Marquis An Yang had come to welcome Yan Chi with high spirits, never expecting such a scene upon their meeting.
Yue Rong’s expression immediately changed. He had rushed out without his weapons, and at Yan Chi’s command, a squad of light cavalry charged forward, surrounding him with drawn swords before he could even turn his horse to retreat to the city.
Yue Rong frowned and said, “Yan Chi, what are you doing?!”
Yan Chi looked at Yue Rong expressionlessly. “Forgive me, but please dismount, Lord Marquis.”
Seeing this, Yue Rong grew even more confused and turned to look at Qin Wan. Though she seemed about to speak, as the Prince’s consort, she couldn’t utter a word at this moment.
As the situation remained tense, Yue Ning could no longer contain herself and rode forward. She stared at Yue Rong intently, “Father… what’s going on?! Why did someone ambush the Northern Manor Army’s camp last night?! Why did someone set fires behind the Shuoxi Army?! Father, do you know that ten thousand of the Shuoxi Army’s vanguard and several commanders were all buried in the grasslands? At the Northern Manor camp, the Empress and Crown Prince were attacked at midnight—the Empress was severely wounded and had to seek refuge in the Shuoxi camp. We still don’t know if she’ll live…”
Yue Ning’s eyes reddened, “Father, tell me you had nothing to do with this!”
Yue Rong’s eyes widened in disbelief. Looking between Yue Ning, Yan Chi, and Qin Wan, he finally understood why Yan Chi had brought his army.
“How could this… Last night, the Jinzhou Army set fires south of Luofeng Slope. Following the original plan, I led our men to ambush from the valley side. When the Rong barbarians left their main camp, they first engaged with the Jinzhou Army. We fought the barbarians all night, killing at least ten thousand. Later, when the downpour came and extinguished the mountain fires, I led men to investigate the barbarians’ main camp until dawn. When we sent scouts to the grasslands, we found you had withdrawn, and seeing the barbarians’ army had moved north, I assumed we had scattered them and they had fled in disarray to Cangzhou. Only then did I withdraw—”
Yue Rong continued in one breath, “I had just returned and was arranging for the wounded when I heard of your arrival. I thought that everyone must be exhausted today and would need to clear the battlefield. I planned to send messages to you and the Empress tonight, to hold a victory celebration tomorrow, but instead…”
Yue Rong spoke rapidly, clearly shocked by these events. Even after explaining his actions throughout the night, he still hadn’t recovered his composure!
How could so many unexpected events have occurred last night?!
While he was certainly not involved, then who?!
With this thought, Yue Rong’s eyes darkened as a suspicion formed in his mind.
Yan Chi’s eyes watched Yue Rong like a hawk, making even Yue Rong’s spine grow cold.
After a moment, Yan Chi said, “It seems Lord Marquis is not involved. In that case, please remain a spectator. Enter the city—”
At Yan Chi’s command, he rode into the city first, with Qin Wan at his side and the Shuoxi Army following in grand formation. The city’s main street was wide, though the residences on either side were rather low. Yan Chi had previously sent scouts to Wei County and now knew exactly how the Jinzhou Army was deployed!
Behind them, Yue Ning bit her lip, “Father, someone must have deliberately harmed them and tried to frame you! No matter what happens today, Father should stay uninvolved… The Shuoxi Army lost over ten thousand men, over ten thousand…”
Yue Rong pressed his lips together tightly and struck his horse with his whip, hurrying to catch up.
Yue Rong seemed about to speak but held back, looking at the dozen swords pointed at him, and sighed, “Your Prince has given his word, and I’ll comply. The matter isn’t clear yet—surely there’s no need to treat me this way—”
The soldiers exchanged glances and withdrew their swords, but still maintained guard positions around Yue Rong like escorts.
Yue Rong had no choice but to follow the Shuoxi Army into Wei County, though his heart was anxious.
The city currently housed even more troops than the Shuoxi Army. These soldiers had learned early of Yan Chi’s approach and were quite curious. After several major battles, many deeply respected Yan Chi, and their first reaction was puzzlement rather than assuming he had come to attack them!
Many gathered to watch, most without weapons. Only when they saw Yan Chi’s aggressive demeanor did they sense something was wrong, yet none dared to stop him. Soldiers on both sides of the main road followed along as the Shuoxi Army moved toward the central command.
Meanwhile, Yan Qi also received news of Yan Chi’s arrival at Wei County.
Lu Xiao anxiously said, “Your Highness, what should we do? They say Yan Chi has already seized Marquis An Yang! He won’t even show respect to the Marquis, this…”
Below in the hall, Qi Cen began wiping cold sweat from his brow while saying, “Your Highness, I… I followed all your instructions, but last night, because we weren’t familiar with the terrain, the fire’s location was slightly off. Otherwise…”
Yan Qi looked at Qi Cen malevolently, “You useless waste! Do you dare speak?! If you had set the fires in the right place, would Yan Chi still be alive to find us today?! You’re nothing but a failure!”
Qi Cen’s face turned increasingly pale, “Your Highness! Please don’t give me away…”
Yan Qi gritted his teeth, his palms slightly damp with sweat. Not wanting others to notice, he wiped his hands on his robe and asked, “Where are He Lin and Xu Huai?!”
Lu Xiao quickly replied, “They’re outside!”
Yan Qi clenched his fist, “They have too many men—we can’t hide it. We’ll admit to the Northern Manor Army incident! As for the Shuoxi Army matter…”
Yan Qi smiled coldly, “We’ll deny it. What can he do to me? At this point, they’re all rebels! Let’s see what he dares to do in the Jinzhou Army’s camp! I am the Prince of Cheng—if Yue Rong doesn’t intervene, does he want to become a rebel too?! He shouldn’t forget his family is still in the capital!”
This thought gave Yan Qi more confidence. He stood up, brushed off his robes, and said, “Come, let’s go out and see what our Prince Rui has come for.”
Qi Cen kept wiping his sweat, still fearful despite Yan Qi’s confidence. However, at this point, he had no choice but to nervously follow behind Yan Qi.
As soon as Yan Qi stepped outside, he saw Yan Chi leading the Shuoxi Army through the Jinzhou Army’s camp gates!
The Jinzhou Army guards found this inappropriate and tried to intervene, but as soon as they moved, Shuoxi soldiers drew their weapons.
Thus, the tension finally became apparent.
The Jinzhou Army was now certain of Yan Chi’s hostile intent, but seeing Yue Rong silently following on horseback, they dared not act rashly. In this manner, Yan Chi rode to the central area before the Jinzhou Army’s command tent—
Yan Qi stood before his tent, feigning surprise with an “Oh?” as he stepped forward smiling, “Yan Chi, what is the meaning of this?”
Seeing Yan Chi’s silence and dark gaze, though his heart wavered, he still stepped forward pretending to be innocent.
“Although the three armies are now allied and you’ve temporarily ceased hostilities with us, your position is still sensitive. Bringing the Shuoxi Army into our Northern Expedition Army’s camp like this seems rather inappropriate…”
Yan Qi’s words seemed reasonable, and combined with his righteous appearance, they drew murmurs of agreement from other Jinzhou soldiers. The troops at the gate facing off against the Shuoxi Army grew increasingly agitated.
Pleased with this reaction, Yan Qi smiled, “Let’s talk this through reasonably. Why have you seized Marquis An Yang? He’s the commander of our Northern Expedition Army—won’t this discourage everyone? These past days, the Marquis has shown you nothing but respect.”
After speaking, Yan Qi noticed Yan Chi still hadn’t responded. His smile became difficult to maintain as sweat began seeping from his palms again.
Yan Chi’s gaze was like a cold blade, examining him up and down as if wanting to flay him alive.
As Yan Qi grew increasingly nervous, his previously casual demeanor began showing cracks.
Yan Chi continued staring at him, “Last night, the Shuoxi Army was ambushed, with over ten thousand casualties. Are you aware of this?”
Everyone had been curious about Yan Chi’s arrival, but these words stunned them all. Yan Qi put on an exaggerated expression, “What?! Ambushed? By the barbarians? And ten thousand dead… Ah, my condolences. In war, casualties are inevitable… Don’t worry, when we continue fighting, we’ll ensure not a single barbarian survives, to avenge your Shuoxi Army—”
While Yan Qi spoke shamelessly, Lu Xiao and Qi Cen behind him lacked his thick skin. The two hid among the crowd, trying to avoid Yan Chi’s notice. However, Yan Chi’s lightning-sharp gaze caught them—those who tried to hide only revealed their guilt more clearly.
Though noticing them, Yan Chi didn’t act yet. He glanced at the Jinzhou Army banner behind Yan Qi.
The flag bearing the character “Zhou” flew on a pole as thick as a man’s torso.
Yan Chi returned his gaze to Yan Qi, looking down at him, “Yan Qi, I’ll give you one more chance.”
Yan Qi, a prince after all, bristled at being addressed so directly before so many people. Impatiently, he said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Your Shuoxi Army loses men and you come here making trouble, as if you’re the only ones who’ve suffered losses. Our Northern Expedition Army has lost countless soldiers too. Are you trying to break our alliance, wanting to fight us now—”
His words were meant to incite, and the surrounding Jinzhou troops grew anxious and alert.
Seeing this, Yan Chi suddenly gave a cold laugh, “Indeed, you won’t admit it until you see your coffin!”
As the words fell, Yan Chi gave no more chance for Yan Qi’s bluster. He suddenly struck his horse, which shot forward like an arrow. Simultaneously, Yan Chi twirled his spear and thrust it straight at Yan Qi, who widened his eyes and hurriedly retreated. But he had only stepped back halfway when the spear tip reached his face!
“You dar—”
Yan Qi only managed two syllables before his expression contorted. The iron spear tip violently pierced below his left shoulder blade. With a flick of his wrist, Yan Chi lifted Yan Qi’s hundred-plus jin body into the air. Without slowing his horse, he rode straight for the banner pole. With a loud “bang,” Yan Chi’s spear impaled Yan Qi to the wooden pole. This happened so quickly that no one expected Yan Chi would attack Yan Qi!
All discussion ceased instantly. In the crowded space, one could hear a pin drop!
Drip, drip, drip—
Blood trickled down the length of the spear.
The spear that pinned him to the wooden pole had passed through Yan Qi’s shoulder blade, and with his body’s weight pulling down, he felt as if he were dying from the pain!
His face, smiling just moments ago, instantly drained of color as he couldn’t help but cry out in agony.
One hand gripped the spear while the other clutched his wound, his expression twisted as he spoke brokenly, “You… you dare… I am… Prince of Cheng… how dare you… you’re trying to reb—”
The dried blood still hadn’t faded from Yan Chi’s body, his face cold as a rakshasa, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
He suddenly twisted the spear, causing Yan Qi to scream in pain—
The blood flowed faster now, veins bulging on Yan Qi’s neck, his eyes nearly popping from their sockets.
Yan Chi, not wanting to hear another word from Yan Qi, demanded, “Last night, you gave the order, didn’t you?”
Sweat poured down Yan Qi as his throat made rasping sounds, unable to form words. He looked pleadingly toward Yue Rong but saw only deep pain on his face as he willingly remained under guard, saying nothing. His eyes desperately turned to other military commanders, but among the dozen generals present and the tens of thousands gathered around, not one dared speak up for him. Some suspected him, some feared Yan Chi, and some were simply paralyzed by Yan Chi’s killing intent…
Finally, Yan Qi despairingly realized that if Yan Chi wanted his life, no one here could save him.
“I’ll… I’ll tell… if you… release me…”
Yan Chi’s lips curved slightly—though it looked like a smile, it only made him appear more bloodthirsty and cruel.
“You are in no position to negotiate with me.”
Hearing this, Yan Qi closed his eyes in despair, violently coughing up bloody foam.
Suddenly gripped by fear—he couldn’t die, not now. The Crown Prince had been deposed, and he was about to become the new Crown Prince. How could he die at a time like this?
“It was… it was Father Emperor… you… you and the Northern Manor Army… are all rebels…”
“Never… never… I was just… following imperial orders…”
Yan Chi listened, completely unsurprised. These words only deepened the darkness in his eyes, as if strengthening some resolve.
He straightened his slightly forward-leaning posture, “So it was His Majesty!”
“First he secretly harmed Prince Rui who guarded Shuoxi for over ten decades, and now, when facing a great enemy, he murders the soldiers guarding his borders. What a fine Emperor of Great Zhou!” Yan Chi gave an angry laugh, “If we let such an unjust and cruel person sit securely on Great Zhou’s throne, not only would my fallen Shuoxi soldiers object, but even this spear in my hand would protest!”
As his words fell, Yan Chi’s wrist moved again. With a “crack,” Yan Qi vomited blood, and simultaneously, the wooden pole behind him snapped.
Yan Chi withdrew his spear, and Yan Qi collapsed to the ground along with the “Zhou” banner.
Near Yan Qi’s heart was a bowl-sized wound spurting bloody foam. Yan Chi looked at him as if he were already a corpse. Clutching his wound, Yan Qi spoke brokenly, “I… I told you… save… me…”
Speaking thus, he looked pleadingly at Qin Wan—surely her medical skills could save him!
But Qin Wan’s eyes showed only coldness, remaining where she had stopped upon entering the camp, her gaze falling softly and painfully only on Yan Chi.
She knew that Yan Chi had now donned thick armor—neither Yan Qi nor Yue Rong, neither lofty principles nor concern for common people, could move him. Yet beneath that armor, his body, not made of steel or iron, was already riddled with wounds and flowing with blood.
Yan Chi ignored Yan Qi completely, turning his gaze to Lu Xiao and Qi Cen. Under his stare, Lu Xiao barely managed to stay standing, but Qi Cen’s knees gave way as he fell, stammering, “It wasn’t me… it was Prince of Cheng, he said it was His Majesty’s will… I…”
Yan Chi’s cold-pool gaze swept over them briefly before he twirled his spear and turned his horse.
“I give the Marquis half a day. If I don’t see the remaining criminals before nightfall, then at dusk, I will attack Wei County.” After a slight pause, without looking back, he continued, “As for His Highness the Prince of Cheng, I’ll take him with me. The lonely spirits of my ten thousand brothers need someone to sacrifice to them.”
Yan Chi rode out of the camp, naturally accompanied by Qin Wan and the others. Several Shuoxi soldiers stepped forward and dragged Yan Qi out like a dead dog.
Fresh blood gushed from Yan Qi’s chest, leaving a horrifying trail on the ground.
Yue Rong remained motionless on horseback at the camp gate. After a long while, he finally let out a deep sigh.