Chapter 65: The Three Forces – With the White Tiger Talisman, the Battle Will Last Until the End

“All remaining civilians who haven’t fully evacuated must move here immediately.”

Li Yunli made a swift decision!

“Pregnant women, the elderly, and children who have difficulty moving should be assisted by Yang Xu and the city guards!”

Shen Ziyu immediately withdrew to relay the orders.

Li Yunli turned her gaze to Ji Wenxun.

Ji Wenxun had been watching her the entire time. The moment he received her glance, he understood and stood up to leave.

Now, the Northern Border Army could be mobilized!

Meanwhile, Feng Mu sat there, holding Zhou Foxiao’s manuscript in her hands, staring blankly at it for a long time.

She gently ran her fingers over the handwriting, let out a soft chuckle, and then lowered her head, tears falling silently.

Li Yunli noticed her. “Feng Mu.”

Feng Mu wiped her tears with the back of her hand, forced a smile, and said, “Your Highness, you still have much to do. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Li Yunli let out a quiet sigh.

“Lord Zhou… he was a good official.”

Feng Mu suddenly lowered her head, covering her face with both hands, sobbing uncontrollably.

When Zhou Foxiao was alive, the people spoke well of him.

But when Leopard Head Mountain grew too powerful and Yongzhou suffered repeated floods, rumors of Lord Zhou’s inaction spread everywhere.

By the time he died, his reputation was mixed.

Due to the ongoing disasters in Yongzhou, even his funeral was conducted hastily.

Feng Mu choked out, “Father… he fell ill from worry.”

She clutched the manuscript, tears streaming down her face.

Li Yunli gently patted her back, feeling a storm of emotions within.

Before knowing Zhou Foxiao, she had thought of him as just another rigid and stubborn official.

But now that she understood his actions, she could finally grasp his struggles and suffering.

If all of this was orchestrated by Marquis Yongcheng and the Empress Dowager’s faction to eliminate her, then Zhou Foxiao was merely an innocent man caught in the storm.

He was both a loving father and a dedicated governor who cared for his people.

Every irrigation project he built in Yongzhou carried a flicker of his hope, yet ultimately brought him despair.

He guarded the fragile Yongzhou with nothing but a faint, almost laughable hope—waiting for the inevitable end.

Li Yunli tucked the strands of damp hair behind Feng Mu’s ear and whispered, “Enough tears. I will avenge Lord Zhou.”

Feng Mu choked on another sob, looking up at her.

“Having someone like Lord Zhou was a blessing for Great Chu. He suffered because of me—this was my failure,” Li Yunli said, her voice heavy. “Feng Mu, losing Lord Zhou is a loss to the entire nation of Great Chu. And this loss—someone must pay for it!”

Feng Mu, eyes blurred with tears, suddenly clutched Li Yunli’s robes and wept bitterly.

---

The people of Yongzhou had already been moved to high ground within the city under government orders as part of an emergency evacuation.

Meanwhile, Shen Ziyu followed Zhou Foxiao’s manuscript to locate a hidden floodgate, managing to open it just before the floodwaters arrived.

Li Yunli remained in the city, her expression turning ice-cold as she watched the flood surge forward.

Though the civilians had been saved, the man-made flood had still come.

Watching the low-lying areas become submerged, she let out a bitter, cold laugh.

Marquis Yongcheng did not win this battle—but neither did she lose.

But from now on, she would not take a single step back!

Li Yunli gripped her bow, running her fingers over the bowstring.

Then, she took aim, her arrow soaring like a streak of lightning—embedding itself deep into the city wall.

“Your Highness.”

Shi Liu knelt behind her on one knee.

“All refugees in the lowlands have been relocated. Captain Yang seeks further orders.”

Li Yunli exhaled a misty breath into the cold wind.

“Any word from Wurong?”

Shi Liu knew she was referring to Yun Shijun, but today had been too chaotic, and no secret messages had been received.

He shook his head.

Li Yunli acknowledged this with a quiet “Mm.”

“Only the elderly and young remain in the city. Have Yang Xu open the grain stores and maintain order inside the walls. As for the outside—General Xiao is stationed ninety miles away, and the Northern Border Army has mobilized upon receiving the news. The terrain is unfavorable, the weather poor, but as long as everyone fights as one, even if all I have is the unity of the people, I will see this battle through against Marquis Yongcheng.”

Shi Liu bowed. “Understood!”

“One more thing,” Li Yunli continued. “Send an envoy to Marquis Yongcheng. Ask him—why is he using private soldiers disguised as the Western Frontier Army to besiege Yongzhou? What is his intent?”

Even in war, tradition dictated that envoys should be exchanged for formal communication.

Li Yunli followed protocol, though she already had a good guess at his motives.

By directly accusing him of using private soldiers in disguise, she aimed to see how Marquis Yongcheng would justify himself against the charge of treason.

---

At Marquis Yongcheng’s Camp

Marquis Yongcheng, He Liancheng, had just received a letter from the Empress Dowager in the capital. She inquired about his progress in the northwest, stating that if any disturbances arose, she would seize the opportunity to strike first and slander Li Yunli.

But his operation in Yongzhou had not gone smoothly.

First, his forces were intercepted by what appeared to be remnants of the Wei army. Then, when trying to surround Li Yunli, his ambush was broken by Xiao Linjia.

Training private soldiers was costly, and though he had some reserves, he was furious at the losses.

He Liancheng slammed his fist on the table, venting his frustration to his advisors.

“I told the Empress Dowager before—this princess is not so easily eliminated! But she insists on getting rid of her! The truth is, the princess has already been removed from the imperial lineage and relinquished her power. She poses no threat to the Emperor’s throne! What kind of madness is this?!”

He paced angrily, gritting his teeth.

His strategist, Cui Da, stroked his beard and said, “No need for worry, Marquis. The princess may have troops, but she has not yet fully consolidated her power.”

“Not worry?! How can I not worry?!” He Liancheng exploded.

“The princess’s military authority came from the Emperor himself! The Empress Dowager was careless, allowing the Emperor to take back such an important thing! Now, she has legitimate command—what am I supposed to do?! My forces are no match for the remnants of the Jin Prince’s army!”

His anger boiled over.

Cui Da remained calm, flipping open a fan as he smiled slyly.

“Marquis, you just mentioned it yourself. Assassinating the princess directly is impossible, but poison and schemes… those are much easier.”

He Liancheng narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard that after the fall of Wei, many infiltrators spread throughout Great Chu. Instead of relying on unreliable Wurong allies, why not… use one of these hidden assassins?”

Cui Da left his words unfinished, but his meaning was clear.

The Empress Dowager’s command was simple—Li Yunli must disappear.

A dark scheme began to take shape.

---

Meanwhile, in a hidden Wei stronghold, Zheng Siyian and Yun Chu watched the shifting battlefield.

Yun Chu smirked, pulling out half of a military talisman.

“I know Princess Nian’an better than anyone. As long as the White Tiger Talisman is in play, this battle will last until the bitter end.”