The slaughter continued from dark night until daybreak.
Standing on high ground looking out in the daylight, the carnage was horrifying to behold.
The troops of Prince Zhongshan, who had originally broken camp and retreated, had resumed their attack—no one would give up resistance when others raised their blades in frenzied slaughter.
Outside the city walls, corpses piled up—both soldiers and civilians.
Stepping over the mutilated remains, the Capital Camp troops charged toward the city. From the city walls, besides arrows flying like rain, civilian laborers also hurled down wood and stones. Compared to the troops protected by battlements, shields, and armor, these civilian laborers were like naked targets. Many had barely stood up to throw stones when they were shot dead by arrows from outside the city.
But they couldn’t not stand up, because if they retreated, they would be shot dead by arrows from inside the city.
Bodies continuously tumbled down below the walls.
“Your Majesty,” a general came galloping up. “Scouts report that more reinforcements for Prince Zhongshan have arrived.”
After speaking, the general glanced at the child sitting in front of Xie Yanfang. The little Emperor gripped his blade but was oblivious to his surroundings, his eyes wooden, not speaking—
“Divide troops to engage them,” Xie Yanfang said. “This city must be taken at any cost.”
Xie Yanfang’s words were His Majesty’s words, an imperial decree. The general responded affirmatively and was about to have the war drums signal the troop division when the sound of withdrawal horns came from the distance.
The ground rumbled—it was the reinforcements approaching from afar, once again blowing the withdrawal horns.
At the same time, withdrawal horns also sounded from within the city.
The general couldn’t help but be startled. Again? He involuntarily looked at Xie Yanfang.
Xie Yanfang acted as if he hadn’t heard, only saying: “Attack.”
This time he not only gave the order, he also spurred his horse forward with the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, come with me to personally assault the city. Your Majesty will capture Xiao Xun with your own hands.”
The general hastily moved to follow, but the next moment, mournful horns sounded again. This time it wasn’t withdrawal, but the removal of armor.
Removal of armor.
This wasn’t just retreat—it was surrender.
They were actually surrendering?
With the horn sounds, the noise of soldiers on the city walls throwing down weapons and armor landing clearly reached their ears.
This—if they surrendered, they couldn’t continue beating war drums and killing, could they?
The general stood dumbfounded. Xie Yanfang gazed at the troops and city walls so close at hand, gripping his reins tightly.
Along with the horns came rolling shouts.
“Your Majesty—Your Majesty—Prince Zhongshan’s heir is unruly and insubordinate, having caused great disaster—”
“Your Majesty—Prince Zhongshan failed to properly teach his son. He removes his princely crown and robes, tearfully pleading for clemency. He begs Your Majesty for redemption—”
……
……
Daylight brightened fully. In the capital, spring was in full bloom. The streets were bustling, but without the joy of previous spring days. Many of the people walking about were disheveled, dragging families along with worried expressions. Even beggars had increased in number.
“They’re all refugees.”
“Prince Zhongshan’s heir and the Capital troops have been fighting. Cities and villages have been reduced to ashes—it’s terrible.”
“Heavens, does that mean they’ll fight their way to the capital?”
These words made the people in wine shops and teahouses somewhat restless, but soon someone conveyed new information.
“Don’t worry, His Majesty went personally. Prince Zhongshan’s army was repelled twice and is cowering, not daring to come out.”
“I heard the situation seems unfavorable—that Prince Zhongshan’s side is retreating to advance, luring His Majesty step by step into a trap?”
“You’re really underestimating Third Master Xie. Would Third Master Xie be easily deceived?”
“This official isn’t underestimating Lord Xie—it’s that who knows how many troops Prince Zhongshan still has hidden—”
Amid the noisy arguments, troops galloped through the streets—postal soldiers. The people automatically made way, and those in wine shops and teahouses leaned out to look, nervous, anxious, yet hopeful—would this be good news?
This time the postal soldiers didn’t leave the people guessing. Holding up the dispatch in hand, they shouted loudly: “The Empress has achieved great victory—Prince Zhongshan has submitted a plea for clemency and surrendered his princely seal—”
The street fell quiet for a moment, then erupted. Prince Zhongshan had confessed! There would be no more fighting!
Some applauded, some laughed loudly, others wept.
“His Majesty is mighty!”
“Lord Xie’s action was indeed formidable. Once His Majesty arrived at the front, he was unstoppable.”
“Although His Majesty is young, his dragon authority cannot be ignored. The late Emperor can rest in peace.”
But amid the joyful confusion, some people came to their senses, remembering what had just been said—
“Wait, didn’t they say it was the Empress’s great victory?”
The Empress.
Previously, a group of women in the city had praised the Empress’s martial prowess daily, until the Chu Lan family fled and their voices had diminished somewhat.
But when people in wine shops and teahouses denounced Chu Lan’s crimes and mentioned the Empress—there was no helping it, after all Chu Lan was the Empress’s uncle, how could family be separated—there were still a few young women who rushed out declaring, “You just wait, things are definitely not like that.”