Chapter 966: Chapter 705: You’re Not Allowed to Follow!

Although everyone had their own thoughts upon this meeting, particularly when Shang Ruyi and Yu Mingyue faced each other, the entire atmosphere at the city gate was filled with a strange, suffocating tension. But when the piercing sound of the copper gong rang out, it shook everyone up immediately!

Especially Yu Wenqian.

He had been looking at Shang Ruyi, his gaze deep and unfocused, but before he could say anything, the jarring gong sound struck like thunder interrupting a dream, jolting him awake.

He shuddered suddenly, raising his head.

What was happening?

Everyone else also raised their heads to look at the city tower, where a few anxious figures could be seen running back and forth, and some soldiers hurriedly peering down.

Someone immediately asked, "What’s happening?"

One soldier, his face full of panic, shouted loudly, "Fire in the East City! Fire in the East City!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, both Yu Wenqian and Yu Wenye were taken aback.

The people around reacted quickly, and several deputy generals rushed into the city gate, hurried up the city tower, and looked toward the southeast. Indeed, they saw the eastern side of the city blazing, illuminating most of the sky, which had already become somewhat dark, and soon cries of alarm rose from the citizens near the fire.

Someone shouted, "Quick, put out the fire!"

"Hurry and put out the fire!"

"Get back into the city and put out the fire!"

Just as everyone was preparing to enter the city to go east to fight the fire, Yu Wenye suddenly grabbed Yu Wenqian, a glint flashing in his eyes: "Where did you imprison Wang Shaoqiu and those people?"

Hearing this, Shang Ruyi seemed to sense something too and immediately held her breath.

Upon hearing Yu Wenye’s question, Yu Wenqian’s expression darkened a bit, and he replied, "East City. I locked all the prisoners and surrendering soldiers in the Liu Camp on the east side of the city."

"...!"

Yu Wenye’s pitch-black eyes suddenly contracted.

The next moment, he immediately looked up at the sky, seemingly to judge the current hour, saying, "Now—"

As if understanding what he wanted to say, Yu Wenqian’s voice became even lower, "Now, it’s not yet time to close the city gates."

Yu Mingyue looked at them: "What do you mean?"

She didn’t completely understand what these people were discussing, but from the tense atmosphere and the solemn expressions of the two brothers, she could tell something big seemed to be happening.

Immediately, a more urgent, louder copper gong rang out again! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

This time, not only the soldiers atop the city tower were striking the gong, but gongs were sounding all over the city, coming together like urgent horse hooves charging into wildfire, making everyone even more anxious.

From the city tower, someone shouted, "There’s been an intrusion in East City!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Wenqian and Yu Wenye exchanged glances again. Though they didn’t speak, a sharp gleam flashed in both their eyes simultaneously.

The two turned around at the same time, heading in opposite directions.

As Yu Wenye turned, he suddenly saw a blur in front of him, focusing to see that it was Shang Ruyi. She had just moved to a nearby attendant to take the reins of Yu Wenye’s horse and walked over to hand them to him.

"...!"

Yu Wenye looked at her. Although his gaze was grave, a hint of a smile sparkled in his eyes.

Yu Wenqian watched them without speaking.

By then, he had already reached the city gate and, with a wave of his hand, immediately had his attendants bring his horse over. Just as he mounted and settled, Yu Wenye also leaped onto his horse. However, instead of entering the city, he turned his horse’s head toward the east.

Yu Wenqian said, "Second Brother, you—"

Yu Wenye said, "At this time, anyone daring enough to cause trouble in Taiyuan City is only Wang Shaoji. But he already lost the opportunity; his forces aren’t enough to attack the city. All he can do is set a fire to cause chaos in Liu Camp and then rescue his people."

After saying this, he looked around and added, "He might know that the Imperial Brother is here to welcome me, leaving the city unguarded, so he seized the opportunity to create chaos."

Yu Wenqian frowned, "Even knowing it’s Wang Shaoji, it’s quicker to go from inside the city."

Yu Wenye looked at the sky again, "Not necessarily."

"Why?"

"Wang Shaoji doesn’t have the strength to attack; he can only rescue. So he won’t linger in battle. Since the fire at Liu Camp is already blazing, he might succeed soon. Once he succeeds, he’ll immediately retreat outside the city."

"..."

"It’s better if I and Elder Brother take one route each—you head to East City from inside, and I’ll approach from outside. If we can make it in time, we can attack from both sides and prevent their escape."

His words stunned everyone around, and they all gaped at him in shock.

Nobody expected that in just a moment, he had thought of everything.

In reality, he hadn’t even seen a trace of the fire yet.

Yu Wenqian looked deeply at him, showing shock, admiration, and an even more complex, unreadable emotion in his eyes. Finally, he nodded approvingly, "Alright, let’s split into two routes. If we can attack from two sides, it’ll be our first joint battle."

After saying this, he turned and waved a hand, "Into the city!"

Those originally present to welcome King Qin into the city quickly gathered into formation, mounted their horses, and hurried into the city upon Yu Wenqian’s command, even the slightly stunned Yu Mingyue quickly reacted, following everyone onto a horse, riding along with the force into the city.

Meanwhile, Yu Wenye also turned his head. Right behind him were soldiers who had followed him to the Turkic lands and only just returned to the city gate without even dismounting. Upon hearing of Wang Shaoji’s attack, they all shook off their fatigue, especially Shen Tu Tai and others who had heard of the "frivolous young master’s" notorious name. Unexpectedly, they encountered him upon their return.

Originally, after the Taiyuan battle ended, failing to achieve complete success left them somewhat dejected, even if unspoken.

Now, capturing Wang Shaoji could earn them some credit!

At this moment, Yu Wenye didn’t even need to give an order.

Seeing the gathered troops, Yu Wenye nodded, raised one hand high, and waved it forward forcefully, "Go!"

Immediately, the detachment galloped wildly toward the East City Gate.

However, just as Yu Wenye prepared to ride forward, he suddenly stopped and turned to Shang Ruyi, who was about to mount her horse on the other side, "You are not allowed to follow!"

"...!"

Shang Ruyi was taken aback.

She was about to say something, but Yu Wenye, at this moment, didn’t listen to her protests. He simply turned around, urged his horse forward, and quickly flew into the shadowy night, soon disappearing into the dust kicked up by his horse’s hooves.