“This subordinate accepts the order!” “This subordinate accepts the order!” Shen Liangyu and Cheng Yuanzhi each accepted their orders and led their troops away at full speed.

The defending general of Liuguan City only knew that the Bai family army was currently attacking Guadu City and had already sent people to report to the capital of Dongyi. He had no idea that the Great Zhou would suddenly attack Liuguan City.

At the same time, Guadu City had already been taken by the Bai family army led by Bai Qingjue and Bai Jinzhi after waiting in vain for reinforcements.

After capturing the defending generals and city officials alive, Bai Jinzhi looked sullen and unhappy. Lu Yuanpeng, who was walking alongside Bai Jinzhi, was also not very pleased. He turned to ask Sima Ping: “Tell me, what exactly does this Dongyi nation rely on to be so arrogant toward our Great Zhou? Do they rely on their ignorance of their limitations? Do they rely on their shamelessness? They’re so weak in battle, yet they dare provoke the Great Zhou. The emperor of Dongyi must have porridge for brains!”

Lu Yuanpeng had prepared for a long time for today’s battle, planning to avenge Prince Han Cheng and his sister. But what happened? He had steeled himself with the utmost determination, only to have the enemy fall into chaos from within the moment the Bai family army’s banner appeared. It felt like going hunting for the thrill of it, only to have the rabbit jump directly into your pocket upon arrival at the hunting ground. What fun was there in that?

Lu Yuanpeng had spoken what Bai Jinzhi wanted to say. Bai Jinzhi frowned tightly and said resentfully: “To think that Prince Han Cheng died at the hands of such a reckless small country. No wonder the eldest sister finds it so hard to accept!”

“Dongyi is not stupid at all,” Sima Ping said in a low voice as he walked with his hands clasped behind his back. “First, Dongyi is a nation surrounded by sea on all sides, so their naval forces are their strongest asset. It’s only natural that their infantry is weak! Moreover, the Great Zhou is currently governing the nation. If we lose, His Majesty will have to step down from the supreme throne. The Dongyi emperor judges others by himself, thinking His Majesty will surely tolerate Dongyi for the sake of winning the national gamble. That’s why he dares to be so provocative!”

Bai Jinzhi stopped in her tracks and looked at Sima Ping. These words… she had heard them from her eldest sister, second sister, and brothers.

Eldest sister had also said that if Dongyi was not destroyed this time, Dongyi would definitely try every means to gain benefits while doing everything possible to prevent Great Zhou from winning the national gamble, because Dongyi also feared that if Great Zhou won, the first thing they would do would be to settle accounts with Dongyi.

Bai Jinzhi looked at Sima Ping with bright, sparkling laughter in her eyes: “Not bad, Sima Ping! My sisters and brothers all said the same thing! I knew you were clever, but I didn’t expect you to be so clever that you could match my brothers and sisters!”

Sima Ping was stunned upon hearing Bai Jinzhi’s praise, then smiled at the corners of his mouth. Taking advantage of his height, he raised his hand to pat Bai Jinzhi’s head and bent down slightly to look at her at eye level: “The Bai family members are all outstanding individuals. How is it that Prince Gaoyi doesn’t have even a bit of His Majesty’s wisdom?”

Bai Jinzhi glared at Sima Ping: “Sima Ping, with that poisonous mouth of yours, you’ll never find a wife in this lifetime. You can only pair up with Lu Yuanpeng and spend your life together!”

“What does this have to do with me? I still want to marry a wife!” Lu Yuanpeng’s ears turned red. “I don’t want to spend my life with Sima Ping!”

Bai Jinzhi tidied her bangs and pointed at Sima Ping and Lu Yuanpeng like a warning: “If you two dare touch my head again in the future, that’s insubordination, and I’ll beat you with military sticks!”

After speaking, Bai Jinzhi gripped the sword at her waist, turned around, and walked away, muttering angrily: “Eldest sister even said these two had feelings for me. I think they have hostility toward me! They should pair up together and never harm any good girls from other families!”

Sima Ping watched Bai Jinzhi leave in a huff, unable to suppress his smile.

“Why did you have to provoke her?” Lu Yuanpeng frowned tightly and looked down at his bloodstained hands. “I love rubbing her head the most, and now I can’t do it anymore!”

Sima Ping hooked his arm around Lu Yuanpeng’s neck, pulled him close, and said casually: “I say… if you really like Princess Gaoyi, don’t be afraid of others saying you’re living off a woman. Go back and quickly have your grandfather propose marriage. Look how Princess Bai is growing more beautiful by the day. Aren’t you afraid… others will compete with you?”

Lu Yuanpeng’s ears burned. He had taken Sima Ping’s words to heart, yet he still stubbornly refused to admit it. He raised his hand to smooth the small tuft of hair by his temple and said: “Impossible! Princess Bai is just a tomboy. Besides me, who would like…”

Realizing he had let something slip, he stopped mid-sentence, his whole face turning red. He pointed at Sima Ping: “We’re good brothers, you must not tell anyone!”

“Don’t worry, I like Princess Bai myself. How could I tell anyone? When I go back, I’ll ask my cousin Princess Xiangxie to help… arrange a marriage proposal. I’m not afraid of people saying I’m living off a woman. Anyway, the Sima family isn’t as distinguished as before. I’ll just become a prince consort…” Sima Ping spoke carelessly to Lu Yuanpeng about plans. “Hey, maybe the Sima family can rise again!”

“Go to hell!” Lu Yuanpeng pushed Sima Ping away, gripped his sword hilt, and deliberately put on a stern face to quarrel with Sima Ping: “Draw your sword!”

Sima Ping gripped his sword hilt with a smile at the corner of his mouth: “What, want to fight? Whoever wins gets to marry Princess Bai?”

“If you want to marry Princess Bai… you’ll have to step over my corpse!” Lu Yuanpeng pretended to be serious as he drew his sword. “No one is allowed to have designs on Princess Bai.”

The smile remained on Sima Ping’s lips, but the laughter in his eyes grew cold. He suddenly drew his sword and attacked Lu Yuanpeng with extreme speed, his moves fierce and urgent. Lu Yuanpeng only felt a cold flash by his temple before his loose hair scattered to the ground.

Looking at Sima Ping’s bloodstained sword pressed against his neck, Lu Yuanpeng’s eyes widened, filled with amazement and envy. He laughed heartlessly: “Sima Ping! When did you become so formidable? I didn’t even see clearly how you drew your sword, and you already had it at my throat!”

Lu Yuanpeng punched Sima Ping’s chest with his fist: “With skills like this, how could the Sima family not rise again in your hands!”

He sheathed his sword and hooked his arm around Sima Ping’s neck, bringing their heads together and saying in a low voice: “My grandfather told me that Sister Bai thinks very highly of you!”

Sima Ping looked at Lu Yuanpeng, whose eyes held clean and pure laughter. He pushed him away with his hand, smiled as he restrained his killing intent, sheathed his sword, and walked forward with his arms crossed: “Naturally. If she doesn’t think highly of me… would she think highly of a troublemaker like you?”

Lu Yuanpeng chuckled and quickly caught up with Sima Ping, once again hooking his arm around Sima Ping’s neck, walking forward with their arms around each other’s shoulders: “I know that every time I cause trouble, you’re the one who cleans up the mess for me. Good brother!”