Chapter 192: Horror

On the way to Zhangwu, Shen Yuexi received various messages one after another.

First came the Jingzhou army. As expected, they learned that Yongwei was undefended and sent light cavalry to attack overnight. The Yongwei governor, with no troops under his command, surrendered without a fight, and the Jingzhou cavalry captured Yongwei without a single casualty.

Fortunately, she took all the money she needed with her when she left, leaving nothing for the Jingzhou army.

It was the coldest time of the year, and the roads were filled with refugees, dragging their children and struggling to make their way through the bitter cold.

She saw a family: the father silently pushing the stroller, the mother holding the infant beside him, sighing as they walked. The baby's face was chapped from the cold, and it cried continuously in its mother's arms.

Shen Yuexi couldn't bear to watch it anymore, so she asked the soldiers to send a heater and some cakes to the mother.

The mother was very grateful and thanked him repeatedly. But the father said:

"If you really want to help everyone, then stop these kings from fighting each other. We ordinary people don't seek to be rich, we just want to live a good life."

Madam Li and Li Wan were also unhappy. They said, "We can't give us any more. What else will we eat? Besides, can you save so many people?"

Shen Yuexi couldn't refute it.

When the war broke out, people suffered utter misery. Thousands of people fled for their lives. Her personal efforts were only a drop in the bucket.

With feudal lords ruling the country and foreign invaders roaming the land, someone must come to an end to this chaotic world. Emperor Yongde was incapable of governing the country, and she believed that only Xiao Zhuo could do it.

Compared with the suffering of the people now, her anger about Xiao Zhuo taking a concubine was simply insignificant.

Sometimes people who get hung up on trivial matters simply lack a broad vision. If your perspective is too narrow, your mind won't be broadened.

If she just stayed by Xiao Zhuo's side and didn't see the suffering of the people with her own eyes, she would be like before, always thinking about her own things.

Qiu Liming and Song Zhen had already rushed to Zhangwu, so she had to rush back as soon as possible, perhaps she could be of some assistance to Xiao Zhuo. Furthermore, Doctor Hua was a skilled doctor, especially skilled in treating arrow wounds. With him around, many injured soldiers could be properly cared for.

Then we received the news that Mep had broken his hand.

"Serves you right!" Mrs. Li and Li Wan were both very relieved.

Shen Yuexi, however, felt a little reluctant. Mei Pu had saved her and Xiao Zhuo, and was also Xiao Zhuo's friend. Although his motives for wanting to marry Li Wan were not pure, it didn't work out. She just didn't know what Xiao Zhuo would do if he knew all this.

When they were still fifty miles from Zhangwu, another soldier came to report:

"Good news! The Lord is leading his army to attack the Western Rong army that is besieging Zhangwu City. The Western Rong army has been badly defeated and is fleeing to the north. The Lord is leading his army in pursuit."

Shen Yuexi couldn't believe it and asked, "How many troops did my husband use to fight the enemy?"

"Reporting to Madam Shen, the Lord is using 50,000 troops against the 50,000 Western Rong troops."

"Then... did my husband use any strategy to win?"

In Shen Yuexi's impression, Xiao Zhuo has always been the historical version of using the few to defeat the many, and his tactics have become a convention.

The soldier's eyes lit up as he said, "Madam Shen, the Lord did not employ any tactics; he simply led his army into battle. When the Western Rong army saw him marching out, half of them retreated. The Lord ordered his troops to attack, and the Western Rong army was defeated and fled. The siege of Zhangwu has been lifted."

General Jia and Zhang Song were both following the carriage. When they heard the news, they were so surprised that they were speechless.

After a long while, General Jia finally said, "Just by going out to the battlefield, you can make the Western Rong army lose its footing... It's incredible."

Zhang Song said, "I've heard of His Royal Highness's reputation among the Northern Di people, and I also knew of his achievements at Langya Pass. I didn't expect this was just a small test."

Shen Yuexi sat back in her seat and said to the three people in the car with a mixture of surprise and joy: "Did you hear that? My husband has freed Zhangwu from the siege."

Madam Li smiled at Li Wan with her toothless mouth, "That's right, I told you from the beginning that following your cousin is the right thing to do!"

Since the Western Rong had been defeated, the group was eager to return home and hurried to Zhangwu.

Arriving at the foot of Zhangwu City, General Jia heard that Xiao Zhuo and Mei Pu were already in the city. He called out to Shen Yuexi and said to her, "Madam Shen, I will not be entering the city."

He had previously sold the sick armadillo to harm Mep, and now Mep was in Zhangwu City, so of course he didn't dare to go into the city to seek death.

Shen Yuexi was feeling happy, so she agreed without hesitation and went into the city first to look for Xiao Zhuo.

When they arrived at the gate of the prefect's mansion in the city, Qiang Lin stopped the carriage and Shen Yuexi jumped out and ran into the gate.

Inside the hall, Xiao Zhuozheng, Qiu Liming, Song Zhen and others were gathered around a table discussing something.

Seeing that familiar moon-white figure, Shen Yuexi felt a strong surge of love in her heart. Without saying a word, she ran over.

Xiao Zhuo turned around and hugged her with his arms open.

"I'm back." Shen Yuexi skillfully pushed away the jade pendant hanging on Xiao Zhuo's chest, and then put her face on his chest.

"I'm sorry I didn't pick you up, now..."

Xiao Zhuo's voice was as calm as ever, but Shen Yuexi could feel his arms trembling slightly as he embraced her.

She raised her hand and covered his mouth: "I know everything, no need to say. Those are all things of the past."

Xiao Zhuo was now at a critical juncture. Although he had just conquered Zhangwu, the Western Rong army was still there in the north. Yongwei in the south had been occupied by the Jingzhou army, and the situation was precarious.

She wasn't the type of person who only thought about love, but now in such a critical situation, she could still distinguish things. As for affection, she could leave it for later.

Xiao Zhuo's warm hands covered her red cheeks from the cold and said with a smile, "Okay, Yuexi, go and rest first. I have something important to do here."

Having met Xiao Zhuo, Shen Yuexi felt relieved and decided to go visit Mei Pu with Dr. Hua.

However, when she arrived at Meipu's residence, the sergeant told her: "His Royal Highness is not here."

The war was intense, so Shen Yuexi didn't care. She worked with Doctor Hua to make medicine. Doctor Hua didn't have one of the most important ingredients on hand, which was the herb he had collected in Baixiu Mountain.

The two came to the medicine shop in the city again.

All the shops in Zhangwu City were closed. The pharmacy was in a mess. In the area dedicated to medicinal herbs, Shen Yuexi found the herbs needed to make a special medicine for leprosy.

There are only enough herbs to prepare five prescriptions. It seems General Jia must go to Xiaogang Village.

Shen Yuexi decided to first give General Jia some medicine, and then have a group of Xiliang soldiers take them to Xiaogang Village. Once there, they would be led by Meng Yue, and they would just leave the matter to them.

She took the prepared medicine and went out of the city to find General Jia.

When they arrived at the agreed-upon lodgings, they found their camp completely surrounded by the Xiliang army led by Zhang Song. The soldiers all had their swords drawn, their faces filled with murderous intent.

"What happened here?" Shen Yuexi asked.

"His Royal Highness... is inside." Zhang Song nervously nodded his chin.

Shen Yuexi vaguely felt that something was wrong and hurriedly walked in.

When I came outside the tent, I heard Mep's hateful voice coming from inside.

"...Because you sold me, I got this disease. I couldn't lead my troops to fight the Xirong invasion, and we lost two cities in a row. My father looked down on me, and I had to rely on my sister to save me."

"Please spare my life, Your Highness. This is all ordered by General Xiao Kai. I am only following orders."

There was a sound of metal falling to the ground from inside the tent.

"Look at my face, look at it!" Miep roared. "The hair is gone, and my face looks like this... Is this a human face? Tell me, is this a human face?"

"Your Highness, I have this disease too!" General Jia screamed as if he had seen a demon.

"If my left hand was not injured and I could hold the gun, how could the other party chop off my hand!"

"Your Highness, it's Xiao Kai..."

"Originally, I could have married Miss Shen, but now I can only watch her follow Xiao Zhuo!"

"World……"

General Jia had barely uttered a single word when the sound of a sharp weapon slicing into a human body could be heard from within the tent. Bright red blood splattered out the doorway.

Shen Yuexi held the medicine in both hands, not daring to move until Meipu strode out of the tent.

Finally saw Mep without the mask.

A handsome man, now in this state, with his left hand broken. If it were her, she would probably kill General Jia too.

But she was too horrified to know what to say.

Mep held the blood-drenched sword in his right hand and raised his left hand to shield his face. However, his left hand was gone, so he couldn't block it at all. After a moment's hesitation, he lowered it again.

"These Jingzhou troops," Mei Pu glanced at Shen Yuexi, then turned to Zhang Song who had followed him and said, "Kill them all."