Since Su Wanqing gave birth to a son for Mu Cheng, Mu Cheng's pampering of Su Wanqing grew even more.
Matters concerning Mu Cheng's safety, Qin Feng, who had always been known as a gentleman, could no longer hold back and observed Su Wanqing through a crack in the window.
He saw that Su Wanqing's face was full of gentleness, yet tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Qin Feng frowned, finally confirming his earlier thoughts.
Had Consort Su been moved by Mu Cheng?
Mu Cheng smiled with relief, then sighed a moment later, "Consort Su, you have been growing kinder to me, and I have always wanted to make you Empress…"
"Your concubine understands Your Majesty's kind intentions are enough. I only wish Your Majesty good health. Whether I am Empress or not is of no consequence. Your Majesty need not depose the Crown Prince for me," Su Wanqing replied sincerely.
Mu Cheng was stunned. He embraced Su Wanqing, his face full of remorse.
Yan Liu, the head of the Yan family of Daliang and the Left Prime Minister, sat at home, his expression growing increasingly grim.
"Why does this dog emperor delay in making Consort Su Empress? What are his intentions?"
Yan Jun, the eldest daughter who had infiltrated the Yan family and the sect leader of the Returning Spring Sect, said coldly, "Believe in Wanqing. She is the sect leader's most accomplished disciple. Her conviction is firmer than anyone's. She will surely succeed in inciting the foolish emperor, and the princes will kill each other. It is already set in stone!"
Su Wencheng, standing beside them, simply smiled in agreement, "Believe in my younger sister!"
Although Daliang had a Crown Prince, all the court officials understood that the position of heir apparent was unstable. From the Crown Prince to the Third Prince, their birth mothers were all from noble families, and they coveted the throne…
Thousands of miles away, Iris, the true leader of the Returning Spring Sect, was still arranging for her followers to reinforce various parts of Badong.
Zhuo Ying and Shi Liuyun's combined forces had reached one hundred thousand. After conquering Bajun, they split into two armies and advanced like a broken bamboo, heading straight for Chuanzhong.
More and more counties and prefectures in Xichuan surrendered at the mere sight of them.
"Why can't we resist?"
Iris, upon receiving the news, was both shocked and furious.
This was territory they had cultivated for hundreds of years!
Duan Hong gritted his teeth and said, "Their forces are insufficient, and there are no advantageous positions to defend! Furthermore, the Shi clan of Xichuan, to which Shi Liuyun belongs, was once a prominent family in the Bajun region. Many people still remember the Shi clan's benevolent deeds from centuries ago. Coupled with the propaganda from the newspapers, when they learned that it was a descendant of the Shi clan leading the troops to 'save' Xichuan and that they committed no wrong against the people, a rebellion broke out…"
Iris was startled.
The Returning Spring Sect's massacre of the Xichuan Shi clan to establish their authority in the past had now unexpectedly backfired.
"The only course of action now is to shrink our defense line, consolidate our hold on Chuanzhong, and protect Jincheng!"
Facing the ferocious Great Qian army from the eastern front, the Returning Spring Sect had no choice but to change its defensive strategy and abandon reinforcing Badong.
Liang Xiao's army continued to tie down and harass Helian Heng in Jiange, also providing ample cover for Nan Jiyun.
Helian Heng, facing Liang Xiao's devious tactics, was helpless and was forced to allow his soldiers to rotate for rest.
As a result, the soldiers guarding Jiange were dissatisfied, and Helian Heng dared not divert troops to support the Yiping Pass.
Liang Xiao led his troops on daily patrols around Jiange, waiting for any unusual activity there before launching an assault.
The difficulty of crossing Yiping lay in Mount Motian, located on the northwestern edge of the Sichuan Basin. To the east, it connected to the Micang Mountains, and the Micang Mountains, in turn, connected to the Dabashan Mountains to the east, tightly enclosing the Shu region.
Mount Motian appeared as a winding dangerous terrain from west to east on the map. Nan Jiyun's chosen breakthrough point was a ridge located on the southern slope of Mount Motian. By the standards of the Great Qian dynasty, its altitude was nearly a thousand zhang.
The western slope of this ridge to the north was gentler, while the southern side was a sheer cliff with no path. The location where Deng Ai wrapped himself in felt and rolled down was on the southern side of Mount Motian's southern slope.
At this moment, Nan Jiyun led eight thousand Great Qian Zhenwei. They all kept silent, muffled their movements, and silently scaled Mount Motian.
The mountain paths along the way were rugged and mostly narrow goat tracks. An ordinary person traversing this area would have already been in great suffering.
But the eight thousand Great Qian Zhenwei were all serious and without complaint.
Everyone understood the perilous nature of their mission. If they were discovered by the enemy early, it would mean certain doom!
As a mere scholar, Liu Fan was out of breath every day, but being able to keep up with the troops without falling behind was already far superior to ordinary people.
After reaching the end of Mount Motian, the eight thousand soldiers, covered in dust and grime, gazed at the rugged and narrow Yiping Mountain in the distance, unable to suppress their nervousness.
Here, the mountains were high and the valleys deep, extremely dangerous. Food supplies from the rear could not be transported, so they could only rely on the rations they carried.
Nan Jiyun urged them on, "Put in more effort! Once we cross this mountain, we will reach Jiangyou!"
Everyone's hearts tightened, and they continued to follow Nan Jiyun, chiseling through mountain passes, building bridges and paving roads, and occasionally foraging for wild fruits and vegetables to sustain themselves.
After several days of secret movement, the army arrived at a steep slope tens of zhang high, with a meadow below.
Liu Fan's breathing became somewhat labored.
Here…
"Keep up!"
Nan Jiyun led by example, taking his own rations, and using his padded armor and battle helmet to protect his vital areas, he rolled directly down the steep slope, landing at the bottom without incident.
The soldiers were dumbfounded and followed suit, each rolling down the steep slope to the ground!
After crossing Mount Motian, the eight thousand men finally reached Yiping Mountain.
Gazing at the equally steep high mountains, they swallowed with difficulty, then plunged into the mountains without hesitation.
Everywhere were steep mountain paths. They climbed trees and scaled cliffs without fear, traversing the mountain ranges.
"We have faced battles and death without fear, why should we fear mere mountain paths!"
Under the encouragement of Nan Jiyun and Liu Fan, the eight thousand men spurred each other on, advancing steadily.
"General Nan, how did you discover this mountain path back then?"
During a rest period, Liu Fan finally could not contain his curiosity and asked the question in his heart.
Nan Jiyun looked to the north and sighed, "In the past, martial artists were usually from wealthy families with ample meat supplies. But I was poor since childhood, and my parents passed away early. My brothers were scattered or died of illness. Later, I wandered to Shu, where I met my master. He was willing to take me as a disciple, providing food and lodging, but the prerequisite was that I could endure hardship. So he took me through this path and often asked me to fetch a jug of fine wine from Yiping to Fucheng for him, always using this route. I trained for three years, and my master finally imparted all his knowledge to me."
"A strict teacher produces outstanding disciples. A true master's actions are unfathomable!" Everyone exclaimed in admiration, not finding Tong Zhen peculiar.
Compared to their marshal, Marquis Anguo, and the Heavenly General, who were unattainable, this General Nan was closer to their ideal.
A humble life, a sudden rise, achieving great deeds – a portrayal of a warrior.
Nan Jiyun had always been serious and honest, and therefore he earned the deep respect of the eight thousand men. Although secretly crossing Yiping was fraught with difficulties, it was much smoother than Nan Jiyun had anticipated.
After all, back then, he had only carried rations and followed his master, Tong Zhen, over these towering mountains without any protective gear.
This padded armor was lighter than standard heavy armor and also acted as a shock absorber when "rolling."
The more practical these tools and rations were, the more achievements Nan Jiyun, recommended by Liang Xiao, made. Everyone further marveled at Liang Xiao's thoughtful planning.
Inside Yiping Mountain, a unit silently traversed the towering mountains, forging their way through thorns and brambles.
Meanwhile, in the vicinity of Fucheng, forced conscription was still ongoing, causing widespread panic and making everyone fearful for their lives.