The Slender Waist-Chapter 228 - 163: The Battle of Bingzhou

There was no great hall here, so he simply bypassed it.

The Wedding Matron was caught off guard and her heartbeat quickened. Hearing the General’s sudden command, she sighed twice in compliance before finally calming down and shouting loudly:

"Husband and wife, bow to each other!"

Feng Yun couldn’t see Pei Jue’s expression, but she knew that he must be expressionless at this moment.

"Lead to the bridal chamber!"

The surroundings were tense and uneasy, with only the Wedding Matron diligently performing her duties.

With a battle imminent, there wasn’t a moment to spare; after a brief courtesy, Feng Yun was almost rushed into the bridal chamber.

The festive music stopped.

The wedding feast lay untouched on the table.

The wedding and the approaching battle seamlessly connected, bringing tension and urgency that left many without time to react...

Feng Yun had barely sat on the couch before she reached to lift her veil.

The Wedding Matron hastily intervened, "My lady, you mustn’t..."

No bride was supposed to unveil herself, but the weight of the phoenix crown was almost bending Feng Yun’s neck.

Moreover, she knew that she was bound to be left waiting for the groom tonight.

The grand plan had already succeeded.

What was the use of this pretentious wedding?

Right now, her only concern was how Pei Jue would deal with Xiao Cheng’s attack of three hundred thousand troops with just fifty thousand soldiers. Xiao Cheng, having chosen to deploy his troops today, must have made thorough preparations...

No matter how one looked at it, the battle seemed a lost cause...

The wicked must not prevail.

Especially after learning from Xiao Rong that Feng Ying was at Hengqu Pass. Her throat grew tight with anxiety. Disregarding everything else, she ran out of the bridal chamber still in her wedding dress.

Two maidservants and the Wedding Matron chased after her.

Outside the villa, Feng Yun saw Pei Jue.

He had already doffed his wedding attire and donned his armor; his handsome face beneath the iron helmet was stoically cold, and despite the distance, he was still imposing.

"General..."

Feng Yun called out to him, wanting to say something.

But in the end, she simply smiled faintly.

"I await your triumphant return."

A fleeting glimpse of light seemed to pass through Pei Jue’s eyes, but it vanished instantly. He nodded to Feng Yun, mounted his warhorse, and at the crack of the whip, rode away.

A troop of guards followed closely behind, vanishing into the street in an instant.

Feng Yun, holding up her skirt, chased after him for a few steps, then stopped.

There she was, a bride dressed in her wedding gown, standing between two majestic stone lions, watching the departing figure, as the scene became a silent freeze-frame...

-

The Qi Army’s siege began just before dusk.

In the winter, with short days and long nights, the sound of horns traveled from the mountains into the sky and as twilight fell, darkness pressed down heavily.

The thunderous roars of warriors, deafening to the ears.

The number of attackers was even greater than before; the Qi Army’s massive force swarmed densely, their momentum formidable. It was Xiao Cheng’s first time commanding such a large army, and he arranged his forces with determination to conquer.

He aimed to capture Bingzhou and capture Pei Jue in one fell swoop.

The outcome rested on this single fight.

Large siege engines crossed over the filled moats toward the south gate, while broken stones and splintered wood hailed down from the sky, violently striking the walls of Bingzhou City. Flaming arrows lit up the desolate sky, a volley flying towards the city walls, where fires were sparked and thick smoke billowed...

It was very quiet inside the camp’s guest house.

A quietness like that of death.

"Whooosh!" A loud sound came from above Bingzhou City.

A dark object rapidly rose into the sky, exploded, and lit up like a brilliant firework.

Xiaoman stood in the courtyard, pointing at it and asking loudly, "Miss, look, what is that?"

Feng Yun looked up, "A signal arrow."

Xiaoman asked, "What’s a signal arrow for?"

Feng Yun felt a twinge of sorrow, "To transmit signals."

She didn’t know who Pei Jue was signaling to.

The closest Jin forces were stationed at Xinzhou, but at such a great distance, the commanders there wouldn’t be able to see the signal, and even if they did, they couldn’t arrive in time.

Moreover, two rebel detachments of the Beiyong Army were stationed in Hongye Valley...

How could Pei Jue break out of this deadlock?

"Miss! I’m so scared..."

They had all experienced the siege at Andu before, but there had been no real battle then. This time was different; even from afar, they could hear the earth-shattering yells of combat and intense clashing.

Xiaoman’s face was strained with tension.

"What should we do now?"

Feng Yun gazed at the dimming sky, "Close the door, go to sleep."

Xiaoman uttered a sound of surprise, turned to look at her, and her mouth stayed agape for a long time.

"Miss, you’re joking with Xiaoman, aren’t you?"

Feng Yun questioned, "If not sleeping, what else would you do? Go to the battlefield?"

Xiaoman immediately clamped her mouth shut.

Feng Yun said, "First, pack up our belongings, then conserve our energy. If the General loses, we will need to flee for our lives."

Xiaoman and Daman exchanged glances and suddenly felt there was much sense in the young lady’s words.