Noon drew closer and closer, yet at this moment, Da Zhou’s military camp was utterly silent.

Since last night, Jun Beiyue had personally arranged everything—this brilliant scheme to lure the Dong Qin Empress’s entire army out of the city. He had General Baihu take the lead, with the other two Tiger Armies standing by on the left and right flanks, waiting for the Dong Qin forces to empty out completely.

The standoff had dragged on far too long—both sides were desperate to finish the other off once and for all!

Beneath the seemingly calm grasslands, a taut, tense atmosphere had already settled in.

In Jun Beiyue’s tent, a letter had just arrived from Situ Haonan—Ziqing had discovered in Mobei that Yelu Qianqian had been kidnapped by Dong Qin’s people and was being taken toward Xiliang!

The emperor of Xi Jing had already dispatched the nearest available forces in full pursuit, and Situ Haonan, with no time to spare for anything else, had personally written to the Lord of Nangong City, begging for help.

Everything had been arranged. Finding someone was still better than not finding them at all—at the very least, if something truly happened to Yelu Qianqian, Situ Haonan would have an explanation to offer the emperor of Xi Jing.

Yet while there was word of Yelu Qianqian, there was no word of Ziqing at all. The Shadow Guards had chased all the way to that stretch of forest and found no trace of her.

Something must have happened to Ziqing—otherwise she would surely have pursued the matter herself and would never have asked the Shadow Guards or Situ Haonan for help.

After all, when it came to tracking people down, even Yingzi, the shadow he himself had personally trained, couldn’t match that woman’s skill!

What on earth had happened to her?

It was rare indeed for Jun Beiyue to be this restless. He wanted nothing more than to leave at once, but he knew he couldn’t—especially not at this critical juncture. He absolutely could not leave.

Ziqing had endured so much hardship, all so that he could fight this battle in the northern frontier with a clear mind, and win it with honor!

His hands were clenched tightly into fists. Only heaven knew how hard he was forcing himself to hold back. No one could see his face, only the tall silhouette of his back—desolate beyond words.

Hongyi had been waiting nearby for a long while, her heart burning with anxiety, but seeing the prince in this state, she didn’t dare press further and instead offered comfort. “Your Highness, the Shadow Guards have all gone to search. The princess consort has always had good fortune—she’ll surely be fine!”

Jun Beiyue said nothing, standing with his back to Hongyi, silent.

Nothing in this world had ever proven too difficult for him—even Ziqing’s identity as an orphan immune to all poisons, a solitary island unto herself, had never made him back down. But this time, for the first time, he was experiencing what it felt like to be utterly powerless over his own circumstances.

She clearly needed him, he clearly should go to her—and yet, he could not leave.

On one side was the wife he cherished and doted upon with all his heart; on the other was Da Zhou itself, the grand cause, the fate of the realm, the common people at dawn.

Seeing that the prince said nothing more, Hongyi didn’t dare disturb him further and simply stood quietly by, silently praying the Shadow Guards would find the princess consort soon.

And this silence stretched on for half an hour.

Not until the resounding blare of horns rang out ahead, signaling that General Baihu had led his troops out of the camp, did Jun Beiyue finally come back to himself.

A moment ago he’d been consumed with desolation; now, as he turned, his eyes blazed with sharp resolve, as though he were a god of war incarnate.

This was not a matter of weighing which mattered more—by his very nature, all his heartbreak, all his helplessness, he buried deep within himself. Since he could not leave, then he had to resolve this swiftly.

In this battle, he would force the Dong Qin Empress to surrender to Da Zhou, no matter what.

“Hongyi, keep a close watch on Bai Mengmeng,” Jun Beiyue instructed coldly.

“Yes!” Hongyi withdrew at once.

Meanwhile, atop the watchtower of Dong Qin’s Yandang City, the Dong Qin Empress and Minhan Mude’er both rose to their feet, thrilled.

“There’s movement, just as I said!” If not for Jun Beiyao’s persuasion, Minhan Mude’er by nature disliked withdrawing troops at all—he’d have loved nothing more than to charge out of the city himself and fight. It had been far, far too long since he’d stretched his muscles in real combat.

“Heh, Prince Minhan, looks like you’ve lost,” the Dong Qin Empress said, delighted.

“Indeed. A bet is a bet,” Minhan Mude’er said readily. “Your Majesty, now let me witness the might of your Dong Qin army for myself.”

The Dong Qin Empress glanced at him, a smile curling at her lips, and turned at once to head downstairs. Not long after, she truly did open the city gates and marched out to meet the enemy in battle.

Between the two armies, several miles apart, Da Zhou’s General Baihu led the charge, moving with tremendous speed, while the Dong Qin Empress, the moment the gates opened, personally led all three armies out at once, advancing at full speed with no less haste!

One army heading north, three heading south—once they converged, by the looks of it, General Baihu would be badly outnumbered.

But just as General Baihu’s army advanced at full speed, he suddenly gave the order: “Halt!”

The entire army came to a stop at once, and word quickly reached the Dong Qin side via the watchtower’s signal.

“Your Majesty, the Tiger Army has stopped!” a guard reported loudly.

The Dong Qin Empress rose, standing up in her stirrups, and raised her sword, shouting to the entire army, “Faster! Kill them! Catch the Tiger Army off guard!”

The Dong Qin Empress thought that General Baihu’s halt meant he must have noticed something amiss—but unfortunately, it was already too late.

With the Dong Qin Empress herself rallying the troops with a raised arm, morale surged at once, and the entire army pressed forward at full speed.

Meanwhile, General Baihu’s side had already formed ranks, waiting for the Dong Qin Empress to arrive.

At the same time, Jun Beiyue personally climbed the watchtower, gazing out at the movements of the Dong Qin army. Soon, seeing the Dong Qin forces draw near, he gave the order at once, and the two Tiger Armies swept in immediately to encircle them from both flanks.

Jun Beiyue himself then leapt down from the watchtower, landing with perfect precision on his horse’s back. Reins in one hand, sword raised in the other, he charged forward alone, straight ahead, riding into the fray by himself.

Very soon, atop Dong Qin’s watchtower, the sentries and Minhan Mude’er both realized something was terribly wrong.

How could this be? Wasn’t Da Zhou’s army in complete disarray? Hadn’t the Tiger Army marched out without orders?

How was this happening now—Da Zhou’s entire army had come out in full force, and judging by this formation, they’d clearly been prepared all along!

“We’ve been tricked!” Minhan Mude’er slapped his thigh, filled with regret.

The sentry rushed to report, but by then, what good could it possibly do?

The Dong Qin army had no way back—turning back now would only mean an earlier defeat. There was nothing left to do but fight it out to the end.

Seeing this, Minhan Mude’er hesitated for a long moment, then summoned Jun Beiyao at once.

“I’m sending troops to rescue the Dong Qin Empress,” Minhan Mude’er said seriously.

“Your Highness, if you had listened to me from the start, it wouldn’t have come to—”

Jun Beiyao was about to continue, but Minhan Mude’er cut him off sharply. “Enough! What good does saying that do now?”

“Your Highness, the only option is to send out a surprise strike force to rescue the Dong Qin Empress. According to our original withdrawal plan, we abandon the central region and fall back to the north,” Jun Beiyao said seriously.

“Yes, yes, I know!” Minhan Mude’er said impatiently, turning to head downstairs. But Jun Beiyao stopped him. “Your Highness, forgive my nagging, but Jun Beiyue is no easy opponent. If we hold the Dong Qin Empress and retreat north, hold the city, and simply wait him out—he can afford a long siege, but we absolutely cannot.”

“I understand!” Minhan Mude’er said, displeased.

Yet Jun Beiyao stopped him again. “Your Highness, it’s too early to send troops to rescue her now. Let the Dong Qin Empress suffer a little first. Besides, sending troops now might not even succeed in saving her—the forces we brought with us are limited, after all.”

At these words, Minhan Mude’er finally calmed down and turned his gaze back to the battlefield, where the two armies had already clashed and were now locked in fierce combat.

And at that same moment, things were far from calm in Bai Mengmeng’s tent as well.