Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

”If we don’t accept their surrender, we’ll have to fight Xiao Mo to the death. I’m afraid our casualties will be even more severe!”

”Besides, if we deny them the option to surrender, won’t that just make them resist all the more fiercely?”

”I suggest we accept the surrender of Yanmen Pass. General, you must write to His Majesty at once!”

”That’s right. We’ve completely lost contact with Bishui City and the other ten of the Eleven Southern Cities. We don’t know what’s happening, and they’re under immense pressure. If we refuse Xiao Mo’s surrender and he fights to the death, what happens if something goes wrong at Bishui City? How will we answer to His Majesty then?”

”General, Xiao Mo was insufferably arrogant before, and I wanted to see him suffer death by a thousand cuts as much as anyone. But this is no time for personal feelings. We must prioritize the greater good.”

Listening to the back-and-forth between his generals, Guo Xin lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the sand table as he sank into deep thought.

Finally, Guo Xin shook his head. ”Send a letter to Yanmen Pass. We accept their surrender. I will also immediately send a Flying Sword message to His Majesty. But in the meantime, the entire army is to remain on high alert. Be wary of a surprise attack from Xiao Mo.”

”Yes, sir!” the generals replied in unison, cupping their fists.

...

「Two days later」

Outside Bishui City, in a command tent of the Northern Wilderness Army, Xiao Shi was discussing siege strategies with his generals.

For the past seventeen days, the Northern Wilderness Army had relentlessly assaulted the city day and night, heedless of the casualties.

Although Xiahou Nan was still resisting with his life on the line, the situation in Bishui City was now extremely grim, and the other ten cities could barely fend for themselves.

Now, all Xiao Shi could hope for was that Xiao Mo would hold his ground.

Just as he had predicted from the beginning, if Xiao Mo could just hold out for thirty days, he was certain he could take the Eleven Southern Cities!

”Prince! A letter from the Wei Kingdom City!”

Suddenly, a soldier rushed into the tent, cupping his fist and dropping to one knee.

Xiao Shi frowned.

The Qin Kingdom had many spies in the Wei Kingdom City.

If anything major happened, a message would be sent to the Qin Kingdom immediately.

Xiao Shi took the envelope and tore it open to read.

As he read, Xiao Shi’s expression grew increasingly grim.

”Prince, what has happened in the Imperial City?” Fang Weiming asked.

Xiao Shi handed the letter to Fang Weiming and said slowly, ”Yanmen Pass... has requested to surrender to the Wei Kingdom.”

”What?”

General Huang and the others were stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Upon hearing that Xiao Mo had surrendered, a flicker of joy flashed in Xiao Yishen’s eyes. He quickly suppressed it, putting on a mask of righteous indignation.

”That Xiao Mo! And to think Father trusted him so much! We’ve been storming the city day and night, suffering such terrible losses! And he chooses to surrender now? What about all the men of the Northern Wilderness who have died for this? That shameless traitor! He deserves to die!”

When Xiao Yishen finished his tirade against Xiao Mo, Xiao Shi simply turned his head slowly and gave him a flat, emotionless look.

Just from that single glance from his father, cold sweat beaded on Xiao Yishen’s forehead. The hairs on his arms stood on end, and he immediately snapped his mouth shut.

”The breach at Mati City was created using Xiao Mo’s strategy. After taking Mati City, Xiao Mo conquered four more cities in succession and broke through Yanmen Pass. That was all due to his ability! Without Xiao Mo, we would have no hope of taking these cities now. This Prince has made himself clear, have I not?” Xiao Shi said coldly to his second son.

”This son... understands...”

”Furthermore, in a military camp, there is no father and son. What should you call me? And what should you call yourself?” Xiao Shi demanded.

”This general was wrong. I ask for the Prince’s punishment!” Xiao Yishen hastily cupped his fist, pleading for his sentence.

But Xiao Shi couldn’t be bothered with Xiao Yishen right now.

He averted his gaze and went back to staring at the letter in his hand.

”Prince, could this be false intelligence from the Imperial City?” the ever-cautious Liu Xing asked as he stepped forward.

Xiao Shi shook his head. ”Our assets embedded in the Wei Kingdom would not be fooled by false intelligence. It is highly probable that this is true.”

”We have no way of contacting Yanmen Pass from here. Not even a Flying Sword can get through,” Zhang Kui fumed, slamming his fist on the table.

A heavy silence fell over the tent.

If only they could contact Xiao Mo, they could learn his true intentions.

If Xiao Mo truly intended to surrender, the Northern Wilderness Army could at least try to persuade him to hold on for just a little longer.

But as it stood, not even a fly could get through to Yanmen Pass.

”In that case, Prince... if Xiao Mo truly has surrendered, Yanmen Pass is sure to fall. Should we continue our assault on Bishui City?” Xiao Yishen asked tentatively, feigning deep concern.

At Xiao Yishen’s words, the other generals all turned to look at Xiao Shi.

Though none of them paid the second young master of the Xiao Mansion any mind, he had indeed raised the most critical question: ’Should we continue the attack?’

If Yanmen Pass had truly surrendered, enemy supplies would get through. Continuing this forced assault would be nothing more than suicide, needlessly adding to their casualties.

Xiao Shi stared intently at the models on the sand table representing the Eleven Southern Cities and Yanmen Pass.

After a moment, Xiao Shi looked up and addressed his generals. ”Continue the assault! Furthermore, if news of the surrender at Yanmen Pass leaks, whoever is responsible will bring me their own head. Is that understood?”

”Yes, sir!” Fang Weiming and the others shouted in unison.

...

「The Qin Kingdom’s Imperial City.」

In the residence of the Eldest Prince, Qin Jingsu, also known as Prince Yun, a young woman walked happily through the courtyard, carrying a food container.

Lately, Qin Siyao had been visiting the Xiao Mansion often to keep Zhou Ruoxi company. While there, she would have Aunt Zhou teach her how to cook Xiao Mo’s favorite dishes.

Once she was done cooking, Qin Siyao would take the food to her eldest and second-eldest brothers, letting them act as her ”poison testers.”

’They’re my dear older brothers, after all. If I can’t use them for this, what are they good for?’

’Once my cooking is perfect, I’ll make a meal for Xiao Mo.’

”Big Brother! Your little sister is here with your lunch!”

Qin Siyao walked cheerfully into her brother’s study, only to find it empty.

’Didn’t Big Brother say he had nothing to do today? Where’d he go? Don’t tell me he thinks my food is that bad... Is he hiding from me on purpose?’

Qin Siyao muttered with a pout.

’Hmph, I don’t care! You have to eat it even if it’s awful! If you two don’t eat it, how will this princess’s skills ever improve? And if my skills don’t improve, how will I ever cook for Xiao Mo?’

Qin Siyao set the food container on the desk, deciding to wait for her brother to return.

Bored, Qin Siyao started flipping through the scrolls her brother had left on his desk, curious about what political matters her Imperial Father had assigned him recently.

As she idly looked through them, her eyes landed on a particular bundle of scrolls and froze. She thought she must be mistaken.

It was a war report from the front lines of the Northern Wilderness Army...

The report detailed the situation: Xiao Mo was making a desperate stand at Yanmen Pass, surrounded on all sides. The city’s provisions were nearly exhausted, and the enemy force outnumbered his own by more than ten to one. Three days ago, the Sovereign of Wei had received Xiao Mo’s letter of surrender. In response, the Sovereign of Wei issued an edict accepting his surrender. He enfeoffed Xiao Mo as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households with true authority, granted him a fiefdom of three Wei prefectures, and decreed a marriage between Xiao Mo and the Eldest Princess.

”Xiao Mo...”

Qin Siyao read the report again and again.

Her eyes trembled and her face grew paler by the second. The fingers of the hand clutching the scroll had turned white from the force of her grip.

Bunching her skirts in one hand, Qin Siyao clutched the scroll and ran out of Prince Yun’s Mansion.

Upon returning to the Princess’s Mansion, Qin Siyao rushed to the rear courtyard.

In the rear courtyard, Hua Sheng was shelling peanuts one by one.

”Sister Hua Sheng!”

Qin Siyao ran up to Hua Sheng and gripped her hands.

”Princess, what is it? Why are you in such a rush?” Sister Hua Sheng asked, looking at the Princess with confusion.

In all of Hua Sheng’s memory, this was the first time she had ever seen the Princess so frantic.

”Sister Hua Sheng, please, will you take me to the Northern Wilderness front?” Qin Siyao’s eyes were glistening with a thin veil of mist, looking as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

”The front? Why would the Princess want to go to the front? That’s no place for a woman like you,” Hua Sheng said, her confusion deepening.

Although the Princess had been pampered her whole life, she still knew what was appropriate.

No matter how much she missed Xiao Mo, she would never go to the front and risk distracting him.

”Sister Hua Sheng, look at this.”

Qin Siyao hurriedly handed the scroll to Sister Hua Sheng.

After reading it, Hua Sheng was also stunned. ”Young Master Xiao has surrendered to the Wei Kingdom?”

”If only he had just surrendered to the Wei Kingdom...”

Qin Siyao clutched her sleeves tightly, her eyes rimmed with red as crystalline tears streamed down her cheeks.

”But Xiao Mo... he’s so foolish and stubborn. He would never surrender!”