The Evil Emperor's Favorite: The Sickly and Poisonous Concubine Goes Crazy

Seeing this, the South Vietnamese army that entered the city first chased after them without hesitation, but soon lost them.

The city gate was quickly breached, and the joy of victory lowered their vigilance, and the South Vietnamese army rushed into the city without hesitation.

There were no Great Zhou defenders in the city. They just thought that the Great Zhou army was defeated and fled. Although they were a little confused, they didn't care. Of course, no one cared about the smoke floating out from the corners of the walls and alleys.

Behind the army, Zang Shuo, who did not even get off the military vehicle, had a look of joy on his face.

"Su's army? Nothing more than that."

"Army, follow me into the city!"

Halfway up the mountain in Rongcheng, Su Jingchen and his men had already evacuated Rongcheng through the reserved passage.

The South Vietnamese army entered Rongcheng in dense crowds. He watched the dark red military vehicle enter the city gate, narrowed his eyes slightly, and a dangerous look flashed in his eyes.

He nodded to Su Jingyi, and Su Jingyi understood instantly.

He instructed the formation master behind him:

"Start the formation! Give the signal."

Dark red smoke exploded in the sky with a sharp sound.

Above the valley, the rainstorm gradually stopped. Su Jingning looked at the water level of the dam gradually rising. Mud mixed with stones was surging in the river, which was a frightening sight.

She looked towards Rongcheng. It was almost there.

Red smoke appeared in the air. Su Jingning concentrated and quickly took the bow and arrow beside him. He whispered:

"Everyone, retreat upwards."

The Su family army in the forest received the order and quickly retreated to the top of the mountain.

Su Jingning had three arrows on his bow, with thunder bombs tied between the arrows that he had taken from Su Luoting. He pulled the bowstring to its full extent and released the arrows.

The whistling sound of arrows pierced through the valley, followed by a loud bang that exploded across the valley.

The reinforced dam collapsed with a loud bang with the explosion, and the surging river water rushed down the valley like a wild horse, instantly engulfing the huge rocks and trees in the mountains, rolling more and more violently.

The entire valley was shaking, and the rumbling sound grew louder and louder, approaching Rongcheng downstream.

At this moment, the South Vietnamese army was still approaching the gate of Rongcheng in a mighty manner. No one expected that such a sudden flood was waiting for them.

As soon as Zang Shuo entered the city gate, he noticed something was wrong.

There were very few corpses of Zhou army in the city. There were 30,000 defenders in Rongcheng, so there shouldn't be only this many people. And what about the civilians in the city? There was hardly a living person to be seen except the Nanyue army.

His face changed drastically as he looked at the red smoke that suddenly exploded in the air, as if mocking him.

"Fell into a trap!"

Wen Lan'er, who was standing next to him, looked at the smoke, her eyes startled for a moment, then she came to her senses, pulled Zang Shuo over, quickly flew over, grabbed the warhorse beside her, and rushed out of the city.

"Brother Shuo! Let's go!"

But it was still a step too late, and the heavy city gate fell down almost in an instant.

The speed was so fast that people could not avoid it and it broke the people below in half.

The mechanism in the hole in the wall was triggered, and a sharp knife was ejected, scratching the warhorse.

Zang Shuo's expression changed. He pulled the reins, quickly protected Wen Lan'er and retreated into the city.

Inside the city walls, the weather changed in an instant. The heavy rain stopped, the wind suddenly rose, and smoke filled the entire ancient city. The sound of swords fighting rang out in the city, and the sound of killing shook the sky.

But there was no one else in the city except the South Vietnamese army.

"They have set up a killing formation! Brother Shuo, cover your mouth and nose!" Wen Lan'er was stunned, but she reacted quickly and covered her face with a handkerchief.

There must be hallucinogenic drugs added to the formation.

Zang Shuo quickly covered his mouth and nose and looked at the city which was in chaos. The Nanyue soldiers who entered the city first gradually collapsed to the ground with strange expressions and limp bodies. Even the elephant soldiers could not escape. He clenched his fists.

"There's a knockout drug in the smoke. They want to trap us to death in the city." Wen Lan'er also had an ugly look on her face. She underestimated the enemy.

Zang Shuo looked at the people in the city. At least 50,000 troops had already entered the city, and they couldn't all die here.

Wen Lan'er covered her face with a handkerchief, and determination flashed in her eyes. If the master knew that it was her idea to let the army attack Rongcheng, he would definitely punish her. These South Vietnamese soldiers must not die here.

"Brother Shuo, I'll go break the formation."

Zang Shuo grabbed her and said, "I'll go break open the city gate."

"No, the city gate is made of heavy iron. They have used the entire city as a formation. If the formation is not broken, the city gate cannot be opened at all."

"I'll wait for you here!" Zang Shuo had a gloomy look in his eyes.

Wen Lan'er hesitated for a while, nodded, and quickly led her men into the city.

As time passed, more and more people fell in the city, and Zang Shuo's face became more and more ugly.

Finally, in less than half an hour, the smoke that enveloped the city of Rong suddenly dissipated, and the city returned to clarity.

The gates rise.

Zang Shuo looked at the goose yellow figure returning, slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and ordered people to settle the person who was drugged.

Wen Lan'er also breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards Zang Shuo. After taking a few steps, her expression suddenly changed.

The ground beneath my feet was shaking slightly, and I could vaguely hear a rumbling sound coming from the valley, which seemed to be getting closer.

Zang Shuo, who was far away, also heard the sound. His face changed drastically and he was horrified. He pulled Wen Lan'er who was running towards him and jumped on his horse.

"Retreat! Everyone, leave the city immediately! Quick!"

The moment the war horses stepped out of the city gate, a flood raged like a beast from the other side of the ancient city, and instantly swept the South Vietnamese army into it. The soldiers' screams, cries for help, and the wailing of the elephants were soon drowned by the surging waves. The flood filled the entire ancient city and then passed through the city. Although the South Vietnamese army, which moved quickly, escaped, the number of people was less than 10,000. Even the South Vietnamese soldiers outside the city who did not have time to enter the city could not escape.

Outside Rongcheng, Su Jingchen stood on a high place, looking at all this, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. War is always going to kill people. If they fail to defend Rongcheng today, they and the tens of thousands of unarmed civilians behind them will die.

After this battle, the South Vietnamese army was severely damaged, and it was time to end the war in the south.

Seven days later, in the Battle of Rongcheng, they defeated the South Vietnamese army with a smaller force and became famous in one battle.

The Zhou army won a great victory and changed its previous defensive tactics. It took the initiative to gather troops to attack Tuping City. After a day and night of fierce fighting with the Nanyue army, it took back the lost Tuping City from the Nanyue. The Nanyue army retreated to Fengcheng City and was showing signs of defeat.

Front city.

The remaining troops of Tuping City broke out of the siege and retreated to Fengcheng.

You Baishu was dressed in a dark and solemn robe, revealing only a pair of clear eyes. He was cold as he entered the military tent with a murderous aura.

Zang Shuo looked pale and dejected. The defeat had made him lose his youthful spirit.

"Master, I was defeated this time because of my impulsiveness. No matter how my father punishes me, I will bear it all."

You Baishu looked at him straight in the eyes, with only coldness in them, and no fluctuations in their expressions.

"How will Your Highness bear the responsibility for the lives of 60,000 soldiers? When you return to the court, how will Your Highness explain to the people who lost their loved ones because they believed in Your Highness?"

"I..." Zang Shuo opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. He watched helplessly as his soldiers risked their lives to save him and sent him to shore. No one was more heartbroken than him.

You Baishu's tone was cold, and he continued:

"The black iron ore from Fengcheng has been transported to the territory of South Vietnam. Under the current circumstances, it is meaningless to continue fighting with Dazhou. I will submit a peace letter to Dazhou to end this war."

"Your Highness, please prepare yourself. We will return to the capital in half an hour. His Majesty has already ordered Qi Tiantai to calculate the date for the succession. He fainted again a few days ago, so he doesn't have much time left.

Zang Shuo was startled: "Master, is my father still willing to make me the heir?"

"The You family's divination is never wrong. The divination has chosen Your Highness, so even if we lose this battle, Your Highness can still sit in that position."

He breathed a slow sigh of relief.

"But for this defeat, Your Highness needs to give an explanation to His Majesty and the people of Nanyue. I have found out that it was Lan'er who proposed to send troops this time. But I had already reminded her before I left the camp." You Baishu said coldly.

Zang Shuo paused, then looked up at him and said, "Master, Lan'er was seriously injured and just woke up. Besides, she has no power to call on the three armies. This has nothing to do with her."

You Baishu was silent for a moment:

"Yes, she cannot call for a third round, but she can influence His Highness's decision."

"Imperial Master! She is your only disciple!" Zang Shuo's face showed surprise and hidden anger.

"I know, so I will save her life." He still spoke indifferently, as if he was talking about an unimportant person.

"National Division!"

"Your Highness, please take a rest."

You Baishu left the military tent and ignored Zang Shuo again.

He went straight into Wen Lan'er's tent.

Wen Lan'er's delicate little face was bruised and pale, and she looked very weak. She leaned on the bed, drinking the medicine fed to her by the maid.

"Master!" When she saw someone coming in, her face lit up and she brushed away the medicine.

You Baishu lowered his eyes and looked at her, avoiding her move to hug him.

"Why use the Second Prince to attack Rongcheng?"

Wen Lan'er's face was filled with joy for a moment, and then she smiled at him innocently:

"What is the master saying? Why can't Lan'er understand?"

You Baishu looked down at her for a long time, then bent down and took the shiny white jade plate from her waist.

"Master?"

Wen Lan'er felt a little nervous as she watched him tightly holding the white jade divination plate that his master had given him when he first became his disciple.

"When you made a mistake and were expelled from the school by Mo Linyuan, I gave you a chance."

"......But you still disappoint me. In the past, you were arrogant and willful, and I thought you were just naughty and wouldn't make any big mistakes. But I don't know when you became such a strange person. Maybe I shouldn't have given you this jade hexagram."

His voice was strangely cold, and he slightly tightened the hexagram plate in his hand.

The hexagram plate broke into several pieces and fell to the ground.

"No!" Wen Lan'er screamed, fell to her knees and tried to pick up the broken jade.

"Master! Lan'er knows I was wrong! Master! I know I was wrong! Please don't leave me!" She hugged You Baishu's legs tightly, her expression was miserable and moving.

You Baishu leaned forward slightly and stared at her with his eyes downcast. He was five years older than her. He had raised her as an orphan in his mansion since she was young, and raised her as the heir of the You mansion. He sent her to Mo Linyuan and trained her with great care. But now it seemed that he had chosen the wrong person.

"I will save your life. From now on, our relationship as master and disciple ends. You are no longer my disciple."

"Master! No, I don't want it! I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have used Brother Shuo to attack Rongcheng. I accept the punishment. Master, I can do anything you ask me to do, but don't chase me away!"

You Baishu took a step back and took the hem of the dress out of her hands.

"Take care of your injuries. After you recover, I will send someone to take you back to Beijing."

Wen Lan'er looked at him with tears in her eyes. After the sadness and despair, paranoia gradually appeared in her eyes.

"Master, won't you ask me why I used Brother Shuo to attack Rongcheng?!"

"There is someone in Rongcheng that you care about! Is that so?"

You Baishu paused, turned around and looked at her, with a coldness in his clear eyes that she had never seen before.

The moment he paused, the last glimmer of light in Wen Lan'er's heart was completely extinguished.

Her eyes were filled with tears and despair, but she smiled gently:

"Master, it turns out you have a purpose."

You Baishu paused slightly, stopped looking at her, and left the tent.

Wen Lan'er collapsed to the ground. The maid beside her couldn't bear it and told her what she had heard in the camp:

"Miss, the Imperial Master is not ruthless to you. I heard that he personally stopped the inspector sent by His Majesty and saved your life."

Wen Lan'er, who was in despair and pain, had a slightly sad look on her face, but she was still lifeless. The white jade fragment in her hand pierced into her flesh, and bright red blood slowly flowed out from her fingertips.

"Tongque, Master will never forgive me."

In Rongcheng in the southern border, the mountain torrents gradually receded, revealing the devastated ancient city. The people who had fled the city for refuge were moving back, and the garrison troops guarding the city were busy rebuilding homes for the people.

Su Jingchen and Su Jingning stood on the city wall, looking down at the busy people and Su's army in the city.

"Tuping has been recaptured. After this battle, the morale of the South Vietnamese has dropped significantly. If we capture Fengcheng, the battle will be over."

Su Jingning looked at Su Luoting who was busy in the crowd in the distance and replied:

"Zang Shuo attacked Rongcheng forcefully, causing Nanyue to suffer heavy losses. You Baishu is a smart man. If he could make the decision, there would be no more fighting. Within ten days, Nanyue would submit a peace letter, and Fengcheng would be taken back."

You Baishu is a benevolent and righteous gentleman, as well as a smart man. Nearly 60,000 people died in the battle of Rongcheng. He will not allow Zang Shuo to lose more troops.

"Cease-fire is indeed the best option for South Vietnam right now."

Su Jingchen nodded. A ceasefire was the best solution for both countries. Right now, the northern border was also at war. The Great Zhou could not continue to waste time with South Vietnam, and South Vietnam could not continue to waste time either.

"In that case, I will send someone to take you back to the capital first. The war situation in the northern border is not optimistic. If you get sick again, there are many famous doctors in the imperial capital. We will feel more at ease if you return to the imperial capital. As for the prince, my eldest brother will send a letter to him."

Su Jingning shook his head, his gentle voice was firm and would not tolerate rejection:

"I have to go back to Northern Xinjiang tomorrow. I've been delaying for several days and can't delay any longer."

Su Jingchen looked at her. Her decisions were rarely changed. There was helplessness in his eyes: "Then you have to meet your father. He is very worried about you."

Su Jingning's eyes flashed with hesitation. A Yan hadn't written to her for two days, and she was a little worried.

"Father has already arrived in Changyi City. I will go to Changyi City tonight to see him, and then return to Northern Frontier from Changyi City."

"Then I'll send you to Changyi City. There will only be An Xia and Yun Qing with you. I'll send some people to follow you."

"Brother, don't bother me. I can go by myself." As she said that, she turned around and was about to go downstairs, and she met Su Jingyi.

"Ningning, where are you going?" he asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Let's go to Changyi City, and then return to Northern Frontier. Fourth brother, when you return to the Northern Frontier, remember to come to the palace to find me. I will treat you to a drink of Hundred-Year-Old Wine." She smiled and hurried downstairs without stopping, looking back as she spoke.

"Going to Changyi City? Doesn't your brother want you to go back to Beijing? Wait, I'll take you there!" Su Jingyi paused and wanted to catch up with her.

"No need!! Oh, by the way, Fourth Brother, my senior sister wrote to me and mentioned you. She said that she has made a new batch of medicine. If you are interested, she will send it to you. Remember to write back to her. She said that you haven't replied to her yet." She looked up at Su Jingyi from the bottom of the city wall.

Su Jingyi's expression paused, somewhat complicated:

"understood."

New medicine? That female devil wants to test the medicine on him again!? It seems that he was right not to reply.

Su Jingning nodded and walked towards the city, intending to say goodbye to Su Luoting and leave Rongcheng.