Lu Ninggui held her forehead—it seemed her repeated warnings had been in vain. Fortunately, the eldest miss didn’t seem to mind.

“Sister Liaochen, I see you’re being much more attentive to my eldest sister… than you are to my third brother!” Bai Jinzhao deliberately glanced at Bai Qingqi.

Bai Qingqi’s cold gaze turned toward Bai Jinzhao, who quickly shrank her neck.

“Of course!” Lu Liaochen’s bright eyes looked at Bai Qingyan, and ever since Bai Qingyan appeared, those eyes seemed glued to her. “I originally thought General Bai Qingqi was already the best-looking person in the world, but Your Majesty… is far more beautiful than General Bai Qingqi!”

Bai Jinse: “…”

So all this time she’d been making a fuss about liking the third brother because he was good-looking?

Bai Jinhua was momentarily speechless. With Lu Liaochen being like this… it would be strange if she could win over the third brother!

Bai Qingjue couldn’t help but cover his mouth and laugh.

“That’s it then…” Bai Qingyun turned to look at his expressionless third brother. “Among us brothers, the fifth brother is the most handsome—he’s the dream lover of countless young ladies in the capital. He gets so many sachets thrown at him when he walks down the street! If Miss Liaochen were to meet fifth brother, third brother… what would you do then?”

Bai Qingqi maintained his indifferent, unconcerned expression and only said to Bai Qingyan: “Eldest sister, let’s go into the tent first!”

Lu Ninggui was getting a massive headache from this disciple she’d taken in. She pulled Lu Liaochen behind her and, after bowing, said: “The eldest miss and the young masters and misses surely have things to discuss. Liaochen and I will withdraw first!”

Bai Qingyan nodded with a smile, her gaze falling on Lu Liaochen again. Seeing Lu Liaochen staring at her with those bright eyes, reluctantly being dragged away, she couldn’t help but smile: “What a lively personality!”

“Perfect match for the third brother!” Bai Qingyun added.

Several people entered the main tent laughing.

Inside the tent, Lu Ninggui had lit several braziers, making it as warm as spring.

While removing her cloak, Bai Qingyan walked toward the large map hanging in the commander’s tent: “Are we confident about tonight’s siege?”

She handed the hand warmer to Chun Zhi, who took her cloak, and signaled for Chun Zhi to go out first.

After bowing, Chun Zhi left the main tent to settle things in Bai Qingyan’s tent with others.

“Tonight?” Wei Zhaonian glanced at Bai Qingqi and said, “Isn’t that too hasty? Young Marshal Bai has just arrived—perhaps rest for a day!”

“Speed is of the essence in war! Moreover, the fifteen Shouyang army squads I brought this time are extremely skilled at siege warfare. After taking Suining, we’ll head straight for Yecheng Pass, take Deyang, then capture Le’an, Luquan… through Rong, and we can have Yunjing under our feet!” Bai Qingyan drew a line on the map with her hand.

She turned to look at Wei Zhaonian and her younger brothers and sisters: “On my way here, I already received news that Akxie’s elephant army has made camp twenty li from Liuxiang Mountain and isn’t moving. I estimate he’s worried about a repeat of the battle at Hanwen Mountain. We’re currently attracting Akxie’s attention. If we delay further and let him realize what’s happening, he’d probably rather take the trouble to detour than go through Liuxiang Mountain again!”

“Only if news of our fighting here reaches the Tianfeng people’s ears quickly enough will they feel that Great Zhou is now competing with Yan for territory! These cities… control Xiliang’s trade routes. The faster we move, the faster Tianfeng will return to their homeland!”

Bai Qingqi nodded: “Little fourth and General Shen have sent word of their victories. The soldiers have long been unable to restrain themselves. Fighting a battle would be good! It can boost morale!”

“After nightfall today, the Shouyang army squads will lead, with the main army following closely behind… We’ll catch Suining completely off guard!” Bai Qingyan made the final decision.

Suining City.

After nightfall, sparse snowflakes began falling from the sky. The snow wasn’t heavy, but the wind howled incessantly, giving quite an ominous feeling.

For some reason, the dogs in the city barked frantically without stopping, giving people headaches. The sounds of owners scolding their guard dogs rose and fell continuously, but somehow the dogs just wouldn’t stop barking.

In the freezing night where water turned to ice, the Suining city patrol soldiers who had just been relieved shivered as they breathed warm air into their hands, lifting the patched cotton-padded gray cloth curtain of the barracks and crawling inside.

“Phew… It’s still warmer inside the barracks!”

The patrol squad leader took off his helmet, removed his armor, and urged the soldiers to come sit around the fire-red burning stove to warm up. He also picked up a copper kettle to pour several bowls of hot tea for his brothers: “Come quickly and warm yourselves!”

“What’s wrong with all these dogs today? They’ve been howling for almost half an hour. Something’s not going to happen, is it?” A defending soldier took a sip of hot water.

“These beasts are just like that. As soon as one starts barking… every household follows suit, like they’re joining in the commotion!” The squad leader rubbed his hands and warmed them by the brazier. “Drink your hot tea quickly and sleep! The Great Zhou army is camped not far away—who knows when fighting will break out! We need to keep our spirits up!”

As soon as the squad leader finished speaking, the dog barking grew even louder.

“Have these beasts gone mad!” A defending soldier who was shelling peanuts frowned and cursed. “Tomorrow I’ll slaughter all these beasts!”

A soldier with excellent hearing suddenly made a “shush” gesture. The peanut shells on the paint-chipped black square table suddenly began jumping, and a thunderous rumbling sound seemed to be charging toward Suining City!

“Someone’s attacking the city! Someone’s attacking the city!”

Horn sounds suddenly rang out.

The defending soldiers on the city walls hoarsely beat gongs with all their might. The soldiers who had just removed their armor quickly put on their battle gear and helmets again, grabbed their weapons, and rushed out of the barracks toward the city walls.

The defending soldiers who were already asleep hurriedly threw on their armor, got off their beds, and rushed up the city walls. They took defensive positions and shot arrows and threw stones from above at the Great Zhou army that was about to climb the walls, but it was all useless!

They had discovered it too late. Their scouts had been ambushed and killed along the way, and their sentries had also been quietly eliminated.

Even the barking dogs in the city hadn’t been able to alert them. By the time they felt the thunderous rumbling charging toward the city gates, the Shouyang army soldiers were already about to climb the walls, and the Great Zhou main army was almost at the base of the city. They came in the howling wind, without any noise, focusing quietly on their siege.

The moment the heavy, weathered city gates were broken open and the black banner with white python was planted on the city walls, Suining City’s fate was sealed—it could no longer be defended.

The defending general fled the city under his soldiers’ protection. The civilians panicked and, not even having time to pack their valuables, rushed toward the south gate, hoping to escape the city before the Great Zhou army broke in.

The Great Zhou main force charged in, and the Xiliang soldiers still resisting on the city walls let out miserable screams.

Bai Qingqi was the first to charge into the city on horseback. Seeing the panicked civilians everywhere clutching their money and fleeing for cover, he reined in his warhorse and shouted: “Suining City has fallen! Surrender your weapons and you won’t be killed!”