The general heard this and laughed heartily, his smile cold, very cold. Soon, he suppressed his smile and said coldly, "What trust to speak of with you Koreans? It's not worth it."
An Ning looked at the soldiers approaching her, her gaze turning sharp. She held Wu Zhengdao, who was behind her, close to her chest and said coldly, "General Wu's son is with me. Let me see General Wu."
The general was stunned, then sneered, "Impersonating the general's son is also a capital offense. Guards, apprehend her."
An Ning's expression turned frosty as she heard this, "You don't even recognize the general's son?"
"The general's son? The general's children were already killed by you Koreans," the general retorted angrily.
"Sister, I'm scared..." Wu Zhengdao, frightened by the general in front of him, burst into tears.
An Ning hugged Wu Zhengdao tightly, patting his back and saying with some guilt, "I'm sorry, I scared you."
Finally, An Ning and Han Xiwen, who was unconscious after receiving a hundred military strokes, were confined in the same tent.
If it weren't for an urgent military matter, even with Han Xiwen unconscious, he would have been forced to endure the full two hundred military strokes.
In the night, Han Xiwen developed a high fever. He couldn't be woken up no matter how they called him. An Ning grew anxious; if this continued, Han Xiwen might not survive.
If Han Xiwen died at Dongling Pass, then the Kingdom of Han would have a perfect excuse to attack Huangze, and war would likely break out.
No, she absolutely could not let war begin.
She put down Wu Zhengdao, who was sleeping soundly in her arms, and lifted the tent flap. Before she could step out, two long spears appeared before her, blocking her path. A cold shout came, "Go back."
"Please, good sirs, His Highness Xiwen has a high fever. Can you find a military doctor to treat him?"
"High fever? That's good, let him burn to death." The soldier sneered.
An Ning frowned, "Sir, I know you have no good feelings towards Koreans, but if His Highness Xiwen dies here, Huangze and the Kingdom of Han will be unable to avoid war. When war comes, you will not be able to remain uninvolved. How can the common people live in peace and work?"
The soldier sneered upon hearing this, "You, a Korean, care about Huangze? Isn't this just Crocodile tears, a false display of sympathy!"
An Ning's gaze gradually deepened, "If His Highness Xiwen dies, it benefits neither you nor us."
The soldier pondered for a moment and said to the soldier beside him, "You watch here, I'll go report to the general."
After half an incense stick's time, a person followed behind the soldier. Upon seeing the newcomer, An Ning's heart sank halfway. This was the same general who had confined them earlier.
The general saw her and sneered, "It seems confining you hasn't made you obedient. In that case, drag them out."
At the general's command, two soldiers dragged out the still feverish Han Xiwen, along with the awakened Wu Zhengdao.
Wu Zhengdao, awakened by the pain, cried out, calling for An Ning, "Sis... Sister..."
An Ning, seeing Wu Zhengdao being roughly dragged out, became furious. "Don't lay hands on the child."
The general sneered, "Child? General Wu's child? Kill him..."
An Ning gasped and moved to save Wu Zhengdao, disregarding her own safety.
But how could she be faster than the soldiers' swords?
"Don't kill him, he's General Wu's child, Wu Zhengdao..." An Ning roared.
The general heard this and laughed heartily. After a pause, he withdrew his smile and said coldly, "Young lady, if you want this child to live, you must think of a more reliable way. The general's children were already killed by the Koreans, so he must die too."
An Ning watched intently as the sword lunged towards Wu Zhengdao's chest. She shouted, but no one listened. At this moment, she felt a desperate helplessness.
Just as the sword was about to touch Wu Zhengdao, the unconscious Han Xiwen beside him suddenly opened his eyes. With a powerful surge, he shielded Wu Zhengdao in his arms, and the sword pierced Han Xiwen's back.
Han Xiwen could no longer bear it and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Han Xiwen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. The fever made his face ruddy and flushed. He said coldly, "This prince never knew that you Guangze people would not even spare a child. We Koreans understand that children are innocent. Compared to us Koreans, you Huangze people are simply inhumane."
A soldier beside him kicked Han Xiwen and angrily said, "What right do you have to comment on us Huangze people?"
Another soldier also kicked him, "Exactly, as if you Koreans are so good!"
An Ning watched as Han Xiwen tightly held the child in his arms, preventing Wu Zhengdao from suffering any harm.
And now, the person harming Wu Zhengdao was the Guangze people he faced every day.
It was truly laughable, pathetic, and lamentable.
"Kill them," the general suddenly commanded.
The two soldiers hesitated. One of them said, "Deputy General, this may not be appropriate. After all, he is His Highness the Prince. Should we report to the General?"
The deputy general sneered, "This small matter doesn't need to trouble the General. The General is in a bad mood."
Hearing this, the soldier's anger intensified, "I understand."
Saying this, the two prepared to drag away the now defenseless Han Xiwen to deal with him elsewhere.
"Wait..." An Ning suddenly spoke.
The deputy general looked at An Ning and said, "Young lady, what trick are you trying to play now? Let me tell you, you will never see the general."
An Ning gave a cold smile, "See the general? No need."
The deputy general was stunned. In that moment of his daze, the dagger in An Ning's hand was already at the deputy general's throat.
The deputy general was startled and angrily exclaimed, "You actually used trickery."
An Ning said coldly, "If you had obediently let me see General Wu, I wouldn't have resorted to this."
"What do you want?" the deputy general said coldly.
"Now, order them to release His Highness Xiwen," An Ning said coldly.
The deputy general sneered, "Do you think you can threaten me?"
An Ning's dagger moved closer, the blade pressed tightly against his neck. If he moved, the sharp blade would cut his skin.
The deputy general knew the young woman before him was not joking and shouted, "You come back."
The soldiers, upon hearing the command, returned with Han Xiwen.
Seeing that Han Xiwen was not killed, An Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she relaxed, her wrist went numb, the dagger fell from her hand, and her shoulder was struck with a heavy palm.
An Ning felt as if her internal organs were being shaken. Her throat felt itchy, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
She tried to get up, but a spear was placed against her neck.
The deputy general sneered, "Still want to threaten this deputy general? You're overestimating yourself."
An Ning looked up at the deputy general and said coldly, "Sneaking an attack, not a victorious victory."
The deputy general sneered, "Likewise. If you hadn't threatened me, I would have considered letting you go. But now, it seems I cannot."
"How should the deputy general handle these people?"
The deputy general sized up An Ning and retorted, "What do you think?"
Several soldiers smiled chillingly, "Deputy General, how about..."
The deputy general coughed twice, "Let's stick to the old rules. I'll go first."