Chapter 168 We, husband and wife, fight side by side and advance and retreat together.
"The Northern Yan army is less than fifty miles away from us."
A biting wind howled atop the city wall, whipping up clouds of yellow sand, and the air was thick with the scent of rust and a chilling atmosphere.
"Report!"
Before long, another soldier rushed up the city wall, his voice hoarse and urgent: "Your Highness, the vanguard of Northern Yan has arrived thirty miles outside the city!"
That's fast!
Qin Ye was dressed in black armor, his dark hair was tied up high, his face was as cold as ice, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk.
He gazed at the approaching, dark mass of the Northern Yan army on the distant horizon, their figures as upright as pine trees, like a drawn sword, blending into the harsh border region.
"Report! We're less than twenty li away!"
"Investigate again!"
Qin Ye's eyes remained unmoved, his voice as cold as iron: "Order the archers to prepare, and have the rolling logs and stones ready. No one is allowed to go into battle without my order."
"yes!"
Fortunately, the Ministry of War had urgently produced several batches of the composite bow that Yun Si had drawn up some time ago, and they came in handy now, allowing Hu Yanzheng to test its power.
"Fourth Brother."
Qin Mu, clad in silver armor, walked to Qin Ye's side, his brows furrowed: "The enemy outnumbers us several times over. While holding our ground and waiting for reinforcements is the best strategy, I'm afraid that madman Huyan Zheng won't give us much time."
"I know."
Qin Ye's voice was devoid of emotion: "Reinforcements will arrive in three days at the earliest. During these three days, the city must not be breached."
Half an hour later.
The 200,000-strong army of Northern Yan surged to the city like a black tide.
Banners blotted out the sun, and swords and spears formed a forest.
The overwhelming killing intent almost solidified into a tangible form.
Leading the group was Huyan Zheng, who rode a tall black warhorse, clad in golden armor, his handsome face bearing a cold smile.
He raised his riding whip, pointing it directly at the city wall, his voice carrying across the battlefield through his inner strength: "Qin Ye, hand over Yun Si, or I will raze this city to the ground today, storm your Great Qin palace, and let the world see how your Great Qin is destroyed for the sake of a woman!"
"presumptuous!"
"You scoundrel, stop your arrogant words!"
Upon hearing this, the Qin soldiers on the city wall were all furious, their eyes wide with rage and their bodies trembling with anger.
Such humiliation of a crown princess is tantamount to trampling on the dignity of the Qin Dynasty.
Qin Ye's face instantly turned so dark it seemed to drip water, and his eyes blazed with murderous intent.
However, before he could give the order, the hot-tempered Qin Mu could no longer contain himself and roared, "Huyan Zheng, how dare you insult my sister-in-law! Prepare to die!"
Having said that, he picked up his spear and leaped off the city wall.
"Fifth brother!"
Qin Ye was startled, but he knew that morale could not be dampened at this moment, so he immediately drew his sword and shouted, "Open the city gates, meet the enemy, and kill!"
"kill!!!"
The Qin soldiers, who had been holding back their anger for a long time, unleashed it like a flood.
Qin Ye took the lead, charging into the enemy ranks like a black shadow.
Where the sword flashed, blood splattered, and severed limbs flew everywhere.
In an instant, it was as if a demon had possessed it, invincible, and it forcefully tore a gap in the Northern Yan army.
Qin Mu was also unstoppable, wielding his long spear with impenetrable skill, his spear thrusts like dragons, specifically targeting enemy generals.
However, although the Qin soldiers were brave, the Northern Yan army was simply too numerous.
Seventy thousand versus two hundred thousand, a huge difference.
Even though Qin Ye could take on a hundred or even a thousand men, there was still a constant stream of people to fill his place.
The battle lines were constantly being compressed, and casualties began to increase.
"Fourth Brother, this can't go on. Our army is suffering heavy casualties."
Qin Mu knocked away several Northern Yan soldiers who rushed at him, and stood back to back with Qin Ye: "I'll rush over and cut off their military flag first."
"no."
Although the crossbows of Northern Yan were not as powerful as the composite bows of Great Qin, they had the advantage of sheer numbers. If Qin Mu were to go there like that, he would probably be riddled with tens of thousands of arrows before he even reached his destination.
Qin Ye glanced at Huyan Zheng, who was sitting on a chariot drawn by eight horses, and a flash of intense killing intent appeared in his eyes.
"Instead of risking the loss of the military flag, it's better to just kill the culprit!"
This proposal is even more insane and dangerous than the one before.
Trying to charge behind the dark, dense army and kill Huyan Zheng would be tantamount to... courting death.
"Then let me go."
Qin Mu spoke very quickly: "You are the Crown Prince of Qin, you must not take any risks. Your fourth sister-in-law is pregnant and waiting for you to return!"
After saying that, without giving Qin Ye a chance to respond, he charged into the heart of the enemy army all by himself.
"return!"
Qin Ye called out urgently from behind, "Fifth Brother!"
He was about to give chase, but the Northern Yan soldiers kept attacking from all sides, leaving him unable to break free.
Qin Mu exuded a murderous aura, leaving corpses strewn everywhere he went.
But soon, he was also stabbed several times and his strength gradually gave out.
Just as the battle reached a stalemate and became fierce, suddenly, a deafening roar came from afar.
A massive body charged swiftly into the battlefield from the city gate.
With a sweep of its claws, several Northern Yan soldiers were sent flying; its gaping maw could tear enemies apart.
Its ferocity instantly caused panic among the Northern Yan army.
"Look, what's that?"
"Why is it only attacking our Northern Yan soldiers?"
"Is...this a tiger?"
"It doesn't look like it. I've never seen such a beast before. Everyone be careful!"
The battlefield quickly descended into chaos.
"It's that strange beast that's with the Crown Princess!"
In the Qin army, Qin Ye's men quickly recognized Xiao Yi, which immediately boosted their morale.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
At the same time, a slender yet spirited figure quietly appeared on the high city tower along the city wall.
Yun Si was travel-worn, her hair disheveled by the wind, and her face pale from the journey, but her eyes shone with a cold, sharp light.
Looking down at the fierce battle below, at the figure fighting bloodily amidst the thousands of soldiers, she felt no fear, only boundless rage and determination.
Huyan Zheng!
That damn bastard!
Yun Si quickly put down her bag and took out the specially made parts inside.
Her hands moved so fast they were almost blurry; in just a few moments, a modified compound bow was assembled in her hands.
This crossbow can hold ten short arrows at a time, and its sides are covered with densely packed silver needle firing holes.
She stood on the city wall, the cold wind making her clothes flutter, and her slender figure appeared incredibly tall against the backdrop of the raging flames.
Raise your bow and crossbow and calmly aim at the densest part of the enemy forces.
Pull the trigger.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
Ten short arrows shot out like venomous snakes, instantly disappearing into the enemy ranks!
Immediately afterwards, she flipped her wrist, and the mechanisms on both sides of the crossbow popped open, unleashing a torrent of hundreds of silver needles coated with deadly poison.
Nearly a hundred Northern Yan soldiers below fell like stalks of wheat being cut down.
He died on the spot before he could even scream.
This terrifying scene not only stunned the Northern Yan army, but also horrified the Qin soldiers.
What a terrifying weapon this is!
Yun Si remained unfazed, her movements fluid and effortless as she immediately reloaded the arrows and poisoned needles.
Each time the trigger is pulled, a section of the area is cleared.
Her shooting was incredibly accurate, targeting the enemy's most intense attacks and the areas that posed the greatest threat to her side, greatly relieving the pressure on the Qin army below the city.
Her appearance was even more terrifying than Xiao Yi and the war god Qin Ye.
"That woman... is she the Crown Princess of Qin?"
Huyan Zheng showed Yun Si's portrait to the Northern Yan soldiers. Some of the soldiers recognized her and cried out in terror.
Hu Yanzheng, who was in the midst of the fierce battle, suddenly looked up and saw the figure on the city wall who looked like a female war goddess. He was stunned at first, and then his eyes burst out with extremely crazy and excited light.
"Yun Si, you've finally arrived!"
"Did you come to see how I, the Emperor, conquered this empire for you?"
When Hu Yanzheng saw the terrifying crossbow in Yun Si's hand and the large number of Northern Yan soldiers falling, his face turned grim again.
There was a faint, almost imperceptible worry mixed in with it.
She was standing so high up, and with arrows flying everywhere, it was very dangerous.
Huyan Zheng hurriedly roared, "No arrows allowed! No arrows are allowed to be fired at the city walls! Don't hurt her!"
Northern Yan army: "..."
Is the king possessed?
Who is hurting whom now?
On the other side, Qin Ye also saw Yun Si on the city wall.
His heart jumped into his throat.
Horror, worry, anger... a whole host of emotions surged forth.
How did she end up here?
This place is too dangerous!
Qin Ye could no longer care about fighting. He unleashed his full inner strength, shaking off the surrounding enemy troops. His figure soared up like a swan, and in a few leaps, he flew up to the city wall, protecting Yun Si behind him.
Her voice was hoarse with lingering fear: "Why are you here? What nonsense!"
"Are you injured?"
Looking at his blood-stained armor and anxious eyes, Yun Si felt a pang of sadness: "Where are you injured? How serious is it?"
"It's nothing, just a superficial injury. You should get out of here!"
"Qin Ye, this battle started because of me, and I must face it together with you."
When Hu Yanzheng saw Qin Ye protecting Yun Si behind him from below the city wall, and the two of them were very intimate, he was immediately consumed by jealousy.
Fearing that continuing the assault would accidentally injure Yun Si, he could only grit his teeth and roar, "Sound the retreat!"
The urgent sound of the retreat signal rang out, and the Northern Yan army retreated like a receding tide.
The first fierce battle of attack and defense ended temporarily in such an unexpected way because of Yun Si's appearance.
A brief period of calm returned to the city walls, leaving only a mess and an overwhelming stench of blood.
"You're pregnant, do you even know that?"
Qin Ye held Yun Si's hand tightly, looking at her pale yet resolute face, feeling both angry and heartbroken.
In the end, all his words turned into a heavy sigh, and he held her tightly in his arms.
Meanwhile, far below the city, Hu Yanzheng looked back at the two embracing on the city wall, his eyes filled with a sense of certainty and a murderous intent to destroy everything.
If you didn't cherish it back then, why are you unwilling to let go now?
Yun Si.
"Qin Ye can't give you what you want, so you'd better come to me. Here, no one will dare to give you a hard time, and I'll kill anyone who dares to make you suffer the slightest grievance!"
Hu Yanzheng spoke in a low, fierce voice, and only left the battlefield unwillingly after finishing his sentence.
That night.
The general's mansion, which was temporarily requisitioned along the city, was brightly lit.
Yun Si cleaned and bandaged the wounds on Qin Ye's shoulders and back with gentle and focused movements, her fingertips, coated with slightly cool ointment, stroking his taut muscles.
Qin Ye was shirtless, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, old wounds and new scars intertwined. Although the new cuts were not fatal, they still made Yun Si feel heartbroken.
"Fortunately, they are all superficial injuries."
Yun Si breathed a sigh of relief and carefully wrapped the gauze around her neck.
Qin Ye turned around, took her hand, and looked at her intently: "You must never take such a risk again. If anything happens to you, I..."
Yun Si interrupted him, gently covering his mouth with her hand, her eyes resolute: "I will be fine, and our child will be fine too. Qin Ye, I am not a weak woman who needs you to protect me under your wings all the time. Believe me, I can fight alongside you, and we will advance and retreat together as husband and wife."
Looking at the light in her eyes, Qin Ye finally sighed helplessly, pulled her into his arms, and rested his chin on the top of her head: "I am honored to have such a wife."
After treating Qin Ye's wounds, Yun Si went to see Qin Mu, whose injuries were more serious, and the other injured people.
Qin Mu lost too much blood and fell into a coma, leaving the military doctor at a loss.
Yun Si took out her specially prepared wound medicine and internal pills, and after Qin Mu used them, his breathing became much more stable, and his complexion gradually regained some color.
By the time I finished all of this, it was already late at night.
Back in their temporary bedroom, only Yun Si and Qin Ye remained.
The worries, longing, and lingering fears of the past few days have all transformed into intense affection.
Qin Ye cupped Yun Si's face in his hands, gazing at her with burning intensity, as if trying to etch her into the depths of his soul.
The next moment, he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips.
This kiss carried the smell of gunpowder, the scent of blood, and an overbearing and possessive desire.
He pried open her teeth, his tongue plunging deep inside, entwining and sucking, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
"Qin Ye, your injury..."
Yun Si dared not touch him, so she closed her eyes and let him kiss her.
During their separation, her longing and anxiety were no less than his.
Qin Ye ignored everything and kissed them until they were both a little out of breath.
He pressed his forehead against hers, his voice hoarse: "Yun Si... I miss you so much."
"I miss you as well."
Yun Si leaned against him, calming her breathing: "I originally went to Xiangcheng first, thinking that I would meet up with you and then come to the border together, but I was a step too late."
She recounted the events that occurred in the capital: A-Wu's disappearance, Consort Yu's death, and the Empress's and Jiang Wanning's assassination attempt.
In addition, Jiang Wanning already knew that it was he who went to the Prime Minister's residence to kidnap her and throw her into the bandits' den, and she told Qin Ye all of this.
Qin Ye's eyes darkened and turned cold after hearing this.
"The Jiang family, the Empress... they have brought this upon themselves. Once this matter is settled, I will uproot them completely."
He tightened his grip and looked at Yun Si: "As for Jiang Wanning, anyone who wants to hurt you should pay the price. I'm just returning to her what she did to you."
Yun Si nodded and said nothing more.
She then asked, "What do you plan to do about Huyan Zheng? His continued retreat is not a solution."
Qin Ye's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
“He won’t let this go. The best way is to make him disappear forever. I already have a plan, so you don’t need to worry.”
He planned to lead his men in a night raid on the enemy camp and take his head.
"You're planning a night raid?"
Yun Si saw through his plan at a glance: "I'll go with you. My poison and crossbow bolts can help."
"no!"
Qin Ye flatly refused, "It's too dangerous. You stay in the city and wait for my news."
Seeing that Yun Si was still insisting, Qin Ye softened his tone and gently stroked her lower abdomen: "Listen to me, for the sake of the child and for my sake, stay in a safe place. Trust me, I can handle it."
Looking into his determined eyes, Yun Si finally nodded in relent.
The days of travel and the tension on the city wall had indeed left her feeling extremely exhausted.
Qin Ye pulled her down to lie on the bed and said softly, "Sleep, I'll stay with you."
Perhaps because Qin Ye was right beside her, or perhaps because her body had truly reached its limit, Yun Si quickly fell into a deep sleep.
However, shortly after she fell asleep, her body underwent another strange change.
That faint, almost transparent aura once again circulated around her.
The blood vessels under the skin become more visible, radiating vibrant vitality, indicating a deep state of self-repair and cultivation.
Qin Ye, who hadn't been sleeping soundly, immediately noticed something was wrong.
He sat up and, in the dim candlelight, stared in shock at the scene before him.
This was the scene he had witnessed that night.
He dared not disturb her, but held his breath and stood guard by her side, his eyes fixed on her without blinking.
Just then, a commotion and hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
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