[The destructive power of the new weapon had drawn covetous eyes from all directions. Many surrounding nations sent their deathsworn agents into Tian Sheng in secret, hoping to unearth clues about the invention.
However, due to the weapon's discreet development and the heavy protection granted to its core researchers and their families, no useful intelligence had been obtained. The Dragon Shadow Guard reservists who had used the weapon were deeply loyal to Yun Shu, and not a single detail of the weapon's manufacturing method had leaked.]
"Very well, this shall be the course of action."
Emperor Xuanwu could scarcely contain his eagerness to respond to Yun Shu. He was so excited that he nearly abandoned the morning court session altogether.
After hastily announcing the end of court, he returned to the imperial study and, without pause, penned a lengthy reply to Yun Shu—three full pages of imperial script.
At that moment, Yun Shu was still traveling with the main army, en route to Ningzhou.
Unlike Yongzhou, where their forces had mainly been defending city walls and the Annan army limited itself to harassment rather than full-scale battle, the conflict between Ningzhou and Pugan was an open, brutal war.
Along the way, Yun Shu and her entourage passed countless refugees fleeing from Ningzhou.
From time to time, young children would brighten upon seeing the soldiers marching by and tug at their parents' sleeves with shining eyes.
"Mother, look, they're heading toward Ningzhou! With them there, the enemy will be driven out for sure. Let's go home! If we go home, Daddy won't argue with you anymore just because I ate an extra steamed bun at the inn!"
"Don't speak nonsense!"
The young mother quickly covered her daughter's mouth and softly coaxed her.
"Your daddy wasn't upset because you ate another bun. He's just been in a poor mood because we had to leave home. Do you understand?"
"Then let's not leave anymore!"
The little girl's voice was pure and hopeful.
"The generals will drive the enemies away."
"But Mother doesn't know when they'll be driven away."
The woman sighed quietly, her voice almost inaudible.
"Be good, sweetheart. Once they win, we'll come back. All right?"
"...All right..."
The little girl nodded, though her eyes dimmed with disappointment.
"But San Ya and her family haven't left yet..."
The woman fell silent, then gave a low sigh.
"These days, not everyone can leave, even if they wish to."
San Ya's father had just joined the army and died in battle only a few days ago. The family had lost their pillar of support overnight. Her grandmother collapsed from grief, and her mother had cried so much that she could barely see. How could she still have the strength to flee?
Such was the cruelty of war.
—
"Fifth Sister."
Perhaps it was the number of similar scenes they had witnessed along the way, but Yun Chuhuan, who had earlier been loudly complaining about the tiresome journey, had grown noticeably subdued.
"Is the fighting in Ningzhou really that much worse than Yongzhou?"
"You noticed as well."
Yun Shu tilted her head with a faint smirk.
"Are you frightened?"
"Not exactly. I mean, with you around, Fifth Sister, I know you'll keep me safe. Besides, we're reinforcements, aren't we? Reinforcements mean we're the ones turning the tide, right? That means we're going to win!"
Yun Chuhuan puffed out his chest, trying to show the bravado of a fearless young man. But the act didn't last long. He slouched soon after, as if all the air had been knocked out of him.
"I just realized... war isn't fun at all."
"Did the Grand Preceptor ever teach you that war is supposed to be fun?"
Yun Shu raised an eyebrow.
"Why did you ever think it was?"
"Well, not exactly that it's fun..."
Yun Chuhuan scratched his head, trying to explain.
"It's just... whether in storybooks or the history scrolls, the focus is always on how awe-inspiring the generals were. The tactics they used, the brilliant victories they claimed, how they crushed their enemies with flair.
Or how the enemy used a clever strategy to outwit one of our own.
So even though the Grand Preceptor always spoke of war's cruelty, in my imagination, the battlefield seemed like a thrilling place. I never truly grasped what those life-or-death battles meant. I didn't understand what the common folk endured.
I only thought of it as the grand stage where generals showed off their brilliance. I wanted to see it with my own eyes."
"And now?"
Yun Shu recalled how, not long ago, Yun Chuhuan had arrived in Yongzhou, accompanied by personal letters penned by both Imperial Father and Noble Consort Liu. At the time, she had simply thought Noble Consort Liu was too naïve, believing the boy's excuse that he had run off out of curiosity.
What surprised her more was that Imperial Father believed it too.
Only now did she realize that Yun Chuhuan did, in fact, possess a certain sensitivity.
In the original storyline, it was merely because he had grown up on the wrong path that he later became what he was.
But now, his heart had changed.
Even if his initial reason for leaving the capital was little more than childish excitement, there were things that, once seen with one's own eyes, would plant themselves in the heart. Even without deliberate reflection, they would begin to shift a person.
Indeed, the older generation still understood best.
Yun Shu clicked her tongue softly. She decided to go along with Imperial Father and Noble Consort Liu's intention, gently steering the boy in the right direction.
"Still curious to see it?"
"I do..."
Yun Chuhuan nodded, then hesitated, his head shaking after a moment.
"But at the same time, I don't."
"Why?"
"Because I am curious."
He squirmed, clearly conflicted.
"But if the cost of satisfying that curiosity is that people are driven from their homes, that soldiers die on the battlefield, that families are torn apart... then maybe it's better not to see it."
"But war already exists."
Yun Shu's voice was calm, though her gaze held meaning.
"Aside from watching the spectacle, have you ever thought about helping?"
"Me?"
Yun Chuhuan froze. Then his eyes widened in alarm.
"I can't, Fifth Sister! I'd never survive the battlefield! They don't even make armor in my size! If I go out there without protection, I'll be skewered in an instant!"
Yun Shu stared at him for a beat.
So much for the solemn mood. It vanished in a heartbeat.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated, then gave him a glare.
"Who said anything about sending you to the frontlines to fight? You could help the military physicians in the field hospitals. They're always shorthanded."
"Oh."
Relieved, Yun Chuhuan sighed, then frowned.
"But I'm a prince. Should I really be doing servant work like that?"
"And what, exactly, can you do?"
Yun Shu gave him a slow, sweet smile.
"Stand atop the city wall, eating snacks while watching the soldiers fight below, surrounded by attendants ready to shield you from arrows?
Or perhaps lounge in the camp, legs crossed, while injured soldiers limp over to serve you food and water because they can't fight?
Or... would you rather sneak into the command tent and doodle giant turtles on the battle maps while we're trying to plan?"