Caught between a rock and a hard place, even the most valiant and warlike army of Giru was ultimately defeated. Except for Hongli, who led his men to pursue the fleeing enemy, the rest of the enemy were captured. They were all covered in dust and dirt, held down by the soldiers. Giru, the masked man in black, was brought before the princes.
The Thirteenth Prince dismounted and asked the Seventeenth Prince, "Are you alright?"
Seventeenth Master nodded. "Thirteenth Brother, I think that man in black's voice sounds familiar, it feels like..."
"An acquaintance?" Thirteenth Prince's heart skipped a beat. He immediately ordered his men to bring the man in black up and personally ripped off the mask from the man's face. The moment the man's true face was revealed, Thirteenth Prince's expression turned ashen, eventually becoming like an iceberg about to burst open. His anger was so intense that even Hongli dared not approach.
"Well done!" The Thirteenth Prince threw the mask on the ground. "Hongshi, how could you, as the Emperor's son, collude with foreigners to oppose the Qing Dynasty and your own family?"
"Do you know what you're doing? You're betraying your country!"
Hongshi glanced at the mask on the ground, head bowed, eyes filled with resentment. He clearly had the upper hand, yet he'd still been discovered. He bit his lip until it bled, grabbed Thirteenth Master's trouser leg, and cried, "Thirteenth Uncle, it wasn't me, it really wasn't me! I didn't do it willingly, they forced me!"
Thirteen had someone pull him away, and shook his head, saying, "Keep these words for when you get back and explain them to the Emperor."
He then ordered his men to take Hongli away and keep him under guard, intending to hand him over to the Fourth Prince for disposal when he returned. After all, even if he was so angry that he wanted to beat Hongshi, Hongshi was still the Fourth Prince's child, a prince of the current dynasty, and it was more appropriate to leave him to the Fourth Prince to handle.
When Hongshi heard that he had to see his father, the Emperor, he panicked. No one knew his father better than him, and no one knew better than him how ruthless his father would be to him. He couldn't be forced to stand before the Fourth Prince as a traitor, otherwise he would never have a chance to turn things around again!
Hongshi grabbed the Seventeenth Master, who was shaking his head and about to leave, and cried out hoarsely, "Seventeenth Uncle, please save me! I was really forced into this! I didn't want this at all!"
Seventeenth Master nodded. "Look up into my eyes."
Hongshi met his gaze and saw that the Seventeenth Prince's eyes were full of disappointment.
Seventeenth Uncle said, enunciating each word clearly, "Yesterday, when Giroud forced me to kneel, you were standing right there. Tell me, what were you thinking at that time?"
"Tell me, what are you thinking about a Qing Dynasty prince having to kneel before barbarians?!"
Hongshi suddenly felt all his strength drain away. He slumped to the ground, speechless.
The Thirteenth Prince took all of this into account. He sighed silently and looked towards Hongli's main battlefield. There were still enemies stubbornly resisting on Hongli's side. He thought for a moment and sent someone to tell Hongli to cover the rear and clean up the battlefield. He would then take Hongshi and Jilu back to the camp first.
At this time, Hongli was unaware that the man in black's identity had been revealed, and that he was a close blood relative of his. He led his men to clear out the enemy's rear, then joined up with the troops sent to destroy the enemy's camp. After cleaning up the battlefield, he led his soldiers back to their camp.
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