Chapter 317 - 98: Pleading Guilty

Chapter 317: Chapter 98: Pleading Guilty

The slaughter raged from dusk till dawn.

In the daylight, the view from high ground was shockingly gruesome.

The King of Zhongshan’s forces, which had originally broken camp and retreated, had resumed their attack—no one would simply give up and die when others were brandishing their blades in a mad slaughter.

Bodies piled up outside the city walls, soldiers and civilians alike.

Clambering over corpses and mangled limbs, the Capital Camp’s troops charged the city. From the walls, arrows rained down, and laborers hurled logs and stones. Compared to the soldiers protected by battlements and armor, the laborers were practically naked. Many were shot dead by arrows from outside the moment they stood up to throw a rock.

But they couldn’t afford not to stand up, because if they retreated, they would be shot dead by arrows from within their own city.

Bodies fell continuously at the foot of the walls.

"Your Majesty," a General galloped over. "Scouts report that more reinforcements for the King of Zhongshan have arrived."

After speaking, the General glanced at the child sitting in front of Xie Yanfang. The Xiao Emperor clutched a sword, but he was oblivious to the world around him, his eyes vacant. He said nothing.

"Divide our forces to engage them," Xie Yanfang said. "This city must be taken, no matter the cost."

Xie Yanfang’s words were the Emperor’s words—an imperial edict. The General acknowledged the order. Just as he was about to have the war drums signal the division of troops, the horn for retreat sounded in the distance.

The ground thundered with the approach of distant reinforcements—reinforcements who were, once again, blowing the horn for retreat.

At the same time, the horn for retreat also sounded from within the city walls.

The General was stunned. ’Again?’ He couldn’t help but look at Xie Yanfang.

Xie Yanfang acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing. "Attack," he said simply.

This time, he didn’t just give the order; he spurred his horse forward, taking the Emperor with him.

"Your Majesty, come with me to lead the assault. Your Majesty will capture Xiao Xun with your own hands."

The General hurried to follow, but in the next moment, another horn blew. This time, it wasn’t for retreat, but for disarmament.

Disarmament.

This was not just a retreat. It was a surrender.

’They actually surrendered?’

As the horn sounded, the clatter of soldiers on the wall throwing down their weapons and armor was clearly audible.

’Well... if they’ve surrendered, we can’t just keep beating the war drums and killing them, can we?’

The General stood dumbfounded. Xie Yanfang stared at the city and its army, now so close, and tightened his grip on the reins.

Along with the horns, voices rolled toward them in a great wave.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The Heir of Zhongshan King was defiant and unruly, and has brought about a great disaster!"

"Your Majesty! The King of Zhongshan has failed in raising his son! He removes his crown and takes off his King’s Robe, pleading for forgiveness with tears of blood! We beg Your Majesty to pardon his crimes!"

...

...

The sun was bright in the sky. Spring was in full bloom in the Capital City, and the streets were bustling, but they lacked the usual joyful air of the season. Many of the people walking about were dirt-faced and miserable, dragging their families along. The number of beggars had also increased.

"They’re all refugees."

"The Heir of Zhongshan King started fighting the Capital Soldiers. Cities and villages have been burned to the ground. It’s a total disaster."

"Heavens, does that mean the fighting is coming to the Capital City?"

This remark made the patrons in the restaurants and teahouses uneasy, but someone soon came by with new information.

"Don’t worry, His Majesty went there in person. The Zhongshan Royal Army has been beaten back twice and is now cowering in their shell."

"But I heard the situation is grim. The King of Zhongshan is feigning retreat to advance, luring His Majesty into a trap step by step."

"You’re really underestimating Third Young Master Xie. Do you think he’d fall for such an easy trick?"

"This official is not underestimating Mr. Xie. It’s just that we don’t know how many soldiers the King of Zhongshan has hidden away."

Amid the noisy arguments, a soldier on horseback galloped down the street. It was a posthouse soldier. The crowd automatically made way, and the patrons in the restaurants and teahouses craned their necks to see, their hearts filled with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. ’Is it good news this time?’

This time, the posthouse soldier didn’t leave the crowd guessing. He held a report high and shouted, "A great victory for the Empress! The King of Zhongshan has submitted a letter of apology and surrendered the King’s Seal!"

The street fell silent for a moment, then erupted. The King of Zhongshan had confessed his guilt! The fighting would stop!

Some clapped their hands, some laughed, and some wept openly.

"His Majesty is mighty!"

"Mr. Xie’s move was brilliant indeed. Once His Majesty arrived at the front, he was unstoppable."

"Though His Majesty is young, his draconic aura is not to be underestimated. The late Emperor can finally rest in peace."

But amidst the chaotic joy, some people came to their senses, recalling the words they had just heard.

"Wait, didn’t he say... a great victory for the Empress?"

The Empress.

Previously, a group of women in the city had praised the Empress’s bravery every day, until Chu Lan and his family fled. Only then did their voices quiet down a bit.

But in the restaurants and teahouses, when people were denouncing Chu Lan’s crimes and the Empress was mentioned—it couldn’t be helped, Chu Lan was her uncle, after all, how could a family be separated—a few girls still rushed out and declared, "Just you wait! Things are definitely not what they seem."

At the time, they had apparently said, "The Empress is leading troops from the Border County to besiege Zhongshan County. She will definitely quell the King of Zhongshan’s rebellion."

No one took it seriously. Some even mocked, "The Empress should focus on defending the Border County before talking about anything else."

Then, Mr. Xie led the Emperor on a personal expedition, and no one mentioned the Empress anymore.

Who would have thought—

’Could it be that the Empress conquered Zhongshan County and forced the King of Zhongshan to admit his guilt?’

...

...

At the front lines, officials knelt one after another. They announced their names—all were officials from Zhongshan County’s government. Behind them, the soldiers had also removed their armor and knelt, holding the crown and King’s Robe high in their hands.

But Xie Yanfang remained silent, and the Capital Soldiers stood like a dense forest, blocking their path.

The officials could only repeat their pleas for forgiveness and beg for an audience with His Majesty over and over.

The atmosphere grew heavy. The kneeling generals exchanged grave looks, their hands on the ground inching toward their sides—

’Earlier, when we ceased fighting and retreated, they continued to pursue and attack relentlessly. Now that we’ve disarmed and admitted guilt, if they still want to kill us, we won’t just let ourselves be captured without a fight.’

Amidst the tense standoff, another General galloped over from the distance.

"Here is the King of Zhongshan’s letter of apology," he announced loudly, holding up a scroll. "The Empress has already reviewed it. I ask Your Majesty to look it over."

The Empress! The main general was stunned. Before he could process it, a child’s voice shouted from beside him.

"Sister Chu!"

"It’s Sister Chu!"

The main general turned his head and saw that the previously dazed Xiao Emperor had snapped back to life in an instant.

The Emperor even raised a finger and pointed at the General, shouting, "I know you! You’re Captain Bai!"

There weren’t many people by Sister Chu’s side, but he had committed every one of them to memory.

Xiao Yu threw down the longsword in his hand, grabbed the reins, and, without asking Xie Yanfang, eagerly spurred his horse on. The horse neighed and charged forward.

The General no longer hesitated and loudly ordered the army formation to part.

Xie Yanfang said nothing more, sheathing his longsword. Xiao Yu’s voice was the only thing echoing in his ears.

"Captain Bai, did Sister Chu defeat the King of Zhongshan?"

"Captain Bai, did Sister Chu send you?"

"Where is Sister Chu now?"

"Sister Chu, is she... is she hurt?"

"Is she alright?"

...

...

Xiao Xun walked out of the hall. He didn’t want to show weakness, but his gaze froze for a moment. It was as if he had been locked away in a sunless underground dungeon his whole life and was suddenly, uncomfortably, exposed to the world outside.

’I wasn’t locked up for a lifetime, nor was it a sunless place! This is just a temporary defeat, not an eternal one!’

"Where is Chu Zhao?" Xiao Xun asked, looking up.

The courtyard of the government office was crowded with people, just as he had sensed from inside the hall. The atmosphere, however, had changed.

The generals were no longer angry, and the soldiers no longer radiated hostility. Their expressions were dazed, as if they were the ones who had been locked away for a long time, unaware of the world’s events.

At the mention of Chu Zhao’s name, another group of people in the courtyard walked over, led by a young girl.

"Is the Empress’s personal name something you can speak so freely?" she scoffed.

Xiao Xun looked at her. He had never seen this girl before, yet she seemed familiar, probably because he could see a resemblance to Chu Zhao in her face.

Someone ran past with a PITTER-PATTER, lunging toward the girl. "Sister Xiao Man!"

It was that wicked child, Little Rabbit—the one who had killed his general and subdued Tie Ying.

The wicked child didn’t manage to jump onto the girl; she kicked him away with a lift of her foot, and he landed nearby, giggling.

’They’re all Chu Zhao’s people.’

Xiao Xun asked coldly, "What did the Empress do to my father, the Prince?"

Xiao Man said lazily, "Don’t worry, Princely Heir. The King of Zhongshan is doing just fine."

’He was "doing just fine" tied up in the reception hall too, only with his mouth stuffed with a dirty rag and being slapped by that lowly maid Chu Tang.’ Xiao Xun stared coldly at the people present—aside from these petty crooks, there were also people from the Prince Zhongshan Mansion and officials from Zhongshan County.

Seeing him look over, those people quickly said, "Rest assured, Princely Heir. The Prince is safe and sound."

Xiao Xun didn’t bother asking them anything and made to leave.

"Hey, Princely Heir," Xiao Man called out. "Where do you think you’re going?"

Xiao Xun looked at her. "Since the Empress has gotten what she wanted, I am, of course, going home to see my father, the Prince."

Xiao Man grinned at him. "Oh, that won’t do. You can’t go back to Zhongshan County. You’re going to the Capital City."

The Capital City! Xiao Xun froze, then immediately tried to retreat, but he was a step too late.

"Tie him up!" Xiao Man said.

As she spoke, Little Rabbit, who had been standing beside her, and an old servant who leaped out from the reception hall, pounced on him in the blink of an eye. The world blurred for a moment, and Xiao Xun found himself pinned down, a rope snaking around his body like a viper.

This rope was also familiar; it had been untied from him not long ago.

"You—!" Xiao Xun roared.

The generals and soldiers in the courtyard grew restless. They shouted, but their feet hesitated. They didn’t rush forward to cut down these petty crooks.

"What are you doing?" Xiao Man shouted, her expression displeased. "This wasn’t my idea. These are your Prince’s orders."

’The Prince’s orders?’

’Father?’

Xiao Xun looked at Xiao Man, then at the officials and generals standing in the courtyard. No, he didn’t believe it!

Ning Kun stepped forward. He had just been released as well. He held an unrolled letter, and through the back of the paper, the bright red of a seal was visible.

"Princely Heir," he said, his expression complicated. "The Prince has given an order. He commands you, Princely Heir, to go to the Capital City to await... judgment."

’Sending me to the Capital City? Father is sending me to the Capital City? Father is... abandoning me?’

Xiao Xun looked at Ning Kun, then at the officials and generals in the courtyard. He stopped struggling and stood up straight.

"As it should be," he said. "I am the one who brought this trouble upon my father. I should go to His Majesty and beg for forgiveness."