The Chen army fled in disarray, pursued relentlessly by the Chu army.

Shen Yanzhi left 5,000 men to delay the Chu forces while he led the remnants of his army across the river, retreating back to Wucheng.

The main general had abandoned them, so the remaining 5,000 Chen soldiers quickly lost their will to fight and were soon defeated by the Chu army.

When the Chu army arrived at the gates of Wucheng, the Chen army did not engage in battle.

Instead, they bound the An family members and brought them to the top of the city wall.

A deputy, holding the elderly Madam An, shouted, “If you dare to attack the city, don’t blame us for using An Yuanqing’s family’s blood to sanctify our flags!”

Han Xiu, standing beside Chu Chengji on horseback, looked at the bound An family members on the city wall in confusion. “Isn’t An Yuanqing their man? Why are they using his family to threaten us?”

The deputy on the wall continued to shout, “Where is An Yuanqing? Let him come out and see how his family will be executed!”

Bound alongside Madam An and her daughter were the elderly Madam and the young master of the An family, who was under ten years old.

The young master had never seen such a scene before.

With a cold blade pressed against his neck, he cried in terror.

From below, Chu Chengji, on horseback, looked up at the city wall, where the sunlight scattered into his eyes.

Despite the warmth of the light, his gaze remained cold. “An Yuanqing must be under the control of the Chen camp because his family is in their hands.”

Han Xiu, recalling that they had recently impersonated the Yongzhou army to burn the Chen army’s granary, realized that the Chen camp believed An Yuanqing had truly defected to them.

Although he was familiar with the Chen army’s underhanded tactics, this particular ploy ignited a burning anger in Han Xiu.

Initially annoyed at An Yuanqing’s feigned defection, he now understood the situation.

As a fellow military man, he felt sympathy for An Yuanqing and turned to Chu Chengji with some hesitation: “Your Highness, should we still attack the city?”

Chu Chengji replied, “Wait.”

Han Xiu understood that Chu Chengji wanted to save An Yuanqing’s family, hoping to gain a fierce general without losing any soldiers.

This realization filled him with joy.

The deputy on the wall continued his insults.

Han Xiu spat and retorted angrily, “You despicable cowards! If you have the guts, open the gates, and let’s fight like real men! Kidnapping women and children, aren’t you ashamed?”

The deputy laughed heartily: “Your so-called prince even took the wives of his ministers! Why should we be ashamed? If An Yuanqing had no second thoughts, his family would be well cared for. He should have known this day would come if he betrayed us!”

Bringing up the past about the prince and the princess, Han Xiu worried that it might anger the prince.

He glanced cautiously at Chu Chengji, who remained impassive, and continued his retort:

“You bastard, slandering the princess again, and I’ll cut out your tongue! The princess was married to the crown prince with proper ceremonies. When did she ever step foot in Shen’s household? The Shen family, dreaming of marrying into royalty, should know their place!”

“The Shen family had a marriage contract with the princess! It’s the Chu family that’s unrighteous…”

“Pah! Li Xin has done countless evil deeds! How did my daughter end up marrying that scum Li Lian? The Li family pressured us, saying that if she didn’t marry his son, she’d have to be a concubine to the father! Who’s more unrighteous than the Li family?

And Shen Yanzhi, don’t play the victim. In the Qinxiang Pass battle, the Luo family was wiped out! Were those 50,000 soldiers not husbands and fathers too?”

Han Xiu and the Chen deputy cursed each other vehemently, eager to clash swords.

Chu Chengji remained silent, exchanging a long, cold stare with Shen Yanzhi, who stood silently on the city wall.

This was their first battlefield encounter since Shen Yanzhi’s defeat in Qingzhou and subsequent retreat to Minzhou.

Shen Yanzhi had visibly lost weight.

His flowing blue robe billowed in the wind, slightly masking his gaunt frame.

His face remained pale and delicate, lips tightly pressed, with sharp, piercing eyes.

Although Shen Yanzhi stood on higher ground, the sight of the man he despised standing amidst a sea of soldiers, ready to besiege the city, made his vantage point seem laughable.

Unwillingness and jealousy grew within him.

The man before him was clearly a thief.

He had once used his power to steal A-Zheng from him and then deceived her with his sanctimonious demeanor when she lost her memory.

Shen Yanzhi stood at the forefront of the city wall, trying to suppress the burgeoning hatred within him.

With a faint smile, he called out to Chu Chengji: “Chu Chengji, if you want me to release An Yuanqing’s family, it can be arranged.”

Han Xiu, who had been arguing fiercely with the Chen deputy, paused upon hearing this.

Shen Yanzhi continued slowly, his eyes filled with obsession and emptiness: “Give A-Zheng back to me.”

Chu Chengji’s gaze turned icy, and the air around them seemed to thin.

Han Xiu swore: “Shen, have you been drinking dreams for years? Are you still asleep?”

Shen Yanzhi ignored Han Xiu and kept his eyes on Chu Chengji: “Is that not enough? How about the cities north of Jianghuai as well?”

Chu Chengji’s warhorse stomped anxiously, but Chu Chengji calmed it by stroking its mane.

He lifted his eyes: “My princess will one day rule these lands. I will personally conquer the north of Jianghuai and gift it to her.”

Shen Yanzhi’s hands, clenched behind his back, tightened to maintain his composure.

He grabbed a nearby soldier’s sword and placed it against Madam An’s neck, sneering: “Let’s see if you can stand by and do nothing. Will An Yuanqing remain loyal to you?”

Han Xiu shouted, “Shen, An Yuanqing is not one of us! The granary in Yicheng was burned by my men disguised as Yongzhou soldiers! That should make you furious, you turtle bastard!”

“What?”

Shen Yanzhi’s face contorted for a moment, and the deputy beside him was equally shocked.

Han Xiu laughed heartily, ordering his men to bring out their homemade Yongzhou flags and wave them in front of Shen Yanzhi. “Your hostages mean nothing to us!”

At that moment, the ground began to tremble.

From his vantage point on the wall, Shen Yanzhi saw another army rapidly approaching, flying the Yongzhou flag.

The Chu army parted to let the Yongzhou army through.

An Yuanqing, on horseback, urgently rode to the city wall, his heart aching as he saw his family bound there.

The young master of the An family cried out, “Father! Save me!”

The elderly Madam An also called out, her voice trembling: “Son!”

“Mother! Ruiran!” An Yuanqing’s eyes swept over his mother and wife.

He tightened his reins, the veins on his neck bulging: “Shen Yanzhi, I once thought you were a savior for rescuing my daughter. I attacked Mengjun on your orders! Who would have thought you were the snake who plotted this with Li Lian from the start! If you harm my family, I will grind your bones to dust!”

Realizing he had been played by Chu Chengji, Shen Yanzhi felt intense hatred.

He bit down hard enough to taste blood, struggling to maintain his composure.

He forced a smile: “General An, harsh words aren’t necessary. It was a misunderstanding, a trick by the Chu army. Defeat them, and I will ensure your family’s safety.”

An Yuanqing’s face was livid: “You despicable scoundrel, you are unworthy to stand alongside me!”

Shen Yanzhi pressed the sharp blade against Madam An’s neck, speaking coldly: “It seems General An has little affection for Madam An. She can be replaced by a new wife. Let’s start with her. Consider your choice carefully.”

He spoke such cruel words with a calm, pleasant tone, as if engaged in a friendly conversation.

“Stop!” An Yuanqing’s eyes were filled with rage.

Madam An, with tears in her eyes, finally called out to him, “General.”

Their gazes met in mid-air, filled with pain.

Shen Yanzhi’s smile widened: “General An, do it.”

An Yuanqing struggled internally, looking towards Chu Chengji and his army.

His 20,000 Yongzhou soldiers were exhausted from their long march and stood no chance against the well-rested and victorious Chu forces.

Han Xiu couldn’t help but point at Shen Yanzhi and curse: “You coward, Shen! Is this the only lowly tactic you know? Come out and fight us if you dare!”

Shen Yanzhi dismissed Han Xiu as a “brute” and continued speaking to An Yuanqing: “General An, you must show me your abilities to ensure the safety of your family. If you fail, this city won’t hold out against the Chu army for long, and your family will be of no use to me.”

An Yuanqing gritted his teeth, looking at Chu Chengji, and reluctantly gave the order: “Attack!”

Han Xiu quickly turned to Chu Chengji.

The setting sun cast shadows on Chu Chengji’s face, and his thin lips finally parted to issue the order: “Retreat.”

As the Yongzhou army advanced, the Chu forces retreated. Both sides avoided direct conflict.

An Yuanqing, on horseback, watched as Chu Chengji gave way.

Despite being a proud and strong man, his eyes reddened with emotion.

For several days, Wucheng barely held out through these tense standoffs.

Shen Yanzhi didn’t let An Yuanqing’s troops into the city but kept them stationed outside to fend off the Chu forces.

Chu Chengji’s advisors were at their wit’s end, unable to devise a way to defeat the enemy.

Engaging directly with An Yuanqing’s 20,000 soldiers would result in heavy losses, even if they won.

Moreover, if they could recruit An Yuanqing, they would gain not only his army but also control over Yongzhou.

However, to bring An Yuanqing to their side, they needed to rescue his family.

Shen Yanzhi had heavily fortified Wucheng, making it impossible for anyone to get in or out, let alone mount a rescue.

This deadlock persisted even after Qin Zheng returned to Qingzhou.

Qin Zheng hadn’t anticipated Shen Yanzhi’s ruthless tactics.

Some bold advisors suggested using Qin Zheng to exchange for An Yuanqing’s family.

Once they had recruited An Yuanqing, they could capture Wucheng and then rescue Qin Zheng, believing Shen Yanzhi wouldn’t harm her.

Before Chu Chengji could respond, these advisors were fiercely rebuked by loyalists like Song Heqing, Lin Yao, and Dong Cheng.

The offending advisor was eventually flogged and banished by Chu Chengji.

As the crown princess, Qin Zheng was clearly dear to Shen Yanzhi.

Using her as a bargaining chip would not only disgrace her but also cast doubt on her integrity due to her past with Shen Yanzhi.

Unable to intervene directly, Qin Zheng had to let Chu Chengji and his advisors devise a plan.

Meanwhile, she remained busy, tending to the wounded in the women’s army.

During her visits, she heard an intriguing piece of information.

“Earlier, a wealthy man bought a large number of female slaves from Captain Lin’s escort agency. Strangely, we lost contact with them afterward. During the chaos in Qingzhou, we finally got a message through.”

“They are confined in a temple outside the city, heavily guarded inside and out. They are caring for a woman who appears to be a nun but is actually pregnant.”

“A young man visits the temple periodically. The woman calls him brother, and the guards call him ‘prince’.”

In the Jianghuai region, who else could be referred to as ‘prince’ besides Shen Yanzhi?

Qin Zheng instinctively tightened her grip on her wide sleeves and asked, “Did you find out the nun’s surname?”

The female soldier shook her head.