Chapter 177 You will harm him, Princess, please forgive me! This, this is the general's...
That night, Yu Nie slept very restlessly.
The wind howled outside the tent, always seeming to carry the faint sounds of fighting, shattering her dreams.
Sometimes I dream of blood-red armor, and sometimes I hear the wails of women and children, their cries unsettling my mind.
When Yu Nie was awakened by the commotion outside the tent, it was already broad daylight.
"Cuiwei." She propped herself up, her voice hoarse from just waking up.
Hearing the noise, Cuiwei lifted the curtain and entered: "The princess is awake."
Cuiwei put down the hot water in her hand and went forward to help her get dressed.
Taking the clothes, Yu Nie chose to do it herself.
A short while later, she finished dressing, rinsed her mouth, and then went to the basin to wash her face, asking, "Where is the prince consort?"
Cuiwei stood by with a handkerchief in hand: "The Prince Consort went out before dawn. His personal guards came to report that the situation at the front has changed."
"Changes?" Yu Nie stopped moving, worried that something bad had happened on the battlefield. She asked, "What kind of changes? Are they detrimental to us?"
Cuiwei shook her head and handed her the wrung-out handkerchief: "This servant does not know. I only saw that after the prince consort heard the report, he immediately put on his armor and went out. He left in a great hurry."
Taking the handkerchief, Yu Nie still looked worried.
"Where's Xie Cheng?" She wanted to find Xie Cheng and ask him in detail what exactly happened.
Before she could even step out of the tent, a clear voice came from outside: "Princess, are you awake?"
Recognizing Xie Cheng's voice, Yu Niexin called out, "You're up, come in."
The curtain was lifted again, and Xie Cheng walked in carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming porridge and several refreshing side dishes on it.
"It's good that the princess has gotten up. The porridge is still warm, so the princess can eat it while it's hot."
Yu Nie looked at the porridge in his hand. The porridge was thick and soft, and the aroma of rice mixed with a little minced meat filled the air. "Why is it Guard Xie who brought in breakfast?"
Xie Cheng smiled and readily replied, "I happened to have something to report to the princess, and on the way I ran into the kitchen staff who were about to bring breakfast, so I just took it from them to save them the trouble of making an extra trip." His explanation was perfectly reasonable.
Yu Nie nodded, said nothing, and walked to the table to sit down.
Xie Cheng placed the tray in front of her, and the steam from the porridge rose gently.
She picked up a spoon and began to eat in small bites, while looking up at Xie Cheng with a curious tone: "What brings Guard Xie to see me?"
As she asked, she scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth.
The porridge was cooked to perfection, its gentle warmth soothing the stomach and intestines, and its taste was excellent.
Xie Cheng watched her eat the bowl of porridge, a hint of relaxation flashing in his eyes before he put on a playful smile again: "It's nothing serious. The general just instructed me before he left to inform the princess that the camp has enough alcohol for a while. The princess has been working hard these past few days, so you can relax a bit today and don't need to go to the wounded soldiers' camp. You should get some rest."
Yu Nie paused, her hand holding the spoon still.
It's good that there's enough alcohol, but the wounded still need care. She didn't doubt Xie Cheng's words, but just shook her head: "It's good that there's enough alcohol, but there are still many things to do in the wounded soldiers' camp, and I can't not go."
Xie Cheng quickly stepped forward and advised her, "Princess, there are enough doctors. You were busy all day and night yesterday without closing your eyes. Even an iron body can't take it. The general specifically instructed that you must get some rest. Your health is the most important thing."
Yu Nie was not persuaded: "I know my own body well, I can still hold on. The more people there are, the more strength we have. Those wounded soldiers are waiting to be treated, and I won't feel at ease if I lie down." As she spoke, she quickly finished the remaining porridge in her bowl, then got up, gestured for Cuiwei to follow, and walked out of the tent.
Seeing this, Xie Cheng had no choice but to follow behind them immediately.
The morning air was cool as Yu Nie headed straight for the wounded soldiers' camp.
Unexpectedly, when the familiar outline of the camp came into view, she suddenly felt a strong wave of dizziness. The scenery in her eyes began to spin and blur, and her body swayed uncontrollably.
"Princess!" Cuiwei exclaimed in surprise, quickly supporting her. "What's wrong?"
Yu Nie held his forehead, his brows furrowed: "My head... feels so dizzy..."
Cuiwei was both anxious and distressed: "This must be because you've been working hard all day. We should have listened to Guard Xie and rested properly. I'll take you back to lie down for a while."
The sudden dizziness made her almost unable to stand, and she had to hold on tightly to Cuiwei's arm to barely support herself.
This feeling came on so suddenly and intensely that it was definitely not just due to exhaustion.
She knew her own body well. At most, she was just tired and weak, but she had never experienced such a severe situation where her vision blurred, her legs felt unsteady, and she almost lost consciousness instantly.
Unless... it's medicine.
In a flash, she remembered the only thing she had eaten that morning.
She turned around abruptly, her vision blurred as she looked at Xie Cheng behind her, and asked incredulously, "Is it that bowl of porridge...?"
Meeting her gaze, Xie Cheng could no longer remain calm. He lowered his head with deep remorse, clasped his hands, and said, "Princess, please forgive me! This... this is the general's order."
"The general said that when you wake up, everything will be over. At that time, whether you kill him or something else, he will have no complaints."
Upon hearing this, Yu Nie felt an unprecedented chill in her heart.
All the clues came together at this moment: Huan Xun's hurried departure and Xie Cheng's unusual act of bringing porridge.
Cuiwei was shocked and furious, glaring at Xie Cheng: "You! You dared to drug my princess?!"
Seeing that he could no longer hide the truth, Xie Cheng had no choice but to tell the whole story: "Princess, please forgive me! At the end of Yin hour, our vanguard has arrived outside the capital city, and we are probably about to break into the city at any moment."
"The general left half an hour ago to personally command this final battle. He was afraid that if the princess found out, she would do everything in her power to stop him, so he resorted to this desperate measure."
Yu Nie felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.
He actually did it!
It seems that the so-called "change" is not an obstacle at all, but the clarion call for a general offensive.
He wanted to exclude her in this way, to prevent her from protecting the Xiao family.
She clung to her last shred of consciousness, her voice weak but filled with fear: "Guard Xie, you'll ruin him..."
After saying that, she turned to Cuiwei: "Quickly, take me to the capital."
Although Cuiwei was stunned by this sudden truth, she immediately replied, "Yes, Princess, this servant will take you there right away."
The Red Armor Guard's camp is not far from the capital; they might be able to reach it even if they ride at full speed.
However, before they could take two steps, Yu Nie felt her vision go black, and in an instant, the deep black mist completely engulfed her consciousness.
Her body went limp, and she fainted completely in Cuiwei's arms, losing all consciousness.
Cuiwei caught Yu Nie's limp body in a panic, calling out repeatedly, "Princess? Princess!"
Seeing that she didn't react, Cuiwei immediately called out anxiously to Xie Cheng, "What are you standing there for, Guard Xie! Quickly help us take the princess back to her tent!"
Xie Cheng dared not delay. He took the unconscious Yu Nie from Cuiwei's arms, scooped her up in his arms, and hurried toward the camp. Cuiwei followed closely behind, her face full of worry.
None of them noticed that at the entrance to the wounded soldiers' camp not far away, the heavy felt curtain swayed, and a thin figure, hidden in the shadows, saw everything that had just happened.
*
Outside Shangjing City.
The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, and the flames and smoke of war obscured the light of day.
Beneath the majestic walls of the capital, corpses lay strewn across the fields, and blood flowed like rivers.
Huan Xun reined in his horse and stood at the front of the battle, his armor stained dark red, his eyes fixed on the battle situation ahead.
He arrived here half an hour ago, and the battle has reached its final stage.
The Red Armor Guards launched a fierce offensive, wave after wave crashing against the main gate of the capital city.
The battering ram relentlessly pounded the iron-clad city gate, producing a dull, deafening roar that terrified the defenders on the walls. More soldiers, clinging to ladders, fearlessly climbed upwards, constantly struck by arrows, crushed by rolling logs and rocks, falling with screams of agony.
On the city walls, the Southern Yin defenders were putting on a last stand, like cornered beasts.
Arrows rained down, accompanied by mournful cries, and iron-studded logs rolled down the siege ladders, causing numerous casualties.
The entire battlefield was extremely bloody.
Huan Xun's gaze swept across the chaotic battlefield and landed on the figure on the city wall who was constantly mobilizing troops to fill the gaps.
On the city wall, Xiao Chengyan was covered in blood.
He had just commanded his soldiers to repel an attack by a siege ladder with rolling logs. Before he could catch his breath, he seemed to sense something and turned his gaze to a certain point on the battlefield.
Amidst the flying arrows and shouts of battle, he caught sight of a figure seated on horseback, his face covered in black armor.
In an instant, time reversed.
There was a time when they also drank and sang loudly.
He admired his extraordinary talent and lofty ambitions, and regarded him as a friend.
But now, he stands on the crumbling city wall, with his family dynasty on the verge of collapse behind him.
He stood before the fiercely attacking army, which was determined to conquer his homeland.
Xiao Chengyan held the sword, gripping the hilt tightly.
He saw Huan Xun slowly raise his hand, making a gesture as if preparing to issue the order for a general offensive.
At this point in the game, the only way to end it is with the weapons in hand.
Xiao Chengyan took a deep breath of the polluted air, raised his sword and stepped forward: "Soldiers, today is the day to defend our land and our country! Kill!"
At the same time, Huan Xun, who was below the city, swung his raised hand down heavily.
Huan Xun's voice rang out through the mask at the same time: "Give the order to concentrate all crossbows and crossbows for a barrage of fire to suppress the defenders. When the time is right, break in immediately!"
"yes!"
The order was quickly relayed.
Soon, even more penetrating giant arrows whistled through the air and hurtled into the capital city, sending debris flying and suppressing the defending troops, making it difficult for them to show themselves.
Huan Xun looked up at the dragon flag representing the Xiao family's imperial power amidst the smoke of battle, his eyes cold.
This game of chess has reached its final moments.
He will never give his opponents any chance to breathe.
The gates of the capital must be opened today!
Huan Xun's order immediately provoked an even stronger reaction.
The Red Armor Guards' offensive suddenly escalated to a frenzied level, with soldiers braving the constantly falling logs and clinging tightly to the city wall.
The battering ram, protected by the cavalry, pounded against the already deformed city gate.
On the battlefield, the whistling of arrows, the clashing of weapons, and the roars of charging soldiers mingled together, forming a destructive wave.
Corpses were piled up on the city walls, and blood flowed into streams, turning the moat dark red.
Huan Xun kept issuing orders, mobilizing reserves to fill the gaps, and directing archers to launch suppressive volleys.
The two flanks then reached the vicinity of Shangjing, and Fan Tian and his men rode their horses to the main gate.
After more than half a day of continuous attacks, finally, with an unprecedentedly loud bang, the heavy city gate of the capital was smashed open by the relentless pounding of the battering ram.
Splintered pieces of wood and twisted iron bars flew inwards, revealing the terrified faces of the guards behind the city gate.
"The city gates have been breached! Charge in!" The Red-Armored Guards erupted in a deafening cheer and surged into the city.
Covered in blood, Deputy General Sun galloped to Huan Xun's side, reined in his horse, and excitedly clasped his hands in a fist salute, shouting, "General! The city gates have been breached! Our vanguard has already stormed into the city!"
Upon hearing the news, Huan Xun's eyes flashed with a cold light, and he ordered, "Pass on my order! Soldiers entering the city are not allowed to harm the common people in the slightest. Anyone who disobeys will be executed! Furthermore, I want to capture the entire Xiao family alive, men, women, and children—not a single one of them should be spared!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" Deputy General Sun turned his horse around and shouted his orders: "The general has ordered that the people must not be disturbed! The target is the Xiao royal family. Capture them all alive. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Huan Xun spurred his horse and charged into the smoke-filled, battle-shouting city of Shangjing.
The Red-Armored Guards behind him surged toward the imperial city along the main road. Although they encountered sporadic resistance along the way, in the face of utter defeat, such resistance was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and was quickly crushed.
Deep within the palace.
The once solemn and majestic hall was now shrouded in a deathly silence and panic.
The palace servants were pale-faced, their steps hurried and disorderly, and suppressed sobs and the sounds of objects colliding and tipping over could be heard from the corners from time to time.
Sang Yueshi practically tumbled and crawled into the main hall.
His official hat was askew, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. Ignoring all formalities, he reported to the man holding the knife in the center of the hall:
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, the city...the city has fallen! Huan Xun has led his troops into the city!"
Xiao Daozun didn't react much to the news.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but nothing came out.
He looked up at the coffered ceiling above the main hall and let out a sigh.
The Xiao family's imperial city, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, was ultimately in his hands and was finished.
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