On the official road, inside the carriage, Ye Jiu extended her small hand, lifting the curtain beside the carriage, her gaze fixed tightly on the small mountain village where she had lived for over ten years, and on those clansmen who, regardless of the past, had all come to see her off at this moment. A sudden sense of melancholy arose within her.
This farewell, who knows which year and month it will be when she returns again.
Two days later, Sikong Mo came down from the battlefield, his eyes as cold as ice, but suddenly, for some reason, they became as warm as spring water.
While taking off his blood-stained armor, Sikong Mo ordered, "Si Nan, prepare a fast horse. I must hurry to Shuangxi Town."
Si Nan replied helplessly, "Master, the news already came yesterday that Miss Ye has been conferred the title of Princess Changfu and given the fief of Jingyang. She followed Prince Jing to the capital two days ago."
Suddenly, Sikong Mo paused in the middle of removing his armor, "Since she left two days ago, Prince Jing must have been in Shuangxi Town for several days already. Why wasn't I notified earlier?"
"Reporting to the Master, with the war imminent, there was no time for distraction. I was thinking of you, Master." When Nanchang and Dongyue were fighting fiercely, even if Master knew, what could be done? Could he abandon the tens of thousands of soldiers for the sake of a Miss Ye?
Si Nan knew Miss Ye's place in the Prince's heart, so he took the bold risk of hiding this news, fearing the Prince would be distracted.
However, feeling the pressure emanating from Sikong Mo at this moment only made Si Nan feel as if a thousand pounds were pressing on his back.
With a bang, Si Nan's body crashed heavily to the side like a kite with a broken string, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
"Si Nan, have I been too lenient lately, allowing each of you to grow so bold as to dare conceal information under the guise of doing what's best for me!" Sikong Mo's face was gloomy.
Si Nan propped himself up, kneeling on the ground, "I am guilty. I am willing to bear the consequences and await your punishment, Master."
No matter the reason or cause, he ultimately concealed it from the Prince, which is taboo for a subordinate.
However, Si Nan does not regret it.
If given the chance to do it again, he would still make the same choice, even if it meant being punished again.
But he couldn't bear to see his master in distress, nor could he bear to see the wise and mighty master in his heart abandon tens of thousands of troops at the frontier border and face the condemnation of the people for the sake of Miss Ye.
The reason Si Nan acted as he did was because he was certain that if there was a choice between the army and Miss Ye, his master would undoubtedly choose Miss Ye without hesitation.
Si Nan understood that his master was not inherently interested in power; he was trapped in the Royal Residence only due to the old Prince's last wishes and the glory of the Sikong Royal Residence.
Over the years, the only person who could occupy a place in the Prince's heart was none other than Miss Ye.
Originally, their battle plan was to wear down the opponent, but the master's sudden command to end the war within a month was unlikely to be fulfilled, as it was a result earned with the lives of the master and the frontier soldiers.
But now, if the time were to be shortened again, there's no guarantee they will lose the battle, but there's definitely a significant risk.
That's why Si Nan made a decision on his own.
The situation being as it is, looking at Si Nan kneeling on the ground, Sikong Mo felt a murderous intent towards him.
However, he ultimately retained some reason, "Go and receive your punishment on your own, and have Si Rong stay behind; you should return to the Royal Residence."
"Master?" Si Nan was in disbelief. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel※fire.net
He was a guard trained by the old Prince since childhood and has always followed the Prince, never leaving his side.