Chapter 1452 - 1127: Incomplete Success

Within Hulao Pass, it was almost a sleepless night.

Everyone tossed and turned, waiting for Prince Qin to return. After a bitter night of waiting, they finally saw Shen Wuzheng bringing Yu Wenye through the gates in the morning light, but he was injured.

Moreover, they hadn’t rescued Princess Qin.

With this outcome, it seemed all efforts of last night were in vain. Everyone felt somewhat discouraged, yet they hurriedly escorted Yu Wenye back to the garrison and immediately called a doctor to treat his wounds. Seeing the hideous and terrible wounds on Yu Wenye’s shoulder, everyone felt a wave of dejection and gloom, as if the shadow of failure had turned into a big stone pressing over their heads.

Fortunately, someone reported that another group returned. It was Xue Lin and Shen Tu Tai, who had set out in two directions last night to Huilu Storehouse. Xue Lin and his men were slightly injured, but fortunately, it was nothing serious. Importantly, he had the achievement of slaying an enemy general!

But most importantly, Shen Tu Tai’s group not only returned safely with all members, but they also brought back a female general!

It was Shi Yuxin herself!

Upon hearing this news, a doctor was threading the needle to sew Yu Wenye’s wounds. Although he showed no expression on his face, the doctor clearly saw a slight tremble in Yu Wenye’s shoulder, causing the wound to split open a little, and blood started flowing again.

The doctor exclaimed in panic, "Your Highness!"

Yu Wenye glanced at him, then looked down at his own wound, took a deep breath to calm himself, and only then did the doctor breathe a sigh of relief. He hurriedly re-treated the wound, applied medicine, and after sewing it up, wrapped it layer by layer with bandages. After finishing, he cautiously advised, "Your Highness, please make sure not to touch the wound in the coming days."

Yu Wenye waved his hand lightly, "You may leave."

The doctor probably understood the futility of his words, sighed, glanced at the corner nervously, and turned around to leave.

After he left, Yu Wenye looked up at Xue Lin and Shen Tu Tai standing on the other side, nodded lightly, "You have done well."

Shen Tu Tai promptly said, "It was Your Highness’s strategic planning; we just executed the orders."

Xue Lin also said, "If it weren’t for Your Highness arranging General Shen Tu to ambush, even if I had killed Chen Cai alone, I fear I wouldn’t have made it back."

Saying this, he shuddered; the thrilling scene from last night seemed to flash before his eyes again—Shi Yuxin riding over like a thunderbolt, spear gleaming with cold light piercing towards his forehead, almost puncturing his skull in an instant when suddenly Shen Tu Tai rushed in to knock her away.

Perhaps even a moment’s delay, and he might today be a cold corpse being brought back.

Moreover, this woman not only had a sharp mind but truly possessed great martial skill. Even being taken by surprise by Shen Tu Tai’s attack, she didn’t panic but fiercely retaliated; the two fought over thirty rounds until Shen Tu Tai and Xue Lin’s two-pronged attack captured all of her subordinates, and only then was she exhausted and captured.

Yu Wenye waved his hand faintly.

In truth, although he caused such a stir in Xiao Yuansui’s camp last night, he knew the real battlefield was over at the Huilu Storehouse.

He not only sent Xue Lin to intercept Chen Cai, who was transporting grain to Luoyang, more importantly, he knew that Xiao Yuansui would surely send Shi Yuxin to aid Chen Cai and intercept his men. Therefore, even at the risk of emptying Hulao Pass, he also dispatched Shen Tu Tai to capture Shi Yuxin alive.

Last night’s battle ultimately exchanged one Shi Yutao for one Shi Yuxin!

Alas, it was not a complete victory...

Shang Ruyi couldn’t be rescued.

Seeing Yu Wenye’s indifferent expression, Shen Tu Tai, who had heard of last night’s battle from Prince Qin, pondered and said solemnly, "Your Highness, rest assured, Xiao Yuansui did not gain much either, having saved one Shi Yutao in return. They will surely not trouble the Princess."

Yu Wenye glanced at him without speaking.

In the past, he could certainly assert this. Even though he felt angry and dissatisfied, he couldn’t stop other men from developing feelings for Shang Ruyi. In truth, the woman he adored was naturally above the rest; other men were not blind and could not fail to see her virtues.

But after last night, he clearly sensed Xiao Yuansui’s anger and confusion.

He felt more intensely that Xiao Yuansui’s faith seemed to have a crack, which is why he was so furious facing him and confused facing the sudden appearance of Shantong’er, giving them a window of opportunity—but logically, a person of his firmness of character would not waver in faith due to a win or loss unless someone shook his mind.

Was it Shang Ruyi?

What did she do or say that made a person like Xiao Yuansui lose confidence?

If indeed it was because of her, would Xiao Yuansui become angry after experiencing last night’s "failure" and still treat Shang Ruyi as calmly as before?

Thinking of this, Yu Wenye gradually found it difficult to control his breathing and heartbeat. The violent breathing made his chest rise and fall abruptly, and the freshly wrapped bandage seemed to seep a faint pink again. Shen Tu Tai hurriedly said, "Your Highness, no matter what, Xiao Yuansui is not a fool. Troubling the Princess—a lone woman—is of no advantage to him; moreover, the battle in Luoyang has reached this stage, the outcome is uncertain for anyone. In my understanding, he would not leave himself without a backup plan."

It was not until this moment that a soft and low sound of a relieved breath was heard in the hall.

It was Shen Wuzheng, who had been sitting silently in the corner.

Since returning to Hulao Pass in the morning, he had remained silent, and only then did everyone notice that this gentlemanly assistant, once his face turned cold, exuded an oppressive aura no less than that of Prince Qin, which made everyone lower their voices by instinct while speaking.

It was only when Shen Tu Tai spoke these words that Shen Wuzheng’s tense emotion seemed finally soothed and relaxed.

As he relaxed, everyone subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief too.

Yu Wenye turned his head to look at him but remained silent for a while before saying to Shen Tu Tai, "You are right."

Shen Tu Tai quickly nodded.

Yu Wenye further inquired, "Where is Shi Yuxin detained?"

Shen Tu Tai immediately replied, "In that row of stone houses at the northeastern corner of the garrison."

"Where?"

Yu Wenye slightly furrowed his brow, looking at him with some confusion—there’s a dungeon inside Hulao Pass, or he could also be detained the same way as Shi Yutao in the camp, how was it that she’s in the garrison?

Shen Tu Tai explained, "This Shi Yuxin, with high martial skills and cunning, I worried if detained with others, she might find a chance to escape, so she is held there alone."