The Road to Glory

Chapter 212

"Sister, all these years, I've..."

Xiao Li, galloping below on his horse, seemed to sense something. He lifted his gaze coldly toward the city wall.

Pei Song released his fingers, and the arrow, carrying a sharp whistling sound through the air, shot instantly from the city wall, arriving directly at Xiao Li's face in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Li lowered his back, leaning to one side on his horse to dodge it.

However, the second and third arrows quickly followed, piercing through the air. His warhorse had already reached the edge of the crossbow's range, and the arrows raining down were as dense as locusts. Xiao Li drew his blade and charged forward through the arrow storm, cutting down every arrow beneath his horse.

But the cavalry behind him seemed hindered by the chaotic arrows, their charge slowing abruptly.

Qin Yi, watching from the city wall, fixed his slightly clouded eyes on Xiao Li atop his horse. When his gaze swept over the vanguard troops about to retreat beyond the crossbow's range, he seemed to suddenly realize something and shouted, "Something's wrong!"

"It's a trap!"

Beside him, Pei Song had drawn his bow again, the arrowhead aimed squarely at Xiao Li. Hearing this, he slightly turned his eyes. "What?"

As soon as he spoke, he saw Xiao Li, who had been leading the charge below, suddenly turn his horse around. The cavalry following him also swiftly turned and galloped back.

—The vanguard soldiers, who had been targeted by the crossbowmen on the city wall, had already retreated to safety.

So their feint attack from the flank was a ruse; their true goal was to cover the vanguard's retreat from the crossbow's range!

Realizing this, Pei Song gritted his teeth in fury. A cough surged up his throat, and he clenched his jaw, suppressing it. Only after shooting the arrow in his hand did he cover his mouth and cough violently.

The moment Xiao Li turned his horse, he sheathed his blade and retrieved the black iron great bow from his saddle. He nocked an arrow, drew the string, and aimed at Pei Song on the city wall.

The arrow shot toward him was split head-on by the first arrow he released, falling to the ground. Then, he pulled two white-feathered arrows from the quiver hanging at his saddle, drew the bow again, and continued aiming at Pei Song on the wall.

The moment his fingers released, only the vibrating bowstring remained, and the arrows shot through the air like meteors in broad daylight.

Pei Song was turned away, coughing violently into his hand. Even when he heard the whistling in the air and glimpsed the two deadly arrows flying toward him, it was too late to dodge.

"Master, be careful!"

Pei Yuan, standing beside him, reacted swiftly, slashing one of the arrows with his blade. The broken arrowhead still grazed lightly under Pei Song's eye, leaving a faint blood mark on his cheekbone.

The other arrow was already closing in on his face. Pei Yuan's blade had not yet retracted, and he had no time to strike again to block this second arrow.

In that instant, both master and servant widened their eyes in shock.

At the critical moment, a black steel whip struck from the side, sweeping the deadly white-feathered arrow to the ground.

Even after being deflected, the arrow still embedded itself half an inch into the hard, iron-like blue bricks below the wall.

Everyone's hearts trembled along with the quivering arrow shaft.

It was clear just how terrifying the force behind that white-feathered arrow had been.

Pei Song's face showed the grim aftermath of a narrow escape and clear alarm. Together with Qin Yi, who had blocked the arrow for him, he looked down from the battlements.Xiao Li had already been about to turn his warhorse to retreat when his gaze froze for a moment upon seeing Qin Yi appear at the battlement to block arrows for Pei Song, exclaiming involuntarily, "Old man..."

The worry and astonishment in his eyes faded upon seeing the other standing armored alongside Pei Song, replaced by an indescribable expression.

That man had protected him for years in Yongzhou Prison. Though quick to discipline him with iron chains, he had also shielded young Xiao Li from bullying in the cells, ensured he had broth and rice to fill his belly, and later taught him military strategy and martial arts.

Though Xiao Li hadn't understood what he was memorizing back then, after learning to read, he realized through studying military texts that the man had taught him everything he knew—knowledge that had proven invaluable in countless battles.

Born without a father, this was the only man who had protected and educated him in his youth.

He revered him as a mentor, and regarded him as a father.

Though he'd learned the man was Pei Song's biological father when falsely accused of being a spy by Liang Camp, witnessing this scene firsthand still stirred complex emotions in his chest.

Zheng Hu, riding ahead of Xiao Li, turned back upon noticing his sudden stillness and shouted, "Second Brother! Retreat!"

Earlier, to maintain the deception of a genuine cavalry assault, Xiao Li had ridden at the forefront—even venturing into the outer range of crossbow fire. Now during withdrawal, he was at the rear and in greatest danger.

Fortunately, the city tower had fallen into brief chaos after Xiao Li's two arrows nearly killed Pei Song.

Xiao Li took one last look at the gray-haired Qin Yi on the battlements before withdrawing his gaze, digging his heels sharply into his horse's flanks with a cry of "Hyah!"

The jet-black Ferghana horse surged forward like dark lightning, carrying him across the smoke-choked, scorched battlefield. The crossbowmen on the walls finally seemed to regain their senses, loosing a dense volley that trailed behind him like a dark cloud seeking to engulf him.

Unable to effectively deflect arrows with his blade, Xiao Li simply tore off his cloak, twisting it mid-gallop to catch the incoming projectiles.

Once beyond crossbow range, he reined in his horse and shook the cloak, sending a cascade of arrows clattering to the ground.

Cheers erupted from the ranks behind him.

Xiao Li coldly swept his gaze over the opposite battlements before turning his horse back toward camp.

Pei Song watched Xiao Li retreat unscathed, fingers brushing the wound on his cheekbone, his expression particularly grim.

There was a time he'd envied Xiao Li for learning from his father what he himself had never completed.

But now, he suddenly realized with stark clarity the physical disparity between them as well.

The son of a prostitute, yet possessing such formidable physique—like a modern-day Xiang Yu.

It was... profoundly unjust.

Xiao Li galloped back to the central formation where Zhang Huai descended from his chariot to meet him, bowing with clasped hands. "My Lord's valor in this feint not only rescued our vanguard but humbled the Pei Army and boosted our troops' morale."

He then shifted tone: "However, the Pei camp's defensive tactics today differ markedly from before. Likely they have a new strategist directing them. To avoid falling into any traps targeting you specifically, my Lord should refrain from such personal risks hereafter..."

Xiao Li said nothing further, only commanding, "Sound retreat."

Noting his commander's dark expression—whether from the battle's setback or other reasons—Zhang Huai wisely held his tongue.

The bronze zheng sounded again, and the army stationed outside the city withdrew like a receding black tide.The soldiers on the city walls, only now awakening as if from a dream, truly believed they had won this defensive battle and erupted in thunderous cheers, their spirits completely transformed from the despondency before the great battle.

Although Xiao Li’s successful rescue of the trapped vanguard had prevented morale from collapsing entirely during this battle, the soldiers’ spirits were clearly not what they had been before. The troops below hung their heads in dejection as they withdrew.

Pei Song, watching the retreating Xiao Army from the city walls, smiled and said to Qin Yi, whose gaze remained somewhat unfocused, "You performed excellently, General."

Qin Yi, however, stared blankly at Xiao Li’s strikingly prominent figure even amidst the thousands of troops below, and suddenly shouted, "That is Zihui King Huyan Xiao!"

Pei Song was taken aback but quickly realized that Qin Yi, in his confused state, was mistaking this for the time he had followed Liang Chengzhu and Wen Shi'an to fight Huyan Xiao.

Zihui King Huyan Xiao was one of the feudal lords who had amassed military power before Wen Shi'an unified the north and south. Qin Yi’s campaign with Wen Shi'an to subdue Huyan Xiao was one of the greatest achievements of his life.

That Zihui King, lost to the annals of history, was said to be exceptionally tall with blue eyes, as his ancestors had been non-Han people assimilated into the Central Plains. However heroic he might have been in his time, he had died over thirty years ago.

At this moment, Pei Song only smiled ambiguously and said, "Then in the next battle, General, you must take the head of this traitor Huyan!"

But Qin Yi, as if half-mad and half-lucid, shouted, "No! Didn’t Huyan Xiao die? How has he come back to life?"

Seeing this, Pei Song’s expression grew uncertain.

Fortunately, Qin Yi seemed to quickly reason it out himself. Slapping the wall bricks, he exclaimed, "He must have faked his death back then! Now he has returned to attack Luodu!"

After a moment’s thought, Pei Song pieced together Qin Yi’s logic.

Wen Shi'an had established Luodu as the capital only after he unified the region and declared himself emperor. During the campaign against the Zihui King, Wen Shi'an had not yet become emperor.

Qin Yi mistook Xiao Li for Huyan Xiao and believed he was now defending Luodu for Wen Shi'an, hence his conclusion that Huyan Xiao had not died back then and was now the "rebel" attacking Luodu.

For a moment, Pei Song found it deeply ironic.

After being imprisoned in the Yongzhou prison and driven mad for so many years, Qin Yi could barely remember his own wife and children, yet he still recalled those years of military campaigns.

Suppressing his urge to mock, Pei Song said as gently as possible, "Huyan Xiao was no match for you back then, General, and even less so now."

Unexpectedly, Qin Yi suddenly asked, "If I can atone for my crimes with merit in this battle, will His Majesty overturn my case?"

His eyes were bloodshot, his expression agitated: "I did not plot rebellion—I was going to rescue the emperor! There were so many rats and insects in the imperial prison. Zhenniang would be terrified, and Huan'er... Huan'er had a high fever..."

He gestured wildly with his hands and feet, muttering incessantly.

The faintly mocking curve of Pei Song’s lips gradually straightened.

Qin Yi still looked at him eagerly, hoping for a definite answer from this "imperial envoy by the emperor’s side."

But Pei Song suddenly found himself unwilling to say another word to Qin Yi and descended the city wall alone.

Since her miscarriage, Jiang Yichu’s health had never recovered.

She refused to see Pei Song and could barely eat. Even when Pei Song resorted to his old methods—threatening to kill the servants attending her or using A Yin as leverage—she would vomit up whatever little she managed to eat, growing thinner by the day.After the physician's diagnosis, risking execution, he frankly told Pei Song that Jiang Yichu's condition was psychological. If she didn't wish to see anyone, it was best to let her stay alone. Given her current physical state, if she continued to be disturbed, it was hard to say how many years she had left to live.

Although Pei Song flew into a rage, he restrained himself and reduced the frequency of his visits to Jiang Yichu.

To let her recuperate in peace, he even sent their daughter back to her side.

Today, after returning from supervising the battle at the city wall, for some unknown reason, he couldn't control the urge to see Jiang Yichu.

When he arrived at the courtyard where Jiang Yichu was staying and entered, he saw the wet nurse playing cat's cradle with A Yin.

At the sight of him, the wet nurse looked terrified and immediately stood up to bow. A Yin, who had been smiling, instantly became stiff and timid, clearly afraid of him.

Pei Song's expression was far from pleasant; he didn't even bother forcing a smile in front of the child and directly asked, "Where is A-Jie?"

The wet nurse replied tremblingly, "The... the mistress is tired and resting in the inner room."

Pei Song raised his hand slightly, and the wet nurse had no choice but to anxiously carry A Yin and withdraw.

Pei Song lifted the curtain of the warm chamber and saw Jiang Yichu asleep on the chaise lounge, a thin blanket draped over her, one hand hanging over the edge.

He quietly watched this scene and suddenly felt a sense of comfort in his heart. He walked over, sat directly on the footrest in front of the chaise, gently took Jiang Yichu's hand, leaned close, and seemed to want to rest briefly against her hand.

But Jiang Yichu, as if trapped in a nightmare, instantly woke up.

Pei Song saw the fear in her eyes and began, "A-Jie, I..."

He couldn't continue, because the way Jiang Yichu looked at him was no different from how one would look at a demon. She shrank back and then frantically tried to get off the chaise: "A Yin, where is my A Yin..."

The words stuck in Pei Song's throat—"A-Jie, I'm feeling down, I just wanted to see you"—could no longer be spoken.

He silently pressed down on the hand Jiang Yichu was using to support herself as she tried to get up. As she struggled wildly, screaming for her daughter, he felt as if he were sinking into a deep abyss, inexplicably suffocated.

He said, "Your daughter is with the wet nurse. I just had them go elsewhere for now."

Only then did Jiang Yichu calm down, but her eyes remained weary and fearful, staring uneasily at Pei Song.

Pei Song suddenly realized with absolute clarity that nothing could ever return to how it was before.

The once-mighty general's manor was gone, his mother was gone, and the girl from next door who used to lean over the backyard wall, smiling and calling him "A-Huan," was gone too.

He released Jiang Yichu's hand and walked out without a word.

The path from the warm chamber to the main gate was short, but with every step, countless visions of a young Jiang Yichu seemed to rush toward him, only to pass by like phantoms.

"A-Huan, did the general punish you again? Why are you crying?"

"A-Huan, come quickly! I made lotus seed cakes!"

"A-Huan, how did your clothes get torn? Did you get into another fight at school? If the general sees, you'll be punished again. Quick, take it off and I'll mend it for you."

"A-Huan, if you ever feel sad, you must tell A-Jie, okay?"Having just stepped out of the Secluded Courtyard, Pei Song suddenly raised his hand to clutch his chest, sinking into a pained crouch. As the briny moisture traced paths down his cheeks and splattered against the ground, he murmured in an almost inaudible whisper: "Elder Sister, all these years... I've been drowning in sorrow."