"Indeed? But I find it a bit too early for the Prince to say such things today," Xue Yu said from atop his horse, his expression quite disdainful.
The young man let out a low chuckle, his gaze unusually firm as he looked up. "Xue Yu, you will never understand, because you are not worthy of understanding."
Xue Yu smiled coldly. "Your Highness, today, allow me to grant you a swift end!"
"Life means death, death means life. What is there to fear about life and death?"
The young man stood there, not showing a trace of fear.
"Kill..." Xue Yu pointed at Bei Jiang Cheng behind the young man and shouted.
The city gates were opened, and the first to emerge were the soldiers guarding the city, with a group of commoners carrying hoes amidst them.
Seeing this, Xue Yu burst into laughter. "Your Highness, do you think these people alone can withstand my tens of thousands of troops?"
"And so what? Where the people's hearts lie, success will surely follow," the young man said, word by word.
"Since you all wish to come and die, I shall not be polite any longer." Xue Yu gave a signal with his eyes, and countless soldiers behind him charged forward.
The young man turned his head, the ground shaking with the deafening sounds behind him.
"Xue Yu, prepare to die!" The young man, wielding a long sword, charged towards Xue Yu.
"Your Highness, do you believe your skills can match that of my former self, Feng Yin?" Xue Yu found Xue Zixuan too stubborn.
"We must try to know, mustn't we?" The young man showed no intention of retreating.
Xue Yu raised his eyes and saw that the people behind the young man seemed utterly fearless of death. Even when his men severed their hands with sabers, they would still bite off a piece of flesh with their mouths.
"Your Highness, look back at your men, how they are being killed off bit by bit..."
The young man did not turn his head, a suppressed anger in his eyes. "Since they have come, they know their fate."
He remembered before leaving the city, he had asked. A commoner had told him, "My family has been arranged for. I am prepared to die defending Bei Jiang."
"Xue Yu, sometimes the human heart can be as strong as steel."
"Your Highness, I originally brought someone here for you to see, to show you what this 'strong as steel' you speak of looks like."
The young man froze. Xue Yu waved his hand, and a woman was dragged out, supported by two people.
As the woman drew closer, the young man's body stiffened.
Seeing the young man's ashen face and clenched jaw, he spat, "Xue Yu, you are truly despicable."
Xue Yu laughed heartily. "Your Highness, a general never shirks cunning tactics."
"Xuan'er..."
The young man's body swayed. He bit his lower lip and spoke word by word, "Imperial Mother..."
Xue Yu dismounted and walked behind the woman. He grabbed her hair with one hand and pulled her back. The woman looked up at him, and he smiled coldly before turning to the young man. "Your Highness, Consort Chao is in my hands. How about we negotiate a deal?"
"What deal?" The young man looked up, his eyes burning like fire.
Xue Yu licked his lips and said word by word, "One Consort Chao, in exchange for a city in Bei Jiang, what do you say? I think it's a very good deal?"
"Xuan'er, don't listen to him. Mother is not worth it."
"Be silent." Xue Yu viciously yanked Consort Chao's hair backward.
Consort Chao gritted her teeth, refusing to utter a single sound of pain.
The young man lowered his gaze, remaining silent.
Xue Yu narrowed his eyes and pulled Consort Chao forward.
The pebbles on the ground tore through Consort Chao's clothes and skin, and blood flowed out, dripping red onto the ground.
Xue Yu suddenly let go, and Consort Chao, unprepared, fell face down onto the ground. As she tried to get up, a foot stomped down on her fiercely.
"Imperial Mother..." the young man gritted out word by word.
Xue Yu drew the sword from his waist and pressed it against Consort Chao's face. He licked his lips and looked at the young man. "Your Highness, are you going to watch Consort Chao die before your very eyes?"
The young man trembled all over, looking at Consort Chao lying on the ground, his hands clenched tightly within his sleeves.
The commoners behind him continued to hold their ground...
"Xuan'er, you must remember that you are not only my son but also the king of all the subjects in Bei Jiang. You cannot let everyone who follows you die for me alone."
"Imperial Mother..." the young man looked at her.
Consort Chao smiled. "Xuan'er, everyone has to die. Mother is just leaving a little earlier. Xuan'er, do not make the wrong decision."
The young man stared intently at Consort Chao until a voice came from behind him, "For Bei Jiang, what is there to fear in death? Come on..."
"Xuan'er, you must be strong..."
"Xue Zixuan, are you going to bear the sin of matricide?"
Xue Yu pressed the sword even closer.
He saw the young man suddenly fall to his knees with a thud and kowtow heavily. A muffled voice came from the ground, "Imperial Mother, I am sorry to have to send you on your way first. I cannot choose you. I am sorry to the subjects of Bei Jiang. Your son will atone to you in the afterlife."
Consort Chao smiled, a very happy smile. "Xuan'er, you have grown up..."
Xue Yu frowned and said coldly, "Since that is the case, I shall send Imperial Mother on her way first, and then send you on yours..."
With that, Xue Yu thrust the sword in his hand towards Consort Chao's neck.
"Imperial Mother..." The young man's eyes widened, tears instantly streaming down his face.
A pebble struck the sword just as it was about to pierce Consort Chao's neck. The blade deflected, moving away from Consort Chao's chin.
Xue Yu was stunned and saw a figure galloping from a distance.
As the figure drew closer, he saw a young girl riding on the horse.
A dress of sea and sky colors fluttered in the whistling wind, her ink-black hair flowing freely, her face exceptionally beautiful. She looked at him, her expression as cold and frosty as winter.
He saw her lips part slightly. "Xue Yu."
He trembled all over. At that moment, a palm strike landed on his chest, and he retreated several steps.
The girl leaped off her horse and landed before Xue Zixuan. She helped Consort Chao up and asked, "Are you alright? I'm sorry I'm late."
Consort Chao shook her head. "I'm fine. You've finally arrived."
The girl turned to look at the young man and smiled. "Zixuan, I'm here."
"Imperial Sister..." The young man stepped forward and hugged the girl tightly around her waist, the suppressed tears finally flowing.
The girl's eyes trembled. She reached out and gently stroked his head, sighing inwardly, "He really is just a child after all!"
The young man seemed to remember something, released his embrace, and knelt on the ground. "This subject has offended His Majesty. I beg His Majesty for forgiveness."
The girl stepped forward, helped him up, and stroked his head. "You can call me Imperial Sister. There's no need for formality."
The young man trembled all over, and his expression gradually turned to joy. "Imperial Sister..."
"You have worked hard!" The girl looked at the corpses behind the young man and said softly.
The young man shook his head. "Imperial Sister, it was not hard. It is just that Zixuan has failed Imperial Sister's trust by not guarding Bei Jiang well."
"You have done very well. Go and help your Imperial Mother. Leave the rest to me..."
The young man nodded. "Alright."
"Xue Yu, you have betrayed me." The girl turned to look at Xue Yu, her lips parting slightly as she spoke word by word.
Though her words were light, from her mouth they carried the weight of a thousand pounds.