Chapter 88: The Army Besieges the City (6)

  It's all because of this. It was never done for them anyway.

  She never wanted their approval or gratitude. Everything she did was for him, her husband, Nan Gong Jin.

  Only he lived. As long as everything he cherished was safe under her protection when he left. No matter how much she gave up. No matter what price she paid. It didn't matter to her at all.

  She wants it. But if so.

  She took off her fur coat and calmly put on her own clothes in front of him. Picked up the mask and put it back on again.

  She smiled slightly and nodded at him, then turned around and left.

  Looking at her back, Huangfu Ling's whole body was cold and thorough. He lost.

  The camp is brightly lit. The patrolling sentries are standing guard at their posts in an orderly manner, highly concentrated and alert.

  On the wooden stake, Nangong Yan's face was pale white, her eyes were bloodshot red, and there were marks on her wrists. In the darkness far away, Narlan Xianuo's figure stopped moving. She lowered her head to look at her clothes for a moment, then tore off a strip of cloth to tie up her hair into a bun.

  Princess

  In the cold wind, there was a familiar voice mixed in. Nan Gong Yan wanted to open her eyes, but she had no strength.

  Princess

  Suddenly, Nangong Yan's heart skipped a beat. With great effort, she opened her eyes and looked up.

  Under the moonlight, Nalan Xiong wore a black outfit, his face slightly pale in the moonlight. For several nights, Nan Gongyan had not dreamed of him once, yet he appeared before her without any warning, calling out to her as "Princess".

  Suddenly. Reality and dreams merged. Nan Gong Yan was a little unbelievable about what he saw.

  "Xianuo." She hesitated and called out in a somewhat hoarse voice.

  Nalan Xixi nodded slightly. "It was me."

  "Xianuo……it's really you……you're really alive…I knew it, I knew you were still alive. I knew you'd come back, I knew you'd come to save me." Her limbs were tightly bound, Nan Gongyan was unable to move. Tears had already dried up. At the moment her dream came true, she could only hoarsely repeat: "I knew it..."

  "I..."

  "Xī nuò... please save my brother, I don't know how he is now. Some people say he's dead, but the empress dowager says he's still alive. Now Huáng Fū Líng is leading 500,000 troops to attack the city. Please save my brother, save the empress dowager, and save the common people of the imperial capital. Xī nuò..." It was as if a savior had descended from heaven. Nán Gōng Yàn couldn't help but beg for help, because she knew that as long as Xī nuò was there, there was nothing to be afraid of.

  "I know. Don't worry, Princess. The King is safe." Nalan Xianyu nodded.

  "Really... That's great...... Sorry to hear that. Thank you. Thanks for still being alive."

  Nalan Xixi felt a pang in her heart. She clenched her fists. "Princess, I still can't rescue you from here now. But tomorrow at noon, Huangfu Ling will let you return to the city. At that time, everything will depend on you."

  "Lean on me. How about you? Why did he let me go back? Why lean on me? Where are you going? No, Xie Nuò. Don't leave me again... please..." Nangong Yan begged fearfully. She suddenly feared that this was just a dream, feared that Nalan Xie Nuò would suddenly disappear again, never to be seen again.

  Nalan Xixi's expression was grave. "After the princess returns to the city tomorrow, immediately follow General He and others with Wang Shang from the North Gate."

  "No. I want to be with you. I..."

  "Princess." Nalan Xianyu's expression was slightly cold. "Now everyone is on the line between life and death. Please, Princess, you must prioritize the bigger picture. The king is currently in a coma and cannot preside over the situation. The empress dowager is too grief-stricken. Only the princess can take on this heavy burden now. What the princess needs to do is lead them away. As for other matters, leave them to me."

  Nangong Yan suddenly fell silent, she gradually calmed down. Xi Nuo was right, at this moment, she couldn't be willful anymore. All of this was because of her willfulness that things had come to this point. If there was still a chance, she should do something for them.

  Nangong Yan nodded. "I know. I will."

  Nalan Xixi nodded her head. "Then... I'll leave it to Your Highness."

  Having said that, Nalan Xiong turned around and prepared to leave.

  "Xī nuò." Behind him. Nan Gong Yan's voice trembled slightly. "You'll definitely come back. You'll definitely be like today, and come back again, right?"

  Nalan Xixi's figure slightly paused. She nodded. "I will."

  Luò Tiān Dì Dū

  On the city wall, the silver armor knights looked exhausted but still focused on guarding, without relaxing their vigilance at all.

  It's almost dawn. The sky is slightly brightening at the horizon. The white silver armor-clad guards are walking up to the city wall for their shift change.

  Huo stood by the stone wall, gazing at the enemy's camp in the distance, his expression solemn and silent. It had been a whole night, with no news whatsoever. Judging from Huangfu Ling's style, he would not let her off easily.

  But she certainly won't let him bully her.

  "When was it?" He asked in a low voice, his tone suddenly softened.

  The silver armor knight beside him replied in a low voice, "It's almost time."

  He Xian walked to the side of Huo, also looking towards the camp. But except for a blurry lantern fire, only the cold stillness of an autumn night remained. He Xian clenched his fist tightly, his whole body feeling cold.

  "Wei Long has no news until now." He Xian's voice was very low, as if he was talking to himself.

  His body trembled slightly. He said faintly: "He went to Shanheguan."

  "Shanheguan." He Xian was surprised. "The master let her go and get reinforcements."

  Huo shook his head. "The situation is critical. The master knows that according to General Li's temperament, he will not watch the capital fall like this. So the master let him go to Shanheguan to tell General Li. No matter what, do not allow troops to be sent to support. If even the five cities of Liao Bei are lost, Luo Tian is really finished."

  The five cities of Mobei were once the location of the Luotian Kingdom. Later, the territory of Luotian expanded to the Central Plains region, bordering the Shu Prefecture of Lianxiang Kingdom in the south and the Luoyang region of Shengjin Kingdom in the east. This position is both the most dangerous and the safest.

  "What you said... have we passed this calamity?"

  Huo's figure hesitated for a moment. He had never heard such words, such tone from He Xian's mouth before. He didn't speak. The answer was already in everyone's heart. It's just that each person held onto a glimmer of hope, wanting to say, perhaps, maybe.

  In the distance, a horse's hooves echoed in the quiet night. He Xian and Huo Zhe looked into the darkness. A fast horse was galloping towards them. He Xian was overjoyed. "Open the city gate..."

  "Hold on." Huo Zhi blocked his way. This was an extraordinary time. He hadn't seen the person clearly. Absolutely couldn't be rash.

  The horse galloped over quickly. Immediately, Nalan Xiong's expression turned icy cold. Under the moonlight, he looked as cold and resolute as a god of death in the dark night. Huo Zhe shouted: "Quickly open the city gate..."

  A loud rumble. The city gate opened. Nalan Xianyu didn't hesitate at all and rushed into the city gate.

  Before long, Nalan Xiong ascended the city wall. He Xi hastily went forward to greet him. "Master."

  Nalan Xixi nodded slightly and rushed into the room on the city tower, closing the door tightly behind her. The maids hurriedly came and went, carrying hot water to attend to her bath. Outside, He Xian was extremely anxious, while Huo Zhi stood by with a solemn expression, not saying a word.

  "What's wrong with the mistress?" He Xian finally couldn't bear it and grabbed a maid to ask.

  The maid stammered in a low voice: "The queen... she's injured..."

  "Hurt..." He Xian was shocked upon hearing this. "Huo Zhi..."

  He didn't move. He turned around and pulled him up. "The master is injured. Go take a look at her quickly."

  At this time, the maidservants rushed out one after another. The last maid came out and said softly: "The two generals, the queen mother asks you to go to the front hall to wait for her."

  He Xian glanced at Huo Zhe, who walked calmly towards the front hall without making a sound.

  After a while, Nalan Xianyu had changed into another set of clothes, her hair was wet and combed into a crown, not looking like a woman at all.

  She walked up to the upper seat and sat down. He Xian anxiously said: "Master, did that Huang Fu Ling bully you?"

  Nalan Xixi's expression turned slightly cold. Huo Zhe pinched him. He Xian immediately shut his mouth.

  "How is he?" Nalan Xixi looked at Huo Zhe.

  "Don't worry, Master. Everything is fine with Wang." Huo nodded his head.

  Nalan Xixi nodded. "From now on, you and the Tianlang Guards will follow Jin and the Empress Dowager closely, not leaving their side for a single step. Ensure their absolute safety."

  He nodded his head. His voice was slightly trembling. "Don't worry, master. I will definitely not betray the trust you have placed in me."

  He stood up and walked out. He Xian watched him leave, then looked up at Nalan Xixi and saw that her face didn't look too good. She wanted to speak but hesitated, then got up and prepared to leave.

  "What's first." This time, his voice wasn't as cold. It had a hint of fatigue and apology.

  "Master..." He turned around and looked at Nalan Xianuo.

  "Xiao Lian's matter... Sorry." The hall was not lit up, and in the darkness, He Xian couldn't see Nalan Xixi's expression clearly. But with such a tone, such words, how could it be something she would say?

  She was such a cold and proud woman. When had she ever said those three words to anyone?

  "What was that noise?" The servant fell to his knees. "Master, please don't say such things. You haven't wronged me... this is all I should be doing. Your humble servant... would rather die than betray you."

  He is tongue-tied, yet doesn't know how to express his current emotions. All that's left is a single phrase: "Ten thousand deaths, no regrets." Four words representing his unwavering trust and loyalty. Ten thousand deaths... no regrets.

  "Sorry."

  In the vast and empty hall, Nalan Xiong's voice sounded so weak and desolate for the first time.

  This apology is for the trust and loyalty you've placed in me. This apology is for the trust and expectations my brothers have placed in me. I originally had nothing, and in the end, I still have nothing. The things that were never supposed to be lost are now all gone. Now, the only thing left that can't be lost is him.

  He stood there in a daze, staring blankly at the small figure slowly getting up from the darkness. Every step felt like a heavy trample on his heart, suffocating him to the point of breathlessness.

  "Master..."

  The entrance. Narlan Xizuo's body was slightly delayed.

  "Master, no matter what kind of decision you make, you will always be our master first and foremost. We believe in you."