Chapter Ninety-Eight: A Solemn Vow

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Ye Pei was momentarily startled when Zi Qingrong suddenly woke up, then gently patted her back and softly said, “Why did you wake up just as I sat down?”

Zi Qingrong was still sobbing lightly. “I suddenly... sensed an overwhelming stench of blood... and woke up.”

Ye Pei suddenly recalled that he hadn’t changed out of his armor after leaving the battlefield; he was still wearing it, and it must have been soaked with blood. With that thought, he gently pushed Zi Qingrong aside and said, “Wait for me here, I’ll wash up and change clothes.”

Zi Qingrong nodded softly, “Okay.”

Watching her sit on the bed, fragile and delicate, Ye Pei reached out to touch her hair. Halfway through, he noticed his hands were stained with blood and dirt, so he withdrew them and smiled. “Rest a bit more. I’ll come find you soon.”

About half an hour later, Ye Pei had cleaned up and changed into a black brocade robe. Looking at his reflection clad in black, he couldn’t help but laugh: “Chuan Ming truly is a warrior born for the battlefield.”

He then returned to Zi Qingrong’s chamber, took her by the side, and they stepped out of the City Lord’s Mansion together.

The recent battle had left the city’s citizens deeply shaken. Soldiers were now scattered about, calming the populace. Ye Pei and Zi Qingrong stood side by side as they exited the mansion—the boy handsome and poised like a jade statue, the girl graceful as a falling goose, both seeming somewhat out of place in this smoke-laden city.

“Ye Zi, I want to go see the city wall,” Zi Qingrong said.

Ye Pei turned and looked at her, “They’re still cleaning up the battlefield on the city wall. You better not go there.”

Zi Qingrong shook her head, “I want to see it.”

Ye Pei smiled helplessly, then saddled a horse and led Zi Qingrong to the outer city.

“Commander Ye!” As soon as they reached the foot of the city wall, a soldier hurried up to greet him.

Ye Pei nodded, “Thanks for your hard work, brother!”

He tied his horse and led Zi Qingrong up onto the city wall. Once on the ramparts, they were met with the grim sight of severed arms, legs, and other mutilated body parts scattered everywhere. Ye Pei hastily raised his hand to shield Zi Qingrong’s eyes, but she gently held his wrist in place.

He turned to look at her. Though her face was pale and she seemed on the verge of nausea, she did not look away.

“If I keep following you, I’m bound to see scenes like this sooner or later. It’s better to get used to it now, so I won’t be a burden later.”

Ye Pei pulled her into his arms with great tenderness, stroking her hair as he smiled, “You causing me trouble... is only natural...”

After a moment, he brought up another matter.

“Qingrong, let’s go to Jiazhou together to discuss with Dongfang Boyi about his stirring of the people’s hearts.”

Zi Qingrong smiled, “Even if that’s the case, you shouldn’t say it like that. You should say he’s working to win the people’s hearts.”

Ye Pei shook his head with a smile, “Alright, you political experts...”

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