“Elder Sister! Fifth Brother!” Bai Jinzhi called out, running toward Bai Qingyan and Bai Qingyu.

Bai Qingyan turned back to see Bai Jinzhi’s disheveled state, her expression shocked.

Bai Jinzhi had gone to escort Xiao Rongyan and had been delayed in returning, but she hadn’t been worried—after all, Shen Qingzhu was with Xiao Si. Who could have imagined seeing Bai Jinzhi return in such a state?

Bai Jinzhi, her entire body radiating cold, couldn’t be bothered with etiquette. Climbing over from outside the corridor, she said: “When Sister Qingzhu and I were returning, we saw Li Tianfu leading the elephant army toward Pingyang City. She wanted to capture Sister Qingzhu and me, but the Bai family guards fought desperately to protect us and helped us kill our way back. Sister Qingzhu is currently arranging defenses on the city wall!”

Speaking to this point, Bai Jinzhi showed an expression of lingering fear: “Elder Sister… that elephant army is truly terrifying, those massive creatures…”

“It’s alright! Don’t be afraid!” Bai Qingyan grasped Bai Jinzhi’s hand, hearing her sharp intake of breath. “First, go find Physician Hong to look at your arm. Don’t worry about other matters! Chun Zhi…”

Chun Zhi hurried forward at the call: “This servant is here!”

“Take Fourth Miss to find Physician Hong!”

Bai Jinzhi was worried and started to speak: “But Elder Sister…”

“Your arm is important. Go let Physician Hong examine it—we’ll talk more later!” Bai Qingyan’s tone brooked no argument.

Only then did Bai Jinzhi nod and leave with Chun Zhi.

Even if she wanted to fight alongside Elder Sister, she needed to get her arm treated first.

“Using the heavy snow and darkness for cover…” Bai Qingyu’s expression grew serious, his demeanor calm as he looked at Bai Qingyan. “They’re probably planning to besiege the city!”

“Everything must have a justifiable cause, especially when the four-nation conference hasn’t reached an agreement yet. If Tianfeng Nation and Xiliang rashly deploy troops, it will only provoke a strong counterattack from Great Yan and Great Zhou. Moreover, in this deep winter, conditions aren’t favorable for Tianfeng Nation’s elephant army!” Bai Qingyan lightly squeezed the jade cicada in the pouch hanging from her body. “Besides, that ruler of Tianfeng Nation is still coveting your brother-in-law’s jade cicada. Without finding out the cicada’s whereabouts, would he act rashly?”

So Bai Qingyan believed that Tianfeng Nation had Li Tianfu bring the elephant army was probably meant as intimidation, not having Li Tianfu use the elephant army to attack Pingyang City.

“Let’s go see the city wall!” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were cold and stern.

“Elder Sister, you shouldn’t go. I’ll take a look!” Bai Qingyu’s gaze fell on Bai Qingyan’s abdomen. “Elder Sister is carrying twins now. If not for yourself, think of the children!”

“Don’t worry. Though Li Tianfu brought the elephant army, winter warfare is disadvantageous to the elephant army that Tianfeng Nation can only rely on. Tianfeng Nation isn’t foolish! There won’t be a battle today!” She looked at her brother. “Elder Sister absolutely won’t put herself in danger and worry Mother and you!”

“I’ll accompany Elder Sister!” Bai Qingyu supported Bai Qingyan’s arm.

“Good, we siblings will go together!” Bai Qingyan squeezed Bai Qingyu’s hand.

Li Tianfu sat beneath the canopy carried by a giant elephant, wrapped tightly in a thick, fiery red fox fur cloak that revealed only her strikingly beautiful, alluring features.

A lantern hung from one corner of the luxurious canopy on the elephant’s back, casting a hazy glow that made Li Tianfu’s already stunning face even more breathtakingly beautiful.

Behind the thirty giant elephants followed heavily armored Xiliang cavalry, who appeared as fragile as grasshoppers in comparison to the thirty massive beasts.

On Pingyang City’s ancient tower, Shen Kunyang led the Bai family army archers, all drawing their bows and nocking arrows, aiming at the force that had stopped outside Pingyang City.

In the vast snowy night, the soldiers on the tower could only make out the vague silhouettes of the giant elephants by firelight. They had never seen such enormous beasts and didn’t dare imagine whether those thick, sturdy city gates would be like rotted old cloth before these elephants if such creatures charged.

Each soldier’s expression was tense, their arrow points aimed at those giant beasts, not daring to relax in the slightest.

The elephant carrying Li Tianfu, driven by its handler, took several steps forward.

“Li Tianfu, take one more step forward and beware—arrows have no eyes!” Lu Yuanpeng shouted.

Shen Qingzhu’s expression was cold and stern. Not wanting to waste words, she snatched the large bow from Lu Yuanpeng’s hands, drew an arrow from Sima Ping’s quiver, leaped onto the city wall, drew the bow… and shot!

The sharp arrowhead cut through the air, flying straight toward the elephant, but struck the armor on the elephant’s body and was deflected…

Li Tianfu let out a contemptuous sneer and raised her hand, stopping the elephant.

“I have come with troops today not to wage war with Great Zhou, so Great Zhou need not be so tense!” Li Tianfu’s slender white fingers twirled her long hair as she lazily reclined in her chair. “The Xiliang traitor Li Zhijie has fled into Pingyang City with his people. Please have Great Zhou hand over Li Zhijie, and we will withdraw immediately.”

“Bullshit! Just because you, Xiliang, lost your prince doesn’t mean he’s in our Great Zhou!” Cheng Yuanzhi had a loud, coarse voice and gave no face whatsoever. “I might as well say my three million taels of gold grew legs and ran to your Xiliang! This Xiliang princess with her delicate skin and tender flesh has a thin face… she cares about reputation, so return my three million taels of gold to Old Cheng first!”

Hearing Cheng Yuanzhi’s words, Li Tianfu’s face darkened. She wanted to take this opportunity to start a war, but before coming, Sa’er Khan had given strict orders not to allow her to use the elephant army for battle!

Moreover, this time all those controlling the elephants were Sa’er Khan’s people. Even if she wanted to start fighting immediately, she couldn’t do it. With just her Xiliang soldiers, there was probably no way to take Pingyang City.

Li Tianfu forcibly suppressed her anger: “Are these Great Zhou’s terms? Three million taels of gold… to hand over our Xiliang traitor?”

“You give the gold first!” Cheng Yuanzhi said.

Li Tianfu’s fists clenched: “It seems Great Zhou has gone mad with poverty! Three million taels of gold for one Xiliang traitor—Great Zhou thinks too highly of Li Zhijie.”

“Princess, you’re wrong. Our General Cheng never said that if you give three million taels of gold, we’d give you Li Zhijie! Our General Cheng has thick skin!” Lu Yuanpeng maintained his roguish manner that could anger people to death. “Oh my, Xiliang Princess, don’t look at me with those eyes—I’m scared! Don’t tell me speaking the truth will make you bear a grudge?”

Cheng Yuanzhi smacked Lu Yuanpeng on the back of his head and shouted down to Li Tianfu: “Xiliang Princess, rest assured… Old Cheng has very thin skin! Once three million taels of gold are delivered, I’ll give you someone surnamed Li with the given name Zhijie!”

“General, are you going to hand Li Zhijie over to her?” Lu Yuanpeng asked in a low voice.

“If she can contribute three million taels of gold for our military pay, there are so many Xiliang people imprisoned that I can say whoever I want is called Li Zhijie. If they dare say they’re not called that, I’ll beat them until they become Li Zhijie! If one isn’t enough… Old Cheng will take the initiative to send them all! Male or female, old or young… all called Li Zhijie!”