Time Is Slow - Chapter 0

Dark clouds hung low, and banners fluttered in the wind.

Yan City, standing alone in the icy wilderness, seemed like an isolated island cut off from the world, surrounded on all sides by Great Liang’s soldiers.

At the forefront, a young general stood clad in silver armor, a blood-red cloak billowing behind him. He raised his hand and uttered two words, colder than the snow and ice around them:

“Attack!”

With that command, an earth-shattering battle cry erupted.

The already crumbling city walls trembled with commotion before a North Qi commander’s voice rang out sharply, “General Shao, take a look at who this is before you give the order to attack!”

As he finished speaking, a woman was dragged forward and forced to stand atop the city wall.

Her raven-black hair was tucked behind her ears, revealing a face of pure elegance. The northern wind lashed against her delicate skin, making her lips redder, her complexion paler—like a jade lotus sealed in ice, simple yet strikingly radiant.

A sudden stillness fell over the battlefield.

The young and striking silver-armored general showed no sign of emotion. He simply raised his hand once more—

The army below took a step forward, their unshakable determination pressing down on those atop the walls, making their hearts pound in fear.

The North Qi commander yanked the woman forward, pushing her in front of him as he shouted, furious, “General Shao, look closely! This is your wife! If you retreat, I will guarantee her safety. Otherwise, she will lose her life!”

The young general hesitated for a moment.

Beside him, a subordinate whispered, “General, that is indeed your wife.”

Shao Mingyuan tightened his grip on the reins and looked deeply at the woman atop the wall.

So, this was his wife.

As if sensing his gaze, the woman turned her eyes slightly, meeting his from afar.

The North had long suffered under Qi’s raids and pillaging, and now they had even seized the city. So much blood had been spilled to reclaim it today—how could this battle halt for her alone?

Though she was a woman, she still possessed the pride of her people.

And the man standing below, the young general who struck terror into the hearts of the Qi forces, the husband whose face she had only now clearly seen for the first time, would never abandon the chance to reclaim their land for her sake.

Her lips parted slightly.

The bitter cold, combined with long silence, made it impossible for her to utter a single word.

Before she could even form a thought, her vision was suddenly filled with the sight of an arrow hurtling toward her—

A sharp, searing pain followed.

Instinctively, she lowered her head, only to see blood bursting from her chest. The warmth of her life’s blood spread briefly before the frigid wind snatched it away.

That bastard—he didn’t even give her a chance to say something noble and heroic!

As death embraced her, that was her final, bitter thought.

“General—!”

A subordinate beside the young general couldn’t help but cry out.

Shao Mingyuan calmly lowered his bow, his downcast gaze hiding the regret in his eyes. Then, in the same cold voice as before, he repeated:

“Attack.”

—

In the early spring of the 25th year of Mingkang’s reign, Great Liang reclaimed Yan City.

Shao Mingyuan, second son of the Marquis Jing’an and Northern Expedition General, was granted the title of Champion Marquis and returned to the capital in triumph.

His wife, Lady Qiao, left her blood and life forever upon the walls of Yan City.