Chapter 85: Besieging the City (3)

  In the pavilion on the city wall, Nan Gong Yu lay on the bed. The maid changed him into clean clothes and washed away the bloodstains on his body.

  The sword scar on his face had been medicated and was no longer bleeding, only a deep and long gully remained. Even if he was unconscious, it added a bit of ferocity and vicissitudes to his originally cold and stern face.

  Murong Taohou stood beside Nan Gongyu, weeping silently. The last remaining hope had now turned into an illusion. Outside, they were surrounded by the enemy army, and every passing day meant one less chance for him to survive.

  Nangong Yan disappeared without a trace. The Empress Dowager turned white-haired overnight. She looked like she had aged more than ten years.

  Outside the door, He Xian and Nalan Xinnuo walked in. Nalan Xinnuo saw Nan Gongyin on the bed, her face suddenly set as she rushed over. She grasped his icy palm, her body trembling.

  "Huo Zhe... Jin Ta... why doesn't it have any temperature at all." Nalan Xixi held his hand tightly, not daring to think deeply.

  "Huo said hastily: 'Don't worry, master. Wang Shang is fine. The effect of the Jingxin Dan is just like this.'"

  Nalan Xixi's expression gradually calmed down, looking at Nangong Jin's tightly closed eyes, Nalan Xixi couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.

  The empress wiped away her tears. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and pulled Nalan Xinnuo over. "Right... Xinnuo, go find your brother and have him bring reinforcements with the Ling King."

  Nalan Xixi's face turned cold. Huo Zhe saw the situation and hastily went up to her. "Your Highness, Your Highness... As you know, the imperial capital is in a precarious situation on all sides. How can we get out of the city to inform King Ling? Don't worry..."

  "He should have heard about it long ago. He's just waiting to see the show. I knew that you, the Huangfu family, had been eyeing me, Luo Tian. My son Wang has become like this now. It's all because of you." The blow was too great at one time. The empress dowager was already somewhat confused.

  Nalan Xixi nodded. "Right. The people of the Huangfu family have long coveted the throne. The troops outside are those of Huangfu Ling."

  Suddenly. The air around condensed. Murong Dowager Empress stepped back in disbelief. "What did you say... You... Come, capture her for me."

  Her voice fell. No one moved. The Empress Dowager Mu Yong's face was terrified as she retreated backwards. "You... you've all turned against me. You're all her people. You're all plotting to usurp the throne..."

  "Miss, the master is not a member of the Huangfu family..." He Xian couldn't bear it and growled.

  "What...". Murong Taifei became even more frightened. "Then who is she? Who..."

  "Nalan Xino." Nalan Xino raised her eyes and looked at her. She tightened her grip on Nan Gongyin's hand by a fraction.

  Murong Taohou heard this, her eyes widened in terror. She covered her mouth and continuously backed away, until she was pressed against the wall, unable to retreat any further. She didn't dare say another word, only staring at her in horror.

  Nalan Xixi slightly furrowed her brow. Chao Huo gave a slight nod after exchanging a glance with him. Chao walked towards the Empress Dowager. The moment she saw Chao walking towards her, she let out a loud shriek in fright. "What do you want to do? You treacherous officials...you..."

  "Master..." Suddenly, a white silver armor knight rushed in from outside the door.

  He didn't even have time to see what was happening here. Loudly reported. "Master, Princess Yan'er...".

  Suddenly, he saw the empress staring at him with a frightened face. Suddenly she closed her mouth and didn't speak.

  In Nalan Xixi's hand, Nan Gongyin's fingers trembled slightly. Nalan Xixi's heart sank. She tightly grasped his hand, wanting to tell him that she was there and not to worry.

  Nalan Xixi got up and walked out. Empress Murong closely followed her.

  Under the city wall, a team of soldiers pushed a cart to their gate. On the cart stood a pillar, and on top of that pillar was tied up a girl - Nan Gong Yan.

  Nangong Yan was tightly bound to the pillar, her head tilted to one side, her eyes empty and lifeless, as if she had lost all vitality. Her tears had dried up, and her heart was as dead as ashes.

  Seeing Nan Gongyan, Nalan Xixi's heart skipped a beat.

  This Huangfu Ling... is simply treacherous to the extreme. At this critical moment, he uses Nangong Yan as a bargaining chip again, wanting to force her to open the city gate. At this time, everyone prioritizes the bigger picture and naturally understands how to weigh things.

  His intention in doing so is to test whether Nan Gongyu is still alive. If he is, he will definitely be lured out at this time and make the final blow.

  If Nan Gong Jin is no longer around, those who are loyal to him will still fight to the death to protect Nan Gong Yan. If Na Lan Xian Nu tries to stop them, it will inevitably lead to internal conflict.

  Nalan Xixi clenched her fists tightly and gazed coldly at the distant car frame.

  "Yan'er..." Behind her, the mournful wail of Murong Empress echoed through the air. She leaned on the stone railing, gazing down at Nan Gong Yan who was also on the verge of collapse below the city wall, and burst into silent sobs.

  Hearing the empress dowager's cry, Nangong Yan suddenly raised her head and saw Murong Empress Dowager. Nangong Yan also burst into tears. "Empress Dowager... I'm sorry to you. It was me. I was the one who caused my brother's death. It was me..."

  Saying that, the mother and daughter leaned against the city wall and wept together. Empress Murong shook her head vigorously. Nalan Xianyu was shocked, stretched out her hand to pull, but still took a step too late. Empress Murong cried out: "Wang'er is not dead, he's still alive..."

  Nalan Xixi's heart was slightly angry, and she pulled Mu Rong Tai Hou over with one hand. Huo Zhe rushed up to take the Tai Hou from her hands. Nalan Xixi clenched her fists tightly, and her joints cracked loudly due to the force.

  Huang Pu Ling Zheng wanted to probe her. She was good. Directly shouting loudly to tell others...

  As expected, upon hearing the news, he pulled Nangong Yan's carriage and began to retreat backwards. Nangong Yan's crying voice gradually faded away. Murong Empress's heart was shattered, and she burst into tears.

  "Swallow... you guys go save her. Save my Swallow..." Murong Empress pulled at Huo Zhen, begging him to save her daughter.

  Huo furrowed his brow tightly. He understood the importance of Nangong Yan to the Empress Dowager and Nangong Jin. However, he also knew that now was absolutely not the time to be impulsive. They couldn't afford to lose anymore.

  Jian Zhiwu was unmoved. Empress Murong shifted her attention to Nalan Xixi. "For the sake of... for the sake of Yan'er's genuine feelings towards you, I beg of you, please save her... I beg of you..."

  Murong Empress Dowager knelt down and kept kowtowing to Nalan Xixi.

  Nalan Xixi's expression was stern, and she turned her face away. Huo Zhe and He Xian helped Murong Taifei up. Murong Taifei looked at Nalan Xixi with a cold expression, shaking her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable... I didn't think that in the end, Luo Tian would still be ruined by your hands..."

  "Niang niang." He Xian couldn't bear to watch anymore. Angrily, he said: "Can't you see? The master has always been protecting us, protecting Luo Tian. If the master wanted to harm Luo Tian, would they still be waiting here to die?"

  "Waiting for death." Murong Taihou suddenly froze. "What does it mean? What waiting for death..."

  The people around her no longer paid attention to her, nor did they speak anymore. From a distance, the sound of Nan Gongyan's sobbing came intermittently. Nalan Xianuo clenched her fists tightly. She almost wanted to rush down and kill those people to take Nan Gongyan back. But if she went down, it would be exactly what they wanted.

  The army and the killer are different. They will work together, with tens of thousands of people to ambush him alone. It's not a one-on-one duel. There is no technique, just winning by numbers, like a flood beast, impossible to resist.

  If she dies, everyone here will inevitably die too.

  Murong Taohou heard Nangong Yan's crying, her heart was like a knife being twisted. She cried and begged Nalan Xinnuo: "Since you are protecting us, then go save Yan'er. You know who Wang'er cares about the most... Yan'er's life is what he risked his own to save... Can't let her be destroyed by their hands. Xinnuo..."

  The life of Yan'er, how could it be that only one person sacrificed to save her? What about He Xian and Huo Zhi? And also Quan Long who had already cut off his right arm? And what about her, the one who truly risked life and death to find the medicine for Nan Gong Yan?

  Nalan Xixi suppressed the turmoil in her heart and said coldly: "Please, Your Majesty, consider the bigger picture."

  The overall situation. Her son's life is in danger. Her daughter is in the enemy's hands. Let her prioritize the bigger picture.

  A sharp pain on her right cheek made Nalan Xianuo's face even paler.

  The air around them froze again. Huo hastily pulled the Empress over, standing tensely in front of her. She was slapped by Nalan Xiangxue, who looked as proud and unyielding as ever. When had she ever suffered such humiliation?

  With a single heart and mind, she is only for that man. Only for the people of Luotian. She fights with her life for his everything. He doesn't care about her feelings, he even dares to hit her. I ask the world, who dares to treat her like this?

  A hint of murderous intent flashed across Nalan Xionuo's eyes. The atmosphere around him suddenly became tense.

  However, Nalan Xixi merely turned her face away indifferently and said coldly: "Take him away."

  Huo Zhi nodded hastily. "Yes."

  He immediately tapped Mu Rong Tai Hou's acupoints and took her away.

  The respect in the hearts of the people around him deepened a little more. This was their master, proud and invincible, never bowing his head or admitting defeat, nor would he accept any injustice or humiliation.

  Apathetic. Bloodthirsty. Yet, she is the most emotional person in the world. She can abandon all so-called dignity for the people she loves. Can use her life to protect everything about the one she loves.

  Being misunderstood is fine. Being treated with cold eyes is also okay. She doesn't care at all. What she treasures is only that person.

  "Master." At this time, a sentry ran up from downstairs. He held an arrow in his hand, and the arrow had a rolled-up paper tied to it.

  Nalan Xixi sneered coldly in her heart. She took over the arrow and removed the paper scroll. He Xian hurriedly asked, "What's written on it?"

  Nalan Xinxin said faintly: "Huangfu Ling asked me to see him."

  "What's he trying to pull now?"

  Nalan Xixi crumpled up the paper scroll and said calmly: "Of course, it's to let me open the city gate and let them in."

  He Xian suddenly realized. No wonder he had just tied Nan Gong Yan here with a flourish. It turned out that they were showing off their chips. He Xian was somewhat worried. "What to do."

  Nalan Xixi's eyebrows were tightly furrowed. "Even if he doesn't use the hostage to threaten us, we still can't hold on. The effect of the Condensed Heart Pill only lasts for half a month. The stored grain in the city is only enough for all the citizens to use for one month. They have completely cut off our retreat route. Now, they can afford to drag it out, but we can't."

  His body trembled slightly. He had never thought of this. So when he said those words to her, she must have been extremely painful in her heart. This was already a doomed city. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't put it down, nor could you defend it firmly.