There were no war drums in this battle, not even battle cries – only the clashing sounds of iron armor and weapons. Wu soldiers rushed into the tents, raising their swords, intending to slaughter the Wei troops in their sleep.

Wu had 150,000 troops including reinforcements, though 100,000 had already retreated after the battle. Wei, also with reinforcements, barely maintained 120,000 troops, but according to intelligence, only 30,000 remained camped at the site. With a night raid and subsequent support, Ye Yuqin was confident of victory. He had already pacified Qi, knowing they wouldn’t want to get involved in the Wei-Wu conflict.

Everything was going according to plan – if his opponents hadn’t been Yin Gezhi and Guan Qingyue, this battle might have truly succeeded.

However, unfortunately, when Wu soldiers lifted the tent flaps to find them all empty, deafening battle cries suddenly erupted from all around the camp.

“The Song army is attacking again! Everyone charge!” Luo Hao shouted. The Qi and Wei reinforcements, who had feigned retreat and hidden in the surrounding mountains, came pouring down like a flood.

When Ye Yuqin, positioned at the rear, received the news, the front lines had already descended into chaos.

“What happened?” His usually gentle face suddenly showed traces of fury as he asked the kneeling Feng Chuang, “Can’t we hold them?”

“Your Highness, both Qi and Wei forces are present, shouting about killing Song troops. They’ve destroyed our vanguard and are now heading this way,” Feng Chuang said anxiously, his face covered in sweat. “Please retreat first!”

Ridiculous – Song soldiers wore brown uniforms while Wu wore blue. How could anyone confuse them? Ye Yuqin gritted his teeth and slammed his hand on the nearby table. “Break camp!”

This was Yin Gezhi’s revenge for his “accidental attack” on Wei troops. Somehow, he had allied with Qi to deal with him.

How did he know about tonight’s operation? There shouldn’t have been any information leaks. Moreover, how had Huo Nan from Qi been so easily persuaded to help Wei?

He couldn’t figure out any of these questions, but there was no time to think. Leading four battalions, Ye Yuqin hastily retreated toward Wu territory.

The failed sneak attack had become a loss, and Wu would have some explaining to do. Nevertheless, it didn’t matter much – neither Qi nor Wei would dare to actively start a war now, and even though his intention to attack Wei had been exposed, Wei wouldn’t dare do anything about it.

The night’s tranquility was shattered, with sounds of killing continuing until dawn. By daybreak, Ye Yuqin had reached the vicinity of Yushan Pass.

“Your Highness,” Feng Chuang looked at him worriedly, “Shall we rest? You look exhausted.”

Looking up at the towering Yushan, Ye Yuqin closed his eyes, feeling deeply frustrated. “Am I perhaps not suited for warfare?”

Feng Chuang was stunned and lowered his head in silence. The Crown Prince came from a scholarly background and naturally wasn’t skilled in military matters. He didn’t consider things comprehensively and didn’t understand the practical situation. But now that this misstep had been made, the situation was irreversible, and there was no use in criticizing His Highness further.

So Feng Chuang said, “Your Highness has already done very well. The opponent was just too cunning.”

Cunning? Yin Gezhi was beyond human! Ye Yuqin pressed his lips together and lay down on the grass, using his sleeve to cover his face. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have chosen to confront him on the battlefield.”

“Your Highness,” a scout came over with an odd expression, handing him an invitation card. “This was delivered from the Wei side.”

Slightly alarmed, Ye Yuqin sat up and opened it.

“To His Highness the Crown Prince of Wu: Light refreshments have been prepared on the right slope of Yushan. We hope Your Highness will honor us with your presence.”

His face darkened as Ye Yuqin closed the card and laughed softly. “Feng Chuang, look at this person – he’s truly petty, having to return everything to me exactly as I gave it!”

He had given him a “night of mistaken injury,” so he returned a “night of mistaken injury.” He had given him an invitation card, so he returned an invitation card.

As he laughed, anger rose in his heart. Crown Prince Ye stood up and asked the scout, “How did they get ahead of us and up Yushan?!”

The scout lowered his head. “This subordinate doesn’t know, but the card was sent down from the mountain.”

Narrowing his eyes, Ye Yuqin recalled the six Wei battalions that had remained behind and flew into a rage. “He deceived me again!”

What nonsense about taking ten battalions to support Yin Xiangzhong and doing it secretly?! Hiding his movements?! He hadn’t gone to the front at all – he had been waiting for him here the whole time!

Wei’s northwestern border adjoined Wu, but where they were now had a river, and its waters were wide. It would be too troublesome for a large army to cross the river, so if he wanted to return to Wu, he would have to go through Yushan. Yushan Pass was on the left side of Yushan in Wei territory, so he could only take the right side. But that damned Yin Gezhi had brought six battalions to wait for him on the right side of Yushan?!

What Imperial Physician? What pregnancy medicine? He had known all along there was a spy by his side and deliberately played along with the plot! He let him feel secure enough to move camp to the front lines while blocking his retreat route!

“Where have the rest of our troops gotten to?” Clinging to a thread of hope, Ye Yuqin asked.

Feng Chuang cupped his hands and replied, “The camp was too close to Yushan. When you ordered a partial retreat yesterday, they had already crossed the mountain overnight. If we were to wait for those behind…”

There were people behind them, several tens of thousands in fact, but Qi and Wei had even more! Being trapped and fighting at Yushan would truly cost him his life.

Yin Gezhi hadn’t left him any way out!

Taking a deep breath, Ye Yuqin took quite a while to calm down as reason returned. He smoothed his robes. “Fine.”

Having come this far, there was no other choice. He could only choose the path with the lowest casualties to return home.

“Head for Yushan Pass,” he said. “Let’s have a chat with the Wei people.”

Yin Gezhi had won, but he didn’t want to let him win so comfortably, so perfectly calculated! He was waiting on the left side, was he? Fine then – he would go directly to the right side and negotiate face-to-face with the Wei army. Who would dare to harm him? The alliance hadn’t been broken, and Wei didn’t dare to do anything to Wu. Rather than delivering himself into Yin Gezhi’s mouth, Ye Yuqin felt it would be better to negotiate with normal people from Wei.

So the Wu army turned and resolutely headed toward the embrace of Yushan Pass.

Looking at the surrounding mountains and waters along the way, Ye Yuqin had calmed down. He truly wasn’t suited for playing mind games on the battlefield, so losing was fair enough – no big deal. After returning to the capital, they could take things slowly.

However, when he stood at the foot of Yumen Pass and saw Yin Gezhi standing tall and jade-like on the city tower, Ye Yuqin nearly broke down.

“Can you fly or what?!” he shouted in rage, his eyes bloodshot. “Weren’t you supposed to be on the left side of Yushan?!”

“Why is Your Highness so angry?” Yin Gezhi said calmly. “When We heard Your Highness had arrived, We especially came out to welcome you.”

“You deceived me again-” A mouthful of blood caught in his throat as Ye Yuqin exploded with rage!

“As it happens,” Yin Gezhi frowned and said, “We had indeed planned to respectfully welcome Your Highness on the left side of Yushan, but Our consort had stomach pains, so We had no choice but to return to the pass first.”

Fengye, who had been hiding to the side watching the drama, immediately clutched her stomach, putting on an act of being in genuine pain, her eyes and eyebrows scrunched together.

Tactical attacks were nothing, but this psychological attack, even bringing family members into it – no one could withstand it!

Ye Yuqin turned to the side and finally coughed up blood.

“Your Highness, please don’t be too excited,” Yin Gezhi said with concern. “Please come in first, and let’s sit down to talk. Wei is a nation of propriety – everyone can put away their weapons, no need to be tense.”

A nation of propriety? Could a nation of propriety have such a shameless ruler? Wiping the blood from his lips, which were now a striking red, Ye Yuqin narrowed his eyes and said, “With you here, how dare I enter Yushan Pass?!”

“If not here, where does Your Highness plan to go?” Fengye stuck out her head and said with a smile, “He Chou is still waiting for you.”

He Chou?

Upon first hearing this name, Ye Yuqin didn’t quite react, but after he did, his face darkened. “Does your country intend to threaten me with a mere palace maid?”

“How could we?” Fengye shook her head. “The only thing that can threaten you is Wu’s interests – what do women count for? You even made He Chou drink abortion medicine – I’d be stupid to think she could threaten you.”

Abortion medicine? Ye Yuqin frowned. He Chou’s child couldn’t have been saved anyway – why did it sound like he hadn’t wanted her child?

Could it be that she thought the same thing?

His heart sank, but Ye Yuqin shook his head, throwing off those matters of romance. He frowned and said, “Since she cannot be used as a threat, there’s no need for Her Majesty to mention her.”

Though he said this, his tone had softened. He Chou was still here – if he just left, she might never return. Only if he came to claim her could he snatch her back from this shameless imperial couple.

“Your Highness must still have matters to discuss with Us,” Yin Gezhi observed his expression from afar and offered a way out. “Rather than remaining at an impasse, why not come in to talk?”

After a moment of silence, Ye Yuqin gave a cold snort. He finally nodded and waved for the soldiers behind him to enter the city first.

The battle outside still hadn’t ceased. In a room at the inn, Yin Gezhi and Ye Yuqin sat facing each other.

Fengye and He Chou sat beside them. He Chou appeared very uneasy – after pouring tea, she unconsciously leaned closer to Fengye.

Just this small movement made Ye Yuqin’s heart burn with anger, though his face showed nothing, maintaining its gentle appearance.

“I hope Wei can first return my palace maid as a show of sincerity. Otherwise, the following matters cannot be discussed.”

Yin Gezhi said calmly, “We’re not imprisoning her – she’s staying willingly. If Your Highness wants to take her back, you may do so if you can. If you cannot, then you cannot blame others.”

With a light laugh, Ye Yuqin said, “The Wei Emperor is truly different from before – with military power in hand, your words have become much harder.”

“You flatter Us,” as if not hearing his sarcasm, Yin Gezhi nodded. “Crown Prince Ye is still the same as before, skilled in political maneuvering.”

Just not skilled in warfare.

Clenching his fist, Ye Yuqin said, “Is Your Majesty not worried about war breaking out between our nations?”

“We are worried,” Yin Gezhi nodded. “Among your reinforcements are two disciples We personally taught – how could We not be worried?”