Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 194 Confession
Two days later.

Xie Ling strode into the tent. Jiang Lanye was now able to move around freely. He sat at the table in the center, with Song Yi's letter on the table and military memorials in his hand.

He had long since stopped listening to advice and would sit there for hours on end, but no one dared to say anything to him.

"Your Majesty, in the past two days while leading my troops, I've noticed something amiss with the barbarians on the other side."

Jiang Lanye lifted his eyelids. "Explain in detail."

"Their playing style has never been about roundabout or conservative tactics. In the past two days, it seems like something went wrong internally. Their playing style is noticeably less aggressive and much more conservative than before. But clearly, this is more advantageous for us. If something hadn't happened, why would they change their tactics for no reason?"

Jiang Lanye frowned slightly, recalling the scene of Song Yi being carried into the shield by Lang Xiao, and a guess formed in his mind.

Could it be related to Song Yi?
Jiang Lanye said calmly, "No matter what, this is a good thing for us. The fortress has been advanced a lot, and their range of operations is being further compressed. If they still do not choose to surrender and retreat, then we can now press our advantage and pursue them."

Xie Ling was somewhat excited and cupped his hands, saying, "This humble general thinks the same way!"

This war has dragged on for far too long, causing immense suffering and national turmoil. Everyone is hoping for news of victory from Qingzhou, so that peace can prevail throughout the land and they can return to the capital to reunite with their families.

Not to mention those soldiers, who have suffered these days and were once repeatedly defeated by the barbarians, this time they have finally ushered in an opportunity to fight back.

Jiang Lanye looked at Xie Ling quietly and said with relief, "Xie Ling, you've had a hard journey."

Xie Ling immediately replied, "It's no trouble at all. As a general, this is what I should do."

Jiang Lanye lowered his eyes, his heart filled with a surge of emotion.

If it really is related to Song Yi, then how is Song Yi now? As long as she doesn't return to his side, Jiang Lanye can't find peace of mind. His longing is like tree roots, frantically drawing blood from him and taking deep root in his heart.

"By the way, I have a question. Come here."

Xie Ling's expression tightened, thinking it was something important. He strode forward and stood respectfully beside Jiang Lanye, watching him carefully unfold the letter Song Yi had written to him. Pointing to a drawing on it that resembled a child's scribbles, he earnestly asked him:
"Can you tell what this painting is?"

Xie Ling: "."

His lips twitched slightly as he looked at this exceptionally abstract "painting".

What is this? A stick figure?

He stroked his chin seriously, pondered for a moment, and began to think about how to answer in a way that would satisfy Jiang Lanye.

After a long pause, he solemnly said, "Your Majesty, this is the Imperial Concubine expressing her love for you."

The moment the words left his mouth, Jiang Lanye's lips curled up in satisfaction, clearly believing him completely. In a great mood, he said, "You can go now."

Xie Ling breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left.

Jiang Lanye reached out and stroked the little stick figure. The two black lines should be its arms, but why are they raised above its head and pieced together into a strange shape, like two protruding hills?

Regardless, he felt that Xie Ling was right and must be expressing her love to him.

Song Yi straightened Lang Xiao's armor, pursed her lips, and asked softly, "You've only rested for three days, and you're leaving again?"

Wolf Owl said helplessly, "The situation is tense now. I really can't rest easy. There's been little meat these past two days, and they've all been eating dry rations. Everyone's complaining a lot. But we can't afford to be as extravagant as we used to be. We have to be more frugal, otherwise it's hard to say whether we can survive this battle."

Song Yi hesitated for a long time, but finally couldn't help but say, "Why do we have to keep charging forward? Can't we retreat?" She hoped that Jiang Lanye and the others would win.

Wolf Owl gave her a deep look and said seriously, "Impossible. There is no reason to back down and surrender. We have been fighting for so long and have already offended the emperor of the Central Plains. Do you think they will let us go easily even if we surrender?"

Song Yi didn't want to say much about these things.

She was not from this world. In war, she could never fully empathize with the people here. She stood on Jiang Lanye's side, hoping that the barbarians would never set foot in the Central Plains again.

Fearing he would suspect something, Song Yi could only say, "Alright, I'm just worried about you. I'm afraid something might happen to you."

Wolf Owl laughed and said, "Even if I lose, I still win."

After saying that, he winked at Song Yi.

Song Yi instantly understood what he meant.

A sense of foreboding washed over her. She carefully chose her words and called out, "Wolf Owl, actually I..."

Wolf Owl interrupted her, saying seriously:
“I know that everything you are in now is my fault. If I hadn’t captured you in the first place, you wouldn’t be suffering like this, and you wouldn’t be separated from them. But you were originally a palace maid! Perhaps life over there would have been worse than here.”

Song Yi didn't know what to say.

Everything she is in now is indeed caused by Lang Xiao. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have been separated from Jiang Lanye for so long. Not to mention, she and Lang Xiao are enemies, their positions are destined to be different, and he even captured her in the first place to threaten Jiang Lanye.

He reached out and grabbed Song Yi's shoulder, stammering, "When I get back this time, I want to talk to the Khan and ask him to... completely follow me, what do you say?"

Song Yi froze.

Is Wolf Owl confessing his love to her?

Song Yi's expression seemed off, and Lang Xiao instantly became wary, looking at her and asking in a deep voice, "What? You're unwilling?"

He's starting to suspect Song Yi again.

Song Yi suddenly realized that since they had come this far, they absolutely could not afford to fail at the last minute.

"No, I'm just a little surprised, Wolf Owl. Maybe we're not on the same path at all. It's like you're an eagle soaring in the sky, and I'm a sparrow. There's no reason for us to be together like this."

"So, all you're really saying is that you're unwilling?"

"I understand. You think that being with me is tantamount to defection because you are from the Central Plains, right? But you were never an important person to begin with. You were just a palace maid, dispensable to them. They even tried to shoot you dead that day. Have you forgotten all that? If that's the case, what psychological burden do you have to be with me?"

After saying that, he paused, then suddenly narrowed his eyes.

"Or are you not a palace maid?"

Then, he suddenly softened his voice and said, "I never thought of you as a bird. You are different from the maids around me. You are very intelligent and cheerful, like the sun on the grassland in the morning. I always feel warm when I am with you."

Song Yi said with difficulty, "I...I understand."

(End of this chapter)