Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Xiao Fang paused for a moment.

He spoke after two breaths.

"tonight."

The room fell silent.

Only the occasional soft gurgling sound came from the basin of water.

Yun Shuyao reached out and slowly covered the back of his hand.

"Can't we wait until tomorrow morning?"

"We can't wait."

Xiao Fang raised his head, his eyes shining brightly in the candlelight.

"Bei Hu has already made a move; every day later, there will be more variables."

I need to keep an eye on those 50,000 men. They need to be assembled tonight and set off tomorrow morning; there's no time to waste.

He said this in a very flat tone.

But Yun Shuyao knew that he had returned to the manor to say goodbye to her.

"I won't stop you."

Yun Shuyao said.

"I'll wait for you to come back."

Xiao Fang hummed in agreement and continued wiping her feet.

Once the sound of water subsided, he stood up and gently pulled the person into his arms.

Yun Shuyao leaned against his chest.

She remembered the wounds all over his body when he returned from the North.

Some wounds have scabbed over, but you can still tell how deep the injuries were.

She gripped his sleeve, her fingers tightening.

This trip was truly a life-or-death mission.

The battlefield is ever-changing, and no one can guarantee that nothing unexpected will happen.

But you have to risk your life to have any chance of winning.

She suddenly felt a little hesitant to let go.

"Xiao Fang."

Yun Shuyao called his name, her throat feeling a little dry.

Xiao Fang didn't speak, but simply rested his chin on the top of her head.

After a long while, he whispered.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine."

I need to come back and see my daughter to see if she really looks like you.

Yun Shuyao's eyes welled up with tears, but she forced herself to hold them back.

She looked up and smiled at him.

"Okay, then you'd better keep your word."

Xiao Fang lowered his head and kissed her very lightly.

That kiss wasn't driven by desire, but simply by reluctance to part.

"You keep your word."

Xiao Fang's voice was deep, yet filled with boundless tenderness.

"If I were lying to you, you wouldn't give me a daughter."

Yun Shuyao was amused by his outrageous words, but tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Xiao Fang raised his hand to wipe it off for her, then cupped her face and looked at it carefully.

Everything has been arranged in Kyoto.

Lin Huiyin stayed behind, and half of the staff of the Censorate guarded you.

If anything happens, send someone to find the Crown Prince, or send a message directly to the Northern Border.

Yun Shuyao nodded and got down to business.

"Don't worry about the food supplies."

The Qin family will be sending troops to the northern border in batches; my maternal grandfather has already agreed, and all military supplies will be readily available.

Xiao Fang nodded and gently stroked his cheek.

"I'll write to you again when I reach the border."

Yun Shuyao nodded, her eyes reddening again.

Xiao Fang pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her ear.

"Shu Yao, I have to go to this battle."

"I know," Yun Shuyao said softly. "I know everything."

"If I don't go, I'll never get over that hurdle in my life."

Yun Shuyao closed her eyes and reached out to wrap her arms around his waist.

She didn't try to persuade him further, nor did she say, "Your father won't blame you."

Some of the knots in his heart were brought back from the battlefield, and could only be untied by returning to the battlefield.

Yun Shuyao simply snuggled into his arms.

"Go ahead," she said. "I'll be at home with the children, waiting for you."

Xiao Fang eventually left.

He didn't let her see him to the door, but only had Chun Tao help her back to rest.

Just before leaving, he stood on the threshold and glanced back at her.

Yun Shuyao stood under the lamp and nodded to him.

Xiao Fang nodded as well.

Then he turned around and walked out into the night.

Yun Shuyao stood there until she could no longer hear the sound of horses' hooves before slowly sitting back down on the edge of the bed.

When Chun Tao came in, she saw her gently stroking her lower abdomen.

"Your Highness, you should rest early."

Yun Shuyao hummed in agreement and lay down.

She raised her hand and pulled the outer robe that Xiao Fang had covered to her side.

The smell of medicine and a very faint scent of soapberry still lingered on it.

She closed her eyes.

He stopped crying. Xiao Fang had gone out to fight, and he wanted to protect the rear for him.

At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Outside the main camp in the northern suburbs of the capital, 50,000 imperial troops had already lined up.

Xiao Fang rode on his horse, a corner of his black cloak fluttering in the morning breeze.

Behind him, a hundred elite guards from the Surveillance Bureau formed their own ranks.

Lu Zhao and the others changed into light armor, with long swords at their waists, and their horseback riding straight.

Not a single one of those good-for-nothing playboys was smiling and joking today.

They all changed into the simplest clothes; no one wore any fancy jade pendants, and no one rode the most beautiful horse in the capital.

Each person carried a bundle, a knife, and a set of ordinary light armor.

Yet this group of people, standing alongside the 50,000-strong army, stood out remarkably.

The city gate was already crowded with people seeing him off.

There were officials, ordinary people, and mostly the parents of those spoiled brats.

Lin Hui did not accompany the army today, but stood at the city gate, whispering something to a few people who stayed behind.

Prince Qing'an stood upright, his gaze passing over the crowd and fixed on his son riding on horseback.

He stared at it for a long time, and suddenly his eyes welled up with tears.

He wanted to turn his head away, but felt it would be too deliberate.

Just as they were in a stalemate, they heard the Duke of Fuguo speak slowly from the side.

"Oh, the dignified Prince Qing'an, why are your eyes red?"

Prince Qing'an's face stiffened.

"Whose eyes are red? What nonsense are you talking about!"

"It's windy, and it got in my eyes," he added curtly.

The Duke of Fu clicked his tongue.

"Alright, alright, it's windy. Whatever you, Prince Qing'an, say goes."

Prince Qing'an ignored him and only tightened his expression.

But anyone with eyes could see that his hands, hidden in his sleeves, were trembling.

On this day, they were not the only ones who came to see them off.

Several old marquises and dukes were also mixed in with the crowd.

Some people craned their necks just to catch a glimpse of their son.

Someone was wiping their face with their sleeve while laughing at the person next to them.

"That brat, he used to only cause me trouble, but today he's going to the battlefield."

"Absolutely. I still feel like I'm dreaming."

"I just don't know if I'll be able to come back alive..."

"Pah! What nonsense are you spouting!"

"If they follow Xiao Fang, they'll definitely be able to come back."

No one spoke for a moment.

Those spoiled brats didn't even look back.

They merely glanced quickly into the crowd from horseback.

Someone made eye contact with their parents and nodded vigorously.

Then he immediately turned his face away and didn't look at it again.

Xiao Fang also turned around.

He looked up at the city gate tower.

Yun Shuyao stood there.