Chapter 286 Surrender

"Xiao Beiheng has gone too far."

Shen Yuexi felt deeply indignant for Su Mo. Su Mo was screaming in pain here—even though it was just an act, he still refused to move.

In fact, she knew why Xiao Beiheng refused to move. In Xiao Beiheng's heart, hiding the truth was obviously more important, and he could even ignore Su Mo. But she couldn't tell Su Mo, so she could only express sympathy.

Su Mo stared at her knees and said in a low voice, "Yuexi, has Xiao Zhuo ever... done this before?"

Shen Yuexi frowned and thought about it, it seemed not, so she shook her head.

She was quite strong and never gave Xiao Zhuo such a chance. When she got her hands burned by steam before, she also found a way to solve it herself, and only let Xiao Zhuo break off two icicles.

No, I have to test Xiao Zhuo some other time. If he dares to answer "drink more hot water" as well, I will punish him by not letting him touch her for a month.

Seeing her shaking her head, Su Mo became even sadder: "He said nice things all day long... He didn't come to pick me up when I came, and he still doesn't move now."

A loud "boom" sound came from the northwest.

They both turned their heads to look in the direction of the sound. Su Mo hadn't noticed anything was wrong yet, but Shen Yuexi had already recognized where the sound came from.

"That's the sound of cannons," she turned her head and said to Su Mo hurriedly, "They've started attacking the city. Get out of bed quickly."

Although the sound was not very loud because it was far away, she could tell that it was the sound of artillery firing, and the direction was near Langya Pass.

Su Mo quickly jumped out of bed and put on her shoes. At this time, Xia Lan ran in from outside the tent and said to Shen Yuexi in panic: "Madam, they are opening fire to attack the city."

Just as Xia Lan finished speaking, another "boom" sound came from the northwest, even clearer than the last time.

Shen Yuexi took off the bag containing the white silk from her waist, opened the bag to confirm that the white silk was inside, then she tied the bag and stuffed it into Su Mo's hand.

Su Mo was puzzled and was about to ask, but Shen Yuexi interrupted her and said:

"There's no time to waste now, listen to me..."

…

Xiao Beiheng sat beside King Qi's bed, listening to the sound of cannons in the distance.

Seeing that he was somewhat lost in thought, Xiao Ming asked, "Bei Heng, since the army has begun to attack the city, why don't you go to the city and lead the three armies? My father's injury is not serious, so there is no need to stay here all the time."

Although his leg was hit and burned, his leg bones were not injured. As long as the wound heals, he will be able to walk normally.

Xiao Beiheng turned around and said with a smile, "Father, in my eyes, your injury is the most important thing. Military Advisor Song Zhen is stationed at the foot of the city."

After saying that, he took the porridge bowl in his left hand, scooped a spoonful of hot porridge with a spoon, blew on it, and brought it to Xiao Ming's mouth: "Father, drink the porridge."

Xiao Ming swallowed the porridge and smiled, "Bei Heng, you used to be impatient, but today you are quite different."

When Xiao Beiheng had left him behind and fled during the Lower Yuangu Fire, Xiao Ming had been a little unhappy, though he didn't say it. But now, seeing Xiao Beiheng, untied, taking care of him by his bedside, all those previous grudges were immediately put to rest.

I think at that time, the son was so scared that he didn't care about his father.

"I've experienced a lot along the way, so I'm bound to grow up," Xiao Beiheng put down the bowl of porridge and used a handkerchief to wipe the rice grains from Xiao Ming's mouth. "Once Xiao Zhuo is dealt with, my father will return to the capital and ascend the throne. As the crown prince, I'm a role model for the people, and I deserve it."

"Well said," Xiao Ming nodded and smiled, "Those who love others will always be loved by others. Beiheng, you should care more about the people around you, just like you care about your father now. Consider others more in everything you do."

Xiao Beiheng lowered his head, looking humbly willing to learn, and said, "I will respectfully accept your teachings, father."

"If you really want to learn something," Xiao Ming smiled and shook his head, "then go and see the Crown Prince's Consort. I wanted to tell you just now, but as parents, it's not convenient for us to interfere in your affairs."

Just now, the maid Xiaoxiang came to report to Xiao Beiheng that the Crown Princess was suffering from severe abdominal pain and was rolling around on the bed. Xiao Beiheng stood up, said a few words to Xiaoxiang, and sent her away.

"Father, don't worry." Xiao Beiheng placed the handkerchief on the table. "Momo just caught a cold. Drinking some hot water should be fine. Father, are you uncomfortable lying like this? Do you want me to help you turn over?"

Xiao Ming nodded, propped himself up with his hands and said, "I'm a little tired after lying down for so long. Help me sit up."

Xiao Beiheng held Xiao Ming's neck with one hand and reached for a pillow with the other: "Father, put this behind your waist."

Before Xiao Beiheng could place the pillow behind Xiao Ming's back, a maid came into the tent and reported, "Your Highness, General Gu is outside the tent requesting to see you."

"What is he here for?" Xiao Beiheng held up the pillow, turned to look at the maid, and asked unhappily.

"He followed the orders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and searched the camp. He indeed captured a woman named Shen Yuexi."

When Xiao Beiheng heard the words "Chen Yuexi", he stood up and threw down his pillow: "Where is it? Take me there quickly."

Xiao Beiheng hurriedly followed the maid out of the tent and immediately saw Shen Yuexi being guarded by dozens of soldiers beside the campfire.

She was wearing a pomegranate-red dress, standing by the bonfire, the night wind blowing her long black hair and making her dress flutter. Amidst a group of soldiers in dark armor, she looked like another flame, so scorching hot that people dared not look directly at her.

Xiao Beiheng placed his left hand on the hilt of the Yanque Sword, came to stand in front of Shen Yuexi, and said with a forced smile, "Shen Yuexi."

He had always believed that as long as Shen Yuexi was by Xiao Zhuo's side, Xiao Zhuo would never be caught. Now that Shen Yuexi had come to him, his first thought was to kill her to eliminate any future trouble. As long as Shen Yuexi was dead, Xiao Zhuo would be easier to deal with. Even if Xiao Zhuo escaped during this siege, he could still hunt her down slowly and eventually succeed.

Shen Yuexi placed her hands on her waist, bowed to him, and said with a smile: "My humble servant greets His Highness the Crown Prince."

This opening made Xiao Beiheng quite uncomfortable.

I remember that when the two of them met formally, Shen Yuexi greeted him in the same way, and even her actions were exactly the same as then.

He suddenly felt uneasy, as if Shen Yuexi would do something out of the ordinary again. For example, a sudden, agonizing scream like a chicken being slaughtered would wake him from his dream in the middle of the night...

"You tried every possible means to sneak into my military camp," Xiao Beiheng calmed down, "This is a crime punishable by beheading."

Now surrounded by his own soldiers, Shen Yuexi couldn't pull off any tricks even if she wanted to. He was a little curious about why she was here.

"Why is your Highness so fierce?" Shen Yuexi rubbed her nose in frustration. "I'm here to surrender."

"Surrender?" This time it was Xiao Beiheng's turn to be surprised.

Shen Yuexi actually came to him to surrender on her own initiative. This is too fake.

As if seeing the suspicion in his eyes, Shen Yuexi sighed and said, "Your Highness is using cannons to attack the city. Xiao Zhuo will definitely be defeated soon. I still want to enjoy wealth and glory, so naturally I have to abandon the dark and join the light. As long as Your Highness nods, Shen Yuexi will serve you from now on."

These words left Xiao Beiheng confused.

When Xiao Zhuo was defeated by him and fled, he had no soldiers or generals left, and only Shen Yuexi followed him. When Song Zhen and Ji Zhong went to kill Xiao Zhuo, Shen Yuexi still stayed by his side. Shen Yuexi never left Xiao Zhuo during such difficult times, so why did she suddenly change her mind now?

"You're lying," Xiao Beiheng shook his head, a cruel smile on his face, "Do you think I'm a child? You just made up a lie and thought you could fool me. Even after Xiao Zhuo was defeated in Yongwei, you never left him."

"Why not?" Shen Yuexi said, "It was a different time. Back then, I felt there was still hope. After all, Emperor Yongde was still alive."

Xiao Beiheng felt that what Shen Yuexi said made some sense. He had originally grasped the hilt of the sword, but then relaxed his fingers.

Shen Yuexi said, "Your Highness, you still remember. When we first met, you asked me to join you. I didn't agree at the time, but after thinking about it for half a year, I felt that what you said made sense. You see, I can make crossbows, make medicine, and even make incendiary bombs..."

When Xiao Beiheng heard the word "incendiary bomb", his body trembled.

Yes, it was this girl who set the ambush. Those terrible fireballs almost burned him and his son to death in the lower round valley.

"Oops, I let it slip. Your Highness, calm down and don't draw your sword... Help!"

Xiao Beiheng had just unsheathed the Yanque Sword when Xiao Ming's sharp shout rang out from behind him:

"Stop it!"