Chapter 93 Farewell: Even if the methods are cruel, the torture won't be too severe. ...
With the outbreak of war, martial law was tightened in the border regions of Dahuang. Feng Bingzhu was really worried about Feng Tan leaving the Imperial Dragon Camp, but she also knew how important Menghe Nabul was to her. So she specially dispatched an elite guard team to protect Feng Tan all the way to Dahua.
Yu Ruxi and Zheng Qingru had been away for too long and Feng Tan had sent them back to the capital without explanation. She took out all the weapons from the system and placed them in the Imperial Dragon Camp, while she herself only carried the sniper rifle given to her by her master.
On the day they were ready to go their separate ways, Yu Ruxi insisted on going with Feng Tan, but Feng Tan refused her firmly. So she held on to Feng Tan and scolded Xiao Yinshi, her voice trembling with tears: "I'll wait for you to come back in the capital. You absolutely cannot have any accidents happen to you!"
On a clear, crisp autumn day, a cool breeze ruffled Feng Tan's long hair, and the sunlight bathed her face in a bright glow. A hint of reluctance lingered in her eyes as she gently said, "Once things are settled and Uncle Meng wakes up, I will definitely let you know immediately."
They parted reluctantly, and Zheng Qingru's worry was no less than Yu Ruxi's. Having been in officialdom for many years, he understood Xiao Yinshi's ways of doing things. Although Xiao Yinshi was ruthless, he wasn't one to lie carelessly. Since he had reached a deal with Feng Tan, he shouldn't let her slip. Besides, Feng Tan had recovered her lightness skill to its best condition after three months of recuperation, and she also had various plans to deal with unexpected situations... Despite the truth of the matter, he still couldn't help but worry, "Yongle, you must take care of yourself."
Qingcang let out a long howl in mid-air. Feng Tan saw its agile figure, stretched out his arm to signal it to descend, and laughed: "Don't worry, I cherish this life. If Uncle Meng wants to save me, I will protect him myself. When we meet again in the officialdom, we will inevitably have to debate again."
Zheng Qingru used to admire Confucianism and believed that women should stay at home and that male superiority over females was the natural order. So when he debated the case of the princess's murder, he attacked Feng Tan without hesitation. But what he saw in the Imperial Dragon Camp made this belief begin to waver. His voice was clear and bright. "When we meet again in the officialdom, Qingru will no longer be an enemy of Yongle."
......
People's hearts were changing, and the political and war situation was also changing drastically. The convoy traveled eastward from the southeastern border of Dahuang. What she saw along the way was unforgettable for Feng Tan. This was the first time she had personally experienced the aftermath of a war. What she had read in books was far less shocking than seeing it with her own eyes.
The air was thick with the pungent smell of gunpowder and the heavy stench of blood. Broken halberds and shattered swords lay scattered on the ground, and countless people were displaced. Children lay beside an old man, crying and patting his stiff body, while wild dogs devoured white flesh nearby, and blood stained the earth red.
The cawing of a few crows brought Feng Tan back to her senses. Looking at the massive army stationed outside the capital of Dahua, her unease grew heavier. Shan Qi, the usually taciturn deputy commander of the Imperial Dragon Camp, finally spoke, his voice still cold, "Scared?"
“A little,” Feng Tan answered honestly. The officialdom was a bloodless battleground, while the place where the army was located was a cruel slaughterhouse where lives were taken. In the face of absolute military power, people felt oppressed. “When the wind of the blade rises, the big shots stand on the sidelines, the small people are like ants and can hardly survive. Human life is as worthless as grass... What’s scary is the state of the world.”
Shan Qi said, “As long as people are alive, there will be entanglements and power. On the battlefield, people are like two-legged sheep. If they are starving, eating a few people is nothing. You knew that coming here would be so dangerous, yet you still came to Dahua without fear of death. It seems that none of your father’s deep-seated ungratefulness has been passed down to you.”
Hearing her say that reminded Feng Tan of something interesting, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile.
Seeing her frown vanish and replaced by a bright smile, Shanqi couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's wrong? What's so funny?"
Feng Tan said, "The master said, 'Women can sometimes do incredibly foolish things for love, while men often choose to remain untainted.' Doesn't this perfectly illustrate that?"
Shan Qi thought for a moment and said, "No, the narrow distinction between men and women is not suitable for you."
She was too innocent.
Born into royalty, she remained untainted by extravagance. After experiencing numerous setbacks, her soul found its own harmony. Being with her, one could sense that deep within her soul, she was as lively as a pure and kind child. She did not believe that kings and nobles were born with special privileges. Carrying the spear of faith, she sniped at all injustices. She was a unique and beautiful woman.
The sentries at the military camp had already reported their whereabouts to the head of the camp. When Zhu Qi arrived from afar and saw Feng Tan sitting high on horseback, he couldn't help but feel a lingering fear, realizing his leg injury hadn't fully healed. However, seeing the boy on horseback still playful, tossing a copper coin into the air and slowly opening his palm, he whispered, "Ah... terrible luck..."
Shanqi flipped the coin in her hand over and said in a detached tone, "Good fortune."
Feng Tan chuckled and said, "Thank you for your kind words!"
Zhu Qi stepped forward and gestured to the soldiers behind him to open the gate and welcome the Yulongyin troops in, but Feng Tan waved his hand and said, "Zhu Qi, we are not good friends. I will go to the city wall to support your master whenever he attacks the city."
Feng Tan's reaction was exactly what Zhu Qi had expected. He grinned sheepishly and said, "Alright, alright, Miss Feng can station her troops wherever she wants. We'll attack the city this afternoon!"
Anyway, no matter where she's stationed, she'll eventually end up in her master's den of wolves... He glanced at Feng Tan with some pity. Tsk, she's still so high-spirited now, who knows what will happen later... But if her master won't let her go, she might have her own tricks up her sleeve. These two are both cunning, why is he worrying about them?
Zhu Qiqing, who was meddling in other people's business, coughed and straightened his expression, saying, "Miss Feng, before the army attacks the city, Emperor Jingde will definitely stand on the city wall and use Lady Ban's life to hinder his master. The martial artist who holds Lady Ban hostage is a seventh-rank martial artist. You must be careful and not underestimate the enemy."
Before arriving, Feng Tan had already investigated Ban Huayun's situation. She was the most beautiful woman in Dahua. The reason why Xiao Yinshi had been lying low in Dahua for many years was because his mother was trapped in the hands of his enemies. He could not act rashly. He had endured humiliation for many years for his mother, which shows how important his mother was to him. This was a bargaining chip that Xiao Yinshi's enemies could use to restrain him, and it was also a bargaining chip that Feng Tan could use to restrain him.
Knowing yourself and your enemy makes things easier. Feng Tan nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'm here to carry out the transaction."
As the sun set over the mountains and a wisp of west wind blew, the war drums sounded, and the siege began. The sounds of battle filled the distance. Shen Shiyi commanded a group of men carrying ladders to climb the city walls. Stones rolled down the walls, striking their sturdy helmets and armor, weakening their attack only as they climbed even faster. Just as they were about to scale the walls, Emperor Jingde appeared on the city tower with a troop of men, beside whom stood the bound Ban Huayun.
As soon as she appeared, the Luosha Army and Shen Family Army, who were fiercely attacking, stopped simultaneously and made way for her. Xiao Yinshi then slowly appeared, looked up at Ban Huayun who was being held hostage to his side, and said to Emperor Jingde, "Uncle, it's been a long time."
Emperor Jingde's bargaining chip was Ban Huayun. Xiao Yinshi had always been filial to his mother and loved her dearly. He knew that Xiao Yinshi would never allow his mother to be humiliated and die. With a sinister smile, he tore off a layer of Ban Huayun's outer garment and casually threw it off the city wall, saying, "My good nephew, if you take one step forward, your mother's clothes will be one less layer. Do you want to watch her naked in front of hundreds of thousands of soldiers?"
A seventh-rank martial artist's broadsword was held across Ban Huayun's neck. Her mouth was gagged, preventing her from speaking. Her clear eyes remained calm and unwavering. She did not look at Xiao Yinshi below the city wall, nor at the bandit leader who had insulted her. Her gaze was unfocused, and she calmly looked ahead.
The broadsword was too close to Ban Huayun's neck. Xiao Yinshi lowered his eyes, his half-closed gaze revealing no discernible thoughts. After a long while, he seemed to give in and said, "Those who share the same desires hate each other. We all want to sit on the highest throne, but Uncle, don't you think you'll suffer a terrible fate by using such a despicable method to make things difficult for a woman?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a bullet accurately struck the forehead of the seventh-rank martial artist who was holding Ban Huayun hostage, piercing through his skull. Feng Tan, hidden among the dark mass of the Rakshasa Army, leaped towards the city wall, forcefully threw out a hemp rope to wrap around Ban Huayun's body, pulling her into his arms, and then floated down into the Imperial Dragon Army.
Emperor Jingde was so shocked he almost fainted. What kind of hidden weapon was that, so powerful, that it could kill a seventh-rank martial artist from a distance? The attending eunuch Huang Wu shouted, "Your Majesty, quickly retreat from the city wall! Men, protect the Emperor!"
Emperor Jingde and his entourage left in a hurry. Xiao Yinshi gave Shen Shiyi a military order: "Send a signal to Xiao Liling to open the city gates immediately."
Seeing that he was about to leave after speaking, Shen Shiyi called out to him, saying, "Success or failure depends on this battle. Don't lose sight of the bigger picture for the sake of small gains."
Xiao Yinshi did not turn around, his steps toward Feng Tan firm and powerful, "No matter how big or small, everything is in my grasp."
The cavalry reinforcements from Sotaha, summoned by Emperor Jingde, were no threat. The city gates burst open from the inside with a loud crash, and the soldiers standing on the high walls shouted in alarm, "There's an inside traitor! The city gates have fallen!"
"The city gates have fallen!"
"The city gates have fallen!"
"The city gates have fallen!"
"The rebels have entered the city!"
This scene has been playing out in the same way for nine lifetimes. Xiao Yinshi left the shouts and fighting behind, stepped over the corpses and pools of blood to Feng Tan. Seeing that she looked rosy-cheeked after three months of recuperation, he couldn't help but smile after a long time and said, "You've gained a little weight. Are your injuries all healed?"
Although Xiao Yinshi was smiling, Feng Tan keenly sensed the coldness that had settled in him after experiencing the bloodshed of the battlefield. His casual conversation sounded particularly eerie amidst the sounds of fighting. Feng Tan did not respond, but forced Ban Huayun to take a step back and said, "Give me Menghe Nabul's antidote, and Peach Blossom Village, thirty miles outside the city, and I will let your mother leave."
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