"Ah…" Xue Yun Lan roared.
Xue Yu smiled and leaned back. Behind him was the city wall. Like a kite cut from its string, he fell.
Feng Jiu chased after him. In the darkness, Xue Yu's figure was invisible, but that sword had indeed pierced his abdomen. Even the mightiest immortal could not have saved him.
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward and knocked out the nearly hysterical Xue Yun Lan. She said to Wen Nuan behind her, "I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on her."
Wen Nuan nodded, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."
Xue Zi Ning nodded and walked towards the city wall. Feng Jiu saw her approach and said in a muffled voice, "He fell."
"Let's go back!" Xue Zi Ning glanced, then turned to leave.
"Your Majesty…"
"If he can survive, it's his good fortune. If not, he deserves it!"
Xue Zi Ning had not walked a few steps when Xue Zi Ning rushed towards her. "Sister, are you alright? Zi Xuan is very worried about you."
She stepped forward and patted Xue Zi Xuan's shoulder. "Don't worry, sister is fine."
Xue Zi Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."
"Sister, what about the army stationed outside?"
Xue Zi Ning knew Xue Zi Xuan was referring to the hundred thousand troops sent by Xue Chang An.
"I will go and persuade them to surrender myself tomorrow."
Xue Zi Xuan was taken aback, "Sister, it's dangerous!"
"Don't you trust sister?"
Xue Zi Xuan felt like crying and laughing. "Sister, it's not that Zi Xuan doesn't trust you, but Zi Xuan is worried about you."
"Don't worry, I have it under control."
"Zi Xuan will accompany you tomorrow, you cannot refuse!" Xue Zi Xuan said directly, fearing she would go back on her word.
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Alright."
Without Xue Yu, the hundred thousand troops were a disorganized mess. "Deputy General Cheng, this situation is not sustainable. Our food supplies will not last more than a few days."
Deputy General Cheng's expression turned grim as he asked, "Has the letter sent to the capital received a reply from His Majesty?"
The soldier replied, "There are no orders from His Majesty yet, but it should be soon."
"Is there any news about Lord Xue Yu?" Deputy General Cheng asked again.
The soldier shook his head, "None. However, news from the northern border indicates that Lord Xue committed suicide."
Deputy General Cheng was stunned, "Committed suicide?"
The soldier nodded, "That's the news from Beijiang City."
Deputy General Cheng slammed his fist on the table and roared, "What is this!"
"Deputy General Cheng, what should we do?" asked other soldiers.
"Let me think." Deputy General Cheng slumped into his chair. Xue Yu was dead, there was no reply from the capital, and the food supplies were insufficient to last a few days.
He felt it was too difficult.
"Deputy General Cheng…" a soldier rushed in from outside.
"What's the rush?" Deputy General Cheng asked.
The soldier said nervously, "It's… it's a woman who claims to be His Majesty."
Deputy General Cheng was stunned. Just as he was about to reply, the curtain was lifted, and a young girl walked in.
The dress, the color of sky and water, was a familiar sight to Deputy General Cheng. It was the maiden who had suddenly appeared before the army yesterday, turning the tide, the maiden who could make Xue Yu kneel.
Yesterday, he was far away. Today, he was close, and he saw the maiden's appearance clearly.
Her peerlessly beautiful face had eyes as clear as the sky, deep and pure.
With every step she took, Deputy General Cheng felt a powerful force approaching, the surrounding space seemed to freeze.
Deputy General Cheng couldn't help but shiver. He wanted to look up at the maiden, but he couldn't. The oppressive force prevented him from meeting her gaze.
"The Cheng family is loyal and righteous. When their ancestor was in danger, Grand Tutor Cheng sacrificed himself to save the ancestor's life."
Deputy General Cheng trembled all over, "How do you know about the Grand Ancestor?"
"Because I am Xue Zi Ning. How could I not know about my ancestor?"
Deputy General Cheng's legs went weak, "How… how is that possible? Your Majesty… Your Majesty is dead."
"No, I have returned, General Cheng." Xue Zi Ning said.
Deputy General Cheng looked up. The maiden's eyes were clear and bright, reflecting his image.
"General Cheng, you may not remember me, but I remember you. One year, my father rewarded the generals of the army. You gave your spot to a soldier in your ranks, simply because that soldier died heroically on the battlefield. But because he was a common soldier, he did not receive the reward, and he had a sick old mother and crying children at home."
Deputy General Cheng trembled, "Are… are you truly His Majesty?"
"What do you think? Would anyone else remember that? That year, I was by my father's side. My father told me that the Cheng family was loyal and righteous, and steadfast in their loyalty to the royal family, and that I should trust the Cheng family implicitly from then on, because they possessed the decree from the Grand Ancestor to 'cleanse the side'."
Deputy General Cheng's eyes narrowed. Suddenly, he knelt down, "Your subordinate Cheng Shi pays respects to Your Majesty."
"General Cheng, please rise quickly." Xue Zi Ning stepped forward to help Deputy General Cheng up.
Deputy General Cheng shook his head, "Your subordinate is guilty, your subordinate…"
"I forgive your guilt!" Xue Zi Ning interrupted Deputy General Cheng.
Deputy General Cheng was stunned.
Xue Zi Ning continued, "The most crucial thing now is whether the army behind you will recognize me."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Most of these soldiers are brothers who have shared life and death with me. They will never betray Your Majesty."
Xue Zi Ning was overjoyed, "Good, you all rest here well. Tell me if you lack anything, and I will satisfy you."
Deputy General Cheng scratched his head like a rough man, "Your Majesty, the soldiers haven't had a proper meal with meat in a long time."
To save rations, they drank thin congee every day, and some soldiers suffered from diarrhea daily.
Deputy General Cheng felt he had let down the brothers who had followed him through thick and thin.
"Deputy General Cheng, someone has sent a lot of meat and grain!" a soldier's excited voice came from outside.
Deputy General Cheng looked at Xue Zi Ning, about to kneel gratefully, but was held by Xue Zi Ning with one hand, "This is what I should do. You are my people, and I must protect you."
Deputy General Cheng dared not let Xue Zi Ning help him. He quickly got up and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, please follow me."
Xue Zi Ning nodded and went out of the tent. Deputy General Cheng called for his trusted aide, "Go and gather everyone."
The confidant left.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Deputy General Cheng stood on a makeshift platform, with a young girl standing beside him.
Someone in the army was discussing, "What is the Deputy General doing?"
Soon, Deputy General Cheng spoke, "You are all brothers who have shared life and death with this general. I once said I would lead you to protect the country and earn merit. However, the current Empress is not a wise ruler. Now we are fighting ourselves. What is the meaning of this? Harming our own countrymen?"
The soldiers below echoed, "What the General says is right."
Deputy General Cheng continued, "My Cheng family has been loyal and righteous for generations, loyal to the nation. However, the current Empress has disappointed me. Fortunately, I have found the true Empress, who is by my side."
Deputy General Cheng suddenly knelt down and said to the maiden beside him, "Your subordinate is willing to follow Your Majesty, to shed blood and sweat."
"General Cheng, please rise quickly!" Xue Zi Ning helped Cheng Shi up.
She looked at the faces below and said slowly, "I am Xue Zi Ning, and I have returned."