Imperial year 775, May 20th, was a day no one could forget. Half of the Great Xia Empire’s capital, Zhenhuang, was destroyed in a massive fire. The symbol of the empire, the Sacred Gold Palace, was completely burned down. The city’s armed forces suffered losses of seventy to eighty percent. Among the elite imperial soldiers stationed in Zhenhuang, as many as 170,000 perished. Of these, nearly 30,000 died in battle against the Southwestern Garrison, while 70,000 were slaughtered by Yan Xun. The rest died in civilian riots and chaotic rebellions where friends could not be distinguished from foes.

However, these weren’t the most significant losses. After this battle, Zhenhuang’s economy was nearly paralyzed. As June approached, the excessive deaths brought unstoppable plagues and diseases. Too many businesses and civilian homes had turned to ashes in the great fire. Large numbers of refugees had nowhere to go. Groups of wounded soldiers lay in the streets. Continuous rainy weather brought even greater disaster to Zhenhuang. Many corpses that couldn’t be carried out of the city in time lay in dirty water, soaking until they turned white and foul, becoming piles of rotting flesh covered with flies and bugs.

Before Yan Xun left the city, he had burned down the imperial granaries. Most grain merchants had also been looted during the night of chaos. Thus, Zhenhuang couldn’t even gather enough grain for disaster relief. Within three days, numerous refugees died of starvation. In this life-or-death situation, the typically docile capital citizens revealed their savage side. From the third day onward, countless robberies occurred. These citizens, driven to desperation, even dared to ambush small armed military units. In just two short days, more than thirty small imperial teams sent out to maintain order disappeared without a trace. A day later, people would find some of their personal belongings in roadside ditches—military uniforms, daggers, bayonets, boots, epaulets, or even more intimate items like underwear, treasured pouches, severed limbs, gouged-out eyeballs, and stark white bones…

The capital’s order instantly vanished completely.

Five days later, the frenzied refugees rushed out of Zhenhuang, fleeing in all directions. However, the Zhao clan had no power to reverse the situation. Zhao Zhengde stood on the tower of the ruined Sacred Gold Palace, helplessly smiling bitterly. Then, under the protection of Commander Song Que, he led the last armed forces and issued the order to relocate the capital. With carriages and horses rolling, they left this devastated city.

In the three hundred years since the founding of Great Xia, this ancient city had withstood countless blades of foreign tribes. In the Capital Defense Battle of 633, Emperor Bai Wei of Great Xia had fought against 200,000 Quanrong wolf soldiers with just 8,000 cavalry, defending the capital for a month until finally receiving reinforcements from the feudal families, creating the legend of fighting to the last bullet and grain without retreat.

In 684, the empire’s eastern clan, the Wolong family, betrayed the empire by opening Wolong Pass to allow the Tang-Song allied forces to enter the border. The enemy forces advanced to Sanli Slope, less than thirty miles from Zhenhuang. At that time, the Great Xia Emperor was touring the southeast, and only the eight-year-old Crown Prince Zhao Chongming and Empress Muhe Jiuge remained in the country. All court officials strongly advised the heir to retreat, but the 27-year-old Muhe Jiuge stood with her eight-year-old son on the city wall for three days without coming down, until the imperial flag flew over Sanli Slope, defeating the enemy.

During the Crimson Tide Rebellion of 714, the capital’s gates were even shattered by rebel forces, yet the Zhao imperial clan didn’t retreat a single step!

In 735… 761… 769…

Zhenhuang, the capital that had stood strong for so many years, and the Zhao imperial clan that had proudly stood on the world’s highest plateau unshaken for three hundred years, finally left this heart of the empire they had defended for three centuries on the morning of May 26th, retreating in gloom to the sacred city of Yundu in the northeast.

Although later historians criticized this battle in many ways, they had to admit that the architect of this great achievement was the new king of Yanbei, Crown Prince Yan Xun, who had been held hostage in the capital for eight years. With the power of just one man, borrowing the five thousand warriors of the Datong Guild, he single-handedly accomplished a miraculous feat that neither the 300,000 Quanrong troops, the 580,000 Tang-Song allied forces, nor the full strength of the rebels had accomplished! Yan Xun’s name spread throughout the land, and the entire western Mongolian plateau trembled. The lion of Yanbei had finally awakened, and the era belonging to Yanbei once again began gloriously amid the fires of chaotic times.

In the gray morning, a horn sounded from the tower of Zhenhuang. The sun slowly rose from the horizon. The sky was misty, looking like it might rain again. More than a dozen warriors wearing cyan armor stood on the city tower, looking at the distant land where grass swayed. There wasn’t a single person on the empty post road. The aging soldier sighed, put down his horn, and turned to walk away.

“Has no one come yet?”

A deep voice slowly rose. The old soldier was startled and looked up to see a man in his twenties before him. He was handsome and young, wearing a black cloak that covered his military uniform, his identity indiscernible. But the old soldier could tell at a glance that this was a noble general, not an ordinary soldier like himself.

“In response to the general, no one has come yet.”

The young man nodded silently as if he had anticipated this. He looked at the old soldier’s hunched body. At nearly fifty years old, he could barely support the military uniform anymore, with the twin-moon pattern on his shoulders appearing somewhat worn. The young man frowned slightly and asked, “Didn’t the 19th Division follow the Emperor to Yundu? Why didn’t you go?”

“General, I’m too old and can’t walk such a long distance. The chance to survive should be left to the younger ones,” the old soldier sighed deeply. “I started serving as a soldier at fourteen, beginning as a groom, all the way to guarding the city gate. I’ve been guarding the capital for over thirty years. I can’t leave just because someone attacked this place or because the citizens have fled. As long as the city gate hasn’t fallen, I must stay here.”

The young man frowned, his eyes as deep as the sea, with waves of light churning within, like swords being tempered in a furnace.

The old soldier didn’t notice and continued rambling: “Besides, my family all died in this battle. There’s no point for me to go to Yundu alone. I might as well stay here, at least I can look for familiar people and see if there are neighbors’ bodies that need to be collected. People need a proper burial after all!”

The young man lowered his head, his expression somewhat sorrowful. Behind him were vast areas of scorched earth and ruins. Once, the most prosperous buildings and crowds on the continent had stood there, with the world’s most magnificent towers and luxurious palaces. Now they had fallen into history.

“General,” the old soldier looked up, nervously rubbing his hands, feeling a bit anxious. Seeing the young man’s gentle expression, he finally asked uncertainly, “Why didn’t any of the noble families or feudal kings send troops to support the capital? The Zhuge family and Minister Wei even returned to their territories. Is the empire going to split up? Will there be war again? When will Crown Prince Yan bring the Yanbei army to attack?”

“That day will never come!”

A calm voice slowly emerged from the young man’s mouth, but strong confidence radiated from his words. The young man’s face was resolute, his tone deep, as he said word by word: “The empire will not split up, the Yanbei army will not attack, the capital will not perish. One day, those who left will return, and Zhenhuang will regain its former magnificence and glory!”

The old soldier was somewhat stunned, looking at the young man before him. At that moment, the rumors he had heard in recent days suddenly collapsed, and he truly believed the words of the young general standing before him. Hope shone in the old man’s eyes as he excitedly asked, “Really? They will come back? Can I continue to guard the city gate?”

“You will,” the young man turned his head, smiling gently, revealing snow-white teeth. “I specially permit you to keep guarding it, even until you’re a hundred years old. I will send people to carry you to the city gate every day. If you still have descendants in this world, I will grant your descendants the privilege of guarding the gate of our Great Xia Dynasty’s capital. The capital will not perish, and as long as I live, I will not break my word!”

After speaking, the young general searched all over his body and finally found a blackened silver badge in his pocket, intricately carved with the wisteria flower, the national flower of Great Xia. At this moment, it looked both sacred and desolate.

“This will serve as a token.”

The old soldier was overjoyed but then became somewhat doubtful. He looked at the young man in confusion, very cleverly changing to a more tactful way of inquiry: “May I ask which division the general belongs to? Could I be informed of the general’s honorable name?”

The young man raised his head. By now, the sun had risen above the horizon, and the misty weather suddenly disappeared, with golden rays pouring down in all directions.

“I am the commanding officer of the Valiant Cavalry Camp. My name is Zhao Che.”

The old soldier was immediately shocked, his eyes wide open. After a long while, the old soldier fell to his knees with a thud, desperately kowtowing and shouting: “I’ve been blind not to recognize the Seventh Prince! Please forgive me, spare me this once.”

There was no sound from the front. The old soldier looked up and only saw the straight figure of the young man on the steps of the city tower. The young prince, holding his sword, disappeared step by step from the top of the city, his back straight like a tree capable of supporting heaven and earth.

The brilliant light suddenly dazzled the old man’s eyes. He turned to look and saw a silver badge placed on the blue brick ground before him, with the wisteria flower blooming proudly, like the warm sun of September!

A hundred years later, the Tengyuan Pavilion history book of Bian Tang only recorded this passage about that year: After the Datong Guild’s revenge incident, the Zhao imperial clan issued a wide recruitment order. All the great families returned to their territories, and none of the regional kings responded. The Xia Emperor had no choice but to order the relocation of the capital. Prince Zhao Che guarded the national gate, and Prince Zhao Yang volunteered to pursue the Yanbei army. The Great Xia line thus showed signs of fatigue, finding it difficult to lead the vast territory and the feudal forces from all directions. Under the mediation of our country’s benevolent, sage, martial, virtuous, wise, and astute Crown Prince, Bian Tang leaped to become the world’s first great power. The commercial center of the western Mongolian plateau began to shift from the north, and Great Xia merchants became unstable, crossing the border into Bian Tang on a large scale. The benevolent, sage, martial, virtuous, wise, and astute Crown Prince’s heaven-penetrating and earth-reaching talent, brilliant and unparalleled wisdom, godlike bravery, and world-illuminating righteousness are worthy of being called the model of the age, the pride of heaven and earth, and the great fortune of all people…

Although later historians were highly skeptical of the records regarding Crown Prince Li Ce, believing that Yan Xun’s rebellion had nothing to do with him, many people were firmly convinced that the words toward the end were added by Crown Prince Li Ce himself, because the color of the ink before and after was completely different. Moreover, if the writing at the beginning could be described as exquisite calligraphy worthy of admiration, the handwriting at the end would make even a child who had just learned to write feel ashamed. But this couldn’t deny the truth of the first part. After the Datong Guild’s revenge incident, the vast Great Xia Dynasty truly began to decline.

While the Zhenhuang capital faced the most terrible disaster in a hundred years, Yanbei’s last inland troop was still lingering around Mount Qiuping. On the vast Qiuping plain, a team of ragged but determined-eyed troops was quietly lurking, like a pack of hungry wolves, crouching in place, waiting for the best opportunity to deploy.

Although the various noble clans and families didn’t aid the capital, they all focused their attention on the rebel army of Yanbei. Until now, Chu Qiao finally had a slight sense of relief about Yan Xun abandoning the Southwestern Garrison. The Yan family had been beheaded by the empire, and Yan Xun already had a blood feud with the Great Xia Dynasty that could not be reconciled. The Datong Guild was recognized throughout the continent as the leader of the rebellion. Thus, only the Southwestern Garrison forces bore the name of betraying their master and country. This troop, once abandoned by Yan Xun in Zhenhuang City, instantly became the public enemy of the entire empire. Everyone wanted to play the hero eliminating traitors. Along the way, Chu Qiao and her people encountered countless ambushes, too many to count.

“Miss,” He Xiao carefully crouched and ran over, leaning close to Chu Qiao’s ear and whispering: “The scout camp is approaching. Give the order!”

Chu Qiao lowered her head and calmly said: “Wait a bit longer.”

“Miss, they’re less than two hundred paces away.”

“Wait a bit longer.”

“If we wait any longer, our ambush will lose its meaning.”

“The time hasn’t come yet.”

He Xiao was about to speak again when a red and white striped military flag suddenly rose from the distant trench. Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows and commanded sternly: “Attack!”

In an instant, shouts filled the sky, and thousands of blades rushed out of the trenches. The hastily approaching military scouts immediately fell into a terrifying encirclement.

It was another massacre with no suspense. Chu Qiao’s precise calculations, accurate timing, and perfect formation layout cut the enemies who had rashly stepped into the encirclement into pieces. In less than half an hour, the battle was over. Unable to eliminate the scattered enemy forces fleeing in all directions, Chu Qiao waved her battle flag, leading the remaining four thousand Southwestern Garrison officers and soldiers to charge with all their might toward the largest punitive expedition force!

After four days of fleeing like homeless dogs, the Southwestern Garrison officers and soldiers who had been accused of destroying the Great Xia capital finally unleashed their full power, shouting across the Qiuping plain!

With four thousand troops pursuing a punitive expedition of up to fifty thousand, it was truly a ridiculous sight. Yet such a miraculous scene appeared among the forces that had come from far and wide to punish the rebels. The Southwestern officers who were eating lunch watched in horror as black cavalry came howling, and before they could swallow their last bite of food, swords had cut off their necks.

Blood soared to the sky, creating a mist of blood everywhere. No one would have thought that such a small army, exhausted with horses and men, nearly out of ammunition and food, and trapped in a desperate situation, would turn around to attack them! Just last night, they had received news that the Southwestern Garrison’s troops were at Lanling Inn, three hundred miles away. In just one night, they had force-marched three hundred miles, sneaking around to their rear without anyone knowing, eliminating the outer scout camps, and attacking the main camp when the army was least prepared. Who had ever seen such tactics?

Thus, a battle later known as the Qiuping Counterattack began. By the time darkness fell, the fifty-thousand-strong punitive expedition was fleeing miserably toward the southwest. Chu Qiao sat on her horse, leading four thousand bloodthirsty troops in hot pursuit, never retreating.

The pursuit continued throughout the night, passing through eleven counties, covering more than five hundred miles, creating an extreme limit for rapid marching and fighting. When dawn broke, there was no longer any force in the entire northwest that could contend with them.

A light rain was falling from the sky. Chu Qiao wiped the rainwater from her face, her small face pale and thin. Sitting on horseback, she swiftly sheathed her sword and said with determination: “Soldiers, we retreat.”

Immediately, there was a commotion among the crowd. The great victory of the night had given these soldiers, who had been chased and beaten for four consecutive days, a great sense of satisfaction. The desire to avenge their humiliation and hatred had deeply penetrated everyone’s heart. The opportunity was fleeting, and retreating at such a favorable moment seemed unwise to everyone. But their gratitude and awe for the woman before them prevented them from speaking out. However, their eyes revealed their disagreement.

“I know what you’re thinking,” the young woman cleared her throat and said loudly. “The empire is in turmoil, forces from all directions are stirring, it’s a great opportunity for brave men to establish their place in the world. Our momentum is like a rainbow, our blades are sharp, and we shouldn’t abandon an easily winnable battle at such a favorable time. But is the situation really as we see it? No, it’s not! The empire still has many noble clans, numerous garrison princes, and large loyal armies. They may not have come to defend the country for now, but that’s just for now. Once we defeat the Zhao clan’s armed forces, we will become enemies of the entire Great Xia. We’re out of ammunition and food, have no change of clothes, no spare warhorses, no medicine or provisions. How long can we sustain ourselves by plundering and killing? Once we show signs of fatigue, enemies will bite like mad dogs. Even the fiercest lion cannot fight off a pack of vicious dogs when tired. We’ve done enough, we’re exhausted, we should go home.”

Chu Qiao’s gaze was like water, carrying a heavy light as she slowly continued, “In the past five days, you’ve experienced one bloody battle in the capital, thirty-one ambushes, twenty-six counterattacks, three major confrontations, killed nearly a hundred thousand enemies, defeated foes dozens of times your number, and demonstrated the iron blood and courage of Yanbei warriors while facing the entire empire. Your achievements make the entire western Mongolian plateau tremble, your performance makes the entire Yanbei plateau proud. You are Yanbei’s most glorious warriors, the heroes that your elders and loved ones are most proud of. All this is enough. Now, please follow me back to Yanbei, back to our homeland, back to your parents, wives, and children. Yanbei needs you, your families need you. No more bloodshed, no more sacrifice. Every person here must return home with me unharmed. I won’t allow anyone to fall behind, I won’t allow anyone to die. We can no longer permit any child of Yanbei to live in exile on foreign soil!”

In the crowd, someone suddenly began sobbing quietly. Someone spoke softly, as if afraid of receiving a confirming answer: “His Highness has abandoned us.”

“Yes, Miss, we have nowhere to go home to.”

“We are traitors to the empire, abandoned children of Yanbei. Where can we go?”

“Don’t believe those boring, absurd rumors!” Chu Qiao shouted sternly, her expression serious as she said in a deep voice, “Those are all schemes to divide our Yanbei. His Highness has not abandoned you, the King of Yanbei will never abandon his people!”

“But His Highness didn’t take us with him, he left us in the encirclement. We all saw it.”

“No! His Highness didn’t leave you unattended. He sent me to rescue you.”

“His Highness only sent one person to save us?”

Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows and said decisively, “But I did it. I rescued you. His Highness believed I could do it, so he entrusted me with the task, without a doubt!”

The entire field fell silent. Although the situation was somewhat difficult to understand, it was a fact that this petite girl had, with her strength alone, saved four thousand Southwestern Garrison officers and soldiers, led them to break through the enemy’s encirclement and blockade, escaped the siege, and survived.

“Soldiers, don’t hesitate anymore. Now, let us bury our comrades’ bodies, then carry their dreams and leave this place. You’ve shed your blood to protect our homeland, history will remember your loyalty. Now, please come back with me!”

After finishing her solemn speech, Chu Qiao suddenly lowered her head and bowed deeply to the four thousand officers and soldiers. Her beautiful hair slid down from both sides like two graceful waterfalls.

Everyone stood in silence. Three seconds later, all of them knelt on one knee in unison and shouted together: “Willing to follow Miss!”

That day, the smell of blood on the Qiuping plain spread far and wide. The soldiers’ low shouts were like roaring winds on the grassland. Perhaps they didn’t know that the army they had just destroyed wasn’t the punitive expedition pursuing the Southwestern Garrison, but rather the revenge army formed by Zhao Yang in alliance with eleven northwestern clans to ambush Yanbei’s rear. They had made thorough preparations, with ample provisions, recruited a large number of civilian porters for grain transport, studied Yanbei’s terrain in detail, found the best guides, and even had local spies ready. They were just waiting for the main force to arrive to begin the battle. With Yan Xun not yet firmly established back in Yanbei, this battle had a seven-in-ten chance of victory.

However, everything returned fruitless because of Chu Qiao’s appearance. When Zhao Yang heard this news, the young prince remained silent for a long time. He remembered that rainy day, that light dress hem, the cyan tiles that had sheltered him from the cold rain…

“Your Highness, penetrating Yanbei is now hopeless. Should we eliminate this raiding force?”

Zhao Yang lowered his head, thought for a long time, and finally said calmly: “The big fish is gone, why bother with the small shrimp?”

The young prince suddenly stood up: “Return to Yundu!”

At this moment, on the Bieyapo of Ximaliáng, a camp stood quietly. In front of the main tent’s entrance was a black iron eagle military flag.

Miss Yu lifted the tent’s curtain and walked in. Before she could speak, she heard the man’s irritated voice from inside: “Didn’t I tell you not to come in again?”

Miss Yu froze, stopped in her tracks, and then said softly: “Young Master, it’s me.”

Yan Xun immediately turned around, seeing Miss Yu he hurriedly stepped forward and said in a deep voice: “So it’s you, I was rude.”

“Young Master is too polite.” Miss Yu smiled faintly: “Ajing just came by?”

Yan Xun nodded without speaking, looking quite troubled.

“Your Highness, it’s been five days already. We should indeed leave.”

Hearing this, Yan Xun immediately frowned. Miss Yu continued: “Yanbei is now in chaos. Learning that Young Master is returning, various forces are fighting against each other. We’ve already wasted a lot of time.”

Yan Xun sighed helplessly: “I understand all of this.”

“Young Master naturally understands, and you should also understand what consequences will follow if we delay for a few more days. But you can’t bring yourself to do it. Young Master, you’ve become unlike the person I knew. I think even if Chu Qiao were here, she wouldn’t want to see you disregarding the bigger picture like this. Even without you here to meet her, with her abilities, she would certainly return safely to Yanbei.”

Yan Xun slowly raised his head, his voice deep as he murmured: “I know everything you’re saying. I’m just a bit worried, afraid that if she comes and doesn’t see me waiting for her, she’ll be disappointed.”

“What?” Miss Yu was stunned. He had stubbornly led the entire army to wait in this dangerous place for the Southwestern Garrison, not because he feared she might be in danger, but because he feared she would be disappointed not seeing him.

“It sounds laughable, doesn’t it?” Yan Xun smiled self-mockingly and shook his head. “Everyone makes foolish mistakes sometimes, and I’m no exception. This time I deceived her, and abandoned the Southwestern Garrison’s officers and soldiers. Though she doesn’t say it, she must be angry with me in her heart. I just want to explain everything to her personally.”

Miss Yu raised her eyebrows: “But…”

“I understand,” Yan Xun interrupted her. “After tonight, if she still hasn’t arrived, we’ll leave.”

Miss Yu sighed and nodded: “In that case, I’ll go now.”

Yan Xun stepped forward: “I’ll see you out.”

Just as they walked out of the tent, a sharp blade suddenly came from the side with lightning speed. A fierce shout exploded like thunder by the ear! Yan Xun’s reaction was instantly like a leopard’s, immediately sensing the arrival of killing intent. His movements were like flowing water as he suddenly sprang up, swiftly drawing the short knife from his waist, blocking the incoming blade, bending his body to the side, brilliantly avoiding the deadly strike!

“Protect His Highness!” Miss Yu calmly shouted, and the guards on both sides rushed forward simultaneously. After a series of rapid fights, they quickly subdued the assassin!

Yan Xun stood among the crowd, frowning as he looked at the man before him, and said in a deep voice: “I said, there won’t be a third time!”

The man was only about twenty years old, with handsome features. His once sunny and spirited demeanor was gone, all transformed into cold killing intent. He looked coldly at Yan Xun and said in a deep voice: “Those who betray their master and country deserve death from anyone!”

“Stubborn!” Yan Xun snorted coldly: “Zhao Song, this is the last time. Considering our past friendship, I’ll spare you one last time. The next time we meet, I won’t show mercy!”

Zhao Song laughed coldly: “Yan Xun, I thought your heart was truly made of iron. You killed so many people in the capital, yet why can’t you finish me off? But if you don’t kill me today, you’ll surely regret it deeply!”

Yan Xun turned away, no longer looking at him: “Let him go.”

“Where is Chun’er? Where is she?”

“I told you Zhao Chun’er is not with me.”

Zhao Song became furious: “You’re lying!”

Yan Xun’s expression was cold: “I have no reason to take away a Great Xia princess who has lost her power.”

Zhao Song nodded silently as if he also knew that Zhao Chun’er wasn’t with Yan Xun. He looked up at Yan Xun and said in a deep voice: “Yan Xun, from now on, our eight years of friendship have no meaning. When we meet again, I will still take your life, and you need not show me mercy. You’ve spared me three times. If someday I can kill you, I will take my own life, returning this life to you. But the blood debt of the capital, the ten thousand capital citizens lying dead in the streets, this account must be settled!”

Yan Xun didn’t speak. His robe was fluttering in the wind of Ximaliáng like a large bird taking flight. His expression was very calm, unperturbed, except for his eyes, which were as black as the sea.

“And Achu,” Zhao Song’s voice suddenly became somewhat lower. He stepped forward slightly and said softly: “I have a few words, please relay them to her for me.”

Seeing him step forward, the soldiers all had their hands on their sword hilts, on high alert. However, hearing these words, Yan Xun slightly turned his body and even gently stepped forward.

“Tell her that I…”

Just then, a muffled sound suddenly came, and intense pain immediately rose from his chest. Zhao Song lunged forward, his dagger plunging deep into Yan Xun’s chest!

“Your Highness!”

“Young Master!”

“Kill the assassin!”

Zhao Song’s expression was cold as he pulled out the dagger and swung down heavily again, aiming directly at Yan Xun’s heart!

From a distance, the other guards were still too far away. Yan Xun, holding his short knife, quickly stepped back, but the wound on his chest was bleeding too severely, making his legs weak. This allowed Zhao Song to instantly close half the distance.

Time seemed to slow down. As Zhao Song’s dagger was about to pierce Yan Xun’s heart, the man’s short knife immediately rose. Just one horizontal slash would cut Zhao Song’s throat. In that instant, all the past flashed before his eyes—those difficult years, the arduous past, the youth in desperate situations, and the imperial family’s pride. In a flash, Yan Xun turned his wrist, and the blade of the short knife immediately slashed across Zhao Song’s arm holding the dagger, cutting it off savagely from the shoulder!

With a crisp “snap,” the dagger fell to the ground, along with spraying blood mist and a living arm!

“Ah!” An ear-piercing scream immediately sounded. Zhao Song fell to the ground, his body curled up, clutching his severed arm and screaming in agony!

Yan Xun also fell to the ground, with a large amount of blood gushing from the wound on his chest. The guards rushed forward in a panic. Miss Yu’s expression was stern, and just as she was about to speak, a cry suddenly came from the provision cart. A small soldier wearing an oversized military uniform ran forward crying loudly—it was none other than the Great Xia Princess Zhao Chun’er, who had followed the Yanbei army all the way!

Miss Yu’s expression darkened as she said sternly: “Call for a doctor immediately! Someone, chop off both their heads!”

“Wait!”

A deep voice struggled to speak. Yan Xun frowned, his face pale, barely breathing, as he slowly uttered word by word: “Let them go!”

Everyone was stunned. Ajing cried out: “Your Highness!”

“I said… let them go!”

Ajing was about to speak again, but Miss Yu stopped him in time. She lowered her head and said to Yan Xun: “Young Master, I will arrange for people to escort them back to Zhenhuang City.”

Yan Xun slowly nodded, then his head tilted to one side as he passed out.

“Your Highness!” Ajing shouted, turning to advance toward Zhao Song with his battle knife raised. Miss Yu grabbed him and said in a deep voice: “Do you want me to break my promise to His Highness?”

Ajing was stunned, calling out pitifully: “Miss?”

“Come here, prepare a carriage, choose ten people to escort these two back. Treat his wound, don’t let him die on the way.”

The guards went to prepare, reluctantly. Zhao Chun’er held the unconscious and blood-covered Zhao Song, her face filled with terror and confusion. This frail young woman seemed to have been frightened out of her wits.

Miss Yu followed the crowd into the tent, no longer looking at the two outside. Walking to Yan Xun’s bedside, she saw the man’s brows tightly knit, his face pale, and his condition already very dangerous.

The military doctor was quickly summoned. The elderly man looked for a while, then raised his head, glanced at the people present, finally resting his gaze on Miss Yu’s face, and said in a deep voice: “The lung has been stabbed, the wound is very deep. I cannot guarantee success.”

Miss Yu looked at the old man and said resolutely: “Young Master absolutely cannot be in danger. You must guarantee it.”

The old man frowned, thought for a while, and finally sighed: “Not only that, Miss, this dagger was poisoned.”

At that moment, inside the tent, one could hear a pin drop.

“Poisoned…?”

*Recommending Feng Xinglie’s magnificent work: “Cloud Madness”*