Dark flames burned in the youth’s eyes, so violently hateful that he seemed to want to burn everything and everyone to ashes, to incinerate all the joy and trust he had felt during this time.
He paid no attention to the knife-wielding soldiers watching him like tigers, didn’t look at his father anxiously watching him from across the river, only stared deadly at Baozi with eyes full of venomous hatred, as if he wanted to tear him to pieces.
Under his gaze, Baozi shrank back. For a moment he felt somewhat dazed, remembering the recent comfortable and warm days of living under another’s roof, remembering the Grand Dowager who held him with a smile, the cook who always stuffed pastries into his hands, the servant girls who made new clothes for him, and… the Third Young Master who always seemed impatient and unable to accept him, yet ultimately agreed to all his requests.
They… had never wronged him in any way. In fact, they had been very, very good to him.
Did I… do wrong?
Baozi felt confused. He opened his mouth but couldn’t speak, turning to look at Qin Chang Ge for help.
With hands behind her back facing the sky, Qin Chang Ge ignored him.
Chu Feihuan sighed, explaining on behalf of that heartless and cruel mother to her poor, unfortunate son: “Your mother’s meaning is for you to make your own choice and take responsibility for your own actions. If you feel guilty and angry being looked at like this and want to simply kill him, then your mother will kill him. If you feel sorry for him and have a burst of conscience wanting to release him, your mother will release him too. In any case, no matter what your decision is, no matter what losses your decision brings us, your mother wants you to think for yourself.”
Pausing, he sighed again: “Choice itself is painful—if it’s not painful, it’s not called choice. You are a man, you are the future emperor. Avoidance shouldn’t be your behavior. You must make the decision yourself.”
Taking a breath, Baozi looked at Chu Feihuan with a pale face. The latter gave him an encouraging smile and said gently: “Rong’er, the path an emperor must walk is inherently extremely painful, but we believe you’re suited for it—you can do it.”
Standing dazedly in place for a moment, Baozi bit his lip and walked toward Cao Sheng.
Seeing him approach, the youth immediately began struggling frantically, shaking the wooden post he was tied to until it swayed constantly. Seeing he truly couldn’t break free to strangle this child, he twisted his head forcefully and spat, shooting a thick glob of phlegm viciously while cursing hoarsely: “I was blind to trust you, you little thief!”
Baozi stood motionless, pushing away Youtiao’er who came forward to wipe his face, slowly cleaning it with his own sleeve. He raised his head and said to the bound youth: “I am Xiao Rong, the current Crown Prince.”
Suddenly looking up, Cao Sheng was so shocked his face became distorted.
“Your father is rebelling, trying to steal my father’s kingdom. You and I are enemies.” Baozi looked at Cao Sheng calmly.
“Whatever enemies do to enemies is justified,” Baozi said. “I was never the type to just take a beating when others bully me.”
Cao Sheng began to quiet down, listening silently as this child ten years younger than him spoke with rationality and composure beyond his years about principles he had never considered.
“I always thought I should feel guilty toward you,” Baozi continued, his face pale but eyes bright. “But just now I suddenly understood—I have nothing to feel guilty about. Once we become enemies, there’s no room for motherly mercy. When your father wanted to steal my father’s kingdom and kill my father, did he think about feeling guilty because of me?”
Cao Sheng’s eyes showed thoughtful expression, his facial muscles twitching slightly.
“My only mistake was being too lovable, lovable enough to earn your genuine joy and affection,” Baozi smiled somewhat self-mockingly. “My mother once said that to deal with someone most ruthlessly, destroying their body is secondary—the more vicious thing is to destroy their love, self-respect, and trust. I probably hurt your love and trust.”
“But that wasn’t what I wanted.” Baozi grinned. “Can’t help it—I’m just naturally loved by everyone, flowers bloom when they see me.”
Qin Chang Ge, who had been listening attentively, rolled her eyes skyward. She had just been feeling moved by his melancholy and tragic tone, thinking this child might have been pushed too hard, only to hear him start being outrageous again.
Looking up and sighing silently toward the darkness, at this moment Qin Chang Ge felt hidden grief and bitterness in her heart. Enemies, my powerful enemies hiding in the shadows—if not for your existence, why would I need to force my only beloved son to learn to be an emperor instead of simply being what I most want him to be: a carefree child?
By the bonfire, beside the wooden post where the youth was bound, the dialogue between victor and defeated, child and youth continued.
“I still need to apologize to you, Third Young Master,” Baozi bowed slightly. “Not for deceiving you and launching the surprise attack, but for disappointing the care and concern you all showed me during this time, for disappointing the Grand Dowager’s and the sisters’ hearts. Please remember to tell them I apologize—if you’re able to survive to tell them.”
Finished speaking, he no longer looked at the shocked Cao Sheng, walking straight toward Qin Chang Ge.
The entire army held its breath, the wind fell silent, waiting for a five-year-old child to make a decision about many people’s lives.
Even the Youzhou army across the river, who had been angrily shouting and preparing for battle, seemed to sense the strange atmosphere in Pingzhou’s army and gradually quieted down.
In the vast azure sky, in the whistling night wind, tens of thousands held their breath and listened intently, not daring to miss a single word as they heard the child’s voice.
They heard him say calmly: “I’ve decided—I won’t release him.”
There was a shocked silence in the air.
Qin Chang Ge exhaled again.
Chu Feihuan’s eyebrows twitched as he slowly turned to look at the resolute Baozi, his gaze complex, unclear whether it showed joy or sorrow.
He looked up at the stars, where in the southwestern corner, a star shone brilliantly with dazzling light, glittering in the azure sky.
At this moment.
A star destined to bring blessings to the world and virtue to all seas rose with clouds and mist, ascending to the nine heavens above, while the shadow of an innocent child would gradually fade away.
Was this happiness or helplessness?
Baozi winked at his mother who was watching him intently and said: “Don’t release him—I still need to use him. All my effort can’t be wasted. Just…” His voice lowered to ensure Cao Sheng couldn’t hear: “Could we not kill him?”
Slowly turning, Qin Chang Ge smiled at her son for the first time today, saying lightly: “Very good. I’m pleased you understand flexibility. I’ve always hoped you would be neither pedantic nor lack conscience. You should know that maintaining basic humanity is much better than being a completely heartless, murderous, and sinister emperor who recognizes no family ties.”
She crouched down, looking into Baozi’s eyes bright as stars: “Son, as a person you must not lose the basic heart of benevolence, righteousness, and brotherly love. As a person you also must not lose the ability for firm decisions and clever strategies. These two seem extremely contradictory, but actually, as long as you hold to certain principles, you can—I only hope you can achieve this.”
“Of course I can,” Baozi’s long eyelashes fluttered as he smiled shamelessly. “I’m your son, and what’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is still mine.”
…
Chuckling despite herself, Qin Chang Ge thought that her son was ultimately not an ordinary child. Worrying about him too much was wasting emotion. She simply stopped being verbose, turned around, and called across the river: “Governor Cao, I heard your eldest son is foolish, so this is your only beloved son. I haven’t dared mistreat him—as you can see, he hasn’t even scraped his skin. Have you thought about how you want to take him back?”
Across the river, the wind was fierce. Qin Chang Ge’s eyes were sharp as torches, seeing Cao Guangshi’s face turn iron blue, the muscles of both cheeks twisting and knotting, his gaze seeming to burst with blade-light as he stared at her viciously. Li Han said something very quietly, and she saw Cao Guangshi grit his teeth and raise his hand.
Qin Chang Ge immediately said leisurely: “Governor Cao, I heard the Grand Dowager loves this Third Young Master most? Mm… I think he’s quite good too. The old lady doesn’t know about the Third Young Master falling into enemy hands yet, does she? She’s getting on in years—you should be careful.”
Her words were gentle and considerate, truly sounding like a thoughtful tone of concern for Cao Guangshi. Hearing this, Li Han wanted to draw his sword and charge forward to chop her into mincemeat.
Under the firelight, Cao Guangshi’s face paled again and again—he could refuse to be coerced, he could be ruthless enough to kill his son. For great achievements, one shouldn’t have the soft heart of children. But how could he make his old mother grieve? His widowed mother had raised him to adulthood—not so he could anger her to death!
Looking up toward the enemy camp, he saw strict formations, majestic military might, and cunning tactical arrangements, plus such a deep, commanding leader who could manipulate hearts like directing his own limbs.
For the first time since the war began, he felt vague doubts about his actions—had he been too proud? Too rash? Too trusting of the Duke? Over the years of correspondence, hearing that Duke Xiao Jue was governing poorly, no longer like before, with the court in chaos and everyone scheming for themselves, it had seemed like a muddy swamp that only the Duke and himself could clear up and restore bright governance.
Now, the court’s envoy stood across from him—an eighteen-year-old youth, so thin he seemed ready to be blown away by wind, yet ruthless, sinister, and profound. His slight frame contained an inexplicable powerful pressure that no one dared underestimate.
If he could command such ministers, how could His Majesty be called “disorderly”?
After intense internal struggle, he unconsciously sighed dejectedly.
Li Han, who had been watching his movements, saw things going badly. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and his hand hidden behind his back resolutely made a gesture.
Cao Guangshi was extremely filial to his mother—he could kill his son but would never harm his mother.
But Li Han was not someone whose weak point had been grasped.
“Hiss!”
The sound of a powerful crossbow firing disturbed a small area of air and shocked all the Youzhou troops. The soldiers in black iron armor all looked up simultaneously, seeing a crossbow bolt flashing red light, cutting through the stifling air, heading straight for the clearly visible target of Cao Sheng in the firelight across the river!
The shocked cries of hundreds of thousands shook like thunder!
Cao Guangshi’s body trembled as he forgot there was still river water ahead and lunged forward!
“Crack!”
In the firelight, Qin Chang Ge raised one hand and caught the crossbow bolt!
Her arm holding the arrow horizontally stopped in front of Cao Sheng’s chest in utter terror!
On the opposite shore, as Cao Guangshi lunged forward, Li Han also rushed out, grabbing Cao Guangshi.
His fingers gripped tightly at Cao Guangshi’s back, speaking a sentence quickly and quietly in Cao Guangshi’s ear.
Cao Guangshi stiffened.
Qin Chang Ge’s eyes narrowed—Li Han’s palm was at Cao Guangshi’s back. He knew his action just now would definitely anger Cao Guangshi, so this was going all out, trying to force Cao Guangshi to burn his bridges.
With a shallow smile, Qin Chang Ge said: “Cao Gong, ah Cao Gong, are you heartbroken? You always remember he’s your benefactor, risking your family’s destruction and your own execution wanting to restore justice for him, but how does he treat you? You help him avenge his son’s death? Yet he wants to kill your son!”
Her gaze shifted as she smiled again: “Duke, your personal guards can coerce all the mid-level officers, but they can’t coerce two hundred thousand Youzhou troops.”
Everyone’s eyes turned, only then noticing that somehow, all the officers had blades and swords at their backs, cold blade-light gleaming eerily in the moonlight.
“What are you being arrogant about!” Li Han said coldly: “The Governor and I have a friendship forged through mountains of blades and seas of blood—how would I harm him? I just don’t want them to be deceived by your demonic words and regret it later!”
Stars hung over the plain, moon surged over the great river. As the great river flowed torrentially, amid the rushing water sounds, Qin Chang Ge smiled: “Whether it’s demonic words or who’s really speaking them—let’s explain it carefully: Oh right, Duke, why don’t you ask me where the three thousand iron cavalry who launched the surprise attack went?”
Cao Guangshi suddenly looked up. Li Han frowned and said harshly: “You naturally already killed them—”
“Do you think I’m like you?” Qin Chang Ge smiled sweetly, cutting him off. “Do you think I don’t know you’ve been stalling for time these past few days? That’s fine—I also hoped to delay a bit. Just now, while we were having our cordial friendly meeting, our people had already put on your army’s armor, worn your army’s insignia, waved your army’s banners, and gone to Lingzhou to warmly welcome General Ran Mindao.”
Looking half-smiling at Li Han and Cao Guangshi, who were both shocked and ashen-faced, Qin Chang Ge said: “Naturally the General was extremely pleased to see the guide and support troops Duke sent, and would invite them into the military camp’s main tent. When that time comes… hehe.”
Her smile suddenly turned cold as she raised her voice, shouting harshly: “Who is Ran Mindao? Ran Mindao is an enemy general! The ‘Border Killer God’ who frequently raids our borders! Men of Youzhou camp, tell me—which of you hasn’t had your family harassed by Northern Wei forces? Which of you hasn’t had a year’s hard-earned grain stolen by Northern Wei armies? Which of your sisters hasn’t been forced to blacken her face year-round to avoid insult by enemy soldiers? Which of your elderly parents hasn’t been viciously kicked down by wolf-like Northern Wei soldiers?”
Most Youzhou soldiers were local-born, and as Qin Chang Ge said, their family elders had suffered greatly from Northern Wei border raids. Now hearing that their commander and the Duke had actually let Northern Wei armies into the passes, angry voices rose like a tide!
“And your Duke, your generals,” Qin Chang Ge sneered, pointing at Li Han and Cao Guangshi, “they’re inviting wolves into the house, bringing enemy armies into Xiliang territory, exposing the people and land they promised to protect to enemy burning, killing, and plundering. Moreover, they promised to cede Pingzhou to Ran Mindao after success!”
Amid the crowd’s uproar, Qin Chang Ge smiled mockingly: “Men of Pingzhou, you’re so fortunate. If I hadn’t intercepted their messenger, you might very well have become Northern Wei people!”
That side was nearly rioting. Qin Chang Ge didn’t forget to add fuel to the fire, smiling: “Men of Youzhou camp, look across the river—here, facing you across the water, many are your fellow villagers, relatives from neighboring villages, perhaps even real family members. Yet you’re about to ally with enemies who kill and bully your relatives because of certain people’s private desires and ambitions, while raising swords against relatives of your own blood—do you think this is right?”
“Kill these heartless dog officers!”
Someone shouted first, then countless hands rose up, countless weapons gleamed coldly as they were raised. The continuous sounds of iron armor clashing against iron armor echoed as the crowd surged like rushing seawater toward their nearest officers. The clanging of weapons striking together sparked streams of sparks, and those officers immediately planted their weapons on the ground and shouted: “I also have relatives across the river! My family has also been robbed by Northern Wei armies! I’ll join you against those bastards!”
Shouts rose like tides, rolling in waves, spreading like earthquakes and tsunamis, impossible to control. Those of Li Han’s personal guards who had been coercing high and mid-level officers were quickly swarmed by soldiers, violently knocked aside, and immediately countless feet trampled their heads until they were crushed to pulp.
The high-ranking officers surrounded by soldiers flashed angry looks, pointing at Cao Guangshi and shouting: “We didn’t know about this decision of the Governor’s! Governor, you’re loyal to the Duke—we follow you! You want to achieve merit—we’ll fight desperately for you! But why did you hide this from us, wanting to drag everyone onto the same boat, making us all despised by everyone, unable to face our ancestors even in death!”
Some left angrily, some stood bewildered and hesitating, some spat viciously at Cao Guangshi and Li Han, while more put down their weapons and rushed toward the opposite shore with the soldiers.
“Sir! We were ignorant and foolish, deceived by ambitious commanders, opposing the court. Please, seeing that our patriotic loyalty remains undead, forgive us and take us in!!!”
“We’re willing to follow you to the death—we won’t be traitors!”
Under the moonlight, in the great river, Youzhou camp’s structure completely collapsed. Large groups of soldiers surged toward the opposite shore, constantly bringing over small boats. Those who couldn’t wait abandoned their armor and jumped into the river. Patch after patch of dark heads pressed forward like black clouds toward Pingzhou camp.
Watching this irreversible mad tide, Li Han’s hands began trembling uncontrollably, while Cao Guangshi suddenly began laughing bitterly: “Duke, why are you still coercing me? Do you still think my words carry any authority now?”
Staggering back, Li Han’s face pale as he dropped his hand, Cao Guangshi looked at the central army still desperately waving swords and shouting, trying to reassemble the troops while fighting to protect him from soldier attacks—like a small circle, squeezed and shaken by tens of thousands outside, ready to break and shatter at any moment.
Someone stabbed and killed a soldier trying to rush to the opposite shore, immediately causing more people’s anger. More people roared and charged up, cutting him to pieces with everyone taking a strike.
The crowd was tangled together chaotically—you couldn’t see faces or expressions, couldn’t hear shouts or screams clearly. People had only two choices: either surge toward the opposite shore with the mad tide, or go against this direction and be trampled into mud.
Moonlight flowed like cold frost while torches rose with fierce smoky light. Under the fluttering banners of Pingzhou camp, Qin Chang Ge smiled deeply, saying lightly: “Li Han, you’re a pig. You don’t understand—civil war, no matter how it’s fought, still has some principle. Winners become kings, losers become bandits—whoever has ability becomes king. But once you borrow enemy force, the nature completely changes. After all, most people don’t like being traitors.”
“Who are you! Who are you!” Li Han suddenly looked up, shrieking: “I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!”
Looking at the officers and soldiers still hesitating, as well as the central army protecting Cao Guangshi to the death—these were probably all die-hard Cao Guangshi loyalists—Qin Chang Ge’s eyes flashed with sharp light. She bowed toward the south, channeling her full internal energy to project her voice far and wide.
“I am the Dezhou scholar Zhao Moyan, but before entering service, I was fortunate to meet Empress Ruiyi recuperating overseas and received her personal guidance on great strategies for governing the country and pacifying the world!”
“Ah!”
“And the Empress is about to return!”
“Ah!”
Exclamations arose. That group of still-watching officers and soldiers looked at each other, only now remembering that the Empress hadn’t died—though far overseas, she could return at any time!
A deputy commander of the highest rank suddenly clanged as he threw down his long sword, rolled off his horse to kneel in the dust, and wept loudly.
“This general was once severely wounded and near death, fortunately saved by the Empress’s own hands! This kindness and virtue cannot be forgotten over the years! A man born in this world who forgets kindness and betrays loyalty is like pigs and dogs! I’ve already shamefully been base once—I cannot continue! Governor, though you’ve shown me great kindness, forgive me for truly being unable to follow any longer!”
The former Empire’s Twin Pillars—Xiao Jue charged into battle while the lazy Qin Chang Ge mostly handled strategy and served as an unpaid military doctor. The medical skills of a Thousand Absolutes disciple—how could ordinary people compare? The soldiers and officers she had saved, even scattered across different camps through transfers and reassignments over the years, were still numerous.
The already precarious Cao family’s direct forces, sharply reduced in numbers, now had another large group defected. Those grateful, those fearing the Empress’s renowned reputation, those comparing current circumstances and feeling the tide had turned—all laid down their weapons.
Banners fluttered fiercely, fires blazed, starlight flowed across the plain. A flock of night owls flew low, heading joyfully toward those crowds reeking of blood.
The youth on horseback stood unmovable as a mountain, smiling like wind, his contemptuous gaze like flowing water, instantly drowning those presumptuous fools who tried to rebel.
She parted her lips, saying lightly: “The fault always lies with those at the top, and forgiveness for the followers’ errors is truly very simple.”
She smiled, casually flicking her finger as if brushing away ash.
“Wash away those erroneous histories with the fresh blood of the instigators.”
“Kill them.”