“What are your orders, my lord?”
“The men sent to secretly protect Jiang Zhan in the south, they were your subordinates, right?”
“Yes.”
“Urgent news from the south reports that Jiang Zhan has died in battle. Have you received any information?”
Leng Ying’s usually expressionless face showed a hint of shock. After a moment, he said, “This servant has not received any news.”
“Go there personally with some men and investigate. See if those secretly protecting Jiang Zhan are alive or dead,” Yu Jin said through gritted teeth.
“Yes, my lord.”
Yu Jin stood up and finally headed towards Yuhe’s courtyard.
Usually, he found the path from the front court study to Yuhe courtyard too long, but this time it felt far too short.
Pausing at the entrance, Yu Jin thought: How did I get here so quickly?
Just then, A’Man came out and asked curiously, “Why isn’t Your Highness going in?”
This wasn’t like the prince’s usual behavior. Normally, he wouldn’t wait to be announced when visiting his wife, he’d just go straight in.
Yu Jin found A’Man’s chatter annoying and glanced at her before stepping inside.
A’Man blinked in confusion.
What was wrong with His Highness?
After thinking for a moment, she decided to quietly follow him in.
Her errands could wait. It was more important to see why the prince was acting so strangely. She felt something wasn’t right.
Jiang Si was playing with A’Huan.
A’Huan was over five months old now and always responded happily to her mother’s teasing, even laughing out loud.
Hearing his daughter’s laughter, Yu Jin’s steps faltered. His mood grew heavier, though he showed no sign of it on his face as he went over to join Jiang Si in entertaining their daughter.
However, Jiang Si sensed something was amiss and gestured for the wet nurse to take A’Huan away.
Although she was just over five months old and shouldn’t be at the stage of recognizing people much, A’Huan immediately pouted and began to wail when she was carried away.
The wet nurse hesitated and looked at Jiang Si.
Although Jiang Si felt heartbroken, she didn’t change her mind and said calmly, “Please take the young miss downstairs.”
When A’Huan’s cries gradually faded, Jiang Si looked at Yu Jin, “Is something wrong?”
Yu Jin’s eyes flickered slightly, “You can tell?”
“Your footsteps were heavier than usual.”
Hearing Jiang Si say this, Yu Jin felt even worse.
A’Si could notice even such a subtle change in his footsteps, showing how much she truly cared for him. Yet he had failed to protect her brother…
Shame, pain, hesitation… Various emotions intertwined in his eyes.
Jiang Si sat up straight, her expression growing more serious, “A’Zhen, what exactly has happened?”
A’Zhen wasn’t usually so hesitant.
Thinking this, Jiang Si’s heart sank.
Yu Jin pressed his thin lips together, his voice slightly hoarse, “Urgent news from the south—”
“And then?” Jiang Si’s heart began to race uncontrollably, a sense of foreboding rising within her.
Yu Jin steeled himself and spoke, “Jiang Zhan… Jiang Zhan’s name appeared on the list of fallen soldiers!”