CFSSIR

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"Well, are we just going to... sit here and wait for death?" Shen Qingyao furrowed her brow. The pain in her chest had eased somewhat after a nap, but she still felt uncomfortable. What worried her more was the current situation. Once Xiao Jing succeeded in his schemes, he would certainly not spare the regional princes with power. Her Eldest Sister and Xiao Mu would be his primary targets.

Recalling her Eldest Sister's gentle smile, Shen Qingyao's eyes welled up with tears. She couldn't let anything happen to her Eldest Sister.

Lu Zhao understood her thoughts. He bent down and kissed her forehead gently, comforting her softly, "We won't just sit here and wait for death. Holding our ground is the worst option. Right now, the best plan is to lead a force northward, sandwiching them with Northern Army. We need to take the capital as quickly as possible. Once we capture it, the western princes won't dare to act rashly, and Xiao Jing's schemes will collapse on their own."

Shen Qingyao's heart tightened again. Even if that was the plan, apart from a few thousand city garrison soldiers, Lingnan had no other troops. How could they send anyone to flank Xiao Jing?

Lu Zhao lowered his eyes and looked deeply at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes. He pulled her closer, laid them both flat, covered them with a blanket, and gently squeezed Shen Qingyao's cold hand. In a gentle voice, he said, "If Lingnan has no troops, we'll borrow some." With that, he didn't elaborate further, just gently pressed her eyes closed with one hand.

Darkness suddenly enveloped her. Shen Qingyao blinked uncomfortably, not used to it, her long eyelashes brushing against Lu Zhao's palm, causing a slight tickle. Lu Zhao's expression changed slightly, and after a while, he simply said, "Sleep with me a little longer. Don't be afraid."

Perhaps it was because Lu Zhao's tone was too reassuring, or perhaps because she truly believed Lu Zhao could do anything, but Shen Qingyao's fears eased slightly. Knowing he was tired, she didn't want to burden him further. She murmured softly in agreement and soon drifted back to sleep with Lu Zhao.

When she woke up again, Lu Zhao was indeed gone.

Outside the window, the sunlight was already strong. Shen Qingyao raised an arm to shield her eyes, took a while to adjust to the brightness, and quietly got up.

"Young Master left after only two hours of sleep. The news of the Emperor's death has reached Lingnan through official channels, and by now, it's probably known throughout the world. During the mourning period, as a senior official of a province, Young Master has many matters to attend to. He specially left subordinates to protect Young Madam and instructed her not to wait for him, but to rest and eat well on her own, lest she harm her health."

The dark guard standing beside her was the one who had saved her on the boat heading south and had been protecting her ever since. He was quite skilled, so whenever Lu Zhao was absent, he was tasked with guarding her. They had grown accustomed to each other, and the guard spoke without reservation. Seeing Shen Qingyao inquire, he relayed all of Lu Zhao's instructions respectfully.

"Zhang Ping," Shen Qingyao called the guard's name. Her heart condition, forcibly triggered by the system, was quite severe, leaving her weak and without much energy at the moment. Though her voice was weak, Zhang Ping heard her clearly and immediately bent down respectfully, waiting for her orders.

"Does Elder Brother Lu Zhao have any other arrangements?"

Arrangements? Zhang Ping was momentarily puzzled but quickly understood. Young Madam must be asking about the arrangements Young Master made for the crisis in the capital.

After some thought, he said, "I'm not sure about the specifics of the arrangements. However, as soon as Young Master left today, he sent someone to secretly deliver an urgent letter to Nanzhao through an expedited route of eight hundred miles. It should arrive today, and a reply will likely come within two days. As for what was written..."