Chapter 2641: Reinforcement

Most of the imperial soldiers had woken up in the middle of the night, hearing that the rebel army had infiltrated the city. They were surrounded by enemies. The commanders couldn’t find their soldiers, and the soldiers couldn’t get to their commanders. Under such circumstances, they could only obey their primal instincts and flee, thus leading to a one-sided slaughter.

Some had tried to rally the soldiers together to resist, but there were too few of them, so the enemies overran them swiftly. Their defeat further lowered the morale of their comrades, leading them to dare not fight back. The only thought left in their minds had been to flee.

But when they saw the two magnificent banners flying high, and someone shouting that the empress was still fighting, they suddenly felt as if they had found their backbone.

“Everyone, head to the White Tiger Banner!”

“For the empress!”

...

The squads that had been wandering around like aimless flies finally found their center and regained their morale. They began rallying around Bi Linglong.

King Yan, who had been spectating the battle from afar, saw the imperial army slowly regaining their footing and remarked, “Bi Linglong is indeed a talent. Despite being a woman, she shows tremendous courage in a crisis.”

King Guangling, Zhao Yuan, nodded. “She handled administrative tasks well while she was still the crown prince’s consort. Many in the imperial court respect her.”

Everyone had known the crown prince as a fool. Bi Linglong had been the one propping up the Eastern Palace.

“It’s a pity she betrayed the imperial family’s trust. She sided with an outsider instead of our Zhao clan.” King Yan harrumphed.

“You wouldn’t have had a chance if not for that,” King Guangling remarked with a chuckle.

Glee flickered across King Yan’s face, but he quickly restrained himself and said, “I am doing this for the sake of our Great Zhou.”

King Guangling played along. “Your Highness’ loyalty to the country is an example that we should follow.”

I wonder who was preparing for a rebellion all this time. Don’t you think it’s a bit thick-skinned to play the good person here?

King Yan knew the other party was retorting in his heart, but he didn’t mind it. He had the highest seniority and commanded the most prestige among the kings, making him the de facto leader of this alliance.

I ought to thank Zu An. Zhao Han’s bloodline is mostly gone. Once we arrive at the capital, no one can compete with me for the throne. I only need to defeat the imperial army here and kill Bi Linglong...

The thought of that suddenly made him worried. “Is there any chance of her turning the tables?”

Zhao Yuan replied, “You’re thinking too much. The imperial court has lost its momentum. She’s merely making a desperate struggle. We should be more worried about her escaping amid the chaos. Someone of her ability could make a comeback. We should be glad that she’s insisting on fighting to her death for some cheap sentimentality. This gives us a chance to take her down for good.”

King Yan’s eyes lit up. “Indeed. Everything will be settled if we kill her here!”

He summoned his aide and deployed his elite troops to capture Bi Linglong, promising that the one who accomplished the feat would be conferred a hereditary marquis position.

The handsome reward made the rebel soldiers’ eyes turn red. They roared in enthusiasm as they charged toward the White Tiger Banner.

The fighting intensified. The imperial army desperately rallied around the White Tiger Banner, but the rebel army was also making its way over.

At the city lord’s residence, Zhang Zitong anxiously urged Bi Linglong, “Your Majesty, the rebel army is a mere three hundred steps away from here. If we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!”

Her body was soaked in blood. She'd been caught in a battle in the brief moment she had left to scout the frontlines.

Bi Linglong coldly eyed Zhang Zitong as she drew her sword. “Captain Tong, if you continue uttering words that shake our army’s morale, I’m going to punish you under military law.”

Zhang Zitong’s heart shuddered. Bi Linglong had commanded an air of majesty even when she was the Crown Prince’s consort; after she became the empress, her disposition had only gotten even stronger. She did not doubt that Bi Linglong would kill her on the spot if she continued trying to persuade her.

Bi Linglong retracted her gaze and said, “I don’t need you to protect me. Take the imperial guards to the frontlines to fight the rebels. We have to give it our all for a chance to turn the tables around.”

She had been observing the battlefield. Raising the White Tiger Banner had greatly raised the morale of their imperial army, but the rebel army had also come prepared. It also didn’t help that the imperial soldiers were rushing here haphazardly from all directions. Murong Qinghe had led her soldiers to receive the incoming imperial soldiers, but the rebel army was so strong that they quickly fell into a disadvantageous position.

Bi Linglong keenly knew that their defense line was on the verge of crumbling, and she needed to devote all her soldiers to hold their ground.

Zhang Zitong wanted to warn the empress that she wouldn’t have guards with her, but she quickly remembered the latter’s earlier warning. She held her tongue and said, “Understood. Imperial guards, Embroidered Envoys, follow me!”

She led her subordinates down to the frontlines. With their efforts, the situation at the defense line stabilized a little.

Murong Qinghe was astonished to see Zhang Zitong. “You’re here too? What about Her Majesty?”

Zhang Zitong replied with a bitter smile, “Her Majesty sent me here.”

Murong Qinghe fell silent. She knew that given the current situation, there was no other option, and she had to concede that Bi Linglong was a decisive leader.

Someone in the rebel army bellowed, “Even the imperial guards have been mobilized. They're cornered. Once we breach this defense line, victory will be ours!”

Cheers broke out in the rebel army as they fearlessly charged forth. This was their opportunity to earn a hereditary marquis position; it could turn their fates around for good.

The pressure on Murong Qinghe and Zhang Zitong increased. Their comrades collapsed one after another, and even they were sustaining injuries. In a battle of this scale, unless they were at the regent’s level, an individual’s valiance was inconsequentia; not to mention that the rebel army was filled with experts too. The two women exchanged looks of despair.

“Who says we don’t have people?”

Another army suddenly arrived at the scene. It was led by a silver-haired old man—it was Qin Zheng from the Qin clan. He was accompanied by Qin Yongde and Qin Guangyuan. Qin Zheng commanded great prestige in the army, so his arrival greatly lifted the imperial army’s morale.

A king from the rebel army shouted, “What’s there to fear? That old fart has one foot in the grave! Besides, they don’t have many troops left!”

Qin Zheng had brought his personal elite troops, but they were indeed nothing much compared to the scale of this battle.

“Don’t forget about us!” Pei You and Gao Ying joined the fray with their troops too. Cheers broke out among the imperial soldiers.

The rebel army’s morale took a hit, but a king quickly yelled that they still had the numerical advantage. They continued their advancement, but with fresh blood joining the imperial army, their momentum was slowed.

As the situation on the battlefield stabilized, Bi Linglong exhaled in relief. She had overcome the danger for the time being. As more imperial soldiers gathered in the area, they would have a chance to turn the tables around.

Just then, a figure descended from the sky. “Duke, I’ll be entrusting this place to you. I’ll protect Her Majesty!”

It was Du Jian, one of the Eight Dukes. His son had been the empress’ aide in the Eastern Palace. Qin Zheng exhaled in relief and said, “I’ll be leaving Her Majesty to you, Du Jian.”

He gestured for his subordinates to open a path for Du Jian.

Bi Linglong frowned. “Lord Du, I don’t need any protection. Go and aid General Qin instead.”

Du Jian smiled. “Your Majesty, please leave the battlefield to the soldiers. I’ll take you somewhere safer.”

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