The Sovereign – Chapter 133

Volume Seven: Iron Horses Shock the World

Broken Country, Mountains, and Rivers

She’s tired, sorry, and can no longer protect you all

That hazy figure, warm and caring, that faint smile, as comfortable as a spring breeze. Was all this real? Xun’er had returned, right by her side. Qin Junlan smiled in her sleep; after so many days of warfare, only now did she appear so relaxed.

“Xun’er…” Qin Junlan slowly opened her eyes, quickly sitting up and looking around. She clearly saw Liu Qianxun, could it have been a dream? Impossible!

She hurriedly rose from her bed, but discovered a golden token by her pillow. Wasn’t this the one she had bestowed upon Liu Qianxun? How did it get here? This wasn’t a dream; she must have been here. Qin Junlan clutched the token to her chest, feeling an ache in her heart, suppressing her churning emotions.

“Did Xun’er come by?” Her voice was hoarse, like the mournful cry of a wounded beast. She slowly rose, her thin body like paper, her gaunt face showing sharp features, illness having caused her eye sockets to sink, that stunning countenance having lost its original luster.

“This servant… has not seen Lady Liu, Your Majesty. Perhaps you dreamed of her due to deep longing.”

“Dreamed of her? Is this token yours then?” Qin Junlan extended her hand, Li Yue lowered her head, unconsciously touching her waist, knowing that besides Liu Qianxun, only she, who often delivered imperial edicts, would have such a token.

Li Yue remained silent, knowing Lady Liu left the token as a farewell gesture. How could Her Majesty believe she hadn’t appeared?

Qin Junlan walked toward the tent’s exit without a word.

“Your Majesty, please wear something.” Li Yue hurriedly grabbed a sable cloak and rushed after her.

The cold wind howled past, mixed with snowflakes, cutting across their faces. Qin Junlan searched everywhere, spotted a soldier, grabbed them, but turned them around to find it wasn’t Liu Qianxun’s face.

“Paying respects to Your Majesty!” The soldiers who saw her all knelt down, while Qin Junlan stumbled through the crowd searching.

Xun’er must be nearby! She must be disguised as a soldier following her, never having left, just still angry with her. Qin Junlan moved through the military camp, facing the wind and snow as she searched, grabbing one passing soldier after another, but none had that face.

“Xun’er…” She didn’t even have the strength to call out, her legs gradually losing strength.

“Your Majesty, please stop searching!” Li Yue tightly fastened the cloak, wrapping her inside. Qin Junlan’s eyes reddened, her body long since numb from cold, but what could be colder than her heart?

The wind and snow drifted freely, snowflakes falling between her hair strands, slowly melting. She reached out her hand, snowflakes blooming in her palm, instantly vanishing. She clenched her fist, nails digging into her palm, “Did you see her?”

“She’s already gone! Your Majesty, after bidding you farewell, she left and won’t return.” Li Yue spoke with deep anguish, “Please stop tormenting yourself.”

Qin Junlan stood in the wind, her lips moving slightly but remaining silent, her body as if frozen, unable to move. It was cold, but the winter wind wasn’t as cold as Li Yue’s words that she would never return… Qin Junlan trembled, hugging herself, fingertips digging into her arms, as if only that thread of pain could let her feel any sensation.

“Your Majesty? Please don’t frighten me, Your Majesty?” Li Yue fearfully tugged at Qin Junlan’s hem. She stared ahead expressionlessly, her gaze unfocused, perhaps this was extreme heartbreak, unable to even emit a silent sob.

At this moment, several generals suddenly gathered together to report military intelligence to Qin Junlan.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Luo Kingdom has surrendered, one hundred thousand Red Armor troops have come to support Zhengyi, bringing new siege weapons called boring carts. These vehicles are sharp as drills, capable of penetrating city gates. This humble official believes that coordinating with giant crossbows in simultaneous attack, having all troops surround Zhengyi, forcing their surrender, our forces can certainly take Zhengyi in one strike and consume the Yu Kingdom.”

“This humble official concurs! We await Your Majesty’s decision!”

The four great generals knelt simultaneously, awaiting this crucial battle, all hoping to end the warfare soon, take the Yu Kingdom, and quickly complete Ji Kingdom’s unification.

The cold wind swayed Qin Junlan’s long hair as she remained silent. The pain throughout her body left her without strength to speak. She gently wiped away the cold sweat sliding down her forehead, and after a while, she slightly turned her head, her gaze burning like a torch, “Approved.”

The entire Zhengyi city was surrounded on three sides, two hundred thousand Red Armor troops encircling it. This final barrier of the Yu Kingdom swayed in the wind and rain. Before dawn, Zhengyi, where xun music drifted, suddenly suffered the Red Armor Army’s surprise attack.

Soldiers and civilians were awakened from sleep, Ling Yu flew to the city gate, personally commanding the battle. The stone xun fell to the ground, Lin Wuming picked it up, gripping it tightly. Over ten giant crossbows shot straight forward, the city wall’s defensive weapons struggled to resist. Under the Dunjia Army’s protection, boring carts were moved to the city gate, where over ten soldiers operated the wheels, directing huge iron blades to launch attacks against the gate.

Inside the city, Yu soldiers moved huge rocks to block the gate, unsure where the Ji army acquired such weapon carts that made the gate’s defense vulnerable. Ling Yu immediately ordered oil cauldrons aimed below the gate, coordinating with fireballs hurled at the boring carts, finally easing this wave of assault.

Arrows filled the sky, occasionally giant crossbow bolts flew in, the Red Armor Army’s assault more fierce than ever before, Yu soldiers falling one after another into pools of blood. Ling Yu moved nimbly, easily dodging the giant crossbow bolts, but countless other soldiers died or were wounded.

“Waa waa…” Ling Yu suddenly heard a child crying, discovering he had become separated from his mother and was crying helplessly. She hurried forward to embrace the child, protecting him in her arms, when she saw the child’s mother rushing forward anxiously. At the same time, several sharp arrows flew toward them at high speed. Ling Yu leaped, pulling the mother up with her as they dodged.

“Quickly go inside, don’t wander outside!” Ling Yu handed the child to the woman.

“Thank you, Grand Princess! Thank you, Grand Princess!” The woman held her child tightly, hiding inside with other civilians. Now the city was filled with gunpowder smoke, the streets were impassable, and danger lurked everywhere in the city.

Ling Yu watched the terrified eyes of civilians peering from windows. People were constantly falling around her, soldiers’ blood soaking the ground. All of Zhengyi was shrouded in an atmosphere of despair, as if Death itself had descended upon the city. Every day people died, every day families were torn apart.

“Grand Princess! Please retreat to Zhongshan County, the gate fears… fears it won’t last…” Before the defending officer could finish, an arrow struck down, piercing his heart. Blood spurted from his mouth, splattering onto Ling Yu’s battle garments.

Ling Yu’s eyes widened, clutching his collar hoping he wouldn’t fall, but he still died beside her. The Ji army’s attacks came wave after wave, the tower walls running with blood, giant crossbow bolts shooting into the city, always finding those unable to dodge.

Ling Yu stood dazed, hearing only screams, seeing only the falling shadows of soldiers, blood slowly flowing on the ground, staining the white snow red. The morning clouds spread across the sky, reflecting a world turned crimson. As if her soul had left her body, she watched her country being destroyed bit by bit, unable to save anyone – unable to save this country, unable to save her incompetent brother, and now unable to even hold Zhengyi city.

“Princess, look out! Look out!!”

Shouts rang in her ears, but she heard nothing, showing no reaction, as if having lost all sensation and judgment. She only saw someone waving frantically at her. When she came to her senses, she felt hot liquid splashing her face, slowly flowing down from the corner of her eye.

A thick arrow like a spear had pierced Lin Wuming’s body – he had turned himself into a barrier, becoming Ling Yu’s final protection.

“Wuming…” Ling Yu grabbed Lin Wuming’s clothes, but found no strength in her hands, her body slowly collapsing with his.

Lin Wuming’s chest seemed torn open, blood flowing like water, continuously gushing out. His lips trembled slightly, the taste of blood between his teeth.

“It’s alright, it’s alright…” Ling Yu covered his wound, her hand immediately soaked with blood. Lin Wuming coughed lightly, raising his head slightly to see Ling Yu’s reddened eyes, and spoke with reluctance, “I always hoped you would look at me once more, even thought that if I were a woman, perhaps I could earn more of your sympathy. But seeing you like this now, I’d rather you remained cold and distant toward me.”

“Don’t speak…” Ling Yu’s low voice carried a hoarseness, indistinguishable whether from grief or suppressed pain.

“Princess… the former emperor was unfair to you, the world was unfair to you, Wuming feels this injustice for you!” Lin Wuming tightly gripped Ling Yu’s hand, blood trickling from his lips as he spoke, tears wetting his eyes. How he wished to walk alongside Ling Yu a while longer, hoping all this hadn’t ended, but his path had reached its end.

Regrettably, he couldn’t protect her until the end. His former wish was for Ling Yu to look at him once more, but now he wished she could be as cold as others thought her to be, shed those cursed responsibilities, and live for herself just once.

“There’s no justice or injustice…” Ling Yu’s voice was cool yet trembling, her hands unable to stop the blood flowing from Lin Wuming’s wound. His body was growing cold, curling up involuntarily. Ling Yu embraced his shoulders, knowing his time had come. She closed her eyes deeply and said softly, “Go peacefully… the world over there is more tranquil…”

“I…” Lin Wuming’s pupils dilated, feeling no strength to keep his eyes open, his vision blurring, “Can’t… bear…” He tried to raise his hand to give the stone xun to Ling Yu, but finally fell heavily.

Ling Yu held his head against her chest, gently stroking his face, showing no grief, no expression, calm without a ripple, “Wuming, do you think I should stop persisting like this?”

“Wuming, I’m tired too…” She gently laid Lin Wuming’s body flat, her blood-red hands trembling slightly as she picked up the stone xun and placed it in her embrace.

“Grand Princess!” Ye Ming rushed over, seeing Lin Wuming’s corpse. Her brows furrowed, not even having time for grief, she said angrily: “Let’s retreat. By tonight at the latest, Zhengyi will fall.”

“Master, this subordinate has learned that the Red Armor troops fighting the Qing Kingdom have arrived at Zhengyi. The Luo Kingdom has also surrendered, and Red Armor reinforcements are continuously arriving. We cannot hold Zhengyi.” Eagle Eye reported the latest news, but Ling Yu showed no reaction. She suddenly gave a cold laugh, “Retreat? Retreat where? To the palace in Zhongshan County?”

Eagle Eye and Ye Ming exchanged glances, remaining silent.

They had never seen Ling Yu so defeated, helplessly at a loss. Before, they thought their sect leader was omnipotent, but under the iron cavalry of the Red Armor Army, the massive forces finally broke through all her strength and defenses. She couldn’t even muster the strength to command battles anymore – the Yu Kingdom, she could no longer protect it.

Once Zhengyi falls, it would be like opening the gates to the Yu Kingdom; Yu soldiers would have no strength left to resist Ji Kingdom’s Red Armor Army. Ling Yu suddenly took flight, her feet like the wind, straight up to the tower. She leaped to the highest point where the flags were planted.

Her proud, solitary figure stood between heaven and earth. Looking down at the city below, a sea of red armor had surrounded Zhengyi, and among the crowd, someone in yellow armor was looking up at her.

She suddenly let out a long whistle to the sky, a heart-stirring laugh spreading out. Qin Junlan raised her hand, and the Ji soldiers temporarily ceased their attack. Everyone looked up at the tower at the once-supreme Grand Princess of Yu Kingdom, now like a defeated general, emanating despair.

The bitter wind raised patches of snow, and Ling Yu looked up at the sky. In the distance, she seemed to see the prosperous scenes of Yu Kingdom from her childhood. Looking back at the tragic state inside the city, she bit her lip lightly, two streams of hot tears bursting forth.

“I’m sorry, Father Emperor, your subject has tried her best…” Ling Yu lowered her head with guilt. It was truly enough; too many had died. She shouldn’t let more innocent soldiers die for her pride and dignity. Struggling further would only increase casualties. She couldn’t persist anymore; she really couldn’t hold on.

She wearily removed her armor and robes, leaving only a white long garment, her thin body like snow. She tore a white cloth from her clothing’s edge and wrapped it around the Yu Kingdom’s flag.

“They’re surrendering!” General Yang was the first to understand Ling Yu’s intention. “Your Majesty, the Yu Kingdom is surrendering!”

Yet Qin Junlan’s face showed no joy. Could Ling Yu really be surrendering? She couldn’t believe someone as proud as Ling Yu would surrender. Although this was what she had always hoped for, when actually seeing this moment, she felt no happiness in her heart, but rather a sense of melancholy. It was for the common people, wasn’t it? For her own country – had she finally abandoned her dignity? Such a worthy opponent – Qin Junlan suddenly felt reverence and admiration for her.

The soldiers inside the city understood Ling Yu’s intention when they saw that white cloth. Some passionate soldiers shouted loudly, “Grand Princess, don’t surrender, we can still fight!”

“Yes! Princess, we can still fight!” After speaking, all the soldiers knelt before Ling Yu. She turned to look at them, her lips raising in a weary smile, “I’m sorry, Changning is incompetent, and can no longer protect you all.”

“We’ll stand with the Grand Princess!” Somehow, looking at Ling Yu at this moment made these strong seven-foot men shed tears. Everyone knew what kind of person the Grand Princess was – if not for the lives of soldiers and safety of civilians, she would never surrender.

“Changning thanks you all!” Ling Yu bowed deeply to those below. She was the sinner of all this; someone had to bear responsibility for Yu Kingdom’s defeats!

She turned to look once at Qin Junlan, showing a serene smile. She was Ling Yu, Grand Princess of Yu Kingdom, titled Changning! She would never give Qin Junlan the chance to humiliate her. Suddenly, she stretched out her hand, her palm seeming to possess a powerful attracting force, drawing a sharp sword steadily from the ground into her hand!

She turned her wrist, positioning the sword blade against her neck….

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