In a short while, another person came up to the city wall. Zhao Jian was standing to Song Shuhao's left, and the person who came up was from the side closest to Zhao Jian. Song Shuhao did not recognize this person, but judging from his demeanor, clothing, and the entourage surrounding him, it was not difficult to guess his identity.
However, although Song Shuhao turned around like Zhao Jian, she did not linger her gaze on Ji Heng. She heard everyone around her bowing to the person in front of them, even Zhao Jian. Meeting Ji Heng's gaze, she looked away for a moment, then shifted her eyes to Zhang Yu below the city wall and the army behind him.
In that instant, as Zhao Jian looked up, Song Shuhao reached out and pulled a gold hairpin from her hair, found the precise spot, and stabbed it toward Zhao Jian's neck with lightning speed.
Her heart was pounding wildly, and as she moved, Zhao Jian even began to turn around. However, thanks to Zhang Yu's past experience of having her learn martial arts from him, Zhao Jian's turning speed was no faster than her movement.
The gold hairpin pierced Zhao Jian's neck, and he slapped Song Shuhao. Song Shuhao grabbed the city wall, enduring the blow. As the hairpin was pulled out, blood spurted from Zhao Jian's neck, the warm blood landing on Song Shuhao's face. She was also knocked back two steps by the blow.
The sudden turn of events drew the nearby soldiers to her side. Song Shuhao dropped her gold hairpin, enduring the pain in her chest, and used the city wall for leverage, leaping off the tower. She didn't want to know Zhao Jian's so-called answer, nor did she want Zhang Yu to make a so-called choice; she had no intention of giving him the opportunity.
Zhang Yu couldn't see exactly what had happened on the city wall, but he clearly saw Song Shuhao sway before falling to the ground. His mind went blank, and he instinctively spurred his horse forward, wishing he could go faster, much faster…
The fall was incredibly fast, and with the wind already blowing, Song Shuhao wanted to look at Zhang Yu one more time, but the stinging pain in her eyes made it impossible to open them. She had to close her eyes and abandon the thought. In that instant, she thought of nothing else, only of what she would do if she didn't die from the fall and become crippled…
Even as he collapsed to the ground, Prosecutor Zhao still couldn't understand why Song Shuhao had acted this way towards him. She had attacked him without mercy or fear, intending to kill him outright. But did he truly not understand? Or was he simply unwilling to confront the truth?
In the end, he was still willing to be deceived by her, as if he hadn't noticed anything or knew anything, as if she would still treat him gently and kindly as she had at the beginning.
There's really no going back.
Song Shuhao will never return to his side. He kept saying that Song Shuhao couldn't go back to Zhang Yu, but it was all just self-deception. Even if she couldn't be with Zhang Yu, she wouldn't want to be with him. That was the truth... Even though it wasn't hard to understand, he still clung to a sliver of hope.
Just like she told him, even if there is an afterlife, they should never meet again. Defeated by Zhang Yu, unable to win her back, in this life, being able to spend even seven days with her in a seemingly peaceful manner, and then dying at her hands, is still better than falling into Zhang Yu's hands.
Perhaps, once she returns, Zhang Yu can use the pretext of personally executing the traitorous officials to smoothly secure her position as Empress. Zhao Jian closed her eyes, feeling the blood rushing through her body, and her consciousness began to blur.
He seemed to see Song Shuhao, dressed in a bright red wedding gown, sitting by the bed in the dim candlelight of their wedding year, smiling sweetly at him. Even if Song Shuhao had never loved him, she must have tried to love him at some point.
...
Instead of the cold ground she expected, Song Shuhao was greeted by a familiar, warm embrace. She felt as if she heard Zhang Yu let out a long sigh of relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
He caught her with his bare arms; the impact of the fall was so great, yet he seemed oblivious, simply sitting upright on the horse, supporting her. Song Shuhao didn't dare open her eyes, for reasons she couldn't explain.
Zhang Yu looked down at the person in his arms, whose face was still splattered with blood, and whose eyes were tightly closed, seemingly extremely nervous. But in the end, the person was still in his arms; he had really made it in time. Zhang Yu couldn't help but smile, bent down slightly, gently pressed his forehead against Song Shuhao's, and kissed his brow.
"Okay, let's go home."
Zhang Yu's low, husky voice echoed in Song Shuhao's ears. She slowly opened her eyes, and before her stood the person who made her feel safe and secure. Snuggling slightly closer to Zhang Yu, Song Shuhao nodded and softly responded with just one word—
"good."
When Zhang Yu saw her bright eyes, pure and clear, they were as bright as the stars in the night sky as ever, as if they had illuminated his entire life.
He raised the corners of his mouth, then raised them again, unable to suppress the joy in his heart.
She's back, and that's more important than anything else.
·
The moment Zhang Yu rushed forward, the soldiers surrounding him reacted, spurring their horses forward to protect him and Song Shuhao. However, everyone was somewhat caught off guard by what had happened; in the blink of an eye, things had turned out this way, and they had no idea what had transpired on the city wall.
Having confirmed that Song Shuhao was in good health, Zhang Yu helped her settle into her horse, turned the horse around, and prepared to head back. Suddenly, the city gates opened behind them. Instantly, wave after wave of Dayuan soldiers surged outside the gates, not to attack them.
After forming a protective circle, the soldiers, some sitting on horseback and others holding halberds, stood outside the city gate, looking up at the Qi soldiers opposite them, still somewhat tense.
Before long, Ji Heng rode out of the city at a leisurely pace. He looked calm and composed, as if he were going to enjoy the flowers and scenery, rather than facing the army that was coming to attack the city.
"Guests are welcome, why not have a cup of tea before you leave?" Ji Heng said first.
Zhang Yu led his troops back to Fengcheng, and the Daqi army halted its advance on Nanwan City. After Song Shuhao disappeared, Zhang Yu returned and launched a far more aggressive offensive against Nanwan City. Seven days later, the Dayuan army defending Nanwan City was already struggling to hold on. Otherwise, Zhao Jian would not have been so willing to let Zhang Yu see Song Shuhao so quickly.
He whispered something in Song Shuhao's ear, then carefully wiped the blood from her face before turning back to look at Ji Heng not far away. Zhang Yu had previously encountered him during the attack on Nanwan City. Seeing him again now, they weren't entirely strangers.
Zhang Yu remained silent. Ji Heng glanced at Song Shuhao in his arms, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "I'll give you a gift." As he spoke, he glanced back, and two strong, muscular soldiers stepped forward. One carried Zhao Jian's body, while the other carried Xie Lanyan's body.
Song Shuhao stared intently, somewhat surprised. Zhao Jian was one thing… but Xie Lanyan too… She recalled that back then, Xie Lanyan seemed to have gained the favor of this King of Dayuan, and could even lead him to Zhao Jian's place to prepare to take her away. In just a few days, she had been killed as a gesture of goodwill.
She escaped the palace with great difficulty, arrived in Dayuan, and became a concubine of the Dayuan king. All that she did may have involved countless schemes, but in the end, was it all for naught?
Song Shuhao recalled the concubines she had seen who had been rejected, and Xie Lanyan seemed to have only fallen to the same fate in a different way compared to them.
Nothing has really changed.
Song Shuhao sighed inwardly, not for Xie Lanyan, but simply because she thought of the hardships so many people endured in their lives. When you have nothing to rely on, no matter how high you reach, you will eventually fall easily... even if you have given everything.
After a brief pause, Ji Heng spoke to Zhang Yu again, "My sincerity."
"I have no choice but to accept the sincerity of the King of Dayuan." Zhang Yu glanced at the person lying motionless on the ground, a smile playing on his lips, and said calmly.
He immediately raised his hand and ordered his men to drag the two bodies back. Soon, someone stepped forward, naturally making sure to check and confirm that the bodies were genuine before accepting them.
After the matter was over, Ji Heng nodded to Zhang Yu and said, "See you again if fate allows."
After saying this, Ji Heng didn't linger any longer. He turned around, mounted his horse, and leisurely rode back into Nanwan City. Just as he was about to turn around, the Dayuan soldiers who were guarding him blocked his path, preventing him from being hit by any possible arrows from the Daqi army.
Zhang Yu said nothing, placed his hand on Song Shuhao's waist, and led her away. Song Shuhao looked up at Zhang Yu, their eyes met, and she gave him a sweet smile. Not long after, the Great Qi withdrew its troops and did not continue its attack on Nanwan City.
This turbulent night, in any case, came to an end here.
·
Zhang Yu brought Song Shuhao back, and not only her, but also the bodies of Zhao Jian and Xie Lanyan. However, the bodies were not kept for long. After being brought back to the camp, firewood was piled up in an open area outside, and the two bodies were burned directly.
Having someone watch and witness the body being burned, Zhang Yu led Song Shuhao back to the tent. Upon hearing the news of Song Shuhao's return, Ling Xiao disregarded everything else and rushed into Zhang Yu's tent, embracing her and weeping bitterly.
If something had happened to Song Shuhao, she feared she would never be able to forgive herself. These past few days, she had been living in constant fear, regret, and self-blame. Thankfully… she returned safe and sound. Ling Xiao, disregarding his image, hugged Song Shuhao and wailed uncontrollably.