The Grand Secretary has no heir? His concubine gives birth to triplets.

The following morning, at the Shili Changting Pavilion on the outskirts of Beijing.

The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, pierced straight into people's collars.

Pei Yan, Liu Dieyi, Aluojia, and Xuan Su Zhenren, along with eight elite guards and two horsemen, rested here temporarily.

Several layers of coarse linen had already been wrapped around the horses' hooves to prevent them from slipping on the snow-covered official road.

The two porters were handpicked by Lu Yunzheng; they were fast, strong, and skilled in martial arts.

They were responsible for carrying some of the charcoal and arrows.

Zhou Di originally intended to allocate a batch of muskets to them.

Unfortunately, this thing was afraid of the cold and was prone to getting damp and bursting in the dead of winter, so they had to settle for a batch of triangular arrows instead.

A rapid sound of horses' hooves broke through the wind and snow, approaching from afar.

Lu Yunzheng, wearing a black fox fur cloak, dismounted and carried two jars of wine in his hand.

He broke the mud seal and filled everyone's cups one by one.

"Let's finish this bowl as a farewell gift! Wishing you all a safe journey and a triumphant return!"

Lu Yunzheng tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The strong liquor went down my throat, and a surge of heat rose to my head.

He exhaled a puff of white breath and turned to look at Liu Dieyi.

Liu Dieyi wasn't afraid of the cold; she was still wearing her Miao ethnic outfit today, but with an extra thick wool cloak over it.

His golden swallowtail butterfly, feeling cold, hid deep inside the cloak, its antennae completely invisible.

Lu Yunzheng tore something off his neck and tossed it over.

"then."

Liu Dieyi caught it steadily in her palm, and looking down, she saw that it was a peace charm.

Lu Yunzheng turned his face away, his tone somewhat uncomfortable.

"The map of Hubei and Hunan that I gave you last night is quite detailed. Don't damage it, I'll need it in the future."

"Don't act impulsively on your trip to Wuchang. Listen to Pei Yan; although he's annoying, he's not stupid."

"If you come back missing an arm or a leg, I won't feed you!"

Liu Dieyi hung the amulet around her neck, her lips curling up to reveal two small tiger teeth.

"Where are my candied hawthorns?"

Lu Yunzheng rolled his eyes and threw a small bundle into his arms.

"Eating candied hawthorns in this cold weather, aren't you afraid of breaking your teeth?"

Liu Dieyi, carrying the heavy bundle, just kept smiling and didn't say anything more.

Pei Yan stood aside, letting the strong liquor churn in his stomach.

He instinctively turned his head and looked in the direction of the city gate.

Shunshun said last night that she wouldn't come to see him off.

She really didn't come.

It's alright that he didn't come.

In this awful weather, it would be so much more comfortable to stay indoors with burning charcoal.

If he really came and saw her red, swollen eyes, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to leave.

"It's getting late, let's go!"

Pei Yan concealed the bitterness in his eyes, mounted his horse, spurred it, and took the lead into the wind and snow.

The group rode their horses at full speed, heading south along the official road.

After walking about five miles, the snow gradually subsided.

As they passed the foot of Qizhen Temple on the outskirts of Beijing, Pei Yan suddenly tightened the reins.

The horse reared up on its forelegs and snorted.

Pei Yan looked up and stared intently at the sky.

In the gloomy sky, a kite was being tossed about by the cold wind.

Who would be so idle as to fly a kite here at this time of year?

However, upon closer inspection, his breath caught in his throat.

Isn't this the one he released for Shun Shun when they visited Qizhen Temple?!

Pei Yan's heart pounded wildly.

On the earthen slope ahead, a young boy in a Taoist robe stood, pulling a spool of thread, waving at him, and pointing to the back of the hillside.

Pei Yan spurred his horse forward without hesitation.

After rounding the earthen slope, the view suddenly opened up.

When Pei Yan saw the red figure standing in the snow, his breath stopped.

The heart, barely repaired in the chest cavity, was hitting so hard that it made my ribs ache.

Shun Shun was dressed in a neat men's outfit, covered by a worn-out leather soft armor.

Wearing a red cloak.

Her long, black hair was not adorned with any pearls or jade, but was simply tied up high with an old-fashioned wooden hairpin.

Her unadorned face, set against the backdrop of white snow, appeared clear and resolute.

She straddled a magnificent chestnut horse with her legs, and two bundles hung on either side of the saddle.

Pei Yan stood there stunned on horseback for a long time.

He had seen Shunshun when she was timid, fearful, and angry, as well as her cunning when she was scheming.

But I've never seen Shunshun so dashing and radiant, like the blazing sun.

After a brief moment of disbelief, he shouted angrily, "What are you doing here? Nonsense! You're courting death!"

Shunshun met his gaze without flinching, puffing out her chest: "I've come to accompany my husband on this campaign!"

Seeing that Pei Yan was about to speak up to stop her, Shunshun interrupted:

"I know what you're going to say. Don't worry, Shunhua, Shunying, and Shunhui have already been brought to the palace by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

"His Majesty has promised me that he will take good care of them, and the three wet nurses, Salera, and Tanyu will also enter the palace together."

"With them closely watching over and protecting them, and with the Imperial Guards, no one can harm them!"

"As for Pei Lu's funeral arrangements, I entrusted them to my third brother and sister-in-law."

"Although my third sister-in-law is usually competitive and ambitious, she still knows how to conduct herself when it comes to matters of principle."

"Before I left, I handed her the housekeeper's token, and she almost cried."

Wasn't the fourth sister-in-law trying to line her own pockets by taking advantage of Pei Lu's funeral?

My third sister-in-law is just the right person to keep her in check!

"As for Grandmother, she's weathered many storms in her life. With her in charge of the Pei family, nothing will go wrong!"

"I also left a letter for Brother Lu. Lu Yi should have been delivered to the Lu family by now. He will secretly take care of the Pei family."

Shunshun took a deep breath of the cold air, gripped the reins tightly with both hands, and suppressed the urge to shiver.

Pei Yan's murderous expression was merely a facade; he was weak inside.

She stepped forward, looking up at him intently: "I've taken care of everything you're worried about. As for myself..."

She patted the satchel tied around her waist.

"Xinyi prepared two full jars of qi and blood-tonifying pills for me, you can take them too."

"I have a good foundation; I practiced horse stance with my brother for two years when I was little! My dad personally taught me how to ride a horse!"

"If it really comes to a life-or-death situation, I'll turn around and run away. I will never stay and die for you."

"It's just... I can't attend Lingyi and Sima Di's wedding, which is a bit of a pity."

"But I have already prepared the dowry for her, and Lüyi will deliver it to her on my behalf."

Pei Yan's words were all stuck in his throat by her words.

He stared at her nose, which was red from the cold, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.

scold?

How to curse?

He knew he should yell back at Shunshun, no matter how harsh the words, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

She was well aware of how dangerous the trip would be, yet she still insisted on coming.

How could a mother so heartlessly abandon three children who were still alive? Braving the wind and snow to chase after him.

Pei Yan's eyes reddened, and he couldn't utter a single word of rebuke.

Liu Dieyi led her horse forward, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

"Lord Pei, Madam Murong's decisiveness and courage are rare even in our Miao region."

"Bringing your wife along is actually very beneficial. If Prince Chen's advisors see this, they will think that you have truly been abandoned by the Emperor."

"If you even bring your wife along, wouldn't it be impossible for you to stay in the capital? That would lower your guard a bit."

Shun Shun quietly relaxed her tense shoulders.

That's right. She wasn't acting recklessly or on a whim.

But...

When Pei Yan went to the palace yesterday, Shala came to visit the three children and revealed something to him that concerned Prince Chen.

She overheard that from one of the Crown Prince's advisors before she was sent to the Pei residence.

Although this matter is small, it could very well be the key to victory in this Wuchang campaign.

The reason she didn't tell Pei Yan was because...

Once Pei Yan finds out, he will definitely stop her.

Pei Yan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the bittersweet and burning sensation in his heart.

He turned his head to the side and uttered two words stiffly.

"Keep up!"

After saying that, he didn't even glance at her, but instead mounted his horse and lashed it hard with the whip.

The horse neighed, raising a handful of remaining snow.

Shunshun paused for a moment, but quickly loosened the reins and followed closely behind the group.

Throughout the journey, Pei Yan maintained a stern face and did not smile.

They traveled at a marching pace.

They are only allowed to rest for a quarter of an hour each time, and after watering and resting their horses, they must set off immediately.