Chapter 104

 

Volume 3: The Era's Holy Emperor, 

Unrivalled Ruler of the Realm

Chapter 104: The iron horse whistles in the west wind (Part 1)

Light cavalry and infantry march southward, Golden spears and long halberds ring with chill.

Rolling rivers flow a thousand miles,

The vast heavens tilt ten thousand fathoms,

Raging storms surge across the land!

Martyrs wield their might in battle,

Generals sheathe swords as they survey their camps.

Six armies charge, enemy cities fall,

The royal host triumphs, conquering all,

Laughing at the cries of children!

—A Song of Breaking the Formation—Striving for Supremacy

In the eleventh month of the third year of the Qianyuan era, the Hongcheng Kingdom launched a surprise attack 

with hundreds of thousands of troops on several key military strongholds along the Canghuan border, including 

Yaoguan and Chiyu. War was imminent.

The Canghuan Kingdom's million-strong army, led by An Ping, Chen Yu, and Luo Shui, formed a standoff against 

the invading forces of Hongcheng. With support from the eastern and western wings, Luo Shan led his Southwest 

Army in coordination with Yelou's newly established garrison to capture Hongcheng's foremost border stronghold, 

Hang Fortress. The advancing forces swept through enemy lines, pressing deep into Hongcheng territory toward 

Fengsi City, the nation's primary natural barrier.

“...Today, over a million soldiers of Canghuan fought fiercely at the frontier to safeguard our nation's stability,” 

Emperor Si Cang Qing concluded the day's court affairs from his dragon throne. “I urge you all to unite and 

prioritise military affairs above all else, granting the front lines our utmost support.”

“We shall strictly obey Your Majesty's command!”

Silently scanning the court officials below, who stood in reverent awe, Si Cang Qing's gaze drifted lightly over 

Cheng Tian Bi, who stood among the civil ministers.

Winter nights arrive early.

Just as dusk fell, the sky became completely dark. Though the room was warm as spring, the howling cold wind 

outside sent a chill creeping through the ears, seeping into the very core of one's being.

Cheng Tian Bi set down the scroll in his hands and watched absentmindedly as the palace attendants inside the hall 

either quietly checked the doors and windows to prevent the cold wind from seeping in or stirred the flames in 

the brazier to keep them from dying out.

Suddenly, the door creaked open from the outside. The attendants inside, long accustomed to such interruptions, 

silently knelt in a bow and then quietly withdrew.

A gust of cold wind rushed into the hall. Only then did Cheng Tian Bi snap out of his reverie. He turned his head 

toward the doorway, made no great fuss, and lifted his lips in a smile to the newcomer. “Qing, you're here!”

Closing the door behind him, Si Cang Qing walked slowly toward him.

Seeing a thin layer of white dust on his head and shoulders, Cheng Tian Bi hurriedly rose to greet him, a hint of 

surprise in his eyes. "Qing, is it snowing outside?” 

How could it snow so early this year? His hands never stopped moving as he used a dry towel to brush the 

snowflakes off Si Cang Qing's hair, smiling. “Why didn't you bring an umbrella? If you catch a chill, that would be 

a big problem.”

Taking the service for granted, Si Cang Qing shrugged indifferently. “It's fine.” His gaze remained fixed as he 

gently wrapped an arm around Cheng Tian Bi's waist, tilting his head slightly to let the other man dry his hair.

Well-versed in Si Cang Qing's habits, Cheng Tian Bi merely chuckled softly before shifting the topic. “What 

brought you to Biyue Palace tonight?”

It wasn't a reproach, merely genuine curiosity. Since the outbreak of war, Si Cang Qing had been working day 

and night in the Imperial Study, handling state affairs. No one knew what he was arranging, but he was utterly 

swamped—let alone finding time to visit their palace. Most often, Feng Lan or Qiu Ping Tian would accompany 

him to the study, occasionally Cheng Tian Yang.

Cheng Tian Bi sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his heart. Truthfully, he too wished he could share more of 

the burden like the others. Yet Si Cang Qing, though usually carefree, was exceptionally cautious about his 

health, doing everything possible to spare him from exhaustion.

The dampness on his body evaporated in the room's heat. Si Cang Qing tightened his arms slightly, pulling 

Cheng Tian Bi close as they sat down on the couch. He casually flipped through the book the man had been 

reading earlier, replying only briefly, “It's cold.”

Two simple words, yet they instantly brought clarity to Cheng Tian Bi. Tenderness shimmered in his eyes as he 

rested his forehead against Si Cang Qing's shoulder, his rough voice murmuring softly into the other's ear, 

“I've caused you worry.”

For over half a year since their marriage, whenever the weather turned bitterly cold, Si Cang Qing would spend 

most nights by his side. After moments of overwhelming passion, he would quickly fall into a deep sleep, while his 

husband would spend the entire night channeling his true qi into him, regulating the qi and blood within his body 

to alleviate the discomfort brought on by the cold.

He hadn't realized it until he safely passed the period when he used to suffer frequent bouts of illness. Only then 

did it dawn on him. While feeling profound happiness and gratitude, Cheng Tian Bi also harbored worry and guilt.

From that day forward, during the coldest days, he kept the brazier burning to raise the temperature in the 

chamber. He also abandoned the carelessness of the past decade, meticulously studying herbal remedies to improve

his constitution.

“Qing, I'm much better now,” Cheng Tian Bi murmured softly. “You mustn't let me distract you.”

◇Cang◇Huan◇Qi◇Gong◇

Si Cang Qing merely nodded noncommittally, lowering his gaze to the exquisite beauty before him. His lips 

parted, then closed again as he pondered how to speak.

Truthfully, his visit tonight wasn't solely out of concern for his health in the cold. It was also because, in the grand 

hall earlier, he'd recalled Feng Lan's earlier question. Hongcheng was Cheng Tian Bi's homeland. No matter where 

he'd been, no matter how much pain and despair he'd endured, it couldn't possibly erase all traces of that feeling.

Si Cang Qing gently lifted the man's chin, his gaze cold as he met Cheng Tian Bi's eyes. “Bi, in one year, 

Hongcheng will cease to exist.”

One year—that was the absolute deadline he had set.

Cheng Tian Bi paused briefly before instantly grasping Si Cang Qing's meaning. A flicker of complexity darted 

across his eyes, but it vanished quickly, replaced by a smile. This man was worried about him, wasn't he? Yet he 

insisted on using such a cold tone, spouting such arrogant words.

Hongcheng... To say he didn't care at all would be self-deception. His disappointment and heartbreak were reserved 

for his kin—not the common folk of Hongcheng. He knew this war was inevitable. He believed Si Cang Qing 

would ultimately prevail. Yet occasionally, memories surfaced of his youth, of blending among the people, of 

those harmonious, joyful days filled with laughter and cheer...

War offers no choice, no room for chance.

It meant not just the fall of a nation, but the ruin of homes.

Chengtian Bi suddenly chuckled, his eyes sparkling. “A year... then the people's suffering will end soon.” He 

wrapped his arms tightly around Si Cang Qing and whispered, “In this world, there is only the Consort Bi of 

Canghuan Kingdom.”

His words were gentle, yet his stance was unwavering.

“In this world, whether in times of peace or turmoil, it is the common people who suffer. All they can hope for 

is a wise and decisive ruler and a clean, orderly court.”

“The division and unification of the realm follow the Way of Heaven. What has long been divided shall eventually 

reunite. How much more so now, when Cheng Tianyi's ambition refuses to share the realm with others? War is 

inevitable—why torment oneself with pity? If this battle can free the people from future worries, is it not a 

blessing in disguise?”

Si Cang Qing listened quietly, a faint tenderness flickering in his eyes.

Lowering his eyelids, the flickering candlelight traced the outline of his lashes as Cheng Tian Bi murmured, 

“Though I do not wish to see bloodshed, if it brings peace to the realm, those sacrifices are inevitable. Born into 

this world, one must fulfill the duties of this world.” From childhood, he had studied the ways of emperors. 

When compassion clashed with cruelty, one could only choose a stance.

At this point, Cheng Tian Bi abruptly fell silent, lifting his gaze to meet Si Cang Qing's eyes with a smile. 

“Qing, do not worry for me.” After enduring a rebirth akin to purgatory, he was no longer as fragile as the other 

imagined.

Raising an eyebrow, Si Cang Qing offered no reply. Instead, yielding to an inner longing, he gently kissed the 

faintly trembling lashes.

After a moment, he withdrew. Picking up the scroll in his hand, Si Cang Qing murmured, “These...”

Nodding, Cheng Tian Bi took the book and explained, “Though I cannot slay enemies on the battlefield, I am 

willing to contribute what I can. This book... I had it printed by the bookshop a few days ago. It details matters 

concerning the Hongcheng military camps and may prove useful to the generals on the front lines.”

He knew this act signaled a complete break with Hongcheng. But so what? He could not bear to see Hongcheng's 

people trampled by iron-clad cavalry. Yet now, the people of Canghuan were his subjects. He was no noble sage 

capable of devising a perfect solution. All he could do was help Canghuan conquer Hongcheng swiftly.

Si Cang Qing watched the man in silence before suddenly scooping him into a horizontal embrace.

An unstoppable flush spread across Cheng Tian Bi’s face, choking the words he’d intended to speak. He leaned 

gently against Si Cang Qing’s chest, his gaze fixed on the overlapping shadows cast upon the wall.

……

“How many are trapped?” Si Cang Qing's cold gaze fixed on the man kneeling before him.

Shivering slightly under Si Cang Qing's icy glare, the man struggled to answer, “Nearly all of the Southwest 

Army's forces are trapped, including General Luo Shan. Currently, General Ye Lou commands the new army camp 

outside Fengsi City, actively seeking a way to breach the city walls and launch a rescue!”

A way to breach the city walls and rescue them? Si Cang Qing's gaze turned icy. Luo Shan was no reckless 

man—how had such a colossal blunder occurred? Fengsi City, which should have been easily captured, had now 

become a prison trapping them!

Nearly two hundred thousand soldiers!

“Your Majesty—” The man braved Si Cang Qing's intensifying chill and dared to speak. “General Ye Lou urgently 

requests reinforcements!”

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