The princess consort stood in the backyard garden, her gaze fixed on a few cherry trees.
As the autumn wind began to rise, there wasn’t much scenery left to admire.
What truly mattered here was the people.
"Greetings, Princess Consort," Shao Xun bowed respectfully.
Pei Fei wore a purple silk scarf today, adding an air of nobility.
During the Wei and Jin dynasties, men wore silk scarves, which were large and used to tie up their hair.
Women’s silk scarves, however, were smaller and came in two types: one for warmer seasons, covering only the head, and another for winter, thicker and extending to the shoulders or even halfway down the arms, serving as protection against the cold.
Purple and white were common colors for women’s scarves, and even Shi Hu’s empress was known to favor the purple one.
Beside the delicate purple scarf, a tortoiseshell ornament dangled, swaying with every step, drawing attention.
This woman, who used to be so simple, was now increasingly fond of dressing up.
"What are you looking at?" Pei Fei asked softly.
"Purple silk scarf under the white cherry blossoms," Shao Xun replied.
Pei Fei chuckled lightly.
"Can you write poetry?"
"No. I only know how to fight and kill."
At the mention of "fighting and killing," Pei Fei sighed.
"I heard from Mi Zihui that you want me and the heir to move into the Golden Fortress. Why?"
"The Grand Minister has led the emperor north on a campaign, and the outcome is uncertain. News from the west says that Chang’an is recruiting troops on a large scale, and they may have already set out," Shao Xun explained.
"The prince’s residence only has fifty guards, which isn’t enough for safety."
"Didn’t you send an additional fifty men?"
"It’s still not enough," Shao Xun shook his head.
"Zhang Fang can bring at least twenty to thirty thousand troops. Luoyang might not hold."
The number of troops Sima Yong could mobilize from Chang’an had become clear over the past two years.
Without straining his forces, he could muster around seventy thousand.
In the previous attack on Luoyang, he lost no less than twenty thousand, leaving him with fifty thousand.
Now, with Huangfu Zhong still holding out in Qinzhou, and Sima Yong sending some troops to oversee the battle, if Zhang Fang is ordered to march east, he might bring half of those fifty thousand at best.
In this situation, Huangfu Zhong was actually tying down a significant portion of Guanzhong’s forces.
He had been holding out in a lone city for over half a year, never falling.
Yet, the court had already confiscated his brother’s estate and given it to Shao Xun.
Huangfu Zhong’s persistence was destined to be in vain—even if he sent someone to break through and seek help from the court, it would likely yield no results.
Thus, Zhang Fang’s forces marching east would number between twenty to thirty thousand.
Moreover, the autumn harvest was approaching, followed by the autumn planting—if wheat was to be sown—making it difficult to recruit large numbers of peasant soldiers.
Even if Sima Yong disregarded the farming season, he would fear widespread opposition from the people.
But even with only twenty to thirty thousand troops, they wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
The defenders of Luoyang were mostly newly recruited soldiers, barely able to muster the courage to man the city walls.
Engaging in open battle was too risky.
Shao Xun had already decided to hold the city and see how things unfolded.
If it became untenable, he would reconsider.
"So you’re worried that if the western troops breach the city and capture me and the heir, the northern campaign will be ruined?" Pei Fei asked.
She was clever and quickly grasped the situation.
"Yes," Shao Xun replied.
"You’re overthinking it," Pei Fei said with a hint of sarcasm.
"If Ye City is on the verge of falling, even if Zhang Fang captures me and the heir, he won’t stop. Besides, Zhang Fang, though mad, isn’t a fool. He might not harm us, and the Grand Minister wouldn’t—"
"I’m worried," Shao Xun said bluntly.
"Worried about what?" Pei Fei asked, then immediately felt the question was inappropriate.
This wasn’t the first time.
What exactly was she expecting? He was a young man, prone to impulsiveness.
If he said something embarrassing, how would she handle it? Yet, this dangerous game was thrilling, filling a large part of her empty life.
She even felt a slight tension rising within her.
"Worried about you… and the heir," Shao Xun replied.
Pei Fei’s tense body gradually relaxed, her face warming slightly.
Then, with a mocking look, she glanced at Shao Xun, as if laughing at his insincerity.
"If Luoyang falls, what will you do?" Pei Fei turned away and asked softly.
"Retreat to the Golden Fortress."
"And if the Golden Fortress falls?"
"I’ll take you and the heir and break through."
Pei Fei was momentarily stunned.
Shao Xun hadn’t used the neutral term "Princess Consort" but instead said "you," which made her uncomfortable.
"In the chaos of war, with arrows and stones flying everywhere, how can we easily break through?" Pei Fei turned back and asked.
"I’ll shield you from the arrows," Shao Xun said.
Pei Fei’s swan-like neck broke out in goosebumps.
Shao Xun’s gaze lowered slightly, resting on her chest.
Pei Fei was wearing a light, deep robe today.
After his words, the upper part of her robe visibly shifted.
A long silence followed.
Both felt the atmosphere was off, yet they indulged in it.
"The manor… the manor here will also need to be evacuated, right?" Pei Fei asked softly after a while, her emotions gradually calming.
"Yes," Shao Xun confirmed.
"Staying here is waiting for death. Everyone will retreat to the Golden Fortress."
"Have you ever thought—" Pei Fei frowned slightly, "what if the northern campaign fails and the situation becomes irreparable?"
Shao Xun couldn’t answer immediately.
He had been wondering how much he had altered history, and his worries had never faded.
Hearing Pei Fei mention it now only deepened his concerns.
But he truly had no other choice.
If he didn’t defend Luoyang and retreated east, it would be suicidal.
Sima Yue would no longer trust him and would greatly doubt his loyalty and capabilities.
In reality, he had no choice but to hold Luoyang and deal with Zhang Fang.
Objectively speaking, even if Luoyang fell, there was still the Golden Fortress.
He wasn’t so easily defeated.
As for whether Sima Ying would march south, Shao Xun doubted it.
Sima Yue was still coordinating with Bingzhou, Youzhou, and Qingzhou to attack Ye City.
Sima Ying’s strength had significantly diminished.
If he sent his main forces south, Ye City would fall, which he couldn’t afford.
At this stage of the war, it was almost like playing with open cards.
If Sima Yue had the courage and wits, even if defeated, he should lead the retreating troops back to Luoyang to regroup.
With proper maneuvering, he might even launch a second northern campaign.
With this reasoning, the odds of holding Luoyang were still favorable.
With an army of over a hundred thousand, even if only half remained, Sima Yue could gather the retreating troops, reorganize them, and return to Luoyang.
With a pincer attack, Zhang Fang’s insufficient forces would have no choice but to flee—thanks to Huangfu Zhong tying down a large portion of Guanzhong’s troops.
Sima Yue wasn’t so incompetent as to panic and flee aimlessly, was he?
He had some skill in strategy.
Over the past six months, he had built up considerable strength.
Even if Sima Ying won the battle at Ye City, as long as he didn’t annihilate the northern campaign army and lacked the courage to march straight to Luoyang, he would have no choice but to seek peace.
The situation was entirely different from six months ago.
"I will still defend Luoyang," Shao Xun said firmly.
He no longer relied on history but judged based on the current situation.
It was clear that while Luoyang was in danger, Zhang Fang’s chances of breaching the city weren’t absolute.
Even if Sima Yue had only the intelligence of Emperor Sima Zhong, he would gather the retreating troops and return to Luoyang to regroup.
After enduring so much for so long, would he really be easily frightened?
"Alright, I’ll listen to you," Pei Fei said softly.
"In a few days, I’ll summon He Lun and Wang Bing to give them a stern talking-to, ensuring they cooperate with you."
Pei Fei understood that as a woman, she should defer to men in matters of war.
Shao Xun nodded.
"You handle things so methodically, truly a heroine among women."
Pei Fei shot him a glance, looked around, and sighed.
"Such a fine manor, worked on for half a year, only to be abandoned. It’s a pity."
Some of the trees and flowers had been transplanted here at her request.
"Nothing in Luoyang lasts long," Shao Xun also sighed.
"What are your plans for the future?" Pei Fei asked.
"Will you stay in Luoyang?"
"I don’t have the luxury of choosing," Shao Xun said earnestly.
"Where I go isn’t up to me."
"Then why did you ask me to prepare a retreat to Xuzhou?" Pei Fei blinked and asked.
"I thought too simply back then. Some things were uncertain, so I had no choice," Shao Xun said helplessly.
"And now?"
"Now I’m confident that at least some of the troops will follow me to distant lands. My options aren’t as limited."
"So you’ll just go with the flow?"
"Yes," Shao Xun nodded.
"I’ve said it before—I don’t have the luxury of choosing. If a position opens up, hesitation means someone else will take it. If a real position opens up in Sizhou now, I’d take it!"
Pei Fei’s expression turned pensive.
A hawk is useful when hungry but flies far when full.
Some birds can’t be caged.
Some people are destined to leave, unable to stay in one place forever.
Once he goes far away, he’ll find others who appreciate and employ him, meet different noble youths, and encounter other women.
"I’m tired. Escort me back to the residence," Pei Fei said listlessly.
"Yes," Shao Xun noticed her expression but said nothing, simply complying.
(End of Chapter)