"Ah? Are we imprisoned?" Lan Xiachen could hardly believe it, muttering, "This must be the most comfortable imprisonment..."
Mu Xiaoxiao glared at her: "No matter how good the conditions, it's still imprisonment! Besides, Xiaotian is still in trouble, and I'm here knowing nothing, unable to help at all. It's so frustrating!"
"How's Jin-gege?"
"He should be fine, I guess... I haven't asked..."
"Oh my god, they were together! If something happened to my Xiaotian, something must have happened to my Jin-gege!"
"He's my Moonlight Beauty, okay!" She tried to reassure her: "Moonlight Beauty won't have any problems. They're different."
Mu Xiaoxiao's words did not comfort Lan Xiachen. She furrowed her brow, thought for a moment, then pulled out her whip, saying: "We must get out! Hmph, even if it's a heavenly net, how could it stop me! Don't worry, I'll take you out~~" She waved her whip, then remembered something and asked: "Didn't the Flower-Clothed Person treat you well? Weren't you quite familiar with him, always calling him 'little flower'? How did he suddenly become an enemy?"
"I don't know how things turned out this way. It's so frustrating... Let's just escape!"
"Okay!" The two women began to plot.
A Battle Approaches
With the battle imminent, Long Yutian, unable to get news of Mu Xiaoxiao, was very worried. Gu Gan advised him: "Madam Mu is doing well there. The Flower-Clothed Person hasn't mistreated her." Long Yutian glanced at him without speaking. Gu Gan felt struck: What he feared was precisely that the Flower-Clothed Person was treating her well! She was the Madam of the Upper Dragon Dynasty!
Gu Gan immediately knelt down: "This servant deserves death. Please allow me to scout the enemy camp again and bring back Madam Mu, even at the cost of my life!"
Long Yutian slowly sipped his tea, and after a long time said: "Abandon Jinzhou, attack Xiaocheng first! Also, secretly summon Zhao Changping... and Young Master Su Jin." After discovering Mu Xiaoxiao's whereabouts, Zhao Changping had gone to propose marriage to the Yang family.
"Yes, this subordinate obeys!"
Zhao Changping, however, failed to propose marriage and was instead detained. Moonlight Beauty originally wanted to use the Weiran Manor's reputation to have him released, but Zhao Changping was determined to stay near the Beautiful Spirit, hoping to turn sides. Thus, Moonlight Beauty had to lead the Su family's army ahead.
The Su family's army was skilled in martial arts, and Long Yutian's troops were veterans experienced in warfare. Combining their strengths, Long Yutian ordered the army to advance toward Xiaocheng. He also selected ten agile and cunning soldiers from the Su family to infiltrate Xiaocheng and gather intelligence and assist Mu Xiaoxiao.
According to the ten-person team's report, Xiaocheng appeared normal, with no tense pre-war atmosphere. Long Yutian was shocked upon hearing this: He had always underestimated the Flower-Clothed Person! Holding his whip and riding his horse, he arrived within thirty li of Xiaocheng in a few days. Long Yutian ordered them to set up camp.
That night, Long Yutian summoned Moonlight Beauty. During wartime, the emperor's support had diminished, but the central tent was still luxurious. The entire tent was spacious, thick camel-colored carpets covering the cold ground, an ancient red wooden table adding a sense of majesty, and the most eye-catching was the bright yellow gauze tent with dragon-patterned curtains. Imperial power transported one to a wonderland, making one imagine all worldly matters. How could one not pursue it? Moonlight Beauty stood at the tent entrance, looking at this splendor and thinking.
"Come in. It seems we've never truly talked. Tonight, on the eve of a great battle, let's drink together!"
"Are you trying to toast me with a ruler-subject ritual, forcing me to give up on Mu Xiaoxiao?
Waiting for News
Not waiting for Long Yu Tian’s news, the Flower Robe people have already declared war!
"Very well, let me meet them! Flower Robe people, long time no see!" Long Yu Tian laughed.
Immediately, war drums sounded, and the three armies advanced in formation towards Xiao City. The Flower Robe people had already led their troops and were standing ready.
Long Yu Tian rode forward on his horse, intending to speak. Moonlight Beauty quickly stopped him: "Your Majesty must not, with two armies facing each other, and the other side not being honorable, please be cautious."
Long Yu Tian smiled calmly: "I have my own measure. Moreover, this is a good opportunity to understand him."
One person on horseback, wearing a black dragon robe, majestic and with an extraordinary momentum. The Flower Robe person, in flowing white clothes, with a beautiful and charming smile that made one lose sense of place.
"Flower Musician, it's been a while, you've become even more beautiful! It seems the Empress Dowager's training method is quite exquisite!" Long Yu Tian laughed loudly, his voice spreading far, with everyone behind him bursting into laughter.
The Flower Robe person's face turned crimson, a sharp light flashing in their eyes, quickly returning to a flower-like smile: "The rosy and healthy complexion is thanks to the harmony of yin and yang, and Mu Madam's credit is undeniable! Oh, by the way, former Emperor, do you know where Mu Xiao Xiao is? She's sleeping soundly in my general's mansion. I don't understand cherishing delicate flowers, and I've made her quite tired before."
Long Yu Tian told himself that the Flower Robe person was doing this deliberately. Provoking the enemy before battle was a common military strategy. Despite repeatedly warning himself not to fall for it, not to be impulsive, not to lose composure, he still became agitated...
Long Yu Tian tried to speak calmly: "My wife, fond of traveling, is now touring the Flower Musician's territory. Since you've taken care of her, I will surely reward you generously! However, now that we are facing each other, the reward is pending. Why don't I order the Wang Army to retreat thirty miles, giving you more time to call for reinforcements." Long Yu Tian finished speaking and turned his horse back. The current situation did not allow for carelessness, and his thoughts were already in disarray, unfit to command the battle.
"Damn Emperor, speaking wildly, let me destroy you!" Suddenly a wild roar erupted, and an arrow shot out diagonally.
Long Yu Tian instinctively turned his head, the arrow swiftly approaching, suddenly piercing his chest!
The person in the flowered clothes looked at Dragon Yu Tian’s army, each soldier emotionally stirred, fighting tirelessly without fear, and he couldn’t help but feel worried – his own troops’ morale was low! That damn arrow! When he returned to the city, he would definitely investigate who shot the arrow! Suddenly, he felt a sense of being confined, looking around – his bodyguards were present, but there seemed to be no threat. Just as the flowered-clothed person was puzzled, he caught a glimpse of a figure out of the corner of his eye – Dragon Yu Tian. Wasn’t he wounded and escorted back? The person standing behind the troops with a cold smile, it was him, right?
In an instant, the flowered-clothed person understood what had happened! The archer was definitely arranged by Dragon Yu Tian himself, deliberately shooting an arrow during their conversation, placing a moral shackle on their troops, and then inciting his own soldiers’ anger to achieve victory! What a cunning strategy! Dragon Yu Tian, don’t be too happy yet! He glanced again at the Moonlight Beauty, who was killing like a vengeful ghost, and sighed inwardly – he had actually gained the help of this mysterious person! So be it, he would retreat and preserve his strength!
The flowered-clothed person led his troops back to the city, ordering the city gates to be guarded, with no one allowed to enter or leave.
