, thinking that the mountain she relied on had finally returned and she would no longer have to put on a brave face and struggle to hold everything together… Bao Ning had harbored such beautiful hopes and expectations, so when those hopes were dashed, a massive wave of despair threatened to drown her.

Her conviction crumbled in an instant, leaving a hollow void in her heart.

As Bao Ning sat there in a daze, she faintly overheard several young maids gossiping nearby. One of them whispered, “A-Lian, did you hear? He died such a horrific death. His corpse was found before they even had time to bury it. The soldier who first saw him was scared to tears—said he took a sword straight to the stomach, spilling his innards. His face was completely ruined, too, with a massive scar running from the corner of his eye all the way down to his mouth. Even in death, he’s a scarred ghost…”

The one named A-Lian replied, “What a shame. He was such a magnificent, dazzling figure when he was alive. Who could have imagined…”

Bao Ning looked over in confusion. She did not know who they were talking about, but a dark, ominous foreboding gripped her, throwing her heart into even greater turmoil.

Nanny Liu returned at that moment. Hearing the group of young maids gossiping, she snapped in displeasure, “Do you have nothing better to do? Why are you standing around here? Go back to your chores!”

The maids exchanged nervous glances and quickly scattered.

Nanny Liu turned and walked back into the courtyard. Rounding the corner, she caught sight of Bao Ning’s face, which had gone as white as paper, and gasped in shock. “Princess?”

Rushing over to wrap her arms around her, Nanny Liu asked anxiously, “Princess, what is wrong? Weren’t you doing fine just a moment ago…?”

Bao Ning buried her face in Nanny Liu’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably. “Nanny, do you think… do you think something happened to him, and he’s never coming back?”

Nanny Liu spat several times to ward off the bad omen. “What nonsense! Hush now, don’t say another word of that.”

She firmly guided Bao Ning into the room, coaxed her onto the bed, took off her shoes, wrapped her snugly in the quilt, and comforted her, “Let us have some food, alright? Once you’ve eaten, His Highness will be back.”

“You’re lying to me,” Bao Ning sniffled. “I’ve eaten so many meals, yet he still hasn’t returned. I won’t eat.”

Nanny Liu felt both helpless and heartbroken; she simply had no idea what to do with Bao Ning like this. She wanted to urge Bao Ning to be strong, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. Her Bao Ning had already endured far too much. She was ultimately just a child herself who needed to be shielded and loved—she hadn’t even fully grown up yet.

Nanny Liu understood Bao Ning’s feelings perfectly, but she could find no words to comfort her. As she thought about it, her own eyes filled with tears.

By the time Pei Yuan pushed the bedroom door open, Bao Ning was already crying so hard she was hiccuping. Her tears, which had begun from pure grief, had transformed into a complete release of pent-up emotion—as if she wanted to weep away all the grievances she had gathered for so long. She had bottled everything up inside for too long, to the point of physical heartache.

Pei Yuan could never bear to see her cry.

He had returned with a heart weighed down by guilt and self-reproach. Along the way, he had brainstormed countless ways to make her happy and rehearsed endless sweet, affectionate words he had once found too embarrassing to speak, confident that he could coax Bao Ning back into high spirits.

Only now did he suddenly realize that what he owed Bao Ning was not something that could be easily squared away with a few sweet words or a couple of kisses.

He could never pay her back in this lifetime.

From the very first day they met, he had been indebted to her. From the very beginning, they had been caught in a tangled web of gratitude and love—inseparable, deeply bound, and destined to be together until death.

Fortunately, he still had the rest of his long life to dedicate to her without reservation.

Pei Yuan let out a soft sigh, stepped forward to take Bao Ning from Nanny Liu’s arms, and pressed his lips against her tear-stained eyes. “Alright, sweetheart, I’m back. Won’t you open your eyes and look at me?”

Sansukini: Well, as Ruyi is finished already, I’ll just be posting extra AMDP chapters this Sunday and Monday.

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