Black smoke billowed, a sea of flames churned, dyeing half the sky crimson. Suddenly, a relief force bearing the Western Army’s banners charged out and stormed into the Northern Rong camp.
Screams and the whinnying of horses rose on all sides. The Northern Rong cavalry, their momentum broken, hastily retreated.
The dispirited defenders on the city walls immediately perked up, shouting, “Let’s go out and support them!”
“Wait!”
Yaoying called out to Damo, her voice trembling slightly. “How can we be sure the relief force is on our side?”
Damo was taken aback. “Aren’t they our allies?”
Yaoying said, “The Northern Rong’s most effective tactics are encirclement, feigned retreats, surprise attacks, psychological warfare, wave after wave of charges, hunting parties, and driving slaves and civilians to breach our defenses to clear the way for their cavalry—we’ve seen all these methods… The one thing they’re not skilled at is siege warfare.”
“We must guard against a feigned retreat. First, find a way to confirm the identity of the relief force.”
In the books, the army led by the aging Haidu Aling swept through cities and territories like a hot knife through butter. After conquering various regions, he promoted a group of skilled artisans adept at crafting siege engines. These craftsmen were not only highly skilled but also well-versed in mathematics and mechanics. Relying on the siege weapons they invented, he breached the gates of one city after another.
During her time in Haidu Aling’s camp, Yaoying had gathered sheep dung, sorted wool, fed horses, and hauled heavy weapons. She not only kept an eye on the horse breeds Haidu Aling was cultivating but also paid close attention to the craftsmen he recruited. After escaping to the Royal Court, she asked Old Qi to help her keep track of experienced artisans—anyone with a specialized skill, regardless of origin, was of interest to her.
Currently, Haidu Aling’s camp lacked enough craftsmen to produce siege engines. Even if there were artisans, the Northern Rong were fragmented, and given his status, he couldn’t amass the necessary military supplies.
Yaoying even suspected that the Northern Rong army outside the city wouldn’t have enough provisions to last much longer.
“We’re short on troops and ill-equipped to counter cavalry charges. We can’t engage the Northern Rong head-on. We must hold the city and not recklessly send out forces. If the relief force is a trap, going out to support them would play right into their hands.”
Damo calmed down and asked, “What if the relief force is genuine?”
A nearby defending general added, “I also think it’s unwise to send troops. We can dispatch scouts first to investigate.”
Scouts were sent out, but Damo grew increasingly anxious, standing on the city walls to observe the distant battle.
The suddenly appeared relief force was still clashing with the Northern Rong army. In the blink of an eye, half the Northern Rong camp was engulfed in flames, their banners toppling in disarray, while the Western Army’s flags surged toward Gaochang, fluttering in the wind.
Yaoying’s palms grew sweaty.
If the relief force was genuine, failing to send support would mean missing the perfect opportunity to trap the Northern Rong between their forces… But the appearance of the Northern Rong army outside the city was too suspicious—they couldn’t afford to take the risk.
Damo paced back and forth, tense and uneasy.
The soldiers were drenched in sweat, their eyes fixed on the distant scene, fists clenched so tightly their knuckles cracked.
After a while, a scout scrambled back to the city, breathless. “I couldn’t make out the relief force’s commander! The Northern Rong kept retreating…”
Damo’s heart sank. “Hold the city and do not engage! Continue scouting!”
The scouts were familiar with all the commanders who could come to their aid. If the scout said he couldn’t identify the commander, it meant the other side was deliberately hiding their identity to prevent them from determining which tribe the relief force belonged to.
The defending general acknowledged the order, and more scouts descended from the walls on ropes.Damo gritted his teeth: "The Northern Rong are truly cunning. They burned their own camp to deliberately lure us out of the city. Are they trying to ambush our commander? Shake our morale and force our surrender?"
Yaoying's expression turned grave: "If only it were that simple..."
Cold sweat dripped down Damo's forehead: "Their target isn't us?"
Yaoying sighed, dipping her finger in water to draw diagrams on a mud brick: "With Gaochang besieged, Western Prefecture troops from surrounding areas will surely rush to our aid. The Northern Rong army only needs to hold the strategic passes, making reinforcements believe we've already fallen. They can set ambushes - any arriving reinforcements will certainly fall into their trap. Then they'll pretend to be surprised by the reinforcements and retreat urgently, luring our garrison out. If our defenders pursue them, they'll likely be cut off from behind and surrounded. How long could we hold out then? If we fall, wouldn't the other arriving reinforcements panic even more?"
The Northern Rong could repeat this tactic - using the city's fall as bait to ambush reinforcements, then using reinforcements as bait to lure out the garrison. Whichever side fell for the deception, they could systematically eliminate the Western Prefecture troops.
Yaoying worried: "We just need to hold firm and not venture out... but the reinforcements can't wait..."
She feared the reinforcements would fall into the trap.
Damo was drenched in sweat.
Were Yang Qian and Li Zhongqian's rescue forces delayed because they'd already been ambushed?
...
Outside Gaochang, along the Great Western Sea Route.
Li Zhongqian led several thousand Western Prefecture troops racing through the night across the gravel-covered, barren Great Western Sea Route.
His subordinate urged against night travel: "General, the Sea Route is full of quicksand! Horses could easily stumble into sinkholes. Moreover, we haven't rested at all - more soldiers keep falling behind!"
Soldiers lost in the desert would likely lose their way.
Li Zhongqian cracked his whip, pointing toward the thick black smoke rising from beacon towers every few miles toward Gaochang, his face dark as storm clouds: "There's no time to lose. Don't wait for stragglers. Everyone quicken the pace! We must reach Gaochang before dawn!"
With these words, his whip cracked like thunder as his warhorse shot forward like an arrow.
The subordinate sighed helplessly, directing the soldiers to follow.
Abandoning exhausted soldiers, they finally galloped out of the Great Western Sea Route by next morning, spotting a small oasis in the distance. Thirsty soldiers rushed toward the dust-covered village in the oasis.
Suddenly, hoofbeats erupted like sudden rain pounding on roof tiles. From the dense woods outside the village, dust clouds swirled and yellow sand billowed.
The deputy general panicked, yanking his reins: "Ambush!"
As he screamed, hundreds of armored cavalry brandishing long swords charged from the woods, murderous intent radiating from them.
Li Zhongqian looked up as sharp whistling sounds pierced the air - iron arrows fell like locusts, enveloping him completely.
"My lord!"
His personal guards screamed in terror.
...
In Gaochang city, though the Northern Rong feigned retreat for dozens of miles and abandoned their camp, the defenders still hadn't ventured out.
At night, the city defenders and conscripted laborers hurriedly dug deep trenches outside the walls, laying trip ropes and caltrops while burying gunpowder. The garrison commander personally guarded secret passages against Northern Rong surprise attacks.
Commanders gathered in the strategy hall to discuss countermeasures, arguments breaking out.
Some believed they should risk sending troops to break the siege.More people believed that defending the city was the safer option. Earlier, Yaoying had gathered provisions for the Western Army, leaving the city well-stocked with food and supplies.
Damo asked for Yaoying’s opinion.
She did not voice her thoughts directly. "First, we don’t know where the cavalry outside the city came from. Before deciding to attack Yi Province, the Duke of Wei and I sent scouts to gather intelligence and confirmed that Haidu Aling’s forces were blocked outside White City. How did he manage to lead his troops through White City’s blockade? Over the past few days, the cavalry outside the city has repeatedly attacked with extreme ferocity, which does resemble his style. But their desperate efforts have made me suspicious."
"Wahan Khan is dead. Haidu Aling should be conserving his strength to stage a comeback, not drawing all the Western Army troops to Gaochang."
Yaoying frowned slightly. "The Northern Rong soldiers outside the city have no provisions or supplies, yet they remain calm and composed—this army has already abandoned all concern for life and death. They have left themselves no way out. Haidu Aling is merely Wahan Khan’s adopted son. Would he really disregard his own life to avenge Wahan Khan?"
Damo sneered, "Haidu Aling would never sacrifice everything to avenge Wahan Khan."
Yaoying said, "Therefore, we must proceed with caution. We are facing a group of Martial Assassins. They are likely remnants of the Northern Rong who have been roaming the lands. Haidu Aling abandoned his own troops to lead them in besieging Gaochang—he must have some other intention."
Damo nodded. "If they truly are Northern Rong remnants with no provisions, they won’t last long. As long as we hold the city, they will have no choice but to retreat."
He paused and looked at Yaoying, finally understanding why her expression had grown increasingly grim over the past two days.
She wasn’t worried about Gaochang’s defenses holding—she was worried about the reinforcements.
Had something happened to the reinforcements? Damo felt a surge of unease.
The next morning, Damo’s premonition came true.
Exhausted from rallying the city’s defenders, he had just retreated to the back hall to rest when he was awakened by panicked shouts. Several soldiers rushed into the council hall carrying a large chest. "The reinforcements from Yi Province were ambushed! The entire army was wiped out! The Duke of Wei refused to surrender and died a martyr!"
As they spoke, they retrieved a long sword, a bloodstained suit of armor, and the Duke of Wei’s bronze tally from the chest.
An uproar filled the hall.
Damo stood frozen for a moment, as if struck by lightning. He turned to look at Li Yaoying. She stared at the bloodied sword and armor on the ground, her face as pale as snow, trembling uncontrollably.
The garrison commander said sorrowfully, "Princess, please accept our condolences…"
Yaoying lifted her gaze, a lost and bewildered expression appearing on her face for the first time in days.
Everyone in the room felt their eyes grow hot and their noses sting, unable to meet her gaze.
"The Northern Rong are taunting us again!" came a panicked shout from outside the hall, a soldier’s voice trembling. "They’re going to hang the Duke of Wei’s body at the front of their formation!"
Fury swept through the crowd. Yaoying’s face turned deathly pale as she rushed out of the council hall.
The Northern Rong army had formed ranks outside the city, tossing out several burned military banners and roaring in unison that the Duke of Wei was dead.
Several Han soldiers with their hands bound behind their backs were dragged to the front of the formation. The Northern Rong soldiers released their restraints, and the men immediately sprinted toward the city gates.
Behind them, a dozen Northern Rong cavalrymen escorted Haidu Aling, clad in golden armor, as he rode out from the battle lines. Haidu Aling looked up at the city walls, drew his bow, and fired five arrows in quick succession. With a series of whistling sounds, the fleeing Han soldiers screamed and fell to the ground.
Yaoying stood atop the city wall, the fierce wind whipping around her. Her hands and feet turned icy cold, and shivers racked her body.All the personal guards stared with eyes wide in fury, gripping their weapons tightly as they charged down the city wall.
"Stop!"
Yaoying clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, her voice trembling.
The guards turned back, their eyes bloodshot.
At the front lines, Haidu Aling sat atop his horse, holding a longbow as he gazed toward the city wall.
Though the distance was great and others could barely make out the situation on the wall, his exceptional eyesight allowed him to see clearly.
Over the past few days, day and night, he had repeatedly scanned Gaochang City. Across the sea of corpses and blood, he could see a familiar figure standing between the azure sky and the sturdy city wall. She was a woman, not tall, and though dressed in military attire, her figure remained graceful and slender. Yet her face was indistinct, her expression unclear.
He wanted her.
It was a pity that he had once looked down on women and underestimated her, allowing her to escape to the Royal Court. Unknowingly, she had outmaneuvered him time and again, making his progress difficult.
Fortunately, he had a Han Chinese by his side who understood her well and knew her greatest weakness.
Haidu Aling curled his lips. "Bring it out!"
A soldier rode forward, dragging a corpse behind his horse. The corpse was that of a tall man, stripped naked, his hands bound with ropes, being dragged across the sandy ground.
On the city wall, the guards’ eyes welled with tears as they cursed furiously.
"Princess, I will fight them to the death!"
The guards rushed out.
Yaoying felt as if she had been plunged into an icy abyss, her teeth chattering. She abruptly raised her hand to stop the guards. "All of you, stop!"
Her voice quivered. She closed her eyes, forcing herself to calm down.
"Listen to the Princess."
Damo said softly, stepping closer to Yaoying and signaling to those around them.
The guards exchanged glances, filled with admiration, pity, and sorrow, but none dared to speak.
Below the city, the Northern Rong soldiers dragged the corpse in a wide circle before beginning to trample it with their horses. Leaning down, they used their long blades to carve bloody gashes into the corpse while mocking the city’s defenders for their cowardice, laughing uproariously.
On the city wall, the defenders seethed with rage, their fury boiling over. Several young officers could no longer restrain themselves and stepped forward to request permission to fight.
"This humble general requests to lead two hundred men out of the city to retrieve Duke Weiguo’s remains!"
Yaoying stood motionless, her expression numb. Suddenly, she staggered and fainted.
The guards were horrified, scrambling to support her.
For a moment, chaos erupted on the city wall as the soldiers looked around in confusion.
Damo scanned the scene and sighed, realizing morale had shattered. "I will escort the Princess back to her room. Remember, none of you act rashly!"
The guards exchanged tense glances, veins bulging on their foreheads.
Below the city, a Northern Rong scout galloped back to the front lines. "There is chaos on the city wall!"
A cruel smile flickered in Haidu Aling’s light golden eyes as the corners of his lips lifted.
The sun gradually sank, and dusk settled over the land.
A subordinate joyfully clasped his fists. "Your Highness’s strategy is brilliant! We only need to set an ambush to cut off Gaochang’s reinforcements! Now that their morale is broken, should we gather our forces and attack the city tomorrow?"
Haidu Aling’s expression darkened. He glanced at the soldiers behind him and sneered. "With these exhausted troops and worn-out horses, how can we launch a strong assault?"
"Remember, our goal is to use these remnants to lure out the reinforcements and buy as much time as possible."
The subordinate respectfully acknowledged the order.
As night fell, the Northern Rong forces sounded the retreat, withdrawing to their camp with the mutilated corpse.
…
The night was thick, starless and moonless. Within Gaochang City, the atmosphere was heavy.Damo paced back and forth outside Yaoying's room, sighing repeatedly with a worried and distressed expression.
In the middle of the night, the door creaked open. Yaoying stepped across the threshold, still clad in military attire, her face pale.
Damo didn't know what to say.
Yaoying remained silent and walked toward the city tower. Yuanjue and her personal guards followed her, their expressions tense.
No one dared to make a sound as they escorted her up the city tower. The night wind was biting cold, whipping the ribbons of her headscarf high into the air.
Damo instructed the guards to take good care of her before leading his men to patrol various areas. After a flurry of activity, when he ascended the city tower again, it was already dawn. The faint light of daybreak illuminated the silhouettes of distant mountains. Yaoying still stood at the front of the tower, her body radiating cold.
"Princess, please return to your room and rest..."
Damo urged.
Yaoying shook her head without speaking.
Unable to press further, Damo turned to speak with the garrison commander when sudden exclamations erupted around him.
The soldier with the sharpest eyesight pointed toward the Northern Rong camp and shouted: "It's on fire!"
Damo looked up in alarm.
Thick black smoke billowed across the horizon, with raging flames shooting skyward.
Damo stared in stunned silence for a moment.
"Are the Northern Rong using their old tricks again?"
He looked toward Yaoying.
Yaoying shook her head, "This time might be different."
The fire grew increasingly fierce with no signs of abating. The Northern Rong camp descended into chaos, with horses neighing wildly.
Haidu Aling drew his sword and charged out of the camp, leaping onto his horse. Several of his personal guards quickly gathered around him while others ran about like headless flies.
From the northwest came urgent horn blasts as dust clouds rose. Thousands of soldiers advanced majestically, bathed in morning light, fierce as wolves and tigers with imposing momentum.
Behind them, the banners of the Royal Court army and several command flags bearing Chinese characters fluttered proudly in the wind.
With thunderous hoofbeats, the leading general—his face covered by a helmet visor—cut down a Northern Rong soldier from his horse with a single blade stroke.
Haidu Aling's face darkened as he led his soldiers in resistance. However, the enemy's morale soared while the Northern Rong troops, caught unprepared, had already lost the initiative. Meanwhile, Gaochang's city gates swung open, and the defending garrison roared forth to support the reinforcements, quickly cutting off the Northern Rong army's retreat and gradually surrounding them. If they didn't escape now, they would be completely annihilated.
"Retreat!"
Haidu Aling roared decisively, breaking through the encirclement with a few personal guards. He glanced back at the Royal Court army, wiped blood from his face, and curled his lips.
"Everyone who should be here has come... even the Royal Court reinforcements have arrived... Tanmoroqie, you too have a weakness!"
The lofty, detached Buddha Prince had finally fallen for a scheme.
He couldn't help but laugh, but suddenly several arrows whizzed past his ears. The Royal Court archers fired volley after volley. One of his guards who moved too slowly was pierced through the chest by an iron arrow and fell dead from his horse.
Following more sharp whistles, excruciating pain erupted as two iron arrows penetrated his armor.
Breaking into a cold sweat, Haidu Aling didn't dare be careless. Gritting through the pain, he turned his horse and galloped away frantically.
With the Northern Rong camp in disarray and Haidu Aling having fled, the remaining soldiers were soon completely surrounded by the Royal Court army and Gaochang defenders. They refused to surrender, fighting desperately to the death.
On Gaochang's city walls, Damo watched as the reinforcements and defenders attacked from both sides, completely wiping out the Northern Rong soldiers. His frantic heartbeat took a long time to calm.
The battle continued until evening, the setting sun blood-red.
Finally, the mournful sound of horns echoed.
The defenders on the city walls erupted in thunderous cheers while Damo wept with emotion.
The reinforcements and defenders returned to Gaochang together.Yaoying rushed down the city tower, mounted her horse, and charged out of the city gates, galloping toward the three commanders riding at the forefront.
Upon seeing her, the three urged their horses forward, casually wiping the congealed blood from their faces.
Yaoying headed straight for one of them.
"Brother!"
The man in a white cloak, dressed in Royal Court military attire, curled his lips into a smile, reined in his horse, swung his long leg over, and dismounted, embracing Yaoying as she ran toward him.
The other two riders approached and also dismounted, silently watching the siblings.
Yaoying released Li Zhongqian and turned her gaze to the man wearing a face guard.
The man lifted his visor, revealing a young, handsome face with curly hair, brown eyes, and a scar on his cheek.
Yaoying froze for a moment. "Prince Mobi Duo."
Mobi Duo breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Seeing the Princess safe and sound, I can finally relax."
Yaoying looked behind him—his followers appeared to be from Wujili Bu.
"Master!"
"Our master is alive!"
Shouts of joy erupted as Yaoying’s personal guards rushed forward, recognizing Li Zhongqian and cheering together.
Damo and others approached with broad smiles, but upon seeing Li Zhongqian, they stared in astonishment. After a moment of amazement, they exchanged greetings with Mobi Duo, then turned their questioning gazes toward the other man who had been standing silently nearby, his phoenix eyes fixed intently on Yaoying.
"Princess, who is this?"
They had spotted a Wei dynasty commander’s banner among the reinforcements—could this man be the general sent by Wei to support the Western Army?
Still holding Li Zhongqian’s arm, Yaoying snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at the man, her eyes meeting his.
Amidst the vast army, he stared at her, dark currents swirling in his phoenix eyes.
Yaoying frowned and said indifferently, "This is His Highness the Crown Prince."
Everyone was stunned.
The Gaochang defenders were overjoyed—the Crown Prince’s presence meant Ganzhou, Suzhou, Guazhou, and Shazhou had already been recaptured. Next, they could join forces to reclaim Yi Province!
After the celebrations, soldiers remained to clear the battlefield while the others returned to the city for detailed discussions.
Damo, full of questions, asked, "Princess, how did you know the Duke of Wei was still alive? And how did you know the Duke, the Royal Court army, and the Liangzhou troops would come to our aid? You fainted on the city wall at the time!"
Yaoying smiled, exchanged a look with Li Zhongqian, and replied slowly, "When that armor and bronze tally were returned, I knew my brother was alive—though I didn’t know he would bring reinforcements."
…
When she saw the longsword, it felt like a thunderclap striking her head, and Yaoying nearly collapsed. But recalling the detailed descriptions in the battle reports, she sensed something amiss. Only after seeing the armor and bronze tally did she calm down.
The Duke of Wei’s bronze tally was in her possession.
She considered two possibilities: either Li Zhongqian had been ambushed and had his guards impersonate him to escape—meaning the person captured by Haidu Aling wasn’t him—or he had joined other reinforcements, seen through Haidu Aling’s scheme, and deliberately misled him.
Either way, it suggested Li Zhongqian might still be alive.
So she played along, feigning a faint on the city wall, then gathered her commanders and ordered them to prepare for battle. If Li Zhongqian was alive, he would surely lead a surprise attack on the Northern Rong camp with reinforcements.
…
At this point, Yaoying glanced at Mobi Duo.
"How did you end up joining Prince Mobi Duo to attack the Northern Rong?"
Li Zhongqian let out a long breath and patted Yaoying’s head."It's a long story. When I was approaching Yi Province, I noticed there were no traces of the Northern Rong remnants along the way, so I immediately turned back. Halfway through my journey, I learned that the Northern Rong remnants were besieging Gaochang. I rushed back overnight, and just after exiting the Great Western Sea Route, I encountered an ambush by the Northern Rong. Fortunately, the Royal Court army arrived in time to rescue us..."
He paused, then continued, "The Buddha Prince realized that Haidu Aling was deliberately besieging Gaochang to set a trap for reinforcements, so he ordered Mobi Duo, who was closest, to lead troops to assist. My personal guards and I fought our way out of the encirclement and sent someone disguised as a Northern Rong scout back to deliver false information. Haidu Aling believed it, thinking that corpse was me. Taking advantage of his lowered guard, Mobi Duo and I reorganized our forces, quietly approached, destroyed their military supplies under cover of night, and then launched a surprise attack."
The listeners were gripped with fear.
Mobi Duo smiled at Yaoying, his eyes blazing, and said, "Duke Weiguo and I were on tenterhooks, afraid that you would believe the false news and, in your grief, fall into Haidu Aling's trap. We never expected that not only were you not deceived, but you also managed to trick Haidu Aling. The city's defenders reacted swiftly, allowing us to encircle these remnants of the Northern Rong. If they had escaped again, I truly wouldn't know how to face the King."
Recalling the heart-stopping events of the past few days, everyone felt a sense of having narrowly escaped disaster, breathing a sigh of relief and bursting into laughter.
Yaoying's brows twitched slightly. She released Li Zhongqian and walked over to Mobi Duo. "What exactly is Haidu Aling plotting? Where is the Buddha Prince now? Is everything all right at the Royal Court?"
Mobi Duo's face flushed slightly, and he whispered, "To be honest, Princess... most of the ten thousand Northern Rong remnants outside the city escaped from the Sand Sea Road. I was pursuing Wahan Khan there and saw him fall from his horse with my own eyes... I never thought he would survive. He was rescued by his youngest son, Jin Bo, and disguised himself among the slaves, trying to sneak away to Samarkand."
Yaoying was deeply shaken.
"Did Haidu Aling create such a huge commotion, luring all reinforcements to Gaochang, just to cover for the old Khan?"
"Exactly. With the forces he has, he can't change the overall situation," Mobi Duo nodded. "To be honest, it's all because I underestimated the enemy and allowed the Northern Rong elite cavalry to escape the Sand Sea Road... To cover the old Khan's retreat, all the Northern Rong remnants headed toward Gaochang. The King saw through Haidu Aling's plan and ordered me to lead a few thousand troops to relieve the siege of Gaochang and eliminate all the Northern Rong remnants."
Yaoying's heart pounded like a drum. "What about Wahan Khan?"
If Wahan Khan managed to escape, Haidu Aling's scheme would still succeed!
Mobi Duo reassured her, "Don't worry, Princess. I only brought a few thousand troops to Gaochang. The Regent has taken the main army to pursue Wahan Khan. I was careless and nearly made a grave mistake, but with the Regent personally leading the chase, he will surely kill Wahan Khan with his own hands."
Yaoying stood still for a moment, lost in thought.
Su Dan Gu had gone to intercept and kill Wahan Khan.
Last time, he led the troops to defeat Wahan Khan but had to return to the Holy City hastily because he feared Haidu Aling would breach it, needed to undergo power dissipation as soon as possible, and the Imperial Guards couldn't stay away from the Royal Court for too long. He had ordered Mobi Duo to pursue the Northern Rong remnants on his behalf. This time, with the Imperial Guards stationed at the Royal Court, he took Mobi Duo's troops to chase Wahan Khan, without worrying about disturbances in the Holy City. He had even sent reinforcements to assist her, considering every aspect.
Yuanjue, overhearing their conversation, gaped in surprise. "The Regent personally went after Wahan Khan?"
Mobi Duo nodded.
Yuanjue broke out in a cold sweat, inwardly anxious: The interval is too short. If the King forced himself to take medicine and use his powers, wouldn't that be dangerous?
While the few of them stood aside whispering, Damo and the others gathered around Li Xuanzhen, bombarding him with questions.Li Xuanzhen furrowed his brows tightly, unable to break free, his gaze fixed on Yaoying. The heavy stone in his heart slowly settled, but waves of sharp pain coursed through his body as his wounds reopened, blood soaking the bandages beneath his armor.
The pain jolted him awake, making him realize this was no dream—she stood safely before him, whispering with Li Zhongqian and the Royal Court general, her expression cold when she glanced his way.
At least he had arrived in time.
Yaoying cast a brief look at Li Xuanzhen and asked Li Zhongqian, "Brother, how did you run into Li Xuanzhen?"
Li Zhongqian replied indifferently, "Mobi Duo and I were quietly returning to Gaochang when we encountered him on the road. He was preparing to lead two thousand men in a surprise attack on Haidu Aling."
Yaoying frowned: How had Li Xuanzhen arrived so quickly?
...
Amidst the laughter and cheers all around, Yuanjue felt a secret unease. After much deliberation, he decided it was best to write a letter to Bi Suo—now that the Northern Rong remnants had been wiped out, the message could be sent.
He wanted to go to the front lines to care for Tanmoroqie.
After informing Yaoying, Yuanjue hurried out of the council hall and returned to his room. Just as he was about to close the door, heavy footsteps sounded.
A dark figure flashed past, following him inside.
As Yuanjue was about to cry out in alarm, a thud echoed—the dark figure collapsed to the ground, the cloth covering its face slipping away to reveal a face scarred all over.
A thick scent of blood filled the air.
Yuanjue stood frozen, speechless for a long moment, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.
"Regent!"
He exclaimed in shock, trembling as he helped the fallen Tanmoroqie up.
Tanmoroqie’s eyes were tightly shut, his consciousness hazy. A murmur escaped his lips: "Don’t make a sound..."
Yuanjue complied, laying him down and tearing open his clothing.
Thick bandages were wrapped around his shoulder, stained red from the recent fierce battle.
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