With the food issue resolved, Chi Ying felt relieved and assigned remaining tasks: "General Cao, please oversee the cultivation. The eight thousand soldiers from the capital have experience. Take the seeds from the palace warehouse. Miao Jun, lead three thousand men to hunt. Only adult animals, no young ones. Return after a month. Nong Yue, take the new maidservants to buy silkworms and learn sericulture."
Each person received a task. Cui Yi, feeling ignored, asked, "What about me?"
Chi Ying turned and smiled, "Of course, you have a role. With Bai Lichan gone, you'll handle the paperwork."
Cui Yi stared, speechless, and finally hit his head against a pillar in frustration.
Certainly, here is the translation of the specified text:
"Later... we will talk about it later," he said as he mounted his horse and led three thousand soldiers responsible for the hunt toward Mount Yan Gui.
When Chi Ying reported this to Cui Yi, Cui Yi immediately declared, "Gong Qi already has someone in mind."
"How does Your Highness know?" Chi Ying was greatly surprised. There were many who refused to marry even without a specific person in mind, just like him. How did he see that Yang Qiong had someone in mind?
Cui Yi said smugly, "Although he refused your offer to arrange a marriage, he did not explicitly say he was unwilling to marry. This means he has someone in mind but the timing is not right."
Chi Ying nodded admiringly at him: "A scholar away for three days should be regarded with new eyes; Your Highness is much sharper than before."
Cui Yi pretended to be angry: "This King has always been sharp!"
Chi Ying laughed again and casually picked up a report, flipping through it. Seeing two lines scribbled on it—"Reviewed, pending action"—the handwriting was like a child's doodle, causing her to burst out laughing: "Your Highness's handwriting—"
Before she could finish, her gaze was drawn to the content of the report.
The report came from Qiao County, stating that recently there had been frequent sightings of Northern Di people around Hu Ben Pass. They did not harass the herders but still caused varying degrees of panic among the local population. The county magistrate hoped that the Wu King could strengthen the military presence around Hu Ben Pass to reassure the people.
"Why would the Northern Di people come to such a poor place as Yan Prefecture after so many years of neglect?" The county magistrate was also meticulous and sent people to investigate the movements of the Northern Di cavalry, detailing their findings in the report. After reading it, Chi Ying felt very puzzled.
Cui Yi looked up in confusion: "What?"
Chi Ying handed him the report, and as Cui Yi read a few lines, his eyes suddenly widened: "Is this true?!"
Chi Ying was stunned and tentatively asked, "Your Highness didn't read the content before approving it?"
Cui Yi felt guilty and speechless. Chi Ying didn't know whether to cry or laugh: "You... This is a big matter, how can you approve it without reading it? Have you not read these either? I wondered why you approved them so quickly, turns out you skimmed through them without understanding."
"I am not cut out for this!" Cui Yi was somewhat annoyed by her words, throwing down the report angrily, "There are tens of thousands of people in an entire prefecture, every trivial matter needs my attention, how can I possibly read them all one by one?"
Chi Ying picked up the report and put it back neatly, saying, "If you don't have the energy to manage just one prefecture, what will you do when you become emperor and have to manage the whole country?"
Cui Yi sat sulking in his chair like a spoiled duck egg. Chi Ying found his pitiful look amusing and offered him a cup of wolfberry tea: "Your Highness says you are not cut out for this, but who is born ready to be an emperor? Your reputation as a war god wasn't built overnight. Nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it."
Cui Yi took the teacup and drank silently for a while, then suddenly said, "I remember my father used to read fewer reports each day."
This point was undeniable. Chi Ying, having been the Crown Princess, had some knowledge of court affairs and explained to him: "A monarch is like the head of a household, managing only major matters. Trivial matters are handled by subordinates. Reports from all counties and officials must first be screened by the Chancellery, selecting only those concerning national livelihood to be presented to the emperor. When the late emperor was on the throne, there was also the Crown Prince assisting in governance, so naturally, the number of reports reaching the emperor was minimal."
Cui Yi's eyes lit up, then dimmed again. Chi Ying saw through his thoughts: "Your Highness isn't thinking that it would be nice to have a son help read reports, are you?"
"My beloved concubine understands me." Cui Yi shamelessly admitted.
Chi Ying really wanted to hit him with the report: "Stop dreaming. You haven't even touched the throne yet, and you're already thinking of being a retired emperor? Hurry up, all these reports need to be reviewed again, I'll watch over you."
Cui Yi was delighted. He was happiest when Chi Ying stayed by his side. In a good mood, he didn't care about the task anymore and obediently started reviewing the reports.
As Cui Yi read, his expression changed. Chi Ying, embroidering flowers, looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
Cui Yi's expression was complex. He spread several reports on the desk, his fingers tracing back and forth: "It seems the Northern Di people are not only active outside Hu Ben Pass but have also clashed with the migrating Buxia tribe, resulting in casualties on both sides. The Buxia people fled eastward, pursued relentlessly by the Northern Di cavalry, seemingly intent on wiping them out."
Chi Ying's hand trembled, nearly pricking her finger.
"It seems they have offended those ferocious Northern Di people," Cui Yi tapped the report with his finger, somewhat mockingly, "Do you think Bo Muer might come to Yan Prefecture for help?"
Meanwhile, west of Mount Yan Gui, Bo Muer was leading the survivors of his tribe into the mountains.
Chi Ying's unusual background was something he had guessed long ago, but he thought everyone had their own painful pasts and didn't take it seriously. It wasn't until he discovered she was the Wu King's consort and heard his sister Sang Duo's provocative words that he realized the Great Chu wouldn't let them go. So Bo Muer ordered his people to pack up and leave, planning to head west to avoid Cui Yi's pursuit.
However, unexpectedly, the anticipated army of Great Chu didn't come, but instead, a group of Northern Di cavalry appeared, attacking them without warning. They didn't loot but captured women, forcing Bo Muer and the young men of his tribe to resist. Despite their efforts, they couldn't withstand the overwhelming numbers, and within a few days, hundreds of women were taken. Everyone was terrified, and Bo Muer had no choice but to turn east, hoping the rugged terrain of Mount Yan Gui might slow the Northern Di cavalry.
Bo Muer had several skilled young men lead the way, destroying traces and hoof prints to cover their tracks and protect the tribe.
"Sister," Sang Duo ran up and tugged at his sleeve, "Sister, running like this isn't a solution. Those ferocious Northern Di people seem to have some grudge against us. If this continues, we will eventually be caught."
Bo Muer continued destroying footprints without looking up: "What do you want to say?"
Sang Duo also picked up a branch to help: "Why don't we ask Chi Ying for help? You saved her life, and we took care of her and her daughter for so long. Surely, she could convince the Wu King to help us drive away the Northern Di people, right?"
Bo Muer flatly refused: "Life and death are determined by fate. We Buxia people won't seek help from Han people."
"Sister!" Sang Duo stomped her foot, "This is no time for stubbornness. If we don't seek help from Han people, what else can we do? Many of our sisters have been captured by enemies. As the chieftain, are you just going to watch them be humiliated by the Northern Di people?"
Bo Muer stood up and stared at her: "Han people and Northern Di people are equally cruel and greedy. Do you think they will help us for free? The moment we ask for help, they will demand that the Buxia tribe migrate inside the border and submit to the Great Chu before offering assistance."
Sang Duo shook her head forcefully: "Chi Ying wouldn't do that! She is not like that. You've spent time with her, don't you know her character?"
Bo Muer laughed dismissively: "Han women obey their husbands. Even if Chi Ying wants to help us, her husband's word is law. The Wu King has long said he wants to unify the northern grasslands. If we seek help, it would be a golden opportunity for him to achieve his goal."
Sang Duo looked sad, her lips trembling: "Then what should we do? Sister, I'm scared too. Why are the Northern Di people chasing us?"
Death was not scary, but living in torment was worse. Sang Duo feared nothing more than being stripped naked and repeatedly violated by the Northern Di people.
"Who knows, maybe..." Bo Muer wondered if Cui Yi and the Northern Di were working together to retaliate, but dismissed the idea. Cui Yi was the nightmare of the Northern Di, and cooperation between them was impossible. If the Great Chu wanted to control the Buxia people, the Northern Di would never stand idly by.
"Forget it, we'll take it one step at a time. The terrain of Mount Yan Gui might give us a chance."
Unfortunately, Bo Muer's optimism was misplaced. On the fourth day of their retreat into the mountains, the Northern Di cavalry caught up. The able-bodied members of the Buxia tribe were weakening, and despite Bo Muer's exceptional sword skills, he couldn't fight off the overwhelming numbers and was eventually captured.
Nayang circled overhead, crying mournfully. Sang Duo screamed desperately: "Sister—!"
"Watch out!" A Buxia youth grabbed her waist, but Sang Duo struggled fiercely, stretching out her hand toward the opposite direction.
Bo Muer was disarmed and pinned down by several Northern Di men, bound tightly with thick ropes.
"Run!" Bo Muer shouted hoarsely.
"No! Sister!" Sang Duo screamed, trying to rush forward to die with him.
The Northern Di cavalry cursed in their language and kicked Bo Muer in the face, causing him to spit blood and lower his head.
Sang Duo screamed piercingly, finding strength from nowhere, threw off the youth holding her, picked up her curved knife, and charged at the enemy: "I'll kill you!"
"Sang Duo!" Several young Buxia men anxiously called out, preparing to rescue her, but suddenly heard the shouts of Han soldiers from behind. Their hearts sank—were they surrounded? But the next moment, their fears were dispelled.
Thousands of Han soldiers emerged from the forest, led by a man in silver armor wielding a silver spear, charging straight into the Northern Di cavalry. The following cavalrymen roared and thrust their spears mercilessly, killing nearly half of the Northern Di forces, who retreated in disarray.
The man wielding the silver spear was none other than Yang Qiong, who had gone hunting half a month ago. Like lightning, he slashed through the enemy ranks, his silver moon spear slicing through dozens of Northern Di soldiers effortlessly. The Yan Prefecture cavalry followed closely, cutting into the Northern Di formation, turning the tide of battle.
The Northern Di had not expected to encounter Han soldiers in the mountains and were caught off guard, suffering heavy losses. The remaining troops scattered in fear, discarding their weapons and fleeing.
"Sister!" Sang Duo stumbled over to where Bo Muer lay discarded, frantically cradling him.
Bo Muer was covered in wounds, bleeding profusely, and had suffered broken ribs during the skirmish. He was barely conscious.
Sang Duo cried uncontrollably, wiping the blood from his mouth and nose with trembling hands. Yang Qiong rode up and tossed her a small cloth bag: "This is musk we obtained a few days ago." Sang Duo snatched it, crushed some musk, and fed it to Bo Muer, pressing his throat to make him swallow.
Musk was a potent restorative, and Bo Muer's life was temporarily stabilized. The army medic brought bandages and medicine, setting Bo Muer's ribs and dressing his wounds.
Seeing her brother was out of immediate danger, Sang Duo relaxed and turned to thank Yang Qiong: "Thank you, benefactor."
Yang Qiong asked, "Are you from the Buxia tribe? What is your name?"
Sang Duo answered, and Yang Qiong was surprised: "You were the ones who sheltered Lady Changsun?"
Their luck was incredible. Amidst the vastness of Mount Yan Gui, they had happened upon Yang Qiong's hunting party. With the chieftain captured, the Buxia youth protected the women and children, encountering Yang Qiong's troops and almost being frightened to death.