Strength Is Everything

After dinner, Shao Yunduan instructed the nanny to take Anan to bed, creating a moment of privacy to inquire of Zhao Shu and Taotao, "Please, tell me what transpired."

Qiao Xuan regarded them with evident concern.

For them to abandon Jiangnan and seek refuge here for the New Year suggested that the situation in Jiangnan was dire, perhaps even worse than they had anticipated.

While Shao Yunduan had been keeping tabs on various regions, his primary concern lay with the capital and Xiangyang, the domain of the Second Prince. He refrained from probing into affairs elsewhere, acknowledging the volatile nature of the current circumstances. Amidst such chaos, developments could swiftly unfold, rendering even the most meticulous inquiries futile.

Their best course of action was to focus on fortifying themselves.

Strength was paramount.