Chapter 75: Procrastination

After finishing his words, he walked straight out of the tent. “Take her away.”

In an instant, several soldiers approached Xia Tong. Shen Xin, isolated on the side, could only watch anxiously as Xia Tong followed them out of the tent without any resistance.

In the darkness outside, torches burned brightly around the camp, illuminating the surrounding forest. Somewhere nearby, Xiao Ming received a wooden box from a palace maid, a hint of amusement crossing his face.

“This is the topographic map of the capital. I hope Your Highness keeps his promise,” the maid said in a soft voice, wearing a hat.

As he took out the parchment map from the box, Xiao Ming smirked. “Rest assured, I will fulfill Seventh Sister’s wishes. Xia Tong will not leave my grasp alive.”

At his words, the maid remained silent and gradually disappeared into the darkness, leaving Xiao Ming alone to gaze at the waning crescent moon. He clenched his fist, determined to make Gu Qin experience the pain of losing a loved one!

Meanwhile, in the Council Hall, everyone was in heated discussion until a member of the Imperial Guard rushed in, causing everyone’s hearts to race.

“Report to Your Majesty! The rebel army has somehow acquired an extremely powerful weapon, and our defending troops are retreating rapidly. I urge Your Majesty to make a decision quickly!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the officials in the hall began to fidget like ants on a hot stove. This situation couldn’t continue, if the regent turned against them, the capital would truly be doomed!

Sitting at the head of the table, Xiao Jing remained composed, glancing coolly at a nearby eunuch. “How long until General Li’s troops arrive outside the city?”

After a moment of calculation, the eunuch in green robes furrowed his brow and replied earnestly, “Your Majesty, if all goes well, General Li’s men should arrive within a quarter of an hour.”

Upon hearing this, although the officials’ expressions eased slightly, their worries did not dissipate. Then, a square-faced official spoke up, “But General Li only has fifty thousand troops, while the rebels have at least eighty thousand. Our chances of victory are slim.”

“Indeed! We don’t even know where the regent has gone. If…”

The voice suddenly fell silent, the speaker realizing he had let something slip, falling silent as if frozen. Yet, he had voiced what others dared not say, the regent’s stance was now crucial.

Looking at the assorted expressions of the officials below him, Xiao Jing declared, “The regent must have personally gone outside to lead the troops of the Shenji Camp. Anyone who dares to speak carelessly will face my wrath!”

He didn’t believe that Gu Qin would remain indifferent when Xia Tong was arrested. He didn’t like being threatened, so how could he go along with his fifth brother? However, he feared Gu Qin’s desire to take advantage of the situation. Right now, he must be anxious to rescue his princess.

The officials below wore uncertain expressions. Everyone knew the regent’s intentions, it was one thing for the late emperor to turn a blind eye, but how could the current emperor be so foolish? This was like raising a tiger to its own detriment!

“But what if the defending troops can’t hold for even a quarter of an hour?”

With one official raising the question, anxiety filled the room. Xiao Jing fell silent for a moment before suddenly rising. The others seemed to understand and quickly followed him, eager to see the situation at the city gates.

In the night, the waning crescent moon hung high in the sky. The common people in the city shut their doors tightly, afraid to venture out even when they heard sounds outside. Snow fell thickly on the ground, while outside the city gates, the sounds of battle rang out endlessly. Shadows moved in clusters, surrounding the gates and evoking despair.

Blood stained the walls, and the defending troops on the city towers sheltered behind their shields to avoid the enemy’s arrows while also fending off those climbing the long ladders. A moment’s negligence could lead to an arrow piercing them, and the cold corpses hung along the city walls, with a fresh batch of Imperial Guards rushing to the front. Yet, only a few of the twenty thousand Imperial Guards remained.

As the sight of corpses strewn across the battlefield met their eyes, the officials’ faces turned pale. Only Xiao Jing, furrowing his brow, stepped onto the city tower, surrounded by his guards.

“This place is too dangerous. Your Majesty should retreat to safety,” one bloodied defending general insisted, standing resolutely beside him, mirroring the determined expressions of the soldiers around them.

Xiao Jing’s expression grew grave as he surveyed the bodies scattered across the ground. He suddenly asked, “How many men are left?”

At this, the general bowed his head, clenching his fists. “Less than ten thousand.”

The white snow was instantly stained red, and the countless heads outside the city vividly demonstrated the disparity in this battle. Just then, an Imperial Guard rushed up to the tower and, upon seeing Xiao Jing, immediately knelt on one knee. “Report to Your Majesty! General Li’s troops have surrounded the rebels’ rear. Should we launch an immediate attack or wait for the troops from the Shenji Camp to join in?”

“Of course, we should eliminate the rebels immediately.”

A soft female voice suddenly broke through the sounds of battle on the city walls. A woman in a purple fox fur robe walked up, her expression serious.

Upon seeing her, Xiao Jing furrowed his brows slightly. “Changyang, what are you doing here?”

The woman glanced at the bodies scattered around and, disregarding the risk of soiling her dress, stepped closer to Xiao Jing. She said earnestly, “Although Changyang is a woman, I cannot just stand back and watch the soldiers sacrifice themselves one by one.”

After her words, the soldiers looked at the princess with renewed respect. Unlike those officials who talked endlessly about righteousness but fled at the first sign of danger, she stood her ground.

Xiao Jing fixed his gaze on her without replying. Just then, a man in green robes ascended the city wall. Seeing him, a different expression crossed Xiao Jing’s face.

The man surveyed the battlefield, took a couple of steps forward, and bowed slightly. “Your Majesty, the troops from the Shenji Camp are about to arrive. Please wait a moment.”

“But the city gate won’t hold for much longer!” a general shouted, his eyes bloodshot.

Xifeng shot him a cold look. “In the past, the prince held off fifty thousand enemy troops with only three thousand men and managed to defend the city.”

At his words, the general fell silent, and Xifeng turned away and left. The troops from the Shenji Camp had already arrived, but the princess’s abduction had disrupted the prince’s plans, and they needed a bit more time to rescue her. If a fight broke out, it would only complicate the effort to save the princess.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Jing finally addressed the imperial guard, “Let General Li and the Shenji Camp act together.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The other soldiers gritted their teeth and continued to fend off the attacks from outside the city. What the regent could do, they could do as well.

“Royal Brother…” Changyang started, but when she saw Xiao Jing stride down the city wall, she immediately followed him.

“Why must you do this, Brother? Every moment we delay means countless soldiers will sacrifice their lives. Can you really bear to watch?”

Xiao Jing walked ahead, not turning back as he replied, “I have my plans.”

After years of dealings with Gu Qin, he understood him well. If Gu Qin sent Xifeng to personally plead, it was undoubtedly to save Xia Tong.

Pulling up her skirt, Princess Changyang bit her lip and suddenly quickened her pace to block his path, her gaze intense. “Is my brother’s plan really just to save a subject’s wife?”

The people below immediately stepped back. In the palace, for their own safety, they should not hear things they shouldn’t.

Stopping in his tracks, Xiao Jing clasped his hands behind his back and coldly regarded the graceful woman before him. “How do you know she has been captured?”

Locking eyes with him, Princess Changyang had never been so assertive before, but she couldn’t hold back now. She furrowed her brows in disbelief as she looked at him. “You are so infatuated with her? Don’t forget, these soldiers are also your subjects.”

“Without the cooperation of the Shenji Camp, General Li’s men will never be able to repel the rebels. I am considering the overall situation!” There was a hint of anger on Xiao Jing’s face. He would never jeopardize the situation for a single woman.

“Is that so?”

Princess Changyang laughed, raised her head slightly, and asked, “Then my royal brother, ask yourself, do you have any attachment to that woman?”

The air was thick with the scent of blood, and snow fell softly on their shoulders. Xiao Jing kept a stern expression, staring coldly at his younger sister without a word.

“Nothing to say, Brother?” She clenched her fist, feeling somewhat aggrieved. Even though her brother was considering the overall situation, he was still obsessed with that woman in his heart.

Taking a deep breath, Princess Changyang said seriously, “Father trusts you so much, you must not ruin our ancestral heritage over a woman. There are countless women in the world. Why must you linger over a married woman?”

She did not know what had happened in the year since she left the capital. The woman in question did not possess the superficial airs of a noblewoman. Other men might be captivated, but how could the regent and her brother be similarly enchanted?

With a tight-lipped expression, Xiao Jing took a step forward, his demeanor cold. “Listen carefully, I have never compromised our father’s legacy for anyone.”

“But…”

Xiao Jing narrowed his eyes, looked at her and said coldly: “I will never allow anything that I haven’t obtained to disappear like this.”