Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

“Before I left Weiyang Palace, A Ning did instruct you to stay by the Princess’s side.”

Qingque hesitated, then said, "But—"

"If you feel uncomfortable, you may come with me to the palace now. A-Ning is currently in Weiyang Palace."

After hesitating for a moment, Qingque could only bow in respect.

"Your Highness, is that servant... also staying by the Princess's side?"

Shuyi, who was standing to the side, stepped forward anxiously and looked at Shen Sangwan with hopeful eyes.

"I am going to war, not to travel and enjoy the scenery. Taking you with me would be pointless. You should stay by the princess's side so she can have something to keep her company."

"Turns out I was just someone to pass the time..."

Shuyi's face showed obvious disappointment. She nodded, which was considered as agreeing with Shen Sangwan's words.

After giving several instructions, Shen Sangwan left the villa and boarded the carriage.

After the person left, a man in black slowly emerged from the shadows of the alley, watching the departing vehicle with a strange smile on his face.

Given the urgency of the situation, Shen Sangwan dared not delay any longer. He quickly packed his bags, assembled his troops, and set off.

Because we were worried that Wen Yuening might not be used to riding a horse for a long time, and we were also afraid of hurting her, the group didn't move in a hurry for the first few days.

During a break, Shuyun handed over a letter from Xuzhou.

"Your Highness, what has been done with Mo Feng? He has been brought under control."

Shen Sangwan held the water pouch tightly, refusing to take the letter from the other party.

After taking two sips of water, he waved the water pouch around his neck a couple of times.

The meaning was already clear, so Shuyun didn't say anything more and bowed and withdrew.

Wen Yuening, as the accompanying military doctor, was not originally allowed to eat and live with Shen Sangwan, but because Shen Sangwan gave a special order, the two of them stayed together almost all the time.

"Your Highness is not prepared to give the other party a chance?"

Hearing this, Shen Sangwan looked over with some skepticism.

This seemed somewhat different from the Wen Yuening she knew.

“When did Ah Ning develop such a compassionate heart? I remember you being much more ruthless than me when it came to dealing with people.”

The other person suddenly laughed and moved closer to Shen Sangwan, "It's all thanks to His Highness's excellent teaching. I was just saying it casually."

Some people are given a chance to change their ways only because they haven't reached the point of no return.

But for some people, giving them another chance to repent is tantamount to handing over the knife that will kill them.

Although she sometimes has an overwhelming sense of compassion, she doesn't want to die so young.

He reached out and patted Wen Yuening's head. "We've been traveling these past few days. If you feel unwell, be sure to tell me."

After calculating the dates, it seemed that the other person's period was around these few days. Sometimes when she was in excruciating pain, she could take the system's medicine, but Wen Yuening wasn't so lucky and could only endure it.

"Your Highness, there is no need to delay the entire group's journey because of Yue Ning alone."

“But if you start your period, your body definitely won’t be able to handle it for a long time.”

Wen Yuening grasped Shen Sangwan's outstretched hand and gently patted it, "Your Highness, rest assured, I have already prepared the medicine."

Unable to persuade the other party, Shen Sangwan had no choice but to agree for the time being.

As the days went by, the weather grew colder, making it far from a good time for battle.

I don't know if the Northern Witches have lost their minds or gotten their heads stuck in a door, but they had to choose this time—they don't celebrate the New Year themselves, and they won't let us celebrate it either.

Throughout the journey, Shen Sangwan was either cursing the people of Beiwu or cursing Wen Yunhe. Every time she cursed, she would do so when Wen Yuening was not around, so as not to let the other party hear her cursing Wen Yunhe and feel uncomfortable.

Although the two did not get along, he was still her father, and his constant scolding would inevitably make people suspicious.

Seeing that Wen Yuening's face was getting worse every day, Shen Sangwan ordered a group of people to stay behind for a rest, while the rest of the troops would be led by Mo Ran to continue marching according to the original plan.

He stayed with Wen Yuening for two days to rest and recuperate.

"It's all Yue Ning's fault, she held His Highness back—"

“Ah Ning, it’s not easy being a woman. You’re here with me as a military doctor. Compared to some of the daughters of noble families in Kyoto, I think that’s something to be proud of. Right now, you’re just going through a special period, so don’t overthink it.”

Since they were still some distance from the village, Shen Sangwan did not rush on her way but chose to set up camp on the spot.

The environment was certainly not comparable to the palace, and there were no good meats or vegetables to offer. They could only try their best to find things that could replenish qi and blood, and then drink them with the medicine that Wen Yue Ning had prepared herself.

After resting for three days and finishing her period, she regained her usual vitality. However, through this incident, Wen Yuening also discovered something: Shen Sangwan seemed to have never experienced such excruciating pain as she had.

After persistently asking without getting an answer, I finally lost interest and stopped asking.

The group quickened their pace to catch up with Mo Ran's main force.

A villa on the outskirts of Kyoto.

On the fifth day after Shen Sangwan left, Cen Yan and Shu Yi and the others packed up and prepared to return to the palace.

Two carriages were arranged; Cen Yan and Ruoying rode together, while Qing Que and Shu Yi rode together.

Cen Yan was initially reluctant, knowing that Ruoying was a quiet person who spoke like a block of wood, and that the journey back to the city would take almost two and a half hours, which would surely be boring.

So she kept suggesting that Shuyi accompany her, but Ruoying refused on the grounds of protecting her safety.

Finally, she angrily boarded the carriage and sat in the innermost seat. Ruoying didn't give her a friendly look when she came in either.

The two sat so close together that it felt like an entire galaxy stretched between them, and the air was deathly still.

Ruoying was used to being alone, but it was Cenyan who suffered. After sulking for a long time, she only upset herself and did not affect the other party at all.

On the other hand, Shuyi and Qingque appear to be reserved on the surface, but their hearts are filled with gossip.

Having lived and eaten together for so long, they had long since figured out each other's temperaments perfectly.

The two of them haven't stopped talking since they got in the car.

Cen Yan listened to the laughter coming from the carriage behind her from time to time, and looked at Ruoying sitting upright. She was so angry that she could only punch the cushion next to her.

"Be careful."

With her exceptional hearing, Ruoying noticed the sound of an arrow approaching and leaped up to tackle Cen Yan to the ground inside the carriage.

At that moment, the sounds of horses neighing and groaning could be heard.

A hail of arrows struck the horses in front, and the frightened horses ran wildly, causing the carriage to shake violently.

This left Cen Yan, who was still angry, somewhat bewildered.

The scene seemed familiar; it seemed that when she first arrived, she encountered bandits and then rebels.

"Could I be so unlucky as to have run into this again?"

Arrows whistled through the air, piercing the carriage, some even piercing through the small windows. Cen Yan huddled together, trembling with fear.

"Princess, don't be afraid."

Ruoying felt the person beneath her trembling, so she held them tightly and comforted them in a somewhat cold tone.

The horses in front were startled, and the same thing happened behind them; the laughter that had been there before was now just screaming.