"You didn't know? Queen Grant's third daughter has a high fever, so she won't be attending the festival."
Lucille Xing pressed down hard on the male bird, trying to shove it into the coop, but the female bird darted out again, chirping noisily. Leonard Lei watched from the side.
Joseph Qiao was stunned. Without another word, he ran toward Queen Grant's residence. His mind was filled with memories of the queen—so gentle, so skilled, and so understanding. Though they were hostages, Queen Grant treated them as her own tribe's children, never letting anyone look at them with prejudice.
Leonard Lei nodded in agreement.
Joseph Qiao muttered. Long ago, his father had told him that a tribal leader must recognize mistakes and try to stop them. Joseph Qiao believed war brought nothing but bones and corpses. Only through discussion and mutual understanding could the northern tribes' hardship change.
Lucille Xing snorted coldly.
"Don't mention that kid. Just thinking about him makes me angry. He bumped into me this afternoon and it hurt so much, didn't even apologize. He's been sulking all day, like he's possessed."
A shout rang out. Joseph Qiao stopped in his tracks—Queen Grant's residence was ablaze not far ahead. He stared in shock as chaos erupted around him. In moments, the flames turned the building into a sea of fire, growing larger with writhing tongues of flame.
Joseph Qiao stood frozen, fists clenched, shouting as he tried to rush in. A strong hand grabbed him.
"Everyone, quiet down."
It was Leonard Lei. Joseph Qiao shouted.
"Queen Grant is still inside! She's still inside!"
Leonard Lei looked on in shock, but the raging fire had completely blocked the way—there was no way in.
"Come on, let's go in from the back."
Leonard Lei said, pulling Joseph Qiao along. Lucille Xing followed.
Joseph Qiao suddenly remembered that behind Queen Grant's residence, there was a spot only children could crawl through.
The flames hadn't reached that spot yet. The three squeezed into the opening. Luckily, the wind wasn't blowing this way. Soldiers outside were already breaking down the earthen walls.
In the inferno, the three rushed into the residence. Suddenly, Joseph Qiao's eyes widened—Lucille Xing cried out as she tripped over something.
There were bodies everywhere—children's bodies. Joseph Qiao was utterly stunned.
"Find Queen Grant. Somehow."
"You didn't know? King Ji's third daughter has a high fever, so she won't be attending the festival."
"What did you say?"
Qiao Yusheng was stunned. Without another word, he ran toward Queen Ji's residence. His mind was filled with memories of the queen—so gentle, so skilled, and so understanding. Though they were hostages, Queen Ji treated them as her own tribe's children, never letting anyone look at them with prejudice.
"Father's way is wrong."
Qiao Yusheng muttered. Long ago, his father had told him that a tribal leader must recognize mistakes and try to stop them. Qiao Yusheng believed war brought nothing but bones and corpses. Only through discussion and mutual understanding could the northern tribes' hardship change.
Especially after realizing the trouble migration would cause—central, southern, and eastern regions were already home to other tribes. If they barged into someone else's land, conflict was inevitable.
"Fire!"
A shout rang out. Qiao Yusheng stopped in his tracks—Queen Ji's residence was ablaze not far ahead. He stared in shock as chaos erupted around him. In moments, the flames turned the building into a sea of fire, growing larger with writhing tongues of flame.
Qiao Yusheng stood frozen, fists clenched, shouting as he tried to rush in. A strong hand grabbed him.
"Where are you going?"
It was Lei Huo. Qiao Yusheng shouted.
"Queen Ji is still inside! She's still inside!"
Lei Huo looked on in shock, but the raging fire had completely blocked the way—there was no way in.
"Come on, let's go in from the back."
Lei Huo said, pulling Qiao Yusheng along. Lu Xing followed.
Qiao Yusheng suddenly remembered that behind Queen Ji's residence, there was a spot only children could crawl through.
The flames hadn't reached that spot yet. The three squeezed into the opening. Luckily, the wind wasn't blowing this way. Soldiers outside were already breaking down the earthen walls.
In the inferno, the three rushed into the residence. Suddenly, Qiao Yusheng's eyes widened—Lu Xing cried out as she tripped over something.
There were bodies everywhere—children's bodies. Qiao Yusheng was utterly stunned.
"Find Queen Ji. Somehow."