Ye Chutang’s expression remained calm as she asked in a steady voice, “How can we be certain that this information is true? Where is Ah Feng’s body now?”
A dead silence filled the hall.
No one expected Ye Chutang to react in such a way upon hearing this news. For a moment, they all thought she was overwhelmed with grief and unwilling to accept it.
Chen Songshi let out a long sigh, “Ye Yunfeng and the other soldiers fought bravely to defend the city. With the enemy outnumbering us greatly, it was thanks to him that we were able to hold on for so long. Later, Feng Cheng led troops to our aid, but by the time they arrived... countless lives were lost on both sides. It took Feng Cheng’s men a long time to find Ye Yunfeng, but... but…”
He couldn’t bear to continue looking at her and seemed unsure how to proceed.
Ye Chutang looked straight at Shen Yanchuan, “So, is Ah Feng’s body still in Duzhou?”
Shen Yanchuan pursed his lips slightly,
“Four days ago, Feng Cheng ordered for Ah Feng to be escorted back to the capital. Calculating the time, he should arrive in about half a month.”
That meant the body was being brought back to the capital for burial.
Ye Chutang asked again, “Does the military report mention anything else?”
Shen Yanchuan was slightly taken aback, “You mean...”
“When Ah Feng left, I gave him a personal amulet. Perhaps that is his only remaining possession,” Ye Chutang said. “If there’s a chance, I would like to know if that amulet is still with him.”
Shen Yanchuan looked at her, his dark eyes clear yet sharp.
He seemed to have some kind of suspicion in his mind and pondered for a moment, “The report says that due to the fierce fighting on the battlefield, it was impossible to distinguish the bodies of many soldiers... Ah Feng is no exception.”
“Yanchuan!”
Chen Songshi couldn’t help but call out to him again.
Why bother to tell her such gruesome details?
Weren’t they just stabbing another knife into her heart?
Ye Chutang nodded, “I understand. Thank you, Crown Prince.”
She then bowed again towards the main door of the Imperial Study.
“Chutang, today I was impulsive and abrupt in entering the palace. I hope Your Majesty and the other officials can forgive me.”
A palace maid hurried out from the hall and approached Ye Chutang, speaking carefully, “Miss Ye, Your Majesty said that you are also deeply concerned for your younger brother; there is no fault in that. General Ye also sacrificed himself bravely in defending the city. He truly had a loyal and brave heart! Please... mourn deeply!”
Ye Chutang nodded and then took her leave.
Shen Yanchuan looked down at her, wondering how to speak when suddenly a strange, deep voice came from behind him,
“Yanchuan, go and see to it.”
Ye Chutang glanced over the crowd and saw a tall figure standing inside the Imperial Study.
Dingbei Marquis, Shen Youyan.
Ye Chutang almost immediately recognized his identity.
He was dressed in black armor, with a sword at his waist. Even from a distance, she could still sense the ominous aura surrounding him.
Trông có vẻ khoảng bốn mươi tuổi, nhưng vẫn có thể thấy được rõ ràng rằng hồi trẻ ông ta đã đẹp trai và phong độ biết bao.
Ánh mắt ông ta dừng lại trên người Ye Chutang.
Ye Chutang cũng không ngờ rằng lần đầu tiên gặp gỡ Shen Youyan lại là trong tình huống như thế này.
Bầu không khí nghiêm nghị trên người Shen Youyan dường như đã giảm bớt đi rất nhiều, ông ta gật đầu nhẹ với Ye Chutang.
Ai hiểu con hơn cha chứ?
Ông ta cũng đã tò mò về Ye Chutang từ lâu, và hôm nay khi gặp được cô, tất cả những suy nghĩ và nghi ngờ trước đó đều có câu trả lời.
Một người phụ nữ như thế này, tự nhiên là khác biệt so với những người khác.
Không lạ gì A Chuan lại mến mộ cô đến thế.
Shen Yanchuan gật đầu: “Tôi sẽ tiễn các bạn.”
Lúc này, Xiao Wu cuối cùng cũng tỉnh táo trở lại.
Cô ấy ngẩng mặt lên, đôi mắt đầy sự mơ hồ và không hiểu.
Lúc nãy… họ đã nói những gì với nhau vậy?
Cô ấy mở miệng ra, nhưng không thể phát ra được một âm tiết nào.
Ye Chutang hạ mắt xuống, nhẹ nhàng nắm lấy tay cô ấy.
“Xiao Wu, chúng ta về nhà thôi.”
Nước mắt của Xiao Wu bỗng nhiên trào ra.
