The two forces collided. The Brocade-Clad Guards rushed ahead, swords and blades unsheathed, their cold light fierce.
The Eastern Depot agents followed in lockstep.
The torchlight flickered in the darkness, illuminating the entire street as bright as day.
The clash of swords and blades exploded in the narrow street, sparks flying in the firelight.
The sharp ring of metal, the dull thud of blades cutting flesh, the screams of the wounded, the moans of the dying—all mingled together, echoing through the street.
Qi Sugong brandished her long spear, the strength of a Second-Rank Martial Artist fully on display.
Wherever the spear tip passed, enemies fell like harvested wheat.
She alone pierced through the vanguard of the Brocade-Clad Guards, the spear tip piercing three men’s chests, then sweeping horizontally, sending a row of men sprawling.
The spear tassel, soaked with blood, turned dark crimson and hung heavily.
Though she was personally brave, the troops she led were not a regular army. Qi Sugong commanded the domestic servants and guards of the Qi and Song Mansions.
These people normally patrolled grounds and ran errands—when had they ever seen such a sight?
Facing the elite of the Brocade-Clad Guards and Eastern Depot, they were like a flock of sheep meeting a wolf pack; they were scattered at the first encounter.
The situation looked grim. Even though Qi Sugong was a Second-grade Master, she was only one person.
Wei Yang’s forces surged in like a tide, pouring through that gap, dividing, surrounding, and annihilating Qi Sugong’s troops.
Wei Yang was overjoyed. Her eyes lit up, the gloom on her face swept away. She waved her arms incessantly, her voice sharp and brittle:
“Kill! Advance all the way!”
As long as she eliminated Qi Sugong before her, killed this old rival, the world would be in her grasp from then on.
Images of victory had already begun to form in her mind: the young Imperial Princess ascending the throne, she herself sitting behind the curtain, holding the Jade Seal, handling Red Approval and Draft Memorials, the entire world in the palm of her hand.
The more she thought, the more excited she became, the smile on her lips growing wider and wider.
Until she heard the sound of hoofbeats—Wei Yang’s smile froze on her face.
“Be careful, my lady!”
A personal guard lunged over, shielding Wei Yang.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Three arrows struck simultaneously. One pierced her throat, one nailed into her chest, and one went through her abdomen.
The guard’s body stiffened, let out a muffled sob, then slumped down, collapsing to the ground. Blood gushed out, spreading on the bluestone slabs.
Wei Yang’s pupils contracted sharply. She snapped her head toward the direction the arrows had come from.
In the darkness, a troop of cavalry came thundering in, charging from the flank.
The riders were all armored, holding long spears, with swords at their waists and crossbows hanging from their saddles.
They lined up in a row, like a sharp longsword cleaving out of the darkness, cutting straight toward Wei Yang.
At the forefront was a figure in black armor, hair tied high in a ponytail, holding a bow in hand—the bowstring still quivering slightly.
Qin Junyue’s expression was cold and stern, her eyes like torches, fixing intently on Wei Yang’s direction.
She sat on her horse, drew three more arrows from her quiver, nocked them on the bowstring—her movements fluid and continuous, so fast they were almost invisible.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three arrows shot through the air, carrying a sharp whistling sound, flying toward Wei Yang.
Wei Yang hurriedly dismounted, but even so, an arrow struck her shoulder.
The guards around her quickly encircled her, while the rest charged at Qin Junyue and her men.
“Junyue, excellent archery!” Qi Chuyao praised from the side, her tone admiring.
Qin Junyue observed the battle situation, her expression very grim. She didn’t respond to Qi Chuyao.
Her eyes swept across the battlefield. Although Wei Yang’s forces had been thrown into chaos by the flank attack, they still had numerical superiority.
The Brocade-Clad Guards and Eastern Depot agents were reorganizing their formation, pressing toward them.
‘Our side simply has too few people.’
‘Even counting this cavalry unit, the numbers are still far too low.’
‘If we fight to the death, even if we kill three or five hundred enemies, we’ll be annihilated.’
‘We need to break the situation apart; otherwise, if we keep grinding like this, we’ll still be at a disadvantage.’
“Fire!” Qin Junyue ordered.
The cavalry behind her raised their bows and crossbows, arrows like rain, pouring down on Wei Yang’s forces.
“Fire while retreating!” Qin Junyue reined in her horse, turned its head, and retreated toward the flank.
The cavalry followed her, firing arrows as they withdrew.
Wei Yang’s face was grim. She clutched her injured shoulder, blood seeping through her fingers and dripping to the ground.
Her martial ability was lacking; after entering the palace, she had only studied some superficial techniques—fine for health, but when it came to actual combat, she dared not fight.
She could only hide behind the shield wall the guards had formed, grinding her teeth as she watched Qin Junyue’s unit retreat and fire.
“Go, send a small squad—no need for many—to seize their family members,” Wei Yang said coldly.
“I refuse to believe they can make that blind son of the Song family and his sickly daughter join the battle too!”
As soon as she spoke, an adjutant beside her quickly selected a few men. They quietly circled around from the flank, following the alleys toward the Song Mansion.
Their footsteps were very light, and they soon vanished into the darkness. Wei Yang’s gaze fell on those retreating figures, a cold smile curling at the corner of her mouth.
Qin Junyue reined in her horse and looked back at the battlefield.
As expected, Wei Yang had divided her forces; a unit split off from the main formation and gave chase.
At the head was a Thousand Household Commander of the Brocade-Clad Guard, holding a long saber, riding a tall horse, his expression grim, leading men hot on their heels.
“Fight while retreating,” Qin Junyue ordered.
The cavalry threaded through the narrow alleys, sometimes firing arrows, sometimes turning to charge, sometimes wheeling back.
The pursuing force Wei Yang had sent was led by the nose, chasing farther and farther in the maze-like alleys, becoming more scattered, gradually breaking away from the main battlefield.
They had successfully drawn off part of the enemy troops. But the situation on the main battlefield was still far from optimistic.
…
At the entrance of the Song Mansion, the night wind was bleak. Two stone lions crouched on either side of the door, mouths wide open.
Song Ning sat on the steps at the entrance, his expression calm, his black hair loose on his shoulders, gently stirred by the night breeze.
“Young Master Song, Lady Qi has engaged the rebel forces. The enemy has a large number of troops.”
“Lady Qin has led cavalry out from the flank—the enemy formation is in chaos!”
Song Ning’s brows furrowed again, his expression especially grave in the moonlight.
“So many people? Even after Qin Junyue divided her forces, they still can’t hold?”
The scout kneeling on the ground was panting, his face covered in sweat, voice trembling.
“Reporting to Young Master, the enemy has too many troops. Although Lady Qin lured away a part, the front still can’t hold. Lady Qi has already retreated as ordered, but the enemy pursues closely…”
Song Ning was silent for a moment. Wei Yang’s forces were larger than expected.
On his side, the reinforcements from the Capital Camp had not arrived yet, and there was still no news from Prince Xin of the Five City Wardens’ Office.
He only had the domestic servants and guards of the Qi and Song Mansions, plus Qin Junyue’s cavalry unit—the disparity in numbers was too great.
“Tell my mother-in-law to retreat further back, try to make them more dispersed,” Song Ning had to order.
The scout acknowledged the order and ran off again, his hurried footsteps fading into the night.