Mu Zixuan did not understand military affairs, but she was not foolish either. She knew that Yan County was the fortress blocking the Barbarian Army's advance southward. If Yan County stood firm, the barbarians would have to take a much longer route to reach Anping City; it simply was not possible for them to arrive so quickly.
There was only one scenario where the barbarians' cavalry could reach Anping City so fast: Yan County had fallen!
The thought of Yan County falling, with Lu Chen's fate unknown, made Mu Zixuan feel like her world was collapsing.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the courtyard became instantly oppressive and gloomy.
Although Dazhou and Xiaozhou were supporting Mu Zixuan, they themselves could barely stand steady.
If the North Prince really had met with disaster, what would become of all the women of the Prince's Mansion?
It was then that Chu Yuqin snapped back to her senses and immediately asked a maid, "Has Captain Mu confirmed that they were the barbarians' cavalry?"
Chu Yuqin refused to believe that Lu Chen had just met with an accident.
Lu Chen was someone blessed by fate; considering his confidence in staying at Yan County, he must have been quite sure he could hold the fortress for a while, until the imperial army marched northward.
It hadn't been long; how could Yan County have fallen already!
Perhaps the cavalry was not from the Barbarian Tribe but from the imperial army instead.
The maid said, "Captain Mu has already ordered the city gates to be shut, and all soldiers within the city are prepared for battle. However, he did not say they were conclusively the barbarians' cavalry. He just said the cavalry came from the north and is most likely the barbarian cavalry, advising the princess to prepare herself mentally."
Mu Xingping, Mu Zixuan's second brother, had intended not to tell her about this matter, fearing she would not be able to bear the news.
But in the end, Mu Xingping had someone inform the North Prince Mansion, thinking that giving Mu Zixuan some forewarning could provide her time to brace herself, as it was still uncertain the advancing cavalry were indeed the barbarians.
If they waited until the North Prince's fate was confirmed before telling Mu Zixuan, she might be even less able to withstand the shock.
Hearing the maid's words, Mu Zixuan's complexion turned even paler.
At that moment, Zhou Youyou's tears could not help but fall from her eyes, "Wuu wuu wuu, has the Prince already..."
Chu Yuqin then said, "Zixuan, don't panic, everyone. I'll go take a look and find out. Have you all forgotten that Chen'er has a blessed destiny? He won't encounter misfortune so easily. Even if North City has indeed fallen, he would not be in trouble."
Hearing this, the other women came to their senses.
Indeed, their Prince had a blessed destiny; how could he have died so easily?
Thinking this, Mu Zixuan breathed a slight sigh of relief, yet she remained very worried.
Chu Yuqin then went straight towards the exit of the courtyard. Seeing Chu Yuqin leave, Chu Qingli quickly got up and followed.
Chu Qingli saw this as a good opportunity and said on the way, "Sister, if the North Prince really has an accident, will you leave North City with me?"
As soon as Chu Qingli finished speaking, Chu Yuqin immediately replied, "Chen'er won't have an accident!"
Hearing the certainty in Chu Yuqin's tone, Chu Qingli thought she was in denial and did not say anything more.
She thought to herself that it wouldn't be long before Chu Yuqin had to face reality, and there was no need for her to hurry.
The Barbarian Army of three hundred thousand was moving southward, and Yan County had at most fifty thousand soldiers. It was clear to anyone with eyes that the North Prince could not hold out, yet Chu Yuqin still had faith in him.
Chu Qingli found this somewhat laughable.
She was eager to know what kind of enchanting potion the North Prince had given her sister, making her believe he could withstand the barbarians' southern invasion.
After leaving the courtyard, Chu Yuqin immediately went to Ma Peng to get a group of horses and headed straight for the city gates.
Chu Qingli also hurriedly followed with a group of horses from the Prince's Mansion.
Soon, the two of them arrived at the city gates, where the gates of Anping City were completely closed, and the catapults on the city walls were ready.
Chu Yuqin and Chu Qingli leaped up to the city wall. Seeing Chu Yuqin had come, Mu Xingping immediately approached and said, "I've seen Madam Chu."
Chu Yuqin promptly asked, "Captain Mo, what's the situation? Is it confirmed to be the barbarians' cavalry?"
Since they were in front of the soldiers, Chu Yuqin still addressed Mu Xingping as Captain Mo to avoid detection of his true identity as part of the Mu family.
And being in Anping City, closer to the core of Great Sum, called for extra attention to these details.
Mu Xingping, frowning, answered seriously, "It's not confirmed yet. They seem to be all Heavy Cavalry dressed in black armor. I have never heard my father mention such cavalry among the barbarians."
Mu Xingping did not have experience fighting the barbarians directly, but he had heard many things about them from Mu Changtian and had some understanding of them. However, it was his first time hearing about black-armored Heavy Cavalry from the Barbarian Tribes of the North Land.
The barbarians of the grasslands lacked iron and would find it challenging to produce a Heavy Cavalry, so Mu Xingping was still unsure if they were definitely barbarians.
As Mu Xingping spoke, dust kicked up in the distance, and a soldier immediately reminded, "Captain Mo, Madam Chu, they're coming!"
Chu Yuqin immediately turned to look at the cavalry charging straight towards Anping City from afar.
Chu Yuqin and the others had left Yan County before the Black Cavalry arrived, so they were unaware that Lu Chen had a Heavy Cavalry in his command.