CHAPTER 18

The four children of the Lian family were very distanced from each other. Lian Qi and Lian Sheng seemed like close siblings, while Lian Sihuan and Lian Xiyue had the best relationship.

When they were young, Lian Sihuan liked her older brother, Lian Qi. Back then, Lian Xiyue was still young, and she didn’t like to play with him. She only hoped her older brother would play with her. Lian Qi was clever from a young age, handsome, and very gentle with others.

But this gentleness was like a cocoon, wrapped up for others to see, never to be pierced. There was only one exception, and that was Lian Sheng. Lian Qi was extremely protective of Lian Sheng, and it could be said that Lian Sheng was raised under his care. Lian Sheng’s mother had passed away when she was four, and from that point, Lian Qi took care of her.

At the time, Lian Qi was only ten, but he was especially steady and treated Lian Sheng like his heart’s treasure, raising her with care. His gaze toward her was tender and sincere. Lian Sihuan was very dissatisfied and tried various ways to make her brother like her and dislike Lian Sheng, but none of it worked.

The time she remembered the most was when she pushed Lian Sheng to the ground. Lian Sheng was in pain but didn’t cry; she just got up with a pale face.

Lian Qi witnessed this scene, carefully checked if Lian Sheng was hurt, and when he confirmed she was fine, he turned to look at Lian Sihuan. Initially, Lian Sihuan wasn’t scared—after all, he was her brother. She was about to act spoiled when she saw the cold look in his eyes.

It was a gaze she had never seen before—cold, filled with murderous intent.

Lian Sihuan was so scared she almost couldn’t stand. For a moment, she felt that her brother might walk up to her and strangle her to death. But in the end, he only said coldly: “Don’t bully Ah Sheng again,” then turned and took Lian Sheng’s hand, walking away.

From that day on, Lian Sihuan no longer tried to cling to her older brother. She clearly remembered the indifference in his eyes. There was no trace of his usual gentleness. Her older brother was only Lian Sheng’s older brother, not hers. The jealousy in her heart remained, but she dared not get close to him anymore.

After Lian Sheng married Yi Qiancheng, Lian Sihuan felt a sense of relief and satisfaction. She wanted to see the look on her beloved brother’s face when he found out. Look, the treasure you cherished in your hands was casually promised to someone else, as a gift no less. But what could you do about it? Kill her husband and bring her back?

Lian Sihuan smirked and put down the letter in her hand. She looked toward the Lord of Lian City and comforted him: “Father, don’t worry. Brother has won a great victory. The Western Qiang won’t dare to attack for now. Reinforcements will arrive soon.”

“You don’t understand! The emperor is dead! The imperial city is in chaos. How can we expect reinforcements now?”

“The emperor is dead?” Lian Xiyue asked, his voice rough as he had just entered his puberty.

The Lord of Lian City had called them over specifically for this matter. After the siege, he realized that there were too few people he could rely on. He had to make sure his most beloved children grew quickly. So he carefully explained the situation to them.

“Qi’er won a victory, but we don’t know how long it will last. Your sister went to a political marriage, but there hasn’t been any news yet. The emperor has died. According to the rules, the lords of the cities should go to the capital to mourn. But we’re trapped here, so we don’t have to go. However, before the emperor passed away, he didn’t appoint a new heir. The other four cities will definitely take advantage of the chaos to support a new ruler.”

“The second prince had previously promised to help Yingdong and send reinforcements quickly. But now, it seems that he too is caught in the whirlpool and can’t send reinforcements from the imperial city.”

“Father means... Yingdong will not get reinforcements?” Lian Sihuan’s face turned pale. She thought the situation was improving, but it was actually getting worse.

“Yes. So, today I called you here to prepare you. If Qi’er can’t hold on, you must take your mother and go to the Xiangnao River. I have prepared a boat there.”

“Father,” Lian Xiyue’s face was also grim. “But abandoning the city and fleeing is a capital offense.”

“Staying is also death!” The Lord of Lian City said in a deep voice. But now, it seemed that escaping by water toward the imperial city might not be a dead-end. Since the second prince was willing to send reinforcements, it proved that he wanted to save the Lian family.

If the second prince successfully ascended the throne, he might pardon the Lord of Lian City for abandoning the city. The Lord of Lian City looked out the window, his thoughts heavy. This city had been guarded by the Lian family for generations. He did not want to give it up unless absolutely necessary.

The night was as cool as water. Lian Qi’s eyes were cold as he wiped the bloodstains from his face. Everywhere his gaze landed, there were corpses, piled into mountains of bodies, emitting a strong stench of blood.

“Commander.” His deputy hesitated to speak, his voice full of grief.

“I’m fine. I just wanted to come back and take a look. They were all good men of Yingdong, who died protecting the city. Their bodies should not be left here. But there’s no choice. I can’t bring them home. I can only give them one last toast of wine. May they rest well on their journey to the underworld.” Lian Qi uncorked a wine bottle and poured it on the ground.

“To hell with the damned Western Qiang barbarians! Our good brothers, and yet...” The deputy’s eyes reddened, tears welling up. A full-grown man, crying in sorrow.

The battle during the day had been particularly fierce. The news of the emperor’s death spread quickly, encouraging the Western Qiang to attack immediately. Lian Qi’s forces were no match for them. The Western Qiang fought ruthlessly. They ate all the remaining food and launched a frenzied assault.

This battle was the most brutal. Corpses lay everywhere, and blood stained the earth. The disparity in strength between the two sides was too great. Lian Qi and his soldiers fought fiercely to defend, but ultimately, they were defeated.

After their victory, the Western Qiang immediately seized Yingdong’s food supplies. Lian Qi gave the order in time, but it was impossible to recover all the losses. Now, their supplies could only last for three more days. The casualties were too high, and there weren’t enough medicines.

By this time, there were no extra hands to carry the bodies of the fallen soldiers back. They had to be left in the wilderness. After Lian Qi and his soldiers retreated, he remained silent for a long time before riding a horse back to the battlefield. He carried a flask of wine. The deputy, upon seeing him, worried that the commander had come to follow them.

“Go back.” Lian Qi said in a low voice. The people were already gone, but at least this way, he would feel a little better. His brothers, who had shared life and death with him, deserved this farewell.

After turning around, his expression was no longer sorrowful; it was replaced by solemnity.

“Send a message back to Yingdong City and tell the city lord that the food and medicine are insufficient. The West Qiang are coming fiercely. The city... will fall.” Lian Qi clenched his fists, suppressing the discomfort in his heart, and gave the orders in a calm tone.

The West Qiang would definitely take advantage of the situation and attack; he knew very well that they couldn’t hold out for long. The emperor’s death had acted like a fuse, igniting the entire situation, making the West Qiang, who had previously been testing the waters, no longer hesitant.

Now, sending a message back would at least buy some time for the civilians to escape and prevent them from dying with the city. Yingdong... would eventually fall.

……

“General, Yingdong suffered a crushing defeat, lost its food supplies, and spies report that the situation in Yingdong is dire. It should not hold for many more days.”

“Mm, hold off for now.”

“We are one day away from Yingdong. Has the general decided how to claim it?” Fu Yi asked, his voice filled with excitement. Yingdong City would be the first step for the general to take control of the world.

“No hurry. They will compromise on their own; we don’t need to force it,” Yi Qiancheng said, his expression indifferent, confident of victory.

“General, what will you say to the Madam? After all, she’s your wife. Taking the city under these circumstances will cause some distance between you two.”

Yi Qiancheng pursed his lips and glanced at Fu Yi. After a long silence, he spoke, “She was always just a tool for me to take Yingdong. Does the strategist think I need to give her an explanation?”

“Of course not.”

After the strategist left, Yi Qiancheng stood up and went to find Lian Sheng. She was good at reading situations and knew Yi Qiancheng had matters to discuss, so she took the initiative to leave with her maid. When Yi Qiancheng found her, she was sitting on the grass, listening intently to a maid talking, occasionally smiling lightly.

The sunlight seemed especially gentle on her, casting soft rays that wrapped around her like a halo. Perhaps because she was near home, Lian Sheng felt at ease and unaware of the situation at the frontlines. The maid’s words amused her, and she laughed.

Her laughter was not like the usual dignified manner of a noble lady, nor was it the playful charm when she spoke sweet words. Her eyes still held a trace of innocence, and her smile, gentle and bright, was more dazzling than the spring of March.

Lian Sheng didn’t notice Yi Qiancheng standing in the distance. The maid was telling stories from her childhood, and this girl had a natural sense of humor. Once she became familiar with them, she no longer felt shy or reserved, chattering away like a chatterbox. Xi Yu was also nearby, covering her mouth with a smile.

Yi Qiancheng stopped and didn’t approach. The strategist’s words echoed in his mind—what would he say to Lian Sheng?

What was there to say? Their stances were different, and he would inevitably take Yingdong. No matter how much she cried or protested, it wouldn’t change anything. Besides, she married him, so she belonged to him—body, mind, and soul.

He could try to ignore that she was from the Lian family and treat her well. As long as the liar was willing to truly open her heart to him, he could love her.

Yi Qiancheng stared for a long while before turning away, giving orders for Lian Sheng to prepare to depart. There was still a tough battle to fight in Yingdong.

……

“Three... three days?!” Lian Chengzhu’s face turned ashen, and he grabbed the soldier by the collar, his eyes bloodshot with anger.

“Yes, yes, the commander asked me to inform the city lord to quickly settle the civilians.”

Don’t mind him ↑ the male lead is having a moment of emotional turmoil; he’ll get a slap in the face soon. Hmm? The female lead’s nickname has unintentionally become “the liar”...