Tian Qi suddenly sighed with regret, “All that forbearance was for nothing.”

Zirui said nothing.

Even a fool could see this wasn’t a problem that forbearance could solve. It was clearly deliberate humiliation. If they endured here, trouble would still be stirred up elsewhere. So Tian Qi regretted not fighting it out earlier.

People who truly wanted to bully others wouldn’t stop just because of yielding.

Tian Qi and Zirui only found it strange—was Tie Fenglei really this arrogant? Did he truly not care about Jing Hengbo’s face at all?

Daily, countless people came to join the Black Water Queen. Her power expanded rapidly. She possessed miraculous skills herself and had experts like clouds around her. Any power would weigh this carefully and not easily make enemies. This throne wasn’t even warm yet, and he still had to deal with brothers fighting for succession—did this Third Prince really not care at all?

But they didn’t know that the checkpoint commander had no idea of their identities, thinking they were merely Tie Xinze’s guards.

Eager to please the new king, he deliberately humiliated and provoked Tie Xinze. If he could capture Tie Xinze and deliver him to the throne, the Great King would surely be very pleased.

The checkpoint had long prepared several thousand soldiers. Iron armor’s cold gleam painted everyone’s vision a pale blue-green. Without allowing explanation, they attacked. Tie Xinze and Tian Qi had no choice but to fight.

The two men looked at the surging crowd, then at each other, and without hesitation pushed Zirui outward.

“Go!”

“Return and report to the Queen!”

Zirui stumbled back and saw the two men already swallowed by the dark mass of troops. A checkpoint usually had only a hundred-man squad, but now thousands immediately poured out—clearly prepared in advance.

“Brother Tian Qi, your lightness skill is unmatched—you should go too!” Tie Xinze pushed Tian Qi outward.

But Tian Qi stood firm as if his feet were rooted to the ground, smiling steadily. “I wonder if Chentie’s prison will have better accommodations than Daimao’s?”

“Why must you?”

“I also wonder whether Her Majesty the Queen truly considers me a close friend.” Tian Qi snorted with shyness, dissatisfaction, and pride. “She could storm Shangyuan for Zirui—can’t she storm Chentie once for me?”

Tie Xinze was left trembling all over by his repeated use of “I” in that coquettish manner…

The pseudo-maiden’s laughter was charming, but his figure was as agile as an eagle. His spread arms like giant wings swept over the dark mass of people, heading straight for the army’s commanding general. “Capture the leader first!”

“Protect the general! Protect the general!” The soldiers shouted in panic.

A scream rang out as a bloody ear flew through the air, seeming to dye the dawn red. Tian Qi’s delighted laughter echoed through the clouds. “Told you to bully me—I hit you!”

“Take them down! Take them down!” The shouting alarmed the entire city.

Tie Xinze sighed, looked back in the direction Zirui had gone, and plunged into the battle.

This battle should have had no suspense. Ten-thousand-man enemies never truly existed. No matter how skilled a master, facing thousands of troops, individual effect was limited. Two against a thousand—one spear thrust per person would be enough to exhaust them to death.

But this battle between Tie Xinze and Tian Qi stubbornly carved through the thousand-man army back and forth, plowing bloody paths through the crowd repeatedly. Red and white splattered everywhere. The ground became muddy with blood, and boots sank in so deep they couldn’t be pulled out immediately.

This battle lasted from dawn to noon. Though Tie Xinze and Tian Qi were ultimately captured, the Chentie army paid a heavy price. The commanding deputy general had an ear torn off by Tian Qi, most other captains were wounded, over a hundred soldiers died, and over three hundred were injured. Corpses everywhere and wounded groaning in pools of blood.

With such heavy casualties, the checkpoint deputy general’s teeth chattered with rage. If not for the Great King’s order not to kill Tie Xinze, he would have used lethal force long ago.

After capture, the two were bound tightly but remained composed, standing among the corpses chatting casually.

One said, “I fought so satisfyingly today—should have done this earlier!”

The other said, “It’s all because of me that Brother Tian Qi suffered. I’ll certainly repay you properly later.”

One said, “I want to kill Tie Fenglei—that would be truly satisfying.”

The other said, “I cherish family bonds, but family bonds don’t cherish me. If we truly meet on a narrow path, please don’t hold back for my sake, Brother Tian Qi.”

One said, “Really?”

The other said, “I wish for brotherly harmony. This includes blood brothers and sworn brothers alike. If others don’t treat me with familial affection, I can only weigh things by gratitude and righteousness. Brother Tian Qi went through fire and water for me—I could never let you suffer again for my sake.”

One laughed heartily. “Earlier I resented you for lacking masculine spirit, but now I see your heart is crystal clear. Good! I accept you as a friend!”

The other smiled composedly. “Sharing food and drink can only make friends; sharing hardship creates true confidants.”

The two stood on corpses, smiling at each other. Under the whistling winter wind, ten thousand troops were nothing special.

The thousand troops fell silent, filled with awe. The soldiers didn’t quite understand what they were saying, but felt such composed bearing was worthy of respect.

The soldiers had seen people on battlefields who pretended to be heroic, but when those people spoke wildly, they might secretly wet themselves. These two before them showed no false bravado—their calm conversation made them even more formidable.

Moreover, the many corpses at their feet testified to who the real strong ones were.

Armies worship the strong, so now no one dared scold them.

Only the deputy general who’d lost half an ear smiled sinisterly.

“The Seventh Prince says the Great King lacks familial affection?” He chuckled. “How can you say such things? The Great King is very concerned about the Seventh Prince. As soon as he heard you’d reached Chentie, he immediately sent family to welcome you.”

Tie Xinze’s gaze sharpened.

The deputy general theatrically slapped his forehead. “My forgetful nature—how could I forget this? Oh my, if we’d brought the person out earlier, perhaps this misunderstanding wouldn’t have happened…” He turned to scold, “Why haven’t you invited the lady?”

Tian Qi frowned, thinking Tie Fenglei wouldn’t have taken Tie Xinze’s mother hostage, would he? Only now did he remember why Tie Xinze had been so forbearing—his mother was still in the royal city.

Seeing Tie Xinze’s expression suggested similar worries, Tian Qi couldn’t help but secretly regret.

Sigh, it was all from following the Queen too smoothly—he could no longer bear any grievances.

A small sedan chair was slowly carried over. The chair was gorgeous and exquisite—clearly for female use.

Both Tie Xinze and Tian Qi were somewhat nervous, watching the chair stop three zhang away as someone gently lifted the curtain.

The hand lifting the curtain was snow-white and delicate. Tian Qi was thinking Tie Xinze’s mother was really well-maintained when he saw on that finger a pigeon-blood ruby ring, shockingly red.

He felt Tie Xinze beside him tremble.

He looked up and for a moment seemed to see water flashing in Tie Xinze’s eyes.

Tian Qi was shocked, almost doubting his own vision.

Tie Xinze beside him seemed to be breathing slowly. The perceptive Tian Qi heard his breathing was somewhat irregular.

The earlier fierce battle hadn’t disrupted Tie Xinze’s breathing—what was happening now?

Below the checkpoint, amid the scattered bloodstains, the sedan chair was silent, and Tie Xinze gazing at it was also silent.

After a moment, someone in the chair coughed softly, then coughed again.

The voice was delicate—indeed a woman.

Tie Xinze’s body swayed again.

Tian Qi glanced at the sinisterly smiling deputy general, understanding dawning in his heart.

He remembered hearing long ago that Tie Xinze had a betrothed arranged in infancy, but also a lover who’d been waiting for him.

The one who came now was likely one of them.

Sure enough, after the light coughing, the person in the chair said softly, “This humble concubine follows the Great King’s orders to welcome the Seventh Prince. The Prince has traveled far and worked hard on the road.”

Those snow-white fingers slowly hung the golden hook on the curtain. Through the gap, one could dimly see the person inside had black hair in cloud-like arrangement—a married woman’s style.

Tie Xinze seemed to take another punch.

Tian Qi’s heart cried alarm. Whichever of the two women connected to Tie Xinze appeared as a married woman was quite wrong.

Moreover, this woman came alone, claiming to be a “lady” yet without even a servant, having to hang the golden hook herself—what did this mean?

That woman’s finger remained at the window edge, the gem on it glittering—seemingly a reminder, seemingly provocation.

But with his feminine psychology, Tian Qi noticed her wrist also bore a gold-inlaid jade bracelet, very heavy and ornate, clashing with the ring’s color.

This woman gave an impression of elegant fragility—really not like someone who would make such gaudy adornments.

Tie Xinze stared at that finger for a long while before slowly saying, “How did you change bracelets?”

The woman paused quietly, then answered, “The Great King bestowed upon this humble concubine a gold-inlaid jade bracelet, more befitting my status. So I removed that white jade bracelet from before.”

Tie Xinze closed his eyes and asked again, “Why didn’t you remove the pigeon-blood ruby ring?”

“I had removed it too, but the Great King said,” the woman’s voice was gentle and soft, “since I’m coming to welcome Seventh Brother today, I might as well wear one item that Seventh Brother once gave. You and I are now family—no need to distinguish between yours and mine.”

“Then,” Tie Xinze said slowly, “congratulations to Miss Guan Xiulong on being elevated to Princess Consort.”

“The Seventh Prince misunderstands,” the woman said softly. “This humble concubine is merely the Great King’s twelfth concubine—I dare not claim the title of Princess Consort.”

Tie Xinze’s sleeves trembled slightly. Tian Qi turned away numbly to look at a corpse by the roadside, feeling the corpse looked better than Tie Xinze’s current complexion.

That corpse had over a dozen knife wounds. He thought Tie Xinze’s current feelings were probably similar to what that corpse experienced before death…

After a long while, Tie Xinze spoke, his voice trembling for the first time. “Xiulong, Guan Xiulong… even if you couldn’t continue waiting for me, you shouldn’t… debase yourself so…”

“The Seventh Prince misunderstands again.” The person in the chair coughed lightly. “This humble concubine was completely willing. I was very happy to marry the Great King. The Great King treats me gently and considerately, accompanying me daily.” She suddenly smiled. “I am a woman with a weak will. I was too naive in my early years, but as my youth gradually aged, I gained understanding. I finally realized that compared to the ethereal, uncertain tenderness from a thousand li away, a good man by one’s side is most real.”

Tie Xinze staggered a step, his heel bumping against a corpse before barely managing not to fall.

That woman still wouldn’t let up, continuing in that soft, gentle tone: “The Seventh Prince is getting on in years too. You should marry soon. But I hear the Great King wants the Seventh Prince to return to Imperial Song to promote eternal peace between Imperial Song and Chentie. I wonder if Miss Xuanting would be willing to leave her homeland and follow the Seventh Prince to live permanently in Imperial Song? But since she didn’t come to meet you today, perhaps she also…”

“If she won’t meet him, I will follow.” A voice suddenly interrupted her words.

Guan Xiulong in the chair looked up startled and saw a woman emerge from behind a tree, walking slowly forward.

Under the gaze of thousands of troops, under the gaze of Tie Xinze’s former love, Xia Zirui walked step by step with straight posture.

Straight waist and back, unmoving skirt hem, each step the same distance—precise as if measured with a ruler.

Such steps were both graceful and dignified—the finest courtly bearing.

She believed in herself. Though walking among corpses, her current gait was the most beautiful and noble of her life.

She wanted to walk with the most beautiful, most noble steps to support that man’s faltering confidence. She wanted Guan Xiulong to see clearly that the person she’d discarded like worn shoes still had someone willing to follow him.

Though she hadn’t completely thought it through at this moment, those few exchanges made her decide she must do this.

Fire burned in her heart, but her face remained calm, her raised neck in the most graceful and proud curve.

In the morning light, soldiers watched the approaching woman with admiration. They didn’t understand what long-refined court etiquette was—they only felt this woman was beautiful.

Guan Xiulong’s fragile sharpness, meeting such nobility, couldn’t help but feel flustered. She coughed and asked, “Who are you?”

But Xia Zirui completely ignored her, only stepping forward to take Tie Xinze’s arm.

“The lady is asking you a question!” Someone scolded her.

Xia Zirui didn’t even glance at the speaker.

“A decent woman need not acknowledge a concubine,” she replied.

Guan Xiulong’s hand holding the curtain trembled, her coughing intensifying.

Sometimes words cut deepest.

Tie Xinze had completely lost his earlier composure, standing woodenly. When Xia Zirui took his arm, he showed no reaction.

Xia Zirui seemed more natural than him now, extending her hand to beckon a nearby soldier.

“Tie me up too.”

The soldier holding rope was momentarily stunned.

“If he goes to prison, I go to prison. If he won’t leave, I won’t leave. If he departs, I depart.” Xia Zirui looked up at Tie Xinze with deliberate deep affection meant to anger Guan Xiulong to death. “Leaving home doesn’t matter, wandering the world doesn’t matter, even falling into hell doesn’t matter. I am a woman with weak will. Whether young and naive or old and wise, I only know that women should be faithful to one man. Compared to wealth and honor gained by selling dignity, being with that reliable, steady person is most real.”

Tie Xinze’s arm trembled slightly as he suddenly turned to look at her.

In the chair, Guan Xiulong’s face was deathly pale, like a ghost mask floating in darkness.

Xia Zirui had originally intended to anger someone and spoke as if reciting lines. But as she continued, feeling the trembling of the man she held, her heart also seemed to flutter lightly.

Those words were too burning, scorching him and her alike.

Wind blew down the golden hook holding the curtain, covering Guan Xiulong’s pale face. All around fell silent. After a long while, the deputy general’s voice rose in frustrated anger: “Take them! Take them all!”

In the clamor, Xia Zirui smiled. Beside her, Tian Qi asked worriedly, “If you also throw yourself into the trap, who will report to Jing Hengbo?”

“No matter.” Xia Zirui’s eyes sparkled brilliantly. “I already sent a pigeon with the message. I think…” She smiled, looking toward Shangyuan. “Chentie is going to have trouble…”

…

Half a day later, Chentie’s new Great King had heard about what happened here. He held his newly married thirteenth concubine’s waist and waved carelessly, “Just keep them locked up!”

He added impatiently, “If not for the old man possibly telling him where the Great King’s seal is, I would have killed him long ago!”

After groping his concubine’s waist several times, he suddenly said, “Who’s that woman who suddenly appeared to support him? Bring her for me to see if she’s beautiful.”

Finally he asked, “By the way, who are that man and woman?”

His subordinates looked at each other. In the chaotic battle, they’d actually forgotten to ask Tian Qi and Zirui’s identities.

But such an oversight couldn’t be revealed before the brutal Great King. The reporter said, “They’re the Seventh Prince’s guards. We will interrogate them thoroughly.”

“Then interrogate them well.” Tie Fenglei waved dismissively, pushing away the woman beside him. When she still tried to press close, he slapped her heavily, sending her tumbling to the ground wailing. Not even glancing at the woman, he strode out of the palace.

In the courtyard, someone in a gray hooded cloak waited for him in the shadows. Seeing him, the person said, “Congratulations, Great King!”

“Oh?” Tie Fenglei narrowed his eyes. “What cause for celebration?”

“This humble one brings a letter for the Great King.” The person took a letter from his chest and handed it to Tie Fenglei. “When the Great King reads it, he’ll know the cause for celebration.”

Tie Fenglei scanned it once, his thick brows rising. “Cheng Gumo requests alliance with me?”

…

“Bang!” Jing Hengbo’s palm slammed heavily on the desk, startling everyone.

“How dare he!” The Queen glared furiously. “Audacious Tie Fenglei actually dares injure Tian Qi, detain Zirui, and throw my people in prison! This is the rhythm of slapping my face! Someone! Follow me to send troops to Chentie!”

No one responded. A hall full of people stared at her with wide eyes.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider,” the mature and steady Chang Fangqu and others hurriedly advised. “Your foundation isn’t stable. Externally, Daimao’s martial world watches like tigers, while internally Ming Yan’an struggles desperately. It’s unwise to make enemies on multiple fronts. Perhaps we should first negotiate with Tie Fenglei through intermediaries…”

“No! By the time you negotiate, the vegetables will be cold!” Jing Hengbo swept out like a whirlwind.

Everyone looked at each other—the Queen had been very abnormal lately, very abnormal…

…

The abnormal things were yet to come.

Clearly, Tian Qi and Zirui’s capture was a sudden incident, and the news had just arrived. But somehow, just as the Queen finished her outburst and rushed out, her elite forces had already assembled.

During this period, Jing Hengbo had been seizing territory all along, and those who surrendered and joined her numbered over twenty thousand. She already had the most elite mid-level officers—titled captains and Pei Shu’s subordinates. Distributed among these twenty thousand, they were all excellent troop leaders, quickly forming well-organized armies. Jing Hengbo’s management pairing: one titled captain with one of Pei Shu’s subordinates, plus one army unit. Who was primary, who secondary? They competed for it. Which army ranked higher or lower, how supplies were allocated? They competed for it. Squad competitions, battalion competitions, army competitions—constant competition drove everyone to continuously train, or else they’d have low status, insufficient food and clothing, and face ridicule. The most outstanding were organized into elite battalions with first-class supply and treatment, ensuring everyone was like squirrels in wheels, constantly moving.

Supporting twenty thousand people was a major expense, so they used the army to support the army—opening fields, cultivating land, self-producing. Additionally, there was Black Water Marsh—rich and dangerous Black Water Marsh became the soldiers’ adventure zone. With Tianxing treasure boats, the terrifying Black Water Marsh became less unapproachable. Jing Hengbo controlled boat production to avoid market impact. Even her own army received allocations based on performance. Products from Black Water Marsh, whether sold inland or to neighboring countries, commanded high prices sufficient to maintain twenty thousand troops.

Jing Hengbo herself used the three counties’ tax revenue to begin establishing women’s shopping centers throughout Dahuang. She believed that women’s money was always easiest to fool, regardless of era. She wanted her beauty concepts to sweep Dahuang territory. The women’s shopping centers were much like what she’d envisioned in Imperial Song—clothing, jewelry, beauty treatments all together, even face masks prepared. There were nutrient solution masks, vegetable and fruit masks, and the signature classic product: Black Water Marsh mud masks. The latter was mud Jing Hengbo personally dug from a Black Water Marsh area rich in precious herbs and medicines. Generally, such mineral mud contained many trace elements and was a source of high-end mask products in the modern world. Jing Hengbo personally tested it and added some nutrient solutions—the effects were excellent. Unless using military force, ordinary people couldn’t obtain this. Jing Hengbo positioned it as a luxury product, specifically marketing to royalty of the six kingdoms and eight territories. Priced comparable to gold, she aimed to profit from them until they were penniless.

Because there were temporarily no wars, many people were sent out by Jing Hengbo to establish shopping centers, open wasteland, and hunt treasure in Black Water Marsh. Usually only about five thousand remained in camp. But now as everyone followed her out, they discovered a full ten thousand were already waiting on the drill ground—all top-ranking elite units.

Before anyone could express confusion, Jing Hengbo quickly mounted the reviewing platform. Today she wore red riding attire with black boots, her black hair in a high ponytail swishing behind her, a black riding crop also swishing in her hand. She looked spirited and handsome, stunning everyone.

Jing Hengbo understood how to utilize young soldiers’ admiration for outstanding women. Every military appearance was carefully dressed to guarantee amazing effects each time. This also prepared for her women’s shopping centers—she was Dahuang’s star, using her celebrity effect to maximally promote her commercial empire. Every outfit, every garment she wore publicly, even hair accessories and hairstyles, would become signature products in her shopping centers, exploiting women’s vanity and herd mentality to profit heavily.

Standing on the platform, she herself was the most beautiful banner. All soldiers looked up at her with shining eyes, each feeling she was looking at him specifically, that her smile made dying for her worthwhile.

Beauty’s power knew no bounds. Many reportedly joined the army just to glimpse the legendary queen famous for beauty and dramatic life.

Her army was called “Horizontal Halberd Army.”

“Darlings!” The Queen always addressed her army this way, and everyone was used to and liked it—having such a beauty with red lips and white teeth smilingly call you “darling” felt damn good!

“Your Majesty!” Ten thousand voices thundered in response.

“They say when the master is humiliated, subjects should die. If someone humiliates me, what do you plan to do?” Jing Hengbo got straight to the point.

“Make him die! If he won’t die, we die!”

“Excellent.” Jing Hengbo pointed toward Chentie Territory. “Chentie’s Great King is arrogant and tyrannical, actually daring to openly provoke me by imprisoning General Tian Qi and Miss Xia. What do you say we do?”

“Beat the hell out of him!”

“Excellent.” Jing Hengbo jumped down from the platform. “March out!”

The ten-thousand-man force snapped to attention with a uniform turn, like a neat rice field suddenly flipped direction by wind.

Watching the army stream endlessly out the camp gates, Jing Hengbo turned back to look at her subordinates.

Including Qisha, everyone still maintained slack-jawed expressions.

What was wrong with the Queen?

She’d never acted unilaterally before. Why did she make such a major decision today without any discussion—deciding to send troops just like that?

Though Chentie’s Great King was excessive, immediately sending troops without a word over this—what was this about?

And sending out the entire army—what if Shangyuan took advantage of the empty rear?

Yi Qi rushed over, grabbing Jing Hengbo’s head to examine it left and right, muttering, “Got your brain caught in a door? Can’t tell though.”

“Your brain got caught in a door—your whole family’s brains got caught in doors!” Jing Hengbo slapped him away, then smiled at the drinking Ying Bai. “This is my Horizontal Halberd Army’s first battle. We must make a good start to intimidate the Fifteen Gangs and surrounding territories. I don’t understand military affairs—please trouble the Grand Commander.”

“This isn’t proper,” Yi Qi said again. “Currently, most mid-level officers in the army are Pei Shu’s subordinates. Having Ying Bai command them—what’s that about? At least wait for Pei Shu to return…”

“You talk too much!” Jing Hengbo slapped him back again, smiling at Ying Bai.

Ying Bai’s eyes flashed as he raised his wine jug. “Fine, but before leaving, let me fill up on wine.”

“Such a small matter hardly requires the Grand Commander personally,” Jing Hengbo flicked her finger, summoning several mid-level officers who immediately surrounded Ying Bai. She instructed, “During this expedition, you must carefully follow and care for the Grand Commander, learn well from him, and be ready to receive his instructions at all times. Understand?”

“Understood!”

The advisors looked at each other, vaguely sensing something wrong. Qisha began scheming, elbowing each other.

“What game is Bobo playing?”

“Isn’t this simple…”

“What? What?”

“…Don’t know, thanks.”

“Idiot, even with your toes you can see she’s putting Ying Bai under house arrest, right? Getting so many people to follow Ying Bai—even when he pees someone watches how far the Grand Commander pisses. What freedom does Ying Bai have left?”

“What did Ying Bai do? Peek at her bathing?”

“Oh my, maybe? I should find him and ask what Little Bo’s figure is really like?”

…

“The Queen’s army suddenly left the three counties?” In the dim room, the snow-white-clothed figure sitting in meditation suddenly raised his head.

This news shocked even him, causing his knuckles to tighten instantly.

“Yes,” the guard answered simply. “When we discovered it, the army had already left the three counties. Because all elites departed and the Queen mobilized so quickly, the surrounding Three Gates Four Alliances Seven Gangs couldn’t react in time. They watched the Queen’s army about to reach Chentie Territory’s checkpoint.”

“Have you contacted the Grand Commander?” he immediately asked.

“The Grand Commander can’t be contacted,” the guard replied. “Reportedly, the Grand Commander is leading this expedition, but our people can’t get close at all.”

“What about Tian Qi?”

“Tian Qi was sent to escort Prince Tie and hasn’t returned. We suspect Tian Qi had problems in Chentie, causing the Queen to send troops.”

He fell silent.

Evening light struck his brow, heavy with deep concerns.

Intuition and analysis told him something was wrong. Concern and emotion prevented him from sitting still.

After a long while, he cast aside his scroll and rose.

“To Chentie.”

…

From Daimao to Chentie, taking shortcuts was actually closer than from Daimao’s east to south.

Jing Hengbo’s army left the gates with great momentum but scattered upon leaving the three counties, only regrouping near Chentie Territory’s checkpoint before charging the fortress.

So when the checkpoint commander suddenly saw a mass of black heads below the city, he was completely dumbfounded.

The troops sent earlier to capture Tie Xinze had already withdrawn. Now the checkpoint had only hundreds—no match for a large army. In a quarter hour, the army had crushed through the checkpoint and strung up the naked commander from the city walls.

Jing Hengbo didn’t even enter the checkpoint, nor did she go to the prison to seek Tie Xinze’s party. She knew the three must have been escorted to the royal city. She seemed to just be harassing—smashing the checkpoint to pieces without even leaving garrison troops, then withdrawing.

She maintained this pace, successively taking three border cities of Chentie Territory. Each time she’d destroy the gates then turn away. She raced across Chentie land dragging a bright blade, slicing through Chentie’s unprepared defenses like splitting cloth. Wherever she passed, chaos reigned.

Some mature, steady generals in the army had originally disagreed with her rash, unilateral troop deployment. Now seeing her advance swift as fire, they calculated that at this speed, they could completely catch Chentie off-guard and quickly fight a round trip before Shangyuan could act, so they relaxed somewhat.

Who knew that after taking three cities, at Dongning City approaching Chentie’s center, she unusually climbed the walls. After admiring the Chentie soldiers’ sorry state, she told the trembling city lord: “Light the signal fires.”

Now not only did the captured city lord not dare believe it—even the generals couldn’t believe their ears.

Had the Queen gone mad?

Deep in enemy territory with enemies eyeing them from behind, their only chance was lightning warfare for a quick round trip before others could exploit gaps. Just when the Queen seemed to have this plan, why at this crucial moment did she order the enemy to light signal fires?

Once the beacon fires rose and alarms sounded everywhere, strategic intentions would be immediately exposed. The lightning war’s leisurely advance and retreat would become a dream. This isolated army would be trapped inside Chentie by Chentie forces and other opportunistic armies!

The generals found it incredible and tried to dissuade her. When that failed, they hoped Grand Commander Ying Bai would intervene. But what dropped jaws further was that not only did the militarily ignorant Majesty act foolishly—the hundred-battle commander Ying Bai also acted foolishly. He remained silent, holding his wine jug, squinting as the beacon fires were lit unstoppably.

Rolling black smoke shot skyward, writing a sword-like, exclamation-like warning on the deep blue heavens.

Ying Bai’s expression was also strange. Someone vaguely heard him murmur, “This time she’s finally made up her mind…”