Xiao Li, galloping on horseback below, seemed to sense something and raised his eyes to look coldly toward the city tower.

Pei Song’s fingertips released, and that arrow, almost carrying the sound of tearing through air, instantly shot out from the city tower, reaching Xiao Li’s face in a mere moment.

Xiao Li bent his spine low, bracing his hand on the horse’s back to dodge to the side.

However, the second and third arrows also quickly tore through the air. His war horse had already galloped to the edge of the crossbow range, and the arrows coming head-on were as dense as flying locusts. Xiao Li drew his blade from its sheath, charging forward directly against the rain of arrows, cutting down all the arrows beneath his horse.

But the cavalry behind him seemed constrained by these scattered arrows, their charging speed suddenly slowing down.

On the city tower, Qin Yi watched this scene, his somewhat turbid pupils locked onto Xiao Li on horseback. When his gaze swept to the vanguard army that was about to withdraw from crossbow range, he seemed to suddenly realize something and shouted: “Something’s wrong!”

“It’s a trap!”

Beside him, Pei Song pulled his bow open once more, the arrow tip already aimed at Xiao Li. Hearing this, he slightly turned his eyes: “What?”

His words had barely fallen when he saw Xiao Li, who had been leading the charge below, suddenly turn his horse around. The cavalry following behind him also urgently turned their horses to gallop back.

—The vanguard soldiers who had earlier been used as targets by the archers on the city tower had already fled to the safe range.

So their flanking attack on the city was false – covering the vanguard army’s withdrawal from crossbow range was the truth!

After realizing this, Pei Song was so angry his teeth itched suddenly. A coughing fit also shot straight to his throat, making him clench his jaw to forcibly suppress it. Only after shooting the arrow in his hand did he cover his mouth and begin coughing urgently.

The moment Xiao Li turned his horse around, he had already sheathed his blade and retrieved the black iron great bow from his horse’s back, nocking an arrow to the string and aiming at Pei Song on the city tower.

The arrow shooting toward him face-on was shattered head-on by his first released arrow and fell to the ground. He then drew two white-feathered arrows from the quiver hanging at one side of his saddle, drew the bow and nocked the string, continuing to aim at Pei Song on the city tower.

The moment his five fingers released, only the bowstring’s tremor remained. The arrows tore through the air like meteors in broad daylight.

Pei Song was turned to the side covering his mouth, coughing severely. Even though he heard the whistling wind and turned his eyes to see the two life-claiming white-feathered arrows flying toward him, it was already too late to dodge.

“Master, be careful!”

Pei Yuan, standing beside him, was quick with both hands and eyes. He immediately struck with his blade to break one of the arrows. The broken arrow tip still lightly grazed below Pei Song’s eye, leaving a faint bloody mark on his cheekbone.

The other arrow had also reached his face. Pei Yuan’s blade strike had not yet been withdrawn – there was no time to strike a second blow to block this arrow.

In that instant, both master and servant’s pupils contracted sharply.

At this critical moment, a black steel whip suddenly smashed down from the side, sweeping the life-claiming white-feathered arrow to the ground.

After being deflected, the arrow still carried undiminished momentum as it pierced diagonally half an inch into the iron-hard blue bricks below the city.

Everyone’s heartstrings trembled along with that arrow’s tail.

One could imagine how terrifying the force carried by this white-feathered arrow had been.

Pei Song’s face showed the ugliness of surviving disaster and obvious shock. Together with Qin Yi, who had blocked this arrow for him, he looked down from the wall crenellations.

Xiao Li had originally been about to ride his horse in retreat, but his gaze froze for a breath when Qin Yi appeared at the wall crenellations to block the arrow for Pei Song. He blurted out: “Old man…”

The concern and astonishment in his eyes disappeared when he saw the other person in armor standing together with Pei Song, transforming into another indescribable expression.

That person had protected him for several years in Yongzhou’s great prison. Though he would whip and train him with iron chains at the slightest disagreement, he had also allowed him to avoid being bullied in prison during his childhood, to have a bowl of soup and rice to fill his belly, and later taught him military strategy and martial arts.

Although he hadn’t understood what he was memorizing back then, after learning to read and becoming literate, when he browsed military texts, he realized that what the old man had taught him was everything he had learned in his lifetime, benefiting him greatly in many battles leading troops.

He was born without a father. That was the only man who had protected him in his childhood and taught him skills.

He respected him as a teacher and elder, and also regarded him as a father.

Though he had already learned that this man was Pei Song’s biological father when he was falsely accused of being a spy by the Liang camp, seeing such a scene with his own eyes in this moment still stirred up many complex emotions in his heart.

Zheng Hu, riding his horse ahead of Xiao Li, turned back to see him seemingly suddenly frozen and hurriedly shouted: “Second Brother! Retreat!”

Earlier, to make the feint convincing and create the appearance of truly leading cavalry to attack the city, Xiao Li had kept his horse galloping at the very front, even running into the outer perimeter of crossbow range. Now during the retreat, he was at the back of the formation – also the most dangerous position.

Fortunately, the city tower had also fallen into brief panic because of those two arrows Xiao Li shot that nearly took Pei Song’s life.

Xiao Li took one last look at the white-haired and bearded Qin Yi on the city tower, withdrew his gaze, and fiercely kicked his horse’s belly with a shout: “Hya!”

The completely black Ferghana horse galloped like black lightning, carrying him across the battlefield full of black smoke and scorched earth. Behind him, the archers on the city tower finally seemed to react. Dense arrow rain trailed through the air behind him like a dark cloud about to overturn and cover him.

Xiao Li found it inconvenient to continue blocking with his blade, so he simply pulled off his cloak. In the intervals of the war horse’s galloping, he caught all the flying sharp arrows into his cloak.

After galloping out of bow and crossbow range, he reined in his war horse and shook out his cloak, dropping arrows all over the ground.

From the military formations behind came the soldiers’ rousing shouts of excitement.

Xiao Li coldly raised his eyes to sweep a glance at the opposite city tower, then rode his horse to continue galloping back.

Pei Song watched Xiao Li depart without a scratch, raised his hand to touch the wound on his cheekbone, his expression particularly ugly.

Once upon a time, what he had envied was that Xiao Li had learned from his father things he himself had never finished learning.

But at this moment, he suddenly became more clearly aware than ever of the physical difference between the two of them.

A prostitute’s bastard, yet possessing such a robust physique, like a hegemon of the present age.

It truly… made one feel it was unfair.

Xiao Li rode his horse back to the central army formation. Zhang Huai stepped down from the war chariot and came forward, cupping his hands: “The Marquis was divine and brave, using a feint to help the vanguard army escape their predicament, dampening the Pei army’s prestige and boosting our soldiers’ morale.”

He changed his tone: “But today the Pei camp’s defensive tactics are vastly different from before. I fear there is an expert in command. To prevent them from setting traps for the Marquis, from now on the Marquis should not undertake such personally dangerous actions again…”

Xiao Li didn’t say much, only stating: “Sound the gong to withdraw troops.”

Zhang Huai, seeing his expression was not very good – whether due to setbacks in this battle or something else – sensibly said no more.

The bronze gong sounded again. This time the great army stationed outside the city withdrew like black streams.

The Pei soldiers on the city tower, only at this moment finally awakening as if from a dream, truly believed they had won this defensive siege battle. They burst into thunderous cheers, completely changing their dejected state from before the great battle.

Although Xiao Li’s successful rescue of the trapped vanguard army meant morale in this battle didn’t decline so severely, the soldiers’ emotions were clearly still much worse than before.

The soldiers below were all dejected as they withdrew.

On the city tower, Pei Song watched the departing Xiao camp army, smiling as he said to Qin Yi, whose gaze was still not very clear: “The General did extremely well.”

However, Qin Yi stared blankly at Xiao Li’s back, which still had a strong presence even amid the army of ten thousand. He suddenly shouted: “This is the Zijiang Prince Huyan Xiao!”

Pei Song froze, then realized Qin Yi’s consciousness was unclear – he was treating this as the time when he had followed Liang founder Wen Shi’an in fighting Huyan Xiao.

Zijiang Prince Huyan Xiao was one of the lords who commanded troops before Wen Shi’an unified north and south. Qin Yi’s campaign with Wen Shi’an against Huyan Xiao was one of his greatest achievements in life.

That Zijiang Prince, buried in the long river of history, was reportedly descended from foreign ancestors who had been absorbed into the Central Plains. His stature was unusually tall, and he was born with a pair of blue eyes.

But no matter how heroic he once was, he had already passed away more than thirty years ago.

At present, Pei Song only smiled with unclear meaning: “Then in the next battle, the General must take this Huyan bandit’s head!”

However, Qin Yi shouted half-mad, half-lucid: “That’s not right! Didn’t Huyan Xiao already die? How has he come back to life?”

Seeing this, Pei Song’s face also showed some uncertainty.

Fortunately, Qin Yi seemed to quickly figure it out himself. He slapped the wall brick and shouted: “He must have faked his death back then! Now he has returned, wanting to attack Luodu!”

After thinking briefly, Pei Song actually sorted out Qin Yi’s logic.

Wen Shi’an established his capital in Luodu after he unified and became emperor in Luodu.

When attacking the Zijiang Prince, Wen Shi’an had not yet become emperor.

Qin Yi mistook Xiao Li for Huyan Xiao and thought he himself was currently defending Luodu for Wen Shi’an, which is why he believed Huyan Xiao hadn’t died back then and had become the current “rebel” attacking Luodu.

For an instant, Pei Song felt it was very ironic.

After being locked in Yongzhou’s great prison and going mad for so many years, he no longer remembered much about his own wife and children, yet he still remembered his military career from those years of campaigning.

He forcefully suppressed the mocking thought in his heart at this moment, using as gentle a tone as possible: “Huyan Xiao was no match for the General back then, and is even less so now.”

Unexpectedly, Qin Yi suddenly asked another question: “If I can atone for my crimes through merit in this battle, will His Majesty overturn my case?”

His eyes were bloodshot red, his expression agitated: “I did not rebel – I went to rescue the sovereign! There are so many rats and insects in the heavenly prison. Zhenniang is afraid when she sees them. Huan’er… Huan’er also developed a high fever…”

He gestured with his hands and feet, rambling on and on.

The slightly mocking curl at the corner of Pei Song’s lips gradually flattened down.

Qin Yi was still looking at him earnestly, hoping this “imperial envoy beside the Emperor” would give him a definite answer.

But Pei Song suddenly no longer wanted to say another word to Qin Yi. He simply walked down from the city tower.

–

Ever since that miscarriage, Jiang Yichu’s health had never been good.

She was unwilling to see Pei Song and couldn’t eat much. Even though Pei Song still used his previous methods – beating and killing servants attending her, even using A’yin to threaten her – whatever she ate, she would vomit back up the same amount. She grew thinner day by day.

After examination, the physician risked being beheaded to tell Pei Song plainly that Jiang Yichu had a heart ailment. If she was unwilling to see people, it was best to let her stay alone as much as possible. With her current physical condition, if this continued, it was hard to say how many more years she had to live.

Although Pei Song flew into a rage, he still restrained the number of times he went to see Jiang Yichu.

To let her recuperate with peace of mind, he also sent their daughter back to her side.

Today, after returning from supervising the battle on the city tower, for some reason he couldn’t control himself – he just very much wanted to see Jiang Yichu.

He went to the courtyard where Jiang Yichu was housed. Upon entering, he saw the wet nurse accompanying A’yin playing cat’s cradle.

Seeing him, the wet nurse’s face showed great panic. She stood up about to bow. A’yin’s face, which had held a smile, also suddenly became wooden and cowering, clearly very afraid of him.

Pei Song’s complexion really couldn’t be called good. He was unwilling to even force out a smile in front of a child, asking directly: “Where is Elder Sister?”

The wet nurse replied trembling: “The… Madam was tired and is resting in the inner room.”

Pei Song raised his hand slightly, and the wet nurse could only anxiously carry A’yin out.

Pei Song lifted the warm pavilion’s hanging curtain and saw Jiang Yichu with a thin blanket draped over her, pillowed on the noble consort’s couch sleeping. One hand hung down to the edge of the couch.

He quietly watched this scene, suddenly felt his heart ease. He walked over and simply sat down on the footstool in front of the couch, gently took Jiang Yichu’s hand, leaning forward to press against it, as if wanting to rest lightly against her hand for a while.

But Jiang Yichu seemed to fall into a nightmare, instantly awakening with a start.

Pei Song saw Jiang Yichu’s fear and opened his mouth: “Elder Sister, I…”

He couldn’t continue the rest of his words, because Jiang Yichu looked at him with eyes no different from looking at a malicious ghost. After shrinking back, she seemed to go mad wanting to get off the couch: “A’yin, where is my A’yin…”

That phrase in Pei Song’s throat – “Elder Sister, I’m feeling somewhat distressed, I just wanted to see you” – could not be spoken no matter what.

He silently pressed down Jiang Yichu’s hand that was bracing the couch trying to get down. As the other person went mad while both screaming for her daughter and struggling, he only felt like his entire person was sinking into deep water, inexplicably unable to catch his breath.

He said: “Your daughter is with the wet nurse. I just had them go elsewhere first.”

Only then did Jiang Yichu quiet down, but her eyes remained weary and terrified, anxiously staring at Pei Song with trepidation.

Pei Song suddenly realized more clearly than ever that nothing could return to the past anymore.

The once prestigious General’s Manor was gone. Mother was gone. That neighbor elder sister who always loved to lean on the back courtyard wall, smiling as she called him “A Huan,” was also gone.

He released his hand pressing down on Jiang Yichu and walked out without a word.

The path from the warm pavilion to the main gate was very short. With every step he took, countless young Jiang Yichus seemed to run toward him, yet like phantoms they brushed past him.

“A Huan, were you punished by the Great General? Why are you crying again?”

“A Huan, come quickly – I made lotus seed cakes!”

“A Huan, how did your clothes get torn? Did you fight with someone at school again? If the Great General sees this, you’ll be punished again. Quick, take them off and I’ll mend them for you.”

“A Huan, from now on when you have distressing matters, you must tell Elder Sister, alright!”

Having already exited the courtyard gate, Pei Song suddenly raised his hand to cover the area of his heart, crouching down somewhat painfully. As salty, bitter water traced down his cheeks and struck the ground, he finally said extremely softly: “Elder Sister, all these years, I’ve been feeling so distressed all along.”