TNIBFT -Chapter 283 A Kindred Spirit

“…Uh…”

Old Yang cast a speechless look at Ye Shuangxue and her two siblings, then muttered disdainfully, “There’s no one left in Sifang City that your father cares about anymore!”

“He lets a woman ride a horse and carry him around all day, even parading through the streets like that. I really don’t know what he’s thinking. If it were me, I’d rather just be killed!”

Ye Shuangxue’s little face fell. “Don’t talk about my father like that!”

Ye Yunting’s ears turned red.

When it came to thick skin, no one dared to compete with Ye Tian!

Xiao Jiang chuckled foolishly. “Uncle Yang, I think you’re just jealous of my dad. You want someone to carry you on horseback, but no one’s willing!”

“Nonsense!”

Old Yang’s expression changed. Holding a bun in one hand, he pushed open the kitchen door with the other.

The three kids immediately panicked and hid behind him, afraid Ye Tian would discover them eavesdropping from behind the door.

Old Yang glanced back at the little “tails” behind him and said helplessly, “Stop hiding. Your dad already left!”

“Alright…”

Xiao Jiang poked his head out and stood up openly.

Ye Shuangxue hurried a few steps forward and stood at the shop entrance, peering outside.

Over the past two days, the streets had been crowded with people. Many carried luggage, clearly preparing to leave the city. Seeing her elder brother approach, Ye Shuangxue pouted and said, “These people are obviously trying to run away. Big Brother, is there any way we can help Ye Tian?”

Ye Yunting frowned slightly. “An army of sixty thousand is attacking Sifang City—and it’s the Great Zhou army at that. I doubt anyone would come here just to die!”

“So what if it’s the Great Zhou army?”

Ye Shuangxue refused to accept it. “Do people from Great Zhou have three heads and six arms? Why is everyone so afraid of them?”

Old Yang had just set down the buns. Hearing this, he turned and sneered, “Kids don’t understand anything!”

Duan Qingshan, who was eating, shot Old Yang a cold glance.

Old Yang puffed up with pride. “You don’t get it, do you?”

“The Great Zhou army is strictly disciplined. Their soldiers are worth ten of the enemy each—fierce and ruthless on the battlefield. They even take enemy ears as proof of merit. Ten left ears can promote an ordinary soldier to a centurion. Anyone who kills an enemy officer—even a common foot soldier—can be granted an official rank!”

“This kind of system makes Great Zhou soldiers willing to fight to the death. Even if they die, their families receive generous compensation.”

The people eating nearby all put down their bowls and chopsticks, turning to look at Old Yang.

Lowering his voice mysteriously, Old Yang said, “Do you know about the Great Zhou Empress?”

Everyone nodded, their faces filled with reverence.

Xiao Wang said, “I know! A few years ago, the Great Zhou Empress led her troops south and nearly killed the emperor!”

Another man leaned forward. “I’ve heard her combat strength is unmatched. The people of Great Zhou say she’s the reincarnation of a war god. She’s still young but already a top-tier master—invincible!”

After speaking in a low voice, the man couldn’t help glancing toward the door.

Someone else added, “I heard the Great Zhou Empress looks fierce and even eats children. Luckily, she has no interest in Sifang City—otherwise we’d all be turned into dried human meat!”

The crowd looked terrified.

Ye Shuangxue asked, “What does this have to do with the Great Zhou Empress?”

“Exactly!”

Everyone turned to Old Yang.

With one foot propped on a stool, Old Yang leaned forward and said mysteriously, “I heard that it was the Empress herself who ordered the attack on Sifang City. If I, Old Yang, weren’t so loyal, I’d have run away long ago. Who would stay here waiting to die?”

“The Great Zhou Empress gave the order?”

Everyone turned pale, their jaws nearly dropping in shock.

Duan Qingshan slammed down his chopsticks and shot Old Yang a contemptuous look. “Stop spreading alarmist nonsense. If the boss hears you, you’ll be in serious trouble!”

“I—I’m telling the truth! It’s all over the streets!” Old Yang argued stubbornly, neck stiffened.

Watching Duan Qingshan leave, Old Yang muttered under his breath, “Lord Meng is already this powerful—he can even fight Senior Sun to a draw. If the Great Zhou Empress really comes, we’re all dead for sure!”

Inside the main hall, no one had any appetite left.

The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.

Ye Shuangxue frowned, looking at Ye Yunting. “Big Brother, is the Great Zhou Empress really that powerful?”

“Why would she want to kill us?”

Xiao Jiang sat on the doorstep, propping his chin up with his small hands, his face full of worry.

Ye Yunting glanced at his younger siblings and comforted them, “Imperial authority stands above all. Whatever she wants, the entire realm must serve her. But nothing is decided yet—so there’s still a sliver of hope.”

“Come, let’s go find Ye Tian!”

A thought suddenly struck Ye Yunting—if it really was the Empress ordering an attack on Sifang City, then with Lord Meng around, perhaps there was still room to turn things around.

…

At this moment, Qin Fengyi was riding together with Ye Tian on a single horse as they headed toward the outskirts of Sifang City.

“Snort…”

As Ye Tian dismounted, the black horse shot him a disdainful look, snorting heavily through its nose and pawing the ground with one hoof as if venting its dissatisfaction.

Ye Tian: …

“Your horse doesn’t seem to have the best temper. I’ll find you a better one later,” Ye Tian said, staring at the horse in warning.

The black horse shook its head irritably.

A faint smile curled on Qin Fengyi’s lips as she gently stroked the horse’s mane. “No need. This horse has been with me for years.”

What was usually a quiet suburban area was now filled with people.

Many were dragging their families along, pushing carts as they hurried out of the city.

Qin Fengyi frowned. “Once war begins, everything we’ve worked for becomes meaningless. The moment the people hear of war, they all flee the city to seek refuge.”

Ye Tian narrowed his eyes, expressionless, as he observed the bustling outskirts.

A trace of helplessness surfaced in his heart. “That’s why the best solution… is to stop war with war.”

Qin Fengyi’s eyes widened as she looked at him in disbelief.

Since she was young, court officials—and even her father—had always told her that a wise ruler should be benevolent: allowing the people to live in peace, nurturing the populace, winning over all under heaven through virtue. That was the way of a true enlightened monarch.

But now, as Qin Fengyi looked at Ye Tian’s profile, she felt as if she had found a kindred spirit.

She shifted slightly closer to him. “Isn’t ‘stopping war with war’ the way of a tyrant?”

“A tyrant?”

Ye Tian sneered. “If you’re lenient and magnanimous, will your enemies remember your kindness?”

“If King Fuchai of Wu had killed Goujian back then, there would have been no ‘sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall,’ no Xi Shi bringing disaster to the state, and Wu wouldn’t have fallen so quickly. Goujian wouldn’t have repaid Fuchai’s mercy with gratitude—he only thought of revenge.”

“It’s the same with the Great Zhou Empress. If she had killed the Emperor of Great Liang back then, why would she need to attack Sifang City now?”

“Huh?”

Qin Fengyi was suddenly stunned.

How did this suddenly turn onto her?

And besides, when did she ever intend to attack Sifang City? She absolutely refused to take the blame for this. Once she found out who forged the imperial order, she would have them executed by slow slicing!

Ye Tian left Qin Fengyi behind and walked up the hillside.

“The good stuff is on the slope,” he said, turning his head.

Qin Fengyi followed after him, secretly wondering—was Ye Tian trying to give her a surprise?

Or did he simply want to clear his mind?