Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

Chapter 432 The Substitute Bride Becomes a Reality (33)

Anger and resentment burned away Qi Haolian's reason like poisonous flames, consuming even the last trace of hesitation.

Since the Xiongnu assassination attempt failed, then let's switch to a more overt strategy! Isn't Qi Jinyu relying on the hundreds of thousands of troops on the frontier? Then let's personally cut off that pillar!

He summoned his trusted aide, his voice low and venomous: "Go, create some 'trouble' for the grain transport team, so that they are 'forced' to delay their journey by one or two months. Remember, make it look clean, like an accident."

The trusted confidant obeyed the order and silently disappeared into the shadows.

Qi Haolian strolled to the window, gazing towards the border, a cold, smug smile curving his lips.

Qi Jinyu, without supplies, let's see how long your hundreds of thousands of troops can hold out! They'll starve to death!

He could almost see the devastation of the frontier, with corpses littering the fields and morale shattered.

Unbeknownst to him, the emperor on the dragon throne was already aware of his actions. But this time, the emperor chose to remain silent, coldly observing this hunt targeting his eldest son.

-

Two months later, at the end of January.

Heavy snow is falling, just in time for the New Year.

Despite the freezing weather, where breath turns to frost, this important border town and even the towns and villages further inland seem more vibrant than in previous years.

Red lanterns were hung in front of every household, and brand-new Spring Festival couplets were pasted on their doors. Mischievous children, dressed in bulky cotton-padded coats, chased and played in the alleys, while firecrackers exploded sporadically.

With the wool workshop, many people had more disposable income. Although they weren't rich, they finally had meat in their bowls, and genuine smiles appeared on their faces.

This bit of vitality is especially precious in the otherwise lifeless end of the year.

In stark contrast are the frontier military camps.

There was none of the relaxation and joy that one would expect during the New Year; the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.

Banners fluttered in the biting wind, the footsteps of the patrolling soldiers were heavy and rhythmic, and the sound of armor rubbing against each other mingled with the wind, conveying a sense of impending storm.

Inside the main tent, the charcoal brazier could not dispel the bone-chilling cold.

Qi Jinyu sat in the main seat with a solemn expression, while Qin Wujiu was reporting in a deep voice below.

"Your Highness, the capital has indeed taken action against the grain supplies. Numerous checkpoints along the way are creating obstacles, deliberately delaying the transport process, which is now more than half a month behind schedule! At this rate, the army's grain reserves..."

He swallowed the rest of his sentence, but worry was written all over his face.

The army consumes a huge amount of food and supplies every day. If the food supply is cut off, the morale of the army will be thrown into chaos. At that time, not only will it be impossible to resist foreign enemies, but internal changes may also occur.

What puzzled him even more was that the prince seemed to have anticipated this, and instead of panicking, he ordered the entire army to prepare for battle well in advance.

Could this unusual move be merely to guard against the insignificant harassment from the Xiongnu?

Sitting at the head of the table, Qi Jinyu remained calm, his eyes as deep as the night. He had long anticipated this turn of events.

In his previous life, Qi Haolian, for his own selfish reasons, colluded with the Xiongnu to lure him and hundreds of thousands of loyal souls into a perilous mountain valley. In the end, only he emerged from the dead, bearing the immense crime of betraying his country and surrendering to the enemy.

After three years of lying low, with the blood feud etched deep in his heart, he finally returned to the capital, stepping over mountains of corpses and seas of blood, to seek justice for the soldiers who had died unjustly.

Now that he has been given a second chance at life, he will never allow history to repeat itself, and he will never let his soldiers sacrifice themselves in vain again!

“It’s alright,” he said in a steady voice, carrying an undeniable authority. “As for the provisions, Ziyu has already made arrangements.”

Su Ziyu, who was standing nearby, spoke up at the right moment and took out a secret letter from his sleeve: "Your Highness, my cousin Shen Qianlan sent a letter yesterday. He has secretly escorted 100,000 shi of grain northward and should arrive in two or three days."

Upon hearing the name "Shen Qianlan" again, Qin Wujiu felt a sudden pang of emotion, a mix of feelings swirling within him.

After the attack on the Prince's mansion and the two fought side by side, the young master of the Shen family quietly left.

He originally thought that the other party was unhappy with the chaos on the frontier, which was why they returned to Jiangnan. Unexpectedly, they quietly went to raise such a large amount of grain and fodder, providing timely help at this critical moment.

However, the Xiongnu did not give them two or three days.

On this New Year's Eve, while the people were still immersed in the hard-won, small joy, smoke suddenly billowed into the sky from the border beacon towers!

The alarm horns sounded one after another, tearing apart the tranquility of the snowy night and instantly tightening every nerve in the military camp!

"Report! The Xiongnu army has launched a surprise attack, and their vanguard is already thirty miles away!" The scout, covered in snow, rushed into the tent, his voice hoarse from the impending battle.

The atmosphere inside the tent froze instantly. Qin Wujiu clenched his fist tightly, looking worriedly at the person above him.

Su Ziyu was tightening the last straps of Qi Jinyu's arm armor when he heard the military report. His slender fingers trembled almost imperceptibly, but he quickly and steadily completed the action.

Qi Jinyu abruptly stood up, the clanging of his black iron armor echoing coldly. His gaze was like lightning, instantly suppressing all emotions deep within his eyes, leaving only the absolute calm and ruthlessness of a commander-in-chief.

"Order all battalions to proceed with their pre-arranged plans and engage the enemy!"

"Yes!" The generals inside the tent roared in response, quickly filing out to their respective posts. In the blink of an eye, only he and Su Ziyu remained in the tent.

Time was of the essence; every breath was crucial to the outcome of the battle. Qi Jinyu turned around and looked intently at the person before her.

Su Ziyu tilted her head back, her clear eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight and Qi Jinyu's resolute face. There was concern and worry in her eyes, but not panic.

"Ziyu," Qi Jinyu said, her voice lower than usual, carrying an undeniable reassuring power, "guard the camp well and wait for my return."

He didn't say much, and the battle situation didn't allow him to say more.

The next moment, he reached out, not gently, but with a forceful, almost domineering strength, carrying an aura of iron and blood, and pulled Su Ziyu into his arms.

The cold armor stung the other man, but the warmth from his arm penetrated the barriers, imprinting itself on him.

He lowered his head and precisely captured those slightly cool lips.

It was a brief yet passionate kiss, a blend of steely coldness and an unquestionable promise. There was no lingering tenderness, only a surrender and imprinting of all heartfelt emotions.

Instantly separate.

Qi Jinyu released him, her fingertips quickly tracing his cheek, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment, as if she wanted to etch that image into her heart.

"wait for me."

With those two resounding words, he had no more regrets. He turned abruptly, grabbed the long sword from the table, and strode out of the tent.

His dark cloak billowed behind him in a sharp arc, disappearing into the swirling snow and the deafening sound of war drums.

Su Ziyu stood still, the burning and intense sensation still lingering on her lips, her fingertips slightly curled.

He gazed at the swirling snow outside the tent and at the unwavering figure that had merged into the army formation, took a deep breath, and suppressed all his worries and concerns.

He still has his responsibility—to guard this place and wait for his triumphant return.

Outside the camp, Qi Jinyu had already mounted his horse, his sword pointed at the surging Xiongnu army ahead, his voice piercing the wind and snow, resounding through the sky:

"Soldiers, follow me—to kill the enemy!"

"kill--!"

The deafening shouts clashed with the howls of the Xiongnu, and the brutal battle had begun.