The boom of the explosion left Wanyan Lie stunned speechless.
Han Ziqing had invaded Xiliang from the northern desert and fought her way all the way to Longxi City, winning battle after battle, naturally leaving behind no shortage of rumors—and rumors, as such things go, only grow more fantastical with each retelling!
The power of gunpowder had been exaggerated to the heavens, with some rumors even claiming Han Ziqing was the daughter of the Thunder God, able to wipe out an entire army with a single thunderbolt!
Wanyan Lie had certainly heard plenty of such tales, but as for the power of gunpowder itself, he’d already witnessed it firsthand back in Akbachu!
Toward gunpowder, he felt both curiosity and fear!
Because it truly was a mysterious force, and one of terrifyingly destructive power!
Could it be that Han Ziqing truly relied on this weapon…
At this thought, Wanyan Lie couldn’t hide his panic and hastily turned to look back, only to see black smoke billowing skyward from within the city. Several of the officers behind him could barely contain themselves!
That direction—that was exactly where the troops were garrisoned!
Wanyan Lie glared furiously, “Han Ziqing, what do you mean by this?”
“Continue fighting—isn’t that what you said?” Ziqing shot back, utterly composed, then turned to look at Situ Haonan, “Commanding General, shall we blow up Longxi City first? You have no objections, I assume?”
The corner of Situ Haonan’s mouth curved into a handsome arc, and he waved his hand with dashing ease, “As you please!”
“Got it!” Ziqing’s eyes crinkled into a smile, her expression utterly harmless, yet in everyone else’s eyes, at this moment she seemed more terrifying than a demon. Not only did the Xiliang soldiers think so, but even Xijing’s General Dugu felt a chill run down his spine!
Once this woman gave the order, it truly shook heaven and earth!
And amid Ziqing’s sweet smile—BOOM!—another sudden thunderous explosion, even bigger and more violent than the last, shaking the entire city gate until it trembled, dislodging clumps of sand and earth!
Wanyan Lie no longer dared act so arrogant, his face contorted with the worst expression imaginable.
“Han Ziqing, how dare you!” he growled, like a beast roaring.
“Haven’t I already done it? What’s there left to dare?” Ziqing shot back.
“You! Han Ziqing, this does Da Zhou no good at all!” Wanyan Lie warned. He was, after all, a man, and also the crown prince of Xiliang—how could he truly disregard all consequences just to settle a score with Situ Haonan?
Even if such a possibility existed—
Wanyan Lie wouldn’t dare take that risk. This war with Xijing had never fundamentally been about settling a score.
All this talk of pride and grudges was just an excuse. The real substance was interests, the contest over territory.
Wanyan Lie had been so arrogant precisely because he’d calculated that Han Ziqing would fight for Da Zhou’s greatest benefit—he hadn’t expected she would actually take this attitude!
“Whether it does or doesn’t, that’s not something Crown Prince Lie needs to worry about.” Ziqing said coldly, then turned and walked toward Situ Haonan. With a single glance, Situ Haonan understood at once and immediately called out loudly, “Prepare for battle!”
At these words, morale within the Xijing army surged even higher, while on Wanyan Lie’s side, an uproar broke out. Wanyan Lie glared furiously at Ziqing’s retreating back, his bloodshot eyes nearly spitting fire.
“Situ Haonan, you win without honor, relying on reinforcements—what kind of man are you?” Wanyan Lie turned his attack back to Situ Haonan, knowing full well he couldn’t do anything about Han Ziqing.
Who would have thought Situ Haonan would simply laugh, “This young master never stopped you from calling for reinforcements either—you’re welcome to summon your own.”
“You!” Wanyan Lie’s fists clenched so hard they creaked, having never anticipated things would come to this.
Situ Haonan snorted coldly and paid him no further attention, handing Qianqian over to Ziqing before immediately mounting his horse, sword in one hand, horn in the other.
“Your Highness, you mustn’t!”
“Your Highness, the city has already suffered heavy losses—if Da Zhou suddenly intervenes with reinforcements, the flames of war will surely spread into Xiliang’s own territory. Our remaining troops are few, and by then…”
“Your Highness, Han Ziqing’s weapons are terrifying enough already—if the fighting doesn’t stop now, Xiliang will be in grave danger!”
…
Amid this chorus of pleading, Wanyan Lie seemed as if consumed by his own fury, on the verge of exploding at any moment, yet no matter how overwhelming his rage, he had no choice but to suppress it.
“Fine, I surrender!”
He raised the marshal’s order high, his roar so loud that everyone present heard it perfectly clearly!
At this, the Xijing forces came to a halt, and within the crowd, Ziqing turned to look over. Compared to the tall, imposing Xijing soldiers around her, she was truly small enough to be overlooked, yet amid the crowd, she glanced back with a smile so dazzling it commanded attention, impossible to ignore!
That single glance back was not only breathtakingly beautiful, but composed and noble, as if everyone around her paled by comparison—only she shone with boundless splendor!
“Surrender to whom?” Ziqing asked, her voice carrying clearly enough not only for Wanyan Lie to hear, but for everyone present to hear as well.
This woman!
Wanyan Lie took deep breath after deep breath, struggling to suppress his fury. Han Ziqing was clearly testing the limits of his patience.
But so what if she was? She could afford to!
“Surrender to Xijing!” Wanyan Lie couldn’t possibly keep being stubborn about it now.
Yet, unexpectedly, Ziqing asked again, “Surrender to whom in Xijing?”
Wanyan Lie’s fists creaked, joint by joint, as he glared furiously at Ziqing, who smiled graciously yet showed no mercy in her words!
Wanyan Lie had dared to humiliate Yelu Qianqian and Situ Haonan just moments ago—now he would pay the price for it!
Wanyan Lie didn’t turn around immediately, instead glaring at Ziqing through gritted teeth.
Ziqing let him glare all he wanted—even her smiling presence overwhelmed Wanyan Lie’s fury completely. She’d never been one for excessive talk, but since Wanyan Lie wouldn’t speak, she continued, “Haonan, surrender is a humiliating thing. Whether to accept someone’s surrender must be handled carefully, and everything must be made perfectly clear.”
Situ Haonan nodded, “I understand.”
Holding the hand of Yelu Qianqian, who’d been frightened senseless by the whole scene, she walked forward, step by step.
In everyone’s eyes, every step she took carried such grace and radiance that even though she was of humble birth, she seemed far nobler than Princess Qianqian herself.
Such a woman—even if she’d grown up from the mud, she could stand equal to royalty, could shine with splendor across all of Longyuan!
“Crown Prince Lie, do you know?” Ziqing stopped and asked flatly.
Wanyan Lie wished desperately that all of this would end at once, otherwise, if it continued like this, he was certain to be furious to death.
“Situ Haonan! Surrender to Situ Haonan!” he roared.
“Who surrendered to Situ Haonan? Crown Prince Lie, surely I don’t need to explain the proper etiquette of surrender to you?” Ziqing pressed on, step by step. It wasn’t that she lacked decency, pushing her advantage too far—it was that others had been indecent to her first.
What she hated most was when someone was indecent to her first, yet demanded she be decent and magnanimous in return! Never going to happen.
The etiquette Ziqing spoke of referred to the proper actions and proper words expected in a surrender.
The men beside Wanyan Lie practically felt scorched by the fury radiating off him—one could well imagine how far this fellow had been pushed!
He abruptly turned to face Situ Haonan, and at that same moment, Ziqing passed Yelu Qianqian’s hand over to Situ Haonan!
The moment Situ Haonan took hold of Yelu Qianqian’s small hand, a feeling he could never put into words in this lifetime surged up all at once, wrapping around his heart, which had gone more than half cold.
He couldn’t even bring himself to look at his opponent Wanyan Lie—he looked at Ziqing instead, clearly wanting to say something, yet found himself speechless.
This woman—she was the first he had ever liked, the first he had ever admired, and the first he had ever been at odds with.
From liking, to admiration, to enmity—how could there be such a woman?
Situ Haonan took a deep breath, held Yelu Qianqian’s hand tight, and finally turned to face Wanyan Lie, who had stepped forward!