"Impossible..."
Lang Qing looked at the man before him, one foot bundled up like a pig's trotter, and shook his head repeatedly. "Don't try to fool this general. Looking like this, how could you be a prince of Da Qi?"
If this were a prince of Da Qi, then it would be too ridiculous.
They, the Northern Di, would be a complete joke.
They had captured a Da Qi prince alive but mistakenly thought he was just a common soldier. They had been collectively deceived, ending up in this predicament.
"This is indeed our Prince Qi."
Though they were reluctant to admit it.
Hearing this, Lang Qing seemed to suffer a tremendous blow, his whole body swaying as if about to collapse.
"Your Northern Di has few soldiers left now. I imagine it will only take a few days for our Da Qi to round you all up," Prince Qi said fiercely, glaring at Lang Qing. "From then on, the Northern Di will cease to exist."
"Silence!"
"Why should this prince be silent? Not only that, but in the future, my fiefdom will likely encompass the Northern Di lands. The place you take such pride in will soon be mine. History will record you as a defeated general."
Watching Prince Qi's demeanor, Song Shihuan felt that no further torture was needed for Lang Qing; Prince Qi's words were torture enough.
"If you have any conscience left, send the signal for the remaining Northern Di soldiers to surrender. Only then can you protect your people."
Lang Qing looked up sharply at these words. "You want the Northern Di to surrender? In your dreams."
"Our mission as Northern Di people is to kill the people of Da Qi. As long as one of our soldiers lives, we will fight with all our might to kill your soldiers and your people."
Instantly, Lang Qing's head was separated from his body.
Prince Qi jumped in fright.
Even Gu Mingning was somewhat caught off guard, staring blankly at the empty scabbard at her waist.
Song Shihuan was holding Gu Mingning's sword, the blade still stained with Lang Qing's blood, faint steam rising from it in the cold air.
"Hang Lang Qing's head up."
"Ah Huan." Song Yu's voice suddenly rang out. He first took the sword from Song Shihuan's hand and handed it back to Gu Mingning. "Don't be angry."
Song Yu patted Song Shihuan's shoulder, calming the bristling young woman down, before turning his gaze back to the pool of crimson on the ground.
"By my command: all Northern Di soldiers are to be killed. No surrender is to be accepted."
"If any Northern Di civilians resist, they are also to be killed."
Gu Mingning accepted the order and left.
Song Shihuan seemed somewhat deflated, her cheeks puffed out as she squatted to the side.
"Are you angry?"
Song Yu pinched Song Shihuan's cheek.
"I know Father did that to protect my reputation, so you didn't let me give those orders."
She understood everything.
"Silly child, I am the Crown Prince of Da Qi. Those words should come from my mouth."
The karma should also fall upon him.
Song Shihuan simply sat on the ground, mimicking Gu Mingning and the soldiers in the army, chewing on a blade of foxtail grass.
"Father, did I fight well in this battle?"
Song Yu nodded without hesitation.
"Then will Master be satisfied?"
Last time, during the campaign against Da Yue, her master wasn't by her side.
But this time, she knew her master would be in the capital, following every command she gave.
"Master of Qing Shan will be very proud."
Song Yu finally said so.
On the vast northern plains, the princess in military attire bit down hard on the foxtail grass, a bold and unrestrained smile spreading across her face.
"After we defeat the Northern Di and return to the capital, Father, will you help me host a formal apprenticeship banquet? Invite all the aspiring talents from across the land, okay?"
"I want the whole world to know that the Master of Qing Shan is my teacher."
So much of what she knew now originated from her master.
She wanted the world to know of this legacy.
"Alright."
...
One month later, the last Northern Di soldier was pierced through the heart.
Faced with Da Qi's rare display of unwavering resolve, the Northern Di civilians could muster no will to resist, all bowing their heads in submission.
The people of the northern frontier crossed the former border for the first time.
This time, they were greeted not by fierce Northern Di warriors, but by the banners of Da Qi.
The northern frontier, which had endured centuries of raids, was finally at peace.
The army held a rare victory celebration, feasting on roasted lamb and beef, a stark contrast to the coarse bread and thin rice porridge of the past.
"Does this mean we won't have to fight anymore from now on?"
"Then what will we do?"
After a few rounds of drinks, the soldiers began to speak up one after another.
Hearing this, Gu Mingning looked at her father, only to find Gu Zheng looking at Song Shihuan.
Song Shihuan was staring absently at the fruit wine before her. After a long while, she slowly said, "Change this to goat's milk for me."
Her master had said she couldn't drink fruit wine until after her coming-of-age ceremony.
Gulping down the goat's milk, she looked at the soldiers beside her.
"His Majesty will surely make proper arrangements for everyone. Don't worry about that. You should first think about reuniting with your families."
At the mention of reunion, everyone's eyes lit up.
"Lord Yu should be the first among us to reunite with his family, right?"
"Yes, I'll head back soon."
Yu Fan wore a contented smile. Hearing this, the soldiers' laughter grew even louder.
Yu Fan was very restrained today, drinking only two cups of wine.
As the victory banquet drew to a close, Yu Fan left his seat to fetch Gu Mingliu and Tuan.
"It's improper that I haven't met them since marrying you."
Holding Tuan, Gu Mingliu felt somewhat apprehensive.
Hearing this, Yu Fan planted a kiss on Gu Mingliu's forehead. "My wife endured all this for my sake. My parents understand that in their hearts."
"My wife is beautiful as a flower and gentle and wise. They are happy for me that I married such a wife and will only treat you even better."
Yu Fan's words eased Gu Mingliu's heart a little. The family of three made their way toward a village.
The village under the night sky was not as quiet as before; children were playing and laughing on the paths outside.
With the victory over the Northern Di, the adults no longer insisted the children stay strictly indoors.
Suddenly, the children saw a tall, somewhat familiar man.
"It's Brother Fan! Brother Fan is back!"
"Go tell Uncle Yu and Aunt Yu!"
In less than half the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, heads were peeking out from every household in the village.
Yu Fan and Gu Mingliu stopped before a house and knocked on the door.
"Your unfilial son, Yu Fan."
"Your daughter-in-law, Gu Mingliu."
"We kowtow to Father and Mother."
Uncle Yu and Aunt Yu looked at the beautiful couple before them, their eyes reddening.
"Get up, please get up."
But Yu Fan did not rise. Instead, he looked up at Uncle Yu and Aunt Yu, his face already streaked with tears.
"Father, Mother, your son has not failed your expectations. On the battlefield, I slew over a hundred enemies and protected the people of Da Qi."
He had become the man he had always wanted to be.
Hearing this, Aunt Yu choked back a sob as she helped Gu Mingliu up.
"Good child, you've suffered."
They knew. They knew their son had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, and they knew their daughter-in-law had risked giving birth alone and endured her postnatal confinement in grief.
"Father, Mother, from now on, only good days lie ahead."
Gu Mingliu's heart settled, and she wiped the moisture from the corner of her eye.
