Promoted to Right Vanguard

When Ning Shu saw that He Lianying was still alive and perched confidently on his horse, her frustration flared. It wasn't surprising, though. If he had truly died that easily, she would've had to burn incense to thank her ancestors.

In the end, the Tartars were driven off once again, their siege attempt failing. They fled in disarray, like fish slipping from a net.

He Lianying, before leaving, made a snatching motion towards Ning Shu, followed by a kiss of his fingers, as if teasing her. Then, with a flick of his reins, he turned and rode off.

Ning Shu's lips curled in annoyance. She hated this about the Tartars—how they would run if they couldn't win, making the battle feel like an exhausting cycle of chasing after them.

She drew her bow back again, targeting He Lianying's retreating form with another arrow.

"Princess, He Lianying's too crafty. He's retreating on purpose. If you chase after him, you'll fall into his trap. Cavalries perform best on flat plains," Duan Xinghui cautioned, his voice filled with concern.

Ning Shu's response was sharp. "With a failure like you as a precedent, there's no way this princess would be foolish enough to chase after them." She then ordered, "Deal with the fallen soldiers and record their names."

Duan Xinghui stiffened at her dismissive tone. He often felt that every concern he raised was treated as if it had some ulterior motive. Ning Shu's words, however practical, always seemed to rub salt in his wounds, and it left him feeling both angry and sad. To her, he wasn't even an ally—just a nuisance.

But Ning Shu had her own grief to contend with. Only half of the original hundred women who had joined her army were left. Those who had been alive just yesterday now lay cold and still, their bodies forgotten by most. She ordered Cai Sang to bury the fallen and record their names, ensuring that their sacrifice was honored. They were women, yes, but also heroes who deserved their rightful place in history.

The survivors, though pale and exhausted, had expressions full of fierce determination. They had learned to endure, and though their strength had been tested, it had only made them more resolute.

In the weeks that followed, the Tartars continued their ceaseless assaults on the city, showing no sign of weariness. Ning Shu noticed the subtle signs of He Lianying's growing anxiety. His army was running out of provisions, a dire reality for the Tartars who depended on raiding to survive the harsh winters. Yet, despite this, they couldn't even break through the city walls.

He Lianying's gaze toward Ning Shu was unreadable, but it carried an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. This year, for the first time, the city guards were standing firm. They weren't simply playing at defense and surrendering after a token fight. They refused to let the Tartars in, even at the cost of their own lives.

"Princess Jiahui, Li Xueshan…" He Lianying muttered under his breath, his voice laced with grudging admiration. This woman was different.

Ning Shu wasn't enjoying the situation either. She had grown numb from watching countless soldiers being carried away, their lives lost in the fight. But the deaths only strengthened her resolve. If they compromised now, all the sacrifices would have been in vain.

And there was more at stake than just this battle. If they lost, the Tartars would not only invade their lands but also plunder everything they could. Worse, they would use the opportunity to push for another peace marriage, and she couldn't bear the thought of Li Wen being disappointed in her.

She couldn't afford to falter now.

Around this time, Duan Xinghui was promoted by Shen Feng, earning the rank of right vanguard. He was now on equal footing with Ning Shu, and his fortune seemed to be as unshakable as ever.

He was, indeed, a man of luck. On one occasion, Ning Shu saw an arrow heading straight for him, only for it to miss and strike the soldier standing beside him instead. She couldn't help but be speechless. She didn't understand what Shen Feng saw in him that justified his rapid rise.

Now, with the right to issue commands on the battlefield, Duan Xinghui stood alongside her, his presence irking her even further.

He Lianying, noticing the shift in their positions, looked visibly annoyed.

But Ning Shu was hardly focused on him. Her heart ached every time a member of her female army fell, yet with time, the casualties lessened. The women who remained had grown into warriors their resolve and skill now rivaling that of men.

He Lianying retreated once again, his forces driven back in disarray. But before he turned away, he cast a look full of savage excitement at Ning Shu.

Duan Xinghui, who stood beside her, felt a knot form in his chest. He couldn't help but feel a wave of discomfort as he noticed the gleam in He Lianying's eyes.