The younger brother she had been so desperately trying to save had been helping outsiders deceive her! For what? To save Shen Guiyan? Or for that unwavering loyalty he’d always been so devoted to?

Xu Mengdie was so furious she felt dizzy. Without a word, she dismounted and slapped him across the face, hitting Xu Zhuangzhou so hard his head turned, his lip splitting and bleeding.

The soldiers atop the city wall had already begun dropping stones. Xu Zhuangzhou wiped the corner of his mouth and protectively led Xu Mengdie further away.

“It’s not too late to stop now,” Xu Zhuangzhou said softly. “What I did today will earn a life-saving favor from Her Majesty the Empress. It could secure safety for you and brother-in-law to live peacefully in some unknown place.”

Trembling all over as he helped her onto her horse, Xu Mengdie yanked the reins. “Stop being naive. From the moment I decided to pursue wealth and glory in this life, there was no turning back. Do you think I had you go through all that trouble to save Shen Guiyan out of momentary kindness? Do you think all my years of planning were just to willingly stay beneath Shen Guiyan, watching her live peacefully and worry-free in this life?”

How could that be? In her previous life, Shen Guiyan had personally ordered her execution. In this life, she could never just watch her sit securely on the Empress’s throne.

And now, her most beloved brother was helping her enemy!

Xu Mengdie no longer wanted to consider Xu Zhuangzhou’s feelings. She spurred her horse back to the rear of the army.

Shen Guiyan had been struck by several arrows and lay unconscious. The siege battle raged fiercely, brutal beyond measure.

“Mother! Mother!” Seeing his mother return, the First Prince happily had someone push him to the bedside, but strangely, Mother was asleep, and there was a sweet, metallic smell in the air.

Vice General Zhang couldn’t even stay here. He hastily found a physician before rushing back to the front to command the city’s defense. Only the First Prince, Nuo’er, and a few servants remained in the room.

“What happened to Mother?” the First Prince asked, frowning at the bed.

Nuo’er looked and whispered, “Her Majesty has so many arrows in her body. Lying like this must be uncomfortable, right?”

The First Prince reached out to pull them out but was stopped by a nearby servant. The servant’s expression was extremely tense, as if the sky were falling.

A physician had arrived. After examining the situation, his expression changed, and he simply turned and left. With chaos and war outside, physicians were already hard to find. With this physician gone, no one else came. The First Prince didn’t understand what they were afraid of. His small hand held Shen Guiyan’s hand as he said to Nuo’er, “Mother is probably tired. Let’s stay here and let Mother sleep for a while.”

“All right.” Nuo’er obediently nodded. Both sat by the bed waiting.

The servants in back couldn’t find any other physicians and never returned. Her Majesty the Empress’s injuries were severe—she probably wouldn’t survive. Those who didn’t want to be implicated could only flee as quickly as possible.

“They’re all gone. What should we do?” Nuo’er asked softly.

The First Prince said calmly, “We’ll wait for Mother to wake up.”

Mother could hold up the entire sky, so they just needed to wait for Mother to wake up—that’s what the First Prince thought.

More and more enemy troops appeared on Ye City’s walls. Even Vice General Zhang felt they couldn’t hold much longer and began arranging for people to escort the Empress away first. However, there were almost no uninjured soldiers—everyone was fighting desperately, and no one could be spared.

What could they do?

Dark clouds pressed down as if to crush the city. Ye City, which Her Majesty the Empress had defended for nearly a month, was finally about to fall.

Vice General Zhang gritted his teeth as he fought, but despair had already begun to fill his heart.

Just as the gate defenders were about to be completely wiped out, new horn sounds came from the distance.

“Attack!”

Banners with yellow coiled dragon patterns fluttered in the wind. The soldiers were full of fighting spirit, descending like fierce tigers from the mountains, charging straight into the Gu family army.

Gu Chaonan was greatly shocked. Turning around, he saw the banner of the Emperor’s personal campaign.

Gu Chaobei had truly returned.

How was this possible? How many days had it been? Unless he had led all these people on a forced march day and night without eating or drinking, how could he have brought back all his forces!

As far as the eye could see, mountains and fields were covered in yellow battle robes. Gu Chaonan panicked and quickly ordered, “Retreat!”

But with Ye City ahead and the Emperor behind, where could they retreat to?

The soldiers’ eyes were red with bloodlust. On the city wall, Vice General Zhang watched the distant yellow swallow the blue bit by bit and joyfully shouted, “The Emperor has returned!”

The Emperor has returned! These words were more effective than anything. The city’s defenders were instantly invigorated. Those who had been wavering immediately stood firm and continued defending. The voices passing the message grew more distant one after another.

“Father has returned?” Hearing the commotion, Ming Sigu quickly reached out to shake Shen Guiyan. “Mother, wake up quickly! Father has returned!”

The person on the bed breathed weakly, already delirious. Hearing these words, her fingers moved slightly.

Had he returned? Or was this… a hallucination from the pain? Shen Guiyan felt herself in complete darkness, unable to find her way out no matter what. The ground beneath her feet was soft, but her body felt pierced by countless arrows—every step required all her strength.

Why keep walking forward? She should sleep peacefully—then there would be no pain. But she had promised Gu Chaobei they would watch Ye City’s peach blossoms together. Outside now, the peach blossoms were blooming beautifully. Wouldn’t it be a pity not to wait for his return?

She’d walk a bit more. She could already hear his voice.

Dark stubble had grown on Gu Chaobei’s chin, making him look much more mature. Leading troops into battle, no enemy could get close. He wielded his long sword all the way, slashing toward Gu Chaonan’s direction.

Protected by Gu Chaonan, Xu Mengdie retreated eastward. Without Shen Guiyan in her hands, she couldn’t possibly withstand the Emperor’s momentum. Heaven knew why the Emperor had arrived now—by her calculations, he shouldn’t arrive for another two days!

Sudden changes were the hardest to deal with. Gu Chaonan led his remaining forces fleeing toward the Li River.

Vice General Zhang ordered the city gates opened. Gu Chaobei didn’t pursue Gu Chaonan but instead entered the city directly, ordering the other soldiers to make camp outside.

In this month, he had conquered most of the barbarian lands! The barbarian chieftain had already led his people in surrender and handed over all the iron cannons to him.

One general’s success meant ten thousand bones—many had died, but this one month meant the border wouldn’t be troubled for ten years. He felt it was worth it!

Receiving the news, he had rushed back urgently, actually bringing only tens of thousands of men, but each carried extra battle robes. Marching and shaking them created the appearance of a hundred thousand troops from afar—just to frighten Gu Chaonan. He was anxious to ask about Yan’er’s whereabouts. Once the rear forces all arrived, dealing with Gu Chaonan could wait.

Scouts told him Yan’er had been rescued and brought back into the city. Gu Chaobei, filled with joy, rushed to the Governor’s Manor.

There wasn’t a single person in the manor. He felt this was strange and turned to ask Vice General Zhang, “What’s going on?”

Vice General Zhang lowered his head. “Ye City was about to fall. Everyone probably fled for their lives.”

“Then where’s the Empress?” Gu Chaobei frowned.

“Her Majesty the Empress… should be in her room.” Vice General Zhang’s body trembled slightly, and he didn’t dare follow further.

Gu Chaobei looked at him for a moment, then went alone to push open Yan’er’s door.

“Father!” the First Prince called to him, his voice filled with happiness. “You’ve finally returned!”

Hearing the child’s voice, Gu Chaobei’s heart relaxed somewhat. Smiling, he walked in. “I’ve returned.”

Both Nuo’er and the First Prince clapped happily, but the person on the bed made no movement at all.

Gu Chaobei walked to the bedside to look. The smile on his face slowly froze as the darkness in his eyes surged up bit by bit.

His expression was too terrifying. Nuo’er, who had been happily clapping just a moment ago, was frightened into crying and hid desperately behind the First Prince. The First Prince looked at him with great confusion. “What’s wrong, Father? Mother is sleeping. She’s been sleeping for a long time.”

A long time? His eyes bloodshot, Gu Chaobei stared at the feathered arrows embedded in Shen Guiyan’s body. He opened his mouth to roar, but his throat was blocked by something. Boundless fear spread from his heart through his entire body, his vision darkening.

How could this be? Hadn’t they said she’d been rescued and brought back into the city?

His fingers trembling as he reached for her pulse, Gu Chaobei could barely stand. His face ashen, he felt a faint flutter. He nearly collapsed beside the bed.

“Your Majesty!” Vice General Zhang followed in, saying frantically, “There are no physicians left in the city. Her Majesty was struck by arrows when returning to the city. With the battle at the front, this humble subject didn’t have time to attend to her…”

“Bring Imperial Physician Liu here.” His mind completely blank, the Emperor thought he would shout, but what escaped his lips were fragmented, incoherent sounds.

Vice General Zhang hurried away. Imperial Physician Liu traveled with the Emperor and had also entered the city.

“What’s wrong with Mother? Why is Father so frightening?” Having never witnessed death, Ming Sigu looked at his father and mother in confusion.

The people around seemed to have no time to address his questions. Servants pushed him out, the room’s door was closed, and many people waited outside.

The white-bearded physician was brought in and didn’t emerge for an entire day. Only mournful sounds came from within the room, nothing else.

Gu Chaobei stared at Shen Guiyan in a daze. Imperial Physician Liu said with a trembling beard, “These arrows have been inside for so long. Even if we remove them now and Her Majesty is fortunate enough to survive, she’ll still die from infection later…”

The Emperor’s gaze was too frightening. Imperial Physician Liu didn’t continue but took out his medical record and wrote on it: “Life and death rest with Heaven.”

Gu Chaobei stared quietly at these four characters without saying a word.

Everyone in the Governor’s Manor dared not breathe too loudly. The Emperor stayed by the Empress’s side as the arrows were removed, watching her brow furrow in pain, and gently kissed her forehead.

“Gu Chaonan has set up camp by the Li River. If we don’t pursue now, he might cross the river,” military commanders discussed in low voices.

Vice General Zhang sighed. “At this juncture, His Majesty likely has no time to spare for that…”

Before his words had finished, the door opened.

The Emperor stood in the doorway, his eyes seeming to contain the surging waters of the Li River. In a deep voice, he said, “Deploy troops. Bring back the heads of Gu Chaonan and the Xu woman—all of them!”