In the Northern Territories’ spring, accumulated snow had not yet melted, and the bitter cold wind cut through people’s bodies like ice.

Shao Mingyuan had been hiding in the enemy camp for two days and nights.

“General, please drink some water.” A personal guard handed over a water bottle.

Shao Mingyuan waved his hand, refusing the guard’s suggestion.

The guard held the water bottle, sighing inwardly.

For two days, the General had only taken a few sips of water, afraid that frequent relieving himself would cause him to miss the best opportunity to kill the enemy leader. But if this continued, even a man of iron couldn’t endure it.

Shao Mingyuan paid no attention to his guard’s thoughts, staring intently at the enemy camp.

Several days ago, he had received news that Prince Tazhen of Northern Qi would lead troops to provide reinforcement, and the leader who had brought the Qi people to break through Shanhai Pass and charge straight to the capital’s outskirts to burn, kill, and plunder was Prince Tazhen’s most capable subordinate.

Shao Mingyuan had infiltrated here to find an opportunity to take Prince Tazhen’s life.

The Northern Qi people had made a trip through Great Liang’s capital outskirts, equivalent to slapping Great Liang people across the face. Only if he could take Prince Tazhen’s life would the Northern Qi people know that Great Liang was not as vulnerable as they thought, and this war could end sooner.

The long ambush made Shao Mingyuan’s entire body somewhat stiff, with water droplets crystallizing on his thick eyelashes.

He gently raised his hand to wipe them away, when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his chest and couldn’t help but cover it with his hand.

His heart was beating rapidly, his eyelids twitching along with it. Shao Mingyuan suddenly felt deep unease.

Could something bad have happened?

This time, the enemy was in the open while he was hidden—his side held the initiative. The problem shouldn’t arise here, so had something happened to Zhaozhao?

Having experienced countless battles, Shao Mingyuan didn’t consider such sudden thoughts absurd, but rather trusted this intuition.

It was precisely this instinct formed through hundreds of life-and-death struggles that had helped him avoid many dangers.

Thinking that Qiao Zhao might be in danger, Shao Mingyuan’s calm-as-water heart suddenly became chaotic.

He had to return to the capital early!

The sound of horse hooves approached. Shao Mingyuan suddenly became alert, watching as a group of Qi soldiers escorted a tall man in his thirties galloping over. Only when they reached the camp entrance did they slow down.

Subordinates from the camp came out to greet them.

Shao Mingyuan gripped his bow and arrow, staring intently at the approaching figure, his eyes bright as stars.

Prince Tazhen had arrived!

Drawing the bow and nocking the arrow, when Prince Tazhen appeared at a distance where others’ arrows couldn’t possibly kill him, Shao Mingyuan released his bowstring. The arrow flew like a meteor, striking Prince Tazhen squarely in the forehead.

Prince Tazhen’s warhorse neighed loudly and reared up frantically.

Prince Tazhen screamed and fell from his horse.

The Qi people fell into chaos.

Shao Mingyuan turned his head and nodded slightly to his guard, who immediately pulled out a signal flare from his chest and threw it into the air.

Bright colors exploded in mid-air, and before long, deep, resonant attack horns sounded along with deafening horse hooves and battle cries.

The “Liang” character banner fluttered proudly in the cold wind as countless Great Liang soldiers charged from all directions.

Prince Tazhen’s sudden death threw the Qi people into instant disarray, and the Great Liang army’s swift attack gave them no time to react. By the time they regained their wits, many companions had already been cut down from their horses—it was too late to turn the tide.

Great Liang had fought a beautiful comeback battle, but the soldiers who should have been elated were now anxiously worried.

Several soldiers knelt before Shao Mingyuan: “General, please think twice! Leading troops back to the capital without imperial edict is a grave crime!”

Shao Mingyuan, clad in silver armor and mounted on his horse, said coldly: “Who said I’m leading troops back to the capital? You all stay here—I’m going back alone!”

“General, why must you do this? News of our great victory will reach the capital by urgent courier. You only need to wait a few days, and His Majesty will naturally issue an edict commanding your triumphant return.”

“I can’t wait.”

Seeing the soldiers about to speak again, the young general raised his hand: “Enough. You need not persuade me further. My mind is made up and will not change. Shao Zhi, bring me another horse!”

Shao Zhi immediately brought over a date-red warhorse to stand alongside Shao Mingyuan’s white horse.

“Hyah!” Shao Mingyuan spurred his horse, and the white horse carried him forward like an arrow from a bow, with the date-red warhorse following closely behind.

The soldiers stood up straight, watching their victorious general depart into the distance.

A group of Jinlin Guards rushed into the interrogation room, led by the new Jinlin Guard Commander Jiang Yuanchao.

Jiang Yuanchao wore an embroidered spring knife at his waist and flying fish robes, his red garments particularly striking in the dark room.

Seeing the scene inside, he quickly removed his outer robe to cover Qiao Zhao, shouting sternly: “Kill them all!”

The sound of clashing weapons rang out. Jiang Yuanchao bent down to lift Qiao Zhao in his arms and strode out.

Outside, stars shone bright as day. Qiao Zhao, covered by the robe, couldn’t see anything. After the intense pain, even her thoughts were slow and numb. She weakly moved her head in Jiang Yuanchao’s arms, murmuring: “Shao Mingyuan—”

Jiang Yuanchao’s steps paused, his thin lips pressed tightly together as he strode toward the carriage already waiting by the roadside, carrying Qiao Zhao into the compartment.

In just those few steps, the girl in his arms had recovered consciousness through sheer willpower.

“Lord Jiang… please put me down…”

Jiang Yuanchao ignored Qiao Zhao’s words, saying coldly: “The carriage jolts, and you’re injured—you can’t endure it.”

“I…” Qiao Zhao’s lips moved, but she had no strength to speak further.

Jiang Yuanchao looked at her deeply, his hand moving toward her waist.

Qiao Zhao’s eyes suddenly contracted.

Jiang Yuanchao sighed: “Don’t worry, I, Jiang Yuanchao, am not so despicable!”

In his hand appeared a pouch embroidered with a green-eyed duck—Miss Qiao’s exclusive creation.

Without asking Qiao Zhao, he opened the pouch directly and took out a porcelain bottle. Opening the stopper, a faint medicinal scent immediately wafted out.

“This is the right one, isn’t it? You don’t need to speak—just nod if it is.”

Qiao Zhao nodded gently, her face pale as snow in the wall lamp’s light.

“I’ll apply some medicine to your hands first, or you won’t be able to endure it.” Jiang Yuanchao spoke gently, afraid that Qiao Zhao’s resistance would make her wounds hurt even more.

Qiao Zhao’s eyelids trembled, but she made no sound.

Jiang Yuanchao grasped her hand and saw the girl’s fair fingers bloody and mangled, with all her fingernails turned blood-purple. Rage flashed through his eyes and was gone, leaving only heartache.

He had seen such torture countless times before, but thinking that Qiao Zhao had just been treated this way in that small dark room made the hand holding the porcelain bottle tremble involuntarily.

“Don’t worry, I’ll have those two who hurt you cut into a thousand pieces—I won’t let them off easy!”

A cool, refreshing sensation spread from her fingertips. Qiao Zhao’s fingers curled slightly as she said softly: “Thank you.”

“I came too late.”

Qiao Zhao said no more, listening to the sound of the wheels. After a while, she asked: “Are you taking me home?”

Jiang Yuanchao frowned slightly: “How can you go home in this condition?”

Qiao Zhao struggled to open her eyes to look at him.

“I’ll take you to apply medicine and change clothes first, then send you back.”