The Road to Glory

Chapter 231: "He and the Princess Are Mortal Enemies..."

Xiao Li looked at her, his eyes webbed with bloodshot veins from a day and night without sleep, his lips chapped and peeling.

He seemed to have forgotten where he was, forgotten the heavy black iron shackles clamped around him, and took a step forward to continue approaching her. His dark, somber eyes appeared to see nothing and no one but Wen Yu.

The Azure Guard immediately yanked hard on the iron chains, pulling him back forcefully, shouting, "How dare you!"

Seven or eight Azure Guard members joined forces, finally forcing him down onto one knee. Yet his crimson-tinged eyes remained fixed unwaveringly on Wen Yu, his Adam's apple slowly moving as he spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "I've been searching for you for so long, Wen Yu.Despite being restrained like this, the sense of oppression and threat he exuded remained overwhelming, as if what those chains bound was some kind of ferocious beast.

Wen Yu observed his state, her lips pressing slightly thinner, though her expression remained unreadable, her tone light and distant: "Oh? Does Xiao Jun have matters to discuss with this princess?"

Xiao Li's jaw tightened slowly as he asked the question he had been searching for her day and night to get answered: "The child... is it ours?"

Except for Tong Que, all the Azure Guard in the tent were stunned. Though they knew Wen Yu's child wasn't King Chen's, the identity of the biological father had always been a mystery.

Hearing Xiao Li's question, their initial reaction was fury at his audacity to offend Wen Yu so brazenly. But when they realized the timing of Wen Yu's return from the Northern Border last year aligned perfectly with when she became pregnant, their eyes blazing with fire as they stared at Xiao Li.

Wen Yu's gaze lingered for a long time on the floral and bird embroidery patterns on her wide sleeves before she finally lifted her head and said calmly, "Xiao Jun certainly knows how to jest."Xiao Li seemed unconvinced by her response, the redness in his eyes intensifying, hiding all his wounds behind that forcefully supported cold hard exterior as he stubbornly presented the evidence he had found: 'Then why did you keep those wood carvings in your palace?""

Tong Que looked at Wen Yu with concern, but heard her say dismissively, "A Zhao and Tong Que thought they were items I dropped after being attacked, so they brought them back together."

She looked at Xiao Li: "Moreover, since Xiao Jun explicitly stated they were gifts for this princess's child's first birthday, and given that you and I weren't on such hostile terms as to cut off all contact, why should I avoid keeping this birthday gift?"

Her voice was so gentle, yet it wielded the sharpest blade in the world.

The bloodshot hue in Xiao Li's eyes seemed about to spill over with pain and bitterness. After a long moment, he asked, "After all I did to you, why didn't you kill me when you left the palace?"

"Perhaps because... this princess has always held grudges."

Wen Yu stood up and slowly walked over to Xiao Li, lifting his sharply defined chin with her hand: "How Xiao Jun treated this princess, I shall return to you in full measure."

Her fingertips were cool, her eyes like a lake shrouded in thick fog - extremely clear, extremely cold, yet completely obscuring what lay in their depths.

Because of this forced upward tilt, the chains attached to the Black Iron Collar tightened, emitting a heavy clank of metal, revealing the bite mark on his neck that was half-hidden by the Black Iron Collar.His gaze was ferocious, filled with hidden pain and madness, fixed heavily upon the beautiful woman before him as if, once freed from restraint, he would devour her whole—bones and flesh alike.

This was no fierce hound waiting to be tamed, but a savage wolf that none could approach unless he willingly submitted.

He said, "The Princess will regret her decision not to kill me."

"Regret?"

Wen Yu lowered her long lashes slightly. "I am rather curious. Xiao Jun repeatedly repelled barbarians at the Northern Border, earning deep public support, and with his achievements in conquering Pei, he had the potential to rival our Liang Camp. Yet, Xiao Jun slaughtered twenty thousand surrendered soldiers of Pei Song, earning the infamous title of 'Human Butcher' and losing the people's favor. Now, even if I were to detain Xiao Jun to reclaim military power over the Northern Border, no one in the world would question it. I wonder if Xiao Jun regrets his past actions?"

Xiao Li's aura suddenly turned cold and menacing. "Killing those who deserved death—why should I regret it?"

Wen Yu gave him a deep look, a rare smile breaking through her usually aloof expression. "Xiao Jun is truly unyielding."

Tong Que watched the scene with trepidation, glancing between Wen Yu and Xiao Li. As Wen Yu withdrew her hand and straightened up, her face had already returned to an icy coldness. "Take him back and keep him under guard."

Just as she was about to turn away, the sound of sharp objects piercing through the tent fabric echoed, followed by arrows whistling through the wind, shooting straight toward Wen Yu.

"Assassins! Protect the Princess!"

Tong Que's sword moved faster than her mind. She slashed down the arrow and shouted.

Arrows flew into the tent like locusts, and the Azure Guard drew their swords to block the dense volley from outside. In the chaos, they could no longer focus on dragging the heavy chains binding Xiao Li.

Thus, almost immediately after Tong Que's shout, Wen Yu felt a strong pull at her waist. Amid the dull clatter of chains, the Azure Guard stumbling and falling, and shouts to extinguish the candles, she was pulled into someone's embrace and rolled several times across the ground.

As a dagger cut out the candlelight, the tent plunged into complete darkness.

Outside, chaos reigned—the clashing of weapons and shouts of battle mingled together.

Unable to target the interior by the candlelight, the assailants ceased their arrow barrage. In the dead silence, Wen Yu could hear her own suddenly rapid heartbeat, along with the heavy, urgent pulse and slightly fevered breath of the person beneath her.

One of his hands rested on the back of her neck—the manacle on his wrist cold, his fingertips burning. It was a posture of protection, but also a threat.

Wen Yu’s hand pressed against the ground, easily finding a broken arrow severed by the Azure Guard. She picked it up and pressed it against his neck.

He seemed to laugh—no sound escaped, but the vibration in his chest was unmistakable.

Given their earlier tension, this was no friendly gesture.

Sensing danger, Wen Yu was about to call for Tong Que when a faint rustle of chains sounded beside her ear, and her jaw was seized.

The moment his tongue invaded her mouth, she thought he had gone mad.

Enraged, she pressed the arrow harder against his neck. Wen Yu even felt it draw blood, yet he showed no sign of stopping. Instead, he pressed firmly on the back of her neck, rendering her completely immobile, forcing her to endure this kiss—heavy with the scent of blood and startling desire.

The Azure Guard were skilled in martial arts, each with keen hearing. To avoid arousing suspicion, Wen Yu dared not struggle too fiercely.When Tong Que called out softly to confirm her location as "Princess" but he still hadn't released her, Wen Yu grew so furious that she abandoned the broken arrow and directly clawed at the arrow wound on his shoulder, finally making him loosen his grip in pain.

Seizing the opportunity, Wen Yu broke free from the restraint and sat up, readjusting the veil that had been pushed aside near her temple. Her voice was tense as she said, "I'm here."

The sounds of fighting outside had ceased, replaced by hurried footsteps approaching. Wen Yu also heard Gu Xiyun's voice: "Quickly check on the princess!"

By the time the candles in the tent were relit, Gu Xiyun had already entered with a panicked expression: "Is Your Highness injured?"

Wen Yu was now standing with Tong Que's support, her swollen and sore lips from the biting kisses concealed along with the lower half of her face by the veil. Only her icy cold eyes remained visible, seeming to freeze everything they fell upon with a layer of frost.

Her gaze swept over Xiao Li, who had been restrained again by the Azure Guard, and she suppressed her anger to ask: "I'm fine. How did Pei Song's Hawk Hounds and the Puerqi tribe arrive so quickly?"

Gu Xiyun, aware of his failure in duty, knelt on one knee to apologize: "This general deserves death for failing to detect that they had been lying in ambush nearby for some time to rescue the captured Hawk Hound. Upon learning of Your Highness's arrival at camp, while I was still deploying defenses, they split into two teams—one feigning an attack to rescue the Hawk Hound, the other attempting to assassinate Your Highness. Among them was an expert archer hidden in the shadows who could injure from dozens of yards away. I failed to capture them all in time, frightening Your Highness. I beg for punishment."

Maintaining the decorum of ruler and subject in front of outsiders, Wen Yu said, "Given the circumstances, I don't blame you. Rise and speak."

Only after Gu Xiyun stood did Wen Yu continue questioning: "Have you captured the current chieftain of the Puerqi tribe?"

After Gu Xiyun nodded, she moved toward the exit as if unwilling to remain in the tent a moment longer: "Let's go see him. I've specially brought someone to meet him."

As longtime friends, Gu Xiyun could clearly sense Wen Yu's suppressed anger. Before following her out of the tent, his gaze lingered for a moment longer on Xiao Li—whose limbs and neck were shackled with heavy iron chains, yet whose lips and neck bore fresh wounds.

The man resembled a bound beast of prey, showing some restraint before Wen Yu but unleashing his full ferocity when scrutinized by others, his expression filled with malice.

But the bite marks on his neck, half-concealed by the Black Iron Collar, were particularly conspicuous.

Such a fierce beast, yet bearing such marks on his neck.

Recalling the information he had specifically gathered after returning to Liang territory, and remembering Xiao Li's appearance and first question when they met at Straw Cape Lake, Gu Xiyun's eyelids twitched abruptly. He suddenly felt that only Wen Yu could truly restrain this beast.

But how could this wild, brutal man compare to her gentle and refined elder brother?

Cutting short his thoughts, he cast an exceptionally cold glance at Xiao Li before withdrawing his gaze and quickly departing.

Outside the central military tent, the bonfire burned fiercely. The bound new chieftain of the Puerqi tribe was brought forward—the middle-aged man who had shot arrows at Xiao Li at Straw Cape Lake that very day.

Forced to his knees before Wen Yu by Tiger Guard soldiers pressing hard on his shoulders and kicking the backs of his knees, the crackling bonfire cast flickering sparks, its flames illuminating his face full of arrogance and defiance.

Sitting steadily in her armchair, Wen Yu asked him: "Badan, warrior of the Puerqi tribe?"The man glared fiercely at Wen Yu, his expression cold as he spoke in broken official language: "The Goddess Kash watches all the evils you have committed. One day, she will bring divine punishment upon you."

The Southern Kash Mountains stretched all the way to Hundred Blades Pass. The tribes in the desert relied on the water sources formed by the melting snow from Mount Kash for survival. Unlike the Western Frontier people within Liang territory, who referred to the Southern and Northern Kash Mountains as the Father and Mother Sacred Mountains, they only believed in the Goddess Kash residing on the Southern Kash Mountain that nurtured them.

Wen Yu said calmly, "The faults committed by my Chen Kingdom will not be shirked. However, I believe there must be some misunderstandings between the Puershi Tribe and our Chen Kingdom."

The chief of the Basheye Tribe was brought over by the Azure Guard. The moment he saw Badan, bound hand and foot and forced to kneel before Wen Yu, he became visibly agitated and tried to rush forward but was stopped by the Azure Guard.

He understood why Wen Yu had brought him along and knew that the recent commotion in the army must be related to Badan. He hastily explained the whole story in his tribal language.

Badan still looked skeptical: "Could it be that the cavalry who saved you were in cahoots with Chen Kingdom, putting on an act to deceive you?"

The Basheye chief urgently replied: "He did deceive us, but he tricked us into helping his troops cross the border to besiege the royal court. He and the Princess are mortal enemies."

As he spoke, he gestured: "Why would he help Chen Kingdom?"

He had switched to official language so Wen Yu could understand their argument.

A member of the Azure Guard who understood their tribal language had been quietly translating for Wen Yu. Suddenly hearing the Basheye chief revert to his broken official language to explain that Xiao Li was her enemy, though her expression remained calm beneath her veil, the lingering pain in her lips reminded her of the unresolved anger in her heart.

Badan was finally convinced by the Basheye chief's words. The hostility in his gaze toward Wen Yu faded, replaced only by shame.

The Basheye chief placed his hand over his chest and bowed to Wen Yu, continuing in his halting official language: "Noble Pearl Princess of Two Kingdoms, I have explained everything to Badan. He was also deceived by those people. He infiltrated Chen Kingdom only to seek revenge for our deceased chieftain."

Badan, tightly bound, could only nod in acknowledgment to Wen Yu.

Wen Yu asked him: "Was the man you contacted named Pei Song?"

Badan replied: "He only said his name was Song, that he came from Liang territory. He slandered you extensively, claiming his ancestors were generals in Liang but were wrongly imprisoned due to your ancestors' suspicion. He said he wanted to clear his ancestors' name but was repeatedly suppressed by you. He told us not to be deceived by you. He also cited Chen Army's attacks on our tribes as proof, saying you always say one thing but do another. He claimed he wished to serve as a bridge between our tribes and Western Mausoleum, promising that after Western Mausoleum conquers Chen Kingdom, our tribes would receive more oases and livestock."

The Basheye chief angrily exclaimed: "That Hulagai!"

The Azure Guard who understood the Basheye language whispered to Wen Yu: "He's calling Pei Song a cunning liar."

Wen Yu asked: "Do you know where Pei Song is now?"

Badan shook his head: "After we formed our alliance, he provided me with troops but didn't come to Chen Kingdom himself. Only the 'Eagle' among his men knows how to contact him."

"Eagle?" Gu Xiyun, standing nearby, looked completely bewildered.Wen Yu had already understood: "He must be referring to Pei Yuan."

It was only later, after learning the origins of the Hawk Hounds under Pei Song's command, that she realized those with exceptional martial skills who were highly trusted by Pei Song were called "Hawks"—they were Pei Song's eyes. The rest were referred to as Hounds, some even bearing dog-head tattoos on their bodies.

She turned to Gu Xiyun: "Did the interrogation yield anything?"

Gu Xiyun shook his head in frustration: "That fellow's will is unyielding. We tortured him until he was half-dead, but he still wouldn't speak a word of truth."

Wen Yu then said: "Take him back to the royal court first and imprison him in the imperial prison to be handled by specialized interrogators."

Having achieved her purpose for leaving the palace overnight, she was now escorted back by the Azure Guard. Since they were also transporting prisoners, Gu Xiyun dispatched additional troops to accompany them as a precaution.

By the time they secretly returned to the palace, dawn was approaching. As the Azure Guard took Pei Yuan to the imperial prison, they asked Wen Yu: "Your Highness, what about the one surnamed Xiao..."

Wen Yu's expression turned icy: "Throw him into the imperial prison as well."

Upon returning to her bedchamber, the Azure Guard who had been watching over A Li through the night bowed silently and withdrew upon seeing her return.

Wen Yu sat by the rocking cradle, watching A Li sleeping soundly while clutching her sachet. After tucking the blanket around her daughter, she fiddled with the tassel on the sachet's drawstring and murmured softly: "Does A Li want to see Daddy?"

"But he has done wrong, and Mother must make him suffer a little."