Chapter 1403: The Whereabouts of Princess Qin

Chapter 1403: Chapter 1079: The Whereabouts of Princess Qin

“Shi Yuxin…”

Upon hearing this name, Shen Tu Tai’s expression sank again: “Your Highness thinks she has an issue?”

Yu Wenye said, “Do you remember what Shi Yutao just said?”

“Just now?”

Shen Tu Tai involuntarily furrowed his brows, straining to recall. Though the North Shore was in chaos just now, he was not as panicked as the others and still remembered the confrontation with Shi Yutao. With some thought, he recalled: “He said he didn’t need Shi Yuxin, he could—”

Yu Wenye replied, “He said he didn’t need his sister, he could first deal with our Yuwen Family.”

At that moment, Shen Tu Tai also realized the problem.

“First?”

Yu Wenye looked up at him and said, “Yes, precisely this ‘first’ implies that Shi Yuxin is currently doing something that targets our Yuwen Family. But today, he thought his ambush had caught us, so he said he didn’t need Shi Yuxin.”

Shen Tu Tai furrowed his brows tightly: “So, Shi Yuxin really went to Luoyang?”

Yu Wenye’s brow furrowed even tighter than his and he remained silent for a while before saying, “Perhaps, but if she did go to Luoyang, it’s solely Yan Jie. His words shouldn’t involve the Yuwen Family.”

“Then—”

Shen Tu Tai was also puzzled.

At this time, a voice echoed from outside: “Your Highness, there is news from Luoyang.”

Yu Wenye immediately raised his head: “Enter!”

A soldier hurriedly walked in from outside, saluted both of them, and Yu Wenye waved his hand: “What is the situation in Luoyang?”

The soldier said, “Reporting to Your Highness, our people inquired at Luoyang, and Prince Qi is still leading his troops in attacking Luoyang, but—it’s been two days and the city has not yet been captured.”

Yu Wenye exhaled deeply.

He was not surprised that Yu Wencheng could not capture the city; Luoyang City was meticulously managed by Chu Yang, is a fortified city, plus Liang Shide is no ordinary man and wouldn’t easily be overtaken. However, despite no disappointment arising, unease gradually expanded.

He asked, “Is there anyone assisting or obstructing?”

The soldier answered, “No, there isn’t.”

“What about Cijian?”

“Prince Qi only left a few hundred to guard Cijian, but Liang Shide is busy with his own affairs, and no incidents have occurred at Cijian.”

“…”

This could be considered good news; the soldier spoke with a hint of a smile. However, when he looked at Yu Wenye and Shen Tu Tai, he found their expressions had become serious, as if he had brought bad news.

Instinctively, he said, “Your Highness? General Shen Tu?”

After a moment’s silence, Shen Tu Tai waved his hand: “Go and receive your reward.”

The soldier bowed, saluted, and exited the tent filled with curiosity.

Once he left, the atmosphere inside the tent turned even heavier, Shen Tu Tai also sensed something was off. Stepping forward to look at the map spread on the table, he noticed it was not a map of the Hulao Pass area, but a large map. Yu Wenye’s hand, placed on the map, seemed to point—intentionally or not—to somewhere within the Taihang Eight Passes.

Shen Tu Tai said, “Your Highness, do you think Shi Yuxin went to—”

At that moment, a vague sense of unease seemed like a rock falling from the sky, piercing through layers of fog and hitting his heart heavily, causing Yu Wenye’s breath and heartbeat to pause for a second. He inhaled deeply and said gravely, “Aside from me at Hulao Pass, aside from Yan Jie in Luoyang, where else in the world are there people from our Yuwen Family?”

“…!”

Shen Tu Tai stared with wide eyes: “Your Highness, you mean the elder—”

Just then, urgent footsteps sounded outside, even more hurried than the bearer of the Luoyang news. As the person reached the tent entrance, the soldiers guarding it stopped him, only for him to shout loudly: “Your Highness!”

Yu Wenye seemed to sense something and immediately said: “Enter!”

Another soldier rushed into the tent, dressed like the previous one who went out to scout for news, but this one looked more weathered and exhausted. However, his bloodshot eyes were filled with tension and panic. Upon seeing him, Shen Tu Tai immediately recognized the soldier as the one sent by Yu Wenye earlier to scout the whereabouts of Princess Qin.

Although hurried, the soldier first paid his respects to Yu Wenye.

Yu Wenye promptly said, “No need for formalities, what is the situation?”

The soldier stated, “Your Highness, we have found Princess Qin’s whereabouts!”

“Oh?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye’s eyes lit up, simultaneously feeling a sense of relief. Since her whereabouts were found, it proved that Shang Ruyi was temporarily safe. However, in the next moment, he leaned forward urgently: “Where is she now?”

The soldier replied, “In Hu Yang Valley.”

“Hu Yang Valley?”

Upon these three words, sharp light flashed in Yu Wenye’s eyes. His expression grew even more solemn, while Shen Tu Tai instinctively looked at the map on the table. Hu Yang Valley was located not far from Yu Wenye’s pointing position on the map, within the Huai State boundaries—a very narrow terrain, strategically easy to defend but difficult to attack. Once past Hu Yang Valley, one enters Shangdang.

And Shangdang…

For a moment, he seemed to understand something and immediately asked, “What is Princess Qin doing in Hu Yang Valley?”

The soldier answered, “Princess Qin is in Hu Yang Valley, battling the enemy.”

“What!?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenye’s face completely changed. He immediately stood up and walked to the soldier, his tall figure like Mount Tai pressing down, instinctively causing the soldier to hold his breath. Yu Wenye reached the soldier, his face ashen, demanding, “The enemy—what enemy? How many are there? What is her situation now?”

The soldier hurriedly replied, “The team suddenly coming south from Hebei—about seventy to eighty thousand, led by a woman.”

Yu Wenye and Shen Tu Tai exchanged glances, cold sparks flashing in both their eyes.

The soldier continued, “Princess Qin’s forces number only a few hundred, but they have the geographical advantage. When we arrived, they had already held for three days, but her forces are nearly exhausted, and their supplies are almost depleted. After we arrived, we immediately—”

Before he finished speaking, a shadow flashed before his eyes.

In the next moment, Yu Wenye was already out of the tent. The soldiers and deputy generals outside saw him stride forth with an iron expression, and all assumed he had a strategy to confront the enemy, quickly approaching: “Your Highness?”

Yu Wenye said in a deep voice, “Assemble the army, march with me!”