“Are you certain that those who died included her own people as well?” Zhan Yuheng asked in a low, steady voice.
He might have feelings for Feng Jiu’er — that much was true — but he was no fool where matters of consequence were concerned.
“Yes.” General Cai dipped his head in confirmation. “Moreover, during all this time, had it not been for General Feng’s care in treating my wounds, this subordinate would not have survived.”
“Your Highness, I have failed the task you entrusted to me. My life is forfeit, and I make no complaint of it.”
“But our one thousand brothers all gave themselves wholly in service to Your Highness. I implore Your Highness to look into this matter clearly — do not let our brothers die without justice!”
When the last word fell, General Cai prostrated himself in a deep bow.
“Have him taken back to camp to rest and recover.” Zhan Yuheng waved his hand.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Two guards responded in unison, stepping forward to help General Cai to his feet.
“I will look into this matter thoroughly. I will not allow our brothers to carry injustice with them into the afterlife.” Zhan Yuheng said in a cold, measured tone.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” General Cai, now supported by the guards, gave a slightly unsteady bow, then turned to leave.
Even as Zhan Yuheng was laying down those firm words, Feng Qingyin and Ling Long had arrived on horseback not far behind him.
Catching sight of General Cai among the crowd, Ling Long’s eyes went wide, and she went very still.
“Miss, that is General Cai — the only one who survived.” Ling Long drew a quiet breath and murmured close to Feng Qingyin’s ear.
Feng Qingyin felt a surge of alarm, but she knew better than to speak carelessly in this moment.
She shot Ling Long a glance, then urged her horse forward toward Zhan Yuheng.
“Elder Crown Prince Brother, what’s happened? Is my Elder Crown Prince Brother all right?” she called out as she drew near, her voice layered with worry.
Yet the man whose back was turned to her kept his eyes on Feng Jiu’er, that despicable woman, and even though he had clearly heard her voice, he did not turn around.
Hearing Feng Qingyin’s call, Feng Jiu’er felt her stomach turn.
If her information was correct, Feng Qingyin still held the rank of Noble Consort. A Noble Consort addressing the Crown Prince as “Elder Crown Prince Brother” — even her skin crawled at the sound of it.
“Jiu’er, if this matter was truly not carried out by your people, I will give you an answer.” Zhan Yuheng kept his eyes on Feng Jiu’er’s face and said quietly.
Feng Qingyin, with Ling Long steadying her as she dismounted, suddenly caught those words. A wave of fury surged through her, and even her footing faltered.
“Ah!” She let out a sharp cry and grabbed hold of Ling Long’s arm.
Her gaze fixed on the back of Zhan Yuheng’s head, Feng Qingyin’s fingers — the hand hidden behind his robes — clenched until her nails nearly broke through Ling Long’s skin.
Feng Qingyin’s cry was impossible to ignore, and every person present heard it clearly.
Not that Feng Jiu’er had any interest in bothering with something so trivial.
She looked at Zhan Yuheng and raised an eyebrow, her tone detached: “If that is indeed the truth — that this was not my doing — then go ahead and say what kind of answer you intend to offer. Perhaps I will find it acceptable.”
The one thing Feng Jiu’er cared about was getting her brothers out of the fire they were trapped in. Beyond that, she had little else on her mind.
Watching the woman before him, something seemed to stir in Zhan Yuheng’s memory, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
No one could tell what lay behind that smile — not even Feng Jiu’er.
She had long since stopped being able to read Zhan Yuheng. And now that Feng Qingyin had also shown up, whether the battle could be delayed at all was no longer something she felt certain of.
Feng Qingyin caught every word Feng Jiu’er said as clearly as anyone.
Not wanting Zhan Yuheng to say the wrong thing while his judgment was clouded, she pulled Ling Long along and pressed forward.
“Elder Crown Prince Brother, are you all right?” With Ling Long’s support, Feng Qingyin practically threw herself toward Zhan Yuheng.
But Zhan Yuheng still did not turn. His gaze had not left Feng Jiu’er for even a moment.
“Fine.” He gave a single nod.
“Elder Crown Prince Brother.” Ignoring the presence of everyone around her, Feng Qingyin grabbed hold of Zhan Yuheng’s robes.
Only then, with his robes tugged, did Zhan Yuheng glance sidelong at Feng Qingyin.
“Elder Crown Prince Brother, are you all right?”
“What would be wrong with this prince?” The instant Zhan Yuheng’s gaze fell on Feng Qingyin, the warmth drained from his expression entirely.
Catching the flicker of distaste in Zhan Yuheng’s eyes, Feng Qingyin’s hand — hidden behind the folds of his robes — curled into a tight fist.
“Nothing is wrong, then. That’s all that matters! I was so worried. Nothing is wrong, that’s all that matters.” She drew a steady breath, then wheeled on Feng Jiu’er, her eyes sharp.
“Feng Jiu’er, don’t think you can—”
“Jiu’er.” Zhan Yuheng cut Feng Qingyin off. “Since the earlier matter was a misunderstanding, I am willing to offer seven days as recompense.”
“An imperial decree cannot be undone — after those seven days, I will proceed with the assault as planned.”
“Elder Crown Prince Brother.” Feng Qingyin stared at him, disbelief written plainly across her face.
This was the moment to press their advantage. Seven days from now, they could still claim this city.
To pull back at this point — had Elder Crown Prince Brother taken leave of his senses?
“No — you can’t do this! You have to attack immediately. I want you to attack now.” Feng Qingyin shook her head violently.
Zhan Yuheng pushed her hand aside, turned, and walked away.
“Seven days from now, I will owe you nothing. What you do with yourself from here on is your own concern.” His voice carried back to Feng Jiu’er as his back receded.
“If you wish to return to the Imperial City, I will personally ensure you reach it safely. If you persist in this course, we will meet again on the battlefield.”
Feng Jiu’er had wanted to press for more time for her brothers’ sake, but with Feng Qingyin having stirred things up like this, that was no longer possible.
On reflection, seven days was not nothing.
“Agreed.” Feng Jiu’er raised her voice toward Zhan Yuheng’s retreating figure. “This time, I hope Your Highness will keep his word!”
Zhan Yuheng said nothing more and strode away.
Feng Qingyin shot Feng Jiu’er a venomous look over her shoulder, flung Ling Long’s hand aside, and hurried after him.
“Elder Crown Prince Brother, you cannot withdraw at this moment — doing so, you… you are letting your brothers down!”
Desperate to make him change his mind, Feng Qingyin reached for the sharpest words she had.
Seeing that Zhan Yuheng still did not turn back, she called out again: “Elder Crown Prince Brother, you are the Crown Prince — the future ruler of this nation. You cannot allow yourself to be bewitched by that vixen any longer!”
“We must continue the assault. Victory is within reach. We cannot pull back. Elder Crown Prince Brother, I beg you — rescind your order, press the attack, don’t let our brothers—”
Zhan Yuheng halted abruptly, drew a slip of paper from his sleeve, and let it fall.
“Today, this prince must seek justice for the thousand soldiers who perished. Qing Yun — bring the relevant parties before me.”
“Yes.” Qing Yun dipped his head.
Zhan Yuheng’s sudden stop nearly sent Feng Qingyin stumbling into him. She barely caught herself in time.
But the man did not look back. With a cold sound of contempt, he continued forward.
As Zhan Yuheng departed, Qing Yun turned his gaze to Ling Long, who was rushing over to support Feng Qingyin.
“Ling Long, regarding the one thousand surrendered soldiers from our army who died within the enemy’s camp, His Highness the Crown Prince has questions that require answers. I must trouble you to come with me.”
The color drained from Feng Qingyin’s face.
She drew a steady breath and fixed her eyes on Qing Yun.
“It couldn’t possibly be Ling Long — don’t talk nonsense! It was clearly that wretched Feng Jiu’er who killed our thousand brothers.”
“Qing Yun, do you know the crime of slander?”