That said, it was not all flowers and sunshine. General Petra had to stretch her forces even thinner across two battlefields. She could not let them flank her! The mental pressure was immense. Matters were made worse, because General Christina, and many of the Brigade Commanders went missing. The army was already lacking officers, so this was a harsh blow. No one had the leeway to rest. The accumulated fatigue and distress lead to many mistakes, and the Alzar Kingdom was suffering blow after blow. At the start of the siege, the Alzar Kingdom had around two hundred thousand soldiers, while the Imperial Council had more than five hundred thousand. That was more than a twofold difference, and that difference had continued to grow. Elizabeth did not know the exact numbers anymore, but this battle could not last much longer. There was a limit to their resources, morale, and stamina. Eventually, the Imperial Council would break through and kill everyone. Three days. General Petra and Elizabeth had both agreed that their time limit was three days. If they could not conclude the fighting in three days, then this battle was over. The main reason being… The Imperial Council's reinforcements would arrive today!
Elizabeth bit her lip. This was not the time to lay around! She was a Half-Condensed Drop Arcanist, so there must be something she could do! She tried to push herself up, but the assistants and physician immediately kept her down. The reason soon became obvious, as a sharp pain arose from her chest. She looked down and noticed blood seeping from her bandages. Her wounds were opening again.
"Please stay still, Your Highness. Your wounds haven't healed yet," the physician urged.
"When can I move?"
"A week at the earliest."
"I don't have the time for that!" she shouted, suffering another pang of pain.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I'm under strict orders to keep you here, no matter what."
Hearing the physician's forceful attitude, Elizabeth scowled, but she understood the state of her body. She was in no condition to do anything. Whether she liked it or not, she would have to sit and wait for the conclusion of this battle… She could only pray that the Imperial Princesses were successful.
At the same time, Prime Minister Pon-Wai was reading over reports in another hiding spot. There were many of these places hidden throughout Yongtein, and they were typically used by officials or nobles, who had major threats on their life. Ever since the Featherwind Sect destroyed Liutianhe Pagoda, he figured the Alzar Kingdom was trying to win by killing him. He would not give them that chance. Until the battle was safely concluded, he would not reveal his status or whereabouts. That was the most sensible thing to do. Thankfully, he would not have to wait long. According to his reports, the Alzar Kingdom had suffered more than sixty thousand losses yesterday. To lose more than half of their starting numbers, including many of their top leaders, was a devastating blow. Conversely, the Imperial Council had lost another fifty thousand, most of whom were conscripts or low-ranking soldiers, so their core combat strength was preserved. The current odds had shifted from five-to-two to a four-to-one!
The prime minister sneered. Despite the various bumps along the way, namely the Featherwind Sect and Princess Elizabeth, everything else had gone according to plan. The reinforcements from the Jian, Jun, and Shui Families would arrive today to bolster the numbers even further. Unless the Sword King came, or the Featherwind Sect unveiled a grand art, the kingdom's army would get ground down to death. They would die without a grave! Once this battle was over, the Imperial Council would deal with the Li Family, unify the Xingyuu Empire, and usher in a new dynasty. The Alzar Kingdom's mainland would be next!
"Your Excellency, General Songlin of the Shui Family and his army of thirty thousand have reached the city. He is requesting a meeting. Shall I refuse him?" one of the guards said.
The smile on his face dimmed. He was fully aware of General Songlin's 'exploits' during the battle of the Samfeng Province, and how the man did nothing to help. Nonetheless, General Songlin currently represented the Shui Family, one of the Four Great Nobility Families. It would be inappropriate, if he ignored the man. Thinking along these lines, the prime minister said, "No, it's fine. You may bring him here. And invite Minister Daiyuu here as well. He is the patriarch of the Shui Family after all."
"Understood," the man bowed before stepping out.
"Your Excellency, if I may… I believe this is too risky." The person who spoke was one of the prime minister's personal guards, a swordsman from the Jian Family and a great Perception Realm Expert.
"If the Featherwind Sect could find me that easily, then they would have done so already. The fact that they haven't means that they can't. Besides, I'm very familiar with the Shui Family. They won't do anything. Meeting them a day in advance won't change anything," he snorted. It was clear how much he looked down on them. However, the swordsman had his reservations. He felt the prime minister took this too lightly.
Half an hour passed before General Songlin sauntered in, his attitude as flippant and worry-free as always. It was like he was taking a stroll through a garden, and not meeting the second most powerful person in the empire. The guards had to wonder whether he had a mental deficiency or not. It was baffling how such a tactless man rose to become a general in the Shui Family. Prime Minister Pon-Wai kept his usual smile, but there was a terrifying coldness behind his eyes.
"I thought that Your Excellency had died in Liutianhe Pagoda," General Songlin said. "But I see now that you're in good health."
"Why? Is that a disappointment?" the prime minister smiled in return.
"Of course not. The Jian Family has always been our ally."
"As long as you understand. I expect the Shui Family to take a more active role in this battle. I wouldn't want a repeat of the Samfeng Province or the Quiton Gates."
"I understand."
Although the general seemed to agree, the prime minister felt his words going from one ear and out the next. Everything felt hollow. Therefore, he dropped a lot of his pretenses and directly asked, "What do you want, General Songlin?"
"The Shui Family's elder council has instructed me to confirm the safety of both Lord Daiyuu and Lady Chan. I'm afraid that we won't participate in this battle until then."
"You don't need to worry. Minister Daiyuu should be here soon."
Neither had any interest in talking after that, so they stayed silent until the patriarch arrived. When Minister Daiyuu stepped through those doors, it was clear how much he had changed. His eye sockets had sunken in and darkened, hinting at many sleepless nights. His figure was thin and frail, which revealed the consequences of his captivity. Although the prime minister had given him excellent treatment befitting that of a king, he was still a captive in the end. Furthermore, he was the oldest patriarch of the Four Great Nobility Families. The stressful situation deteriorated his condition, and his presence weakened to near-unrecognizable levels. Even Prime Minister Pon-Wai was inwardly surprised. He did not see him in a while, but how could he change that much? It was almost unbelievable.
"Your Excellency, please have a seat," General Songlin immediately rushed to support the patriarch, and guide him to a chair. His attitude was in stark contrast when facing the prime minister, which served to irritate the latter.
"Are you satisfied now?" Prime Minister Pon-Wai tapped his finger on the table impatiently.
"Yes, I am."
Bang! A large fight erupted outside, as multiple figures charged in. The Imperial Sentinels and Jian Family guards tried to draw their weapons, but the attackers were even faster. One of them raised a bow at lightning speed and loosed several arrows into a Perception Realm Expert, incapacitating him. The second figure moved so fast that they resembled a mere blur, as their sword light flashed through two sentinels and disarmed them. Everything happened at an incomprehensible speed. Keeping in mind that these Imperial Sentinels and guards from the Jian Family were all Perception Realm Adepts or Experts, very few people could surpass their perception and speed. Therefore, anyone who could succeed were likely Perception Realm Masters! Their identities thus became obvious. A third person rushed forth, grabbed the prime minister, and placed a blade on his neck. Prime Minister Pon-Wai looked coldly at the person responsible. It was none other than his own little brother, Protector Chang Jian.