Black-clad soldiers surged like a tide from the end of the street, swiftly charging toward the people engaged in fierce combat on the streets and at the city gates. The city gate, which had collapsed with a thunderous roar just moments ago, was quickly shut once more. The Western Mausoleum soldiers who had rushed into Jiangxia City in their eagerness to seize military merit now realized in horror that they had become trapped prey, like fish in a barrel or beasts in a cage. The black-clad soldiers advanced in an orderly manner toward their designated positions, and suddenly, countless figures in black appeared on the walls that had previously been filled with the gray silhouettes of Western Mausoleum soldiers. The battle began anew.
In the distance, Zhennan Wang's expression darkened as he watched the sudden emergence of black-clad soldiers on the city walls. Then, he spotted a flamboyant figure clad in red, moving with the grace of a dragon, unstoppable as it appeared atop the wall.
"Your Highness, that is Feng Zhiyao. Known in the Chu capital as Third Master Feng, he is the illegitimate son of the wealthiest family in Chu. He was expelled from his family at a young age and has followed Mo Xiuyao into battle since his teens. He is one of Mo Xiuyao's most trusted confidants. His presence here surely means the Mo Family Army's reinforcements have arrived."
Zhennan Wang's face was grim as he commanded, "Continue the attack!"
War drums thundered across the battlefield as gray and black figures clashed in a chaotic melee. Yet, the gates of Jiangxia remained firmly shut. When countless black-clad archers appeared on the walls, raining arrows like a storm upon the soldiers below, a slender figure in pristine white robes calmly ascended the battlements. Standing beside her were Nan Hou (Marquis Nan) Mu Yang and Zhuo Jing. Amidst the blood-soaked carnage, the snow-white robes remained untouched by even a speck of blood, their immaculate purity exuding an inexplicable chill and solemnity.
Ye Li stood atop the wall, gazing far into the distance where the Western Mausoleum Army's command banner fluttered. Though she could not clearly discern the enemy commander's face, she could sense the overwhelming aura of fury emanating from him. A cold smile curled at her lips as she ordered sharply, "Leave none of the Western Mausoleum soldiers who entered Jiangxia alive. Throw all their corpses outside the city!"
Zhuo Jing nodded. "As you command."
Ye Li turned her gaze back, casting a provocative smile toward a distant figure.
"Is that the Princess of the State?" Zhennan Wang asked in a deep voice.
The general beside him hesitated before replying, "It does appear to be the Princess of the State." In truth, few had actually seen the Princess of the State, but given the circumstances, the woman standing atop Jiangxia's walls alongside the Mo Family Army could be none other. After a long silence, Zhennan Wang suddenly burst into laughter. "Excellent! Fascinating... So this is the Princess of the State? They say women of Eastern Chu are frail, but this Princess of the State surpasses even the noblewomen of our Western Liang. No wonder she managed to terrify Lingyun Gongzhu back then." The general beside him wore a stiff smile, uncertain whether to echo his lord's praise. After all, it was this very Princess of the State who had single-handedly thwarted their plans to capture Jiangxia today. Moreover, the soldiers who had charged into the city earlier were likely already doomed. The losses suffered in this small city of Jiangxia now exceeded the total casualties they had sustained in recent times. This was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the morale of the Western Mausoleum Army.
"Your Highness, the soldiers who entered the city..."Zhennan Wang waved his hand and shook his head, saying, "It's too late. Attack the city with full force! Capture the Princess of the State alive, and the reward will be a thousand-household marquis!"
"Yes."
By late afternoon, Western Liang finally sounded the retreat. Continuing such relentless assaults without knowing the exact number of reinforcements the Mo Family Army had was unwise. If the two armies were evenly matched, the outcome would likely be mutual destruction. Moreover, this was Eastern Chu's territory, where troops and supplies could be replenished endlessly. After their gains in Xinyang fell far below expectations, they had to proceed with extreme caution, lest they plunge themselves into an abyss of ruin. Watching the Western Mausoleum Army retreat swiftly at the sound of the horns, those on the city walls breathed a sigh of relief. The surviving soldiers from the original Jiangxia garrison couldn’t help but cheer.
Yuan Pei, clad in a blood-stained uniform now half-dry and covered in wounds, approached Ye Li and said, "General Yuan Pei, garrison commander of Jiangxia, greets the Princess!"
Ye Li quickly reached out to stop him from kneeling and said solemnly, "You’ve endured much, General. It is my fault for arriving late and causing you such hardship."
Yuan Pei was visibly moved, his bloodshot eyes glistening with unshed tears as he replied loudly, "I dare not accept such words. It was my incompetence that nearly allowed Jiangxia to fall into Western Liang’s hands. I cannot speak of hardship." Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "The circumstances were beyond your control. There’s no need to dwell on blame. Please take your men to rest and recover. For now, leave Jiangxia to us." Yuan Pei nodded heavily. Feng Zhiyao, standing behind Ye Li, added with a smile, "General Yuan, rest assured. Feng San will not let the Western Liang forces take a single step past Jiangxia."
Yuan Pei clasped his hands without ceremony and said, "Then I leave it to General Feng’s hard work."
After reorganizing the city’s defenses, Ye Li led her people down from the walls. As she descended, she saw Leng Qingyu standing below, his sword bloodied, his expression blank. After a moment’s thought, she approached and asked, "General Leng, are you alright?" Leng Qingyu looked up at her and gave a bitter smile, replying flatly, "A defeated general has no right to speak of being alright." Ye Li raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Victory and defeat are common in war. This failure was not entirely your fault. Take care of yourself." Leng Qingyu was taken aback, pausing before finally saying, "Thank you, Princess."
Watching Ye Li leave, Leng Qingyu glanced at his sword before sheathing it. Perhaps the Princess was right—this defeat wasn’t solely his fault, yet he alone bore the responsibility. At least... Jiangxia still stood, and the Mo Family Army had arrived.
"General Leng." Just as he turned to leave, the voice of Marquis Nan called out from behind.
Marquis Nan stood by the roadside, visibly aged and exhausted compared to their last meeting. Though the war had only just begun, many of them already seemed a decade older. The Marquis stared at Leng Qingyu for a long moment before asking heavily, "General Leng... have you any news of my son?"
Leng Qingyu lowered his eyes and replied grimly, "That day, when the enemy launched their surprise attack, the young master led a squad to divert their attention... The entire unit was annihilated... My apologies, Marquis...""I understand," Marquis Nan murmured, the faint light in his eyes gradually dimming as he sighed softly. Without even bidding farewell to Leng Qingyu, he turned and left. Leng Qingyu watched Marquis Nan's solitary and desolate figure recede, feeling an inexplicable bone-chilling cold. Once, he had yearned passionately for the battlefield, believing it to be a place of fervor that drew countless people. But now, after a single defeat, he realized the hidden bitterness and pain beneath that fervor.
Jiangxia was a small town, and Ye Li's group temporarily stayed at General Yuan Pei's residence. The so-called general's residence was merely a modest courtyard within Jiangxia. Veterans like Yuan Pei and Zhang Qilan—any one of them could easily rival the likes of the Guardian General or Murong Shen. Yet, because they were generals of the Mo Family Army, they were indefinitely suppressed and relegated to obscurity, forever denied the glory and honor that should rightfully have been theirs.
Due to Ye Li's arrival, Yuan Pei had moved his wife and children from the main courtyard to a side house in the rear. Understanding Yuan Pei's intentions and his loyalty to Prince Ding's Estate, Ye Li did not refuse and casually chose a room to settle in. Without time to tidy up, she freshened up briefly before heading to the front hall to discuss military affairs with the others. When Ye Li entered the study, it was already packed with people engaged in heated debate. The room fell silent upon her arrival. Yuan Pei personally stepped forward to invite Ye Li to take the seat of honor. Once she was seated, he straightened his attire and bowed solemnly. "This general thanks Her Highness the Princess Consort for saving my life."
Ye Li sighed faintly in resignation and gestured for Zhuo Jing, standing beside her, to help Yuan Pei up.
"General Yuan, let’s dispense with formalities. Rise and speak," Ye Li said earnestly.
Yuan Pei stood and returned to his seat. "Reporting to Her Highness, Western Liang has amassed 300,000 troops outside Jiangxia, clearly determined to take the city. This general has received word that the northern and southern armies also seem to be converging toward Jiangxia. Once the three armies unite, nearly 500,000 troops will besiege the city. Though our forces are valiant, Jiangxia is small and its people weak, with scarce military supplies. By then, we may lack the strength to withstand the siege. I implore Your Highness to make preparations early."
Ye Li nodded. "Thank you for the reminder, General Yuan. I am aware. As for provisions, there’s no need to worry—the court will naturally send sufficient supplies. Marquis Nan, Young Master Mu, wouldn’t you agree?"
Marquis Nan, who had been distracted, looked up at her words and smiled faintly. "Your Highness is right. We who risk our lives on the battlefield—the court and His Majesty would never neglect the frontline soldiers."
Ye Li studied Marquis Nan, clearly seeing the exhaustion and gloom in his eyes. She didn’t know what Leng Qingyu had said to him, but she could guess—after all, there was still no news of the Heir of Marquis Nan. It was hard not to entertain grim thoughts. With a concerned glance at Marquis Nan, he gave her a slight nod to indicate he was fine.Although Marquis Nan had expressed his stance, the expressions of the crowd did not improve much. Over the years, the soldiers of the Mo Family Army had long ceased to hold much hope for the one in the palace. Ye Li observed their expressions but did not comment, turning instead to discuss military affairs with the generals.
When the meeting concluded, everyone took their leave one after another. Marquis Nan, however, remained seated in his place, unmoving. Ye Li initially thought he had something to say, but only after everyone had left did she realize he was lost in thought. Frowning slightly in concern, she called out, "Marquis?"
Marquis Nan's eyes were blank for a long moment before he seemed to come back to himself, still somewhat dazed as he looked at Ye Li. After a long pause, he finally said slowly, "Princess Consort, my apologies for the disturbance. I shall take my leave now."
Ye Li shook her head. "Marquis, the young master's status is different. The fact that there is still no news is, in itself, good news. There are still many important matters in the army that require your judgment. I sincerely hope you will take care of yourself."
Marquis Nan forced a smile and looked up at Ye Li. "The late Duke once said that the Princess Consort was no ordinary person. Along the way, I have witnessed it myself. The military affairs will have to trouble you to handle them with care. I... I fear I may no longer be up to the task."
"Marquis..."
Ye Li wanted to say more, but Marquis Nan waved his hand. "I shall take my leave first. Princess Consort, you should rest early as well."
Watching as Marquis Nan walked out with unsteady steps, Ye Li ultimately swallowed the words on her lips. "Take care, Marquis."
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