“Bring them up!” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was deep and somber.

Soon, all the family members of Xiping Prince’s mansion were pulled down from horseback and forced to kneel.

“My lord… my lord, save us!” some of the women screamed at the top of their lungs.

Prince Xiping’s second son was so frightened he shouted for his father: “Father, save me…”

“Father-in-law, husband, save us!”

That Xiping army general saw the old Princess Consort, the Prince’s wife, Prince Xiping’s second and third sons, and even infants crying loudly in their mothers’ arms, all captured and brought here. His eyes immediately widened in shock.

“Go call Prince Xiping to come and talk…” Xiao Rongyan didn’t want to delay a moment, his eyes so coldly sinister they sent chills down one’s spine.

“Regent, now that you’re secretly having an affair with the Great Zhou Emperor, wanting to hand over Yan country…”

That general was speaking on his own when Xiao Rongyan, impatient to listen, turned and glanced at Yue Shi.

Without a word, Yue Shi kicked down Prince Xiping’s second son and raised his blade, head separated from body.

The Xiping army general’s voice immediately stuck in his throat, watching as the panicked Xiping Prince’s family members screamed and cried, huddling together as if their necks had been severed.

Prince Xiping’s Princess Consort saw her own son’s head hit the ground and screamed, trying to rush forward, but was held down firmly by Great Zhou soldiers. She desperately shrieked her son’s name.

“I’ll give you ten counts… have Prince Xiping roll over here! Otherwise, his third son will also be finished…” Xiao Rongyan’s voice was steady and bone-chilling. “One…”

The Xiping army general hadn’t expected the Regent to be so ruthless, actually killing Prince Xiping’s second son without even a warning. This was Murong’s royal bloodline! This was the Regent’s relative!

“Hurry and call the Prince over!” Prince Xiping’s Princess Consort screamed. The third son was also flesh that had fallen from her body. As a mother, how could she watch her precious child die? She shrieked hoarsely: “Hurry! If you don’t go, I’ll have the Prince kill you! Exterminate your entire clan! Go quickly!”

“Two…”

“Prince Xiping has already died in battle!” That general quickly shouted. This mad Regent had killed people from Xiping Prince’s mansion – when Prince Xiping’s heir settled accounts later, he would still be the unlucky one. He was frightened and quickly said: “I’ll go request the Prince’s heir!”

Xiao Rongyan rubbed the thumb ring on his finger and said, “Tell Prince Xiping’s heir to withdraw his troops immediately! If I don’t hear the sound of Xiping army’s retreat gongs within half a tea time… for every ten counts of delay, one person from Xiping Prince’s mansion dies!”

The Xiping army general immediately turned his horse around and galloped toward Prince Xiping’s heir to report the news.

Prince Xiping’s heir learned that Xiao Rongyan had personally led Great Zhou soldiers and brought their Xiping Prince’s mansion family members, and had already killed his second brother. His pupils dilated widely.

“The Regent doesn’t reason at all. Before this subordinate could finish speaking, he chopped off the Second Young Master’s head! He said… within half a tea time, he wants to hear the sound of our Xiping army’s retreat gongs, otherwise… for every ten counts of delay, he’ll kill one person from Xiping Prince’s mansion!” The Xiping army general’s voice trembled as he spoke. “Young Master, your three young masters are also among them, and even the Prince’s wife, who gave birth not long ago, has been captured!”

The black-robed strategist, seeing Prince Xiping’s heir’s expression, knew he was wavering and spoke: “Young Master, those who achieve great things… don’t get bogged down by trivial matters. Think of Liu Bang – when Xiang Yu captured Liu Bang’s father back then…”

Some words were better left unsaid. The black-robed strategist didn’t elaborate further, only staring fixedly at Prince Xiping’s heir: “If Prince Xiping were still alive, do you think he would choose to kill the Great Zhou Emperor or save his wife, children, and family? A great man need not worry about lacking a wife… with a wife naturally comes sons!”

“But… but the Princess Consort is also among them!” Xiping General Zhen Jiang looked at this black-robed strategist with complete disbelief. What kind of cold-blooded person could say such words?

“Young Master, if we can kill the Great Zhou Emperor, the Princess Consort’s spirit in the underworld… would surely be comforted!” the black-robed strategist added.

Just as the heir hesitated, another soldier from the Xiping army sent to intercept Great Zhou reinforcements returned on fast horse to report: “Young Master! The Regent chopped off Third Young Master’s head and said… next it’s the Prince’s wife’s turn!”

Prince Xiping’s heir’s eyes blazed with fury, his hand gripping tightly to the sword at his waist: “He dares!”

“Young Master, we cannot hesitate any longer. Indecision will neither protect this nor prevent losing that! Please make a swift decision!” The black-robed strategist bowed deeply to Prince Xiping’s heir.

“Young Master!” Another soldier ran over, shouting: “The Regent killed the Prince’s wife… and said next is Young Master’s eldest son!”

Prince Xiping’s heir, hearing that his wife was already dead, felt all the blood in his body instantly turn cold and stagnant. Thinking again of his eldest son, he dared not hesitate further and shouted: “Sound the retreat!”

On the mountain, Bai Qingyan, who was leading troops in a fierce battle against the Xiping army, heard the sound of the Xiping army’s retreat gongs.

The Xiping army had long been terrified by these Great Zhou soldiers who fought without regard for their lives. As soon as they climbed up, arrows would rain down from above like falling rain, killing countless brothers…

Then the Great Zhou Emperor personally led troops to kill, blade rising and falling like she never knew fatigue, every strike drawing blood!

These Great Zhou soldiers all fought like cornered beasts, putting everything on the line in a life-or-death struggle. Their ferocity was like that of wolves, striking fear into hearts. Now that the Xiping army sounded retreat, the Xiping soldiers naturally immediately withdrew, not engaging in pointless fighting.

Wei Zhong, who had been protecting Bai Qingyan’s side, stepped forward, gasping for breath as he spoke to Bai Qingyan: “The Xiping army is… sounding retreat?”

“Your Majesty… the Xiping army has withdrawn. Should we go down the mountain?” Liu Pinggao shook the blood off his long blade that had been dulled from chopping, and he was also panting heavily.

“Wait a bit longer!” Bai Qingyan’s gaze looked toward the foot of the mountain. The tall trees blocked her view, and she could only vaguely see firelight. Bai Qingyan’s entire arm was already aching and trembling. She said to Liu Pinggao: “Send someone to scout and see what’s happening.”

·

Prince Xiping’s heir looked at the corpses of his two brothers and his wife lying in pools of blood, heard the cries of his mother and three children, and wanted nothing more than to flay Xiao Rongyan alive. He shouted: “Regent! The Xiping army has already sounded retreat. Please honor your promise, Regent, and release all my Xiping Prince’s mansion family members.”

“No rush…” Xiao Rongyan’s voice revealed neither joy nor anger, only the sharp eyes behind his mask lifted. Even from such a distance, Prince Xiping’s heir felt a sensation like thorns piercing his back.

Xiao Rongyan said, “Have Prince Xiping’s heir command the Xiping army to retreat five li. When the Great Zhou Emperor and the Great Zhou soldiers on the mountain come down completely unharmed, then we’ll discuss releasing people…”

Prince Xiping’s heir gripped his reins tightly, gritting his teeth in a standoff with Xiao Rongyan: “This seems improper! What if we Xiping army, withdraw, but you, Regent, don’t release our people?”