Zhang Mao, having internal injuries from playing the zither, is left with Xie Yuan and Ning Ze to take care of the wounded, reset the defenses, and deal with the aftermath of the battle.
Busy until midnight, Xie Yuan, seeing no movement from the Dawei side, pats Ning Ze on the shoulder, "Let’s go. Dawei won’t attack the city tonight at least, let’s go and rest."
Ning Ze immediately says: "You go and rest, I’ll keep watch."
Xie Yuan replies: "Humans aren’t made of iron. Even the soldiers need to take turns standing guard, you also need rest. Listen to me."
Ning Ze nods, "Alright, I’ll follow Your advice."
He admires Xie Yuan greatly. Who could have known that Master Xie could change the course of the day with a single song, saving the princess and the others? He also admired Zhang Mao deeply, who learned the song in such a short time and played it with Xie Yuan, even though it caused him severe internal injuries, it was worth it.
After the two return to the residence, Xie Yuan asks, "Where is the princess?"
"To reply to Master Xie, the princess has been unconscious all the time. Doctor Zhang said that her injuries are serious but her life is not in danger." A man hastily reports.
Xie Yuan nods, "Who is taking care of her?"
The man immediately replies, "Lord Thursday."
"Zhou Gu?" Xie Yuan was taken aback, "Wasn’t he severely wounded and injured again? How is he taking care of her?"
The man could not reply.
"I’ll go and see, you go back and rest first!" Xie Yuan is not at ease and waves to Ning Ze.
"I’m not tired yet, I’ll go with you." Ning Ze insists on following.
Thus, the two go together to Su Rong’s residence.
The entire residence was filled with people. Those who were injured were arranged to stay nearby. Those with severe injuries were staying in the front courtyard, and those with minor injuries were moved to the backyard.
Xie Yuan and Ning Ze arrive at a courtyard adjacent to the reception room, not only are Su Rong and Zhou Gu staying there, but also Shen Yi, Fen Ling, Zhang Yun, and Jiang Zhu.
Lan Zhi and Bi Qing have stayed in the courtyard to guard against anyone coming down with a fever in the middle of the night.
Seeing Xie Yuan, the two stand and quickly pay their respects, "Master."
"Where is Xiaoqi?" Xie Yuan asks, "I heard she has been unconscious. Is Zhou Gu taking care of her?"
Lan Zhi and Bi Qing exchange glances, Lan Zhi whispers, "The Master has been unconscious, Lord Thursday was worried and stayed with her, and has also now fallen asleep."
Xie Yuan, being extremely sharp, instantly understood. He glances at the brightly lit room, says nothing, and does not plan to enter. He had observed everything clearly from the city wall with his binoculars, Su Rong could take a knife for Zhou Gu, showing the depth of her affection. Luo Yan’s stab was deadly. At that moment, she must have had no thoughts about herself being injured or killed, right?
He nods, "Alright, you two pay close attention."
The two simultaneously acknowledge.
Xie Yuan turns and leaves.
Ning Ze does not follow Xie Yuan, but asks Lan Zhi and Bi Qing, "Sisters, do you need me to stay and help?"
"No need, Lord Ning, you need to rest now!" The two shake their heads, "We can manage."
Ning Ze nods, feeling truly tired, he quickly leaves to rest.
Nanchu has suffered heavy losses this time, numerous people injured. Although Dawei triumphs, making Nanchu lose two to three thousand soldiers, they didn’t gain much either. Two of the six city-breaking cannons were destroyed, and both their secret guards and Luo Yan’s Poison Doctor Sect suffered losses. Both of them were also injured.
Especially Luo Yan, the red sparrow, her prized poison snake that she has meticulously cultivated over many years, got killed by Zhou Gu. Her grievous injuries combined with the failure to kill Su Rong and Zhou Gu provoked a blood surge that knocked her out cold.
The wound Ye Guixue inflicted on Yuan Zhao is not light either. After the doctor bandages his wound, Yuan Zhao, with a gloomy face, asks about Luo Yan’s condition, "Is her injury serious? When can she wake up?"
The doctor carefully selects his words, "Replying to Your Highness, Lady Luo’s injuries are not light, and her heart was assaulted by anger, I am afraid she won’t wake up for a few days."
"A few days." Yuan Zhao grits his teeth and nods, "Look after her carefully."
"Yes."
After the doctor leaves, Yuan Zhao looks at Helan Jue and Nangong Zheng, who have been guarding him all this while. Nangong Zheng did not make a move today, as he ordered him and Helan Jue to guard the rear lines.
He looks at Nangong Zheng now and asks, "If we did not have the members of the Poison Doctor Sect today, could we still have protected the six city-breaking cannons?"
Nangong Zheng says, "I fear we could only have protected two."
Yuan Zhao nods, furious, "Right, we could only have preserved two at most. I hadn’t anticipated that Su Rong has so many strong fighters around her. Without the members of the Poison Doctor Sect, I wouldn’t have been able to handle her. It’s a pity, I couldn’t kill her today. How unexpected of Xie Yuan, a single song, shaking one’s mind, subtly lethal, he actually managed to save Su Rong."
Otherwise, today, Su Rong and those around her would have died under his and Luo Yan’s hand.
Helan Jue says, "Master Zheng did not make a move today, Your Highness, you should have let Master Zheng make a move. He and the Nangong family guards did not join the battlefield. Su Rong may not have escaped otherwise."
"You’re impulsive, which is why I have him sit with you to guard the rear lines today," Yuan Zhao glances at Helan Jue, "I did not let him join the battlefield because I wanted him to observe from the rear and find Su Rong and Zhou Gu’s weaknesses. A single battle does not represent much, the losses and wins are not the main point, it is the one who can have the last laugh who truly has ability."
Helan Jue turns to ask Nangong Zheng, "Did Master Zheng see clearly then? Do you have a strategy?"
It wasn’t that he was unsatisfied, but he felt that Nangong Zheng, who had not yet grown a single hair properly, possessed not much apart from his intelligence. Otherwise, how could the Nangong family fall from grace? The Highness seemed to be overrating him. He was still young, how could he handle such responsibility?
Nangong Zheng calmly says, "Zhou Gu and Zhang Yun both have serious injuries, and looking at the bodyguards that the princess brought with her today, half of them do not seem to be agile enough. Also, Ye Guixue, who stabbed Your Highness, most likely has not fully recovered from his injuries and couldn’t exhibit his true power. The same goes for his first bodyguard, Yin Yue. If they had been in their best condition, I suspect today’s battle would have disadvantaged Your Highness more significantly."
Yuan Zhao nods.
"What else?" asks Helan Jue, "Anyone can see that."
Implying, was there even a need for you to say it?
Nangong Zheng ignores Helan Jue and continues, "The princess clearly knows that the number of troops under her command is far less than what Your Highness has. I suspect she still has a few tricks up her sleeve. If my speculations are not incorrect, the princess will ask Daliang for reinforcements. At the minimum it could be one hundred and fifty thousand, or two hundred thousand, or even three hundred thousand. Thus, it will be better if Your Highness decides to attack urgently."
Yuan Zhao gives a nod of approval.
Nangong Zheng continues, "In this battle, Nanchu suffered heavy losses. Almost all important figures are seriously injured. The morale of the soldiers, as observed on the battlefield today, is not very high. Thus, my advice, Your Highness, is to attack the city first thing tomorrow. Even if Lady Luo has not awoken, Dawei must quickly execute this battle, leaving no more time for rest to the people inside Heiya Pass."
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