Chapter 212

Chapter 212: To Believe or Not

He had merely spoken the truth, yet Shang Hang Yu had resorted to such petty vengeance.

It was truly the deed of a worthless rogue!

Qi Shu Xian scorned to involve himself further with a man so lacking in talent and virtue, a mere wastrel.

Moreover, tomorrow he would set out for the Northern Desert, bearing the heavy responsibility of provisioning the troops. The lives of countless soldiers and commoners rested upon his shoulders.

As for Sheng Zhi Wan…

When he returned triumphant, she would naturally see the vast gap between himself and Shang Hang Yu.

Thinking of this, Qi Shu Xian’s eyes filled with disdain. He made to pass by Shang Hang Yu without another glance.

“Wait,” Shang Hang Yu shifted his feet, blocking Qi Shu Xian’s path. He held out a folded letter.

Qi Shu Xian furrowed his brow, puzzled by Shang Hang Yu’s intentions.

“The Princess asked this Prince Consort to deliver this to you,” Shang Hang Yu said, emphasizing his title with a mocking smile.

Sheng Zhi Wan?

Qi Shu Xian’s eyes narrowed.

“What, Deputy General Qi dares not even accept a letter? Afraid I might poison you?” Shang Hang Yu mocked, pretending to withdraw the note.

Qi Shu Xian snatched it from him.

“How generous of you, Second Young Master Shang, personally delivering your Princess’s message to another man,” Qi Shu Xian mocked, though he didn’t open it in front of Shang Hang Yu.

Shang Hang Yu gave him a weary glance. “Deputy General Qi, surely you don’t truly imagine the Princess wrote it herself?”

With a dismissive wave, Shang Hang Yu turned and left. If not for the Princess wishing to spare unnecessary loss among Sheng Kingdom’s soldiers, he wouldn’t have bothered.

Qi Shu Xian stood there, watching Shang Hang Yu depart, his expression unreadable.

Returning to Duke Qi’s manor, he endured a long talk from his father before finally returning to Mountain Mist Courtyard. Only then did he unfold the letter.

Indeed, it wasn’t Zhi Wan’s handwriting.

Her script varied greatly—sometimes graceful, sometimes delicate, sometimes carefree—but the bold, careless strokes before him clearly belonged to someone else.

The thought that Shang Hang Yu penned it filled him with disgust. As he read further, his brows drew tighter.

For this provisioning trip to the Northern Desert, only a small portion of supplies would come from the capital. The rest were to be collected from granaries along the way north. At each of the six major granaries, Imperial edicts had been sent ahead by fast riders, ensuring supplies were ready when the army arrived.

Thus, the route north had been carefully planned by him and several senior officials, deemed safe and swift.

Yet this supposedly safest route was marked by Sheng Zhi Wan as full of ambush risks.

She seemed certain Northern Di would deploy small groups to disrupt supplies, urging him to take detours.

Qi Shu Xian found this absurd.

If he took the route described in the letter, how much extra time would be wasted? Who would bear that responsibility?

Besides, how could a woman like Sheng Zhi Wan understand such military details?

Considering Shang Hang Yu’s petty and vindictive nature, it was likely a trick to unsettle him.

Cold determination filled Qi Shu Xian’s eyes as he rose abruptly, resolved to speak directly to Sheng Zhi Wan.

It wasn’t too late for her to realize Shang Hang Yu’s selfish interference could harm their troops!

“My Lord, it’s already late. Where are you going?” Meng Yang entered shyly, dressed in new clothes, cheeks flushed.

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze filled with disgust as he looked away.

Lately, Meng Yang often mimicked Sheng Zhi Wan’s style, yet she utterly lacked the Princess’s radiant charm. Bright colors made Sheng Zhi Wan luminous but looked gaudy and absurd on Meng Yang, like a hen cloaked in phoenix feathers—vulgar and mismatched.

“I have something important.” He brushed past her. Suddenly recalling something, he paused. “That prophetic dream you had, claiming I’d return triumphant—was it real?”

“Yes…” Meng Yang murmured, lowering her eyes, appearing wounded.

But Qi Shu Xian had already turned away, striding quickly out.

At Princess Manor, Zhang Da immediately bristled upon seeing Qi Shu Xian approach.

Qi Shu Xian, facing such guarded hostility, felt a surge of irritation.

He still remembered how respectfully Zhang Da once treated him.

It hadn’t been long since the divorce, yet now Zhang Da dared openly oppose him.

“Don’t overthink. I have urgent matters to discuss with the Princess personally,” Qi Shu Xian said coldly. “Just tell her Shang Hang Yu delivered a letter today, claiming it was her request. If she refuses to see me, I’ll leave immediately.”

“Princess surely won’t see you,” Zhang Da mumbled, then suddenly straightened—

“Princess!”

Qi Shu Xian startled.

Zhang Da respectfully opened the door and stepped aside.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood atop the high steps in plain clothes, looking down at him. “It was indeed my idea to have that letter delivered.”

Qi Shu Xian stared in shock.

Sheng Zhi Wan continued calmly, “I have also examined the map. Your trip this time differs greatly. With large quantities of provisions, an ambush could devastate your troops.”

“All the advice in that letter came from my heart. Whether you choose to believe it is up to you, Deputy General Qi.”

With that, Sheng Zhi Wan turned and walked back inside.

By the time Qi Shu Xian recovered from his astonishment, the manor doors had closed.

Were the warnings truly from Sheng Zhi Wan?

But how could she—a woman—know these things?

Qi Shu Xian clenched his fist, uncertain and conflicted.

Inside, Sheng Zhi Wan stared up at the dark, cloudless sky, sighing quietly. She had done what she could; the rest was up to fate.

She couldn’t shoulder Qi Shu Xian’s responsibility for him.

Changes in power always meant bloodshed. She did not wish for soldiers to die, yet this was also an opportunity—one she could use to take control of the Northern Desert army.

The next day, the second day of the second month.

Before dawn, many women already stood outside the city gates, waiting to bid farewell.

Qi Shu Xian walked at the front, yet among all those who had come, not one was there for him.

Through the morning mist, he suddenly recalled clearly that figure from the morning after their marriage—Sheng Zhi Wan waiting silently by the gate.

The world had seemed so vast and blurry, yet her figure had stood out distinctly.

At that moment, he had vowed to return victorious, bringing glory so all would know she had not lost her mind by marrying him.

But everything had changed.

Lowering his gaze, Qi Shu Xian buried that lingering sadness deep within.

He turned, performed the ritual, and ordered the drums to sound.

War drums thundered through the air.

Meanwhile, in Princess Manor, Sheng Zhi Wan rolled over sleepily.

When she finally woke, sunlight already filled her room.

Nanny Yu told her Shang Hang Yu had sent someone with a message earlier—tomorrow’s planned visit to Morning Light Temple had been postponed by one more day.