The war had now lasted fifteen long months.
The first thirteen months had already drained both sides. Cities had fallen, fortresses had burned, and the northern plains were filled with abandoned camps and broken weapons. Yet the northern kingdom still refused to surrender.
Now another two months had passed.
Winter had begun to fade, and the cold wind sweeping across the battlefield carried the smell of iron and smoke.
Inside the command tent, Xu Chen stood before the large war map spread across the table. His expression had grown calmer and colder compared to a year ago. The once quiet boy had now become someone the generals listened to carefully.
Even though he was only fourteen years old now, his mind was sharper than many seasoned commanders.
A messenger hurried inside.
"Report! Our eastern army has captured three more frontier towns."
The generals exchanged looks.
That was the first real sign of advantage in months.
However, the victory was still fragile.
The northern kingdom still held several powerful fortresses deep in the mountains. Those fortresses controlled the supply routes and protected the capital.
One of the veteran generals spoke seriously.
"If we cannot break the Black Ridge Fortress, the war may drag on for another year."
Another general nodded.
"The enemy has gathered nearly one hundred thousand soldiers there. Their defenses are strong."
Silence filled the tent.
Xu Chen slowly looked at the map.
His fingers lightly tapped on the marked fortress.
Breaking the fortress directly would cost too many lives.
Then he spoke calmly.
"We will not attack the fortress."
The generals were stunned.
Not attack?
Xu Chen continued.
"We cut their supply lines instead."
He pointed to the mountain passes surrounding the fortress.
"If these three passes are taken, their army inside will starve within two months."
The generals stared at the map.
Slowly, realization appeared in their eyes.
The plan was simple, but brilliant.
Instead of destroying the fortress, they would trap it.
One general suddenly laughed softly.
"This strategy... reminds me of how wolves hunt."
Xu Chen did not respond. His eyes remained fixed on the map.
The war had already lasted fifteen months.
He knew very well that wars were not won only by strength.
They were won by patience.
Outside the tent, soldiers continued training and preparing for the next campaign.
The empire had finally begun to gain the slightest advantage, but everyone knew the truth.
The northern kingdom was still powerful.
Victory was approaching…
but it was not yet within reach.
As night fell, lanterns were lit across the massive military camp.
A few officers quietly discussed something among themselves.
"His Highness has turned ninteen this year."
Another officer nodded with admiration.
"Ninteen… yet his mind is like that of a veteran strategist."
Inside the command tent, Xu Chen stood alone, staring toward the northern mountains.
The war was not over.
But for the first time in fifteen months…
The empire had taken one step closer to victory.
---
The Yue family residence was peaceful in the quiet days of early autumn. Sunlight filtered gently through the tall gingko tree in the courtyard, scattering golden leaves across the stone path.
Inside the inner courtyard pavilion, Yue Ning sat quietly beside a small wooden table. A sheet of paper lay before her as she carefully wrote a letter.
Her handwriting was neat and elegant, though she occasionally paused, thinking deeply about what to write.
Near the pond, Grandma Xu slowly walked through the courtyard.
She had grown used to life in the Yue residence during these months. To the Yue family she was simply an elderly woman Yue Ning had kindly helped on the street. Because she had nowhere else to stay, the family had warmly allowed her to remain.
But the truth was far different.
She was the Empress Dowager of the Xu Empire, the grandmother of the crown prince.
Recently, she had begun noticing something curious about Yue Ning.
The girl often sat alone in the pavilion during certain days of the month. And occasionally, couriers from the capital would deliver small sealed letters.
At first Grandma Xu assumed they were messages related to Yue Ning's new princess status granted by the emperor.
But one morning, something unusual caught her attention.
---
Grandma Xu had been taking a slow walk through the courtyard when she noticed a young servant rushing inside.
"Miss Yue, a courier has arrived," the servant whispered.
Yue Ning immediately stood up.
"Thank you."
Her eyes brightened slightly.
Grandma Xu quietly watched from a distance as the servant handed Yue Ning a small sealed letter.
The moment Yue Ning saw the seal, a faint smile appeared on her face.
It was a simple military seal.
Not from the palace.
But from the northern war camp.
Grandma Xu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Yue Ning quickly took the letter and walked toward the pavilion. She looked around once before opening it carefully.
Grandma Xu did not intend to spy, yet curiosity made her step closer.
She heard Yue Ning murmur softly as she read.
"His Highness… has turned nineteen…"
Grandma Xu froze.
His Highness?
The Empress Dowager slowly stepped forward.
"Ning'er," she called gently.
Yue Ning quickly folded the letter and stood up.
"Grandma Xu."
Grandma Xu looked at the paper in her hand with a warm but knowing expression.
"A letter from the northern front?"
Yue Ning hesitated.
She had always trusted Grandma Xu, but this was something very few people knew.
Even her own family did not know the truth.
Grandma Xu sat down beside her slowly.
"You need not worry," the old woman said kindly. "I am only curious."
Yue Ning looked at the letter quietly before finally speaking.
"Yes… it is from the northern front."
Grandma Xu smiled slightly.
"From the crown prince?"
Yue Ning's eyes widened in surprise.
"You… know?"
Grandma Xu chuckled softly.
"A grandmother who has lived many years can recognize certain things."
She gestured toward the letter.
"The seal may belong to the army, but the tone of your voice when you read it is different."
Yue Ning lowered her gaze slightly.
After a moment, she nodded.
"Yes… it is from him."
Grandma Xu leaned back comfortably.
"So… how did this begin?"
Yue Ning thought for a moment before answering.
"Before the war began… we met a few times in the capital."
Grandma Xu listened carefully.
"He said the battlefield would be far away," Yue Ning continued softly. "So he asked if we could write letters occasionally."
She smiled faintly.
"At first, I refused."
Grandma Xu raised an eyebrow.
"You refused the crown prince?"
Yue Ning nodded.
"I said it would be improper."
Then she added quietly,
"But he said letters were simply a way to know each other's safety."
Grandma Xu laughed softly.
"That sounds like him."
Yue Ning continued,
"After he left for the war… the first letter arrived two months later."
She opened the folded paper gently.
"Since then… we send letters every few months."
Grandma Xu studied the girl carefully.
The letters were not romantic confessions.
They were simple.
He spoke about the army's movements, the cold northern winds, and occasionally asked about the Yue family.
Yue Ning replied with stories of the capital, the seasons changing, and small daily events.
Yet even without grand words, the connection between them was clear.
Grandma Xu smiled inwardly.
"So my grandson truly chose well."
Yue Ning blinked.
"What?"
Grandma Xu quickly waved her hand.
"Oh, nothing. Just an old woman talking."
She then asked casually,
"Does anyone else know about these letters?"
Yue Ning shook her head.
"No. Not even my parents."
Grandma Xu nodded thoughtfully.
"Good."
Yue Ning looked confused.
"Good?"
Grandma Xu smiled mysteriously.
"Some things are better kept quiet… until the right moment."
The old woman slowly stood up.
"Ning'er, keep writing your letters."
She gently patted Yue Ning's shoulder.
"A soldier far away from home always needs something to remind him what he is fighting for."
Yue Ning looked at her with a slightly puzzled expression, but she nodded.
"I will."
Grandma Xu began walking back toward her room.
But as she walked away, the Empress Dowager's eyes shone with quiet satisfaction.
Now she understood everything.
The emperor had once said that the crown prince had someone in his heart, though he had never revealed the name.
And now she finally knew.
The girl sitting in the pavilion.
The girl who calmly wrote letters to the battlefield.
Yue Ning.
Grandma Xu smiled gently to herself.
"Chen'er… you truly have good taste."
Far away in the northern battlefield, the young crown prince continued leading the army.
But neither he nor Yue Ning knew that the person secretly protecting their future was already living under the same roof.
Watching.
Waiting.
And quietly planning the day when their relationship would no longer need to remain a secret.