On this day, Xu Huixin received a secret letter saying that an attack on Si Hengnian would be launched at dawn on the 15th, and that she should persuade Si Hengnian to surrender and not make a futile struggle.
Xu Huixin was horrified. How could a letter from outside have been delivered in without Heng Nian's knowledge? Had Madam Song and Feng Shao's infiltration of Heng Nian reached such a level?
But she also knew clearly that, given Heng Nian's personality, he would never surrender easily now that he had come this far. So, was she going to just watch Heng Nian fail?
No, the letter also said that as long as she could get Heng Nian to surrender, he would be spared his life in consideration of Heng Nian's past contributions to the court. So, is this her chance?
That night, Xu Huixin personally cooked soup for the busy Si Hengnian to come and eat, and personally served him the soup, mustering her courage to say, "Hengnian, drink it while it's hot."
Looking at the soup bowl placed in front of him, Si Hengnian's eyes finally turned to utter disappointment: "Why don't you dare look me in the eye?"
"Hengnian, what are you saying?"
What's in this soup?
Xu Huixin's face turned pale instantly, and she forced a smile, "Hengnian, are you worried that my cooking won't taste good?"
"Clatter!" That was the sound of the soup bowl being swept to the ground, startling Xu Huixin into screaming.
"Huixin, I never imagined you would poison me." Si Hengnian looked at her mockingly. "What, do you regret marrying me? Do you want to use me as a pledge of allegiance to Feng Shao? I should have known. What kind of good woman is she who is engaged to another man and still intimately involved with him?"
These two sentences were really too harsh. In fact, Si Hengnian regretted it as soon as he said them, but he really couldn't help it. The person he thought he loved and had given everything for had actually betrayed him. How could he tolerate this?
"Xu Huixin, let me tell you, even if you die, you can only die by my side!"
"You doubt me?" Xu Huixin sobbed uncontrollably. "Si Hengnian, how... how could you say such a thing? They were right all along. No matter how good you were to me, you would always have looked down on my bad reputation. But who is responsible for my bad reputation?"
She clutched her stomach, seemingly in great pain: "You've been spying on me all along, haven't you? Yes, I poisoned you, but that's because I knew you had no chance of winning. I didn't want you to die in vain, and I didn't want my child to grow up without a father!"
Seeing her like this, Si Hengnian couldn't bear it any longer and shouted outside, "Quickly call a doctor!"
Then, clenching her fist, she said, "You believe them, but not me? Huixin, it's for you that I'm going to take this gamble. Take good care of yourself and wait for my good news."
"They'll make their move at dawn!" Xu Huixin cried out through her pain, "Hengnian, I'm begging you..."
However, Si Hengnian only paused for a moment before striding away again.
Outside the courtyard gate, countless strategists and subordinates were waiting for him. He knew that Feng Shao would attack tonight, and so did he.
The army's spies have already been planted. How could Feng Shao possibly defeat him? Ten years ago, when he was fighting on the front lines, Feng Shao was nowhere to be found!
In a tent dozens of miles away, the First Prince and the Second Prince told him to be careful in everything, and then led a part of the army to two other places. According to Si Hengnian's calculations, he would definitely not engage in a head-on confrontation easily. Therefore, in order to disperse their forces, they would definitely do something else in other places. The most likely thing is to reveal the weakest point of the border defense to the Jing Kingdom. Therefore, they had to rush over to stop them.
Feng Shao's eyes were firm: "Your Highnesses, please rest assured, this humble general will certainly live up to your expectations."
He knew that in the eyes of many soldiers on the border, he was not as capable as Si Hengnian, but tonight he would prove to everyone that true strength was not just about marching and fighting, but more importantly, about protecting the peace of the border people and the integrity of the imperial territory.
Si Hengnian once made great contributions, but in recent years his actions have long violated the basic principles of being a subject. Or rather, from the beginning, Si Hengnian never intended to be a subject at all, but only used the soldiers and people on the border as stepping stones to his power.
Therefore, he must set things right.
Feng Shao, mounted on horseback and holding a sharp spear, shouted, "Let's go!"
On the other side, Si Hengnian and his subordinates were also brimming with momentum.
Arriving at a canyon, the two armies clashed. Rather than a coincidence, it was more accurate to say that both sides had deliberately chosen this place.
"Feng Shao, you are no match for me. Surrender and I may spare your life," Si Hengnian said with unparalleled confidence and arrogance.
Feng Shao's expression was cold: "Your Highness, the court has treated you well, why do this? Come back to the capital with me, and I will ensure your safety and that of your family."
"You've treated me well?" Si Hengnian laughed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "You call this treating me well? I have made so many contributions to the court, but all I have in return is suspicion. Feng Shao, even if you win by chance, do you think you will have a good ending? Not only you, but all the soldiers behind you will suffer as well."
Hearing the commotion of the soldiers behind him, Feng Shao shouted, "Stop spreading rumors! Hasn't His Majesty treated you well enough? Status, power, wealth, titles—everything about you has been treated unfairly. It was you who harbored ambitions from the beginning, and it was you who repeatedly disobeyed orders, which is why His Majesty had no choice but to keep you in the capital."
Si Hengnian's face was grim: "If I hadn't held back, I would have been beheaded long ago. Soldiers, what are you waiting for? Is such a king worth protecting with your lives?"
With his loud shout, nearly half of the soldiers behind Feng Shao turned and faced away, while the other half of the soldiers seemed to have been prepared and immediately took up defensive positions.
Even so, Si Hengnian's expression was still not good; the current situation had not met his expectations.
“You were once brothers who risked your lives for each other. Are you going to turn your blades against each other now? The people you are pointing your knives and swords at may be your fellow villagers or your brothers!” Feng Shao said sternly. “Have you thought about what kind of situation the border will be in after both sides are severely damaged? The cities and people that you personally protected may eventually fall into the hands of the Mirror Kingdom and become the victims of their swords.”
Upon hearing this, all the soldiers hesitated. They truly didn't want to do this, but they were each serving their own lord...
"Feng Shao, do you think His Majesty, who can't distinguish right from wrong, can provide justice for everyone? You were born into a powerful family, so stop trying to sympathize with me. What can you possibly decide?"
"Since that's the case, there's no need for the soldiers to make unnecessary sacrifices. You and I will have a contest. If you win, I will be at your disposal. If I win, you will surrender. How about that?"
Upon hearing this, Si Hengnian couldn't help but get excited.
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