Someone else raised a question: “Grand Minister, those few are just some Great Qian soldiers who even brought trouble to Mote Hulan. Bringing them out in front of Western Rong’s royal palace like this—I’m afraid it won’t work?”

Qiu Wujiu smiled without speaking.

Of course it wouldn’t work on Dan Ye.

But it might work on a certain someone.

The one truly in charge in Western Rong’s royal palace might not necessarily be Dan Ye.

Several prisoners were pushed out, disheveled with faces covered in wounds. Qiu Wujiu’s men climbed to high places and shouted toward those above.

Behind the second-level wall, Tie Ci stared below and her eyes narrowed.

Bound before both armies were actually Yu Youji and those soldiers.

How had they fallen into Qiu Wujiu’s hands?

What had happened?

Yu Youji was pushed forward stumbling.

He had mistakenly led Qiu Wujiu’s army to Mote Hulan’s camp, bringing destruction to the camp. Feeling very ashamed, he was later captured by Qiu Wujiu’s army during the chaos. He had wanted to die but still hoped to find Ye Ci soon and explain the commander’s situation to him, so Ye Ci could return to help clear the commander’s name. Therefore he had been enduring.

Today, being dragged out before both armies and hearing that the magnificent structure opposite was Western Rong’s royal palace, his eyes lit up. He thought Ye Ci had been helping the Eagle Lord to retake the royal city—had they succeeded?

He began shouting wildly toward those above.

“Are you there! If you are, return quickly! She’s in trouble! Just as I feared, she’s been framed! They even stripped her clothes for public humiliation and want to escort her back!”

He shouted loudly: “Go back! She needs you!”

Tie Ci’s eyelashes trembled.

She understood immediately.

Di Yiwei was in trouble!

And it was more cruel than she had worried—those seizing power had actually humiliated her like this!

Tie Ci had seen human darkness and experienced bloody upheavals. She was always steadfast in attitude, never truly angry.

However, at this moment her rage burned like wildfire in her chest, instantly rushing to her crown.

She was a woman!

She could not tolerate another woman who bled for country and disregarded herself being trampled like this!

Her fingers pressed against the wall trembled.

Rong Pu standing beside her suddenly raised his hand and covered hers.

Tie Ci came to her senses and looked down.

Below the palace wall, Qiu Wujiu had raised his telescope again.

The telescope slowly swept over everyone on the wall, not missing any subtle expression.

He was looking for someone.

In just this moment, Tie Ci had already restrained all emotion and called out. People by the wall left one after another.

Below, Qiu Wujiu’s men were still shouting when they suddenly saw the people above all walk away disinterestedly, and couldn’t help being stunned.

Dan Ye’s loud laughter came from the palace wall: “What cats and dogs are those below? Dragging them to threaten me? Don’t wait an hour—I’ll help you solve it right now!”

Before his words finished, arrow light flashed from atop the palace wall, thundering like lightning. If not for the alert guards watching Yu Youji and others, who grabbed his head and pushed him back, Yu Youji would definitely have been shot through.

After this episode, the useless prisoners had to be pushed back inside.

Qiu Wujiu frowned slightly.

Wasn’t that person said to love people like children, benevolent and merciful? With Great Qian soldiers bound before the formation, she remained unmoved?

Abandoning her own people like this—did she not want military and popular support?

Atop the palace wall, Tie Ci walked calmly inward.

She would not accept coercion.

The efforts all along couldn’t fall short at the final moment.

Before the greater situation, even she herself was insignificant, let alone a few soldiers.

If Qiu Wujiu thought this could force her to show herself, he was truly mistaken.

Dan Shuang followed beside her, looking at her with some worry: “Your Highness…”

“We don’t accept coercion,” Tie Ci said. “But I will save those people.”

“Whoever threatens me, I’ll strike them down.”

…

“Is she with you?”

Liu Chen was grabbing the wine jug to drink the last dregs when he heard this and nearly poured wine all over himself.

He wiped his face, really not knowing what expression he should have. He scratched randomly at his face before arranging his expression, saying in shock: “What?”

Lou Xi quietly watched him: “If she’s with you, you can’t take care of her properly. Tell me.”

“…What are you saying? Me take care of her?” Liu Chen pointed at his nose tip. “Me? Take care of her? Have you forgotten my relationship with her?”

“I haven’t forgotten, but I’ve always suspected. Yiwei is very lazy. I actually never understood why she’d bother making trouble with you. Someone like her—if she really disliked a person, she’d either get rid of them or kill them. Why keep you in front of her eyes being annoying and frustrating?”

Silence filled both above and below the tunnel.

Xia Houchun glanced sideways at Di Yiwei.

Really quite understanding indeed.

Di Yiwei remained expressionless.

Your enemy truly knows you best.

“Hand her over to me. I’m very worried about her,” Lou Xi said. “Trust me, I’ll take her away. I’ll take good care of her. I swear on my life and future—no one is more important than her.”

Liu Chen couldn’t speak. He didn’t know what to say. After a long while, he cursed: “Crazy bastard.”

He stood up and reached out: “I don’t understand what you’re saying, and I don’t want to hear this nonsense. I completely don’t understand what kind of madman you are, but now the wine’s finished and you should go too.”

Lou Xi remained silent, then slowly stood after a long while.

The daggers in the tunnel were withdrawn.

There was no opportunity.

Lou Xi walked to the door, turned back to look at the couch—unclear what he was looking at—and said hollowly: “If you decide, or encounter difficulties, come find me. Trust me, I really want to protect you.”

Liu Chen: “Stop being mysterious! Safe travels, Commander!”

The door opened and closed, wind and snow instantly intruding then being driven away.

Liu Chen plopped down on the couch, touching his back—already soaked with sweat.

After a while he lifted the blanket and wooden board, saying to those below: “Commander, what should we do? I think he’s discovered you.”

…

The prisoners before the formation had no effect and were taken back.

Generals asked Qiu Wujiu for instructions—when the hour was up, should they still kill the prisoners?

Qiu Wujiu sneered and said methodically: “Does a gentleman’s word carry weight?”

The generals understood and withdrew.

Qiu Wujiu continued using his telescope to examine the royal palace, hoping to find some flaw.

But suddenly in the telescope he saw a pale face flash by.

He frowned, recognizing Wuliang Yunzhu.

This girl’s backward glance on the mountain path had left a deep impression on him earlier. Now she appeared in the royal palace again, looking panicked with faint blood traces on her face. Qiu Wujiu’s heart stirred.

Was this girl having withdrawal symptoms?

Seeing her circumstances, they didn’t seem good.

Indeed, with her father usurping the throne and Dan Ye ascending, how could he treat her well?

Now that Dan Ye had just gained position and was under siege, naturally he couldn’t rush to settle accounts. He temporarily spared the sisters’ lives, but once the crisis was resolved, this girl wouldn’t live much longer.

Under death’s threat, naturally she would want to do something.

Qiu Wujiu signaled to someone beside him. Someone drew a bow, tied a small bag to an arrow, and shot toward the palace wall.

Both sides were currently resting from battle. The corner where Wuliang Yunzhu was located was inconspicuous. Seeing the arrow coming, she ducked her head as the arrow thudded into a mountain crevice.

After a moment, a trembling arm reached out and pulled out the arrow.

Qiu Wujiu showed a smile.

Tie Ci, wearing Wuliang Yunzhu’s mask, opened the bag and also smiled.

Inside was half of the black fruit that Wuliang Yunzhu had been eating, plus a small note.

The note said that as long as she could help open the gates or explain the palace mechanisms, Qiu Wujiu would give her more medicine and guarantee the sisters’ lives with lifelong wealth and comfort.

Everything was as expected. Tie Ci smiled, thinking Qiu Wujiu was indeed deeply scheming, having laid such a hidden card. If not for coincidence—Wuliang Yunzhu pursuing her and being killed by Dan Ye, plus Rong Pu’s knowledge of medicines—who could have discovered this hidden move?

She casually picked up a charred arrow shaft, tore a piece of clothing, bit her finger to smear some blood on the cloth, making herself look desperate and anxious, and replied to Qiu Wujiu.

The letter said that though she knew how to operate the gates, the guards here were all the new king’s people. If she helped open the gates, Qiu Wujiu’s army might not arrive before the new king’s people killed her. So to preserve her life, she wanted Qiu Wujiu to personally lead people to fight up to the final gate. Then she would leap down from the palace wall, Qiu Wujiu’s people must catch her and safely bring her into the army for protection. Only then could she guide Qiu Wujiu’s army on how to open the final gate.

Then she pretended anger at the provocation below and shot the note back tied to an arrow.

The arrow was caught and delivered to Qiu Wujiu. Soon another arrow was shot up—this time Qiu Wujiu said reaching the final level would cost too much, at most he could reach the third level.

Tie Ci shot back saying regardless of how many levels, the king and ministers would definitely be on the final level. She could promise to definitely capture Dan Ye alive and completely end the Wuliang royal family atop the royal palace.

Qiu Wujiu negotiated again, saying Wuliang Yunzhu must provide advantageous attack methods.

Tie Ci shot back saying opening gates too early would create vigilance that would be disadvantageous. She could tell Qiu Wujiu that gate controls were only behind the gates, impossible to open from outside, but palace wall mechanisms would become fewer and fewer at higher levels.

No more arrows came after that.

This meant agreement was reached.

Tie Ci turned back to find Dan Ye, having him preserve some mechanisms on the back walls without activating them.

Dan Ye agreed without question.

Tie Ci was somewhat surprised: “Why don’t you ask why I’m doing this? Aren’t you afraid I’m colluding with Qiu Wujiu?”

Dan Ye suddenly smiled.

“If I can’t trust you, who can I trust?”

Tie Ci smiled without speaking.

As long as one was strong enough, there were still many people and things in this world worth trusting.

There were lone heroes fighting alone, but no generals winning alone.

Strength itself was召唤 and cohesion, as well as deterrence and guarantee.

The second attack began.

This time advancement was much smoother. Though many corpses were still left behind, competing for the palace walls was easier than before.

Following Tie Ci’s guidance, Qiu Wujiu’s army abandoned efforts on the gates and focused on attacking the walls, then joyfully discovered that indeed, wall mechanisms decreased level by level.

When they attacked up to the second level wall, defenders demolished the second level palaces, closed the third level gates, and retreated to the third level.

They began attacking the third level again. After defenders lost ground, they retreated to the fourth level.

After a day and night of slaughter, Qiu Wujiu’s army left over ten thousand corpses but also fought to just before the final level.

Tie Ci stood behind the second-to-last gate, looking back behind her.

All soldiers and ministers had retreated to the final level. While one man guarding the pass could hold off ten thousand, it also meant that pass was a dead end with no retreat.

Everyone’s eyes showed panic.

One could almost imagine—if enemy forces rushed up to the final level, everyone’s fate would be either jumping from this high mountain or being killed by blades and spears.

Morale unavoidably began to waver.

Except for Dan Shuang beside her, Tie Ci had told no one about this plan.

Not because she didn’t trust Rong Pu and others, but she feared her plan’s inherent danger would make them try to stop her.

Especially Dan Ye—he was completely disobedient.

She also hoped Dan Ye would use this opportunity to clearly see these ministers and subordinates.

Before disaster, human nature showed most clearly.

At this moment—those striving to resist, those fearless, those fleeing in panic, those hiding everywhere, even those cursing the new king for bringing disaster.

All was exposed.

But Dan Ye showed no anger. Under his thick brows, his dark eyes watched the enemies close at hand and also watched those ministers constantly wavering between loyalty and betrayal.

Western Rong people were straightforward and loyal, yet once they entered court and were influenced by power desires, those excellent qualities would gradually be worn away.

But that was fine. Kings wanted more than just loyalty. There were ways to control fierce tigers, and specially made cages for hyenas and foxes too.

Tie Ci gazed at him and smiled slightly.

She believed Dan Ye, polished through this half year, would become an excellent Western Rong king.

Below, battle cries shook the heavens, constantly approaching.

Dan Ye ordered the final level palaces not be demolished, but above were special passages for trees to roll down. Countless people cut trees in the back mountain—cut trees rolled directly down through passages. Wherever they passed, bones broke and blood flew.

But Qiu Wujiu’s people had fought hard to advance here—how could they give up? When some were crushed to death, others stepped on comrades’ corpses to continue charging.

Tie Ci stared at the elderly man being closely protected in the crowd, slowly and cautiously approaching.

The nearest soldiers had already climbed the city wall.

Under iron umbrellas’ protection, Qiu Wujiu was looking upward.

Behind her came cries of alarm and angry shouts.

Tie Ci thought it was about time, preparing to put on Wuliang Yunzhu’s mask and figure out how to get this person beside her away.

Dan Ye beside her suddenly said: “Earlier when I told you about the royal palace, I stopped halfway. Do you want to hear the rest?”

“Hmm?”

“Come with me.”

Dan Ye grabbed her hand and rushed upward.

This was sudden. Tie Ci didn’t know what he wanted to say, thinking there was some important arrangement. Seeing there was still some distance below, she could only follow.

She glanced at that hand, seeing he had no reaction, and raised her eyebrows.

Fine, with all his subordinates and ministers around, she should give him some face. She’d shake free when no one was around.

The man ahead rushed along the mountain wall, his iron-black robes sweeping past frost-covered blue rocks, then dampened by the gradually misty cold clouds halfway up the mountain.

Western Rong royal city’s scattered lights gradually spread beneath their feet. Farther away at several city gates, flames seemed to flicker.

Both guessed these should be Huyin’s forces being blocked.

Now both sides were locked in stalemate—whoever solved their opponent first at the royal palace would grasp victory.

Tie Ci was pressed for time and grabbed Dan Ye to teleport, but suddenly felt pain in her organs and blockage in her qi—the teleportation failed to activate.

This was the second time recently.

The other day when she pulled Rong Pu and Tian Wu to teleport, there had also been obstruction.

Were her talents becoming unstable?

A shadow fell over her heart.

Dan Ye kept pulling her to the uppermost great hall. The hall was empty, with flickering candles extending from the hall entrance deep inside, like a row of bright pearls illuminating the eagle spreading its wings at the hall’s end.

Beside the throne crouched a cooing gyrfalcon, one wing bandaged. Seeing Tie Ci, its feathers bristled all over as it angrily cawed loudly.

Because its brother didn’t want to show himself too early before this woman, it had to hide for so long!

Tie Ci glanced at it and rubbed the bird’s head.

Dan Ye pulled her to sit. Tie Ci didn’t move.

Playing the shared kingdom game again?

Always refusing was also tiring.

Dan Ye sat alone after a moment of silence and lifted the chair’s armrest.

Tie Ci’s pupils contracted.

Under the armrest were densely packed mechanism trigger lines extending into the darkness below.

“This is atop Western Rong’s royal palace, also the final line of defense for Western Rong’s royal family. If someone truly attacks to the final level, then Western Rong’s royal family has no need to exist. At that time, the entire royal palace will collapse.”

At that time, the collapsing palace would flow down from the mountaintop like a torrent, swallowing all who tried to devour this place into disaster’s giant maw.

Mutual destruction.

So decisive.

Tie Ci glanced at the mechanism, then at outside, hearing the increasingly close sounds of battle, feeling somewhat anxious.

She said: “This is the final resort. Don’t use it unless absolutely necessary. I have some matters to attend to first.”

Dan Ye behind her showed no reaction. She walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped.

She vaguely felt something wasn’t right.

Dan Ye was too calm.

He seemed not to care about victory or defeat, nor about ministers’ thoughts, nor about this approaching army. Yet he single-mindedly brought her to see this royal palace secret, even showing a slight smile at the corners of his lips.

That smile held hints of satisfaction and pride.

Pride in what? Pride in this mutual destruction backup plan?

Satisfied with what? Satisfied about dying together with enemies?

Wait, dying together.

Dying together…

Tie Ci’s scalp suddenly exploded.

She whirled around.

She saw Dan Ye reaching to turn a protrusion in front of the throne.

He was activating the switch to destroy the royal palace!

He wanted to bring his royal palace and everyone together with Qiu Wujiu’s army in mutual destruction!