Chapter 225 No More Worries
When Shen Yuexi walked into the messy tent, a pungent smell of alcohol hit her in the face.
She subconsciously covered her mouth and nose, and looked up at the lonely figure sitting behind the desk.
Xiao Zhuo was still the same man, but he had become someone she didn't recognize.
He was once spotless, his stature erect. He was once imposing, exceptional. He was full of vigor and determination, commanding all the troops. He fought a hundred battles, invincible, and intimidated his enemies.
It's all gone.
Now, sitting behind the desk was a depressed man, a man drowning his sorrows in alcohol. He hadn't changed his bloodstained clothes, only the inner armor she had given him.
"Husband," Shen Yuexi walked towards Xiao Zhuo and stretched out her hands to him, "I'm back."
Only now did she understand that Xiao Zhuo was no god. Beneath his astonishingly strong exterior lay a core as fragile as glass. He was a mortal like herself. When faced with an unbearable blow, he would crumble like any mortal.
Hearing her call, Xiao Zhuo slowly raised his head, his cloudy eyes swept over her face, and he slammed the bottle of wine in his hand on the table and said, "You... why did you come back?"
"I'll come back to find you." Shen Yuexi walked around the table and knelt down beside him. She held his arms with both hands and looked at his black hair with heartache. His hair was once neatly combed but now it was a mess with the smell of alcohol.
"We've already lost, let's leave here," she said gently, "He can still make a comeback one day..."
"Don't joke around," Xiao Zhuo waved his hands away, shook off her hands, and stood up shakily, "There's no comeback, there's nothing left."
Seeing him so depressed, Shen Yuexi felt deeply saddened, tears welling up in her eyes. She asked, "Weren't you much more miserable before? Hiding in caves, sleeping on straw mats, being hunted everywhere. Even with just the two of us, you never felt this dejected."
"You don't understand, you don't understand anything." Xiao Zhuo stood in the middle of the big tent, raised the wine bottle, tilted his head back and poured it into his mouth, but only a few drops fell.
Just as Shen Yuexi was about to speak, the curtain swayed and a general rushed in. He knelt on the ground in panic and said:
"Prince Zhao, the Dingbei Army has completely blocked our retreat route."
Xiao Zhuo threw the bottle aside and said, "He would have done this anyway. I knew Xiao Beiheng would do this. He's a man who's good at seizing opportunities. Haha... How did Nanping fall?"
"The Xiliang army marched north, but instead of supporting Nanping, they stood by and watched. The entire Nanping garrison was wiped out, including General Meng Yue, and Military Advisor Song Zhen defected to the enemy," the general lowered his head. "General Qiu was struck by several arrows, and his life is currently uncertain. I'm afraid he's in great danger."
Shen Yuexi covered her mouth with both hands to prevent herself from screaming.
I knew Nanping would fall, but I didn't expect it to be so tragic. One of Xiao Zhuo's generals died, one surrendered, and the whereabouts of another were unknown.
Letting Xiao Zhuo know this news at this time would be like adding insult to injury.
What's more, Song Zhen actually surrendered to Xiao Beiheng, which was really depressing.
She waved to the general and said, "You go down first. King Zhao will find a way."
The general remained motionless, looking up at Xiao Zhuo and saying, "Prince Zhao, our army's retreat is cut off. Yongwei City ahead has received reinforcements from the Second Prince's army, now numbering 80,000 men, and they are about to attack us. Please make a decision quickly, Prince Zhao."
"Go tell everyone," Xiao Zhuo said, smiling and waving at the generals, "tell everyone. I've run out of tricks and can't save them."
"Impossible," the general knelt on the ground and took a few steps, grabbing the corner of Xiao Zhuo's clothes. "King Zhao, what happened to you? You once led us to annihilate Jingzhou's 200,000-man army without a single defeat. What happened to you?"
"I can't save them," Xiao Zhuo said, looking up at the sky. "I can't even save myself."
The general turned his pleading gaze towards Shen Yuexi: "Princess, the survival of our army is hanging by a thread. Please persuade King Zhao."
Shen Yuexi shook her head slightly.
Xiao Zhuo's spirit has collapsed. If he doesn't cheer up, he will be powerless to save these soldiers. But in order to cheer him up, he must prove that he is not an illegitimate child. This is impossible.
Seeing her shake her head, the general knew that hope was over. He let go of Xiao Zhuo's clothes, stood up, straightened his armor, and clasped his hands together, saying:
"King Zhao, you and the princess should flee quickly. I will lead the army to stop the enemy for you."
After saying this, the general turned around and left the tent.
Shen Yuexi stood up, walked around the table, and came to Xiao Zhuo and said, "Husband, let's go. Do you want to be killed by Xiao Kai or Xiao Beiheng?"
Xiao Zhuo didn't respond to her words, but smiled and put his arm on her shoulder: "Look, Song Zhen has surrendered. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Shen Yuexi was interrupted, but she was actually a little curious. Song Zhen had been with Xiao Zhuo during the battle at Langya Pass, so she couldn't think of any reason why he would surrender.
"The people who followed me did it all for my status. I'm the crown prince, so they willingly followed me out of seclusion. They've all been with me for years and know me well enough to never frame the emperor. Sooner or later, there will be a day of redress," Xiao Zhuo pointed at his forehead. "Now I've become a commoner, a true nobody, and Song Zhen has chosen another master. Why would Mei Pu choose to side with Xiao Beiheng instead of helping me? It's because I have no status anymore. This guy... is too unreliable. His father was right to name him that way."
Shen Yuexi discovered that although Xiao Zhuo had drunk a lot of wine and there were empty bottles all over the table, his mind was not confused and he was thinking clearly. Whether he was talking about Song Zhen or Mei Pu, his words were to the point.
This meant that he was not drunk and could still understand what she said.
She reached out to support Xiao Zhuo's shaking body and said, "My husband, the general just said that the enemy is about to attack. We should leave quickly, otherwise it will be too late."
"Where are you leaving?" Xiao Zhuo asked drunkenly, "Where are you leaving?"
"I don't know. Let's get out of here first." Shen Yuexi hadn't decided where to go yet. "If the enemy comes, you'll definitely be beheaded."
Xiao Zhuo laughed heartily, pushed her away, and sighed, "It's a pity that Meng Yue and Qiu Liming understood. Military commanders are stubborn, unlike Song Zhen who is as smart as he is."
"Husband, let's not talk about this for now." Shen Yuexi turned her head and looked around, trying to see if there was anything that could be cleaned up.
As I was watching, a cannon shot was heard from the south.
A moment later, Qiang Lin hurried into the tent, knelt on one knee, and said, "Master, King Zhao. Yongwei City has deployed its troops and is about to attack our army. If we don't leave now, it will be too late."
"I know," Shen Yuexi leaned over to pick up the coat that Xiao Zhuo had thrown on the ground, "I have to pack my things."
"Master, this is an urgent situation. We must prioritize our lives." Qiang Lin raised his voice. "We, the secret guards, will escort you and Prince Zhao out."
"No, I won't leave," Xiao Zhuo said, "I've never deserted a battlefield in my life. You might as well kill me than let me abandon the army and run away."
Shen Yuexi was so angry that he threw the clothes in his hands to the ground and said, "A real man can bend and stretch. If you lose, you lose. There is still a long way to go. You want to die here, do you want me to die here with you too?"
Xiao Zhuo shuddered and said in a low voice, "That's why I didn't let you come back, but you insisted on coming back."
Shen Yuexi ignored him and quickly walked out of the tent. She returned a moment later, stepped forward, took Xiao Zhuo's sleeve with both hands, and said, "Come out."
"No."
"It's so infuriating." Shen Yuexi grabbed Xiao Zhuo's arms with both hands and pulled them hard, dragging him out of the tent like a stubborn donkey.
Outside the tent were densely packed soldiers of King Zhao's army. When they saw Xiao Zhuo leave the tent, they all knelt down and said, "King Zhao, the enemy is about to attack, leave quickly."
Xiao Zhuo nodded and said, "Okay, okay."
He said "OK" three times in a row, but still didn't move.
The sound of enemy drums could be heard outside Yongwei City. Shen Yuexi stamped her foot and said, "You're so nagging, just like a woman. It's really frustrating. Are you going to leave or not?"
Xiao Zhuo waved to the general who had entered the tent earlier and said, "Come here."
The general didn't understand what was going on. He stood up, walked over to Xiao Zhuo, and asked, "What does King Zhao want me to do?"
"Your name is Qi Shengjue, right?"
"It is you, General. I never thought King Zhao would remember my humble name."
"You are all loyal and righteous men who have fought with me all this way, and you haven't even given me wives or children yet. I cannot bear to abandon you now. When I leave, you must quickly lay down your weapons and surrender."
The soldiers were all shocked, and many began to cry quietly.
Even Shen Yuexi thought Xiao Zhuo was confused as he actually advised everyone to surrender.
Xiao Zhuo warned, "Just remember, after I leave, you must immediately surrender to Prince Jing Xiao Kai and do not resist. Tell him that Prince Zhao thinks he is more righteous than the Crown Prince of Qi, and that's why he wants you to surrender to him. This way, the lives of the entire army can be saved. Remember this."
Although Qi Shengjue remembered it, he didn't understand the mystery.
Before he could ask more, Xiao Zhuo turned to Shen Yuexi and said, "Let's go. I have nothing to worry about."
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