299 ZHU Yan's Sorrow

orehand. The maidens were scattered around playing musical instruments, playing chess, painting, or writing poetry. Servants from the Princess’s residence moved gracefully among them, perfectly cateri...299. Zhu Yan's Desolation

On the battlefield, watching Zhu Ling’s unstoppable momentum, the soldiers on the Mo Family Army side also became restless. Although Zhang Qilan knew he wasn’t Zhu Ling’s match, he didn’t like seeing the other party being so arrogant in front of him.

"What is this kid's background" Zhang Qilan frowned and asked.

Qin Feng smiled beside him and said, "He should be a descendant of Zhu Yan. He’s probably his grandson or great-grandson. I heard that Zhu Yan has one grandchild who was frail since young and hasn’t been seen after he turned ten. Many people speculate that he died early. Now it looks like this person is the one." Zhang Qilan nodded and said, "No wonder. The grandson of General Jing Tian Indeed a remarkable figure. Commander Qin, you trouble yourself."

The head of the Qilin had to follow him here to guard the city; that’s what they were there for.

Qin Feng rarely smiled and, after pulling on the reins, his well-trained warhorse neighed and charged towards the man in the moon-white clothes. In the midst of battle, Zhu Ling also noticed someone charging at him and swung off his enemies to face them directly. Qin Feng raised an eyebrow slightly and slashed with his long sword straight at Zhu Ling’s face. Zhu Ling sidestepped on horseback and simultaneously lifted his longsword to counterattack. The two started exchanging blows on their horses.

However, both of them used swords, which were limited in length despite being long swords. Fighting on horseback wasn’t convenient, so after a few dozen exchanges, they leaped off their horses and landed in the middle of the battlefield. Zhu Ling’s longsword quivered as it pointed at Qin Feng’s face, "Who are you State your name."

Qin Feng smirked and said, "I’m Qin Feng from Princess Consort of Ding王府. Who is your honorable guest"

Zhu Ling frowned slightly; the other party's words were as good as saying nothing. Nevertheless, he coldly answered, "Commander Zhu Ling of Western Liang’s Jinggu Army."

Qin Feng smiled and said, "So you’re indeed a descendant of Old General Zhu Nice to meet you!" Zhu Ling let out a light snort, and the two didn’t speak further as they resumed their fight.

Zhang Qilan’s mood brightened when he saw Zhu Ling being entangled by Qin Feng. He repeatedly nodded and said, "Princess Consort was right in leaving Qin Feng behind; she really is far-sighted. This general can't compare to her." If not for Qin Feng, this Zhu Ling would have been hard to deal with. Therefore, these martial artists interfering on the battlefield was most annoying. Ignoring them wasn’t an option since their destructive power was several or even dozens of times stronger than ordinary soldiers. Dispatching a commander to fight them could lead to losing a capable leader due to a martial artist, which would be a huge loss. Zhang Qilan decided that he must borrow some Qilin for every battle in the future.

While Zhang Qilan was pleased, Zhu Yan on top of the city walls wasn’t happy. After Zhu Ling was entangled, his Western Liang soldiers immediately fell into chaos. The Mo Family Army took the opportunity to strike hard and within moments, more than half of the Western Liang soldiers were lost. Qin Feng and Zhu Ling fought fiercely; although there were many experts in Ding王府, they all knew each other well, so fighting them wasn’t interesting. Moreover, Qin Feng didn’t dare challenge a high-ranking expert like Prince Ding directly for now. Thus, he was thrilled to fight this unfamiliar expert named Zhu Ling. However, Zhu Ling’s heart was filled with suffering because he hadn't expected that his skills would be tied down by an unknown young commander from the Mo Family Army. Initially, he only wanted to quickly kill Qin Feng to establish his authority, but now the battle wasn’t ending anytime soon, and he was already in a difficult situation where Qin Feng wouldn’t stop until Zhu Ling did.

In this exchange, he also realized that Qin Feng’s skills weren’t inferior to his. If it continued like this, they might suffer mutual losses. Then again, Qin Feng could afford injuries while Zhu Ling couldn’t. He was the commander of Jinggu Army, and his grandfather Zhu Yan was too old to lead troops into battle anymore. As a result, Zhu Ling became anxious and less composed in his moves, giving Qin Feng an opportunity to attack fiercely and nearly causing severe injury.

On top of the city walls, Zhu Yan frowned when he saw Zhu Ling entangled with Qin Feng. He signaled the soldiers to sound the retreat.

The signal was raised, and Western Liang’s soldiers quickly withdrew into the city gate. Zhang Qilan didn’t order a pursuit since the small city gate could be easily opened, but inside were nearly 200,000 troops that weren’t easy to deal with. Engaging in street fighting after entering the city would result in massive casualties, which wasn’t what the Mo Family Army wanted.

Qin Feng didn’t linger either and generously stepped back to allow Zhu Ling’s return to the city before returning to the Mo Family Army formation on his horse.

"How was it" Zhang Qilan asked.

Qin Feng nodded with satisfaction, "He’s a master. General Zhang, you shouldn’t rashly confront him."

Zhang Qilan rolled his eyes unhappily and mumbled, "I know that. I’m not crazy. Now can you tell me Where is Princess Consort" Don’t think because Zhang Qilan was rather casual he didn’t have a heart; the princess consort who came to support them never appeared once, which made him very anxious. In this situation, even Prince Ding might not know where the princess consort had gone. If Prince Ding found out, wouldn’t his skin be peeled off

"General Zhang, please calm down," Qin Feng said soothingly. "Didn’t I say that I’ve sent people to support Princess Consort"

Zhang Qilan glared at him, You might as well not have said it. If she needs assistance, it’s clear her place isn't safe. Taking a deep breath, Zhang Qilan suppressed the urge to throw him out, "What can we do" Qin Feng thought for a moment and suggested, "Wait for Princess Consort's signal, then work together with Young Master Feng San to encircle and destroy their army."

"Feng San isn’t in the camp Where did he come from" Zhang Qilan shouted angrily.

Qin Feng remained calm. "The secret can't be revealed; you understand, General"

I don't understand your nonsense!

The two armies withdrew within half an hour when suddenly, thick smoke rose in the southwestern mountains. Thanks to the clear weather today with no clouds, even the fog around the mountain dissipated somewhat. Even from several dozen li away, they could see clearly what was happening. Seeing this situation, Zhu Ling and Zhu Yan were alarmed, "Grandfather! The mountain…." Not only over 100,000 elite troops but also enough grain to sustain an army of 200,000 for a year were hidden there. Zhu Yan knew these facts too; his aged face turned grim. "Take your forces back!"

"But grandfather, here…" Zhu Ling said anxiously.

Zhu Yan interrupted him, "No need to talk further. If our headquarters falls into the hands of the Mo Family Army, we’ll be trapped in this small city with over 100,000 people; there won’t be enough food for a few days." This small city wasn’t like Bian City; even if the Mo Family Army didn’t attack, they could besiege it for three or five months. Over 100,000 troops wouldn’t take more than three to five days to eat up all the stored grain in this small town. Then they would only be able to wait with empty stomachs for the Mo Family Army to deal with them.

"The Mo Family Army won't have so many people there; their forces will definitely not exceed 30,000. Take your troops back and do whatever it takes to stabilize that side!" Zhu Yan ordered.

"Grandfather…"

Zhu Yan sighed lightly and patted his grandson's shoulder, "Go; I’ll hold the rear."

Grinding his teeth, Zhu Ling’s eyes slightly red nodded, "I understand. Take care, grandfather!"

"Go!"

Zhu Ling led 100,000 troops back towards their base in the mountains they had occupied for over a decade. Behind him, an elderly Zhu Yan who was past seventy led less than 50,000 Western Liang soldiers to guard this isolated small town. The Mo Family Army of over 100,000 was not easy to deal with. After Zhu Ling’s withdrawal, the troops in the mountains were in chaos for a short while before the Mo Family Army seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, causing significant losses to Western Liang within minutes.

Zhu Ling and Qin Feng had an intense battle that neither found particularly interesting due to their familiarity with each other. Qin Feng was not bold enough yet to challenge someone of Prince Ding’s caliber. Thus, he was eager to fight Zhu Ling, a less familiar opponent. However, Zhu Ling, who was facing this unfamiliar master, felt frustrated as he never expected to be held off by an unknown young officer from the Mo Family Army. His initial intention had been to quickly eliminate Qin Feng and establish his authority but now that the battle dragged on, he found himself in an untenable position.

During their exchange, Zhu Ling realized Qin Feng was no less skilled than him. If this continued, both might suffer severe injuries. Moreover, while Qin Feng could afford to take a hit, Zhu Ling couldn’t afford any injury. He was the commander of the Jinggu Army, and his grandfather Ruyan was too old to lead troops into battle again. As such, Zhu Ling’s urgency made him less composed in combat, giving Qin Feng opportunities to attack fiercely nearly causing serious harm.

On top of the city walls, Zhu Yan frowned at seeing Zhu Ling entangled with Qin Feng and signaled his soldiers to sound the retreat.

The retreat signal was raised, and Western Liang’s soldiers rapidly withdrew behind the city gate. Zhang Qilan didn’t order a pursuit since the small town wasn’t difficult to capture but its interior held nearly 200,000 troops that weren’t easy to handle. Fighting within the city would lead to significant losses, not something the Mo Family Army was willing to accept.

Qin Feng didn’t linger and stepped back to let Zhu Ling return before returning himself to the Mo Family Army formation on his horse.

"How was it" Zhang Qilan asked.

Qin Feng nodded satisfactorily, "A master. General Zhang, you shouldn't rashly confront him."

Zhang Qilan rolled his eyes and mumbled unhappily, "I know that. I’m not crazy to do so. Can you tell me now Where is Princess Consort" Don’t think because Zhang Qilan was casual he didn’t care; the princess consort who came to support them hadn’t appeared once, which worried him greatly.

"General Zhang, please calm down," Qin Feng said soothingly. "I’ve already sent people to assist Princess Consort."

Zhang Qilan glared at him and said exasperatedly, You might as well not have mentioned it. If she needs assistance, her location isn’t safe. Taking a deep breath, Zhang Qilan suppressed his urge to throw Qin Feng out, "What can we do now"

Qin Feng thought for a moment and suggested, "Wait for Princess Consort's signal, then work with Young Master Feng San to encircle and destroy their army."

"Feng San isn’t in the camp Where did he come from" Zhang Qilan shouted angrily.

Qin Feng remained calm. "The secret can't be revealed; you understand, General"

I don’t get your cryptic nonsense!

The two armies withdrew within half an hour when suddenly thick smoke rose in the southwestern mountains. Thanks to clear weather with no clouds today, even the mountain fog dissipated somewhat. Even from several dozen li away, they could see clearly what was happening. Seeing this situation, Zhu Ling and Zhu Yan were alarmed, "Grandfather! The mountain…" Not only over 100,000 elite troops but also enough grain to sustain an army of 200,000 for a year were hidden there.

Zhu Yan knew these facts too; his aged face turned grim. "Take your forces back!"

"But grandfather, here…" Zhu Ling said anxiously.

Zhu Yan interrupted him, "No need to talk further. If our headquarters falls into the hands of the Mo Family Army, we’ll be trapped in this small city with over 100,000 people; there won’t be enough food for a few days." This small town wasn’t like Bian City; even if the Mo Family Army didn’t attack, they could besiege it for months. With 100,000 troops, the small town’s stores wouldn’t last long.

"The Mo Family Army won't have that many people there; their forces definitely don't exceed 30,000. You must return with your army and stabilize the situation!" Zhu Yan instructed.

“Grandfather…”

Zhu Yan sighed lightly, patting his grandson’s shoulder, "Go! I’ll hold off the enemy."

Grinding his teeth, Zhu Ling nodded with red eyes, “I understand. Grandfather take care!”

"Go!"

Zhu Ling led his 100,000 troops back to their mountain base while in the town, aged Ruyan commanded fewer than 50,000 soldiers against an approaching Mo Family Army over 100,000 strong. As Zhu Ling rode away from the city and into the night, he glanced back at his grandfather standing alone on the ramparts watching him depart.

The small town wasn’t far from their mountain base, a distance of merely two or thirty miles which could be traversed in under three hours for an army. However, once inside the mountains, they had to slow down significantly despite it being familiar territory. Now hidden enemies might lurk among them.

The bodyguard rode back to Zhu Ling and reported softly, "Young Master, the scouts who went ahead have returned. There is no commotion in front."

Zhu Ling said solemnly, "It's because there's nothing going on that it's even more suspicious. I fear… that those left behind might already be gone." Before he left, he had stationed 30 thousand soldiers to guard the mountain forest. If they were still around, there would definitely have been some commotion. But now, looking at the pitch-black and silent mountains in front of him, Zhu Ling finally gave up all hope.

"Young Master, that Miss Yang…" The bodyguard found it hard to continue speaking. Although he had only interacted with her for a few days, he still felt quite fond of Miss Yang. Furthermore, he could tell his master felt differently towards the lady as well. They lived deep in the mountains and rarely came into contact with outsiders; if Young Master Zhu Ling and Miss Yang were able to form a good relationship, it would be a happy event. But who would have thought…

Thinking of that gentle and elegant girl, Zhu Ling’s face turned serious. He never expected he would actually get tricked by a woman, especially considering his feelings for her even now; there was still some hope in him, hoping it had all been just an accident. But reason also told him, how could there be such a coincidental misunderstanding

Seeing the gloomy look on Young Master Zhu’s face in the dark night, the bodyguard quickly changed topics and said, "Young Master, we’re almost at our camp."

"Tell everyone to proceed with caution." Zhu Ling nodded his head and said seriously.

But sometimes being careful wouldn’t work. The mountain paths were narrow; when the soldiers ahead passed through safely without any problems, a loud bang echoed from within the mountains. Shocked, people watched as a huge rock was pushed down by something and rolled down the mountain side. Then there was thundering noise as countless rocks tumbled down both sides of the mountain range. Soon enough, they blocked all paths forward and backward. Not to mention the cries for help of soldiers who were hit by falling rocks.

Very quickly, torches lit up the slopes on either side of the mountains and illuminated a bright dragon-like trail through the dark forest.

The Xiling soldiers trapped in the valley shouted frantically or started counterattacking. But the enemy was above them, while the Mohist army’s archery skills were renowned across all nations. The valley soon filled with heavy bloodlust.

Zhu Ling stood silently amidst the chaos. His bodyguards loyally protected him by blocking arrows that flew near him. Under the flickering torchlight, his handsome face looked fierce and furious. But he was helpless against the rain of arrows raining down from above. All his hard work over the past decade, and his grandfather’s careful planning for twenty years—was it all going to be destroyed without any chance for them to react

Indeed, Zhu Ling was too young to understand that while chaotic times produced heroes, there could only be so many heroes. The rest were merely cannon fodder who died alongside the heroes. And no one had ever said that those who made sacrifices would definitely become heroes in a chaotic world.

"Young Master, you need to leave quickly!" A bodyguard behind him pushed Zhu Ling and brought him back to reality. Zhu Ling saw that some of his bodyguards were wounded but still surrounded him, struggling to keep going. But their position was disadvantageous; how could they possibly fend off the Mohist army’s skilled archers They had reached a dead end.

Zhu Ling smiled bitterly and said, "Leave Where can I go"

"Anywhere is fine! If you save your life now, there will still be opportunities later. Young Master, leave quickly!" The bodyguard urged anxiously, pushing Zhu Ling again to remind him, "Young Master, don’t forget that the old general’s waiting for you." Zhu Ling was startled; he finally woke up in earnest and looked around at the ravaged valley where only twenty percent of his soldiers could still stand.

"Protect Young Master! Break through!" Someone shouted. Soon afterwards, loyal bodyguards and Zhu family retainers surrounded Zhu Ling and helped him charge forward. They had lived in this mountain range for over two decades; they knew which direction offered the best chance to break out. The remaining soldiers understood that they were at their last stand—they roared as they charged up both sides of the mountains, ready to die with their enemies. But most fell back down after being shot again.

Among those protecting Zhu Ling was a group of skilled martial artists; but only seven or eight managed to break out of the valley. As soon as they left the encirclement and entered the mountain forest, it became their territory. Even the best archers from the Mohist army would find it extremely difficult to locate them in such vast mountains. But when they broke through the valley, what greeted them was still shocking—under the dim moonlight, even at night, corpses were scattered everywhere, with a thick smell of blood in the air. These soldiers had been among those who charged out first from the valley and suffered attacks; unfortunately, they didn’t escape the ambush set up outside.

"Young Master, leave now!" A heavily wounded bodyguard pulled Zhu Ling aside and said hoarsely.

"Leave," Zhu Ling answered with a dry voice.

"Mr. Zhu." A gentle and refined voice echoed in the mountain forest filled with bloodshed. Zhu Ling’s heart quivered; he looked up. Near the edge of the mountain path, stood a young lady dressed in white, facing the wind. In the dim moonlight, her face shone with crystalline radiance, while her elegant eyes were filled with faint light. Her sudden appearance on this dark and bloody battlefield made it seem as if she was a forest demon.

"Who are you" Zhu Ling asked in a parched voice, staring at the young lady before him.

The white-clad maiden smiled softly and said apologetically, "My name is Ye Li."

Ye Li! What an ordinary name. But it was like thunder to Zhu Ling’s ears—shocking and deafening. After a moment, he slowly laughed, "Ye Li… Queen Consort of Ding Kingdom, Ye Li… Ha ha…" His laughter grew louder until he seemed almost unable to breathe. "You’re the Queen Consort"

Ye Li nodded. “I am the Queen Consort.” Her elegant eyes showed some regret and helplessness but no remorse or guilt. When two armies clashed, there was no right or wrong—only positions. Those with different positions were enemies; when facing enemies… any means could be used. This was a principle Ye Li accepted both in this life and her previous one.

"So the Queen Consort of Ding Kingdom…" Zhu Ling murmured softly: "It’s said that Prince Regent Lei Zhen Ting had his army almost wiped out by the Queen Consort. Losing to you again today isn’t unfair. If the Queen Consort is willing to go through so much trouble, it must be my good fortune in this life and beyond." Ye Li smiled helplessly, “Though Mr. Zhu’s army of tens of thousands may not be numerous, we need soldiers right now. If you were to suddenly break out, it would cause great trouble for the Mohist Army. In these extraordinary times, one can only use extraordinary strategies. If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me.”

"You’ve been targeting Jing Kingdom’s army from the start" Zhu Ling asked.

Ye Li smiled faintly without denying it.

“General Zhu silently hid ten thousand troops near Bian City and had a lot of provisions. To be honest, we were more interested in those supplies than your soldiers.” Not far away, Feng Zhirao walked over with his long sword held backwards, dripping blood still sliding down the blade.

Ye Li smiled helplessly at Feng Zhirao and asked, "Why are you here"

Feng Zhirao said with a smile, “If I don’t come personally when the Queen Consort takes such risks, how do I explain to the Prince”

Ye Li frowned; she looked at Feng Zhirao coolly. You could have kept it from him!

Feng Zhirao raised an eyebrow; did the Queen Consort think he could be fooled

Gazing at the eye contact between the two people before him, Zhu Ling's expression turned solemn as he sighed softly and calmly looked at the white-robed maiden in front of him: "How does the Duchess wish to proceed"

Ye Li fell silent for a moment before coolly stating: "Please accompany us back."

Zhu Ling remained silent, then after a brief pause laughed heartily. Pointing at Ye Li with his sword, he loudly declared: "Although I have accomplished nothing in my life as Zhu Ling, as a descendant of the Zhu family, I would never become a prisoner or allow you to threaten my grandfather!" With regret, Ye Li softly asked, "Then how does the young master wish to proceed"

Zhu Ling snatched a longsword from one of his guards and pointed it at Feng Zhiyao's Black Cloud Cavalry not far away. He solemnly stated: "I only seek death in battle!"

Feng Zhiyao's smile slowly faded, replaced by a serious expression. In Zhu Ling’s eyes, the man before him was still somewhat immature but would likely surpass himself in just a few years. As fellow commanders, even if the other was defeated, he respected and would support them. He casually cut through his own robe with a sword to wipe off the blood on it. Feng Zhiyao nodded: "Young Master Zhu, please."

"Wait." Ye Li’s voice came from the side. Raising an eyebrow, Feng Zhiyao sheathed his longsword and looked at Ye Li. Ye Li raised her hand to stop Lin Han behind her and calmly walked forward, directly facing the young man with blood-stained clothes, her clear and resonant voice echoing: "This Duchess wishes to fight you."

"Duchess!" Feng Zhiyao and others were startled, hastily wanting to speak up to stop it. Although Zhu Ling’s army was defeated, he himself was still a masterful warrior. The blood stains on his body weren’t even from him; in fact, Zhu Ling hadn't truly fought anyone tonight. Ye Li waved her hand to stop Feng Zhiyao and the others who wanted to dissuade her, slowly approaching Zhu Ling, "This Duchess wishes to fight you, is that alright"

"I heard that the Duchess of Ding Kingdom is also a masterful warrior; I am honored. Please."

In this not too wide forest, corpses lay everywhere and blood flowed like rivers.

On the battlefield scattered with bodies of Xiling soldiers, a white-robed man stood calmly facing a white-clad maiden. Without those dead bodies and bloody swords, it would have been a beautiful scene. Not far away was a silent crowd watching them.

Zhu Ling’s longsword trembled, swirling into two silver sword flowers. Ye Li smiled coolly at him as her dagger flashed in her fingertips. In an instant, the two figures charged towards each other with incredible speed, crossing paths and entangling again. Zhu Ling's sword slashed through the air while Ye Li's dagger radiated a cold aura.

Soon, Zhu Ling found that he couldn't gain any advantage against this woman in close combat; it even greatly restricted his sword technique. He quickly distanced himself from Ye Li. But could Ye Li give him such an opportunity Her dagger repeatedly grazed his clothes with chilling intent.

The longsword and the short dagger clashed, causing Ye Li's hand to slightly tremble. After all, a woman’s strength is hard for a man to match. With a frown, she pressed her dagger against Zhu Ling's sword and sliced towards his wrist; he quickly dodged it.

"Duchess of Ding Kingdom, your skills are admirable!"

"Young Master Zhu flatters me."

Outside the battlefield, Feng Zhiyao frowned in worry as he watched the two fight. However, he couldn’t deny that Duchess Ye had improved rapidly these years and was no match for even Zhu Ling, such a rare masterful warrior. Lin Han appeared beside him, also watching intently but asked: "Why are you here, Third Young Master Feng What about General Zhang" Feng Zhiyao replied: "Qin Feng is enough on that side; if not, he can stall for time until we return. I’m worried about the Duchess risking danger alone. How’s your wound"

Lin Han touched his back and shook his head. The knife injury looked severe but was just a superficial one as it avoided vital areas.

Feng Zhiyao smiled: "I think it's fine; that's my own handiwork after all. Did I calculate well"

"Thank you, Third Young Master Feng," Lin Han gritted his teeth. Although he volunteered for it, being cut by a knife without reason wouldn't lift anyone’s spirits. Seeing the culprit gloating made him feel even more frustrated. He felt that this Third Young Master Feng deserved a good scolding.

"Duchess, be careful!" Smiling, Feng Zhiyao noticed a flash of silver and warned loudly. On another side, one of Zhu Ling's guards saw Ye Li who was evenly matched with his master, eyes flashing dangerously. A glinting dagger shot out as Ye Li and Zhu Ling separated.

Hearing Feng Zhiyao’s warning, Ye Li also heard the sound of a flying dagger behind her. Without turning around, she blocked it back but saw Zhu Ling suddenly leap towards her, deflecting the dagger into his chest instead.

"Young Master!" The guard cried out. Before he could react, the arrow from the Black Cloud Cavalry pierced their chests.

Ye Li stood still and looked at the fallen man with a clear face, showing surprise. Seeing that the Duchess was unharmed, Feng Zhiyao sighed in relief and hurriedly brought people to check if there were any survivors among them for another unexpected attack like before.

The flying dagger was an ordinary willow-leaf dart. It shot through Zhu Ling’s chest with only its tip glowing faintly blue visible. Feng Zhiyao's expression changed as he said: "The dart is poisoned." Lin Han looked at the fallen Zhu Ling and stated: "Even if he didn’t block it, the dart wouldn’t have hit the Duchess." Originally, Ye Li's dagger could knock the dart down but was knocked aside by Zhu Ling.

Lying on the blood-stained ground, Zhu Ling’s upper body rested on a long-dead soldier. His dull eyes gazed at Ye Li as he moved his mouth but said nothing. Ye Li looked down at him and asked coolly: "Why bother"

The handsome youth struggled to smile painfully, saying: "I lost… my life was so…"

Ye Li replied calmly: "Victory and defeat are common in warfare. Only by living can one turn the tide; death means nothing." Zhu Ling paused, then shook his head with a smile: "What’s the point of talking about this now I never expected… to lose so much… nor did I expect you to be… the Duchess of Ding Kingdom…"

Ye Li remained silent. Zhu Ling smiled faintly: "You don’t need to feel sorry… I’m tired… exhausted…" The poison on the willow-leaf dart wasn't minor; soon, black blood trickled from his lips as he slowly closed his eyes.

Staring at the scene of corpses and the young man with blood-stained clothes peacefully closing his eyes, Ye Li felt an icy chill and hugged herself.

"Duchess, he didn’t want to live anyway. It’s not your fault," Lin Han whispered. Even if Zhu Ling hadn't blocked it, she wouldn’t have been hurt; they could clearly see from a distance, so would Zhu Ling next to them. Since he drew his sword for battle, he already had the resolve to die. Such an arrogant youth would find no reason to live after such a crushing defeat.

"I know," Ye Li nodded, "Clean up the battlefield and go reinforce General Zhang!"

"Yes, Duchess." Feng Zhiyao replied.

In a small town dozens of miles away, Zhu Yan stood on the city wall at night unable to sleep. Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of dread made him pause, staring blankly towards southwest as tears flowed down his wrinkled face.

"Ling...

The Western Commandery's garrison in the small city suddenly launched an attack at midnight. Although the Mo Army had been on high alert, it was just when most of the soldiers were sleeping soundly. The sudden attack caused some minor chaos within the Mo Army ranks. However, being seasoned veterans, they soon reacted and fought fiercely against Zhu Yan's Western Commandery forces.

"What’s going on Why would Zhu Yan suddenly launch a surprise attack" Zhang Qilan asked his soldiers in a low voice while staring at the battlefield. From his experience of half a lifetime as a soldier, he could easily see that these Western Commandery troops' morale was different from before. This clearly indicated their willingness to die together with the Mo Army. Looking up and seeing an aged figure standing alone on the city wall, Zhang Qilan felt like something important had happened without him knowing about it. With Zhu Yan's experience and ability in warfare, he would never make such a reckless decision.

Standing beside Zhang Qilan, Qin Feng looked calm as usual. He said casually, "They probably succeeded over there. But... We haven't received any news yet. How did Zhu Yan get his information"

"Succeeded" Zhang Qilan turned around and grabbed the collar of Qin Feng's clothes. "You still haven’t told me what the princess was up to!" Qin Feng calmly patted away his hand. "The princess went to investigate where that hundred-thousand-strong army led by Zhu Ling is stationed. There should also be a large amount of provisions there. This way, we won't have to worry about our supplies for some time."

"What" Zhang Qilan was shocked. "The princess...went..." Qin Feng smiled and said, "Otherwise, General, what do you think we were guarding this useless small town for the past few days If they hid in a deep mountain range, even sending hundreds of thousands wouldn’t necessarily solve our problem. Now that they’ve come out themselves, we can take advantage of the situation to deal with them. The ten thousand soldiers who returned last night must have been dealt with already. Otherwise Zhu Yan wouldn't be acting so crazily."

Zhang Qilan took deep breaths, feeling like he was nearly scared by this sudden news. However, it is good news, right Even if Zhu Yan goes mad and fights us in the dark of night, we don’t necessarily have to fear him. Both sides have similar troop numbers, so who wins or loses isn't certain.

Amidst the chaotic battle between both armies, thunderous horse hooves were heard charging from afar. The Mo Army soldiers recognized them and expressed joy.

"It's Black Cloud Cavalry! They're here!" From the southwest direction, a black cavalry like a whirlwind swept in quickly. Charging into the battlefield, it soon turned the previously balanced battle unevenly. Behind them, Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao rode their horses swiftly one after another, joining the ranks of the Mo Army.

Seeing Ye Li return from afar, Zhang Qilan hurried over with his soldiers to greet her. "Princess!"

Ye Li scanned the battlefield in front of her and saw an aged figure standing alone on the city wall. After a moment’s pause, she said, "General Zhang, no need for formalities. How is the battle going" Smiling, Zhang Qilan replied, "Princess, don't worry. With Black Cloud Cavalry's assistance, we’ll surely defeat the Western Commandery garrison before dawn." Seeing Ye Li return with his own eyes, Zhang Qilan finally felt completely reassured. A few days ago, Princess Yang brought Qin Feng and others to assist him in defending the city on behalf of the Prince. After she came, he hadn’t seen her again until now. He was so scared that it made his heart still tremble. How could they explain if anything happened to her

"Congratulations, Princess, you effortlessly defeated a hundred thousand troops from Jing Kingdom," said Zhang Qilan with a smile.

Ye Li smiled faintly and shook her head. "If not for General’s presence, it wouldn’t have been this easy."

The battle continued until dawn when the Western Commandery garrison finally couldn't hold on any longer and retreated into the city. The small town's gate and wall offered little defense, so the Mo Army and Black Cloud Cavalry only took less than an hour to break through them again and enter the town. There weren’t many troops left in the town, with occasional sounds of fighting heard from alleys. When Ye Li’s group entered the city, soldiers who had arrived earlier reported, "Zhu Yan is still on top of the city wall."

The others exchanged looks before Ye Li said softly, "Let's go see him."

Others naturally agreed and followed her up onto the city wall. Zhu Yan was standing with his hands behind his back in a somewhat worn-out war outfit at one corner of the tower, gazing toward Bian City. Even as Ye Li’s group approached, he seemed not to notice them. Ye Li didn't rush him; she merely calmly observed this old man's figure.

After what seemed like an eternity, Zhu Yan slowly turned around and sized up everyone before his eyes fell on the white-clothed Ye Li. He asked in a deep voice, "Miss... Are you Yang Fang or Princess of Ding Kingdom" Bowing slightly, Ye Li smiled and politely said, "This junior is Ye Li, respectfully meeting Senior General."

Zhu Yan nodded with a smile. "So it’s really Princess of Ding Kingdom So young… indeed an outstanding youth. The Prince must be blessed…"

Ye Li spoke softly. "Senior's praise is too flattering."

Zhu Yan looked at her, his eyes carrying a strange expression hard to describe. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "What did you do with my incompetent grandson" Sighing lightly, Ye Li said quietly, "Prince Zhu has… died in battle; may Senior General grieve less."

Zhu Yan’s body slightly trembled as his hand holding the spear involuntarily shook. In the end, he only sighed loudly and said, "Dead in battle... Well then… It was my fault that led him to this fate. He could have lived freely with fame and fortune if not for me..." His only grandson was exceptionally intelligent since childhood. If it weren't due to his involvement with Jing Kingdom’s army, Rong Ling would have been able to live a free life enjoying fame and honor instead of hiding in the mountains from age thirteen onward where even dying on the battlefield wouldn’t make him known.

"General…" Ye Li sighed. "Prince Zhu has died in battle; please grieve less, Senior General. If Prince Zhu’s spirit is watching over us, he surely doesn't want you to be troubled."

Zhu Yan shook his head and said, "Princess, don’t try to persuade me. I am already near seventy and have lived long enough. Now that I’ve lost the battle, there's nothing left for me to say."

Feng Zhiyao frowned slightly and called out loudly, "Senior General, why must you act this way The Mo Army isn’t a ruthless force."

Zhu Yan glanced at Feng Zhiyao and couldn't help but chuckle. He said with a smile, "Does the General mean that the Mo Army wants to persuade me into surrendering This old man has nothing left to offer them. Furthermore… I’ve spent half my life fighting for Western Commandery; it’s ridiculous to suffer disgrace now."

Ye Li lowered her gaze and said calmly, "General misunderstands us. We wouldn’t dare persuade a high-profile general like you into surrendering. Now that we have won the battle, Senior General originally planned to retire. Please leave here without any further trouble; Prince Ding’s household will not make things difficult for you." Zhu Yan sized up Ye Li and asked, "Aren't you afraid I’ll come back with full force to fight against you after leaving"

Ye Li shook her head. "This junior trusts Senior General."

There was a long silence on the city wall before Zhu Yan finally laughed loudly and said shaking his head, "Thank you for your kindness, Princess. Unfortunately… I’ll die as a great general of Western Commandery! Today, having lost the battle, I have no face to see my fellow townspeople or previous emperor; this life is not worth living!"

"Senior General…"

Zhu Ling quietly looked at the white-clothed woman in front of him with a hint of regret and helplessness. "However, it’s such a pity..." His grandson had been raised by him since childhood; how could he not understand When Ling mentioned that girl named Yang Xianya to him, he knew she was special to his grandson. Now, seeing this woman who made his grandson look at her differently, only brought more regret… The heavens are cruel.

“General…” Ye Li sighed again. "Prince Zhu has died in battle; please grieve less. If Prince Zhu’s soul is watching over us, he surely doesn't want you to be troubled."

Zhu Yan shook his head and said, “Princess of Ding Kingdom, you needn’t persuade me. I’m already seventy years old and have lived long enough. Now that I’ve lost the battle, there's nothing left for me to say.”

Feng Zhiyao frowned slightly and called out loudly, "Senior General, why must you act this way The Mo Army isn’t a ruthless force."

Zhu Yan glanced at Feng Zhiyao and couldn't help but chuckle. He said with a smile, "Does the general mean that the Mo Army wants to persuade me into surrendering This old man has nothing left to offer them. Furthermore… I’ve spent half my life fighting for Western Commandery; it’s ridiculous to suffer disgrace now."

Ye Li lowered her gaze and said calmly, "General misunderstands us. We wouldn’t dare persuade a high-profile general like you into surrendering. Now that we have won the battle, Senior General originally planned to retire. Please leave here without any further trouble; Prince Ding’s household will not make things difficult for you." Zhu Yan sized up Ye Li and asked, "Aren't you afraid I’ll come back with full force to fight against you after leaving"

Ye Li shook her head. "This junior trusts Senior General."

Zhu Yan finally laughed loudly and said shaking his head, "Thank you for your kindness, Princess. Unfortunately… I’ll die as a great general of Western Commandery! Today, having lost the battle, I have no face to see my fellow townspeople or previous emperor; this life is not worth living!"

“Senior General…”

Zhu Ling quietly looked at the white-clothed woman in front of him with a hint of regret and helplessness. "However, it’s such a pity..." His grandson had been raised by him since childhood; how could he not understand When Ling mentioned that girl named Yang Xianya to him, he knew she was special to his grandson. Now, seeing this woman who made his grandson look at her differently, only brought more regret… The heavens are cruel.

“Princess…” Feng Zhiyao asked worriedly.

"Let us honor Senior General's wishes and give him a proper burial," Ye Li calmly turned around and said.ust have been tempted by her. However, those who dared to糾纏in the imperial palace were not ordinary people either. "Would you like me to send someone to escort you out of the palace"The Jade Fairy sho...