This battle was fought differently from the previous ones.
The soldiers of Great Qi seemed to be deliberately toying with Great Yue, using the very methods Great Yue intended to use against Great Qi to counterattack them. Every move and strategy originated from Prince Rui's hand.
Also, due to Yu Fan's severe injury, Great Qi's attacks carried a hint of vengeance.
Caught in a pincer attack, more and more Great Yue soldiers in the center fell.
Song Shihuan stood on the city wall of Wu City, quietly watching Prince Rui's desperate last stand.
After a long while, Gu Zheng returned on horseback.
His tied-up hair had become disheveled, and it was impossible to tell whose blood stained his armor. Gu Zheng knelt on one knee, "Commandery Princess, the capital of Great Yue has been breached."
In an instant, crows cawed, circling above Wu City.
"Great Yue abandoned the capital's gates, recalling all their forces to defend the imperial palace," Gu Zheng's eyes flashed with a trace of mockery. "Prince Rui has also been abandoned."
They had captured Prince Rui alive, yet the tightly shut palace gates never opened for him.
In wars between nations, the fight is for every inch of land.
A single retreat means the battle is lost.
"A brilliant victory!"
Song Shihuan did not stint in her praise for the soldiers. Beneath her deliberately raised tone, the eyes of the soldiers below the wall shone brightly.
They showed no sign of exhaustion.
"Our vast Great Qi, our mighty army, has remained undefeated since the campaign began, conquering all the way to the Great Yue capital. On behalf of Great Qi, I thank you all for your valor."
"Gentlemen."
"Let us advance together into the capital of Great Yue."
As Song Shihuan's voice faded, thunderous cries of "Long live!" and "A thousand years!" soared to the clouds. Song Yu and Song Shihuan descended the watchtower and surged into the Great Yue capital with the soldiers, pulling down the Great Yue banner that had stood for centuries.
Song Shihuan stared intently at the Great Yue banner fallen on the ground.
She had been reborn, initially seeking revenge.
As her hatred gradually subsided, she began to seek the warmth of close family, something she had longed for but never obtained in her previous life.
And now, Song Shihuan felt she sought one more thing: protection.
As a commandery princess of Great Qi, supported by its people, she should protect the people of Great Qi, allowing them to live peaceful and stable lives.
If one day the people on Great Yue's land became her subjects, she would protect them just the same.
Perhaps... this was also her mission in this rebirth.
"Commandery Princess, Prince Rui has been brought forward."
A voice snapped Song Shihuan out of her reverie. Before she could speak, Song Yu delivered a fierce kick to Prince Rui.
This kick perfectly embodied the true teachings of Emperor Yuanyou.
Prince Rui glared furiously at Song Yu after being struck.
"Where did this beast crawl out from, daring to glare at this prince?" Song Yu looked down at Prince Rui. "So, you're the one who came up with that despicable plan of digging tunnels, right?"
"Are your Great Qi's tactics any less underhanded?"
"A righteous army employs the art of war's deception. How is that underhanded?"
Seeing Song Yu's righteous and confident manner, Prince Rui felt a surge of bloody sweetness rise in his throat.
"We wouldn't kill conscripted laborers after using them," Song Yu kicked him again, venting his anger. "In your eyes, the common people are like ants. Clearly, heaven does not wish someone like you to sit on the dragon throne."
"And you? An overachieving Crown Prince overshadowing the Emperor, can you sit on the dragon throne? Don't forget what happened to your Great Qi's former Crown Prince?"
Another kick.
Gu Zheng and several deputy generals watched wide-eyed. The moment it involved a prince, the style changed abruptly, but... it was very satisfying to watch.
Then Song Yu suddenly shook his head. "This prince might have a bit of a talent—specifically for severing people's imperial aura."
Song Ling was like that, and so was Prince Rui.
"Ahem—"
Song Shihuan, who had been silent until now, cleared her throat. Song Yu immediately fell silent and, with practiced ease, handed her a cup of water.
To moisten her throat first.
"I'm thinking of hanging Prince Rui up. When we attack the palace later, we can ask the Great Yue emperor whether he wants Prince Rui's life or the palace. What do you think?"
Gu Zheng was so excited he nearly rolled his eyes.
He had never fought such a satisfying battle!
Not long ago, Great Yue used Song Yanzheng to force Great Qi to retreat. And now, they could hang up Prince Rui to force Great Yue's surrender.
"Good, very, very good."
As soon as Li Laoba finished speaking, he fell to the ground with a thud. Just as everyone moved to check on him, he raised a hand. "Don't mind me. I'm just too thrilled. I need to lie down and calm down."
Otherwise, he felt like he was floating on clouds.
A quarter of an hour later, Gu Zheng and several deputy generals were all lying on the ground.
The corner of Song Shihuan's mouth twitched. Under Prince Rui's terrified gaze, she gave the order:
"Tie him up. We're going to fish for a big one."
...
Great Qi capital.
After Gu Mingliu gave birth, to help her recuperate, Mei Zhilin visited the Gu residence daily, transforming from an elegant physician with a neat beard into a disheveled old man.
But on this day, Mei Zhilin prescribed two months' worth of medicine all at once.
"Physician Mei, won't you be coming anymore?" Gu Mingzhu asked, tilting her head.
Mei Zhilin paused. "These old bones of mine can't run around anymore."
"You're lying to a child. Last night, you didn't get on the carriage, but whoosh—you ran several meters and jumped into it."
Gu Mingzhu's eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly. She walked to Mei Zhilin's side and tugged at his sleeve.
"Is it... someone at the front line severely injured?"
Mei Zhilin took a deep breath. This little ancestor was indeed sharp, too sharp... He didn't know how to answer.
In those few seconds of Mei Zhilin's hesitation, Gu Mingzhu understood.
She curtsied to Mei Zhilin. "I entrust this to you, Physician Mei."
Her father and brother-in-law were on the battlefield, as were her close friend and the Crown Prince.
She couldn't bear it if anything happened to any of them.
Seeing Gu Mingzhu like this, Mei Zhilin fumbled in his pouch for a while, pulled out a cube of sugar, and handed it to her.
"Second Young Lady Gu, has the Gu family's new little miss been given a pet name?"
"Not yet. Physician Mei, you have saved countless lives and accumulated immense merit. Would you like to give her one?" Gu Mingzhu said with a smile, the sugar cube in her mouth.
Seeing that Gu Mingzhu didn't seem suspicious, Mei Zhilin secretly sighed in relief.
"This old man presumes to suggest: how about 'Atuan'?"
"Atuan is good. Let's call her Atuan."
Without a moment's hesitation, Gu Mingzhu immediately agreed to the name Atuan.
After Mei Zhilin left, Gu Mingzhu ran all the way back to her own courtyard. Only after closing the door did her eyes turn red.
Atuan...
Most likely, it was her brother-in-law who was injured.
What about her elder sister?
Gu Mingzhu stayed alone like this for a long time. Not until almost dinnertime did she push open her door, a smile already back on her face.
"Elder sister! Freshly simmered chicken soup is ready!"
Gu Mingzhu's voice rang out. "Drink up quickly, so you can feed our beautiful, lovely little Atuan."
"Atuan?" Gu Mingliu paused.
"Isn't 'Atuan' a good pet name? I think it sounds wonderful."
Gu Mingliu simply thought Gu Mingzhu was being childish and smiled, tapping her sister's head playfully.
"Alright, we'll listen to her aunt. Let's call her Atuan."
