93. Choice
Yun Zhihe closed her eyes, exhaled lightly, and listened to Fang Li's choked sobs as she cried in a daze. Her expression was gloomy.
The evidence was solid, and she had caught the criminal red-handed. She had already sent people to arrest Zhao Yin.
Collaboration with the enemy and treason are serious crimes... let alone at such a critical moment. Yun Zhihe closed his eyes and clenched his fists.
Before he could say anything else, someone suddenly rushed in to report.
The man covered his arm and stumbled. Blood flowed down his hand and dripped onto his clothes. He was gasping for breath.
"Haaa... My Lord! Zhao Yin led his troops to disobey orders! He killed the sisters!"
"Varied……"
Yun Zhihe paused, she was stunned for a moment and then walked out, giving orders.
"Call all the palace soldiers and capture the criminal Zhao Yin!"
She frowned, paused, and continued, "Send another group of people to guard the city gate. Don't let her open the gate!"
"yes!"
She really didn't expect Zhao Yin to be so bold. Yun Zhihe gritted her teeth and took a deep breath.
…
The sound of horse hooves was loud, mixed with the clash of weapons. Yun Zhihe stopped and looked at the people at the gate of the mansion.
Zhao Yin was riding on a horse, smiling kindly, wrapped in soft armor, and behind him were fully equipped soldiers.
"Madam Yun, how are you?"
Yun Zhihe chuckled, but there was no smile in his eyes. His hair fluttered in the wind and he sighed softly.
"You've been pretending for all these years, but you've found the right time."
Zhao Yin was stunned for a moment, then sneered, "It seems that Madam Yun already knows. I saw that you were still clueless in your investigation, so I wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of you as soon as possible."
She laughed again, then suddenly stopped and looked at Yun Zhihe fiercely, her voice low and teasing like a cat playing with a mouse.
"I've already sent someone to inform the city's military that Madam Yun is collaborating with the enemy and treason, stealing the defense maps... and you only have one or two soldiers with you. How are you going to escape?"
Yun Zhihe paused and frowned.
"Do you know what treason is?"
"Pooh!"
Zhao's expression suddenly turned cold, and she retorted loudly, "What do you mean by treason?! I'm just taking back what's rightfully mine!"
"Back then, I had both territory and my own private army. Although the world was in chaos, Beidi was the most resolute force! If the assassins I sent could have killed that idiotic woman and that bitch Xuanyuan Ying, I would have been crowned emperor!!!"
She suddenly roared, her face flushed.
"Why should a lowly man like Xuanyuan Ying sit on the throne?! Is he worthy?! How is he worthy?!"
"This ignorant young man has never spent a single day on the battlefield like this old woman, and has never seen life and death. How can he be worthy of the throne?! If it were the Queen Mother, then that old woman would be fine, but why should Xuanyuan Ying be worthy?!"
"He strips me of my title every year, pressing me step by step, and even requires me to beg for favors in order to obtain such honor. This Beidi, this world, this throne! It's what I deserve!!!"
Yun Zhihe pursed his lips and looked at her flushed face, his voice hoarse with suppressed anger.
"So you conspired with the barbarians... led them into the city, leaving the people behind...? Do you realize you're inviting a wolf into your home? Do you really think they'll help you ascend the throne?!"
Zhao Yin sneered and rode his horse around twice, making a "da da" sound.
"I've spent half my life on the battlefield and the other in government, so I naturally understand their intentions... But, it's just sacrificing a few cities. There are so many cities in this world..."
She smiled meaningfully and raised her hand coldly to give the order.
"Madam Yun is a traitor to the country and a collaborator with the imperial guards. Kill them all—"
With a "swoosh", the arrow flew over and pierced Zhao Yin's palm. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere.
Zhao Yin's face twisted in pain for a moment, and a choked scream came from his throat.
"Ah ...
The soldiers around her also drew their swords and looked around vigilantly.
A hoarse, deep voice rang out, "This prince considers you to be the bitch. Are you capable of bearing the charge of insulting the royal family?"
The second prince looked coldly at Zhao Yin who was struggling in severe pain in the distance. He had a bow and arrow in his hand. Obviously, he was the one who shot the arrow just now.
Yun Zhihe paused, a little stunned. The blood from Zhao Yin's palm splashed onto her face due to the extremely brutal force of the arrow, making it look particularly dark and beautiful.
He came to his senses again and shouted to Qin Zhi in the distance.
"Qin Zhi! Run away quickly! Go to the west of the city and find the army to protect you. Don't try to be brave and fight to the death. For the prince—"
"It's so noisy!"
Qin Zhi snorted coldly, glared at Yun Zhihe, and said in a hoarse voice with a smile, "This prince naturally knows all this, mumble..."
He pointed behind him, then turned to stare at Zhao Yin's distorted face, sneering and pulling up the corners of his lips. He continued to hold the bow and arrow in his hand, pointing it at Zhao Yin, tilting his head slightly, and smiling with his teeth showing. It was rare for him to be so unrestrained.
"Behind this prince... are the City West Army."
As he finished speaking, the sound of footsteps came from behind him. The sound was so loud that you could feel the vibration on your toes.
Zhao Yin was stunned and yelled.
"No, it's impossible! Who are you? How can you command the West City Army? I have been entrenched in Beidi for many years, and the West City Army obeys my orders! Impossible!"
"Tsk..." Qin Zhi frowned, "I already said he's the prince——"
"Second Prince Qin Zhi."
He smiled and pointed his slender fingertips at his eyes, "Do you recognize these green eyes?"
Zhao Yin suddenly choked.
Just now, due to the darkness, I was unable to see the man's appearance clearly. But now, I fixed my eyes on him and saw that he was of mixed race, with a pair of unique and beautiful pine green eyes - exactly the same as those of the most unruly Second Prince in the court.
No wonder... no wonder he can command the West City Army.
The West City Army originally obeyed Lou Zhi. Lou Zhi led his army to the border town and left behind 50,000 elite soldiers. Some of these 50,000 elite soldiers came from the capital, so they naturally knew the appearance of the ferocious Second Prince. Besides... it was also well known that the Second Prince was born with green eyes.
Taking advantage of the crowd's stagnation, Zhao Yin knew that the situation had turned around, so she suddenly drew her knife and was about to chop at Yun Zhihe. At the critical moment, another arrow pierced her hand bones, and the knife suddenly loosened and fell to the ground.
“Aa ...
Zhao Yin screamed in pain, tears streaming down his face, his face distorted.
Qin Zhi's face was cold, and he raised the bow and arrow in his hand again, this time aiming at Zhao Yin's neck, his voice hoarse and deep.
"You actually... dare to touch her?"
Yun Zhihe frowned and quickly led the remaining soldiers to counterattack. It was thanks to Qin Zhi's cooperation that she was able to escape the critical moment. She looked up at him for a moment, seeing his black hair tied up with a jade crown, fluttering in the wind, his brows solemn, and he looked particularly beautiful against the moonlight.
With those pine green eyes, she seemed to be the most dazzling gem in the world.
The army in the west of the city quickly joined the battle and suppressed Zhao Yin's counterattack.
Yun Zhihe jumped on his horse, rushed towards the city gate, and shouted to Qin Zhi.
"Second Prince! There might be something wrong with the city gate. I leave this place to you!"
Qin Zhi stared at her back in a daze.
In fact, amidst the clamor of figures and swords, her back was quickly obscured, but Qin Zhi was able to find her shadow and her hair among the chaotic crowd.
His eyes were a little red, as if... he could bring people to rescue her, he could stand by her side.
--very nice.
…
The lights on the city walls were bright, and there were noisy collisions and shouts. Yun Zhihe's eyes were red as he watched the flying arrows flying into the city in a disorderly manner.
Obviously, the army led by Mo Beise has begun to attack the city.
Yun Zhihe's mind was working rapidly.
Why, why did they start attacking the city without waiting for the defense map?
She gritted her teeth. The attackers had just disappeared in the chaos of the battle, and the beacon fires had not been lit. Only the night patrols were resisting. The situation was chaotic without a leader.
She took a deep breath, ordered people to light the beacon fire to notify the people in the city, and then climbed up the corner tower to begin giving orders.
"Stop the ladder from ascending the building—!"
It was so noisy at the moment that her voice was not enough. Arrows flew into the city and hit the soldiers defending the city. They let out a shrill scream and fell to the ground.
The people led by Yun Zhihe quickly took over their positions and continued to defend.
Beidi, which was originally quiet at night, was eventually engulfed in war, and the whole city was brightly lit.
By the time daybreak came, there was basically no sound at all. All that remained were the ruined city walls and ground, and the corpses that were constantly being carried away, indicating that a battle of attack and defense had taken place here.
The sky was getting light, and the dawn light was breaking in the distance, shining on the land, and the beacon fires were curling.
Yun Zhihe hadn't slept all night. She raised her hand to wipe her face, her voice hoarse and panting.
She spoke to Lord Chen beside her.
"This siege was sudden, seemingly without any preparation based on the defensive plan... but the attack wasn't fierce. It was simply a temporary setback for the city due to the internal turmoil in Zhao Yin, who didn't respond well."
Lady Chen was also in a mess. She was hit by an arrow and had a bleeding wound on her shoulder. She added in a hollow voice.
“…This is just a test.”
Yun Zhihe pursed her lips, closed her eyes, and nodded at this conclusion. After waiting for a while, she looked at the people around her.
"There will be many more battles to come."
She looked solemn, with fatigue that was hard to conceal.
"Mo Beise has brought a large army with him. He will definitely divide his troops into groups and launch surprise attacks every night to disrupt our morale and focus... I hope everyone will respond effectively."
Yun Zhihe lowered his head and bowed to them, his fists clenched with a trembling determination.
"You and I defending Beidi is the best thing we can do for the people right now."
She took a deep breath.
"Either we die defending the city, or we win... You and I are both worthy daughters of Daling, and our integrity has been like this since ancient times. Jinniang has been well-versed in the sages' books since she was young. She knows that General Feiyun of the previous dynasty defended the deserted city with all his might, refusing to surrender and dying of exhaustion. She also knows that in times of war, countless daughters and heroes flock to sacrifice themselves."
"Beidi faces internal and external troubles, and the situation is serious..."
Yun Zhihe looked into everyone's eyes, his eyes a little red.
"——I hope you all will do well and be prepared to die."
…
Xuanyuan Ying in the capital suddenly felt a stomach cramp. He whimpered and groaned, covering his huge pregnant belly. Eunuch Li hurriedly got up to support him, feeling extremely distressed.
"Your Majesty! Ouch, Your Majesty!"
During the months of pregnancy, he was almost as thin as bones.
The situation in the court was urgent and serious, and he had to be busy until late at night almost every day. Outside, there were wars against barbarians... and there was also Lady Yun who was still far away. All these things almost made Xuanyuan Ying breathless. The pain of his first pregnancy made him unable to eat, and he would vomit out anything he ate, which was particularly painful.
As the baby in his belly grew bigger and bigger, it was impossible to hide its size. Naturally, some court officials noticed it and wrote to him secretly to ask about the mother of the unborn prince. Xuanyuan Ying did not answer and ignored all the questions.
The situation was turbulent and undercurrents were surging. The court officials did not ask any further questions, but there was always a sense of obscurity and depth in their expressions.
But some people did guess a little, for example - Wen's mother tapped the teacup with her fingertips, looked at Wen Yanhe who was quietly pouring tea beside her, and pursed her lips.
Wen Yan's crow-feather eyelashes trembled, and she smiled and handed the tea to Wen's mother. She also raised her hand to take a sip, and her lips were wet.
This tea was of the finest bitter variety, Dancong, and was extremely acrid. Most people would have hastily spit it out after drinking it, but he endured it and swallowed it without making a sound.
Wen Yanhe has always loved sweets and dislikes bitterness.
Mother Wen naturally knew what kind of person he was.
After his voice became hoarse, he spoke, "...If it's painful, then cry it out."
...a double entendre.
Wen Yanhe sneered, his voice soft and hoarse.
"Mother, what you said is strange. How can it be crying out? How can it not be vomiting out?"
Mother Wen said nothing, raised her eyebrows, and glanced at Wen Yan and her slightly red eyes calmly.
"Being trapped by love is not a good son of the Wen family."
Wen Yanhe sniffed, and after hearing what her mother said, she couldn't help but shed tears, which slid down her face, feeling particularly broken as she choked with sobs.
"Why... doesn't she like me?"
"She actually had a child with His Majesty... secretly."
Mother Wen sighed softly, hugged her beloved little son, and patted his back gently.
"My son, love cannot be forced. You are so talented and beautiful, you don't have to be obsessed with her alone."
"I know you two were childhood sweethearts, and you can't let her go, but... love can't be forced."
Mother Wen's eyelashes trembled and she sighed softly.
"Mother knows her well... She has her own principles and moral integrity. If she didn't love you deeply, she wouldn't have done that to you, Your Majesty."
“Woo—”
Wen Yanhe burst into tears, and his tears soaked his mother's clothes.
Young Master Wen was very clever. He could deduce from the bulging belly of His Majesty, the days when Yun Zhihe left, and the longer time Yun Zhihe stayed in the palace... that she had already had feelings for His Majesty.
No wonder I never saw him say a word, no wonder he begged so much, but I never showed him any pity or love.
Wen Yanhe was choking with sobs, his voice hoarse and he murmured incoherently.
“Woo… woo…”
"Why doesn't she love me?"
…
In the Yangxin Palace.
"Mm--"
Xuanyuan Ying covered his stomach, but still couldn't help bending down and spitting out the mouthful of porridge he had just swallowed.
He was gasping for breath, his hair stuck to his face, and he looked particularly miserable.
Eunuch Li wiped the sweat from his forehead, his throat choked with sobs.
"This little princess truly has no compassion for others... She actually tortured His Majesty to this extent."
"Your Majesty is so thin...yet the child is so strong...really, really..."
Eunuch Li couldn't help but complain and cry out loud.
Xuanyuan Ying was so thin that he was almost a bag of bones, but the baby in his belly seemed to be absorbing nutrients from him and was growing wildly, no longer as weak as it was at the beginning.
Xuanyuan Ying took a deep breath, his voice was hoarse and trembling, his eyebrows and eyes were haggard, and his lips were pale.
He stretched out his slender, cold, white jade hand and stroked his bulging belly.
"Luckily, it's so strong that it didn't collapse with my body."
Xuanyuan Ying closed his eyes and raised his hand to let Eunuch Li leave. His fingertips curled up and his nails dug into his palm, causing some pain.
He thought of the information reported by Beidi.
The sieges were frequent, but the city held firm.
...His Jinniang must be more tired than he is.
Xuanyuan Ying paused, then forced herself to drink two mouthfuls of porridge, swallowed the bitter pregnancy-preserving medicine, and suppressed the nausea that was surging.
He soothed the baby churning in his belly, breathed a sigh of relief, forced a smile, and deliberately softened his cold, hoarse, pleasant voice.
His fingertips stroked the memorial that was obviously written in a few words in anxiety - the memorial from Beidi sent by Yun Zhihe.
"Baby... look, this is the letter from mother."
His voice was hoarse and tired, with a tremor at the end.
His fingertips delicately stroked the dried ink marks, "Is your mother's handwriting beautiful...?"
He gently stroked his stomach with his other hand, closed his eyes, suppressed the urge to vomit, and spoke with a sob.
"She will definitely come back... She will definitely hold you and name you after you are born."
"She is very beautiful and talented... She is the most outstanding wife of this genius... She..."
"She has eyes and eyebrows like an angel... If you were her husband, you could replace my father and become the most beautiful woman in the world..."
"She is extremely talented. If she were your wife, she would teach you how to read and write... and personally enlighten you..."
"she……"
Xuanyuan Ying was in a trance for a moment, and his voice became even hoarse.
“She…”
"She likes you very much."
“Woo…”
Xuanyuan Ying paused, then suddenly choked out a sob, covering his face with his slender hands, suppressing his throat and trying hard not to cry.
“Woo…”
The pale lower lip was bitten red.
Finally, he couldn't help but speak tremblingly.
"I... miss her so much..."
"what to do……?"
He seemed to be asking about the baby in his belly, his voice choked with sobs.
"Daddy, I miss her so much..."
Xuanyuan Ying sobbed softly, curled up in front of the desk, tears dripping onto the memorials.
He suddenly panicked, crying and frantically wiping the tears from the memorial, wiping it with the cuffs of his luxurious clothes, but it was of no use, and he could only let his tears stain the ink.
This is the latest memorial sent by Jinniang... No, it cannot be destroyed.
He still needs this handwriting to remember her...
“Ugh…what should I do…what should I do…?”
The man, who had experienced many hardships, was trembling with tears in his eyes, crying helplessly because of a small memorial.
For a moment, the only sounds in the room were his helpless murmurs, each one particularly heartbreaking.
"Jinniang...what should I do...?"
"Wu...Jinniang..."
"Jinniang... wu... I miss you so much..."
Eunuch Li stood at the door, wiping away tears. He could hear His Majesty's helpless cries.
His wife is so anxious outside that he is afraid that if he is not careful, the city will be destroyed and everyone will die. Xuanyuan Ying has been holding on for so many months, and today he finally lets out his tears.
Eunuch Li sniffed. Someone came up to announce, "Eunuch, the eldest prince wants to see you."
Eunuch Li paused, immediately adjusted his expression, wiped away his tears, walked towards the entrance of the hall, saw Qin Duan, bowed, and spoke slowly again.
"Oh, Your Highness, what a coincidence... His Majesty has eaten lunch and gone to bed. Please come back another day."
He naturally knew that Qin Duan and Xuanyuan Ying were not on good terms. Qin Duan had evil ambitions... He appeared to be bright and cheerful on the surface, but who knew how vicious he was inside.
Qin Duan was not annoyed, and smiled beautifully and brightly, "No problem, I will wait for you."
Eunuch Li paused and spoke with a smile.
"You are embarrassing me. How could you allow the prince, a precious young woman, to wait here? It's not that His Majesty doesn't want to see you, it's just that he needs to rest. As you know, His Majesty is pregnant, and it's not uncommon for pregnant women to sleep for several hours. Your Highness, please come another day."
Hearing the word "pregnant", Qin Duan's expression paused for a moment, then turned a little cold and gloomy, and then he smiled again, his voice soft and slow.
"Although I know that father is pregnant and it is not easy, I still have something important to report..." He frowned in feigned embarrassment, with a clear and pitiful look.
"Eunuch Li wouldn't stop us from doing this, would he?"
He suddenly smiled and looked up, his eyes were like the clear moon, yet very deep.
"this……"
Eunuch Li frowned and was about to speak when he heard a low voice.
"If there's anything, tell me."
——It’s Xuanyuan Ying.
He stood at the door with a pale and indifferent face, one hand on his stomach, the other hand carefully supported by Xiao Gongnan.
Qin Duan looked at his belly with a particularly dark look in his eyes. He hid his surging emotions in an instant and spoke with a smile.
"Are you really going to say this here...?"
Xuanyuan Ying frowned, looking a little weak, and said in a cold voice.
"If the eldest prince doesn't tell me, I will go back."
"It's you who wants to see me, and it's you who's keeping quiet... Why is the eldest prince wavering like this?"
"Hehe..." Qin Duan suddenly covered his lips and laughed softly, a little speechless, with his eyes curved.
"Then I will say..."
"What I want to report to you, Father, is—"
He looked up and looked directly into Xuanyuan Ying's eyes, his brows and eyes were extremely gentle, and his voice was soft.
"One of the two batches of grain and fodder just delivered to the Beidi border town has been damaged by insects..."
Xuanyuan Ying's face suddenly turned pale and his eyes widened in disbelief.
Qin Duan's smile seemed to deepen as such an expression appeared on his usually calm and indifferent face.
The food and fodder that were originally sent to Yunzhihe Tower were destroyed, with only one batch left - the decision had to be made at such an urgent moment.
Should it be sent to the Beidi army that is sealing off the city, stubbornly holding on, but gradually becoming destitute and out of food... or should it be sent to the border army that is resisting the foreign enemies with unstoppable force?
Everyone in the Ming Dynasty knew that at this time they had no choice but to abandon Beidi... abandon Beidi, which was almost out of ammunition and food, and support the border troops to win the war.
But... Beidi has his wife.
Qin Duan tilted his head slightly, his voice soft and slow, as if he was deliberately doubting, and his smile was particularly cruel.
"As for the remaining grain and fodder... Father, are you going to send it to the border town, or... to Beidi?"
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