novelraw Chapter 91 : Capturing Yuchi Duoduo
Chapter 91 : Capturing Yuchi Duoduo
Chapter 91: Capturing Yuchi Duoduo
Jiang Zhaoming’s expression also changed; he could hardly believe what he was seeing.
“No way, she’s really of the direct bloodline—humorous, this is the first time I’ve seen two armies exchange hostages before the battle even starts.”
With Yue Fei’s spear pointed straight at her, Yuchi Duoduo finally reacted, immediately channeling her spiritual power to escape.
But just as she moved, a single glance from Yue Fei shattered all the spiritual energy around her.
Jiang Zhaoming turned to the Anxi general outside the tent. “Take this foolish woman and lock her up first.”
Yuchi Duoduo’s voice trembled with anger and fear, yet she still made her naïve accusation.
“Despicable! Shameless! The two nations are at war—messengers must not be slain! You—you don’t follow the rules!”
Jiang Zhaoming picked at his ear, as if he hadn’t heard her shrieking at all.
Once she was dragged away, the generals resumed discussing the battle routes.
Two days later, the murderous air in the Beiting military camp grew heavier.
The battle plan for the western prefectural front had already been thoroughly simulated on the sand table; every detail was finalized.
Jiang Zhaoming no longer hesitated. He pointed lightly with his finger, sending out several invisible orders through special channels.
The sandworms hidden deep beneath the Sea of Sand quietly stirred, moving like specters of the earth, silently infiltrating the vast territories to the west of the prefecture.
Their mission was to scout the rebel army’s troop deployments and movements.
Just as Jiang Zhaoming took a deep breath, preparing to officially issue the order for the four armies to march and strike directly at the western prefecture—
“Report—!”
The messenger’s urgent voice once again tore through the stillness of the command tent.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Jingjue has sent another envoy!”
Jiang Zhaoming’s brows furrowed slightly, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes.
That Kingdom of Jingjue—what on earth are they plotting now?
Inside the main tent, the atmosphere grew solemn.
This time, standing in the center was an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard, holding a nine-jointed jade staff symbolizing diplomacy.
His bearing was calm and his gaze shrewd—completely unlike that “special” Yuchi Duoduo from before.
Jiang Zhaoming merely glanced once to confirm that this was indeed the true envoy sent by Jingjue’s rebel court.
As for that Yuchi Duoduo who had been imprisoned—she was probably nothing more than a brainless princess.
Jiang Zhaoming’s tone was cold. “Speak. What play has your King Yuchi sent you here to perform before me?”
The elderly envoy from Jingjue bowed deeply, his face showing just the right measure of respect—neither humble nor overbearing.
He did not answer directly, instead beginning a detailed discussion about the current situation in Anxi Prefecture and the complex stance of the western rebels.
Then, as if “unintentionally,” he mentioned the pressure the northern Great Jin was exerting on the Great Zhou.
His words were sharp beneath their softness, every phrase carefully chosen. The meaning at the core was singular, though cloaked in ornate civility:
Our Kingdom of Jingjue has strong armies and generals. We do not fear the few forces you command, Prince of Anxi, but we respect the Great Zhou behind you—thus we wish for peace between us.
After the prelude was set, the old envoy finally revealed the dagger hidden within his words—their so-called “sincerity.”
“To demonstrate our king’s good faith and resolve to end the conflict, we hereby propose to offer our most noble Fourth Princess, Her Highness Yuchi Duoduo, in marriage to His Majesty the Prince of Anxi, to unite our two nations in everlasting alliance!”
At those words, Jiang Zhaoming, Yue Fei who stood beside him, and Wan Donglai in the corner all froze.
Their expressions became indescribably strange.
So—Jingjue’s royal court had no idea that their “princess of alliance” had already been captured and imprisoned for days?
Meanwhile, in the shadow behind the great tent—
Yuchi Duoduo, bound immovably by the shape-shifting “Spirit-Sealing Lock” formed from the Thousand Mechanisms Gu, heard every word of the envoy’s speech with chilling clarity.
When she heard her own name and the word “marriage”—
Her body, which had been taut with anger and shame, suddenly went rigid.
Then, as though all her strength had been drained, even her final, futile struggles ceased.
Only the tear-streaked face of her Third Sister from a month ago appeared vividly before her mind’s eye—yet now it shone with an icy cruelty.
“So, Third Sister lied to me after all.”
Large, hot tears, muddied by despair, could no longer be restrained. Like broken pearls, they rolled down Yuchi Duoduo’s cheeks.
She had thought she was helping her Third Sister resist injustice, yet she never realized she had been set up as the sacrificial pawn all along.
She bit down hard on her lower lip to stop herself from sobbing aloud. The taste of blood filled her mouth, yet she felt no pain—
Only the silent collapse of that naïve world called “family,” torn apart by the very people she had trusted most.
The elderly envoy of Jingjue was politely escorted out of the tent to “await His Majesty’s reply.”
The heavy curtain fell, cutting off the outside world.
Inside, the light was dim, only a few thin rays filtering through the seams, casting a faint glow across Jiang Zhaoming’s contemplative profile.
He did not speak at once; instead, he paced slowly, his long fingers absently rubbing his chin.
“Interesting. The ‘princess of alliance’ we’ve already locked behind the tent, and yet they’re still trying to use her as a bargaining chip. Is the Jingjue royal court truly so ignorant—or are they scheming something deeper?”
His low voice broke the silence.
“Then let us accept their offer.”
Yue Fei and the others turned toward Jiang Zhaoming, puzzled.
Jiang Zhaoming continued, “Let them waste their efforts searching for Yuchi Duoduo—or weaving new lies to cover their blunder.”
He stepped before the sand table, pointing at the power distributions marked upon it.
“And we—shall seize this very moment, while Jingjue is distracted by this ‘marriage alliance,’ to strike like thunder and eliminate these scattered forces one by one, completely isolating Jingjue!”
Jiang Zhaoming raised his head, cold starlight seeming to flicker within his deep eyes, reflecting the fires of war soon to ignite upon the sand table.
Since the Kingdom of Jingjue had shown weakness, then as the enemy retreated, they would advance—and take the initiative first.