"Han King?!"

Everyone in the main hall was taken aback.

Although they knew Yu Wenye would not joke about military affairs, Shen Tu Tai couldn’t fathom it and said gravely, "We currently have no spies placed on the eastern front, so we don’t know where Prince Han has reached. However, if he really has approached Taiyuan City, why not directly attack Taiyuan? Why instead go to Shouyang to intercept the Western Turks’ reinforcements?"

The other deputy generals also nodded in agreement.

"Yes, it would be more beneficial for Han King to attack Taiyuan directly."

"If Han King’s troops can take Taiyuan, the city’s strong walls would provide great defense against Western Türkic cavalry, even if reinforcements arrive. Moreover—"

The speaker didn’t finish his sentence.

But everyone knew what he was about to say.

Moreover—Yu Wenquan had offered a clear reward for the campaign to reclaim Taiyuan, which was the position of Crown Prince. Whoever captured Taiyuan City first would be proclaimed Crown Prince.

Having already missed an opportunity and been appointed merely as Han King, the legitimate first son, Yu Wenqian, could not possibly let this position slip away to others.

Hearing this, Yu Wenye remained unruffled and calmly said, "Even though my Imperial Brother hasn’t led troops before, he is very clear-headed. The threat of Western Türkic reinforcements has always been a significant concern for our two armies in attacking Taiyuan. He is unlikely to ignore the movements of these troops; even we know the Western Turks have reached Shouyang, so he certainly knows too."

"Yes."

"If he directly attacks Taiyuan at this moment and fails to capture it, while the Western Turkic troops attack from behind, wouldn’t he be trapped in a pincer?"

"..."

"Therefore, the best strategy is to first eliminate the Western Turks’ reinforcements, then focus on attacking Taiyuan."

Upon hearing this, everyone came to an understanding.

Yu Wenye continued, "However, this is not necessarily the reason he must intercept the Western Turkic reinforcements."

"...?"

Everyone was startled again and looked at him in bewilderment, "Then, what’s the reason?"

Yu Wenye said, "Shouyang is his—hometown."

Shang Ruyi, who had been quietly listening to the conversation inside, took a deep breath at this moment. She hadn’t remembered wrong, except Yu Wenye put it more tactfully. To be exact, Shouyang wasn’t Yu Wenqian’s hometown, but the hometown of the Dong Family, his mother, Mrs. Dong.

Thus, this place must hold special significance for him.

Everyone pondered quietly for a moment, then Shen Tu Tai’s deep and resonant voice broke the silence, "Prince Qin."

"Hmm?"

"I am not trying to silence you forcefully, but if Prince Han really goes to Shouyang to intercept the Western Turks’ reinforcements, wouldn’t it be helping us?"

"..."

"Knowing that—would he really do that?"

"..."

Once he spoke, everyone who had been somewhat convinced began to waver.

Indeed, if without Yu Wenye’s army and only Yu Wenqian’s forces reclaiming Taiyuan, he could intercept the Western Turks’ reinforcements and then concentrate on attacking Taiyuan City without issue. However, with the reward of the Crown Prince position before him, going to Shouyang would give Yu Wenye the chance to attack Taiyuan first.

Could Yu Wenqian really overlook this point?

"..."

This time, Yu Wenye remained silent for so long that everyone thought he wouldn’t respond. Just as Shang Ruyi was about to enter, he finally spoke.

"He will."

"..."

"Because he, has unresolved ties."

"...?"

Hearing this, nobody spoke, but a feeling of doubt and disbelief began to spread.

Having unresolved ties, could really make a person forsake the position of Crown Prince?

At this moment, Lei Guo’s voice softly sounded, "Your Highness—Would you, because of unresolved ties in your heart, give up attacking Taiyuan?"

For some reason, despite this not being a question, and everyone knowing Yu Wenye is someone who prioritizes great ambitions and has no distractions, in addition to his longing for the position of Crown Prince even before Yu Wenquan ascended the throne; how could such a person abandon attacking Taiyuan and the great reward of the Crown Prince position due to unresolved ties in the heart?

However, Shang Ruyi’s heart suddenly stopped for a beat.

And the atmosphere in the hall was momentarily stagnant.

The next moment, Lei Guo said, "Your Highness, forgive me, I misspoke." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

This Lei Guo was Lei Yu’s cousin, and from their earlier private meeting interactions, he and Yu Wenye had a deeper brotherly bond. Just now, driven perhaps by an emotional impulse, he asked that question but quickly realized his mistake. Now that Yu Wenye is already Prince Qin, his thoughts are not something ordinary people can fathom.

So, he immediately retracted his question.

But the oppressive atmosphere in the hall did not dissipate; although it seemed this issue about the military report had come to an end, Yu Wenye’s silence regarding that question lingered, with a faint undercurrent of...anger.

At this time, Shang Ruyi regained her composure.

She had initially followed and intended to explain some matters to Yu Wenye, but now, with people inside still discussing the strategy for attacking Taiyuan, she was eager to discuss personal matters.

Regardless of its appropriateness, it appeared somewhat ridiculous.

Thinking of this, although her heart remained tied—after all, the safety of Shen Wuzheng had never been a trivial matter to her—she realized she simply could not bring up the Changchun Palace issue in front of so many soldiers worried about the Taiyuan battle. She could only convince herself to wait until after today to speak with Yu Wenye.

And then, there was that misunderstanding between them...

Reflecting on this, she sighed softly, turned around, and walked back.

By this time, the sky had become brighter, and the surrounding lanterns were gradually extinguished. Shang Ruyi, slowly walking back to her room amid the fading lights, failed to notice a messenger soldier hurriedly racing toward the assembly hall from another path.

Upon entering the room, she immediately noticed Wo Xue standing in the center.

Her head snapped around urgently to look at Shang Ruyi, her eyes red-rimmed and her face showing a mixture of shock and sorrow, which made Shang Ruyi’s heart sink.

She instinctively held her breath, "What happened?"

"Princess..." Wo Xue looked at her, trembling, with tears nearly brimming over. Her voice hoarse, she said softly, "Just, just now, news came from the rear, telling me to inform you, there’s been an incident at Changchun Palace!"