Somehow Huang Ming and Xiao Chang had tracked them down and captured them all.
“Commander, I’ll give you one hour. Every quarter-hour I’ll kill one person. Whenever you think enough have been killed, come over yourself. I’ve kept your prison cart for you.”
“Despicable! Shameless!” Curses rang out from the main camp.
Chi Xue turned to Xia Houchun: “Commander Xia Hou, do we still have people outside who could rescue them?”
“We didn’t bring many people in the first place. You don’t know how strict this Commander Di’s checkpoints are. Given our special identities, we couldn’t enter in large numbers—most of our people stayed outside Yongping. We got twenty people in through various means. Some were sent in batches to Western Rong, some stayed in other mountains for support and intelligence gathering. Only two or three were left here at the main camp. Now with hostages in the midst of a great army, if it were just rescuing one or two people there might be a chance, but so many people…”
Chi Xue also understood this reasoning—too many hostages, impossible to rescue.
Unless they could remove the fire from under the cauldron by taking Xiao Chang and Huang Ming hostage, but those two were very protective of their lives, positioned at the army’s center, wearing heavy armor, with a row of shield soldiers in front and musketeers on both sides—defended so tightly not even water could leak through.
Just as they were speaking, Xia Houchun’s eyes suddenly focused: “Speak of the devil—isn’t that our signal?”
Chi Xue also saw fireworks flash ahead, and the color was actually bright red.
Among the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards’ fireworks, bright red was the highest level, representing matters of utmost military and national urgency that superseded even the Crown Princess’s own safety. Though Chi Xue knew this, she had never seen fireworks of this color.
Xia Houchun said: “Something major has happened at the border!”
At the same time, commotion also appeared behind Xiao Chang’s forces blocking the main camp. Sentries in the watchtower shouted: “Scouts reporting from ahead!” A rider galloped frantically forward, a red flag representing urgent military intelligence planted on his back. From afar the person appeared dressed in red, but only when closer did they realize his armor was stained red. Seeing such a wretched appearance, everyone’s hearts skipped a beat.
For years Di Yiwei had governed Yongping, emphasizing coordination between camps, with great armies guarding the borders and scouts everywhere. The information network was dense and complex, always responding to the slightest wind, keeping border situations firmly under control. For years no one had seen such panicked and miserable scouts.
Xiao Chang’s army also instinctively cleared a path. The scout charged straight to Xiao Chang, spoke a few sentences, then collapsed to the ground. Huang Ming’s shrill voice suddenly rang out, shocked and angry, whipping around to point at Di Yiwei: “It’s you! It must be you! Otherwise how could Liaodong armies enter our borders so quickly!”
His voice was high and sharp, heard by many, causing an uproar.
Di Yiwei’s eyes flashed coldly: “What Liaodong armies entering borders? Speak clearly!”
“Still pretending!” Xiao Chang was furious: “The scout just reported that Liaodong’s great army is pressing along the entire border. They’ve exited Xining Pass, broken through Cangtian Pass nearest to Xining, and are charging straight toward Yongping and other mountains. There’s even one army that circled around Mount Fu—they may have discovered Mount Fu’s secret passage. If that army enters through Mount Fu, they’ll form an encirclement of Yongping!”
“Impossible!” Di Yiwei said. “I stationed troops along the Xining Pass and Mount Fu line—they could hold them off for at least five days. It’s impossible for Liaodong armies to break through Cangtian so quickly, much less approach Mount Fu and exit Xining without us knowing!”
Xiao Chang was immediately speechless.
A general immediately shouted in grief and anger: “Commander, the day after you were captured, they withdrew many frontline garrison troops from Cangtian Pass—some for guard duty, some not allowed to leave camp, some for transfers. Now the Xining Pass line’s defenses are the weakest in years. The lads there…”
The lads there faced the great army’s border assault fighting alone while the rear was still fighting for power, busy chasing the main general.
The reporting scout still wasn’t clear on how the situation had changed. Seeing Di Yiwei across from him, he crawled on the ground wailing: “Commander! Commander! Cangtian Pass now only has three thousand garrison troops! The thirty thousand troops you allocated there were just transferred away when Liaodong’s great army arrived. They were nearly wiped out in one encounter. I crawled out from under piles of corpses… Commander Tao was pounded to pulp by stones, Guard Commander Ye fought all night and took over a hundred arrows. All Cangtian Pass citizens over ten years old went up to fight. We couldn’t hold it, couldn’t hold it!”
The crying was hoarse with blood, each word echoing. The gray sky hung low, and the howling wind seemed to weep.
Behind Di Yiwei, a general’s eyes turned blood-red as he punched the tree beside him.
Someone cried out in anguish.
Originally their commander had always guarded against Liaodong and Western Rong, while they themselves had disagreed, even quite agreeing when Huang Ming raised objections.
Now the warriors’ blood proved their commander’s correctness, yet the result was so tragic.
The soldiers’ eyes all turned red.
Those who died were all comrades.
Yet they hadn’t actually died fighting blade to blade on the battlefield—they died because of these mediocre generals and eunuchs’ greed, arrogance, ignorance, and conceit.
They were innocent victims of power struggles.
Chi Xue and Xia Houchun stared intently at Di Yiwei.
Wanting to know what she would do.
The gates half-open, Cangtian greatly defeated—if she took command now, winning would be fine, but if she lost, all final blame would fall on her.
And she had just been constrained, devastated, humiliated, hunted. At this moment would she still be willing to take on this mess for the nation and people, to clean up after Xiao Chang and Huang Ming?
But they saw Di Yiwei didn’t even hesitate, immediately saying: “Old Tian, you lead the Left Army infantry battalions—twenty thousand men. Circle around from Yellow Mud Bay by forced march to first occupy Lan City behind Cangtian Pass…” She issued orders one by one. The generals responded in deep voices while soldiers’ military boots clattered endlessly.
Finally Di Yiwei glanced at Chi Xue.
Chi Xue’s heart jumped at that look, then heard her say: “…Sai Meng, you take three thousand from Scorpion Camp to Mount Fu. You must block Mount Fu’s passage for me—don’t let a single Liaodong soldier pass Mount Fu!”
That Scorpion Camp garrison commander loudly acknowledged the order as Scorpion Camp soldiers silently assembled in formation.
Scorpion Camp’s total strength was ten thousand. Di Yiwei allocating three thousand showed how much she valued Mount Fu.
Chi Xue cried out: “No! The Crown Prince… my young master and the others haven’t returned!” She stopped abruptly, gritting her teeth as she looked at Di Yiwei: “Commander, you promised me!”
Di Yiwei said calmly: “With your young master’s abilities, there shouldn’t be any life-threatening crisis in Western Rong. Better to stay there for now—it’s actually safer for her.”
“If she hears news about you, she’ll definitely rush back immediately. By then with Mount Fu blocked, she’ll collide with Liaodong’s great army!”
“Since she couldn’t rush back before, she shouldn’t rush back now to join the excitement,” Di Yiwei said. “After she left, the winds changed and Yongping’s situation became unclear. Battlefields change in an instant—what she wanted probably has no hope now anyway. No need for such hardship.”
Chi Xue’s face went white with anger: “Commander, you—”
Xia Houchun held her back and said to Di Yiwei: “Have some faith in our master.”
Di Yiwei smiled indifferently.
She had never pinned hopes on anyone—how could she lose faith?
Across from them, Huang Ming and Xiao Chang silently watched her deploy troops. Only after confirming she would deal with Liaodong and that her subordinates still followed her commands like arms directing fingers, with the great army truly turning back to prepare for departure, did Xiao Chang speak again: “Commander, because of your treasonous rebellion, Liaodong entered Cangtian Pass. With life devastated and borders unstable, all guilt lies with you. Don’t make things difficult for these women and children’s lives anymore—enter the prison cart yourself. Considering you’re still willing to atone through merit, if we win, we’ll naturally petition on your behalf.”
A moment of silence.
The soldiers were struck dumb by such shamelessness.
Someone couldn’t help cursing: “Xiao Chang, have you no shame?”
Xiao Chang stared coldly at Di Yiwei: “A quarter-hour is almost up.”
Old Shen’s wife was pushed forward.
This frail woman still had scars on her face. Eyes closed, staring blankly, she trembled through clenched teeth: “Commander… Commander… there’s fighting… you fight well… don’t let those Liaodong dogs break into our homes… my daughter is only ten… don’t mind me… don’t mind me…” Saying this, she rammed her head toward a soldier’s blade beside her.
Xiao Chang yanked the soldier sharply. The blade moved aside and Old Shen’s wife struck empty air, immediately restrained by others. Huang Ming reached out and pinched Old Shen’s wife under her ribs. The woman screamed uncontrollably. As Huang Ming was about to apply more force, Lou Xi, who had been silently watching Di Yiwei, suddenly reached out and knocked his hand away.
Huang Ming: “You!”
Lou Xi said coldly: “Hostages are hostages—no malicious torment allowed.”
Huang Ming laughed: “Already committed evil deeds, now playing compassionate—for whose benefit?”
Lou Xi’s face paled as his gaze drifted toward Di Yiwei. Di Yiwei looked at him like a stranger with completely empty eyes.
Lou Xi’s expression grew worse as his hand slowly gripped his blade hilt.
Huang Ming said with a dark face: “What, regretting it? Then go—go crying to embrace Di Yiwei’s thighs. Maybe she’ll reward you with a bone to gnaw.”
Lou Xi’s hand stopped, lips tightly pressed.
Across from them, Di Yiwei coldly turned her gaze away.
Huang Ming laughed sinisterly: “Commander, though a quarter-hour hasn’t arrived, we don’t want to be idle. If you’re in the mood to watch your life-saving benefactor suffer because of you, then watch slowly.”
Di Yiwei stared heavily at Huang Ming.
Someone shouted: “Commander, let’s slaughter these bastards!”
Xiao Chang said coldly: “You fools, look at your commander—repaying kindness with enmity, cold-blooded heart. All that loyalty to ruler and love of country, caring for people—it’s all fake! Following such trash, do you really want to walk this dark path to the end with her?”
Huang Ming: “The edict hasn’t been withdrawn for a day, so she remains a traitorous prisoner for a day. Following her means rebelling—why don’t you quickly abandon darkness for light!”
Xiao Chang: “Quarter-hour’s up! Di Yiwei, you repay kindness with enmity, refusing to save lives—are you qualified to command tens of thousands of troops to guard border cities!”
“Qualified!”
Whether saying “qualified” or just spitting “pah,” the voice came from the side cliff and thus sounded especially vast and grand, echoing endlessly in mid-air. Everyone looked up to see a figure on the cliff about to leap down.
That height was obviously suicidal. Everyone froze with mouths agape, drinking wind.
Then they saw the cliff figure flash and disappear.
Everyone: “Where’s the person?”
Xiao Chang had the same question, and his heart was beating fast because that cliff figure looked somewhat familiar from afar.
The next instant his horse’s back sank as someone landed behind him, a blade across his neck. The blade’s cold was bone-chilling, making goosebumps rise in patches on his throat.
Xiao Chang was horrified.
He couldn’t understand how this person had passed through the heavy armies surrounding him to appear ghost-like behind him.
If it weren’t broad daylight with sunlight like a waterfall, he’d almost think he’d seen a ghost.
The person behind him had steady hands—the blade didn’t move at all. The voice was very relaxed: “Release them.”
Xiao Chang didn’t move. He didn’t believe the other party would really dare kill him.
Kill him, and could they escape with this great army surrounding them?
The next instant his back lightened—the blade disappeared and that person had vanished.
Xiao Chang was first shocked then pleased, about to turn around when suddenly his back sank again and the blade returned to his neck.
Xiao Chang: “…”
Then his heart also sank slightly.
The opponent was using actions to prove they could come and go instantly—the great army was nothing to them.
Xiao Chang drew a breath: “Sir has considerable ability—why sell your life for that useless woman Di Yiwei? I’ve never seen such divine skills and would gladly offer ten thousand gold for you to serve my family…”
The person behind him suddenly laughed quietly.
Xiao Chang vaguely felt this voice was also somewhat familiar.
His gaze inadvertently swept across to the opposite side, where he saw Di Yiwei’s expression was strange, and the girl beside Di Yiwei was full of joy… Wait, wasn’t that the great palace maid beside the Crown Princess!
Having frequented the palace, he naturally recognized Chi Xue. Previously with the tense situation, his attention had been entirely on Di Yiwei, and with Chi Xue’s face blackened and grayed, he hadn’t noticed.
And that fellow standing behind Chi Xue with his head down, fat yet somehow agile—Xia Houchun!
All the blood in Xiao Chang’s body froze at this moment.
The person behind him smiled slightly and said softly: “Hmm? Useless woman? Di Yiwei has fought a hundred battles, commanding great armies—in your eyes she’s a useless woman. Then what are you? A useful toothpick?”
Xiao Chang said with difficulty breathing: “Crown Princess…”
Tie Ci said: “Or do you think women are useless? Then what about me?”
“Crown Princess… why do you have talent abilities…”
“That’s not what you should be concerned with right now.” Tie Ci lightly touched with her blade tip: “I won’t say it a third time—release them.”
She only lightly touched with the blade tip, but Xiao Chang’s throat immediately opened a cut with blood flowing out.
Xiao Chang began trembling all over.
He could confidently believe others wouldn’t dare kill him, but behind him was the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess killing him wouldn’t have too many concerns.
He said hoarsely: “Release! Release!”
Huang Ming had already spurred his horse to escape, now with a cold expression, exchanging meaningful glances with his subordinates.
Even if released, they had to get the people back. The Crown Princess alone couldn’t chase everyone.
His eyes drifted over, and in the crowd behind him, someone quietly drew a bow, aiming at Tie Ci’s back.
That angle was concealed—except for people in their army, those across couldn’t see it.
Tie Ci seemed completely unaware.
Huang Ming was overjoyed.
In chaotic armies, anything could happen. Afterward they could blame Di Yiwei.
Just as he was about to give orders, suddenly Tie Ci turned her head and glanced at him.
This glance made Huang Ming feel like ice water had been poured over his entire body.
The next instant he felt a crack above his head. The sound wasn’t particularly fierce, but he heard surrounding cries like tsunamis, then all his body hair stood on end.
Like something had hammered hard into his skull, or like a sharp blade had split from his head straight into his body. Where it passed, thunder exploded, tendons and veins shattered, flesh split and skin opened, blood dried up.
He screamed and collapsed trembling all over.
Everyone stared agape at a thin white light suddenly appearing above Huang Ming’s head. The white light flashed and entered his skull, then his hair disappeared, his clothes also disappeared, a burnt smell accompanied by smoke scattered from his body. That white light moved like a swimming white snake, flowing through the crowd. Wherever it passed, people smoked, screamed, and fell. That walking lightning finally reached the archer in the crowd, following the metal arrowhead into the bowman’s fingers. With a crack, everyone watched that finger explode into a blur of bloody flesh.
Meanwhile the soldiers behind Di Yiwei suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Because though the lightning moved on, the electricity on Huang Ming still raged, extending all the way to his crotch, then his pants also turned to flying ash.
The eunuch’s ugliness and privacy were exposed before everyone’s eyes.
Huang Ming screamed and fled covering his face, no longer caring about any hostages.
Over there Xiao Chang’s face was ashen as he watched soldiers release the hostages.
Di Yiwei’s side immediately sent people to bring Old Shen’s wife and the others back to camp.
Tie Ci held Xiao Chang hostage, spurring the horse, facing Xiao Chang’s personal troops while backing step by step toward Di Yiwei’s camp.
Chi Xue had already run out to welcome the Crown Princess, but seeing her approaching with her back to Di Yiwei, she couldn’t help calling softly: “Master…”
She wanted to tell the Crown Princess about the earlier friction—not to report but to remind her that Di Yiwei was iron-hearted, prioritizing the overall situation. She had already shown opposition earlier. Now with the Crown Princess trusting her too much, if Di Yiwei had decided to rebel, the Crown Princess would be in danger.
Tie Ci shook her head with her back to Chi Xue, who immediately fell silent.
Tie Ci smiled: “I trust all people who prioritize the overall situation.”
Di Yiwei had just shown a slightly mocking smile when she heard her continue: “Because I am the overall situation.”
Di Yiwei couldn’t help laughing out loud.
Chi Xue also smiled.
Her Crown Princess was just like this—treating heavy burdens lightly with royal bearing.
Tie Ci backed all the way to Di Yiwei’s side before turning around with Xiao Chang to face the great army, calling out clearly: “Everyone, I am the Crown Princess, Tie Ci.”
The soldiers stared wide-eyed, completely unable to react for a moment.
They recognized this as Ye Ci, the recent celebrity in the main camp, the leader among that batch of academy students who had immediately butted heads with the commander and fought the soldier king, establishing rules for the entire camp—a tough character.
Just now seeing her divine descent from heaven with talent abilities that were nearly supernatural, amid their shock they were all thinking they’d heard this was a noble young master from the capital—what family could raise such a young master?
The soldiers had originally looked down on dandies and despised scholars, but the academy and Ye Ci had repeatedly refreshed their understanding.
But they hadn’t expected this was a woman—the Crown Princess.
This shock was no less than that day learning their commander’s true gender.
Horse hooves sounded in the distance as if great armies approached. Everyone remembered the news they’d heard earlier, their faces changing drastically.
Seeing Tie Ci showed no intention of releasing him, Xiao Chang gritted his teeth: “Crown Princess, the hostages have been released—you should release me too!”
Tie Ci smiled without answering, casually patting his head: “Oh.”
She said “oh” but didn’t move. After Xiao Chang waited a while, he had to say again: “Crown Princess, surely you don’t want great battle imminent with instability in the army? Release me and I’ll immediately order my subordinates to join Di Yiwei’s formation to resist Liaodong together, how about it?”
Tie Ci said: “That makes sense.”
The generals behind Di Yiwei looked angry and opened their mouths to curse, but Di Yiwei raised her hand to stop them. She slightly lifted her chin, gazing at Tie Ci’s back.
Xiao Chang said happily: “Thank you, Crown Princess. Since the Crown Princess doesn’t make things difficult for this minister, naturally this minister won’t make things difficult for the Crown Princess after returning.”
Tie Ci said gently: “Then thank you. To express my gratitude, I’ll allow you to go down first and scout the path for your family.”
Her last sentence was said leaning by Xiao Chang’s ear—except for Xiao Chang, no one else heard it.
Xiao Chang was stunned, not reacting for a moment. Then his mind thundered as enormous horror and terror immediately flooded his brain. He shouted: “What are you doing? You can’t! I’m a Xiao…”
“Slice.”
The meteoric iron dagger piercing flesh was truly inaudible, but the sound of blood spraying was like spring waterfalls thundering in Xiao Chang’s mind. Large sheets of blood opened before his eyes, sunlight jumping with golden-red bubbles. He felt no pain, only his consciousness suddenly growing muddled, hazily wondering whose blood this was, why so much…
Meanwhile Xiao Chang’s personal troops across from Tie Ci, the Kaiping Army units that had just arrived from farther back who had surrendered to Tie Ci, and the Yongping Army behind Tie Ci all stood dumbfounded.
They stared stupidly as between the great armies, the Crown Princess smiled and chatted while raising her hand to slit the throat of an important Xiao family member, Empress Dowager Xiao’s valued nephew, Yongping Army’s future commander Xiao Chang.
Clearly just a moment before, it had seemed the Crown Princess feared the Xiao family’s power and would release him.
A general quietly said to Di Yiwei: “Commander, is this really the Crown Princess?”
Di Yiwei’s eyes showed amusement: “Genuine article.”
That general made tsk-tsk sounds: “Fame is not as good as meeting in person, and meeting exceeds fame.”
Another general leaned in and whispered: “This one’s ruthless edge in laughing while killing, going back on her word—I like it.”
Di Yiwei folded her arms, hand positioned by her lips in her habitual smoking pose, gazing steadily for a while before saying: “I like that too.”