Tang Dynasty: Starting with 3,000 elite cavalry, a bloody battle to retake the city.

At that very moment—

On the eastern horizon, the sun rises.

A ray of purple light rose from the horizon, like a dragon soaring into the abyss, piercing straight into the sky! The light shone precisely on Qin Shubao's spirit tablet, and the entire wooden tablet gleamed with a faint golden light, as if it were resonating with heaven and earth.

The entire room fell silent.

Then, everyone knelt down in unison!

Li Jing wept uncontrollably, Cheng Yaojin pounded the ground and wept bitterly, and Yuchi Gong removed his helmet, prostrated himself on the ground, and shouted hoarsely:

"Respectfully bidding farewell to the old general!!"

"Respectfully bidding farewell to the old general!!"

"Respectfully bidding farewell to the old general!!"

The sound shook the heavens and resounded throughout the sky.

Later generations asked: In the Battle of Wei River, the enemy was strong and we were weak, so how did the Tang Dynasty turn the tide against all odds?

The answer is: Because of Qin Shubao, who fought to the death to cover the rear; because of the Ghost-Faced General, who single-handedly beheaded the commander!

It is because of such loyal and courageous people who sacrificed their lives for their country that the backbone of the Han people has never been broken!

As the purple light faded, everyone stood up.

Li Jing turned and left, his steps heavy as if carrying a thousand pounds.

Only Han Ye remained standing in the same spot, eyes closed and motionless.

Li Yingge turned around and gently tugged at his sleeve.

Han Ye suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes still wet with tears—what he had just witnessed was not just an illusion, but a farewell to his soul.

Qin Huaiyu had already seen the tear that had just fallen from his eye.

Qin Shubao's eldest son stepped forward, holding a white handkerchief, his voice choked with emotion: "Thank you... for seeing my father off."

Han Ye took the white cloth, nodded, and said, "We are the ones who should say thank you."

You are a descendant of General Qin; I hope you will carry on his legacy and live up to his loyal spirit.

His tone was calm, yet it carried an imposing presence.

Qin Huaiyu listened with his head down, just like a disciple facing his master, not daring to raise his head or utter a single word of rebuttal.

Because standing in front of him was not just his future son-in-law.

Instead, it was the Ghost-Faced General who stood shoulder to shoulder with his father to defend the country and face life and death together.

Qin Huaiyu's pupils dilated, his teeth clenched, and his voice was forced out from deep within his throat: "Impossible! One day, I will crush the Turkic royal court, wash the grasslands in blood, and avenge my father!"

Han Ye remained calm, simply nodding slightly before turning and walking out of the mourning hall, his sleeves stirring a gentle breeze.

Only after his figure disappeared outside the door did Qin Huaiyu suddenly come to her senses. Her gaze lingered for a moment in the direction Han Ye had left before falling on Li Yingge, her brows furrowing slightly: "General Li, who... is this?"

Li Yingge's cheeks flushed slightly, but she straightened her back and spoke in a calm tone, like the moon reflected on a lake: "My husband."

boom--!

As if struck by lightning, Qin Huaiyu froze on the spot, her eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

What?!

The mighty female general Li Yingge—that battlefield demon in her gleaming armor, decisive and ruthless—has actually gotten married?!

And the person in question is such an ordinary-looking young man?!

Even more outrageous is that no one in the court mentioned it at all!

His heart sank suddenly, and he instinctively felt a cold sweat break out for Han Ye.

Who is Li Yingge? She is not only a war god in the army, but also the center of a power vortex.

The Li family has been entrenched in the imperial court for decades, with disciples and associates spread throughout the Six Ministries. Countless scions of prominent families dream of marrying into this family!

But now, an unknown Han Ye has beaten him to it?

Could those covetous noble sons and powerful descendants of the nobility swallow this insult?

That kick was like stepping into a mountain of knives and a sea of ​​fire!

……

At this moment, Han Ye had already walked out of the mourning hall. The cold wind hit his face, making his robes flutter.

He had just turned the corner of the corridor when a familiar voice rang out in his direction—

"Han Ye!"

"Um?"

Han Ye felt a heavy pat on his shoulder and turned around to see a young man in brocade robes grinning, his eyes gleaming with undisguised delight.

Isn't that the guy at the city gate who imitated my walking posture back then?

Han Ye chuckled: "It's you? You even know my name?"

"I found out." The boy shrugged, then casually grabbed his arm. "Come on, come on, don't stand here in the wind."

Han Ye was completely confused: "What?"

"Something came up." The boy chuckled, but his eyes held a hint of cunning.

Han Ye raised an eyebrow: "Speak."

The boy instantly stopped laughing, lowered his voice, and his eyes burned with desire: "I want to become your student—in archery and horsemanship, will you teach me?"

"Huh?" Han Ye was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard.

Becoming an apprentice? Me?

He couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Aren't you the biggest idol of General Ghost Face? What do you want from me? Besides, my martial arts skills are mediocre at best, how could I be worthy of being someone's teacher?"

"Stop pretending!" the young man sneered, his eyes sharp as knives. "I inquired at the Li residence—you defeated Li Yingge head-on, forcing her to discard her sword in three moves! You call that 'easy'? Then all the military officers in the court should just go farm!"

Han Ye narrowed his eyes and re-examined the young man in front of him.

This kid actually investigated me in secret?

However, he still shook his head: "Even so, you should go and learn from the Ghost-Faced General's men."

I remember you used to treat him like a god.

The boy's expression suddenly dimmed at the mention of that name.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse: "But... he's already dead."

The air paused slightly.

The boy raised his eyes, his gaze surprisingly bright: "But you are the only one who makes me feel—that you are very similar to him."

So, I want to learn from you.

Han Ye was stunned, then chuckled helplessly.

So, in his eyes, I was just a shadow?

But looking at the unquenchable flame in the boy's eyes, he was inexplicably moved.

This child truly respects General Ghost Face.

Unfortunately, he still didn't want to take on any apprentices.

I have no interest in it, and I don't have the time.

Just as he was about to politely decline—

On the other side, Li Shimin, with a white cloth wrapped around his head, slowly stepped into the Qin residence.

Li Junxian followed behind.

As soon as he entered, Li Shimin paused, his gaze suddenly locking onto a figure in front of him.

He called out softly, "Li Junxian."

"His Majesty?"

"Look at that person..." Li Shimin slightly raised his fingertip, his voice almost condensed into a thin line, "Doesn't he resemble that young man who stood on the walls of Chang'an that night, discussing the state of the world with me?"

Li Junxian stared intently, and his breath caught in his throat.

"So alike! Absolutely so!"

Those upright shoulders, those composed steps, even the curve of the hem of their clothes fluttering—all overlapped with the figures conversing under the moon that night!

The person Li Shimin searched for after returning to the palace has suddenly appeared here!

What made his pupils shrink even more was—

His crown prince, Li Chengqian, was following the young man around like a shadow, his face full of flattery!

Even more outrageous, the retired Emperor Li Yuan—his father—came over and stood beside Li Chengqian, staring intently at the young man as if he had discovered some priceless treasure!

In an instant, alarm bells rang in Li Shimin's mind—

What on earth is going on?!

The mysterious young man who changed my mind that night... is actually this young man who is currently surrounded by both the Crown Prince and the Emperor Emeritus?!

Before the winds of war have even stirred, undercurrents are already rising.

Li Shimin frowned, his face full of astonishment, and ordered in a deep voice, "Investigate! Find out immediately who that person outside is and report back!"

Before he finished speaking, he stepped into the mourning hall, his expression solemn, and slowly bowed to Qin Shubao's memorial tablet.

At this solemn and respectful moment, Crown Prince Li Chengqian, like an inseparable little tail, clung tightly to Han Ye, his lips flying across the table: "Brother Han, please accept me as your disciple! I'm truly sincere!"

"I said I wouldn't accept it."

Han Ye spoke coldly, without even turning his head.

But the prince wasn't buying it at all and kept clinging to her.

In the midst of this stalemate, an old man beside Li Chengqian suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable air of authority:

"Young Han, since he is so sincere in wanting to become your disciple, why don't you go along with it? It will only benefit you."

Wouldn't it be disheartening to simply refuse?

"Um?"

Han Ye turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing straight at the old man.

This person was dressed in luxurious robes, had an extraordinary air about him, and looked down on others as if speaking a word was a favor.

Han Ye squinted at him, then asked Li Chengqian in a cold voice, "Who...is this old man?"

Li Chengqian scratched his head and chuckled twice: "My grandfather."

She paused, then added, "Don't mind him, that's just how my grandpa talks, you know... But Han Ye, you really look down on me? You even think it's beneath you to teach me?"

Han Ye remained expressionless, his eyes as cold as ice.

He stared at Li Chengqian, speaking slowly and deliberately, his voice firm and resolute: "Want to hear the truth?"

Li Chengqian gritted his teeth and nodded.

Han Ye sneered, showing no mercy: "Yes, you're right—I just don't like it."

Therefore, we will not accept it.

boom!

These words were like a thunderclap, and the entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

Li Chengqian's face was ashen, his lips twitched, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Instead, it was his "grandfather" beside him—Li Yuan—who suddenly snorted coldly and stood up with a flick of his sleeve: "You look down on him?! You, a mere son-in-law of the Li family, dare to say you look down on my grandson?!"

The air suddenly froze.

Han Ye slowly raised his eyes, a chilling glint flashing within them, and stared directly at Li Yuan, his voice as cold as if he had crawled out of the deepest hell:

"First, I am not a son-in-law."

My marriage to Li Yingge was a proper, respectable marriage, with all the proper formalities and gifts. It was aboveboard, aboveboard, and I did not marry into her family!

He took a step forward, his momentum like a sword being drawn from its sheath:

"Secondly, even if I don't know your identities, I can tell that you hold a high position."

But it is precisely because you are so high and mighty that I am even less willing to teach!

Li Yuan's pupils contracted, and before he could react, Han Ye had already questioned him sharply:

"You want to learn archery? You want to practice horsemanship? Then tell me—who are these skills for?!"

He looked around, his voice suddenly rising:

"These are for the soldiers on the frontier! They are for those who will take up arms and fight, their blood staining the yellow sands! They are not for you pampered nobles who live in luxury and watch the show from behind palace walls!"

"I'd rather spend my time in the barracks training a hundred soldiers willing to shed blood for the Tang Dynasty than waste a single moment putting on airs with you!"

Each word was like a hammer blow, pounding painfully into one's eardrums.

Li Chengqian blushed, his lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal.

Li Yuan stood frozen in place, his whole body stiff.

How long?

How long has it been since anyone dared to rebuke him to his face like that?!

He had lived most of his life, ascended the throne, and ruled the world, yet now a young man was pointing his finger at him and calling him "ignorant."

Enraged, he forced a smile and said in a trembling voice, "You...you junior! I was trying to reason with you, and you dare to talk back to your elder?!"