CHAPTER 689: CHAPTER 669 LAN NINGZHEN

If the Sixth Prince truly had to choose between siding with the Great King or the Second Prince, Xie Jue’s schemes might become irrelevant. But the Sixth Prince clearly resented being oppressed by them and had no intention of choosing either of his elder brothers. When the Second Prince brought men to demand the culprit, conflict naturally broke out between him and the Sixth Prince. The Sixth Prince Consort’s maternal family also wielded considerable power, so for some time, Fox City has been in a state of tension and unease.

The relationships among the Great King, Second Prince, and Sixth Prince have grown increasingly strained. The Third Prince, always lacking his own opinions, holds the Second Prince in high regard, and the strength of these two is not to be underestimated—they can keep the rivalry heated for quite a while. During this initial stage of deterioration, Xie Jue refrains from acting too hastily, instead recuperating within the Prince Manor while occasionally offering advice to the Second Prince. Gradually, the Second Prince’s influence has seeped into the Imperial Court, and attempts to win support from the various tribal factions have begun.

The culprit remains elusive, prompting the Second Prince to relentlessly confront the Sixth Prince, who adamantly claims the murderer is already deceased. With more individuals stirring the pot, their relationship becomes irreparable.

Exhausted from deflecting accusations, the Sixth Prince finds parts of his power silently and subtly eroded by the Second Prince. Gradually, he comes to realize that the Second Prince has a new strategist, whose tactics differ from what he previously knew. Hence, the Sixth Prince chooses to stop entangling himself further and straightforwardly admits his mistakes, falling in line behind the Second Prince’s lead.

Xie Jue remains unsatisfied with this, as mutual slaughter between the brothers better serves his interests. Yet the Second Prince is a paradox—crude, impatient, ambitious, yet forgiving and protective of his brothers. If in the Yanyang Royal Family there were so many princes vying for succession, a fierce hereditary rivalry would have been raging for a long time. How could sibling camaraderie exist, with brothers frequently drinking and chatting together?

However, the Beiman are different. The Beiman revere the Heavenly God, hold promises sacred, and forbid the killing of children. They believe harming children is a grievous sin that would lead to the loss of the Heavenly God’s protection. For this reason, Beiman Royal Family princes and princesses, barring sudden illnesses, mostly survive, and the bonds among siblings remain remarkably strong. Though their interests differ and they compete for the throne, dishonorable methods are seldom employed. Xie Jue finds this perplexing and can only attribute it to differences in customs and culture.

As a strategist, Xie Jue avoids exposing his desire to incite bloodshed among the princes. Instead, he turns his attention to Beiman’s internal affairs. The Beiman tribes, though generally cooperative, harbor deep-seated grievances toward one another. Due to the Beiman King’s military prowess and magnetic personality, the tribes have managed to coexist peacefully for now.

Soon, Ningzhou and Beiman halt their war during the winter. The Beiman King, the Great Prince, and other figures return to Fox City. By then, Xie Jue has become the foremost strategist in the Second Prince Manor, earning the Second Prince’s and the Third Prince’s deep trust.

The Beiman King’s arrival in Fox City is met with an enthusiastic welcome from all the princes. Fox City bursts with song and dance to celebrate the homecoming of these heroes. For the Beiman people, the dream remains alive that one day they will defeat the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, cross Ningzhou, and thrive in the mythical land of splendor described in their lore. According to the legends of the Heavenly God, that land is their rightful birthplace, but the Yanyang people drove them to this frigid terrain. Thus, their war is fought for their ancestral land and survival. This belief turns Beiman into a nation of soldiers, with female warriors outnumbering the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry several times.

The Beiman King, astride a massive black horse, appears majestic and imposing. He is tall, fierce, and his sharp eyes carry the intensity of both wolves and eagles—a rare force of nature among warriors. His pair of meteor hammers dominates the battlefield, making him nearly invincible; few can even approach him in combat. In a one-on-one duel, even the Marquis Zhenbei must retreat in defeat. Virtually no Ningzhou General can get close to the Beiman King.

When Xie Jue and Xie Zhang devised their combat strategies, they focused on "capturing the leader first." Yet despite several attempts, they failed, suffering heavy losses among their troops. The Beiman King quickly saw through their tactics and now avoids rushing to the front lines too easily.

Hawks and falcons circle in the sky, screeching and howling in packs. On the ground, towering warhorses and triumphant soldiers present a breathtaking spectacle. They are ushered into Fox City like heroes, creating a moment of awe.

Xie Jue reflects that the battles fought on Ningzhou’s side must be exceedingly difficult. This is why he chose to infiltrate Beiman alone, aiming to destabilize them from within.

The morale of the Beiman Army grows increasingly formidable. Xie Jue keenly senses the looming danger—dragging out the war spells significant trouble for Ningzhou. The primary problem lies in Ningzhou’s rear, where internal court struggles for power severely impact supplies, leaving them unable to sustain the campaign.

Xie Jue’s status does not permit him entry into the Beiman Imperial Court, so he listens to accounts of the war from others at the manor. Each recent battle has ended in victory for the Beiman. Especially noteworthy is the rise of Dugu Jing, whose youthful fearlessness renders him undefeated. He exudes the aura of the Beiman King himself, with people praising him as a peerless prodigy gifted by the Heavenly God.

Besides Dugu Jing’s rise, another major contributor to Beiman’s success is the Lan Family. Yet despite their achievements, the Lan Family suffered immense losses, with only three men surviving the battlefield.

The Lan Family belongs to the maternal lineage of the Second Prince Consort. Her Lan heritage adds to the Second Prince’s prestige, making him the center of power in Fox City. Even the Great King must acquiesce to him on certain fronts.

During a palace banquet, a message arrives at the Second Prince Manor, reporting that the Lan Family has sent people to visit the Second Prince Consort. Overjoyed, the Second Prince Consort, Lan, hurriedly comes out to greet them.

In Beiman, there is no rule prohibiting female guests from visiting men’s residences, nor is there strict separation of genders. As Xie Jue and several other strategists coincidentally head outside, they spot the visitors from a distance, galloping on horseback. The wind and snow blur the view, yet a strikingly bold splash of red stands out vividly—Lan Ningzhen rides a sweat-drenched red horse, clad in red riding attire and a crimson fox-fur cloak. Graceful and valiant, she approaches.

As she comes nearer, her features are still obscured, but Xie Jue notices how her presence in the snow is particularly striking.

The Lan Family contingent comprises over ten riders, all arriving swiftly, followed by a carriage carrying gifts for the Princess. Lan Ningzhen dismounts deftly at the manor’s entrance, coincidentally meeting Xie Jue and the other strategists head-on.

Xie Jue muses that Beiman women are truly tall!

The Princess is already remarkably tall, but her younger sister surpasses her, even towering over most of the men in the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry. Her riding attire is tightly fitted, with a fox-fur collar encircling her neck. Her braided hair falls in strands, adorned with ruby headpieces that accentuate her exquisitely painted eyebrows, brilliant teeth, and crimson lips. Her resemblance to the Princess is evident, yet distinct—strikingly beautiful with an air of radiant determination.