The magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture asked this question, but in his heart, he already had the answer. Outside, after a brief moment of stunned silence, the common people suddenly realized what was happening. After a short pause, a man pushed his way through the crowd and anxiously said, "Marquis Wei, wasn't it because the Crown Prince was misled by a spy and gave the wrong order that led to that disastrous defeat back then?"
At that time, Zhao Yue had wanted to protect Yao Yong while also clearing the Wei family's unjust reputation, so he made the Crown Prince shoulder all the blame alone.
Chu Yu looked up at him and frowned, "Who are you?"
"This humble one is named He Zaishan," the man knelt down, his eyes reddening. "My elder brother was among those who fought in the White Emperor Valley battle..."
As he spoke, sighs of sympathy rose from the crowd. Chu Yu sighed and stepped forward to personally help the man up. "Brother, please rise first."
The man remained kneeling and shook his head. "Please, Marquis, tell me the truth of what happened back then!"
Chu Yu didn't answer but instead looked at Wei Yun.
Wei Yun continued striking the drum, his voice calm and steady. "Five years ago, the new ruler of Northern Di ascended the throne. Northern Di was suffering from natural disasters, and the new ruler intended to wage war southward to divert the pressure. At that time, my father was the commander-in-chief. Knowing Northern Di's intentions, he chose only to defend and not attack. The Great Chu had elite soldiers and capable generals, with ample troops and horses. Northern Di fought bitterly for two months without capturing a single city. Then, a man from Great Chu offered a strategy to Northern Di, suggesting they use the spies Great Chu had planted in Northern Di to send false information, claiming that Northern Di had seventy thousand troops lying in ambush at White Emperor Valley, planning to feign defeat and launch a surprise attack."
Hearing this, curses erupted from the crowd. How could a man of Great Chu betray his country like this? All the turmoil of these years stemmed from this person—who wouldn't curse him?
Wei Yun continued striking the drum, one beat after another. "This spy was under Yao Yong's command. Yao Yong, eager for merit and profit, first reported the message to my father. My father refused to send troops, so Yao Yong pressured the former Crown Prince to force my father to march. Later, when Northern Di feigned defeat as the rumors had claimed, my father led my six elder brothers in pursuit. Two of them split off to flank from the rear, another group waited outside as a precaution, and the remaining three followed my father and brothers into the valley. Including Yao Yong's hidden soldiers in the forest, there were a total of one hundred and sixty thousand troops!"
"However, after arriving at White Emperor Valley and engaging in battle, Yao Yong discovered that the information they had received was false. Northern Di actually had two hundred thousand troops in White Emperor Valley. Yao Yong, valuing his life, dared not fight and fled in panic. But before escaping, fearing that his desertion would be exposed, he ordered my three brothers waiting outside to go rescue my father."
As he spoke, Wei Yun's hand gripping the drumstick began to tremble. His voice turned hoarse, and he closed his eyes, afraid that the killing intent and tears in his eyes would spill out in front of so many people.
"Seventy thousand brave men were buried there, but why did they die?!" Wei Yun suddenly raised his voice. "They died because of that man from Great Chu who offered that strategy, because of the wicked hearts within Great Chu. They did not die defending their homeland—they died for imperial power, they died because of human treachery! And do you know who that strategist was? Why would he do such a beastly thing?"
"Who was it?!"
Someone roared out the question, their voice choked with sobs, likely a relative of one of the fallen.
Inside the gates, the officials of Shuntian Prefecture listened quietly to that furious shout, feeling somewhat dazed.Amid the crowd, a figure clad in red robes stood with hands tucked into sleeves, listening quietly.
Wei Yun closed his eyes, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
"That man was originally the son of the Prince of Qin," he said hoarsely. Those unfamiliar with court affairs still looked bewildered, but most were already filled with shock.
They began to understand why Wei Yun stood here instead of seeking justice in the grand halls of the palace.
Because the justice he sought now could not be granted by the emperor—only he himself, and the people of this land, could give it to him.
"During the Prince of Qin's incident, he was spared by the joint efforts of the Gu family and The Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess merely pitied his youth, hoping he could have another life. But he harbored the ambition of a wolf, determined to reclaim his position. At that time, my father and Yao Yong were the left and right arms of the late emperor. So he planted a spy in Yao Yong's household, and years later, it was that spy who delivered this letter—into Yao Yong's hands."
Hearing this, Shen You in the crowd quietly closed his eyes.
Back then, it was him—filled with patriotic fervor, believing it was for the country and to avenge his mother, he risked his life to deliver the message to Yao Yong.
Who would have thought... it was all a lie.
"He calculated that Yao Jue was both incompetent and ruthless. He caused my father and brothers, along with those seventy thousand men, to perish in White Emperor Valley, and set Yao Yong on a path of no return. From then on, the late emperor lost his trusted aides. To protect himself, Yao Yong had no choice but to suppress capable generals and eliminate dissenters. Since then, the great Chu has had no sharp sword to defend against external enemies!"
"Then he transformed himself, emerging as the new ruler, promising us cooperation against the Northern Di. But this man was always a wolf in sheep's clothing—even draped in human skin, a wolf remains a wolf! All these years, he has posed as a noble gentleman, but in truth, he has been indulging in extravagance and debauchery. To build the Moon-Embracing Tower to please his concubines, he imposed heavy taxes under the guise of military funds—"
In the palace, The Eldest Princess sat before a mirror, taking up an eyebrow brush to line her eyes.
A maid knelt on the floor, smiling. "Your Highness hasn’t had such an interest in a long time."
"I heard the drums sounded at the gates of Shuntian Prefecture."
The Eldest Princess remained calm. The maid was taken aback, unsure how Her Highness had learned of this. As she traced her brows, The Eldest Princess said softly, "It’s time to dress up properly. Xiang’er, how did the infamous concubines of history die?"
"Your Highness..."
The maid grew fearful. The Eldest Princess gave a light laugh. "I hope I can die by poison—quickly, and beautifully."
"Your Highness, what are you saying?" The maid forced a smile. "How could you die?"
The Eldest Princess said nothing. She set down the brush, picked up a Floral Tika, and gently pressed it to her forehead.
"Xiang’er," she said tenderly, "does it look pretty?"
"In the palace, he has slaughtered innocents. Just a month ago, he killed over a hundred palace maids and imperial physicians, framing Minister Wang He to incite the Wang Family’s rebellion!"
"All his deeds over the years, I have thoroughly investigated and recorded in this ledger! If anything is missing, I invite the victims to step forward and join me in demanding justice!"
As his words fell, a woman from the crowd rushed out, weeping and shouting, "Demand justice! Demand justice!"
One by one, others emerged, kneeling and prostrating on the ground.
Some were relatives of those who had perished in battle years ago, others were kin of the unjustly slain in the palace...Yet more people stood there, unwilling to leave.
In a nation so turbulent, who wasn't a victim?
The Prefect of Shuntian stood inside the gate, staring blankly at the doors, his gaze vacant.
He listened to the drumbeats, the cries outside, and Wei Yun's hoarse voice: "I know the Prefect dares not take this case today."
"But the injustices of this world must be addressed by someone, the wrongs must be righted. Under the sun and moon of our great Chu, beneath this vast sky, those in the golden halls should at least step forward and say—"
As he spoke, the sound of galloping horses came from afar. In that instant, over a dozen arrows shot toward Wei Yun from the crowd!
Chu Yu's eyes widened in horror as she screamed: "Xiao Qi!"
She rushed forward, raising her sleeve to block, catching a few arrows. Wei Yun, gripping the drumstick, dodged most of them, but one arrow pierced his shoulder, pinning him to the drum.
Blood flowed freely as over a dozen assassins lunged forward. The panicked crowd scattered in all directions, and Zhao Yue's horse, just arriving at Shuntian Prefecture, was startled by the chaos, trampling left and right, worsening the turmoil.
Chu Yu shielded Wei Yun without a word.
The guards quickly moved to protect Jiang Chun and Liu Xueyang. Wei Yun pulled out the arrow, drew his sword, and gasped: "Protect Second Sister-in-Law and Mother... Go!"
With that, Chu Yu and Wei Yun charged toward Liu Xueyang and Jiang Chun, escorting them to the horses.
"You take Mother-in-law first!" Chu Yu ordered Jiang Chun. "Xiao Qi and I will cover you!"
Jiang Chun nodded without hesitation, leading Liu Xueyang away as guards surrounded them, heading for the city gates. Zhao Yue finally grasped the irreversible situation and shouted: "Stop them!"
This was exactly what Wei Yun and Chu Yu had been waiting for. Hearing his command, they and the remaining guards blocked the path. Chu Yu raised her voice: "Your Majesty, all we of the Wei family seek is justice. Is that wrong? Must you exterminate us before you relent?!"
"Nonsense!" Zhao Yue roared.
But in that moment, a blade flashed toward him!
Zhao Yue stumbled back, saved only by two Covert Guards who intercepted Wei Yun's sword. Only then did Zhao Yue realize Wei Yun was a warrior capable of taking heads amidst thousands!
He wasted no more time, spurring his horse away while shouting: "Seal the city! Stop every member of the Wei family!"
But it was too late. The sounds of battle erupted outside the walls. At this moment, aside from Wei Yun, no one knew what was truly happening—or what was about to unfold.
Wei Yun knew this was mere bluff. Seizing Zhao Yue's moment of fear, he grabbed Chu Yu's hand and fought their way toward the city gates.
His blood flowed over their clasped hands. Chu Yu looked back at him.
The young man's features were sharp and handsome, his expression resolute yet calm. Blood was his baptism; amid the chaos, he remained composed and unshaken.
She had never experienced anything like this—standing side by side with someone in battle, their blood and warmth mingling. He turned to her in the crowd: "What are you looking at?"He merely asked lightly, yet for some reason, Chu Yu felt something surging passionately within her heart. She finally felt that by his side, she was truly becoming more and more like her younger self. Unable to contain herself, she broke into a smile and blurted out the words in her heart: "Wei Yun," she called out loudly, just like the unrestrained manner of her youth, "When peace reigns over the land in the future, will you marry me?"
The surroundings were noisy with voices. Wei Yun abruptly blocked a sword strike, lifting his eyelids with a composed expression tinged with arrogance.
"Sure."
As he spoke, he kicked open the path ahead and charged out of the city gates with her: "For you, I'll conquer this land and bring it peace."
Author's Note: Zhao Yue won't die in this scene—he'll just be beaten so badly he can't get up and becomes a puppet.
Don’t think I’m wrapping things up here, folks—Gu Chusheng’s major arc hasn’t even dropped yet, and Chu Yu and Wei Yun haven’t even had their little buns!
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