Chapter 121
Scattered pebbles continued to roll down the hillside as figures began rising from the opposite slope.
Ning Fei retreated lightly, step by step, then suddenly spun around, flung down his waterskin, and sprinted toward the incline on the other side. Behind him, shouts erupted in waves, mingled with the chaotic pounding of footsteps.
There was no time to think—only one thought remained in his mind: run.
Then came the fierce neighing of horses, accompanied by splashing through water. The hoofbeats grew louder, closing in. Gritting his teeth, Ning Fei halted, turned, and drew his blade.
It was time to fight!
Yet, to his surprise, the pursuing cavalry reined in their horses as soon as he stopped and brandished his weapon. Before Ning Fei could react, the leading military general called out, "General Ning, do not misunderstand! We mean no harm!"
Seeing Ning Fei still pointing his blade warily at him, the general ordered his soldiers to retreat several paces and dismounted himself, bowing deeply. "General Ning, we are the Piao Cavalry under the Guardian General’s command. Prime Minister Feng has ordered us to search along this path—"
Ning Fei sneered. "Do you think I’d believe you just because you invoke my mentor’s name—"
"General, you misunderstand!" the officer hastily explained. "The Empress Dowager’s corruption of the imperial harem and deception of the realm have been exposed in court by the Old Prime Minister. The military affairs of the Imperial City are now under the Old General’s control. The Prime Minister sent us to find you and request your return to the capital to take charge!"
Ning Fei eyed him skeptically, still unwilling to lower his guard. After a moment’s thought, he demanded loudly, "Without proof, how can I trust you?"
Carefully, the officer drew a letter from his robes, stepped forward, and placed it on the ground. Then, leading his horse, he retreated far back. Only then did Ning Fei cautiously approach, pick up the letter, and step away before unfolding it to examine its contents.
After a long pause, Ning Fei hesitantly folded the letter again. "This is indeed my mentor’s handwriting—but His Highness is not with me..."
The officer smiled. "Rest assured, General. Other search parties were dispatched in different directions at the same time. If they succeeded, they should have already found His Highness, the King Who Pacifies the South—after all, riding on open roads is different from riding through forests!"
Ning Fei finally nodded and clasped his fists. "You’ve worked hard. However, please report back to the Old Prime Minister that I must continue forward as agreed with His Highness—you may return."
The officer considered for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Though it means more hardship for you, General." With that, he turned and ordered half of the horses to be left for Ning Fei, then bowed once more before leading his men away in a winding retreat.
Ning Fei watched as they forded the stream and disappeared into the woods on the opposite bank before finally relaxing. A mountain breeze swept past, and he shivered, realizing he was drenched in cold sweat. Glancing at the horses drinking or resting by the riverbank, then down at the document in his hand, he remained uncertain. He unfolded and reread it several times before finally tucking it securely into his robes.
"Under broad daylight… surely this isn’t some ghostly trick?" he muttered. "Could it really be resolved this easily?"
Meanwhile, the fierce assault from Lucheng’s reinforcements forced the Imperial Guards to recall troops that had been about to ascend the slope, redirecting all efforts to resist. The deafening war cries and brutal combat drew the Holy Emperor out of his military tent. Seated on a grand chair placed in a secure location, he narrowed his eyes at the bloody battlefield.
Perhaps, after all these years, he had been waiting for this very day—the Holy Emperor thought vaguely.That time, Father distributed the horses presented as tribute from a foreign land, originally promising that the Imperial Sons could choose for themselves. Yet, in front of everyone, Father pointed out the most spirited one and gave it to Xia Jingshi first.
But that was the one he had wanted too.
Later, when they were all studying together, Father sent a palace attendant to summon Xia Jingshi alone. Curious, he followed out of the academy, only to be caught and dragged back by the tutor. He still remembered how the tutor shook his head and sighed, saying, "I heard His Majesty has invited the three most learned scholars of Brocade into the court with generous rewards—to personally tutor the Imperial Son destined to inherit the throne."
But Mother had told him—without the throne, one would be at the mercy of others.
He refused to be overshadowed, let alone kneel at Xia Jingshi’s feet. Until one day, Mother told him Xia Jingshi was no longer an obstacle to his ascension...
Yet in the end, even when Vermilion Sand Country sued for peace, Xia Jingshi’s name was still listed in the terms of surrender delivered to him from thousands of miles away.
Finally, he erupted in fury.
He couldn’t understand—now that he was the Son of Heaven, where did he still fall short compared to Xia Jingshi?
But now, it seemed heaven itself was aiding him. He had thought he would only end up as a captive or a bargaining chip, losing everything to Xia Jingshi. Yet, just as despair loomed, hope emerged...
Xia Jingshi, it’s all over.
Yixiao sat beside Xiyang for a while, watching as she drifted into a light sleep before quietly rising and walking to an open space ahead to gaze down the mountain.
Countless weapons reflected cold glints of light. Closing his eyes, he could almost smell the earthy musk of military horses and the metallic tang of sweat mingled with blood—the scent of battle.
When he opened them again, he suddenly spotted the Holy Emperor seated beyond the formation, guarded by several Purple-Robed Generals. A surge of hatred clenched his jaw. If only he had Greedy Wolf with him, he might have tested his strength and range—but now, he could only glare daggers at him.
After a moment, Yixiao exhaled in frustration and slowly turned his gaze toward the distant mountains. This time, he wasn’t sure if they could escape.
A single glance made his breath catch. Instinctively, he clutched his collar, frozen in place—under the sunlight, several large banners led a dark, surging mass of troops rapidly advancing toward them.
Weiran had arrived. These must be the forces pursuing them from the Imperial City.
Standing there dazed for a moment, he suddenly smiled, then turned and hurried back toward the shaded spot where Feng Xiyang rested.
When Feng Xiyang startled awake, Yixiao was placing a waterskin and an unsheathed dagger beside her. "Keep this for self-defense," he said softly. Meeting her confused gaze, he smiled. "Brocade’s army is here. I must go after them."
"Wait—" Xiyang struggled to move. "You mean—"
"Likely a fight to the death," Yixiao replied cheerfully, shaking out a warm cloak to drape over her. "If we win, I’ll come back for you. If we lose... we’ll meet again in the underworld."
A little farther down, the terrain leveled out. Through the sparse trees, faint flashes of purple could be seen moving near the mountain’s base. Carefully avoiding any paths where they might be spotted, Xia Jingshi and Feng Suige led their hundred-strong force, winding through rocks and groves as they descended.Feng Suige, who had been silent all the way, suddenly laughed. "You and I used to be mortal enemies on the battlefield. Who would have thought we'd end up like this?" Xia Jingshi couldn't help but smile. "Fate works in mysterious ways. Just like you and Yixiao—who could have predicted you'd end up together?"
"No, I noticed her very early on," Feng Suige chuckled softly. "Back then, though, I hated her for provoking me in battle. If you hadn't turned back midway, I was already prepared to escort you back to Brocade after Xiyang's wedding and ask the Holy Emperor to hand her over to me." At the mention of Xiyang, his gaze darkened. "Xiyang's injuries seem severe. Who knows how long she can hold on..."
As he listened quietly, the sound of falling gravel came from above. Xia Jingshi instinctively stepped back, and several fist-sized rocks tumbled down right past his face, startling him into a cold sweat.
Before his racing heart could settle, he suddenly heard a muffled exclamation from behind. "Ah...!"
Feng Suige and Xia Jingshi turned around almost simultaneously, only to see the Brocade guard staring upward, wide-eyed, murmuring, "The... the Minor Imperial Concubine..."
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