The Northern Rong border—Cloud Tower Gorge was shrouded in fog again.

The Army Supervisor and tens of thousands of troops had been waiting at the gorge’s western entrance for several days without seeing any trace of Ling Yunyi or the Imperial Consort.

Six days ago, Ling Yunyi led seventy thousand infantry and cavalry from the Divine Strategy Army to the western entrance of Cloud Tower Gorge. At that time, scouts reported that the Northern Rong remnants numbered fewer than five thousand. The entire army was fired with enthusiasm, wanting to charge in with one decisive push to annihilate the remnants and present the Second Prince’s head.

This was truly because for years the Northern Rong had continuously harassed the people, killing and plundering cattle and sheep, already arousing public anger. But upon approaching the gorge entrance, they were stopped by Ling Yunyi.

He snapped off an icicle hanging from a tree, tasted it on his tongue, then took five thousand light cavalry into the gorge himself. Yang Fu insisted on accompanying him, and Ling Yunyi tacitly permitted it. As for the main army, they were to remain in position and not act rashly.

At the time, the officers and soldiers were full of criticism, saying all sorts of things. This monk did have some generalship and experience, repeatedly using stratagems to wear down the Northern Rong’s fighting strength. Yet at this critical juncture, he issued such an absurd order—who knew if he wanted to monopolize the credit before His Majesty?

However, as days passed, the clouds and fog gathered and dispersed. Seeing that scouts sent in by the Vice Commander also went in but never came out, the officers and soldiers went from restless agitation to bewildered confusion to dead silence. No one mentioned wanting to charge in anymore.

This Cloud Tower Gorge might truly have ghosts that devoured people.

“Commander, what should we do?” someone asked.

The Army Supervisor’s expression was grave as he gazed toward the gorge entrance, reining in his horse. “General Ling Yun said that if he doesn’t emerge within seven days, he’s certainly fallen into an ambush, and I shall assume the position of commanding general.”

“What about the Second Prince’s head? The Imperial Consort is still inside too…”

“Aren’t there still a day and several hours left? Wait!”—

Inside Yunzhou City, beacon smoke drifted.

A heavy, oppressive silence.

The Cavalry General grabbed a courier rider. “Have reinforcements arrived?”

“Reporting to the General, no,” the courier said.

“Does His Majesty have new orders?” Without waiting for an answer, the Cavalry General grabbed another courier.

“…No.” That courier lowered his head to report, his voice carrying a few traces of choking emotion.

The defending generals on the walls stood holding spears, their faces covered in dust, expressions numb as they watched that colossal thing rising from the ground day by day below the city.

The Nan Chu army was constructing siege towers.

An endless stream of lumber was transported in, cut and polished by engineers. The other soldiers worked day and night without rest, like ants carrying the pieces to their proper positions until they had assembled a siege tower with eight wheels, five stories tall.

During siege assault, the siege tower’s bottom level was pushed forward by men, violently ramming the battlements. The other four levels carried siege soldiers—men standing on the high tower could simultaneously shoot arrows and bolts at the city walls.

Last time during the fire-bolt attack, the defending generals had suffered heavy casualties. One could imagine what a desperate scene it would be when the siege tower and tower-mounted crossbows attacked the city together.

“They said reinforcements would definitely arrive within twenty days, and it’s been over forty days now. I really don’t know how we’ve made it through.” The Cavalry General looked up at the grey, overcast sky. “Could it be that Heaven means to destroy Jinling?”

“Why speak of such things?” A female voice gently rebuked.

Princess Danyang, fully armored, descended from the watchtower. Behind her followed a scholarly-looking man—Su Run, a counselor from the Princess’s mansion. Both had grown much thinner, their haggard appearance impossible to conceal.

“Princess, this humble officer only feels it’s unfair to you,” the Cavalry General said. “My death doesn’t matter, but Princess Danyang is of noble imperial blood, in the prime of youth…”

“What noble imperial blood? I’m an orphan who was only able to grow up thanks to His Imperial Majesty’s grace. I’ve never forgotten my status for a single day.” Danyang looked down at the city below with a smile. “To die for this city—my name should appear in the history books. That’s actually quite good, much better than recording how much land Danyang received, how luxurious the Princess’s mansion was, or how many retainers I kept.”

Only, as if thinking of something regrettable, she suddenly turned to glance at Su Run.

He was still so young, not yet married.

Su Run kept his head lowered, not looking at her, but his lashes trembled slightly as he smiled faintly. “Princess need not worry. To die for the state is also worthy.”

Before he finished speaking, the defending generals who had been listening quietly suddenly called out in unison, “We will die with honor!”

But after just two shouts, they were interrupted by an unexpected incident and stopped abruptly.

The Cavalry General pushed the two of them aside, barely avoiding the flying arrows. Then arrows rained down like precipitation, striking the top of the wall, with quite a few falling inside. White cloth strips were tied to the arrowheads.

There were messages on the arrows.

The Cavalry General unfolded one and looked—his expression changed drastically. “Nonsense! Put them all down! Who’s reading them? Who’s still reading?”

But quite a few defending generals were reading the content on the cloth strips. An atmosphere of silent despair spread. The Cavalry General rushed about trying to stop them, but after days of shouting, his voice was already hoarse and could produce no sound.

“Commander, Nan Chu’s arrows carry surrender demands. The language is arrogant, saying… saying His Majesty won’t send aid.” Juan Su knelt before Lu Huating, struggling to repeat the content on the cloth.

“Northern Rong is an external enemy, so naturally we must expel them with full force. But Yunzhou’s troubles are merely the gain or loss of an internal city. Even if we lose Jinling today, there’s still the Yellow River’s natural barrier blocking them—they can’t reach Chang’an immediately. So His Majesty has weighed the options and is prepared to abandon the city… Yet the defending forces have already held for forty-five days with three thousand dead. These abandoned pawns—why must they use their lives to resist stubbornly? Better to open the gates and surrender to preserve their lives. Otherwise, when everyone is dead, they can naturally… march straight in… Sir!”

Halfway through Lu Huating’s listening, he coughed up blood onto his handkerchief.

He declined Juan Su’s support and wiped his mouth clean himself with the handkerchief, a cold smile floating at the corners of his lips.

The sky was overcast, fine rain fell in drops, dampening the zither platform and curtains of the watchtower. He had long known the content of the messages—a strip of cloth lay on his spread robe hem.

Only eight hundred men remained on the walls.

The defending generals could no longer rotate shifts for rest. The day and night vigil had exhausted everyone’s strength. No matter how they were rallied, the atmosphere of tragedy and death hovered overhead, refusing to dissipate.

Ling Yunnuo’s crimson commander’s flag still fluttered, only it no longer moved about on patrol. The siege tower construction on the ground should be under the Zen Master’s charge. The Zen Master’s return had swept away Nan Chu army’s previous dejected atmosphere, compelling everyone into action—on one hand rallying military morale, on the other hand crushing the enemy’s spirit.

“Like mother, like daughter.” Lu Huating praised. “My mother-in-law is truly formidable.”

Zhu Su and Juan Su exchanged glances.

Lu Huating turned the cloth strip to the back and wrote a few characters. “How many days has it rained?”

“Seven or eight days. The plum rain season is the most difficult to endure. We on the walls still have drainage pipes—who knows how the people below are managing sleeping in muddy ground.” Zhu Su beside him said.

“I’ve observed the celestial signs. Tonight will clear—suitable for fire attack. In the latter half of the night, there should be snow.” Lu Huating said.

Having finished writing, he took an arrow, tied the cloth to it, picked up the nanmu wood bow from the ground, aimed at Ling Yunnuo’s commander’s flag beside the siege tower, and pulled the bowstring. But his hands shook, repeatedly losing the target, almost unable to hold the bow.

One onset of Yearning引 consumed enormous energy, let alone repeated episodes. His complexion was already pale as paper. Now he relied entirely on willpower to remain seated at the zither platform, sweat continuously streaming down from his temples.

The arrowhead deviated, then tremblingly aimed again slowly.

The bowstring strained to its limit, producing creaking sounds.

All the Nan Chu officers and soldiers noticed the movements of that crimson figure on the walls.

The opposing Army Supervisor sat at the watchtower every afternoon. Neither poison attacks nor fire attacks seemed to affect him in the slightest. Now seeing him read the surrender letter and actually draw his bow to shoot, the people on the siege tower stopped their work to watch. Hearing the commotion, Ling Yunnuo also emerged from his command tent, his face turning livid as he gazed upward.

Accompanied by the soldiers’ low exclamations, an arrow with powerful force plunged down through the night sky, grazing that commander’s flag before losing momentum and falling to the ground.

The commander’s flag wasn’t damaged, only swaying left and right. Even so, it struck Ling Yunnuo like a heavy blow. He coldly ordered, “Bring me the message on that arrow!”

“Master, it’s usually not anything good. Better not to read it.”

As he spoke, countless stones wrapped in snow-white cloth were hurled like heavenly maidens scattering flowers into the Nan Chu camp.

“Give it to me!” Ling Yunnuo said sternly.

Unfolding the cloth strip, Lu Huating had written a reply on the back of the cloth Nan Chu had sent. The handwriting was magnificent and flowing, causing Ling Yunnuo’s hands to tremble.

“No one is to read this!” Ling Yunnuo’s strategists were rushing about warning people when they heard a voice from the city wall—a loud-voiced defending general raising his voice to read aloud the message’s content: “Our Commander has replied—”

“The young Emperor Ling Yunnuo—his virtue does not match his position, Heaven’s mandate is insufficient. He exhausts his military might, depleting all of Nan Chu’s resources; obstinate and self-willed, causing the people torment; abandoning the Buddhist alliance, betraying neighborly good faith. Heaven is enraged, sending disasters as warning. Thus the royal army repeatedly suffers setbacks—even a single city of Jinling cannot be taken!”

The voice reverberated with cadence between heaven and earth.

In her tent, Zhu Ying heard this and rose striking the table, laughing coldly. “Ridiculous! The young Emperor exhausts military might, his virtue doesn’t match his position—but when the Li family rebelled and usurped the state, were they righteous forces? Truly a civil official—wrapping himself in a grand banner, using tiger skin. On the brink of death yet still spouting wild words.”

Zhu Ying walked out of the command tent and ordered everyone to burn the cloth strips, then went to inspect the siege tower construction.

She didn’t take the matter to heart at all, but unexpectedly, commotion suddenly arose nearby. “Master! Is the Master alright?”

Ling Yunnuo suddenly collapsed. Zhu Ying rushed into the crowd, caught him in her arms, helped him back to the command tent, removed his armor, and called for the physician.

Ling Yunnuo’s face was flushed red, sweat pouring from his entire body like water. He suddenly developed a high fever. He gripped Zhu Ying’s hand forcefully, eyes staring into empty space, only opening his eyes wide to ask, “Zen Master, why won’t he die? Why won’t he die?”

Zhu Ying hadn’t anticipated that after dozens of days of accumulated high pressure and torment, the one who couldn’t endure first would be this young Chu Emperor.

“Listen to me—he’s poisoned with Yearning Inducer. He’s about to collapse.” Zhu Ying cupped his burning face.

“He hasn’t, he hasn’t.” Ling Yunnuo shook his head, eyes wide open, speaking rapidly. “He’s been up there all along, he hasn’t!”

“He’s forcing himself to endure!”

“He’s not, he’s not!” But Ling Yunnuo couldn’t hear anything. “He can’t be… he’s completely unharmed! Why, why…”

“You mustn’t imagine him as too strong!” Zhu Ying increased the pressure of her grip, saying angrily, “The reason he forces himself to play the zither on the high platform day and night is to attack your mind. Have you been defeated by him like this?”

Ling Yunnuo’s eyes lost focus, his lips moving slightly. As if convinced, his voice was already very weak. “Right, yes, he’s attacking the mind…”

Just at this moment, a tremendous sound—a projectile trailing fire smashed through the tent top and fell beside the two of them. The falling flames surged up, reflecting in Ling Yunnuo’s eyes.

Two Nan Chu soldiers rushed in to extinguish the fire. But as the felt was lifted, countless scattered voices from outside the tent also came in. “What is this thing? How did it just happen to hit the Master’s tent?” “Perhaps it’s a fire stone thrown by Northern Chen!” “Clearly it’s heavenly fire, a meteor… I saw it fall from the sky.”

Ling Yunnuo immediately looked at Zhu Ying as if frightened. In his eyes appeared traces of tearful pain, then it transformed into shattered despair. He murmured deliriously, “Zen Master, is it true? Heaven is sending down punishment… I don’t want… the clinic, Master, Master…”

Zhu Ying wanted to say more, but Ling Yunnuo could endure no longer. His head fell back as he lost consciousness.

Looking at Ling Yunnuo, the cold sweat on Zhu Ying’s body slowly turned cold. She hadn’t expected he would take Lu Huating’s curse to heart.

He was still too young after all, hadn’t yet encountered any setbacks.

The lives and deaths of tens of thousands held in his hands—any slight carelessness would result in rivers of blood. Five failed attacks, with over ten thousand men turning to dry bones before his eyes. This pressure wasn’t something an ordinary person could bear, and it was hard to avoid self-doubt.

Moreover, Ling Yunnuo had grown up in a temple in his youth, then worked in a clinic seeing patients. Originally, his work was saving people. Now what he held was the tiger tally for killing—how could this not be painful torment for him?

The physician carried his medicine box to administer acupuncture to Ling Yunnuo. “Zen Master, the young master’s illness strikes like a mountain collapsing. The young master likely needs quiet rest…”

“Get out.” Zhu Ying said coldly. “Watch your words and actions outside.”

The physician scrambled away from the command tent.

Clearly, five failed attacks had completely shattered Ling Yunnuo’s fighting spirit.

But having prepared for war so long, now at the final crucial moment, how could he suddenly collapse? He should persist even if gritting his teeth!

Zhu Ying had to admit that as a ruler, his mental fortitude was still too weak, not even as strong as…

Not as strong as her own daughter.

She could persist to the very end, persist until death.

A face bright as the moon flashed through Zhu Ying’s mind. But before the features became clear, she erased it.

She was surprised. At this moment, she had actually thought of her.

Zhu Ying walked out of the command tent, her purple robe hem dragging across the muddy ground. The leaderless discussion immediately stopped. Pairs of eyes looked at her, waiting for her orders. Zhu Ying heard faint weeping, turned her head sharply and said sternly, “Who’s crying? Whoever spreads rumors about heavenly fire and meteors, I’ll cut out their tongue!”

Silence immediately fell everywhere.

“The young master is overexhausted and needs rest. From today, I will command.” Zhu Ying glanced toward that crimson figure on the city wall. “A literary scholar dares to claim heavenly justice. You’re all very wary of that Army Supervisor? He’s a paper kite—now I’ll shoot him down for you to see clearly. If they won’t surrender, we’ll kill everyone in the city! I want his life to sacrifice to our flag!”—

At dawn, a clattering sound shook the ground.

Though the siege tower wasn’t completely built, the crossbows mounted on it could already be used to attack the city. Tens of thousands chanted work songs as they slowly pushed that five-story-tall siege tower close to the city walls.

The ground beneath Zhu Su’s feet trembled slightly. Seeing the situation was bad, he threw back the curtain. “Sir, they’re about to attack with fire again. This time is different—quickly enter the shelter to hide.”

Lu Huating sat behind the zither platform, expressionlessly brushing away Zhu Su’s hand. “Just go protect Princess Danyang.”

“Go down—only five hundred men remain on the watchtower! Five hundred can’t even protect you!”

“If there’s no one left on the walls to give orders, what use is protecting the commander?” Lu Huating asked him.

For a moment, Zhu Su found himself unable to refute.

Before he could react, the heat wave approached. Lu Huating pulled him, and both dropped flat.

Fire bolts shot in succession from the tower like ocean waves, and the entire city was once again subjected to scorching heat.

Lu Huating said, “The siege tower has arrived. Find gaps, deploy the spiked boards.”

Zhu Su turned back and shouted, “Deploy the spiked boards!”

The defending generals by the city walls removed the giant nail-studded boards hanging on the walls, suspended them with hemp ropes, and threw them down. Chu soldiers on the siege tower were struck along with their crossbows. Immediately, screams rang out as they fell from the tower in bloody pulp.

Countless spiked boards were thrown down.

Some defending generals were pierced by fire bolts. Before they could release their spiked boards, they fell to the ground, breaking into sections.

Lu Huating said, “Count yourselves. Count the men each time you throw.”

“Four hundred thirty-three.” Zhu Su barely avoided the shuttling crossbow bolts and tallied the approximate number.

“Thirty men from the east wall, fill the gaps.” Lu Huating slowly sat upright, repositioned the zither, and turned the tuning pegs with his left hand to adjust the pitch.

Zhu Su moved about bent over, conveying his orders.

“Three hundred ninety-four…”

“Three hundred sixty-eight…”

“Someone’s at the southwest corner tower!”

Lu Huating looked at two defending generals before him. “You two go fill in.”

“Sir!”

Lu Huating said nothing. Firelight danced on his face.

Zhu Su, tears in his eyes, had men set up the shields in front of the curtained area before departing bent low.

Between the flickering arrows, both hands pressed on the zither. The intense Breaking Formation melody flowed from Lu Huating’s hands—urgent with the sounds of weapons and soldiers, almost not like plucking strings but more like unleashing blades. Hearing the melody, the defending generals fought even more courageously.

Fire bolts shattered the shields—the shields practically exploded in mid-air, curtains flying in all directions. Lu Huating closed his eyes briefly, affected by the blast wave. When he came to his senses, blood he’d coughed up had already stained his collar red.

“Two hundred eighteen! Sir… Cavalry General, he died in battle…”

But suddenly, the battle cries and screams stretched into a single line, becoming a shrill whistle. In the empty silence, only this whistling sound remained.

Lu Huating’s black eyes were deep and profound as he watched Zhu Su waving his hands, seemingly saying something to him. He forcefully plucked a string.

Yet in his ears, there was still only whistling.

He couldn’t hear.

He’d heard that when poisoned with Yearning Inducer, at the moment of death, the five senses first disappear. In the silence after the whistling stopped, a strong sense of unwillingness rose from the depths of his heart.

He prided himself on his intelligence, had never lost…

Thinking of Qun Qing, this unwillingness instantly transformed into fear, like a painful abscess he could barely touch.

Yet before his eyes, the firelight still flickered violently.

Lu Huating’s eyes moved slightly. As if nothing had happened, he said, “Follow my orders: east wall two hundred, north wall two hundred—deploy spiked boards. Each corner thirty, ambush with crossbows.”

“Yes!” Everyone rushed off. His fingers slowly caressed the zither strings.

At some point, tiny snow particles began falling from the sky.

Bright tongues of flame licked at the curtains. Pieces of cloth continuously fell, landing by the hem of his robe.

Arrows and firelight shuttled past his temples, constantly illuminating his pale face. Amid the battle cries, Lu Huating’s fingers never left the strings. The zither music grew more and more intense, like galloping horses, weapons unleashing together—like venting. No one noticed that the zither music had long since gone off-key.

Yet in his ears was complete silence.

In this silence, a soft rustling sound came. He saw moonlit, boundlessly vast mountains and waters. There was a white horse, galloping from the invisible horizon, lightly leaping over silver-white reed flowers.

The rider was a lady. Her waist held upright, left hand wielding a sword, right hand carrying a lantern. Her face like snow, hair like clouds, gauze skirt hem floating up then falling like five-colored cicada wings.

So this was what Qun Qing looked like at her prime riding a horse.

No wonder a single glance made Princess Bao’an’s heart secretly pledge itself.

Then she dismounted and walked toward him. He could almost hear the sound of the swaying lantern.

Knowing it was a hallucination, Lu Huating spat out a mouthful of blood.

Yet this scene was undeniably extremely beautiful, impossible to look away from.

His scattered eyes slowly focused. He started—he truly saw a face appear before him.

Her eyes slightly upturned, lips and nose slightly full. Because of running all the way, loose strands flew from her temples. She looked at him without blinking, her eyes illuminated by the fire arrows and flowing projectiles, bright as flowing waves.

Colored makeup adorned her face. His gaze fell on her lips.

Vivid, just like on their wedding day.

Qun Qing pressed him down onto the zither platform, one hand gripping his wrist, the other snatching the porcelain bottle clutched in his right hand. Seeing the bottle was empty, her heart sank, not knowing how many pills he’d taken. Seeing the person before her pale as a gorgeous ghost, asking questions without response, seeming to have already lost his soul—her heart felt as if pierced by knives.

She paused briefly, then cupped Lu Huating’s face and kissed his icy lips.

After a moment’s pause, he suddenly locked his arms around her waist, pressing her down to the ground. Giving her almost no chance to breathe, as if wanting to obtain proof from her body that she truly existed.

His strength was alarmingly great. Qun Qing couldn’t break free, so she didn’t struggle. She closed her eyes. In her mouth was only the icy rust taste of fresh blood. Until he had consumed all the rouge on her lips, blood and cinnabar indistinguishable from each other, he finally slowly left her lips.

“You want to ask about the Jade Boiling Pills?” He looked down at the empty bottle in her hand, half-guessing, half-asking.

“I only took one.” Lu Huating gazed at her, slight smile in his black eyes. “I threw all the rest over the city wall.”

Seeming to see the questioning look on Qun Qing’s face, he continued, “Do you remember that merchant’s wife we met in Yunzhou?”

Qun Qing knew he was talking about that silk merchant’s wife in Yunzhou who became addicted to Jade Boiling Pills and ruined her family.

“If I died, that would be acceptable…” Lu Huating said. “But if I didn’t die, with a long life ahead, I couldn’t bear to drag you down to this degree, so…”

So when the illness struck, he endured it.

Qun Qing understood his unfinished words. Seeing his entire body trembling, she took out Cold Fragrance Pills from her sleeve and stuffed them into his mouth, holding him tightly with one hand.

“I know how hard it’s been for you.” She said softly, one hand gently stroking his back. “I’m here now. You can sleep.”

Before she finished speaking, she felt a weight on her body. Lu Huating had completely lost consciousness.

Qun Qing called Zhu Su and the others. The three of them together helped Lu Huating to the shelter to rest—

Fearing the Great Chen’s suddenly increased crossbows and military strength, Nan Chu stopped attacking and retreated. By daybreak, the corpses covering the ground were finally cleared away.

The defending generals on the walls had thought reinforcements finally arrived. Hearing it was the Crimson-Robed Envoy who had brought only a few hundred hostages, a thousand elite troops, and some provisions, they couldn’t help feeling somewhat disappointed.

“Aren’t Crimson-Robed Envoys for negotiations? Are they useful?”

“Seems to be the Commander’s wife.”

“Oh. That’s the lady who brought food!” The defending generals suddenly felt more warmth and came out one after another to see her.

Qun Qing stood at the watchtower, her back straight and slender, directing people to rebuild the zither platform with gauze curtains.

“Madam, how did you come? What did His Majesty say? When will reinforcements arrive?” Zhu Su asked.

“General Ling Yun fell into an ambush with no news. Half the army is now leaderless, still waiting for General Ling Yun.” Qun Qing said. “This thousand elite guards—I forcibly demanded them.”

Zhu Su’s expression was very grave. “Nan Chu has tens of thousands. A few thousand is truly a drop in the bucket. It’s really dangerous for you to come, Madam…”

Qun Qing lifted the curtain and placed the repaired zither inside. “I’ve also read a few military texts. I’ll substitute for him. If it really doesn’t work, we’ll die here together. At least it’s following my heart—better than being imprisoned in a room doing nothing.”

When the Minister requested aid, the Emperor and Empress originally didn’t agree to let her come. She said she had a strategy to repel the enemy, and only then did Li Huan approve her request, sighing, “You husband and wife are bound in matrimony—ultimately it was the Grand Emperor who bestowed your marriage. I cannot bear to see you separated by life and death. Go.”

…

Dawn broke, illuminating the ground covered in armored corpses.

Nan Chu’s forces had lost quite a few men. The siege tower was also heavily damaged, dented in many places.

The two armies entered a standoff. The crimson commander’s flag rose fluttering and slowly ascended to the siege tower’s top level.

“Elder Sister.” In the brilliant golden dawn light, Ling Yunnuo walked to the top level of the siege tower. He wore a thick cloak, his voice slightly hoarse as he called out. “Elder Sister, I heard you came last night, so I stopped the siege. Come over—you saw my letter. I don’t want to hurt you.”

After waiting a long while, Qun Qing finally lifted the curtain and stepped out, walking to the city’s edge to stand across from him at a distance.

Today was indeed clear. Between them lay almost illusory golden light.

Qun Qing glanced at Ling Yunnuo, then looked past him toward the thin, upright figure in purple robes behind him.

This time, Zhu Ying wasn’t veiled. The distance was too great to see her expression clearly. But one could vaguely guess the expression on her face was cold and resistant, making her entire being completely unlike the mother from memory.

What would Mother’s feelings be upon seeing her? Would she be surprised that a chess piece dared to walk before the player?

Qun Qing’s face was cold, but her heart boiled. She said, “Your Majesty, I am the Great Chen’s Crimson-Robed Envoy, bringing one hundred Nan Chu hostages, one hundred taels of gold, and one hundred bolts of colored silk to negotiate peace. Do you wish to negotiate peace with me?”

“I believe that only when forces are evenly matched can one discuss peace.” Ling Yunnuo said. “How many men remain on your walls? A few thousand? A few hundred?”

“On the northern border battlefield, General Ling Yun has won. Seventy thousand reinforcements are on the way. His Majesty cannot bear for Yunzhou to suffer further warfare and ordered me to arrive first.” Qun Qing said. “I advise Your Majesty to negotiate peace now. When the time comes, if you want to talk, it won’t be so easy.”

“Ling Yunyi has won? We haven’t received this news. Should I believe you or my own intelligence?” Ling Yunnuo said.

“Believe if you wish. It doesn’t matter if you don’t.” Qun Qing said. “Your Majesty brought out tens of thousands—how many remain now? Look at the corpses below the city, layered three deep. Before death, these men had been at peace for barely four years. You don’t care about them either. You only want to win. Whose intelligence you believe—aren’t they all fated to die?”

On and below the war tower, heavy silence fell.

“You…” These words struck Ling Yunnuo, his face turning pale. “The Li family usurped the state first! You’re of imperial bloodline yet betrayed your lord through treachery—why don’t you understand the taste of national and family enmity?”

“I don’t understand the taste of national and family enmity.” Qun Qing smiled. “But I climbed step by step to third rank position, killed my enemies with my own hands, and now stand before you holding this tally, only to exchange for my living mother. Fang Xie, let me tell you—Northern Rong royal women, when fathers die, sons take them; when brothers die, younger brothers take them. Your mother, honored as Imperial Grand Princess, suffered such humiliation to assist you. Only under her support could you command these ten thousand troops. The foundation of the state lies in the family; the foundation of the family lies in the individual. If you cannot protect your own mother, how dare you speak of national and family enmity? If you have even half a measure of integrity, first bring her back from Northern Rong, then discuss other matters!”

Qun Qing’s voice rang out crisp and clear, stern in both tone and expression.

Seeing Ling Yunnuo’s face turn pale, his vital energy rising in agitation, Zhu Ying spoke to persuade. “Young Master, your health hasn’t recovered. Go down and rest!”

With that, she had people forcibly escort him down.

Zhu Ying silently gazed toward Qun Qing’s figure on the city wall.

Not having seen her for several years, she had grown much taller than when they parted, and much more mature. She had even married. Her temperament had also changed considerably—no longer the silent, withdrawn appearance of that young lady from before. This couldn’t be discerned from letters.

That she could rebuke people sternly almost surprised Zhu Ying. But the Qun Qing of now wore crimson robes, standing in brilliant golden morning light, possessing both peach-blossom beauty and the momentum of drawn swords and crossbows—the blazing sun could not compete in radiance.

In the years they’d been separated, she had grown up.

Only it was such a pity they were so far apart that she couldn’t clearly see what her features had grown to look like.

“You know everything now?” Zhu Ying slowly walked toward the front edge of the tower. But even at this distance, she still couldn’t see her face clearly.

Discovering this, Zhu Ying stopped her steps.

Seeing Zhu Ying about to turn back without a word, Qun Qing called out to her, forcing her trembling voice to drift across steadily. “Zen Master, the hostage roster is in my hands. Among them is my mother, Zhu Ying. I’ve been searching for her for three years. This daughter wishes to ask—is she willing to return home with me?”

Zhu Ying’s steps suddenly halted.

“You don’t resent me?” After a long while, as if finding it strange, Zhu Ying finally turned back halfway.

“The grace of giving life is the first grace. Life-saving medical arts, assassination skills, reading ten thousand books—what she taught me ultimately enabled me to walk to this step in these chaotic times.” Qun Qing’s hair flew wildly in the wind. “If it were someone else, Liu Niang should call them benefactor and teacher! Why, when it’s one’s parents, must one harbor resentment?”

Silence. Long, long silence, seeming to stretch a hundred years.

Qun Qing only saw Zhu Ying’s broad purple robe hem swaying in the wind, but couldn’t see Zhu Ying’s expression.

Zhu Ying rapidly returned, never looking back, moving farther and farther from Qun Qing. She raised the command flag, hoarsely directing, “Push the tower, attack the city—”

The clattering sound of the siege tower arose. Tears silently slid down Qun Qing’s face. She reached up to wipe them clean.

Good. Very good.

She had asked. She had also waited. Today her heart’s knot was resolved.

This was her mother’s answer to her.