After a rain, the white lotuses in the pool bloomed, their leaves rolling with crystal water droplets, and the delicate white petals swayed slightly in the summer breeze. The blue water, smooth as silk and reflective like a mirror, shimmered. Suddenly, a red carp leapt from the water. Its lips snapped shut, and Jiaqi could not tell whether it was hunting some lonely insect on the water or snapping at the staggered lotus flowers. With a splash, it fell back into the pool, sending ripples spreading outward.
By the pool, ten thousand green bamboos hid a few small monasteries. In front of one, a bamboo corridor led to an exquisite water pavilion. The lotuses here bloomed the fullest, densely clustered, their turquoise leaves almost covering the water surface.
The water pavilion opened onto the pond on three sides. It was the height of summer, and long windows were propped open. The breeze blew in, carrying the fragrance of lotus dew and rustling the pages and letterheads on the table, scattering a few sheets of rice paper onto the floor.
Taozi entered, carrying a bowl of soup and medicine. Seeing the scattered papers, she set the medicine down on the table and began gathering them. She noticed Ah Yingsong sitting by the window, her hair tied in a simple bun, wearing only a plain, thin silk shirt. She stared absentmindedly at the lotus outside. The wind teased her hair and fluttered the sleeves of her shirt. She had lost much weight; her waist was now slender, almost fragile, like the white lotus outside the window, as if a gust of wind could carry her away.
Taozi sighed and approached with the soup. "Captain, take your medicine."
Ah Yingsong described herself lazily, without turning her head: "Put it there. I’ll eat it later."
Taozi persuaded her gently, "It’s not hot anymore. Drink it now. And after you finish, can you have a pine nut candy?"
"Where did the pine nut candy come from?" Ah Yingsong asked.
Taozi almost choked, then whispered, "It was sent by the King of Qin."
The Heishuitan Dingsheng Army had been defeated. Cui Gongzi had fallen into the water, his fate unknown. Ah Ying had been seriously injured and was brought back by Li Ni, only waking after several treatments. Li Ni placed her in the Taiqing Palace outside Luoyang City to recuperate. The peach, caught in the chaos at Black Water Beach, had also been injured but was rescued by the Zhenxi Army and sent to Taiqing Palace.
Subsequently, Li Ni defeated Duan Yan outside Luoyang City, leading the Zhenxi Army to capture the eastern capital. Sun Jing sent generals repeatedly and even led a large army personally to besiege Luoyang, but was defeated and fled to Xichangjing, unable to challenge Li Ni further.
Li Ping, far away in Caizhou, rejoiced and ordered Li Ni to lead a large army back to Caizhou to meet the emperor. Li Ni was too indifferent to care. Li Mao, however, could not restrain himself and went straight to Luoyang with Li Jun and Li Lao. Although Li Mao had already declared himself emperor, he considered things in Caizhou hasty and sloppy. Returning to Luoyang, he solemnly held the enthronement ceremony, conferred titles to meritorious ministers, and named his eldest son Li Jun as King of Xin, and the second son Li Lai as King of Qi.
Li Ni, however, had not yet been crowned. Rumors spread that he had performed extraordinary feats and that the emperor intended to name him King of Qin. Since Emperor Taizong’s time, the title of King of Qin was highly prestigious; no one had held it for a hundred years. Now, Li Ni had turned the tide and supported the state, seemingly deserving the title. The rumors intensified, even reaching Li Ni himself. Though he hoped to decline, he realized ignoring the matter was inappropriate.
Gossip ran rampant among officials: some claimed he wanted only peace and would be content with the title of King An; others, misunderstanding his intentions, whispered that he sought to abolish the emperor and claim the throne. Emperor Li Ping, suspicious of these rumors, formally decreed Li Ni as King of Qin.
The court erupted with discussion. Civil and military officials argued over whether the title was too precious. Li Ni had clearly declined, putting him in a dilemma: obey the order and appear arrogant, or resist and risk appearing rebellious.
The generals of the Zhenxi Army were outraged. Seventeen Lang had won consecutive battles; Sun Jing had fled. The army’s accomplishments were undeniable, yet now there was debate over their merits. Some accused the court of deliberately erasing the generals’ contributions.
Therefore, people’s hearts fluctuate.
Li Ni, the commander on the battlefield, made a decisive choice and immediately accepted the imperial decree to confer him the title of King of Qin. From that moment, the Central Army addressed him as His Highness the King of Qin.
The war outside the city and the debates at court over Li Ni’s title were all unknown to Ah Ying and Taozi, who had been resting in Taiqing Palace for over a month. Summer was long, and the palace, planted with bamboo and fragrant with lotus dew, felt like a secluded fairyland outside the world.
Taozi’s injuries had healed, but Ah Ying’s condition was still unstable. Her appetite was poor, her body wasted from prolonged recovery, and Taozi’s worry grew every time she checked her pulse.
When she saw the pine nut candy sent by Li Ni, Ah Ying dismissed it: “I don’t eat it. Throw it away.”
Taozi had no choice but to speak gently: “The King of Qin is attentive. He sent many people to search downstream for the young master. They searched for dozens of miles, and only recently, after a month, did they give up when no trace was found.”
Ah Ying sneered, “He worries. I fear the young master is not yet dead.”
“You’ll quarrel with him later,” Taozi said with a sigh. “Take the medicine first.”
With Sun Jing defeated and returning to Xichangjing, the Zhenxi Army reclaimed the Hexi prefectures. Amid the complex military affairs, Li Ni managed to spare a few hours every two days to visit Taiqing Palace. Today was one of those days. Though he always ate behind closed doors, he never failed to come.
Observing her silence, Taozi reminded her, “Taiqing Palace is tightly secured, surrounded by the elite of the Zhenxi Army. The governor in Huaizuo doesn’t know your situation, so he’s unaware of your condition. That’s why Li Ni keeps you isolated here.”
Ah Ying finally nodded. Taozi hurriedly handed her the soup, which she drank in one gulp. The bitterness filled her throat like swallowing coptis. Another pine nut candy was offered; she tossed it casually into the lotus pond outside the window, gazed at the flowers, and said, “You really need to figure out a way to get out.”
Meanwhile, Li Ni faced trouble of his own. Song Shu, Zhonglang General sent by Cui Yi, arrived in Luoyang a second time, formally greeting the King of Qin, yet requesting the remaining soldiers of the defeated Dingsheng Army at Heishuitan.
“Haven’t you already sent all the grain, supplies, and horses to Shouzhou?” Li Ni asked.
Song Shu, a trusted strategist of Cui Yi, bowed respectfully and presented a roster of soldiers from the battle at Black Water Beach, marked carefully: cinnabar for the dead, ink circles for those returned, crossed out for missing, and blank for those yet to be accounted for. Cui Lin’s name was marked in cinnabar. Peach and Captain He’s names were still blank.
Song Shu’s tone was solemn: “Captain He is the young master’s confidant. That night, dozens of Dingsheng soldiers fell into the river, and the governor is desperate to know the truth. He hopes Your Highness will sympathize with the grief of a parent who has lost a son.”
Pei Yuan comforted Song Shu, assuring him that Captain He had recovered and left on his own, though his whereabouts remained unknown. Song Shu agreed to stay in Luoyang until further notice.
Pei Yuan then gently reminded Li Ni, “Considering Cui Yi has lost his only son, returning Captain He would avoid unnecessary anger. You favor the He family, but under the current counter-rebellion mission, we must think practically. In the future, if you marry, it will be arranged by the emperor. Even as a concubine, a maid of the Cui family may not remain at your side. Perhaps it is best to return her now.”
Li Ni remained silent, finally replying, “It’s too early to speak of marriage.” Pei Yuan could only sigh, feeling the weight of both worry and duty.
As dusk fell, Li Ni completed his tasks, donned neat clothes, and went to the stables. Untying Xiao Hei’s reins, he saw Xie Chang’er approaching.
“Seventeen Lang, are you going to Taiqing Palace?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Then may I go with you?” she added eagerly.
He nodded again. Overjoyed, Xie Chang’er led a horse, and the two galloped out of the city together. The twilight rose, the summer wind blowing their sleeves like sails, cool and refreshing.
Li Ni asked, “What did Taozi say to you?”
Xie Chang’er frowned in frustration: “She scolded me for having no conscience, for not saving when I saw death. I explained that even on the mountain, I saw their army was in danger, yet I could not act without authorization. The Zhenxi Army’s orders must be followed. She scolded me for half an hour, every sentence sharp and unique. Then she said she’d ignore me for the rest of my life.”
Li Ni laughed briefly, the smile fleeting. In his heart, he thought: Taozi scolded Xie Chang’er for half an hour, but Ah Ying hasn’t said a word to me. She didn’t want to see me even after waking. So he sent her to Taiqing Palace to recuperate in seclusion, hoping she would remember the care he took, yet it failed—she refused to eat, her injuries lingered, and she avoided him entirely.
Xie Chang’er saw his daze and said earnestly, “Seventeen Lang, if Taozi really ignores me, I’ll be sadder than dead. I must explain to her. If she’s angry, it’s fine to strike me twice, but to ignore me forever… I can’t bear it.”
Li Ni said gently, “She will not ignore you for the rest of her life.” He offered reassurance, adding, “Miss Peach is soft-hearted. You asked her to stab you twice to vent her anger, and now… she is no longer angry.”
Xie Chang’er nodded. “I think so too. She is soft-hearted and kind. She will never truly be angry.” His voice carried concern. “Once she calms down, I’ll persuade her about Colonel He. He refuses medicine, eats little, and his health worsens. This injury will never heal otherwise.” His brows knitted tightly at the thought, worry written across his face.
Li Ni remained silent, and after a moment, Xie Chang’er realized he might have spoken too bluntly. He tried to comfort him, awkwardly adding, “Seventeen Lang, you visit Taiqing Palace often. Colonel He is improving, slowly but steadily. And I will persuade Peach… really.”
Li Ni only smiled faintly.
Arriving at Taiqing Palace, Xie Chang’er dashed toward the kitchen for the peaches, and Li Ni hesitated for a moment. He chose the bamboo forest path, following it to the edge of the pond. Moonlight revealed a delicate mist over the water, frogs croaking loudly. Walking along the bamboo corridor toward the water pavilion, he noticed a yellow glow through the door cracks and paused.
The wind rustled the bamboo leaves; the frogs fell silent. The lotus rippled in the breeze, forming a green canopy above the water. Li Ni leapt lightly onto the eaves, hung the golden hook, and peered through the window. Inside, red candles flickered on the table. Ah Ying and Yi lay on a bamboo couch, their faces turned inward, her back visible through the window gap. She wore a plain silk shirt, thinner than three days ago, her skin as fair as snow. She seemed like a fleeting wisp of winter beneath the bamboo.
Unable to bear the sight, he descended silently and pushed open the door, approaching the bamboo couch carefully. She was asleep, lightly tossing and turning, troubled in her dreams. Her breathing became rapid, her brows furrowed, and she murmured faintly, calling, “Seventeen Lang.”
Li Ni stepped forward and held her gently. “Ah Ying… I’m here.”
She woke slowly, still dazed, her eyes slightly unfocused. Leaning on his arm, light as a bird, she whispered, “Where have you been?”
He gathered her into his arms and patted her back gently. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here.”
He noticed a slight dampness on her sleeves and wondered if she had cried. She was someone who never cried, yet her injuries had been so severe that even when the doctor removed the arrow from her arm, she had not shed a single tear. His chest ached, a cold weight settling in as he realized the depth of her pain.
Finally, Ah Ying pushed him away, turning to face the couch. Li Ni sighed and leaned over her shoulder. “Ah Ying… don’t be angry anymore.”
She replied coldly, “Let go.” Her voice was like jade, cutting and clear.
He smiled faintly. “Ah Ying… will you talk to me?” She refused to meet his gaze, and with slender fingers, she flicked thin needles at him. He caught them with ease, her moves light but precise despite weakness. The two exchanged a careful, tense dance, moving across the couch, rolling together, her anger and exhaustion evident in every motion.
At last, she glared at him, teary-eyed, fists trembling. He sighed, dejected. “Ah Ying… I’ll leave. You can rest.”
After he stepped away, she lifted her head, seeing the burned-out candles and the faint glow reflecting like dew on the lotus leaves outside. She let out a quiet sigh, placing her chin on her lap, lost in thought.
From then on, Li Ni sent flowers daily—jasmine, tuberose, wildflowers—each handpicked, fragrant and real. Peaches would throw them away, but each gesture reminded her of him. Eventually, she asked Xie Chang’er to persuade Li Ni to fetch medicine for her.
“He knows your injury is serious, Captain. The King of Qin agreed,” Taozi said. “I went to several pharmacies secretly, as the governor sent someone to Luoyang. Song Langjiang refuses to leave the city, forcing Li Ni’s hand.”
Ah Ying considered the situation carefully. “We cannot rush. To trick him into lowering his vigilance, we must proceed slowly. Song Shu remains in the city; Li Ni is cautious. Any misstep, and our plan fails.”
Pei Yuan, relieved when Song Shu departed, joked to Lao Bao about Li Ni’s devotion: “Seventeen Lang never lets go of Colonel He. Why?”
Lao Bao chewed on roasted mutton, shaking his head. “Because there’s someone he can’t afford to let go of. Even thousands of troops can’t move him the way a woman can.”
Meanwhile, Li Ni worked with care. Taozi explained that Ah Ying favored fish soup, and Li Ni personally fetched fresh fish for her, delivering them alive. He refused credit, but Taozi smiled knowingly: “Don’t think I’m helping you… it’s just to make her comfortable.”
Li Ni nodded solemnly, “I understand.”
Later, under the bamboo shade, Ah Ying rested on a couch, fingers loosening the scroll in her hand. A breeze stirred, bamboo leaves drifting down. A single bamboo dragonfly landed on her sleeve, then another, then countless more, spinning gently to the ground.
She looked up to see Li Ni, spinning bamboo dragonflies into the air, letting them fall like a gentle rain. She lay down again, exhausted but entranced by the quiet beauty of the scene.
Li Ni sat beside her. “Will you ignore me forever?”
She replied coldly, “His Highness the King of Qin worries too much. My joys and sorrows are insignificant. Others deserve His attention more than I do.”
He frowned. “You still won’t call me Seventeen Lang?”
She didn’t answer. Rising to leave, Li Ni grabbed her sleeve. She pulled, but the two remained locked in a silent struggle. Finally, she stopped, sitting back down with her back to him.
He carefully observed her long-healed arm. The wound had scabbed, revealing tender pink skin. Though unscarred, the redness broke his heart. “Does it hurt?” he asked softly, unable to hide his concern.
She remained silent, her mind replaying the battle on the riverbank that night—the clustered flames, the enemy figures fading into smoke. A deep sorrow filled her heart. She could not tell whether she resented him for standing by, or herself for failing to save the young master.
After a moment, she heard him whisper, soft and filled with regret: “Ah Ying… I was wrong. I should have led the men down earlier. You wouldn’t have been injured.”
She turned her head sharply. “I can’t ask for Your Highness to worry over me. Even if you had intervened, you ultimately saved my life. I… I just don’t know what to do.”
He smiled bitterly. “Ah Ying… hearing you say that… it makes me sad.”
She nodded quietly. “I am nothing compared to Your Highness. You understand everything… how could I be sad?”
Her thoughts drifted to the young master. He had broken the covenant, yet his death was no guilt of his own. Her Highness had been careful, calculating, letting the outcome unfold naturally. If Yan Lu won, the young master would have perished; if defeated, her Highness could have struck him down. Her deep eyes, meeting his, glinted with accusation. “You deliberately made that long arrow… only you could shoot so precisely from such a distance. You had thought it all out. You intended to take the young master’s life.”
He sighed, wanting to explain. Those special arrows were originally meant for Sparrow and Rat Valley, but he had thought she was clever enough to understand their purpose. Her words now were just sharp, deliberate anger. He asked quietly, “Ah Ying… is it because of your son that you hate me so?”
She did not hesitate. “Yes.” Her voice was calm but weighted with guilt. “I grew up with the young master. He saved my life. Without him… there would be no me.” Tears threatened her eyes as her voice trembled. “The young master treated me like a mountain… but you… you…” She turned her face away, unable to continue.
He finally asked, softly, “That night, I asked if you would marry me, but you declined. Was it because of him?”
She remained silent, unwilling to clarify the misunderstanding. After a long pause, she whispered, “Yes.”
A lump rose in his throat. “He has always cared for you, and you have always known it.”
She nodded, calm as ever. “Yes.”
A sour twist of pain stirred in his heart. “Ah Ying… so that is why you are so angry.”
“You cannot know… my son and I grew up together,” her voice sank, low and heavy.
The memory of that night lingered—the young master gravely injured, thrown into the river, her hope flickering faintly. Days passed, but whether by Li Ni’s men or the Dingsheng Army’s desperate search, no trace of him was ever found. Summer floods had swept away the remnants of battle. The old rivermen warned that survival was nearly impossible; even bodies that floated downstream were unrecognizable and hastily buried. She knew… the young master likely would not survive. Her heart ached.
“When I was five or six, I was brought to the young master. Soon after, he was poisoned by Jie Shuoren… a potent poison. My eyes witnessed him wither from vitality to frailty, vomiting blood. The governor sought all doctors, all rare remedies, barely saving him. But since then, his health never recovered. Every autumn and winter, illness would strike; the pain was unbearable. He fought it with medicine. And… if not for me, he would never have been poisoned. If not for my greed… the young master would have remained strong, safe… but I—this is my life’s sin.” Her voice faltered, trembling. “The young master never blamed me. He always comforted me. Jie Shuo intended to poison Cui Yi’s son… not me, a mere maid… yet I…”
Her head bowed. “Later, when he grew older, the military governor trained him in riding and archery. The young master worked relentlessly, despite his weak body. He vomited blood from exhaustion. Even the governor urged him to stop, but he persisted. ‘I am Cui Yi’s son. The world is watching. I cannot disgrace my father,’ he said. He lived so hard, and no one knew… only I did.”
Her voice cracked, drifting like bamboo leaves in the wind. “The young master means everything to me. Without him… there is no Ah Ying. If Your Highness asks me to treat him as an ordinary person, or to forget his death… it is impossible. You ask if I hate you because of the young master’s death… yes. I hate you because of him.”
He struggled, frustrated. “Ah Ying… do you no longer like me?”
She froze.
He pressed on, firm and unwavering. “Even if you claim you do not, I will still like you. I will never believe you dislike me. Don’t lie to yourself… don’t lie to me. People cannot deceive themselves. The first time I saw you, you kicked me into a well… I thought, fierce and cunning. Later, I realized… I hesitated in my heart. I didn’t know why.”
Her lips moved, wanting to speak, but she held back.
“That day, in Taiqing Palace, I lost a bet to you, but I found something greater. I realized… you like me too. From that moment, I knew that no matter what comes, I cannot dislike you, and you will not stop liking me. Ah Ying… no matter your station, even a little maid, I like you. Even if you grew up with another’s childhood sweetheart, I still like you. You cannot lie to me, for I know you will always like me… as I like you.”
She could not deny it. What he said was true. She could not lie to herself, nor to him. He understood her… as she understood him.
The wind stirred, drifting bamboo leaves across the ground, scattering bamboo dragonflies.
He smiled softly. “Ah Ying… when I was young, my wet nurse told me that if I made a wish and released a bamboo dragonfly, the wish would come true.”
He looked at the dragonflies, some rolling into the moss, some drifting to rock edges, while others hovered, sporadic and fleeting, scattered like little wishes across the ground.
"At that time, I only wanted my mother," he said, voice heavy with melancholy. "Everyone else had their mother, but I didn’t. So I carved several bamboo dragonflies, climbed the wall, and placed them one by one. But when I finished, I realized the wet nurse had been coaxing me. That wish… it was useless, no matter how many dragonflies I set down."
She silently looked at the bamboo dragonflies scattered across the ground. She understood in her heart what he was saying. He had so many regrets as a child… so why shouldn’t she?
"In my spare time recently, I’ve carved these bamboo dragonflies," he continued, his voice steady yet soft. "People say that if you do something foolish once, you won’t do it again. But for you… no matter how foolish, I am still willing to do it. Ah Ying, these dragonflies… they represent my wish. My wish isn’t for you to forgive me, but for you to stop punishing yourself.
"You clearly like me in your heart, so when the young master died, you were so sad. If you really liked him, you would have stabbed me to death with a sword. But you didn’t. You’re guilty and sad because of your feelings for me, not because of him. You resent yourself for liking me."
Her body trembled slightly, as if struck. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Pity and love are different, Ah Ying. You don’t have to pity him—you have to admire and love him, which is the right thing for you."
She looked away hastily, afraid to meet his eyes. Her heart was a storm of emotions, yet all she could hear was his calm voice: "You once told me, 'Those who achieve great things will be greatly repented.' I made a choice you disagreed with, and you hated me for it. I hesitated, I didn’t immediately save Cui Gongzi… because I hated him for what he did to Pei Xian, and for what he did to Pei Hui, my brother in arms. Do I regret it? I honestly don’t know. But I am certain of this, Ah Ying: even if I had done nothing, even if you hated me, you would still like me, just as I would still like you."
He drew a dagger from his waist and placed it in her hand. "Think about it. If you want to stab me, I will never dodge. You received the young master’s kindness since childhood. If you stab me, it is justice."
Her fingers trembled slightly around the dagger. After a long pause, the dagger silently slipped and fell onto the soft bed. Her face went pale, and she spun around, fleeing between the green bamboo. The wind caught her plain tulle shirt and skirt, making her vanish into the forest.
He watched her disappear, then gazed at the bamboo dragonflies on the ground, catching the faint scent of her presence in the breeze, and sighed.
She walked quickly, lost in thought, unaware of how deep into the bamboo forest she had wandered. Her hands trembled as she stood alone among thousands of towering green bamboos. Since childhood, she rarely faltered like this, yet his words were true—what she hated was not him, but that she could not stop liking him.
The wind rustled the bamboo, and she picked up a bamboo pole. Looking up at the straight, lofty stalks, she recalled why people admired bamboo—upright, restrained, dignified. She had always wanted to be like that. Today, his words had clarified her tangled feelings. She had blamed herself for the young master’s death and her own guilt, but now she understood: she could love him honestly, without pity, and it was fair to herself and to the young master.
After long reflection, she slowly walked back to the monastery at dusk. Taozi, anxious, saw her and exclaimed with joy: "Captain, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you, but the King of Qin said not to disturb you!"
She nodded. "I figured it out."
Taozi smiled, trusting her words, and chattered on about what to eat that night. She calmed him: "Fish balls." Taozi’s joy returned. He went to the kitchen where Li Ni had already started making fish balls with fresh ingredients. Soon, Taozi brought the fragrant dish to the monastery. Li Ni drank a cup of fish ball soup with his medicine and felt genuinely happy.
She nodded in agreement. "We have to recover from our injuries quickly, then calmly plan our next move."
Taozi informed her: "Xie Chang’er has scouted. The Taiqing Palace has two thousand people inside and out, and dozens of scouts personally assigned by Li Ni. Leaving won’t be easy."
Ah Ying nodded. "We plot slowly. The important thing is the right time and place—we’ll find the opportunity."
She no longer delayed taking her medicine. Peaches and Xie Chang’er ensured a steady supply of rare wound medicine. Over ten days passed. Pei Xian led the generals to the Eastern Capital, where the emperor ascended the throne. Though Li Ni was busy, he remained concerned.
On Qixi Festival, when the city celebrated with traditional customs—burning incense, tying happy spiders, folding flowers—Li Ni hurried to Taiqing Palace, bringing a food box. Xie Chang’er guided him to the water pavilion. There, Ah Ying and Taozi sat at a table, fans in hand, seemingly gossiping. The night breeze stirred the pond water and lotus flowers.
Li Ni quietly observed the scene. Ah Ying sighed, "He’s right… I’m just angry with myself." Taozi chuckled, gently tapping her with the fan. Li Ni approached and was recognized: "It’s Your Highness who has come down." She shook her fan at the scattered lotus, avoiding his gaze.
Taozi placed the food box on the table. Li Ni offered her the concentric slices he brought. She pretended not to notice. He smiled, poured Wuyun pulp, and warned her against alcohol due to her injuries.
She shook her head. "I’m drunk from the scent, but I came here to play."
He teased gently, then asked about a box on the table. She coldly revealed it contained the poison meant for him—but inside was only a spider caught for the Qixi tradition.
Li Ni smiled. "I knew you’d be clever enough."
The night carried on with soft wind, lotus rustling, and quiet whispers. He called her name: "Ah Ying." She rose to leave, but he caught her sleeve, playful and tender. She tried to fend him off but couldn’t escape. Eventually, he drew her into an embrace, gently kissing her. Resistance faded, and she leaned into him.
Suddenly, a numbness struck him. She carried him into the house, prepared anesthetics, and ensured he was safe. Taozi laughed at their careful planning.
Once ready, Ah Ying retrieved the token from Li Ni’s waist. They disguised themselves as Zhenxi soldiers, avoided detection, and slipped out of the palace. Horses and a small team awaited them, and within minutes, they arrived at the shallow banks of the Luo River.
Summer floods had widened the river, mist hovered over the water, reeds swayed. Boats awaited, and Song Shu greeted her with joy: "Uncle Song!" Fireworks erupted, illuminating the river. Amidst the brilliance, Li Ni stood on the bow of a boat, smiling.
"Ah Ying," he called, "can I set off fireworks for you?"
Furious, she grabbed an arrow from Song Shu, aiming at him. Her shot was true, but he was too far, easily catching the arrow midair. Undeterred, she turned to Song Shu. "Uncle Song, this one is tricky—we’ll have to trap him."
Song Shu nodded and greeted in a deep voice. From the reeds, a column of archers emerged, all holding heavy crossbows. These crossbows had an extraordinary range and were usually wound with the feet. Once fired, death was inevitable.
Everyone held their breath, aiming at Li Ni's boat in the middle of the river. Yet, Li Ni remained calm. She picked up the arrow just fired at her, and with a firm throw, sent it soaring into the air. Without the string, it flew higher than any ordinary arrow.
Song Shu had long heard that Li Ni, the King of Qin, was courageous, a warrior renowned from the battles in the Valley of Sparrows and Rat Valley. Witnessing this, he couldn’t help but be secretly impressed. This young person was formidable. Song Shu had brought 500 cavalry across the river today, but it seemed a fierce battle was inevitable.
The arrow flew like a signal. Fireworks burst into the sky, blooming one after another. The riverside brightened as if it were daytime. Through the firelight, she saw an ambush along the riverbank. Why wait to fight? Calmly, she got into the boat with Taozi and began rowing toward the river, covering two or three feet per stroke. Soon, the sounds of battle reached her ears. She didn’t need to look back; it was the Zhenxi army clashing with Song Shu's 500 cavalry. Despite being outnumbered, Song Shu’s veteran troops charged repeatedly, unable to shake the Zhenxi army's position.
As the boat reached the center of the river, the current swept it downstream. Suddenly, it was caught in a strange rope net at the river’s bottom. Li Ni must have prepared this. Seven or eight small boats began spinning in the middle of the river. Seeing Li Ni's ship heading toward them, Taozi panicked: “Captain, what should I do?”
Li Ni remained calm, sword in hand, glancing at the struggling soldiers on the riverbank. “Abandon the boat,” she said. Then she threw the torch on the boat's bow into the river. Following her lead, the Dingsheng Army soldiers abandoned their oars and jumped into the water.
As the fireworks flickered, she silently leapt into the river. Touching the bottom of the boat, she felt a soft net. Clearly, Li Ni had set a trap. The net entangled the rudder, immobilizing the boat. She sliced the fishing net with her long sword, swam across, and reached the opposite bank.
Her swimming skills were excellent, and she stayed submerged for a long time. Taozi, not as capable, floated to the surface. She noticed the seven or eight small boats had been collected by the Zhenxi army and tied together. Li Ni’s boat had vanished. Only old Bao remained, crouched on a boat’s bow, directing fireworks. Taozi knew the only way forward was to cross the river. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to dive—but a black shadow passed before her, pressing down like a cloud.
It was a massive fishing net. Before she could react, it swept over her, trapping her. Laughter rang out, and she recognized Huang Youyi’s voice: “Seventeen Lang's method is clever—it doesn’t hurt, just scoops people up.”
Annoyed, Taozi realized the net worked like a fisherman’s trap. It pulled her to the boat, but Huang Youyi quickly helped, asking politely, “Miss Peach, are you injured?” She shook him off, praying Colonel He had escaped.
Suddenly, fireworks exploded across the river. Li Ni emerged from the water, followed closely by her golden long sword, almost stabbing him. Ah Ying, holding a sword, leapt from the water to the stern of the boat like a Lingbo fairy. The two clashed in a flurry of moves. Song Shu and the Zhenxi army watched helplessly from the shore.
Li Ni forced Ah Ying out of the water. Despite dodging left and right, she had time to speak: “Ah Ying, why resist? You won’t cross the river today.”
She sneered: “Not necessarily!” Her sword jabbed at his feet, forcing him to jump back into the water. A huge firework bloomed overhead, echoing like distant thunder, signaling some approaching force.
Li Ni surfaced, climbing to the boat's stern, finally seeing the heavy cavalry of the Dingsheng Army on the opposite bank. Clad in armor, their horses thundered like an earthquake. Though it seemed only a hundred horses, the momentum was overwhelming—the river even trembled.
Taking advantage of his distraction, Ah Ying stabbed again. Li Ni deftly snatched her long sword, pinning her with his backhand. “Ah Ying, let’s go back.”
Despite being captured, she remained composed. “Has Your Highness’s fireworks ended? If not, you can set more, so Your Highness can see our victorious army clearly.”
Li Ni, hearing her clear voice from afar, felt a shadow in his heart. Huang Youyi and the others waited quietly on the boat. Zhang Youren laughed: “Sister-in-law, your words are wrong! Didn’t you make a private engagement with Seventeen Lang? The Zhenxi and Dingsheng Armies are all family!”
Qian Youdao added with a smile, “Colonel He, usually my third brother speaks, I have to refute him. But today, he’s right—we are all family. You should go back with Seventeen Lang.”
Colonel He only smiled coldly, silent. Taozi, caught in the net, sat on the bow, defiant: “Who is family with you?”
Suddenly, among the heavy cavalry, an archer fired a horn arrow skyward. It soared and exploded in a bright white light, visible against the dark night. Zhang Youren clapped: “Even your victorious army is setting off fireworks?”
Taozi sneered. In Luoyang City, whistling arrows drew long white trails, and Li Ni’s expression darkened. From the cavalry, someone aimed at Li Ni. A chill ran down her spine. Ah Ying smiled slightly: “Your Highness, let me cross today. It’s better for both sides.”
Li Ni replied, “No.”
She sighed: “If you let me go today, I can break through Western Changjing and bring Sun Jing’s head to you. How about it?”
He smiled slightly: “Ah Ying, don’t talk about heads of Xi Changjing and Sun Jing. Whatever the exchange, I won’t let you go today.”
She paused: “I don’t want to be in Your Highness’s heart. I’m small, but more precious than Sun Thief.”
He whispered: “You are Cui Yi’s only daughter—of course, more precious than Sun Thief.”
Everyone on the boat was distant. His soft voice reached only her. She was stunned. He gestured to the riverbank: “Song Shu, Cui Yi’s confidant in front of the tent, led 500 cavalry to fight to the death today to protect you.”
He pointed again: “The one who aimed at my head must be the Lulong Jiedushi, Protector of Shuobei, General Cui Yi.” He smiled bitterly: “Why alarm General Cui? This is also a way to show respect.”
She thought silently: This person is cunning. Her father arranged everything, disguising her identity, raising her as Cui Lin’s adopted daughter. Even the Dingsheng army was deceived. Fortunately, he could cover it.
The heavy cavalry approached, yet even Dingsheng’s proud forces were ineffective. Negotiation seemed the only solution. Li Ni nodded calmly: “His Highness the King of Qin is trapped. The Que Rat Valley broke Duan Yan’s army of 100,000. There’s no need to be too humble.”
He smiled bitterly: “Although we are apart, General Cui’s arrow was pointed at me. A cold sweat broke out.”
Now revealed, she calmly said: “Who told you to hold me hostage?”
Li Ni replied: “The general’s arrow broke clouds and moon. I lost today. Let’s discuss properly.”
She smiled: “Why admit defeat so soon?”
He smiled bitterly: “Not for your chess, but to set up a grand game—willing to use you as bait. Luoyang is empty tonight for the Qixi Festival. Thousands could infiltrate, control the Eastern Capital, the forbidden palace, even coerce the emperor.”
She smiled: “Your Highness thinks my little daughter more precious than Sun Thief.”
He pondered, then said: “No, this bait strategy wasn’t General Cui’s, but yours, correct?”
She nodded calmly: “Yes. The governor refused, but I insisted. Only this could make His Highness let me cross. How did you guess?”
He smiled bitterly again: “Ah Ying, no matter the danger, I don’t want to use you as bait. Presumably General Cui feels the same.”
She smiled, happy: “You guessed right. But if you lock me in Taiqing Palace now, my father would hate you. If not for the Luo River, he would have rushed the riverbank, taught you a lesson with arrows.”
He said seriously: “I haven’t fought yet. How can I know the outcome?”
She was stunned again. He added: “Ah Ying, you are clever. But General Pei is in the Eastern Capital, leading 3,000. That’s where you missed it.”
She realized immediately: Pei Xian, a famous general, could hold Luoyang with 3,000 troops, plus remnants of the Zhenxi Army.
She paused, then said: “Your Highness has already admitted defeat.”
“Yes,” he said generously. “His own people don’t fight their own. Zhenxi and Dingsheng Armies were always allied.”
“I want Luoyang.” She said calmly. “Luoyang originally belonged to my Dingsheng Army. After the last war, His Highness took over Luoyang, but this time, His Highness should return Luoyang to my Dingsheng Army.”
He frowned. “What else?”
“His Highness personally sent me back to the Dingsheng Army barracks.” She continued, her voice steady. “Since it is a friendly army, His Highness should see the Jiedushi himself. I will persuade the Jiedushi to send troops with His Highness to take the Western Changjing together.”
He paused for a moment, weighing her words. Before he could reply, Huang Youyi and the others on the boat heard her clearly. Zhang Youren, unable to hold back, said sharply, “Seventeen Lang, don’t promise her.”
Luoyang—the eastern capital—a magnificent city, a strategic military stronghold. Giving it up was unthinkable. Even if he had recovered the Eastern Capital, yielding it now would surely send the court into uproar. Civil officials, with their sharp tongues, would drown him in scorn.
Yet Li Ni was bold but careful. After a brief moment of consideration, he said simply, “I promise you.”
She nodded and smiled. “Seventeen Lang, I knew you would agree.”
Qian Youdao immediately shouted, exasperated, “Seventeen Lang, don’t agree! If you send her back to the Dingsheng Army camp, aren’t you afraid they’ll go back on their word and try to murder you?”
Li Ni’s lips curved in a faint smile. He turned to her. “Ah Ying, will you murder me?”
Her eyes rolled. “I won’t murder you, but the governor… he has a bad temper. How he treats you, I cannot guarantee.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “How about the military governor? That is the governor’s action, not yours.” With that, he gestured to the boatman, who began rowing steadily. Li Ni knew he had to personally escort Ah Ying back to the other side.
Although Huang Youyi and the others muttered in complaint, they had long served in the Zhenxi Army. They knew military orders were like mountains: once Li Ni gave the command, obedience followed silently.
At that moment, the Luo River, swollen by summer floods, stretched wider than usual. The boat advanced steadily, slowly approaching the opposite shore. There, the Dingsheng Army’s heavy cavalry stood ready—roughly three hundred men and horses, all clad in iron armor, each holding a torch that reflected off their blackened steel, glowing like molten ice in the flickering light.
As their boat reached the limit allowed by the river’s depth, they could not move closer. Following a command from the shore, all the riders dismounted, shedding their armor to wade through the water. Even disarmed, the three hundred horses moved in precise formation, like solid iron wires. The first rider, a burly man on a towering white horse, spear in hand, charged straight at Li Ni. The courage he displayed… eighty percent of it was Cui Yi.
Li Ni had already sheathed his sword. He did not restrain Taozi but calmly ordered his men to set up the springboard, lowering the boat to personally bring Ah Ying—the real Cui Lin—to him.
From the ship, the Zhenxi Army watched in awe. The Dingsheng Army’s iron cavalry, wading through water in perfect order, seemed like a moving mountain. Under the torchlight, the horses’ hooves splashed countless times, each step synchronized. Lao Bao, impressed, muttered, “The Cui family cavalry… truly well-trained.”
With a whistle, the Zhenxi Army on the ship drew their bows, unsheathed their swords, and aimed at the approaching three hundred cavalry. The boat advanced several feet, the water splashing against its bow. Cui Yi, still armored, lifted his mask and coldly surveyed Li Ni, saying, “Is the King of Qin willing to fight me today?”
Li Ni bowed respectfully. “I have seen the military governor. Since I am returning Ah Ying, I naturally do not wish to fight.”
Before he could finish, Cui Yi thrust his spear with astonishing speed. Its tip, snaking through the air, aimed directly for Li Ni’s chest. Li Ni reacted instantly, pinching the spear’s tassel with both hands, pivoting to deflect the attack. Cui Yi’s first strike failed. He sneered. “Boy, it’s too late for you to dodge now!” The spear rattled, a second strike following, fast and precise—a veteran’s skill honed over countless battles.
Li Ni’s movements were equally fluid. On the narrow board of the boat, the two clashed in a dazzling display of skill: spears danced like tigers in the wind, the glint of metal reflecting firelight, each move sharp and deliberate. The Zhenxi Army on the ship and the Dingsheng cavalry on shore watched in awe, hearts pounding.
After a dozen moves, Li Ni feigned instability. Cui Yi, sensing an opportunity, thrust at Li Ni’s ankle. But Li Ni, prepared, shifted slightly, stepping onto the long spear shaft, his body twisting, arms coiled around the spear. Cui Yi’s thrusts faltered. Li Ni spoke calmly, almost casually, “Jiedushi, I am sending Ah Ying back. I do not wish to fight.”
Cui Yi’s grip held for a moment, tension radiating through his arm. Ten long seconds passed. Seeing Li Ni’s steady posture, he exhaled and slowly released the spear, letting it fall in recognition of Li Ni’s control. Li Ni stepped back carefully, dissipating the force, and respectfully returned the spear, bowing in full military courtesy.
Both armies on the riverbank and ship were puzzled. The sudden cessation of combat was unexpected. Cui Yi had given ground, acknowledging Li Ni’s authority, and Li Ni had reciprocated in full respect.
Cui Yi’s glare softened slightly as he retrieved his spear. His cavalry moved to guide the horses. Ah Ying, atop her horse, whispered lowly, “Jiedushi, the King of Qin truly is returning me to the camp.”
Cui Yi narrowed his eyes. Then, in a low voice, he said, “His Highness the King of Qin… now that you are here, do you dare return to the camp with me?”
The Zhenxi Army on the ship felt a ripple of unease, but Li Ni smiled. “Since the governor invites me, Li Shiqi does not dare refuse hospitality.”
Cui Yi mocked by calling him “His Highness,” but when Li Ni replied as Li Shiqi, he was neither humble nor arrogant—his attitude calm and natural. Cui Yi, reflecting on this young man, noted his skill in battle. After Sparrow and Rat Valley, Li Ni’s reputation had spread far and wide. It seemed he truly had ability.
At that moment, Li Ni whistled. Xiao Hei, the horse, appeared out of nowhere, along with Colonel He—or rather, Cui Lin’s white horse, Xiaobai. The two horses swam quickly across the river and reached the shallow bank. Xiaobai, recognizing Cui Lin, whinnied joyfully and wagged its tail. Cui Lin, seeing her horse strong and glossy again, beamed with delight. She took the reins, changed the saddle, and mounted Xiaobai. Xiao Hei, irked, shook its wet mane, flicked its tail, and hissed long and proud, as if to say, “See? I take good care of Xiaobai.”
Li Ni did not hurry to mount his horse. Instead, he turned to give instructions to Lao Bao and the others. Once that was done, he swung onto his horse, and together with Cui Yi and Ah Ying, they were surrounded by the three hundred iron cavalry, making their way back to the Dingsheng Army camp.
Cui Yi had arrived quickly, moving with remarkable efficiency and precision. He had brought only a few thousand troops, and the camp he had established lay dozens of miles upstream along the Luo River, nestled in the mountains. As Li Ni observed the terrain, he could not help but silently admire Cui Yi. Raising a son like Cui Lin, a daughter like Ah Ying, and maintaining an iron cavalry such as the Dingsheng Army—this man was indeed worthy of being counted among the three heroes of the National Dynasty.
Cui Yi’s residence was modest—a simple cowhide tent, indistinguishable from the rest of the army. As soon as they entered, Cui Yi said, “Ah Ying, go change your clothes first. I have something to discuss with the King of Qin.”
Cui Lin, still in her soaked Zhenxi army uniform, shivered from the chilly wind despite it being summer. She crossed her hands, saluted, and turned away. Song Shu, always meticulous, had prepared a separate tent for her and Taozi. She changed into the Dingsheng Army lieutenant’s uniform, dried her hair, comforted Taozi briefly, and then approached Cui Yi’s tent. The interior was illuminated by pine resin oil lamps, and Cui Yi sat alone behind the table, looking contemplative.
The father and daughter, reunited after nearly a decade and almost torn apart by life and death, felt their hearts surge. Seeing no one else around, Cui Lin called softly, “Father.”
Cui Yi reached out, holding her hand, carefully inspecting her expression and the wound on her arm. “You’re thin,” he remarked.
She smiled faintly and replied, “The most important thing is that I can return to see you. Nothing else matters.”
Cui Yi’s frown eased, and he sighed. “Don’t blame yourself for Feng’er’s fate…”
Before he could finish, a heavy silence fell between them. She said quietly, “I couldn’t save the young master… I… I feel so guilty.”
Cui Yi’s eyes mirrored her sorrow, yet he shook his head gently. “More than ten years ago, when I asked if he wanted to be my son, he said yes. I told him that if he became my son, he would face dangers that might cost his life. He was young then, unaware of these risks. His parents had died early, leaving him alone. You saved his life, so he chose to be my son.”
Her chest tightened, sorrow washing over her as she thought of her brother. The father and daughter remained quietly reflective. The lamp wick sputtered with a soft “pop.” Cui Yi then asked, “How did the King of Qin guess your identity?”
She considered for a moment. “My daughter doesn’t know, but Uncle Song asked about my whereabouts several times. After the young master was ambushed, he detained me in Taiqing Palace. Perhaps he had his suspicions for some time.”
Cui Yi’s expression shifted between joy and anger. “Why didn’t you ask what the King of Qin did? Could the military governor have harmed him?”
She bristled. “I asked him! Could the governor still kill him?”
Cui Yi said sharply, “What if I had already killed him?”
“Nothing would happen,” she replied lightly. “If you did, I would immediately cook soup cakes for you. Once you eat them, we would march to Luoyang, capture the emperor alive, and my father would become emperor.”
Cui Yi couldn’t help but smile faintly. “But Pei Xian is in the city. What if your father can’t defeat him?”
“Even if Pei Xian pricks him, my father hasn’t yet fought him. How could he break the spirit of others or harm his own prestige? If he truly fails, can’t he tie the King of Qin to the frontlines? Pei Xian values the King of Qin more than his own son. Seeing the King restrained, he might submit—but it’s uncertain.”
“Isn’t the King of Qin already ‘killed’ by me?” Cui Yi glared. “Where do you conjure up another King of Qin?”
“I won’t kill the King of Qin,” she said with a teasing smile. “Father, I won’t be reckless. I’ll ask him what to do.”
Cui Yi then noticed the hairpin left by her mother on the King of Qin’s crown at the riverbank. “Did he take it?”
“No,” she said graciously. “I gave it to him.”
Cui Yi frowned. “Why give him all the hairpins your mother left?”
“Because I like him,” she replied honestly.
Cui Yi was momentarily speechless, then sighed. “What kind of man has the ability to make you act like this?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted, eyes shining. “When I first saw him, I knew he was the one I’d always be with, just as with my mother.”
Cui Yi shook his head in disbelief. “How can he compare to your mother…?” Then, annoyed, he added, “That stinky boy! How dare he detain you in Taiqing Palace? I should beat him with a whip!”
She laughed, taking his hand. “Father, don’t be angry. My daughter returned safely, didn’t she? And he even escorted me personally. I’ll cook soup cakes for you, and that will satisfy you.”
Cui Yi wasn’t convinced. “Are you really not going to kill him?”
She nodded. “I won’t.”
Suddenly, a “gurgling” sound came from a box behind him. Cui Lin glanced curiously. Cui Yi reluctantly opened it to find Li Ni stuffed inside, tied up like a rice dumpling, looking extremely aggrieved.
Cui Yi sneered. “Ah Ying said she wouldn’t kill you today.”
Li Ni, with a nucleus in his mouth, still could hear. Realizing she had spoken personally, he was overjoyed. He freed himself from the ropes after a few moments and said, “Ah Ying, I’ll help you cook soup cakes.”
“I don’t need you!” she snapped. They pulled away from each other, walking farther and farther until disappearing from sight. Cui Yi sighed, unsure whether to feel happiness or exasperation.
Li Ni eventually enjoyed the soup cakes, showing the red marks from his bonds to gain sympathy, but she chastised him. “You deserve it. Why didn’t you escape?”
“I couldn’t…” he replied, lowering his voice. “How could I fight the military governor otherwise? He’d be even angrier.”
She served him a bowl, smirking. “Eat up, but no more. That’s all you get.”
He savored the soup, praising her craftsmanship as if it were a delicacy. By the time she returned from Cui Yi’s tent, he had eaten and cleaned everything diligently.
Seeing her return, he asked, “So? Did Uncle Cui agree to lead troops to Xichangjing with you?”
“Who is your Uncle Cui?” she retorted angrily. “It’s the Jiedushi!”
He chuckled. “Calling him ‘Uncle Cui’ sounds respectful.”
She picked up a broom and hit him without thinking. “You talk nonsense again!”
He dodged twice, finally grabbing the broom and pulling her into his arms. She struggled, pinching his finger. He kissed her lightly on the temple. “Ah Ying, I’m so happy today.”
She relaxed slightly, ears near his chest, feeling his heartbeat. “If you talk nonsense, I’ll still hit you,” she warned.
“Then I won’t get carried away for a while?” he teased.
“You’ve been carried away all night.”
“Nonsense, how could there be a night?”
She snorted. “You’ve been carried away since you said you’d show me fireworks.”
He laughed. “Then it’s your fault for pricking me with a needle while I was kissing you.” His voice lowered, and he leaned closer. “This is what you owe me.” He gently held her chin and kissed her deeply.
She stood on tiptoe, wrapping her arms around his neck. He restrained her hand, squeezing it in his palm. Alert and cunning, she withdrew the silver needle, thinking, Forget it, let him enjoy the soup cakes for now.
Through the long summer night, they ate, talked, and returned to camp. The night passed, and morning revealed the white of fish belly in the sky. Li Ni, full of energy, gathered wildflowers to repel mosquitoes. She asked, “How did you guess my identity?”
He smiled. “If not for the young master, I’d have guessed 80% of it. That young master Cui really confounded everyone. One day, I realized when you spoke of the women’s army defending the city, your father was general of Yingzhou and your mother led the women’s troops. So you changed your surname to He, serving as a Dingsheng Army lieutenant. By deducing further, I realized Cui Gongzi was actually an eyesore.”
She nodded. “He was adopted by my father and is considered my father’s real son.”
Cui Yi and his wife He had shared a deep bond, but He had been injured during the border war. Married for years without children, they rejoiced when she finally conceived. The court, however, attempted to manipulate Cui Yi by offering a lady to bear a son, but He became pregnant and gave birth to Ah Ying. To protect her, Cui Yi concealed her gender, presenting her as a son to outsiders.
During Cui Yi’s campaign in Yingzhou, all women soldiers perished, leaving Ah Ying to escape. She saved another child, Liu Chengfeng, just slightly older than herself. Cui Yi later adopted Liu Chengfeng as his son, Cui Lin, and Ah Ying grew up with the maid He Shi nearby. When Liu Chengfeng was later poisoned by enemies, Cui Yi tried in vain to save him, leaving Ah Ying with lingering guilt.
She whispered, “Jie Shuo wanted to poison me, but replaced me with him… he wasn’t just my brother, he was a stand-in.”
Li Ni, normally irritated by mentions of the young master, now held her hand gently.
“Let’s build a tomb for Young Master Liu,” he suggested.
She agreed. “He’s been my shadow for over ten years. Now we’ll write his real name and honor him properly.”
The golden watches of the army neared the hour of the rabbit. Generals were assembling when news came: Pei Yuan had led troops to meet Li Ni. Cui Yi, sending someone to fetch Cui Lin, watched as she led Li Ni to the tent. Cui Yi was calm, saying, “Does the King of Qin plan to provoke the Pei family?”
Li Ni bowed. “The Dingsheng Army is friendly. Li Shiqi never intends to fight the military governor. This is sincere.”
Cui Yi snorted. “If you won’t fight, return to the King of Qin.”
Li Ni bowed and left, while Cui Lin watched him go. His heart surged, and he spurred his horse back toward her. She smiled, surprised. He galloped closer, calling out: “Ah Ying! When we recover Xichangjing, I’ll marry you!”
She froze. He repeated, louder: “Ah Ying! I want to marry you! When Sun Jing is defeated and peace returns, I will marry you!”
The soldiers, startled, watched as he declared his intention. Pei Yuan was stupefied, conflicted, and outraged. The Zhenxi army heard clearly. Lao Bao and the others cheered, drumming and celebrating.
Her heart swelled, troubled and sweet. An arrow suddenly whistled, landing in front of Li Ni’s horse. Rao Hei flinched but remained composed.
Cui Yi, serious as the rising sun gilded his armor, handed the bow to a guard and said, deep and commanding, “King Qin, you should go!”
Li Ni, recognizing the warning, looked back once at her, then turned toward the Zhenxi army, heart full of sweetness. The three armies echoed in triumph, shields clashing, as they withdrew from the Dingsheng camp.
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