Chapter 1428 - 1104: Both Sides Think the Same Way

The weather, which was originally clear, turned into a drizzling rain just past noon.

The rain hitting the tents sounded like the drums of war urging something. Although Xiao Yuansui was sitting inside the tent, shielded from wind and rain, his heart felt as if it were on fire, unable to find peace for even a moment.

The sound of rain suddenly intensified, and he looked up to see Hua Ziyang walking in from outside.

He immediately said, "How is it?"

Despite his seemingly calm demeanor, he couldn’t hide his urgency. Hua Ziyang sighed lightly in his heart before saying, "It’s fine now."

Xiao Yuansui asked, "What did the doctor say?"

Hua Ziyang shook his head: "She refused to let our doctor examine her, saying no one else can touch her face."

"What?"

"However, she said her maid understands medicine, so I had no choice but to let the girl named Wo Xue out. This girl knows martial arts; General Shi kept someone watching her on the way back."

Xiao Yuansui fell silent for a moment, then said, "Now that she’s here, she can’t use her martial arts skills. We can release her and let her take care of her mistress."

"Yes."

"And her injuries, how are they?"

"She said there’s no serious problem, but the specifics aren’t clear."

Xiao Yuansui thought for a moment and stood up, saying, "I’ll go take a look."

As he was about to step outside, Hua Ziyang raised his hand to stop him. Xiao Yuansui looked at his brother, who had followed him for years and was almost like his shadow, only to see Hua Ziyang’s solemn expression as he said in a deep voice, "Great General, elder brother, she is the princess of the Dasheng Dynasty, Yu Wenye’s wife, her identity is indeed important to us, but you shouldn’t be too absorbed in her."

"..."

"You must remember, Little Shi General is still at Hulao Pass, and over in Luoyang, Yu Wencheng is still attacking."

"..."

"If you handle this improperly, I’m afraid morale will change."

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Yuansui suddenly felt a chill down his back, realizing that after last night, his feelings for Shang Ruyi hadn’t changed at all. Instead of diminishing after her refusal, they had become even stronger and more indescribably tumultuous.

But this tumult was suppressed by Hua Ziyang’s cold shower-like words.

He was silent, slowly walked back to sit behind the desk, and pondered for a long while before looking up at the other, saying lightly, "You’re right."

Seeing him like this, Hua Ziyang breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Xiao Yuansui continued, "However, she is indeed a significant card in our hands. Yu Wenye would risk his life for her, let alone a mere Luoyang City. So, we still need to take good care of her, not let her get hurt again. If we lose her, Shi Yutao might not survive either."

Hua Ziyang said, "I understand, I will instruct the others to watch her closely — and care for her."

Xiao Yuansui nodded.

At this moment, the rain outside intensified again, and both of them looked up to see Shi Yuxin walk in from outside.

Hua Ziyang immediately stepped aside and cupped his hands toward her, but Shi Yuxin didn’t say much, only stared at Xiao Yuansui and asked, "Great General, have you come up with a strategy?"

Her words were abrupt, but Xiao Yuansui understood. Just yesterday, Shi Yuxin had returned, and he told her that Shi Yutao had been captured by the enemy, saying they’d discuss a strategy later. But after that, the two hadn’t met, and throughout the night, her mind had been unsettled, with incidents of injuries and near-death causing turmoil. Yet she immediately asked this question, clearly indicating she was preoccupied with her brother trapped at Hulao Pass.

Xiao Yuansui gestured, "General Shi, don’t worry, please sit down first."

Shi Yuxin glanced at him, then walked to the side to sit down, while Hua Ziyang sat on the other side.

Xiao Yuansui took a long breath to calm his emotions completely, then said, "Since last night, I’ve sent people to investigate near Hulao Pass. Ever since they captured Little Shi General, they’ve kept the gates tightly shut. Only this morning did Yu Wenye return with his troops from Hu Yang Valley."

Shi Yuxin’s gaze sharpened, "Yu Wenye has returned?"

"Yes."

"Have they made any moves?"

As she said this, she instinctively clenched her fists, the veins on her pale yet rough hands bulging as if containing limitless strength, eager to vent.

Xiao Yuansui observed everything, then said, "They’re still keeping the gates tightly shut, no troop movements whatsoever."

As soon as Shi Yuxin heard this, her brow furrowed into a knot.

She said, "His princess is captured, and he doesn’t make any move at all?"

Xiao Yuansui chuckled lightly, then said, "Yu Wenye is never short on heroism, yet is deeply emotional. After the battle at Taiyuan, he dared to ride alone to the Western Turkic Yatai to negotiate with Ashina Zhuxie and brought back his Princess Qin. This time, however, he’s returned but hasn’t made a move, obviously, he’s waiting."

Shi Yuxin frowned, "Waiting for what?"

Xiao Yuansui said, "Waiting for us to lose our patience."

"..."

"We have Princess Qin; he has Little Shi General, which is essentially an ’evenly matched’ situation. At this point, whoever moves first shows who values the person in the other’s possession more, revealing a flaw."

Shi Yuxin looked at him, her expression gradually becoming complex.

Xiao Yuansui said, "General Shi, I’ve clashed with Yu Wenye several times and am somewhat familiar with his temperament."

"..."

"As long as Shang Ruyi is in our hands, Little Shi General is safe."

"..."

"So, you needn’t worry too much."

"..."

Shi Yuxin was silent for a while, "I worry about something because I know the solution. But now, hearing what you said, this problem temporarily has no solution. We can only wait, wait for the others to lose patience first."

Xiao Yuansui said, "Indeed."

Shi Yuxin said, "But how long must we wait?"

Upon hearing this question, Xiao Yuansui’s expression slightly darkened, but he didn’t answer — in fact, he had no answer. Even Shi Yuxin, who asked the question, knew before speaking that there was no answer.

She sighed deeply, "I’m not being unreasonable. I understand the Great General is considering everything, and this is indeed the best solution for now."

"..."

"But if, if both sides think this way, then what?"

"..."

"Wouldn’t we be stuck indefinitely?"