The Slender Waist

The guard stood still on the spot, not daring to move again.

The dense night made Pei Chong’s face appear desolately cool, but there was a hint of a smile slowly spreading from the corner of his lips.

"Hurry, child."

The northern wind howled, and outside the manor gates was the clashing of short weapons bringing metallic encounters, interspersed with occasional screams, as thick smoke billowed into the sky and flames seemed to illuminate the horizon.

Jiu You rushed over, "Great King, if we don’t leave now, it’ll be too late."

People sent by Li Zongxun intended to execute him on the spot, starting by launching fire arrows, and now the Pei Residence was engulfed in raging flames.

The flames reached the sky, reflecting eerily in Pei Jue’s eyes, exuding a deadly seriousness.

He asked Pei Chong coldly.

"Do you want me to die here with you?"

Pei Chong, looking at his commanding bearing, revealed a trace of relieved smile.

"Feng Shi Er Niang is far away in Andu, what would she do if you died?"

Is he still in the mood to mock him?

Pei Jue snorted coldly, stepped forward slowly, and stared at Pei Chong, "Rather than letting you perish in the fire or fall into Li Zongxun’s hands to be used as a threat against me, it would be better for me to kill you with my own hands."

Boom!

The main hall’s crossbeam collapsed in the flames, making a thunderous noise.

Pei Chong suddenly turned, lost in a moment of distraction.

This was his home, filled with the memories of him and his beloved wife. But in an instant, everything was about to be devoured by the fire demon...

If the Pei Residence was gone, he too would be buried here, forever accompanied by his wife...

Almost at that moment, Pei Jue seized the opportunity, lunged forward, grabbed his arm forcefully, and signaled to Zuo Zhong—

"Bring the ropes."

Pei Chong returned to his senses with furrowed brows, "You wouldn’t dare!"

Pei Jue didn’t look at him, quickly bound him with ropes, his expression impassive as if he wasn’t aware that what he did was an act of defiance. After securing Pei Chong, he gave a cold command to Jiu You.

"I will provide cover. Lead the men out and escort the old General to Xijing."

Jiu You bowed his hands in response, "Yes."

Zuo Zhong, "Great King, what about you?"

Pei Jue looked back at the Pei Residence, now more than half devoured by the great fire, and wrapped the Spiritual Tablet from the table in brocade, tucking it into Pei Chong’s arms.

"Go."

The battle at the North City Gate was fierce; the Beiyong Army soldiers were engaged in a bloody fight with a group of elite Imperial Guards.

Throughout the city, flaming torches trailed like wandering dragons, with soldiers’ footsteps and earth-shaking noise everywhere.

Li Zongxun was still dispatching troops to the rescue.

Pei Jue, at the forefront, led the Imperial Guard Camp to the North City Gate.

The Imperial Guards defending the gate were stunned to see Pei Jue attacking, utterly confounded.

Wasn’t it said that the Prince of Yonghuai went to Biyong?

How could he be attacking the city gate?

Whether it was because of the fierce attack of the Beiyong Army led by Helian Qian from outside or Pei Jue’s sudden appearance like a heavenly soldier, the morale of the Imperial Guards was crushed.

In just a quarter of an hour, Pei Jue broke through the defense of the North City Gate.

Pei Jue, "Open the gate!"

The heavy iron gate was drawn open amidst clanging sounds.

Helian Qian, leading the Beiyong Army’s cavalry, charged in with a roar.

Seeing Pei Jue, the Beiyong Army soldiers shrieked with all their might, their faces filled with the excitment and joy of having survived bloody combat.

Helian Qian reined in his horse and shouted, "Great King, go quickly, we’ll cover your retreat."

Even though they had broken through the North City Gate, as a veteran of battle, Helian Qian was well aware that it was extremely difficult for over ten thousand men to take down Central Capital City. To retreat unscathed was already an unfortunate stroke of luck...

However, Pei Jue had no intention of leaving.

"Beiyong Army soldiers, heed my command."

He spoke from atop his horse, his voice grave:

"Li Zongxun has acted against the natural order, overextended his authority, contravened protocol, and confounded the imperial lineage, causing chaos in the court. Today, as we kill our way into the imperial hunting grounds, we swear to seek justice for the Prince of Qin and for the Beiyong Army!"

"Acknowledged!"

"Acknowledged!"

"Acknowledged!"

The resounding acclamation was like a tornado, echoing far across the night sky of Central Capital City.

-

Outside the city, ten miles away, Shikui stood with his sword across his saddle, gave a command to halt, watched the city’s flames for a moment, then slowly raised his hand to stop the army’s advance.

"What a huge fire!" The Lieutenant General rode up beside him, drawing a breath of cold air, "By the looks of it, the city must already be in chaos. The Beiyong Army has entered the city, and those pampered soldiers of the Imperial Guards are no match."

His eyebrows furrowed deeply, then suddenly his expression turned excited.

"At this moment, this is the perfect opportunity for our Tiger Guard Army to display its might and achieve great feats. General Shikui, let’s quickly enter the city and go to the rescue."

"Rescue whom?" Shikui chuckled, "The Emperor has ascended to heaven."

The Lieutenant General was stunned, not yet grasping the implication in Shikui’s words.

Then he heard a messenger shouting from behind, "Report—"

A figure ran up to Shikui breathlessly and said:

"General Shi, we have spotted small troops from the Northern Yong army fleeing towards Xijing..."

Shikui raised his head, glanced at the fiercely burning Central Capital City, and his eyes slowly narrowed.

"Let them go."

The messenger was astonished.

The Lieutenant General also stared at him blankly.

"General Shi..."

Shikui stood rigid for a moment, then slowly sheathed his sword.

"We are soldiers, not members of the Imperial Cavalry, chasing down fugitives and criminals isn’t our concern."

All those around him were his confidants.

Upon hearing these words, they all fell silent.

The situation in Central Capital was opaque to this point; no one could see through it.

Today’s bloodshed had been chaotic, and who would sit on the Dragon Throne tomorrow wasn’t something they could meddle in.

Better to step back and adopt a wait-and-see approach than to back the wrong side and be left with nowhere to bury one’s body—not to mention resting easier by waiting for the opportune moment to add the finishing touch...

All the people around him lowered their weapons.

Only then did Shikui stroke his beard and let out a long sigh.

He had borrowed a winter coat last time; by doing another favor this time, he had surely done right by Pei Jue, hadn’t he?

If one day he found himself in trouble, wouldn’t Pei Jue extend a generous hand to him?

The Lieutenant General asked, "General Shi, what should we do now?"

"Cease fighting and rest up," Shikui didn’t voice his inner thoughts and simply said, "A true man doesn’t suffer immediate losses. We’ll observe the battle situation before making a decision."

-

Cold wind swept through the long streets as a hawk plunged into the fire-lit sky, emitting a piercing cry. Pei Jue sat astride his horse, his cloak fluttering wildly, looking in the direction of the city gate. A fleeting sparkle crossed his dark, bright eyes—one that was bloodthirsty like a raptor, yet also seemed as tender as a cuckoo nesting in warmth.

"I will remember this favor from Shikui," he said.

Helian Qian said, "The prince’s divine strategy is unparalleled, predicting correctly that Shikui would not dare to directly confront the Northern Yong army..."

Pei Jue remained silent.

Helian Qian continued, "We should not delay any longer; rather than contesting for the city gate, why not lead the entire army to break into the Imperial Park..."

With Shikui and the Tiger Guard Army now on the sidelines, Helian Qian felt there was no better opportunity.

Pei Jue, however, said, "Do not act rashly. Stick to the plan."

He had gone to the Northern Yong army’s camp the previous day, and there he had settled on today’s strategy with Helian Qian.

While Li Zongxun dispatched troops to encircle them, the Grand General Residence would play a ruse of the empty fortress, and then mobilize all the private soldiers in the city to ambush outside the Imperial Palace. Once the fire broke out on one side and Pei Jue feigned an attack on the city from another, it would throw Li Zongxun into disarray. Then Helian Qian could seize the opportunity to lead the Northern Yong army through the North City Gate, covering the retreat of the women and children from the residence...

But today’s situation was vastly different.

The turmoil within the city had already alarmed the citizens. On this early night of the new year, innocent civilians’ homes were being set ablaze one after another by the Imperial Guards’ fire arrows, the fires growing more numerous and dense, creating an uninterrupted inferno. The falling snow could not quench the flames, and within a short hour, the fire had painted half the sky red. The city was engulfed in thick smoke and cries of despair echoed everywhere, with Central Capital City resembling a purgatory on earth...

On hearing Pei Jue’s obstruction, Helian Qian was somewhat dissatisfied.

"What are we waiting for? Time is against us..."

Pei Jue glanced at him and said, "The Northern Yong army fights for honor, not for the throne."

"My prince!" Helian Qian was taken aback for a moment, but quickly grasped the significance.

The soldiers’ morale was a flag to rally behind—righteous indignation could unite them, making them fight to the death for Pei Jue. But if the battle indeed was for the throne, there was no guarantee that no other thoughts would arise, risking the soldiers’ morale might waver.

At present, the Imperial Guards in the city outnumbered them by far.

They mustn’t take it lightly and fall into Li Zongxun’s trap.

Helian Qian replied, "I understand, my lord!"

With the unrest in Central Capital, Li Zongxun would surely have other moves up his sleeve. Pei Jue’s feint could temporarily confuse the guards, but not Li Zongxun.

He knew well the number of men at Pei Jue’s command, and how many he himself commanded...

All the pieces were laid out in the open, but what Li Zongxun hadn’t anticipated was the lack of good news from the Tiger Guard Army outside the city for a long time.

"Has Shikui been held up by the Northern Yong army?"

Li Zongxun murmured to himself in puzzlement, then turned to see Li Sangruo’s tearful face.

"Why are you crying?"

He shouted harshly, and Li Sangruo’s tears fell even more fiercely.

"Father, haven’t you realized yet? We were wrong from the start, misled by Tang Shaogong’s words, treating Pei Jue as an enemy. It was us who forced him down this path..."

"It was you!" Li Zongxun did not afford her any dignity, "Were it not for your insatiable desires, ruining my plans time and again, would today have come to pass?"

Li Sangruo’s face flushed with shame as she said tremblingly, "It has come to this—let it be. If he wants to make Yuan Shangyi emperor, so be it. After all, no matter who becomes emperor, I am still the Empress Dowager..."

"Foolish! Worthless creature." Just as Li Zongxun was about to chastise her further, a tremendous cheer suddenly erupted outside, followed swiftly by a report.

"Prime Minister, Shikui’s forces have halted ten miles outside Central Capital City and are not advancing. The North City Gate’s defenses have been taken over by the Northern Yong army, the West City Gate is on the verge of falling, and the city’s Imperial Guards are no match for the Northern Yong army. Pei Jue is personally leading troops to the Imperial Park..."

"Father!" Li Sangruo stood up in trembling fear, "You must come up with a plan quickly, or it will be too late."

Li Zongxun walked to the window and looked up at the sky.

The snow had not stopped, and the wind had grown stronger; the whole city seemed engulfed by the fire.

He closed his eyes briefly, "Tang Shaogong’s prediction has all come to pass." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Father...what do we do now? Are we to sit here and do nothing?" Li Sangruo’s voice grew increasingly anxious with each word, and the attendants around her looked eagerly to him.

It was time to make a decision.

Li Zongxun appeared resigned and after pondering for a long while finally said, "The only option left is to stake it all!"