Overnight, although the mountain of corpses outside Jiangzi City had been cleared away, the blood that had seeped into the earth could not be dealt with. The ground outside the city was a mixture of blood and mud, appearing as vast patches of dark red.

Soon, Liu Pinggao and Du Sanbao led the Great Zhou army and Yan army, facing the brilliant morning light leaping from the rolling sea of clouds on the eastern horizon, galloping back on swift horses with Western Liang prisoners captured by the Great Zhou and Yan armies following behind.

The sentries on the city walls saw the banners of the Great Zhou and Yan armies and shouted: “They’re back… the general and reinforcements are back! And they’ve brought prisoners!”

The Great Zhou soldiers looked into the distance and cheered joyfully. They hoped Liu Pinggao and Du Sanbao could capture Western Liang’s commander, old General Cui Shanzhong, and bring him back. That would truly boost morale, and when word reached the front lines… it would surely make the frontline soldiers fight the enemy even more courageously.

The wound on Du Sanbao’s arm was roughly bandaged with cloth strips torn from his cloak, and his chest armor still had the feathered shaft of an arrow that had been lodged in and then broken off.

Though Du Sanbao hadn’t suffered severe injuries, he had quite a few external wounds. His expression was rather displeased, his head drooping with a self-reproachful look.

He had originally wanted to capture old General Cui Shanzhong alive to atone for his crimes through merit, but in the end still failed to catch old General Cui. He didn’t know how to explain this to His Majesty upon returning.

Liu Pinggao looked back at Du Sanbao following behind him, lightly tapped Du Sanbao’s helmet with his riding whip, and scolded: “Enough! Perk up!”

Du Sanbao, swaying on horseback, straightened the helmet that Liu Pinggao had knocked askew, paying no heed to Liu Pinggao’s words.

This time, Du Sanbao’s unauthorized night assault on the Western Liang camp had caused Western Liang to attack the city early, and he was truly frightened. Even if someone incited him to act first and report later in the future, he wouldn’t dare.

Previously under General Wang Xiping’s command, every time Du Sanbao acted first and reported later, it would work out by accident. General Wang Xiping never punished him for it, and instead quite favored and promoted this soldier who was brave in killing enemies, which had developed Du Sanbao’s character.

Liu Pinggao pulled on his reins to slow down and rode alongside Du Sanbao, saying: “Later, I’ll plead with His Majesty for you and have you sent to the front lines as a vanguard, so you can properly atone for your crimes through merit! In the future… You must never act first and report later! Do you hear me!”

Hearing that he would be sent to the front lines as a vanguard, Du Sanbao quickly responded: “Good!”

“We’re returning victorious, and the soldiers are happy. Don’t hang your head like that,” Liu Pinggao was accustomed to Du Sanbao’s proud and pleased demeanor. Seeing him like a frost-beaten eggplant, he wasn’t used to it. “Those who don’t know might think we suffered a defeat!”

Du Sanbao gripped his reins tightly and said, “I’ll go kneel in front of His Majesty’s residence to request punishment later! General Liu… you must plead for me!”

“First, go find a military physician to bandage your wounds! His Majesty can’t bear to see us soldiers injured!” Liu Pinggao comforted Du Sanbao. “Don’t worry, I’ll speak well of you!”

The city gate drew closer and closer. Du Sanbao perked up and entered the city together with Liu Pinggao and the Yan generals.

The soldiers and common people were all cheering, celebrating their victory and their escape from disaster.

Seeing Wang Jin leading people on the city tower waving at him, Du Sanbao finally showed a smile and waved back at Wang Jin, but inadvertently pulled at his wound, causing him to grimace in pain.

The sun slowly climbed higher, its light gradually intensifying. The brilliant golden rays moved from the azure-black gleaming roof tiles to the western courtyard wall, and soon gilded the red pillars under the corridor eaves, enveloping the floor with its fine rain-pitted azure bricks and carved, openwork window lattices.

Beams of light shone in from outside, revealing floating dust motes, slowly moving from the cypress wood bed carved with auspicious longevity patterns to… the forehead and eyes of the woman sitting on the bed’s footstool, sleeping while leaning against the soft cushion by the bedside.

Sensing the bright light, Bai Qingyan’s eyelashes trembled as she tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids seemed to weigh a thousand pounds and wouldn’t open. In her drowsy dream, she saw Xiao Rongyan and suddenly opened her eyes. Coming to her senses, she quickly straightened up to feel Xiao Rongyan’s forehead.

It was no longer burning hot like yesterday – the fever had indeed subsided.

Bai Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief, only then feeling that after sleeping in that position all night, her legs were severely numb.

She supported herself with both hands on the bedside to recover and called out: “Chun Zhi…”

Wei Zhong, who was guarding outside the door, quickly entered: “Your Majesty, Miss Chun Zhi stood guard all night and just went to sleep! What are Your Majesty’s instructions?”

“My legs are numb. Help me up…” Bai Qingyan said.

Being pregnant, Bai Qingyan dared not be careless, fearing she might fall if she stood up like this.

Hearing this, Wei Zhong walked around the screen, lifted the hanging curtains with his hand, and helped Bai Qingyan up, then said: “Would Your Majesty like some chicken soup? The small kitchen has been simmering it over low heat. This old slave will also feed some to the Ninth Prince.”

Wei Zhong didn’t mention that Yue Shi had come early this morning, saying he wanted to come serve his master, but Wei Zhong had persuaded him to go back. After all, they were currently telling everyone that the Ninth Prince was recuperating in the adjacent courtyard, and having Yue Shi stationed here at Bai Qingyan’s place might give away their secret.

Yue Shi thought what Wei Zhong said made sense, so he dejectedly went back.

Bai Qingyan was about to say that just serving Xiao Rongyan a bowl would be fine when she felt the child in her belly move. She lowered her eyes to gently caress her abdomen and nodded: “Good. Have General Liu Pinggao and the others returned?”

“They just entered the city and captured quite a few prisoners, but they weren’t able to capture old General Cui Shanzhong. General Liu said he’ll personally report the detailed battle results when Your Majesty awakens! The Yan army entering the city has also been properly settled, so Your Majesty need not worry.” After Wei Zhong answered truthfully, he added, “Last night, grain supplies arrived from Bailong City. Your Majesty was sleeping, so the Bai Family guards went to inspect and receive the grain. It’s already been stored, and Miss Chun Zhi has placed the ledgers on Your Majesty’s desk.”

She nodded: “There’s a letter on the desk. Send someone to deliver it to A’Yu at the front lines! Also, regarding the reward standards for defending the city this time and the punishment for Du Sanbao’s unauthorized taking of men to assault the Western Liang camp at night, give them to General Liu Pinggao and let him handle them as he sees fit.”

“Yes!” Wei Zhong nodded. “Then this old slave will go down first and have someone bring hot water for Your Majesty to wash up, then have the military physician come examine the Ninth Prince’s pulse.”

“Mm!” She responded, then turned to look at Xiao Rongyan, who still hadn’t awakened.

Soon, maidservants filed in, placed hot water and washing utensils in the room, then withdrew, not understanding why His Majesty wouldn’t allow personal attendance today.

The military physician knew Bai Qingyan was concerned about Xiao Rongyan and had prepared early. As soon as Wei Zhong sent someone over, the physician came carrying his medicine chest.

After taking the pulse and seeing that Xiao Rongyan’s fever had subsided, the military physician breathed a sigh of relief. After bowing to Bai Qingyan, he said: “Your Majesty need not worry. The high fever has broken. As long as the Ninth Prince takes his medicine properly, he’ll be fine.”

Bai Qingyan nodded: “Thank you for your hard work!”