The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Xiao Ji turned his horse around and led his troops back towards the capital.

His brows furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with seriousness and worry.

Emperor Wen was ill, and the political situation in the court was turbulent and unpredictable, which made him anxious and he dared not relax his vigilance in the slightest.

During this sensitive period, the slightest misstep could trigger a huge uproar, and if the situation gets out of control, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Thinking of all this, Xiao Ji wished he could rush back to the capital immediately.

His entourage and soldiers followed closely behind him on swift warhorses.

The horses' hooves pounded heavily on the snow-covered road, making a "clattering" sound.

The people on both sides of the road all looked at the convoy with fear in their eyes.

After two days of continuous travel, the team was exhausted.

A thick layer of ice crystals had formed on Tianqi's felt hat, which gleamed coldly in the dim sunlight.

Beneath his felt hat, his eyes were filled with weariness, and his eyelids drooped heavily.

"Your Highness, please rest for a day."

Tian Qi's voice was hoarse, with a hint of pleading.

He patted his equally exhausted warhorse and continued panting, "Even if the man isn't tired, the horse beneath him can't take it anymore."

These warhorses were their loyal companions in their campaigns across the country, each one a veteran of countless battles, far superior to ordinary horses.

On the battlefield, they are the soldiers' most loyal comrades-in-arms. If they die from exhaustion while traveling, it would be an enormous loss.

Xiao Ji looked up at the troops and saw that the soldiers all looked tired and were swaying on their horses as if a gust of wind could blow them off.

If they continue on their journey, someone might fall off their horse while asleep, causing an accident.

He pondered for a moment, his furrowed brows finally relaxing slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Rest where you are."

As soon as the order was given, the team sprang into action.

Before long, several bonfires were lit on the snow, their warm light dispelling the surrounding chill.

The soldiers placed their rations over a fire to roast, and the ice crystals on the rations melted quickly under the licking of the flames, releasing a fragrant aroma.

The water in the jar was placed near the fire, and soon it began to steam and gurgle.

Xiao Ji sat alone on the haystack, clutching a sealed letter tightly in his hand, his brows furrowed into a knot once again.

No more secret messages are being received in the capital.

The letter was sent out two days ago, and then it disappeared without a trace.

Even the Chu King's residence has disappeared without a trace.

A strong sense of unease quietly spread through his heart, and he subconsciously looked towards the direction of the capital.

He prayed silently in his heart that everything was well at the Chu Prince's residence and that nothing would happen in the capital.

As night fell, a roaring campfire leaped in the center of the camp, illuminating the surroundings.

After two days of travel, the soldiers were exhausted. They huddled together in twos and threes, seeking warmth and taking a short rest.

Their back-to-back posture was not only for warmth, but also to ward off wild beasts lurking in the darkness.

These soldiers followed Xiao Ji in his campaigns across the country, sharing life and death experiences.

Sleepiness washed over me like a tide, and I soon fell into a deep sleep, the sound of snoring gradually filling the camp.

The people keeping watch for Xiao Ji were his trusted confidants, all of whom he had carefully selected and cultivated over the years.

Outside the tent, the cold moonlight shone on the snow.

One of the men, with a square face and an honest and simple appearance, turned to his companion who was also on night watch and said softly, "Third brother, you go to sleep for the first half of the night. I'll keep watch."

As he spoke, his breath condensed into white mist in the cold air.

The man known as the third brother was struggling to keep his eyelids open and to muster his strength.

He rubbed his face, which was red from the cold, waved his hand, and said firmly, "How can that be? You used to take the first half of the night for me. Things are different now. How can I let you suffer again?" The third brother knew that although Liu Yong took the first half of the night for him, there was basically nothing going on in the second half, and he was mostly sleeping.

Feeling really bad, the third brother waved to Liu Yong again and said earnestly, "Liu Yong, you go to sleep tonight, I'll keep watch over you."

Liu Yong grinned, revealing a set of bright white teeth, and patted the third brother on the shoulder: "Alright, we're brothers, just let me have a couple more drinks next time."

The third brother was touched by Liu Yong's words and chuckled, "Okay, thank you for your hard work. I'm going to take a nap."

"Go ahead, go ahead, I'm close to the fire, so I'm not cold."

As Liu Yong spoke, he rubbed his hands together and tightened the clothes wrapped around his body, trying to make himself warmer.

The third brother turned and went back to his tent. A short while later, he came over with a pot of wine, handed it to Liu Yong, and said, "It's cold. This wine is for the prince to warm up."

Xiao Ji was not fond of drinking normally. Only when he was on a military campaign and in such a harsh environment would he drink a few sips of strong liquor to warm himself up.

Although the tent provided shelter from the wind and snow, it was still the icy wilderness where the cold was penetrating everywhere.

After a few sips of wine, your body will quickly warm up.

Liu Yong reached out and took the wine jug, then smiled憨厚ly at the third brother: "Leave it to me, don't worry."

All around the tent, the sound of snoring rose and fell.

Liu Yong, holding a wine pot, called softly from outside the tent, "Your Highness, I've come to bring you some wine."

A short while later, a deep voice came from inside: "Come in."

"Yes." Liu Yong entered, carrying a wine pot.

Xiao Ji was half-asleep, wrapped in a thick blanket, but his sleep was not peaceful.

The temperature inside the tent wasn't much warmer than outside, and the air coming out was filled with white mist.

Liu Yong brought in a wine pot and placed it on the table: "Your Highness, have a drink to warm yourself up."

Xiao Ji snorted and propped himself up to sit up.

Seeing this, Liu Yong quickly filled his wine glass.

Xiao Ji picked up the wine cup, brought it to his nose, took a light sniff, and then poured the wine into his mouth.

After drinking three cups in a row, he said to Liu Yong, "You may leave now."

"Yes," Liu Yong said, but he didn't move his feet.

He carefully observed Xiao Ji's expression and saw that his eyelids drooped and his hand supported his forehead.

He took two steps forward and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, is this wine too strong?"

Xiao Ji supported his forehead, a look of pain on his face: "I don't know why, but I find this wine very strong. I'm already drunk after only three cups."

As he was speaking, he suddenly fell off the couch.

Liu Yong hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Your Highness, be careful."

Xiao Ji did not respond, so Liu Yong called to him softly while placing his fingers on his wrist.

Suddenly, a few drops of blood fell onto the back of his hand.

Xiao Ji was bleeding from all seven orifices, and his lips had turned blackish-purple.

His pulse was faint, and he was on the verge of death.