Du Sanbao’s hatred for Old General Cui made his teeth itch, and he was desperate to redeem himself through merit. Since Bai Qingyan had said to spare no cost in capturing Cui Shanzhong alive, Du Sanbao would risk his very life to capture the old general.
Following Old General Cui’s command, the Xiliang soldiers all followed their main general in fleeing the battlefield.
Xiao Rongyan, worried about Bai Qingyan, saw the Great Zhou soldiers pursuing the defeated Xiliang troops and ordered Yue Shi to lead forces to block the retreating Xiliang soldiers at the east, west, and north gates. He led his guards racing toward the city wall.
A guard beside Xiao Rongyan spurred his horse and rushed to the city gate first, shouting: “Yan’s Ninth Prince leads troops to provide aid. Please open the gates of Jiangzi City.”
Bai Qingyan watched as he approached Jiangzi City with only a squad of guards, her grip on the Sun-Shooting Bow tightening. Seeing the black mud on Xiao Rongyan’s black stallion’s legs and belly, she knew he must have rushed here without stopping.
She didn’t know why, but warm currents surged in her eyes.
Ever since her grandfather, father, and uncles were gone, she had never imagined that anyone would come to rescue her.
She always remembered that she was the eldest sister, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Bai family. No matter how difficult the path ahead, she should shield her mother, aunts, younger brothers, and sisters from wind and rain, and never become their burden.
She could gallop day and night to Great Liang to save her sister, could sacrifice her life for her younger brother, could sacrifice her life for her mother and aunts, could sacrifice her life for the great cause!
In her life, the Bai family’s aspirations and the safety of all her family members came before her own life.
She had never imagined that someone would also travel day and night without rest to save her!
If it were her younger brothers and sisters… she would absolutely not allow them to come risk danger for her, would never allow them to abandon Yunjing for her sake and obstruct the great cause.
She had never thought Xiao Rongyan would come, because in her heart, Xiao Rongyan was someone who, like her, placed national affairs before romantic feelings.
Now, Great Yan was also attacking Xiliang. Although neither Kingdom had spoken of it, they were indeed secretly competing over who would take Yunjing first.
The Great Zhou had taken Yecheng Pass and captured Li Tianfu alive. If Yan wanted to surpass the Great Zhou in momentum, it would have to take Yunjing one step ahead of the Great Zhou and capture Li Tianjiao alive.
Yet he… hadn’t gone to attack Yunjing, but had come to save her! And arrived so quickly!
She knew what this meant: Xiao Rongyan had sacrificed.
In the future, when Yan competed with the Great Zhou over national politics, the most important city, Xiliang’s capital, Yunjing, was already a well-established center that Xiliang had built and perfected over time.
If they had Yunjing, Yan might still have the capability to compete with the Great Zhou.
Without Yunjing, Yan would lose.
At this moment, Xiao Rongyan had already reached below the city wall. He looked up toward Bai Qingyan, and seeing that she was safe, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Traveling without sleep or rest, leading troops on a forced march, he had finally… made it in time!
Xiao Rongyan didn’t dare imagine what the result would have been if he had arrived a day late and let Xiliang break through Jiangzi City.
He understood Bai Qingyan too well. She would never allow herself to become a burden to the Bai family generals, much less allow herself to become an obstacle on the path to national unification!
Just like back then… Bai Qingyan’s father, Bai Family Army Vice Commander Bai Qishan, had drawn his bow to shoot and kill the fifth son of the Bai family.
Bai Qingyan was never afraid of death, but he was afraid…
For these past few days, Xiao Rongyan’s mind had been filled with this thought, his heart so torn with worry it nearly killed him.
Amidst the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, Xiao Rongyan’s stallion stomped its hooves as he pulled tight on the reins, staring intently at Bai Qingyan on the city wall – her hair bound at the top of her head, wearing silver armor. He wished he could embrace her tightly right now and never let go.
Bai Qingyan felt her throat tighten as she turned to instruct Wang Jin: “Open the city gates and let Yan’s Ninth Prince enter.”
Wang Jin responded and loudly transmitted the order: “Open the city gates!”
“Your Majesty…” Wei Zhong stepped forward, wanting to take the heavy Sun-Shooting Bow from Bai Qingyan’s hands. “This old servant will help you downstairs!”
Before Xiao Rongyan appeared, she hadn’t felt tired at all, but now that Xiao Rongyan was right below the city, she seemed to have suddenly lost her strength as if from overexertion.
Bai Qingyan nodded and walked downstairs, supporting herself on Wei Zhong’s arm.
The citizens and soldiers in Jiangzi City lined up on both sides, watching the Ninth Prince of Yan who had come to their aid enter the city.
Xiao Rongyan entered the city in blood-stained armor, carrying a heavy scent of blood. The mane of his black stallion was also dripping bright red drops – whether from the horse’s wounds or enemy blood was unclear.
The citizens were forced to step back by the bloody aura emanating from the Yan army. Seeing the masked Ninth Prince of Yan leap down from his horse and toss his bloodied sword to a Yan soldier behind him, the citizens all stepped back, not daring to look directly at the Ninth Prince’s imposing presence.
Hearing the sounds of Bai Qingyan coming down from the city wall, the citizens quickly cleared a path and watched as Bai Qingyan walked to Xiao Rongyan’s side.
“Ninth Prince…” Bai Qingyan gave Xiao Rongyan a slight nod. “This time, thank you for coming to our aid, Ninth Prince.”
Xiao Rongyan’s throat moved as he cupped his hands toward Bai Qingyan, his voice hoarse beyond recognition: “Is Your Majesty well?”
Bai Qingyan pressed her lips together and showed Xiao Rongyan a gentle smile: “Ninth Prince can rest assured, all is well…”
“Your Majesty should return to the residence first and let the soldiers clean up the battlefield.” Wei Zhong stepped forward and spoke quietly to Bai Qingyan, then smiled and bowed to Xiao Rongyan. “Ninth Prince should also freshen up, change clothes, and have some hot tea!”
“Let’s go back and talk! Ninth Prince, please…” Bai Qingyan made a gesture inviting Xiao Rongyan to proceed.
Xiao Rongyan nodded solemnly and followed behind Bai Qingyan toward the residence where she was staying. He stared at her back, each step extremely difficult.
Still not recovered from serious injuries, and having led troops in a day-and-night march out of concern for Bai Qingyan, Xiao Rongyan’s fever hadn’t subsided throughout the journey. After experiencing the recent battle, he could barely hold on.
Soon after arriving at the residence, Wei Zhong respectfully invited Xiao Rongyan to sit in Bai Qingyan’s temporary study. Servants nervously came in to serve Xiao Rongyan hot tea before withdrawing.
Chun Zhi, who had been sitting restlessly, saw Bai Qingyan return and hurried to greet her, but was startled by Xiao Rongyan’s blood-covered black armor.
Wei Zhong stood to one side and asked Xiao Rongyan, “The military physician will arrive shortly, Ninth Prince. Would you like to change clothes first?”
Xiao Rongyan’s thin lips were pressed tightly together as he shook his head uncomfortably.
“Wei Zhong, you and Chun Zhi… withdraw first.” Bai Qingyan untied the cloak from her armor and casually draped it aside. “When the military physician arrives, bring him in.”
“Yes!” Wei Zhong responded and withdrew. After going out, he instructed others that the Ninth Prince and His Majesty were discussing important matters, telling the servants to withdraw and not disturb them. He also said to Chun Zhi: “Chun Zhi, His Majesty and the Ninth Prince are currently discussing important matters and don’t need our service. Go to the small kitchen and heat some water first.”