The Jin Royal Familyās lineage is continuous. Pei Jue is a Minister of Jin, the Northern Yong Army is the Jin Army. If one doesnāt consider the lives of these people at all, it would be hard to avoid criticism.
Of course, this is what Li Zongxun and the majority believe.
Feng Yun pondered briefly, then laughed coldly.
"Then let them die. Anyway, anyone associated with Li Zongxun is no good to begin with..."
Ao Qi was startled.
Feng Yun looked at him and spoke leisurely.
"Dead men tell no tales. These deaths will all be accounted on Li Zongxunās ledger. What we need to do is to give them a grand burial and hire an esteemed scholar to write a beautiful eulogy."
Ao Qi was stunned.
Even though he also thought this way, Feng Yun in his heart was the embodiment of gentleness and perfection. Hearing her casually talk about letting people die still surprised him.
But on second thought, isnāt this just like Feng Yun?
Decisive in killing, not inferior to men.
She has been like this since their first meeting.
"Aunt is right." Ao Qi pondered seriously and slowly said: "But Uncle wouldnāt do that..."
He paused, his brow slightly furrowed.
"He would think of ways to save the life of Empress Dowager Li and the Jin Royal Family."
As he said this, Ao Qiās brow was deeply furrowed.
The letter that Li Zongxun sent to Pei Jue, he had seen by accident.
Inconceivableā
Li Zongxun actually said that Li Sangruo was Pei Jueās sister.
Ao Qi never knew that his maternal grandparents had a daughter.
But at that time, during the chaos of war, he couldnāt be sure if there really was such an aunt...
Ao Qi was very conflicted...
But it wasnāt his place to tell Feng Yun this, and he worried that Feng Yun might overthink things. So as to not seem like he was deliberately causing trouble, he quickly added.
"Empress Dowager Li was the Empress of the Emperor of Xifeng, the birth mother of the Emperor of Xinghe, and the Jin Royal Family is also blood-related to the current Emperor. If Uncle completely disregards their lives, it might lead to criticism, and he is also in a difficult position right now..."
"It is indeed quite difficult." Feng Yun nodded, without the slightest overthinking or suspicion towards Pei Jueās actions that Ao Qi was worried about.
"I can say this only because I am an outsider. If I were the king, I would likely be constrained as well."
Ao Qi breathed a sigh of relief, "Aunt speaks the truth. Uncle has already been waiting in Yishui for a month, he wouldnāt mind waiting a few more days. After all, Yecheng is already within our grasp, letting Li Zongxun dance around for a few more days isnāt a big deal..."
Feng Yun smiled slightly.
She didnāt say it aloud, but in her heart, she felt that given Pei Jueās character, if he was going to act, he would not be able to wait those few days...
Indeed, her prediction was not wrong.
The moment their boat landed on the north bank of Yishui, Ao Qi received the latest news.
"The Great General has led the troops to Yecheng personally. Setting off after nightfall, by now they must already be a hundred miles away. The king has ordered that as soon as General Ao arrives, he must immediately set out, without delay..."
Ao Qi glanced sideways at Feng Yun.
Feng Yun remained composed, and with a smile she said:
"Weāre a step late. Shall we continue on to Yecheng?"
Ao Qi felt a dryness in his throat.
He hadnāt anticipated that Pei Jue would completely disregard Li Zongxunās threats and directly lead his troops to march on Yecheng. With this development, what he had said to Feng Yun on the boat seemed petty.
"Auntie..."
"Donāt think about stopping me," Feng Yun wouldnāt hear of it, cutting him off and laughing, "After waiting two years, itās finally time to pick the fruits of our labor, I donāt want to miss it."
Ao Qiās Adamās apple slid down as he hesitated.
In his view, Yecheng was even more dangerous than the northern bank.
The entire northern bank was controlled by the Northern Yong Army, but the battle for Yecheng hadnāt yet begun...
Allowing Feng Yun to go there was too risky.
"Letās go. I am someone who wants to share the wealth and glory with your uncle. How can I be absent at such a time?"
Ao Qi was really reluctant to comply with her, but he knew, even if he disagreed, Feng Yun would still go.
It would be more dangerous for her to go alone than with him.
Helplessly, he could only hastily continue arranging, and the army proceeded towards Yecheng without delay.
This journey lasted three days.
During this period, they encountered a small remnant of the Yecheng Army, all of whom had been scattered by Pei Jue and were planning to flee south, only to fall into Ao Qiās hands.
With such intermittent progress, it was only on the fourth evening that they caught up with the Northern Yong Armyās forces at a place called Jade Belt Bay.
And from here, Yecheng was less than thirty li away.
Pei Jueās army was stationed here.
However, it was an hour later when Feng Yun met him.
Pei Jue had personally led troops out of camp to scout the enemy.
He still kept his old habits; he trusted the scoutsā words, but not completely, he had to make full preparations before the battle no matter what.
When Pei Jue returned to the camp, just as he entered his tent, he saw a familiar figure quietly sitting beside a wooden desk, deep in thought over his map.
"Lady Yun."
He had known that Feng Yun had arrived while he was outside, but seeing her in person appearing in the tent, her figure light and graceful, he couldnāt help but feel a tightness in his heart.
Feng Yun turned her head.
Dressed in a simple male outfit, her eyes smiling, she appeared quite heroic.
"Your Majesty." Feng Yun stood up and performed a subordinateās salute, "My arrival is sudden, without advance notice, please forgive me."
If she had informed him beforehand, he would not have agreed.
How could Pei Jue not know that she was intentionally acting first and reporting later?
He didnāt speak, but moved closer and touched Feng Yunās hand.
It was warm.
Only then did he feel somewhat relieved, "This Ao Qi should be punished!"
"Donāt blame him. It was me who forced him," Feng Yun cast a glance at him, suddenly coming up with a more righteous reason for her arrival.
"I heard that your Majesty is preparing to give up Yecheng for the sake of Empress Dowager Li, I thought that your old flame had reignited, how could I wait?"
Pei Jue: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
Feng Yun smiled, seeing that he did not pursue the matter further, and quickly gave a bow with folded hands.
"As the Chief Historian of the Royal Mansion, the leader of the staff, I am of course here for official business."
She looked up into Pei Jueās eyes, smiling slightly, "I have been thinking for a while and have come up with a good plan to save someone; do you want to hear it, Your Majesty?"
Pei Jue narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice cold.
"Who told you that Iām going to save someone?"