[Wuxia] The Duan Family Women Generals (Complete) - 34

Chapter 183 – Feng Qing, moved by compassion, spares her from torture; You Liang, facing certain death, pleads for his life,

claiming that Xiao Hong stabbed Consort Hui in the heart and then calmly begged for dismemberment.
Feng Qing, moved, said, “I never imagined a mere palace maid like you would serve your mistress so cruelly. If I were to dismember you, the world would laugh at me. Very well, I will grant you a swift and decisive death.”
Xiao Hong said, “Thank you.” She then tied her black hair into a large bun, went to the courtyard, knelt on the bluestone slab, and a eunuch came over, beheaded her with a single stroke. Her body fell to the ground, and she died after a few twitches.
Feng Qing then turned to the other palace maids and said, “Although you have no evidence of treason, you have been in the courtyard for so long that you cannot escape suspicion. For Xiao Hong’s sake, I will grant each of you a complete corpse.”
The palace maids wept and wailed as the eunuchs untied them from the pillars, bound their hands behind their backs, forced them to kneel, tied white silk around their necks, and strangled them all to death.
Feng Qing ordered that Consort Hui and Xiao Hong be given a proper burial, and also ordered that the palace maids be buried according to custom. Then he went out of the courtyard to the front hall and ordered the flag bearers to quickly relay the order: "In war between two nations, each side serves its own master. Those captured spies and their families are spared the punishment of slow slicing; adult men are beheaded and their heads displayed publicly; women and children are hanged."
At this time, the dozen or so spies and their families, totaling over seventy people, had been captured by Tao Xiuying and were taken to the marketplace, stripped naked, and awaited execution. Upon receiving Feng Qing's order, the punishment was changed to beheading and hanging. At noon, three cannon shots rang out. The spies, fearless and unperturbed, calmly faced their deaths. A group of women, weeping and wailing, were untied from wooden stakes, dragged to the ground, and strangled instantly with ropes around their necks, their excrement and urine gushing out, displayed in the street for public viewing.
After dealing with the spies, they rested for the night. At this time, a battle report arrived, saying that Hua Rong had changed course midway and headed towards Tiger Head Ridge.
Feng Qing said, "Xu Youliang's days are numbered."
Tao Xiuying, upon hearing this, said, "Xu Youliang must not be killed."
Feng Qing asked, "Why is that?"
Tao Xiuying replied, "Although Xu Youliang is now trapped, his troops still remain. If we kill him, without a leader, warlord conflicts will inevitably ensue, making it difficult to maintain order for the time being. The best course of action is to force Youliang to surrender, and then let him rally the generals, thus stabilizing the realm."
Feng Qing said, "The strategist's words are absolutely correct."
"In that case, please, my lord, move your carriage and accompany me to Tiger Head Ridge."
Meanwhile, Xu Youliang, having heard that Pang Qi had secured the high mountains on both sides of the road, dared not proceed rashly. He could only order his troops to occupy the watershed of Tiger Head Ridge for a temporary rest while gathering further information.
Shortly afterward, scouts reported that Pang Qi was indeed on both mountains, with a total of 100,000 men. He had built fortifications on the main road to White Tiger Pass and deployed heavy troops to guard it, making passage impossible.
You Liang could only shake his head. He had nearly a million troops, reduced to only fifty thousand, and yet he still had to break through the fortified walls—a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The pursuing enemy was closing in, and would surely catch up within half a day. If he didn't clear the road and capture Baihu Pass in time, he would be doomed.
Thinking this, he summoned his generals to his tent. Looking at his officers, besides the Xu sisters and Zhang Ping, only three deputy generals remained, and those below the rank of lieutenant general were few. He couldn't help but feel dejected.
After General Youliang finished explaining the situation, he said, "My officers and generals have followed me in countless battles, hoping to conquer the land and enjoy a peaceful and prosperous era. However, we have been betrayed by treacherous villains, leading to this predicament. Now we have no food or supplies, no reinforcements, and Feng Qing's army is pressing in. This is all my fault. Now, before the enemy arrives, cut off my head and go to Feng Qing to beg for a way out."
Upon hearing this, the generals all knelt down and said, "We have received Your Majesty's kindness and have no way to repay it. We are willing to live and die with Your Majesty, even if it means sacrificing our lives, we will not fail Your Majesty!"
Youliang said, "I am sincere and not testing you. If you refuse to do it, I will cut off my own head and give it to you." After saying this, he reached for his sword.
Zhang Ping, quick-witted and agile, grabbed him and knelt down, weeping, "Your Majesty, please don't do this! If anything happens to you, I will follow you to the afterlife!"
You Liang sighed, "Why bother? Very well, go out of the tent and distribute all the wealth to the soldiers. Let those who wish to leave go."
Zhang Ping was still uneasy and remained seated in the tent, staying close by his side.
Before long, the generals returned to report that half of the soldiers had dispersed, leaving more than 20,000 men who were willing to live and die with His Majesty.
You Liang said, "If everyone is determined to die, there is a chance of resurrection. We cannot sit and wait to die, but we don't know where to find a chance of survival."
Zhang Ping said, "Hua Rong and Feng Qing behind us have many soldiers and generals, totaling 500,000. Going this way, there is no chance of survival. The only way is to concentrate all our strength and launch a strong attack on Pang Qi's fortifications. Perhaps we can succeed in one battle. "
You Liang agreed.
Everyone packed up and discarded all their heavy equipment, traveling light. After traveling ten miles, arrows and logs rained down from the mountains on both sides. Braving the stray arrows, they charged forward with all their might until they reached the fortifications. Half of the 20,000 men had already gone.
Zhang Ping and the Xu sisters, on horseback, shouted and protected You Liang as they charged towards the fortifications. Behind the fortifications, powerful bows and crossbows fired in unison. Seven or eight generals, including You Liang, were wounded by arrows, but they continued unabated.
Seeing this momentum, the defending soldiers were so frightened that they dropped their bows and arrows and scattered and fled. You Liang broke through the fortifications and regrouped his men. Only seven thousand men remained, with only three female generals and two deputy generals left.
Pang Qi hadn't expected Xu Youliang to dare break through the fortifications, so most of his 100,000 troops were stationed on the mountain. Seeing Youliang charge forward, he hurriedly led his troops in pursuit. Soon after, Hua Rong's army arrived and joined the chase eastward.
Youliang reached the foot of Baihu Pass, set up camp along the road, and built fortifications at narrow sections to block the pursuers, then prepared to attack Baihu Pass.
At this time, on the east side of Baihu Pass, Zheng Mingde and Hu Yue were engaged in a fierce attack, while on the other side, Guan Yuqing and others were also fighting Hua Rong's army at Pingling Pass. However, the loss of the eastern pass completely isolated Xu Youliang, and none of the generals outside knew his location. Otherwise, if Guan Yuqing and the others had abandoned Pingling and concentrated their forces on a strong attack on Baihu Pass, they might have been able to save Xu Youliang.
Shi Yunqing, hearing that Youliang had reached the west gate of Baihu Pass and that he only had seven thousand men, knew victory was assured. He used this to inspire his soldiers, who defended the city with even greater determination.
Xu Youliang organized his troops and launched an attack on Baihu Pass, but they were driven back from the city walls, suffering hundreds of casualties. Their siege ladders were also burned, so they hastily rebuilt them, preparing for another attack. However, Hua Rong and Pang Qi's main army arrived and began attacking the fortifications. Zhang Ping ordered Xu Xiaoyang to defend the fortifications, while Xu Xiaoyue led two deputy generals to prepare siege ladders and continue the assault on Baihu Pass. Xu
Youliang and his men, determined to fight to the death, resisted fiercely, taking advantage of the narrow roads that prevented large armies from deploying, and held out for two days and two nights.
Hua Rong, enraged by this, mounted his horse and personally led his troops in a charge.
Thanks to Hua Rong's superior martial arts and the exhaustion of Xu Youliang and his men, the fortifications on the main road were finally breached.
At this point, Xu Youliang had only a little over two thousand men left and was no longer able to attack Baihu. Zhang Ping and Xu Xiaoyue protected Xu Youliang, fighting their way back up the mountain, while Xu Xiaoyang, alone on horseback, stood guard on the main road against the pursuing troops.
Although Wang Ke and Mei Zi were with Hua Rong... Several generals, including Liang and Pang Qi, were unable to attack all at once due to the narrow road, and had to take turns fighting Xu Xiaoyang.
Xu Xiaoyang wielded a hook-and-sickle spear, her movements swift and deadly. Although the generals were highly skilled, they were unable to defeat her for the time being.
What happens next? Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Chapter 184 – Xu Xiaoyang, a Woman Against All, Hua Rong Shoots a Female Captive with a Female Arrow. Xu Xiaoyang, alone

, blocked the narrow passage, fighting against the generals. The enemy soldiers were temporarily blocked and unable to pass.
Hua Rong, watching from the side, saw that Xu Xiaoyang had many wounds from swords and arrows, covered in blood, yet she refused to retreat even half a step, and was moved by her strength.
However, the strength of one person is ultimately limited. After fighting for half an hour, Xu Xiaoyang's warhorse was exhausted and she took a step back. This single step gave the others an opportunity. Wang Ke rushed past her from behind, putting her in a pincer attack.
Helpless, Xu Xiaoyang looked back and saw that Xu Youliang and the others had already retreated to a platform halfway up the mountain. Beyond that was a sheer cliff, with nowhere else to go. So, he fought and retreated, also heading up the mountain.
The area where Xu Youliang was positioned was small, only able to accommodate forty or fifty people. A small path led down the mountain. Zhang Ping and Xu Xiaoyue stood on either side of Xu Youliang, while the remaining two thousand soldiers stood guard along the path, ready to protect him.
Xu Xiaoyang retreated to the lower end of the path and then stopped, continuing to block the attack.
Hua Rong sent Pang Qi into Baihu Pass to help Shi Yunqing defend the city. Wang Ke, Mei Ziliang, Meng Qinghai, Feng Xiaoyu, and the two Western Rong princes took turns attacking Xu Xiaoyang.
After fighting for a long time, Xu Xiaoyang's horse finally gave way and collapsed, pinning one of his legs to the ground. Wang Ke was beside him, sword in hand, but he couldn't bring himself to strike. He said, "General, you have done your best. Surrender."
Xu Xiaoyang lay on the ground, unable to move his legs or wield his hook-and-sickle spear. Knowing he could no longer fight, he held the spear across his chest and said, "I do not wish to surrender, nor do I wish to be captured. If the general pities my loyalty, I only ask for a swift death."
The two Western Rong princes, having long admired the beauty of the Xu sisters, harbored improper thoughts. They rode over and said, "General Wang, leave this female general to us."
Xu Xiaoyang knew what they were thinking, but he was already exhausted and pinned down by his horse. Even death was difficult for him. The thought of the humiliation of being captured brought tears to his eyes.
Although Wang Ke hated Xu Youliang, he did not hate the other generals. Moreover, he valued loyal and righteous men. However, as princes, he could not disobey them.
Just as she was struggling with this dilemma, the two princes arrived and dismounted. The second prince kicked Xu Xiaoyang's hook-and-sickle spear away, bent down and grabbed her under the armpits, while the third prince pushed aside the fallen warhorse and dragged Xu Xiaoyang out.
Seeing Xiaoyang's tear-streaked face, the two princes showed no pity. The second prince reached out and removed her upper armor, while the third prince removed her skirt armor and went to take off her trousers. Suddenly, a golden gust of wind came from behind, startling him. He quickly dodged, and a wolf-tooth arrow grazed past him, striking Xu Xiaoyang in the throat, killing her instantly.
When the two princes turned around, they saw that it was Hua Rong who had shot the arrow. Their faces darkened with anger. "Marshal Hua, what is the meaning of this?" they exclaimed.
"She fought valiantly for her master and is now too weak to fight any longer. Why humiliate such a loyal and brave woman?"
"Since she is a captured female general, she deserves this humiliation."
"As long as I, Hua Rong, live, I will not tolerate such
treatment." "You!" The two Western Rong princes were furious and wanted to draw their swords to fight. Hua Rong was also annoyed and was about to respond when Feng Xiaoyu pulled him back, whispering, "Marshal Hua, they are, after all, my father's in-laws. Why offend them?"
"Should we let them cause trouble?"
"No matter how loyal Xu Xiaoyang is, he is still an enemy. How can we ruin our own people's friendship for the sake of an enemy general?"
Hua Rong thought about it and realized this made sense, but ultimately he was unwilling to see a fellow female general humiliated by men. He left the situation to Wang Ke and went into the pass with Feng Xiaoyu.
Seeing Hua Rong leave, the two Western Rong princes, unrestrained, stripped Xiao Yang naked and inserted two wooden branches between her legs to humiliate Xu Youliang and the others.
Xu Xiaoyue, her eyes blurred with tears, watched helplessly as her sister's corpse was defiled. She knew that today, the same shame would befall her, but she had no choice but to act without hesitation.
Xu Youliang, watching, also felt sorrow and cried out, "Wang Ke, you want me! Spare my general!"
Zhang Ping, hearing this, quickly covered his mouth and shouted down the mountain, "Wang Ke, as long as my sister and I live, you will not lay a finger on my lord's head !"
Wang Ke was powerless to stop them. After watching the two Western Rong princes have had their fill of fighting, Xu Youliang asked, "Your Highnesses, may we attack the mountain now?"
The two princes, still concerned for Xu Xiaoyue and Zhang Ping, quickly replied, "You are the commander here; the decision rests entirely with you."
"In that case, attack the mountain!"
The two princes immediately began their ascent.
On the mountain path, Xu Youliang's soldiers stood firm, facing the charging enemy without flinching. The two Western Rong princes cut them down one by one, but Xu Youliang also managed to wound them several times.
Further ascent was difficult, as the mountain path became steeper, and their horses could no longer be used. They had to dismount and ascend on foot.
Seeing this, Xu Xiaoyue discarded her hook-and-sickle spear, removed her armor, leaving only her undergarments, drew her sword, and descended the mountain on foot to meet the two princes.
In this initial battle, Xu Xiaoyue gained the upper hand, primarily due to the Western Rong's skill in riding and the advantage of their Ferghana horses. However, in foot combat, she was far inferior to the Central Plains generals.
Xu Xiaoyue wielded her sword with dazzling skill, overwhelming the two princes.
Wang Ke, seeing this, hurriedly called for Mei Ziliang and others to help, but they were too late. Xu Xiaoyue pierced the third prince's throat with her sword, and he collapsed to the ground, thrashing about before dying.
The second prince, terrified, dared not fight further, and Mei Ziliang stepped past him to engage him in battle.
Xu Xiaoyue, being a female general, was already exhausted and could no longer hold her own.
Seeing this, Wang Ke, fearing Xu Xiaoyue would be captured and humiliated by the Western Rong princes, shouted, "Vanguard Mei, it's better to die than live!"
Mei Ziliang understood, and when he struck, he aimed only for vital points.
Xu Xiaoyue knew this was her fate, and fought with all her might, hoping to save her life.
We don't know what became of Xu Xiaoyue, but we'll find out in

the next chapter, Chapter 185—A Heroine Sacrifices Her Life for Loyalty,

Xu Youliang Endures Humiliation and Surrenders. Last time, we recounted how Xu Youliang was forced up the hillside, Xu Xiaoyang died
in battle, and Xu Xiaoyue took over from her sister, blocking the path up the mountain. Xu Xiaoyue killed the third prince of the Western Rong and fought Mei Ziliang.
Xu Xiaoyue eventually ran out of strength; after fighting for a long time, her legs went weak, and she collapsed to the ground, unable to stand, only wielding her sword to defend herself.
Mei Ziliang whispered, "Don't keep fighting; I don't want to capture you."
Xu Xiaoyue understood. Seeing Mei Ziliang's broadsword coming again, she didn't block it, closed her eyes, and was struck on the neck. Her head flew to the ground, rolled down the hillside, was caught by soldiers, and handed to Wang Ke.
The second prince of the Western Rong saw this and cried out in regret. He rushed over, quickly stripped Xiaoyue of her clothes, and continued to humiliate her with a wooden stick.
Mei Ziliang ignored him, brandishing his broadsword and charging up the hillside, followed closely by several officers.
Xu Youliang, seeing this, felt unbearable pain and repeatedly tried to commit suicide, but Zhang Ping stopped him: "My lord, how can a subject live on while his lord dies? If you must die, wait until Zhang Ping is dead."
Seeing Mei Ziliang reach the end of the path, the soldiers, disregarding their own lives, rushed forward, only to be cut down one by one by the generals.
Zhang Ping, wielding a double-edged spear, shielded Xu Youliang with his body; the two, ruler and subject, stood with their backs against the cliff, prepared for a final, desperate struggle.
Wang Ke climbed the hillside, looked at Zhang Ping with great admiration, and said, "Lord Xu, things have come to this, why fight again? Is General Zhang the only one left, and you want him to die as well?"
You Liang said, "I, You Liang, have my life here, take it as you please, I only beg you to spare General Zhang's life, and not let her be humiliated."
Hearing this, Zhang Ping knew that You Liang was determined to die, so she said, "My lord, Zhang Ping is incompetent, unable to protect you, Zhang Ping is leaving." She raised her sword and charged straight at Wang Ke.
Wang Ke knew that she was seeking death, and perhaps death was the best end for her at this moment, so he dodged to the side, swung his sword, and Zhang Ping, still in the same stance, charged straight at him, only to be cut in two at the waist by the broadsword, falling to the ground, struggling in agony.
Wang Ke couldn't bear it and wanted to finish her off with a final blow, but the Second Prince beat him to it, grabbing her hair and snatching half of her body away.
Wang Ke had no choice but to let him go. Xu
Youliang, now alone, drew his sword to commit suicide, but suddenly a thunderclap rang out, and a bolt of lightning struck the sword, causing him to lose his grip and fall to the ground.
As a prince, Xu Youliang refused to be captured alive and turned to bang his head against the cliff face, but Mei Ziliang rushed forward, embracing him. The others swarmed him and bound him.
Seeing that death was impossible, Xu Youliang looked up to the sky and cried out, "Heavens, why must I suffer such humiliation?!"
The generals, surrounding Youliang, turned and descended the mountain.
Looking back, the Second Prince of the Western Rong, Yi, had stripped Zhang Ping of her armor and clothes, holding her by the hair and ankle, carrying her upside down behind the others.
At the severed wound, intestines and internal organs spilled out, dragging on the ground. She was not yet dead, her almond-shaped eyes staring longingly at Youliang.
Youliang said, "General Wang, remember her loyalty and righteousness, give her a quick death."
The second prince of the Western Rong was still hesitant, but seeing the displeasure in the eyes of the generals, he felt a chill and had no choice but to throw Zhang Ping to the ground. He drew his sword and stabbed her in the heart at the severed wound. Blood spurted out, and she died a violent death.
Descending the mountain, they were escorted into Baihu Pass. By the roadside city gate, the bodies of Xu Xiaoyang and her sister lay out in a fire-shaped pattern.
The bodies of more than twenty female soldiers who had accompanied three female generals also lay on the ground in the same manner as the Xu sisters.
The exposed vulvas of these female soldiers and generals were pierced with branches and sticks, their pale bodies covered in wounds.
Xu Youliang, seeing this, was deeply saddened, turned away, and wept, entering the pass.
The crowd escorted Xu Youliang to see Hua Rong. Youliang, having seemingly come to terms with things, strode in.
Hua Rong shouted, "Is this Xu Youliang?"
"It is indeed I."
"Why do you not kneel
before me, the commander?" "I am a prince, how could I kneel before a mere girl like you?"
"How dare you! Aren't you afraid of death?"
"Since joining the army, I have fought countless battles, large and small. Life and death are no longer my concern. What is there to fear?"
"Hahaha, Brother Xu is indeed a hero. I admire you." Xu Youliang turned around and saw Feng Qing, with Tao Xiuying following behind.
"So it's Brother Feng, congratulations!"
"Who is so rude? Did you tie up the Prince of Yizi Bingjian?" Feng Qing said, as he came over and untied Youliang's ropes.
“Brother Feng, there’s no need for this. Now that you’ve been captured, do with me as you please.”
“Brother Xu, what are you saying? You and I are both outstanding men, but two tigers cannot share one mountain. A battle was inevitable, sooner or later, a battle of wits. Now that the outcome is decided, why fight to the death?”
“Even if you don’t kill me, I have no reason to live.”
“Brother Xu, you’re wrong.”
“Where am I wrong?”
“Although Brother Xu has been defeated, you still have many generals under your command, and control three-quarters of the land. While they may not be able to contend with you for the throne in the future, they will still be subject to your authority. At that time, conflict will still rage, and the people will suffer. Although Brother Xu and I fought, it was all for the sake of the common people. Now that the world desires peace and no longer wants to fight, we need Brother Xu to step forward and persuade them to lay down their arms and return to their fields, thus relieving the people from their dire straits. Why cause the people to suffer because of a fight of pride?”
Youliang, hearing this, knew that Feng Qing wanted to use him to persuade his former subordinates to surrender and end the war, so he spoke… "Brother, I understand your intentions perfectly, but as His Majesty, if I were to surrender, wouldn't I be ridiculed by the world? Let's not talk about this anymore; death is the only option."
Feng Qing tried to persuade him for a long time, but to no avail. Anxious, he was about to lose his temper when Tao Xiuying saw this and quickly interjected, "My lord, don't be angry. Lord Xu, don't be stubborn. There's plenty of time. Let's discuss this slowly. Why not have dinner first and discuss it again tomorrow?"
Meanwhile, under Tao Xiuying's arrangement, Feng Qing prepared wine and food for a banquet with Xu Youliang, and then arranged for him to stay at the inn.
For the next few days, Feng Qing held a large banquet every three days and a small banquet every day. Under Tao Xiuying's arrangement, he and Youliang reminisced about the story of the three families' uprising and reminisced about their friendship.
That night, Youliang lay in bed, unable to sleep. Thinking back on his thoughts, he wept silently until late into the night before finally falling asleep. In the dead of night, he heard someone calling his name. He awoke abruptly to find someone calling, "Nephew Youliang."
Xu Youliang recognized Zhang Gui's voice and exclaimed in surprise, "Is it Uncle? Are you a human or a ghost?"
Zhang Gui replied from mid-air, "Neither human nor ghost. What died was merely my Dharma body; my true body has long since ascended to the Penglai Realm."
"So Uncle has ascended to immortality, leaving me to suffer."
"Nephew Youliang, do you remember what I said when I left? You defied the will of Heaven, leading to this defeat."
Upon hearing this, Youliang remembered Zhang Gui's words to release Wang Bingzheng to control Feng Qing, and he was filled with remorse.
“Nephew Liang, the mistake has been made, and there's no point in regretting it now. You should wake up now and not go against the will of Heaven again, lest you bring disaster upon your descendants.”
“I don’t know why you are teaching me, Uncle?”
“If I wanted to rescue you, it wouldn’t be difficult, but now, with years of war, the people are suffering, and the world longs for stability. If you want to make a comeback, no one will support you. You should now follow the will of Heaven, support Feng Qing’s ascension to the throne, and stop the suffering of the people.
” “Uncle, Feng Qing’s actions are merely to use me
. Once the world is at peace, he will surely kill me.” “The Xu family has the destiny of a great ruler, which is ordained by Heaven, but it shouldn’t be upon you, nephew. In the next few years, you will face another calamity, but it will only be a false alarm and will not harm your life. After this calamity, everything will go smoothly. You will also have a marriage opportunity in the future; otherwise, who will carry on the Xu family line? You must know that only by enduring hardship can one rise above others.”
“I understand.”
“In that case, Uncle will depart. We will meet again in the future.”
Xu Youliang, having grasped this hidden meaning, felt greatly relieved. The next day at the banquet, Feng Qing brought up the matter of the past again. He secretly saw tears in Youliang's eyes and knew that his inner conflict had been resolved. He quickly pressed his advantage, and Youliang finally rose from his seat and knelt down, saying, “Long live the Emperor! I, Youliang, deserve to die a thousand deaths!”
Since Feng Qing raised his army, he had dreamed of becoming emperor countless times. Unexpectedly, the first person to call him “Long live the Emperor” was the very person he feared most. Overjoyed, he quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, “Brother Xu, there’s no need for this. You have the well-being of the people in mind; you are truly a virtuous person.”
Thereupon, Feng Qing promised that after ascending the throne, he would grant Xu Youliang the hereditary title of Prince.
In fact, Shi Wenlong and Hu Yue were unaware of Youliang's surrender and were attacking the city with great intensity. Youliang personally went to the city wall to persuade them to surrender.
Seeing Youliang’s persuasion, Shi Wenlong had no choice but to order the entire army to surrender.
Feng Qing cherished Shi Wenlong and Hu Yue greatly and still appointed them as generals.
Xu Youliang continued his tireless efforts, traveling far and wide to persuade Guan Yuqing, Hong Wei, Huang Yunxiang, and various forces from Nanling to surrender.
That year, Feng Qing ascended the throne in Yecheng. Because his ancestral home was outside Xuanwu Pass, a region associated with water, he named his kingdom "Shui" (Water), and proclaimed himself Emperor Taizong of Shui. He also posthumously honored his grandfather and father as Taizu and Gaozu, respectively.
Xu Youliang was granted the title of Prince Xiaoyao, Wu Dehai remained King of the Western Rong, Hua Rong was granted the title of King of the Northern Azure Dragon for his military achievements, Cao Yunlong was granted the title of King of the Southern Azure Dragon, Huang Mian was granted the title of King of Nanling, Feng Xiaoyu was adopted as a princess, Tao Xiuying was granted the title of Founding Marquis and concurrently Left Prime Minister, and other founding heroes received various rewards. Xu Youliang's original generals were also promoted to generals.
Huang Yunxiang and Hong Wei were originally Cao Yunlong's subordinates, and having grown accustomed to changing masters, they were enjoying their comfortable lives. Guan Yuqing and Hu Yue, unwilling to serve under Feng Qing, left without saying goodbye, their whereabouts unknown. Only Shi Wenlong and Hua Feng remained as generals in the court. Later, when the Western Rong King Wudehai launched an invasion, Shi Wenlong and Hua Feng were ordered to lead the campaign and remain to guard the border. They fought against the Western Rong for decades, dying in service.
Ladies and gentlemen, the story of "The Empire" began with the Duan family's Great Zhen Dynasty and now, with Feng Qing establishing the Great Shui Dynasty, seems to have come to an end.
But wait! Shi Yan wrote this book not to depict the world's strife and treachery, but for the heroic women who risked their lives. Although the world is now at peace, the heroes' joys and sorrows are not yet over. Xu Youliang is yet to be revealed, and he will face even greater shocks.
To find out how the main characters' fates end, please read the conclusion of "The Empire." The first chapter

of "The Empire (Conclusion)" –
"

The Old Hermit Discusses the Female Prime Minister in the Forest, Tao Xiuying Covets the Empress's Crown

" – is a 185-chapter novel. It begins with Duan Qizi taking his father's concubine in the Great Zhen Dynasty, then moves to the division of power among the Wang, Xu, and Feng families, then to Wang Bingzheng deposing the Zhen Emperor and establishing himself, and finally to Feng Qing's subjugation of Xu Youliang, reuniting the world.
This conclusion reveals the fate of the female heroes of the Empire and subtly foreshadows the reasons for the Xu family's later destruction of the Shui Dynasty.
Feng Qing, having captured Xu Youliang at Baihu Pass, persuaded him to surrender with kind words and, through Xu Youliang's words, convinced his subordinates to surrender as well, thus reuniting the world.
Soon after, Feng Qing established the Great Shui Dynasty, with its capital at Yecheng, and proclaimed himself Emperor Taizong. Other meritorious officials were rewarded.
Feng Qing held his coronation ceremony in Yecheng, where all the civil and military officials shouted "Long live the Emperor!" After the court salutations, they went to their respective posts.
Among them were the most depressed and the most glorious.
The most depressed was Xu Youliang. He was once a powerful and invincible general, leading a million soldiers who were virtually unbeatable. In the battle at Daxiong Pass, he had victory in his grasp, but one wrong move led to total defeat. Due to his poor personnel management, Cao Yunlong defected on the battlefield, causing him to lose a key position. Hundreds of thousands of troops were wiped out, leaving him alone, captured, and although he was granted the title of Prince Xiaoyao, how could he hold his head high in public? If it weren't for his uncle Zhang Gui's guidance, he would probably have ended up committing suicide in resentment.
The two most glorious were not Feng Qing, nor Empress Qi, but Tao Xiuying and Hua Rong.
Hua Rong was the foremost military general of the founding dynasty, and was also granted the title of Queen. From ancient times to the present, apart from Wu Zetian, no one dared to rival him. Naturally, he was full of pride and enjoyed boundless glory.
As for Tao Xiuying? She compared herself to Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, and was granted the title of Founding Marquis and Left Chancellor. Later, she was also appointed Minister of Personnel. Among women, she was comparable to Shangguan Wan'er, the female chancellor of the Wu Zhou dynasty, in civil affairs, and to Mu Guiying, the Marquis of Hun Tian. She was second only to the emperor, and all civil and military officials had to curry favor with Tao Xiuying before they could see Feng Qing. How could she not be glorious?
It is said that after the morning court session, Tao Xiuying returned to the female chancellor's residence in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, surrounded by attendants. Then, she took several maids and servants and went to the mountains in the northwest suburbs to see the scenery.
The valley was serene and beautiful, and she was so engrossed in the scenery that she forgot the time.
Halfway up the mountain, they came upon another grove of lush bamboo. Xiuying remarked, "Bamboo is a rare sight in Jiangbei; surely a hermit lives here." The aroma of tea wafted through the air. "I'm thirsty," she said, "I'd like a cup of tea." She ordered her servants to stop outside the grove, and, taking only two maids, followed the path through the bamboo thicket.
After walking about half a mile, they came upon a small, square pavilion by the roadside. An old man, with an air of otherworldly wisdom, sat in the pavilion. Before him on a table were a teapot, two cups, and a warm stove with lukewarm water.
The wealthy man, seeing Xiuying from afar, remained seated without rising, saying, "This morning, magpies chirped on the branches, indicating the arrival of a distinguished guest. I never imagined it was the Prime Minister herself. Please come into the pavilion and I'll serve you a cup of tea."
Tao Xiuying, finding the old man's face very familiar, stepped forward and asked, "How did you know I was coming?"
"Heh heh, Military Advisor Tao, don't you recognize this old man?"
As Tao Xiuying approached and looked closely, she exclaimed in surprise, "Who do we have here? It's Elder Wang! Since you left Wang Bingzheng long ago, we haven't heard from you. I never expected to find you enjoying such a life."
This man was none other than Wang Ruowang, Wang Bingzheng's strategist during the three-way attack on the Seven Star Dragon Formation, and a close friend of the old swordsman Zhou Tian.
Although Wang Ruowang had helped Wang Bingzheng conquer Yecheng, he knew Wang Bingzheng was not destined for greatness, so he left without saying goodbye. Now, the two comrades were reunited, naturally overjoyed.
Wang Ruowang hurriedly summoned a servant boy and ordered him to deliver tea to Xiuying's attendants outside the forest. He then sat in the pavilion with Xiuying and enjoyed tea.
The two chatted about trivial matters that had occurred since their separation, and reminisced about how they had jointly defeated Grand Tutor Hu's army years ago.
Ruowang said, "When the three families raised their regents' armies, I knew that Feng Xuanwu would surely rise to the top, and now it has indeed come to pass as I predicted."
Xiuying, hearing this, scoffed, "If that's the case, why didn't you serve my lord, but instead joined Wang Bingzheng's ranks?"
Ruowang replied, "I am but a humble villager, with no destiny for wealth and honor, nor any desire for them. My coming out of seclusion is merely to fulfill the will of Heaven and Earth, to help defeat Hu Da. Once the task is accomplished, I will retire. It makes no difference which rank I serve."
"Sir, you are truly a sage, utterly devoid of worldly desires. I am no match for you,"
Ruowang said, having already sensed the sarcasm in Xiuying's words, but pretending not to notice. "I have an old acquaintance with the Prime Minister, and I have a word of advice for you. The Prime Minister is now of impeccable character, revered throughout the land, enjoying boundless glory. However, nothing lasts forever, and as the saying goes, the moon wanes after it is full. I hope the Prime Minister will make plans soon." "
What do you mean by this, sir?"
"The female prime minister calls herself the female Marquis of Liu, but do you know where Marquis Zhang Liang went?"
"He resigned his post, living a carefree and leisurely life."
"Wow! Why doesn't the female prime minister emulate Marquis Zhang Liang, retiring after achieving his goals to protect herself? Although the female prime minister is a founding hero with unparalleled merit, she should also know the principle of 'the bow is put away after the birds are all gone, the dog is cooked after the rabbit is dead.'"
"Old sir, you are mistaken. Marquis Zhang Liang left because his merits overshadowed the emperor, fearing Liu Bang's jealousy. Xiuying is just a woman, without martial arts skills, with neither ambition for power nor the ability to usurp the throne. Does she really want to be an empress? Why would the emperor be jealous? Old sir, you are overthinking it." "
Since the female prime minister says so, I will not say more, but I advise the female prime minister to be cautious at all times and in all places. There are two more important matters in the future that require the female prime minister's merit. I only hope that the female prime minister will retire at the right time to avoid ruining her life."
"Pah! How dare you speak so hurtfully, sir!" Xiuying was furious, her face flushed with anger.
"How could I have spoken hurtfully? Since the female prime minister was able to help Emperor Taizong gain the throne, it must be divine intervention. Hasn't she consulted the oracle herself?"
"I do not know divination."
"Then so be it. I apologize for my loose tongue."
"Since we are old acquaintances, I will not blame you. Farewell." Xiuying, annoyed, rose to take her leave.
"Please forgive me for not seeing you off further." Wang Ruowang stood up and bowed deeply.
After leaving the bamboo grove, Tao Xiuying had no desire to enjoy the scenery and returned to her residence.
If one were to say that Tao Xiuying was incompetent, the world would surely disagree; otherwise, how could Feng Qing have gained the throne? In terms of strategic planning, Tao Xiuying was slightly better than Wang Ruowang. However, in terms of understanding the workings of fate and the rise and fall of dynasties, Tao Xiuying was far inferior to Wang Ruowang, and she lacked his magnanimity. This was why Tao Xiuying missed several opportunities to retire and ultimately died with her crimes unresolved.
As for Feng Qing, he showed no fear of Xiuying, but rather trusted her implicitly, not only because she was a woman, but also because she was a civil official without military power.
Although Tao Xiuying had no intention of usurping the throne, she harbored ambitions of taking over. She reasoned that as a woman, unable to marry and have children, she needed a place to settle down sooner or later. However, as Prime Minister, holding the highest position and possessing the greatest virtue, in this vast land, besides Cao Yunlong and Xu Youliang who were emperors, who else was worthy of Feng Qing, who held the highest position?
Xu Youliang was a deposed emperor, and sooner or later the emperor would find a pretext to take his head; she could not marry him. Cao Yunlong was also a surrendered general, and everyone knew his character; she could not marry him either. That left only the emperor as a suitable option.
In terms of age, Tao Xiuying was in her prime; in terms of beauty, she was the envy of all women; in terms of talent, she could rival Zhang Liang and Zhuge Liang. Feng Qing had repeatedly shown interest in her, therefore, Tao Xiuying was confident that she would eventually be taken by the emperor, and then she would have someone to rely on for life. Now the empress was old and frail; sooner or later the position of crown prince would also be hers.
Tao Xiuying believed that as long as she did not pose a threat to Feng Qing's throne, Feng Qing would definitely protect her, and even Empress Qi would not dare to do anything to her.
Had Tao Xiuying really not given herself any advice? Of course not. She foresaw the dangers lurking in her future, but she was blinded by fame and fortune. As the saying goes, "Birds see the food but not the net, people see the profit but not the harm." Who in the world can learn from Zhang Liang and not covet wealth and glory?
Tao Xiuying thought Wang Ruowang was jealous of her success and ignored his good advice. Later, when she was in danger and was rescued, her pride got the better of her, and she refused to help him, ultimately falling into the trap. How lamentable!
What will happen next? Let's find out in the next chapter. Chapter 2
of Imperial Ending 002

- Hua Rong's arrogance attracts jealousy, You Liang intends to harm people.

Let's leave Tao Xiuying aside for now and talk about Hua Rong, the Northern Azure Dragon King.
Hua Rong risked his life, leading a lone army out of Xuanwu, forcibly crossing the Beisha River, and advancing four thousand men into Zhuting. He then seized the fertile plains outside Qinglong Pass, cutting off Xu Youliang's food supply and forcing Xu Youliang to make a desperate attack on Daxiong Pass. He abandoned Qinglong again, launching a second deep-seated attack, besieging Pingling, and using a junior officer to persuade Cao Yunlong to defect, thus cutting off Xu Youliang's retreat and annihilating hundreds of thousands of Xu Youliang's troops. This ultimately allowed Feng Qing to escape from a desperate situation and unify the country.
It could be said that the Great Water Dynasty unified the land, with two-thirds belonging to the Hua family. So why did Feng Qing give half of the Qinglong King to Cao Yunlong? This was all the idea of Tao Xiuying and Empress Qi.
Don't underestimate Empress Qi just because she seems weak; she's shrewd, insightful, and ruthless—Feng Qing's capable assistant.
If there were two people Feng Qing feared most after gaining power, it would be...
One was Xu Youliang, a former regional warlord who, through a series of unforeseen events, had relinquished his vast empire to Feng Qing. Deeply resentful, and though nineteen of his subordinates had retired, his influence remained considerable. Therefore, Feng Qing bestowed upon him the title of "Free and Unfettered King," a title without official rank, and kept him in the capital. However, the most pressing danger Feng Qing faced was Hua Rong.
As the saying goes, "His achievements overshadow his master." Hua Rong had acquired two-thirds of the Feng family's empire, naturally making him arrogant and disdainful of everyone, from the entire court to the generals. Many powerful military figures in the court were subordinates of Hua Rong from Qinglong Pass, making him difficult to control should a rebellion break out. Therefore, from the moment Hua Rong sent his men to demand the title, Feng Qing and his allies had already resolved to eliminate this scourge sooner or later.
Therefore, Empress Qi and Tao Xiuying both believed that to control Hua Rong, they needed to use someone else, and Cao Yunlong was the only one capable of doing so. Thus, they divided the Azure Dragon King in two, each receiving one, and granted the four passes outside the Azure Dragon Pass—White Dragon, Black Dragon, Yellow Dragon, and Red Dragon—as well as the land beyond the pass to the two men. They also reassigned Hua Rong's former generals to other locations to prevent them from becoming a major threat.
These two Azure Dragon Kings, vying for exclusive control of the Azure Dragon Pass, would inevitably be wary of each other, allowing Feng Qing to reap the benefits.
Sure enough, after taking office, the two Azure Dragon Kings secretly began to vie for power.
Hua Rong had originally sent someone to force Feng Qing to issue the decree appointing him as the Azure Dragon King, but now he was being appointed the Northern Azure Dragon King, a clear demotion. This was certainly not what Hua Rong wanted, and his words inevitably revealed his dissatisfaction, which was known throughout the court.
Because Hua Rong was arrogant and disrespectful, many resented him, and some secretly wished for his downfall, which was also the reason for Hua Rong's later misfortune.
After the morning court session that day, Feng Qing kept Tao Xiuying to discuss state affairs. The topic of the three kings came up again, and Tao Xiuying suddenly had an idea. She said, "Your Majesty, I have a plan that kills three birds with one stone. Is it feasible?"
"Please tell me, Your Majesty."
"Since Feng Ling's death, Xu Youliang has been alone. Why not send someone to arrange a marriage between him and Hua Rong?"
"Outrageous! If this unites two barbarians, how can my kingdom ever be at peace?"
"Not so. Hua Rong is arrogant and proud. Xu Youliang is her defeated foe. How could she agree to a marriage with him? If she knows Your Majesty intends to betroth her to Xu Youliang, she won't dare disobey the decree. She will surely take advantage of the time before Your Majesty issues the decree to plot against Xu Youliang. In this way, the three barbarian tribes will become enemies, and Your Majesty will benefit from it. Would
n't that be good?" "Your Majesty's plan is excellent. What is it?"
"You can secretly spread rumors that His Majesty intends to betroth Hua Rong to Xu Youliang. I will then subtly probe Xu Youliang's intentions. If Xu Youliang is interested, but Hua Rong is indifferent, Hua Rong will surely harm Youliang. At that time, His Majesty can simply pretend not to hear and go with the flow to eliminate a threat, thus avoiding accusations that His Majesty killed a surrendered general and broke his promise."
"I will follow your plan."
A few days later, Empress Qi held a banquet in the Imperial Garden, inviting only Xu Youliang to the palace.
Since Feng Qing ascended the throne, he had invited Xu Youliang to banquets every few days, mainly to use the opportunity to probe Xu Youliang's thoughts and see if he harbored any ambition to rebel and seize the throne. Xu Youliang dealt with the situation carefully and luckily did not give himself away. In the end, Xu Youliang had heard the rumors circulating in the streets and alleys, thinking that this marriage should never be arranged. However, if Feng Qing proposed it, he could not disobey the imperial decree. Therefore, upon hearing that the Empress had invited him, he secretly devised a plan.
Upon arriving at the Imperial Garden, besides Lady Qi, Feng Qing, Feng Xiaoyu, and Tao Xiuying were also present. Xu Youliang felt increasingly threatened that the rumors might become reality.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, before Empress Qi could speak, Xu Youliang interrupted, praising Hua Rong and Tao Xiuying repeatedly, calling them heroines. Upon seeing this, Empress Qi immediately asked, "Prince Xiaoyao, what do you think of the Northern Azure Dragon King, Hua Rong?"
"Prince Hua is handsome and highly skilled in martial arts; she is truly the most beautiful woman in the Great Water Dynasty. Keeping her in office would only bury her beauty and could easily lead to unforeseen events. In my opinion, it would be better for His Majesty to make her a concubine. This would appease her, and His Majesty would sooner or later enjoy the company of a beautiful woman."
"Oh?" Empress Qi was quite surprised, and at the same time, she was very displeased. Women are always jealous, and Hua Rong being called the most beautiful woman in the Great Water Dynasty naturally aroused Empress Qi's resentment. Not only Empress Qi, but even Feng Xiaoyu and Tao Xiuying were resentful, though they couldn't show it. This was a plan Xu Youliang devised on the spot. On the surface, he praised Hua Rong, but in reality, he was creating trouble for her. He knew that Feng Qing wouldn't let Hua Rong go, and if he became her husband, wouldn't he be waiting to be slaughtered? It was better to give Hua Rong to Feng Qing.
"Doesn't the Carefree Prince intend to take the Northern Azure Dragon as his concubine?"
"The Flower Prince is a treasure of the world, belonging only to the imperial family. I, Liang, am unworthy, how dare I presume?"
"What if I were to arrange this marriage for you two?"
"Your Majesty, spare my life!" Xu Youliang knelt down with a thud: "If I have committed any wrongdoing, Your Majesty, you may kill me. I would never dare to marry the Northern Azure Dragon as my concubine."
Empress Qi and the others had never truly intended to arrange Hua Rong's marriage to Xu Youliang; it was merely a scheme. Therefore, she quickly ordered the palace maids to help Youliang up and comforted him with kind words. However, after the banquet, they further spread rumors, exaggerating that Xu Youliang intended to marry Hua Rong.
Some time later, Feng Qing, following Tao Xiuying's plan, added another title to Xu Youliang's Carefree Prince title, bestowing upon him the title of Capital Azure Dragon Prince, with the title of Nine Thousand Years Old, and rewarded him with dozens of guards, sending him to Bailong Pass to take up his post.
In terms of qualifications, Xu Youliang was once a king of equal rank, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to bestow upon him the title of Azure Dragon King. However, this made him the superior of Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong, and both of them had to kneel before him. How could Hua Rong tolerate this? As for Cao Yunlong, he had a grudge against Xu Youliang for insulting his wife and killing his concubine. They were already enemies, and now that Xu Youliang was his superior, he was afraid that something would happen sooner or later. Therefore, Cao Yunlong was also wary of him.
Xu Youliang knew that this meant he was now in a precarious situation, but being dependent on others, he had no choice but to try to keep his distance from Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong, and then find an opportunity to escape!
Ever since Xu Youliang, under the guidance of his uncle Zhang Gui, surrendered to Feng Qing, he had been thinking day and night about leaving this dangerous place. Initially, he was tasked with using his prestige to persuade his former subordinates to surrender and to stabilize the realm. However, after the founding of the Great Water Dynasty, Feng Qing had always been wary of him, keeping a close watch on him and refusing to let his guard down, so he had no chance to escape.
Now, confined to Bailong Pass, he was away from Feng Qing's side, and his chances of escape were much greater. He had no intention of getting involved in the power struggle between Feng Qing, Hua Rong, and Cao Yunlong.
However, Hua Rong was unaware of Xu Youliang's thoughts of escape. Her greatest fear was that one day, Feng Qing would issue an imperial decree ordering Hua Rong to marry Xu Youliang. Hua Rong's Northern Azure Dragon King's Mansion was located at White Dragon Pass, yet Feng Qing bestowed the title of Azure Dragon King upon Xu Youliang, but instead of building his mansion at Azure Dragon Pass, he built it at his own White Dragon Pass. The purpose of this was obvious.
Hua Rong, of course, was unwilling to let her "most beautiful woman in the world" become the plaything of a defeated enemy. Moreover, Hua Rong knew that Feng Qing would eventually eliminate Xu Youliang on charges of treason, and marrying into his household would only make her a target for execution. Therefore, her desire to kill Youliang grew stronger.
However, Hua Rong also understood that if she killed Xu Youliang, she would be charged with insubordination and face death. After much deliberation, she devised a plan to turn the tables. Since Feng Qing was going to kill Xu Youliang sooner or later, why not give Feng Qing a reason to kill Xu Youliang himself, thus avoiding implicated herself?
With this in mind, Hua Rong hurriedly ordered her men to prepare carriages, canes, and gifts, and set off to pay a visit to Cao Yunlong.
Why Hua Rong wanted to see Cao Yunlong remains to be seen; we'll find out in the next chapter. Chapter 3
of Imperial Finale 003

– Feng Qing issues an edict to eliminate dissidents, Hua Rong chases Xu Youliang under the moon.

As an Englishman aptly put it, "There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests." Although Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong were openly and covertly rivals, they both felt threatened by Xu Youliang's arrival. Therefore, as soon as Hua Rong arrived at Cao Yunlong's Fire Dragon Pass, the two immediately conspired to frame Xu Youliang for rebellion.
They submitted several memorials to Feng Qing, all claiming that Xu Youliang practiced martial arts daily at White Dragon Pass and secretly maintained frequent contact with his former subordinates, plotting treason.
As the saying goes, "Practice makes perfect." Xu Youliang was originally a military general, and although he had become the Carefree Prince, he hadn't changed his childhood habit of practicing martial arts. Every morning, he would practice boxing and spear fighting to strengthen his body. It is
also said, "Who in the world doesn't have a few friends?" Xu Youliang, living alone, occasionally sought out a few familiar friends to chat about romantic matters.
However, when Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong mentioned his martial arts practice and social gatherings, it became a suspicion of treason.
Initially, Feng Qing was also very worried upon seeing Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong's memorials, but Tao Xiuying advised him that the most dangerous person in the world at that time was not Xu Youliang, but Hua Rong. Therefore, Feng Qing pretended not to know about these memorials, but secretly spread the news that Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong were framing Xu Youliang. He thought this would surely anger Xu Youliang, causing him to frame Hua Rong in the same way. However, when Xu Youliang learned of this, he not only did not frame Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong, but also became even more eager to abandon his title and flee.
Feng Qing waited for a long time, and as the memorials from Hua Rong and Cao Yunlong continued to arrive, he inevitably began to doubt Tao Xiuying's judgment. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he took advantage of the situation and sent a secret edict to Hua Rong, ordering him to arrest Xu Youliang and execute him on the spot!
Why not bring Xu Youliang to the capital and execute him on the spot? Feng Qing also knew that there was a lack of evidence of Xu Youliang's rebellion. If he were sent to the capital, would he be investigated or not? It was better to pretend to be deaf and dumb and let Hua Rong kill him in a confused state. If anyone investigated later, they could blame it all on Hua Rong and say that they had been deceived by Hua Rong.
Meanwhile, Hua Rong, having received Feng Qing's secret order, immediately mustered two hundred elite swordsmen and rushed to Xu Youliang's residence.
They surrounded the residence, ordered the gates to be opened, and searched the inside, but Xu Youliang was nowhere to be found. He summoned a palace maid who served him closely and asked her. She said that Xu Youliang had taken thirty or fifty guards to go hunting in the suburbs early that morning and had not returned.
Hua Rong asked why Xu Youliang had gone hunting in the interior, and hurriedly mustered another two hundred cavalrymen, opened the gates, and headed inward.
Hua Rong knew that Xu Youliang had no soldiers with him when he was captured, so all the servants around him were arranged by Feng Qing to monitor Youliang's movements, and therefore she wasn't worried. She inquired along the way, and those who knew said that Youliang and his party had gone into the mountains to the north, so she hurriedly gave chase.
She caught up with them in the mountains and saw the group of guards blaming each other by the roadside.
Hua Rong approached and asked, and they all said that the Prince of Xiaoyao had gone missing. Hua Rong
stamped her foot and said, "That fellow is gone!" She quickly ordered a guide from a nearby manor to come and ask, and they all said that there was no road leading into the mountains from this forest, but there was a small path to the west leading to the main road to the south.
Hua Rong calculated that Xu Youliang hadn't gone far in more than half an hour, so she hurriedly sent someone on horseback back to Bailong Pass to order all the prefectures and counties under her jurisdiction to capture the rebel Xu Youliang, while she personally led the two hundred cavalrymen and the dozens of guards who were monitoring Xu Youliang to the small path.
Along the way, they encountered teahouses and taverns and inquired. Sure enough, a man dressed as a warrior rode south on horseback. They pursued him while asking questions, continuing southward.
After chasing for half a day, Xu Youliang turned west, and Hua Rong learned he was heading to Qinglong Pass. Hua Rong said, "The Mei River blocks the way; he can't escape." They chased to the riverbank but found no trace of him. They only saw a small path leading south along the river, seemingly with hoofprints. Hua Rong ordered them to follow along the river, but the hoofprints turned eastward.
Hua Rong then sent men to the ferry crossings to issue orders for a thorough search, lest Xu Youliang escape. He himself continued the pursuit.
As darkness fell, they reached Yulong Ridge. Hua Rong sent men to inquire and learned that Xu Youliang had crossed the ridge. Knowing that Cao Yunlong's territory was to the south, Hua Rong feared Xu Youliang had escaped, so he disregarded the night and continued southward. After crossing Yulong Ridge, it was already midnight. They came to a town and inquired, but no one had seen Xu Youliang.
Hua Rong said, "This fellow will definitely spend the night on the ridge. Once I guard the southern entrance, Xu Youliang will be trapped like a turtle in a jar, with nowhere to escape."
Originally, Hua Rong only falsely accused Xu Youliang of treason, but unexpectedly, Xu Youliang left first. Although Hua Rong was unable to kill Xu Youliang, his departure confirmed Xu Youliang's guilt: if he had no intention of rebellion, why did he flee?!
Hua Rong remembered that he seemed to have seen a small temple on the way here. Xu Youliang had probably stayed there overnight. So he left a hundred cavalrymen and guards to guard the entrance, and led the rest of his soldiers back to Yulonggang.
After traveling back for more than thirty miles, they indeed saw a small Taoist temple in a mountain hollow. The plaque above the temple gate read "Jingxin Temple".
Hua Rong rode forward and ordered his soldiers to open the mountain gate. A young Taoist nun, about twelve or thirteen years old, emerged, her eyes still sleepy. She said, "Amitabha. Who is knocking at the door in the middle of the night?"
Hua Rong bowed and said, "Greetings, Taoist Master. I am the Azure Dragon King of the North. Is there a stranger here?"
"A stranger? Your Highness is a stranger. Who are you looking for?"
"I have official business to attend to. I need to arrest Xu Youliang, a wanted criminal of the imperial court. May I ask, Taoist Master, where is he hiding?"
The young Taoist nun said, "Your Highness is mistaken. Since he is a wanted criminal, how could our temple dare to harbor him? How would we know where he is hiding?"
"May I enter the temple to search?"
"This, I will ask my master first." The young Taoist nun closed the door and went into the temple.
A moment later, the temple gate reopened, and an elderly Daoist nun, with an ethereal and otherworldly air, stood before the gate. She bowed and said, "I was unaware of the arrival of the Northern Azure Dragon and was unable to greet you properly. Please forgive
me, Your Majesty." "Ignorance is no excuse. May I ask your name,
Daoist Master?" "
I am Zhiqing." "So you are Daoist Master Zhiqing. Did the young Daoist just now explain my purpose?"
"That was my disciple, Jingfang. He explained everything to me just now."
"In that case, what is your intention, Daoist Master?"
"Since Your Majesty suspects that a wanted criminal is hiding in my temple, please come in and search it."
"It's rare for the old Taoist priest to be so understanding. I am also bound by official duties, so please forgive my intrusion. Please come in!"
"Wait."
"Taoist priest?"
"My temple is small and may not be able to accommodate so many people. Besides, it's all nuns, and it's the middle of the night; it would be inconvenient."
Hua Rong understood. The temple was full of nuns, and at this hour, they were likely sleeping naked. They were worried about the inconvenience of men entering, so he said, "Rest assured, Taoist priest, I will only bring four female guards."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Hua Rong handed his horse and weapons to the stable boy beside him, taking only his sword, and moved into the temple with four female guards from the Prince's residence.
Upon entering, it was indeed small. Although there were three courtyards, there were few halls or rooms.
Hua Rong looked around and, apart from a young nun meditating in a room, saw no other outsiders.
Hua Rong pondered for a while, still feeling uneasy. Moreover, the young Daoist nun looked familiar, so he asked Zhi Qing, "Daoist Master, may I ask who is sitting in that room?"
"It is my second disciple, Jingyun."
"May I ask how many disciples you have, Daoist Master?"
"Two."
"Then the Daoist Master Jingfang who opened the door must be your eldest disciple?"
"Indeed."
"I see that Daoist Master Jingfang is only twelve or thirteen years old, while Jingyun seems to be over twenty. How come the younger one is the senior disciple? Perhaps Jingyun became a nun later in life?"
"Your Majesty has a good eye. Both of my disciples became nuns later in life, but Jingyun arrived half a month later, so he became the junior disciple."
"I see. May I ask what Jingyun's background was before she became a nun?"
"This, I have forgotten."
"How could you forget your disciple
's background?" "Anyone who has the intention to become a nun can read the Tao Te Ching. Why ask about their past?"
"In that case, may I speak with Daoist Master Jingyun?"
"Your Majesty is a worldly person, I wonder if Jingyun is willing or not. I will send my disciple to inquire."
Hua Rong thought to himself, "This Jingyun is not a man disguised as a woman, is she? But judging from her petite stature, she doesn't seem like a man. I wonder who she is."
A moment later, Jingyun returned and said, "Junior Sister wishes to speak with Your Majesty."
"In that case, I will go see her." Hua Rong stepped inside, and as soon as he saw Jingyun, before he could even ask her anything, a loud shout suddenly came from outside the temple: "Gone! Gone! Quickly inform Your Majesty!"
Hua Rong was startled and hurriedly walked towards the front of the temple.
Just as he reached the gate, a soldier reported, "Just now, a warrior rode down the mountain on horseback and headed south on the main road."
Hua Rong inquired about the horse and clothing and confirmed that it was indeed Xu Youliang. He immediately ordered his men to mount their horses and give chase, determined to catch Xu Youliang north of the Yulonggang Pass.
Whether Xu Youliang would survive this ordeal remains to be seen. Let's find out in the next chapter. Chapter 4 of
Imperial Finale 004 – You Liang stays at Jingxin Temple, Jing Yun risks her life to protect her former master . It is said that the old Daoist nun Zhi Qing, seeing Hua Rong leave, chanted "Amitabha Buddha" and returned to the temple with Jing Fang. Upon reaching the central courtyard, they saw a beautiful Daoist nun kneeling before them. "Jing Yun, why are you like this?" It turned out that she was Jing Yun. "Master, who was resting their horse in the guest hall in the backyard tonight?" "Who? Just a passing traveler." "Master, even if you don't say, I know. Just now, Hua Rong entered the temple to search, and I heard it all clearly. I think my former master is in trouble. I beg you, Master, let me go down the mountain to save my master and fulfill my duty as a subject." The old nun sighed, "My disciple, I've already guessed your background. When Xu Xiaoyao came to stay, I recognized him too. The reason I didn't tell you was because I was afraid you'd act rashly! You know your skills are still lacking; you're no match for Hua Rong, and besides, you're plagued by misfortune. If I let you go, I'm afraid your life will be in danger!" "Master, a small act of kindness deserves a great return, especially since my former master has shown me kindness. Now that my master is in trouble, how can I, as a subject, sit idly by? What do you mean by lacking skills and plagued by misfortune? If I can save my master's life, I'm willing to give my life without complaint." “My disciple, you are now a nun, and your karmic bond with Xu Xiaoyao is severed. Do not let yourself be disturbed by worldly affairs any longer. Go back to the inner hall to rest.” “Master!” “Don’t say anything more. Your master cannot let you go to your death. Go back to your room to rest.” Seeing that she could not persuade her master, Jingyun had no choice but to agree and go to her room. A moment later, a soft sound was heard from Jingyun's room. Zhiqing shook his head and sighed, "Alas, Xu Xiaoyao, Xu Xiaoyao, it's just that your life wasn't meant to end. It's a pity that my good disciple is about to die for you." Jingfang said, "What Master says is very profound, and this disciple doesn't understand." Zhiqing said, "Your junior sister was originally Xu Xiaoyao's subordinate. She saw through the world and came here to become a nun, but she couldn't escape the entanglements of the world and has already run away to rescue Xu Xiaoyao. You know, Hua Rong is very skilled in martial arts. How can your junior sister defeat her? She will surely be captured. Rescuing a wanted criminal is a crime punishable by death. Your junior sister will probably not escape the execution ground." "Master, your martial arts are very high. Why don't you go and rescue her?" "You can save her today, but you can't save her tomorrow. Besides, although you entered the sect first, you haven't learned any martial arts at all. If Xu Youliang is rescued, Hua Rong will definitely come to slaughter the temple. At that time, won't your life be handed to her?" "This disciple is not afraid." “My disciple, you don’t understand that fate is hard to defy! This is because your junior sister’s karmic star hasn’t been lifted, and she is destined for this calamity. It is also because she received a favor from Xu Xiaoyao in her past life, and she should repay it in this life. Enough, enough, we can’t stay here any longer. You and I, master and disciple, shall leave now.” After saying this, he told Jingfang to pack a few Taoist robes and the like, and they left the temple that very night, heading north. Meanwhile, Xu Youliang, having traveled all day , arrived at Yulonggang. Exhausted, he and his horse had no choice but to seek lodging at Jingxin Temple. Zhiqing, having attained enlightenment, knew that Xu Youliang must have this destiny, so he let him enter the temple and rest in the backyard to feed the horses. After midnight, they heard the sound of horses’ hooves on the main road ahead. Zhiqing knew the reason, and while instructing Jingfang to make arrangements at the front, he went to the backyard to inform Youliang. In truth, Xu Youliang was unaware that Hua Rong was pursuing him, which was why he had sought lodging there. Upon hearing this, he hurriedly thanked the Taoist priest, quietly rose, led his horse out through the back door, and before Hua Rong could witness the scene, jumped out of the circle, quietly took a detour down the mountain, and then headed south. He galloped all the way to the south of Yulonggang, where he saw over a hundred soldiers blocking his path. Since his capture, Xu Youliang's spear had been stored in Feng Qing's armory, so he had no choice but to draw his sword and charge south. When the soldiers saw Youliang's horse approaching, they hurriedly drew their weapons to block him. Although Youliang's martial arts were not as good as Hua Rong's, he could easily handle a group of soldiers, especially since they were all cavalry. They hadn't been able to mount their horses yet, which reduced their power by seventy percent. With a charge from Youliang's horse, four or five men were immediately knocked away, and several more were cut down by Youliang's sword. Xu Youliang also seized the opportunity to grab a spear to use as a weapon. Xu Youliang was a wanted criminal; if he escaped, these soldiers would likely face the death penalty. Therefore, although they knew they were no match for Xu Youliang's martial arts skills, they still risked their lives to intercept him. This delay allowed Hua Rong to arrive, who charged forward and surrounded Xu Youliang. Hua Rong pointed his golden dragon-patterned spear and shouted sternly, "Xu Youliang, you have fled Bailong Pass without permission! What is your punishment?"

Xu Youliang said, "Northern Azure Dragon, I resigned my title and returned to my hometown to farm. What crime have I committed? Why are you driving me away, Northern Azure Dragon?"
"You plotted rebellion, a heinous crime. The Emperor has decreed that you be arrested and punished on the spot."
"Northern Azure Dragon, since Xu Youliang surrendered to the Great Flood, I have had no trusted soldiers or weapons. How could I possibly rebel? It's clearly a deliberate frame-up! I won't argue with you now. My resignation and return home will remove a thorn in your side, benefiting you without harm. Why drive me away?"
"It's only because the Emperor has issued a decree that Hua Rong has no choice but to obey. Xu Youliang, you'd better dismount and surrender."
"Even ants cling to life, let alone humans! Xu Youliang knew the Emperor would kill me sooner or later, so he abandoned his title and fled. How could he let you capture him and subject him to torture at the execution ground? Northern Azure Dragon, I recall your campaign from Xuanwu, your courageous charge into Changling Ferry, your solitary battle at Zhuting, your selfless dedication, your deep penetration into enemy territory, your successive breaches of Dafang Mountain and Pingling Pass, finally capturing me and securing this vast empire for the Emperor. Seven or eight out of ten of the empire's success is due to your efforts, Northern Azure Dragon. Yet, your achievements overshadow the Emperor, and sooner or later you will face a knife at your throat, as Youliang is proof of. Now, we should be of the same fate, why must we kill each other? I advise you, Northern Azure Dragon, to learn from Youliang, abandon your high office, return to your hometown to farm, or find solace in nature. Why throw yourself onto a whetstone, suffering such torment, and then come to hunt down Youliang for him? What is the point?"
"You cunning Xu Youliang, with your sharp tongue, slandering the Emperor! You deserve to be executed by slow slicing. But I will not hold it against you now. Dismount and surrender immediately, and I will cut you in two with a single stroke, or else..."
"Northern Azure Dragon, do not utter such words! Since Youliang has fled, he will not be slaughtered. If you wish to take his life, you must ask my steel spear." "
If that is so, then there is no room for argument..."
"Take this!" Before Hua Rong could finish speaking, Youliang, knowing his martial arts were inferior to Hua Rong's, decided to strike first, aiming his spear at Hua Rong's throat.
Youliang was, after all, a former general. Even though Hua Rong was skilled in martial arts, he was startled by the spear and hurriedly ducked, raising his spear to meet it. This caused him to lose the initiative, and he was unable to catch his breath for a moment, allowing Xu Youliang to attack him with twenty or thirty spear thrusts. Helpless, Hua Rong had no choice but to turn his horse and break away.
Seeing his opportunity, Youliang did not turn his horse around. With one thrust, he swept seven or eight cavalrymen from the south off their horses, and then rode away.
"You traitor!" Hua Rong was enraged upon seeing him and spurred his horse into pursuit.
Hua Rong was acting on an imperial decree to arrest people, and the local post stations dared not delay. Therefore, each of Hua Rong's men had two horses to change mounts, but Xu Youliang only had one horse and was exhausted after a whole day's riding. He was no match for Hua Rong and was overtaken after only a few miles. Left
with no other choice, Xu Youliang turned back to fight again. This time, having lost the initiative, the difference in their martial arts skills became apparent. Xu Youliang was forced to only parry, unable to retaliate, and was barely captured. He thought to himself, "Could I die here?"
Suddenly, a delicate shout rang out, and a young Taoist nun descended from mid-air, wielding a sword, aiming to strike Hua Rong on the back of the head.
Hua Rong had no choice but to abandon Youliang and turn back to fight the nun.
The Taoist nun clung tightly to Hua Rong, crying, "My lord, why aren't you leaving? What are you waiting for?"
Upon closer inspection, You Liang recognized her as Hu Yue, a former general, despite her Taoist attire, and knew his savior had arrived. He turned his horse and said, "General Hu, I will repay your kindness today." He then
galloped away. Hua Rong panicked and ordered his men to give chase, but the two were entangled, blocking their path. His men couldn't get past them, and Hua Rong roared in anger, ordering his soldiers to swarm forward and deal with Hu Yue first.
Hu Yue, however, had already disregarded her own life, only wanting to delay for her lord's safety.
With her sword, she parried left and right, thrusting and parrying with unpredictable speed. Although Hua Rong had more men, their movements hindered their attacks, making it difficult for them to exert their full strength.
After a long fight, Hua Rong, seeing that it was not over, ordered his men to retreat and challenged Hu Yue to a duel. This made the fight much easier.
However, Hu Yue was truly fighting for Xu Youliang, even resorting to suicide attacks in moments of crisis. Hua Rong, unwilling to fight her to the death, had to prioritize his own survival.
They fought for over an hour before Hua Rong finally found an opportunity. He struck the hilt of Hu Yue's sword with his spear shaft. The spear, made of iron, slipped from Hu Yue's grasp, and the sword fell from her hand. Hua Rong then deflected the blow with his spear shaft, striking Hu Yue in the stomach and sending her sprawling from her horse. She landed hard on her backside, nearly breaking her buttocks. The soldiers swarmed her and bound her.
Hua Rong, concerned for Xu Youliang, ordered a few men to take Hu Yue to the Meihe Grand Camp for imprisonment, while he led the rest of his cavalry to continue the pursuit.
This time, however, Xu Youliang was nowhere to be found. It was still early, and everyone was asleep, so there was no one to ask. Besides, beyond Yulonggang, there were many forks in the road, and it was unclear which way Xu Youliang had gone.
Moreover, further south was Cao Yunlong's territory, and it was inconvenient to cross the border to arrest him. Therefore, he went to Huolong Pass to see Cao Yunlong.
Cao Yunlong came out to greet Hua Rong. Seeing Feng Qing's secret edict, he dared not be negligent, saying, "Prince Hua, please return to Bailong Pass. Now that Xu Youliang has entered my territory, I will not let him escape."
"I entrust this to you."
Hua Rong left Cao Yunlong's pass and headed west to Meihe Datao, ordering Hu Yue to be brought to the main tent.
Hu Yue, upon seeing Hua Rong, did not kneel but stood proudly.
Hua Rong, knowing he was responsible for Xu Youliang's escape, shifted the blame entirely onto Hu Yue. He ordered Hu Yue to be shackled and put in a sack, personally wrote a report, and dispatched two hundred knights with his trusted men to retrieve it. They then bound Hu Yue to a horse and sent her to the capital by express courier.
Meanwhile, Cao Yunlong, upon receiving the news, hurriedly dispatched troops to various prefectures and counties to apprehend Xu Youliang.
Knowing Xu Youliang had nowhere to go but southwards via Dafang Mountain to Nanling, Cao Yunlong also led two hundred cavalrymen to Xiaolong Pass to ambush him.
Xu Youliang, having escaped Hua Rong's pursuit, traveled south for a while, intending to cross the Mei River westwards. However, finding the river heavily guarded and his likeness painted everywhere, he turned back eastwards. Seeing the tight security at various passes, he dared not proceed and continued south towards Xiaolong Pass, unwittingly falling into Cao Yunlong's trap.
Whether Xu Youliang can escape remains to be seen; we'll find out in
the next chapter. It's not that I want to punish them, it's just how things are in this world!

Chapter Five – Encountering Cao Yunlong at Xiaolong Pass, a Chance Encounter with Duan Lingfeng in the Fir Forest.

It is said that Xu Youliang abandoned his title and fled from Bailong Pass, only to be pursued by Hua Rong to Yulonggang. A fierce battle ensued, and he was barely captured. Fortunately, the former female general Hu Yue, now a nun named Jingyun, knew of Youliang's predicament and risked her life to hold off Hua Rong, allowing Youliang to escape. However, the nun Jingyun was captured and taken to the capital.
Meanwhile, Xu Youliang escaped Hua Rong's pursuit and arrived in Cao Yunlong's territory, where Cao Yunlong set up numerous checkpoints. Unable to cross the Mei River or go beyond the pass, Xu Youliang could only head south, intending to pass through Xiaolong Pass and enter Dafang Mountain. Once inside the mountain, there were many small paths leading directly to the Nanling Mountains for refuge. Little did he know that Cao Yunlong was waiting for him at Xiaolong Pass.
That day, Xu Youliang arrived at Xiaolong Pass. Seeing that the defenses weren't very strong, he assumed there was nothing to worry about and led his horse through.
After passing through the pass and reaching the west gate, just as he was about to cross, a loud crash was heard, and the soldiers slammed the gate shut, trapping Xu Youliang inside. He heard someone behind him say, "Lord Xu, I, Cao, have been waiting for you for a long time."
Xu Youliang turned pale with fright and saw Cao Yunlong immediately blocking his way with his spear.
Looking around, Xu Youliang saw himself trapped in the gate, like a turtle in a jar, with nowhere to go. He thought to himself, "It's over. Cao Yunlong's martial arts are far superior to mine; there's no way to save me this time."
Helpless, he could only bow and say, "Who is it? It's Lord Cao, the Southern Azure Dragon. May I ask what brings you here?"
"Lord Xu, we are both sensible men, so let's not waste words. The Emperor has issued an edict accusing you of plotting rebellion and ordering your arrest. I know you escaped from Bailong Pass and have nowhere to go, so I calculated that you would pass through Xiaolong Pass, and that's why I'm waiting here. Lord Xu, do I really need to trouble myself?"
Xu Youliang clasped his hands in front of his chest and said, "Lord Cao, this is all a deliberate frame-up by a villain. If I, Xu Youliang, wanted to rebel, why would I surrender to the court? Besides, I've resigned my title and returned to my hometown simply because I don't want to suffer the hardships of officialdom." "Being a carefree person, keeping this position of Nine Thousand Years, isn't that better than rebelling? Now, everyone's kicking me while I'm down. These petty people, for their own selfish gain, have falsely accused me of rebellion. Lord Cao has served me for many years; doesn't he know I, Xu Youliang? Now, I am unjustly wronged, my life hanging by a thread. If Lord Cao remembers our past relationship and shows mercy, letting me go, I will never forget your life-saving grace."
Xu Youliang had no other choice but to use his silver tongue, tears streaming down his face, to beg Cao Yunlong for a way out.
As the saying goes, a man doesn't easily shed tears. Xu Youliang's tears truly moved Cao Yunlong. He remembered the crimes he had committed against the Xu family, and how Xu Youliang had still lent a helping hand in his time of need; how could he bear to see him reduced to ashes now? Thinking of this, Cao Yunlong's heart softened, and he said, "Very well, I'll let you pass." With that, he raised his hand and ordered his soldiers to open the city gate a crack.
"Thank you!" Xu Youliang said, spurring his horse and squeezing through the crack in the gate, then rode off into the mountains.
Seeing Xu Youliang leave, Cao Yunlong suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "This is bad!"
Why was it bad? Xu Youliang was guilty of treason; letting him go so easily would likely lead to trouble later.
Thinking this, Cao Yunlong shouted, "Lord Xu, return!"
Xu Youliang had finally escaped the pass; why would he come back to cause trouble? Hearing Cao Yunlong's shout, he immediately whipped his horse twice, and it galloped forward like an arrow.
Seeing this, Cao Yunlong quickly mustered his two hundred cavalrymen and set off from Xiaolong Pass towards Dafang Mountain.
After chasing for over twenty li, Cao Yunlong, riding a Ferghana horse, whose stamina far surpassed that of ordinary warhorses, was about to catch up when Xu Youliang suddenly shouted into a nearby thicket, "Come save me!"
Cao Yunlong was startled and quickly reined in his horse. Looking around, he saw nothing unusual and realized he'd been tricked. He hurriedly continued the chase
. After another five or six li, seeing towering fir trees on both sides, Xu Youliang spurred his horse into the forest, with Cao Yunlong in hot pursuit.
Just as he was about to catch up, Xu Youliang cried out again, "Come save me!"
Cao Yunlong laughed, "Let's see who comes to save you now."
Xu Youliang ignored him, continuing to shout left and right.
Just then, someone suddenly called out, "Xu Lang, don't panic! Your wife is coming to save you!"
This shout startled both Xu Youliang and Cao Yunlong. Looking ahead, they saw a woman standing on the ground in the woods, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Her face was as beautiful as a fairy's, her figure slender, and she wore a bright red outfit. Holding a sword, she gracefully blocked their path.
You Liang, seeing this, thought his savior had arrived and cried out, "Sister, you've come at the right time! Quickly save my life!" He hurriedly spurred his horse forward and hid behind the woman.
Cao Yunlong, seeing this, felt a jolt in his heart. Why? Because the woman who had come was none other than Duan Lingfeng, the former imperial sister of the Great Zhen Dynasty and the Grand Marshal of the Army.
At that time, Cao Yunlong was Duan Lingfeng's vanguard officer. However, because the Wang, Xu, and Feng families had joined forces to raise an army and besiege Duan Lingfeng in Zhuo County, Cao Yunlong, being cowardly, captured Duan Lingfeng and presented her to Wang Bingzheng. If Han Sumei hadn't persuaded Wang Bingzheng to frame Xu Youliang, Duan Lingfeng would likely have already been raped by Wang Bingzheng. However, Wang Bingzheng had Han Sumei strip Lingfeng naked, put her in a food box, and present her to Xu Youliang. Later, Xu Youliang's act of righteously releasing his sister occurred.
Cao Yunlong felt deeply ashamed of his past betrayal of Lingfeng, but to capture Youliang, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward, bowing respectfully: "So it is Your Highness, I was unaware of your arrival. I beg your forgiveness."
"Your Highness Cao, this is the Great Water Dynasty, and I dare not accept the title of Imperial Sister. However, could you spare Xu Qianshou's life, considering our past service as fellow courtiers?"
Cao Yunlong said, "He is a wanted criminal; I dare not release him."
"He is also my fiancé, Duan Lingfeng. Can't that prevent you from releasing him?"
"Imperial Sister, I have worked with Xu Youliang for many years and have never heard of any marriage agreement between you and him. Where did this fiancéship come from? Is it merely an excuse?"
"Marriage is a matter not to be taken lightly, and as a woman, I dare not speak carelessly. Your Highness Cao, what is your request?"
"Imperial Sister, it is not that I, Cao, am disrespectful, but the law of the land is as firm as a mountain, and I, Cao Yunlong, dare not disobey."
"What if I insist you release him?"
"Then Cao Yunlong will have no choice but to offend you."
"Hmph! Cao Yunlong, let me tell you frankly, with me, Duan Lingfeng, here, you have no choice but to release him."
"Royal Sister, you no longer have your Phoenix Wing Halberd or your prized horse, how dare you speak such boastful words?"
"When skill reaches its peak, even a stubborn stone can be turned into gold. I don't use my halberd or horse now because I don't want to kill anyone. Cao Yunlong, although we had our past grievances, time has passed, and I don't want to pursue them. However, Xu Youliang is my family, so I have no choice but to save him."
"It seems that Royal Sister is determined to force me to take action."
"I only want to save people. If Lord Cao doesn't force me, I won't draw my sword." She then turned back and said, "Husband, don't be afraid. That horse has been tired for days and might not be able to bear your weight. Please dismount and rest. We won't need it when we leave in a little while."
Xu Youliang knew that Duan Lingfeng had now apprenticed to a master and her martial arts had reached a high level, so he did as she said, jumping off his horse and letting it go.
Seeing Duan Lingfeng's disregard for him, Cao Yunlong was furious. "Sister, you must know that people have dignity, and trees have bark. Aren't you afraid of bringing trouble upon yourself by belittling me like this?"
"Duan Lingfeng's martial arts aren't just empty boasts. If you're not convinced, come and fight."
"You asked for it. I won't make it difficult for you." Cao Yunlong couldn't stand such disrespect.
He lifted his horse and swung his fork at Duan Lingfeng. Xu Youliang watched from the side as Cao Yunlong, riding his Ferghana horse, charged at Duan Lingfeng's head.
Lingfeng, seemingly unaware, remained standing in place. In the blink of an eye, the fork touched Lingfeng's hair, startling Xu Youliang so much that he closed his eyes, thinking, "It's over!"
What will become of Duan Lingfeng? Find out in the next chapter.
(Imperial Chapter 006)

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