Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 386: Prince Ding returns after Weicheng City is lost in 385

Chapter 386: Prince Ding returns after Weicheng City is lost in 385

385. The Fall of Weicheng City

Another bitter battle had concluded, and it was not until dusk that the Xiling troops had finally been repelled. Even General Murong Shen had suffered minor injuries. The two men stood atop the city wall, looking at the retreating Xiling army, their faces revealing weary smiles of triumph.

Suddenly, Marquis South’s smile faded into a frown. He said in a serious voice, "General Murong, you should rest tonight. I will shoulder all responsibilities." Murong Shen, fatigued from days of battle and injury, needed rest; otherwise, he might collapse completely. Murong Shen frowned and looked at the distant Xiling army camp. "I’m worried that the Xiling army will attack again tonight." In the last couple of days, Xiling’s onslaughts had grown clearly more fierce and impatient. As for Weicheng City’s soldiers, they were reaching their limits after the prolonged battles. Should the Xiling army make several more powerful attacks, Weicheng City would probably fall.

Marquis South smiled faintly and said, "Relax. Am I not here guarding the city? General Murong, please go and rest."

Murong Shen understood Marquis South’s good intentions. He nodded. "In that case, I shall trouble you, Marquis."

Marquis South nodded, a faint smile on his lips, but said nothing.

「In the main tent of the Xiling army, Lei Tengfeng was tending to his arm wound while frowning. "I didn’t expect Marquis South and Murong Shen to be so capable in battle," he muttered. In today’s fierce battle, not only Murong Shen but also Lei Tengfeng himself had suffered minor injuries in the melee. However, they were not serious.」

Lei Zhenting was not surprised at all. He replied calmly, "Marquis South was once a renowned general of Great Chu and was awarded his title for his military exploits. During his youth, Murong Shen was one of the most formidable generals under Mo Liufang. With your abilities, conquering Weicheng City quickly will not be easy."

Hearing Lei Zhenting’s words, a flicker of discomfort crossed Lei Tengfeng’s face. He said, "Father, please enlighten me."

Looking at Lei Tengfeng, Lei Zhenting sighed. Although he only had one son, it was clear he was not as adept as Mo Liufang at raising a son. It wasn’t that Lei Tengfeng wasn’t outstanding; but compared to Mo Xiuyao, he simply wasn’t outstanding enough. And it was precisely this that made him feel even more indignant and frustrated. Lei Tengfeng himself was also having a hard time. He was of a similar age to Mo Xiuyao, yet very few people in the world would compare him to Mo Xiuyao. Simply because... he was not yet qualified.

Lei Zhenting finally said, "Marquis South and Murong Shen are both spent forces. As long as you intensify the attack, you will definitely capture Weicheng City before Mo Xiuyao returns. You don’t need to worry about this. But... do you want to win over Marquis South and Murong Shen?"

Lei Tengfeng’s heart skipped a beat. He lowered his head and replied, "I... I just think that they are both rare talents..."

Lei Zhenting sighed helplessly and waved his hand. "It’s not that Father disagrees with you recruiting capable people for your own use. But... it depends on what kind of people you want. You can’t control Marquis South and Murong Shen."

Lei Tengfeng raised an eyebrow, a look of defiance on his face. Lei Zhenting said indifferently, "These two men are veterans of many battles. Murong Shen is proud; you can only control him if your abilities are definitively superior to his. He was also one of Mo Liufang’s former subordinates and naturally has a greater affinity for the Mo Family Army. Now that he has rejoined them, his loyalty will only be stronger. Furthermore, Murong Shen’s only daughter is married to Leng Huai’s second son, Leng Haoyu, and Leng Haoyu is Mo Xiuyao’s closest confidant, second only to Feng Zhiyao. Given these circumstances, do you think Murong Shen will pledge allegiance to you? As for Marquis South, he is even harder to deal with than Murong Shen. Although he has been inactive for many years and his reputation isn’t prominent, the arrogance he possessed in his youth was no less than Murong Shen’s. Therefore, defecting to the enemy in the midst of battle is something that will absolutely not happen with them."

Lei Tengfeng’s unharmed hand clenched into a fist. He understood his father’s words, but to him, they meant something else: he was incapable of winning Murong Shen and Marquis South over. Hearing his father say this felt as if his father was calling him incompetent to his face.

"I am incompetent, Father. Please forgive me," Lei Tengfeng said, his gaze lowered, his voice heavy.

Seeing him like this, Lei Zhenting could only sigh. After a long silence, he finally said, "It’s not your fault. Don’t overthink it. The most important thing at present is to capture Weicheng City." Lei Tengfeng pulled himself together and nodded. "Don’t worry, Father, I know what I should do."

「Deep into the night, Weicheng City stood solitary in the vast wilderness, exuding a somewhat desolate air. Under the cover of darkness, soldiers of the Mo Family Army stood resolute atop the city wall, staunchly guarding the small city. From the shadows, a contingent of men silently approached the city walls. Dressed in black, they began to stealthily scale the city tower.」

SWISH! An arrow shot out from the darkness, striking one of the black-clad men scaling the wall. He grunted and plummeted to the ground. Torches flared to life atop the city wall. The once quiet small city instantly erupted into chaos; in moments, the sounds of slaughter and the stench of blood filled the entire plain.

This night raid lasted until dawn. The Mo Family Army soldiers, having fought hard for days, were finally reaching their breaking point. A heavy battering ram smashed open Weicheng City’s main gate. After a fierce struggle, both sides suffered severe losses. As dawn broke, Marquis South finally ordered the Mo Family Army to withdraw from Weicheng City.

As Lei Tengfeng led the troops into the city, he watched as the dust from the retreating Mo Family Army disappeared into the distance. His eyes flashed with a cold glint as he ordered, "Chase them! Whoever brings me Marquis South and Murong Shen’s heads will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold."

"Heir, the Prince ordered..." The general beside Lei Tengfeng hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t help but advise him in a low voice. Lei Tengfeng’s gaze was as sharp as a knife, and he said coldly, "I am the one leading the soldiers right now! I will explain it to Father later. The Mo Family Army fled in disarray, and our army’s morale is high; we should seize this momentum and pursue them relentlessly."

"But..."

Lei Tengfeng said harshly, "Silence! That is my command!"

Having no other choice, the general had to nod and agree. "Your subordinate obeys."

Lei Tengfeng took the lead, guiding the Xiling army through Weicheng City, continuing to pursue the retreating Mo Family Army. Soon after, Lei Zhenting, who had been lagging behind, arrived at Weicheng City. Not seeing any sign of Lei Tengfeng, his expression darkened, and he asked, "Where is the Heir?"

The generals below glanced at each other before one stepped forward and informed, "Prince, the Heir has led the army to pursue Marquis South and Murong Shen."

Upon hearing this, Lei Zhenting’s face changed, and he slammed his palm onto the desk in anger, exclaiming, "How dare he! I specifically instructed him not to act rashly!" The general replied uncomfortably, "But the Heir..." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Lei Zhenting looked at the somewhat helpless generals below and let out a sigh. Lei Tengfeng was the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince, the only heir of the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion. These generals naturally wouldn’t dare to ignore his commands, and if he persistently wanted to do something, they wouldn’t dare to truly stop him. Lei Zhenting, being a man of exceptional talent, quickly understood the reason for Lei Tengfeng’s sudden impulsive behavior. It was due to his previous advice. He feared Lei Tengfeng hadn’t taken that advice to heart at all; instead, he likely believed that he, as his father, looked down on his abilities.

"Prince, what should we do now?" one of the generals below asked softly.

Lei Zhenting thought for a moment and said, "Right General, lead fifty thousand soldiers to support the Heir." After thinking for a while, Lei Zhenting added, "If the Heir wins, you don’t need to intervene. But if the Heir falls into a trap, rescue him."

The Right General stepped forward and said solemnly, "This general obeys!"

「At this moment, Lei Tengfeng had indeed fallen into a trap. On the narrow mountain path leading to Feihong Pass, the tens of thousands of soldiers led by Lei Tengfeng were trapped, unable to advance or retreat. Murong Shen and Marquis South stood side by side on a nearby hillside, with Murong Shen sneering at the infuriated Lei Tengfeng below. Murong Shen took a bow and arrow from a soldier beside him, aimed it at Lei Tengfeng, and laughed. "Losing Weicheng City but killing the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince – that would be quite a gain, wouldn’t it?" The Southern Garrison Prince, Lei Zhenting, had only this one son, Lei Tengfeng. Moreover, Lei Tengfeng’s own children had mostly been killed by Prince Ding over a year ago. If Lei Tengfeng were to die, it would undoubtedly be a fatal blow to Lei Zhenting.」

Marquis South stopped the hand that was about to shoot the arrow and shook his head. "No, if we kill Lei Tengfeng now, Lei Zhenting will definitely go mad."

"So what?" Murong Shen retorted, raising an eyebrow.

Marquis South smiled bitterly. "You mustn’t forget there are still over a hundred thousand ordinary civilians in Weicheng City. Lei Zhenting indeed doesn’t slaughter commoners like those from Beirong, but that doesn’t mean he won’t. The grief of losing his son would be enough to make Lei Zhenting do anything crazy. Besides, if we kill Lei Tengfeng now, I’m afraid we’ll have to face Lei Zhenting directly. We’ll only be defeated faster then."

"What does Marquis South suggest?" Murong Shen, a seasoned commander who didn’t rely solely on martial prowess, quickly grasped Marquis South’s meaning. He laughed and said, "This mountain path is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Let’s trap Lei Tengfeng inside. This will make Lei Zhenting hesitate to act rashly, fearing for his son, and will buy us a few more days." Stroking his fine beard, Marquis South nodded with a smile. "Precisely."

"Marquis South, Murong Shen! Come out and speak!" Lei Tengfeng, trapped in the mountain path, roared. He certainly hadn’t expected Marquis South and Murong Shen to still have strength remaining when they withdrew from Weicheng City. He had recklessly chased after them with less than a hundred thousand soldiers, falling into their vicious trap. In truth, recklessly entering such a narrow mountain path was a mistake in itself. Having calmed down, Lei Tengfeng deeply regretted his impulsiveness.

Murong Shen laughed heartily. "Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince, I didn’t expect us to meet again so soon."

Lei Tengfeng looked up at Murong Shen and Marquis South, who were looking down from their high vantage point, and said solemnly, "Do as you please with my life!"

Murong Shen let out a disdainful hum, looked at Lei Tengfeng with a smile, and said, "Interesting. The Southern Garrison Prince has always been shrewd and calm; I didn’t expect him to have such a hot-blooded son. Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince, weren’t you demanding that this general and Marquis South surrender to Xiling just yesterday? Now... Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince, how about you consider surrendering to my Prince Ding’s Mansion?"

Lei Tengfeng’s face turned various shades of pale and livid. After a while, he gritted his teeth and said, "Murong Shen, you dare to humiliate me!"

Marquis South smiled gently and said lightly, "Heir Lei, your words from yesterday, to General Murong and myself, were also tantamount to humiliation. Since we all know it’s impossible, why bother saying it?" Lei Tengfeng remained silent. Murong Shen laughed and said, "Isn’t it because the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince was so confident he could defeat us? Who would have thought things would turn around, and now he is the one besieged. What a pity... The Southern Garrison Prince of Xiling is a hero of his generation, yet he fathered such a good-for-nothing son."

At these words, Lei Tengfeng’s face turned pale. Actually, regarding Lei Tengfeng’s capabilities, he could hardly be called a good-for-nothing. However, there is always someone better in this world. Lei Tengfeng grew up in the shadow of his father’s greatness, and hence, he was always made to look dim by comparison. So, Murong Shen’s careless mockery became an unbearable burden for him.

Lei Tengfeng let out a bitter laugh. "General Murong is correct. Father is wise and heroic his whole life... yet he only has a good-for-nothing son like me. I’ve truly shamed Father... I, this Prince, have been defeated so utterly. How can I face the soldiers of Xiling..." As he spoke, he raised his sword, ready to slash it at his neck.

"This..." Murong Shen was startled. He never imagined that a casual remark could stir up Lei Tengfeng’s death wish. Is the Southern Garrison Prince’s son really this fragile? Leng Haoyu was called a dandy, a good-for-nothing, and a profligate countless times since childhood, yet he’s still alive and kicking!

CLANG! The guard next to Lei Tengfeng, horrified, quickly drew his sword to block Lei Tengfeng’s blade, shouting, "Heir, that Murong Shen is spouting nonsense! Why take it to heart? If you so easily give up your life, how can you face the Prince? You are the only heir to the Southern Garrison Prince’s Mansion!"

Lei Tengfeng paused, stunned, staring blankly at the long sword in his hand. In truth, drawing his sword to kill himself had been a momentary impulse, his mind clouded by despair and frustration. Now that he had come to his senses, a chill ran through him as he looked at the blade in his hand.

Seeing Lei Tengfeng was safe, Murong Shen breathed a sigh of relief and then chuckled coldly. "So, this general now knows that the Heir of the Southern Garrison Prince is actually a coward who evades failure?" Stung by this, Lei Tengfeng immediately calmed down and said solemnly, "Thank you for your lesson, General Murong. I was momentarily deluded. This time, I, this Heir, have lost. However... I will absolutely not let this matter rest. If I, this Heir, leave this place alive, I will definitely avenge this!"

Looking at Lei Tengfeng below with a determined face, Murong Shen laughed. "This lad is rather interesting."

Marquis South said with a smile, "He’s been too well-protected by the Southern Garrison Prince. If he survives this time, he will surely make great progress."

「Before long, Xiling’s Right General arrived leading his troops, and the two sides naturally engaged in intense combat again. Although the Mo Family Army was fatigued, by leveraging the advantageous terrain of the narrow mountain path, they fought the Xiling army to a standstill, holding out for another full day and night. The next morning, when Lei Tengfeng, covered in wounds, finally broke through the Mo Family Army’s encirclement to join the Xiling reinforcements, intending to counterattack, the Mo Family Army’s reinforcements also arrived.」

The Mo Family Army’s reinforcements were not many, just four or five people. The leading two were Mo Xiuyao in white clothes and Ye Li. Even on the back of Mo Xiuyao’s horse was the drowsy Mo Xiaobao. Following behind them were Feng Zhiyao, Yun Ting, and Zhuo Jing. Although he did not see a huge reinforcement army, Lei Tengfeng dared not act rashly.

Seeing Mo Xiuyao and the others arrive, Marquis South and Murong Shen also breathed a sigh of relief. "Greetings, Your Highness. We were ineffective in defending the city. Please forgive us, Your Highness!"

Mo Xiuyao flicked his sleeves, a gentle but firm force supporting the two who wanted to kneel. "You both have done your best; there’s no need to blame yourselves." Mo Xiuyao smiled as he looked at the fiercely glaring Lei Tengfeng opposite him. "Heir Lei, are you intending to leave, or would you like to stay and catch up with this Prince?"

Lei Tengfeng’s eyes flickered; a fierce struggle raged in his heart. At this moment, the Xiling army had absolute superiority in numbers. If he were to storm them, he could surely annihilate Marquis South and Murong Shen’s forces. But... would Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li appear here without bringing reinforcements? Lei Tengfeng couldn’t believe it. However, if Mo Xiuyao truly hadn’t brought reinforcements, he would have foolishly missed a golden opportunity to wipe away his previous shame.

His heart in turmoil, Lei Tengfeng stared at Mo Xiuyao, caught in a dilemma. After a long pause, he finally did not dare to take the risk. He sighed and said in a deep voice, "I greet His Highness Prince Ding. I didn’t expect Your Highness to arrive so promptly."

Mo Xiuyao said with a smile, "Heir Lei, you overpraise me. This Prince just happened to be passing by. If this Prince had arrived before the Heir took Weicheng City, then it would truly be timely. Heir, now... are you planning to engage this Prince in battle?" Lei Tengfeng forced a smile. "I admit I am no match for Your Highness. Besides, both sides are extremely weary. Why not fight another day?"

Mo Xiuyao pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. "Very well, Heir, please proceed."

Lei Tengfeng’s face slightly darkened. He nodded. "I shall take my leave."

Watching Lei Tengfeng retreat with his army, Murong Shen raised an eyebrow. "Your Highness, how many reinforcements did you bring?" he asked. The current situation was clear: their forces were definitely no match for Lei Tengfeng’s. Yet, Lei Tengfeng had chosen to withdraw, obviously wary of the reinforcements Prince Ding might have brought.

Mo Xiuyao calmly replied, "The reinforcement army is still a hundred miles away. This Prince only brought the few of us."

"Then Lei Tengfeng...."

"He assumed this Prince brought a large force. He was bluffed, even though this Prince indeed brought no one else." But Mo Xiuyao truly hadn’t brought anyone else. Thus, for a commander, being too impulsive is certainly bad, but being too cautious is equally detrimental. Actually, Lei Tengfeng choosing to leave now isn’t bad. Although this Prince didn’t bring troops, it would still be quite simple to kill Lei Tengfeng amidst the chaos of battle.

「Weicheng City, in the temporary study of the Southern Garrison Prince.」

Lei Tengfeng knelt alone on the ground, silent. Lei Zhenting was completely absorbed in the petitions in his hand, as if he didn’t even notice the person kneeling there. After a long time, once he had finished reading the thick stack of petitions, he finally raised his head and glanced at Lei Tengfeng. "Stand up."

Lei Tengfeng lowered his eyes and said, "Son acted rashly, was greedy for quick success and advanced recklessly, nearly falling into the hands of Prince Ding’s Mansion. Please punish me, Father."

"Punishment?" Lei Zhenting let out a cold laugh. "This Prince merely said a few words to you, and you rushed off to die. How would this Prince dare to punish you?" Upon hearing Lei Zhenting’s words, Lei Tengfeng felt increasingly ashamed. "I was wrong, Father."

BANG! Lei Zhenting slammed his palm angrily on the desk. "You know your mistake! Is drawing your sword to kill yourself how you acknowledge your mistake? Such heroic spirit! This Prince has indeed fathered a fine, upstanding son! This Prince is truly ashamed of his own inadequacy by comparison! Since you are so fearless in the face of death, why did you come back?" Infuriated, Lei Zhenting flicked his wrist, and a treasured sword, which hung on the nearby wall, flew from its sheath and clattered before Lei Tengfeng. Lei Zhenting continued, "Weren’t you going to kill yourself to atone for your mistake? This Prince will give you the chance!"

"Father, I know I was wrong. I was momentarily foolish. Please, Father, forgive me," Lei Tengfeng said, shame bringing tears to his eyes. He crawled towards Lei Zhenting on his knees, clung onto his thighs, and cried.

Seeing his son, already past thirty, in such a state, Lei Zhenting’s heart softened. He sighed with resignation and said, "Enough, stand up." Only then did Lei Tengfeng look up at Lei Zhenting and stand up. "Thank you, Father."

Looking at Lei Tengfeng’s listless appearance, Lei Zhenting felt some guilt. He knew his son was actually quite exceptional, and talents like Mo Xiuyao were rare and not to be sought. It was just that Tengfeng had always held himself to strict standards because he was his son, yet he never received the praise he deserved. If he did well, it was considered his duty, because he was the Southern Garrison Prince’s son—a tiger father does not beget a dog son. If he erred, it was considered shaming the Southern Garrison Prince. Lei Tengfeng was not inherently an impulsive person. If not for the overwhelming pressure he, his father, had placed on him, he would absolutely not have acted so impulsively and recklessly as he had these past two days.

"Tengfeng... these years, it is Father who has wronged you," Lei Zhenting sighed heavily, speaking in a low voice. Lei Tengfeng was stunned, staring blankly at Lei Zhenting’s remorseful expression, momentarily unable to speak. He could only stutter, "Father... I..."

Lei Zhenting waved his hand. "Over the years, others always spoke of what the Southern Garrison Prince’s son should be like, but they always forgot you are a man past thirty. It is also Father’s fault. Father always thought that this pressure could serve as a motivation for you to strive forward, but never considered that it would become so unbearable for you."

"Father, it is my incompetence," Lei Tengfeng said softly. "I am of similar age to Prince Ding, yet I cannot match even a fraction of his achievements. I have shamed you, Father."

Lei Zhenting responded with a bitter smile. "Mo Xiuyao... Father has never compared you to Mo Xiuyao."

Lei Tengfeng turned pale and said, "I... am indeed not worthy of being compared with Prince Ding."

Lei Zhenting sighed. "Tengfeng, Father has indeed envied Mo Liufang for having a son as talented as Mo Xiuyao. But you have to understand that Prince Ding’s abilities and achievements are not solely because of his natural talent but also because of the hardships he has endured, hardships beyond what ordinary people suffer. If not for the catastrophe nineteen years ago, today’s Mo Xiuyao might merely be a renowned general of Great Chu, high-spirited and living a carefree life. But Father has never wished for you to endure such calamities. Do you understand?"

Lei Tengfeng nodded. "I understand. Father... you have always protected me." Before he turned twenty, he had truly lived a carefree life, arguably more privileged than even the imperial princes of Xiling. Mo Xiuyao was fighting on battlefields at fourteen or fifteen, gravely injured and near death at seventeen or eighteen, struggling to support the vast Prince Ding’s Mansion. He had never experienced any of this. Therefore, he had no standing to be envious of Mo Xiuyao’s achievements and abilities. He could only be ashamed of his own incompetence.

Lei Zhenting sighed. "Maybe Father’s protection hurt you instead. But even then, Father still does not wish for you to bear such pain and torment. Moreover... Tengfeng, Father has never been disappointed in you."

"Father..." Lei Tengfeng was stunned.

Lei Zhenting smiled. "You are my son, and Father thinks you are already very good."

"Father, I understand," Lei Tengfeng lowered his gaze to cover the glint of tears in his eyes, speaking in a low voice. "I will not disappoint you, Father."