The final strike—Shen Guiyan had already ascended the city tower the moment the battle horns sounded, nervously and expectantly preparing to observe the battle situation.
Since Gu Chaobei had already been able to send a letter, he should be confident about today’s battle. Nothing would go wrong, would it? Shen Guiyan didn’t doubt the letter’s authenticity, because if someone was impersonating him, the intention to keep her from leaving the city was ultimately good. If it were the enemy army sending a fake letter, they should have told her to leave the city gates instead.
Standing at the highest point of the city tower, she looked up into the distance where dust clouds were already rolling. Vice General Zhang stood beside her, providing live commentary: “Gu’s army is positioned at the upwind location, His Majesty’s personal troops at the downwind. Today the sand and dust will blind the eyes—I fear this is unfavorable for His Majesty. However, both sides have equal numbers, so the battle outcome shouldn’t be too tragic.”
Shen Guiyan nodded, watching earnestly. The yellow camp advanced, and suddenly a person wearing white armor charged out. Behind him, people seemed to be advising him not to go to the front, but he didn’t listen. Imposing and dignified, he raised his sword to the sky, as if shouting a command. The yellow camp instantly became animated, morale soaring as they charged directly at the blue camp.
“His Majesty is personally leading troops today.” Vice General Zhang watched dumbfounded: “This… although it boosts morale, isn’t it also too risky?”
Her heart rose to her throat. Shen Guiyan stood on tiptoe, anxiously watching that direction. Yellow momentarily gained the upper hand, but then Gu Chaonan also personally entered the fray. His fierce generals each matched ten men, forcibly suppressing the yellow camp’s momentum.
“This is bad.” Vice General Zhang frowned.
“What’s wrong?” Shen Guiyan’s face turned pale: “What’s bad?”
Vice General Zhang said in a low voice: “When Your Majesty went into battle, this subject ordered that you be sent back when soldier casualties exceeded a thousand. This was because when the battle reaches the point of exhaustion, soldiers will choose to use their strength to attack rather than defend. Sending Your Majesty back while numbers are still plentiful means that regardless of what happens afterward, the remaining forces can cover the retreat in time. But today His Majesty seems somewhat impulsive. Despite many casualties, he still shows no intention of retreating. I fear…”
There won’t be time to protect the imperial body.
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Chaonan’s spear had already pierced through the Emperor’s shoulder.
Shen Guiyan gasped, her heart aching dully. Unable to think of anything else, she urgently said: “Dispatch troops for reinforcement!”
Vice General Zhang was also somewhat anxious and hastily went down to give orders. Shen Guiyan’s mind was somewhat blank. Before her eyes, the image of Gu Chaobei being pierced by a spear kept replaying. Stumbling, she followed Vice General Zhang down.
“With all the city’s strength, go out to aid the Emperor and eliminate the rebels!”
Everything Vice General Zhang had been about to say, Shen Guiyan said first. Before he could react, Shen Guiyan had already mounted a horse. The moment the city gates opened, she instantly went out together with the soldiers.
She wasn’t even riding in a war chariot!
Vice General Zhang panicked somewhat and hastily followed. Nearly ten thousand of the city’s defending troops were dispatched, charging straight into the middle of the two sides engaged in chaotic battle.
Swords and blades swung all around. Shen Guiyan wasn’t wearing armor but a gold-red palace dress. Her hair was black as night in its bun, her face bore no powder or rouge, and her lips were pale as she headed toward the yellow camp. Whether it was because soldiers on the battlefield didn’t concern themselves with women, not one tried to harm her.
The emperor who had just taken a spear wound had already been helped to the rear by everyone. Shen Guiyan urgently ran toward the yellow camp. Vice General Zhang loudly shouted for her to be careful, but she didn’t listen. Last time she could only watch from afar—this time she simply ran directly over. Once she reached his territory, she would be safe.
Women with someone in their hearts are particularly foolish. When facing the person they like, they’ll set aside all schemes and calculations, feeling only that wherever he is must be the safest place. Even if he were on a cliff’s edge, she would rush over recklessly.
However, Shen Guiyan still left herself an escape route. While running toward the yellow camp, she turned back to Vice General Zhang: “This palace going over there is enough. You return to defend the city. Together with the reinforcement commander, defend Yecheng for this palace!”
Vice General Zhang reined in his horse midway, anxiously watching as a team of personal guards escorted the Empress to the front.
Ahead were all yellow-clad soldiers—surely there shouldn’t be any problems?
The wounded emperor was taken to the military camp. Shen Guiyan rode her horse all the way directly to the emperor’s camp. Along the way, no one stopped her. Even when she reached the camp, the soldiers at the entrance excitedly saluted her: “Empress! Your Majesty!”
Shen Guiyan breathed a sigh of relief and followed them inside.
On the soft couch in the main tent lay a man wearing white armor, his body still stained with blood. Shen Guiyan approached him, her voice somewhat trembling: “Your Majesty?”
The person raised his head—an extremely ordinary face. He looked at her and said: “Empress, we’ve been waiting for you a long time.”
Not Gu Chaobei?!
Shen Guiyan’s heart sank. For a moment she felt somewhat relieved—so the one injured wasn’t him after all.
But she was finished.
“The Empress is truly lovesick. We thought of so many methods but couldn’t get Your Majesty to come obediently to the front. This time you’ve delivered yourself directly to the military camp.” Xu Mengdie’s voice sounded from behind her.
Shen Guiyan slowly turned around to see her face bearing a gentle smile: “This subject’s wife pays her respects to the Empress.”
A trap. This wasn’t the emperor’s military camp at all. Gu Chaonan must have disguised forces still stationed in the rear, dressing them up to look like the emperor’s personal troops. Not only would Yecheng not be more vigilant, it would instead let down its guard.
And having captured her, breaking through Yecheng would be much easier.
Shen Guiyan’s face was pale as she looked at Xu Mengdie before her, saying gravely: “You would truly do such a thing.”
“Your Majesty, please calm your anger.” Xu Mengdie bowed her head: “This subject’s wife is merely rushing about for the sake of my own and my husband’s lives. Your Majesty is also truly wise—you actually didn’t go to West Mountain.”
Otherwise, it wouldn’t have needed to be this troublesome.
Shen Guiyan fell silent. This situation before her was beyond her expectations. She had indeed been confused by concern, easily falling into the enemy’s trap. But now was not the time for self-recrimination. She had to find a way to change this predicament.
“However, not going to West Mountain doesn’t matter either. Your Majesty being here is even better. His Majesty should be coming soon. Given the feelings between the Empress and His Majesty, do you think His Majesty will, for your sake, lead the six armies in surrender?”
“No.” Shen Guiyan answered her calmly: “His Majesty will not do that.”
Gu Chaobei was a man with a sense of responsibility. No matter how deeply he loved, he wouldn’t make such a selfish decision.
Xu Mengdie laughed twice, clutching her handkerchief: “This subject’s wife doesn’t want to hear what Your Majesty says. I only want to see His Majesty’s decision with my own eyes. Thank you for coming today, Your Majesty. Yecheng—we’ll accept it as well.”
Without Shen Guiyan, Yecheng couldn’t be defended.
Taking a deep breath, Shen Guiyan suddenly clutched her chest, as if unable to catch her breath. Her face turned greenish, and she suddenly collapsed to the ground.
Xu Mengdie was startled and frowned: “What trick are you playing?”