Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

After leaving 200,000 troops to garrison the strongholds throughout the Chu Kingdom, Xiao Mo led his remaining elite forces deep into Yan Kingdom territory.

Xiao Mo, coordinating with the forces of the Town-West King, dealt a crushing defeat to the allied armies of Yan and Qi.

Within half a year, Xiao Mo, the Town-West King, and Bai Qi had conquered six cities and surrounded the Imperial City of the Yan Kingdom.

「By mid-February of the following year.」

The Sovereign of Yan, knowing the situation was hopeless, sent an envoy to the Qin army’s camp to offer his surrender.

Xiao Mo accepted their surrender.

The next day, the Sovereign of Yan led his court officials out of the city to surrender, presenting the National Seal of the Yan Kingdom.

The Frost King, Xiao Mo, accepted the surrender on behalf of the army.

The Yan Kingdom had fallen.

With the fall of the Chu and Yan Kingdoms, the Sovereigns of Qi and Zhao saw that the tide was irreversible. They knew they had to at least protect the Jin Kingdom; otherwise, it would only be a matter of time before their own nations were swallowed by the Qin Kingdom.

With the staunch support of the Qi and Zhao Kingdoms, the Jin Kingdom’s situation gradually improved, turning its disadvantage into an advantage.

Even though Xiao Shi and the generals from the Northern Wilderness exhausted every possible strategy, all their efforts were futile in the face of overwhelming military force.

Neither Xiao Mo nor the Town-West King could immediately reinforce the Jin Kingdom.

The Qin Kingdom had just annexed the Chu and Yan Kingdoms and needed time to consolidate its new territories. It had to pacify the populace of both fallen kingdoms to prevent recurring uprisings.

Furthermore, after nearly three years of constant warfare, the Qin army was exhausted. The burden on the common people was immense, and the kingdom desperately needed time to rest and recuperate.

If the Qin Kingdom were to force a direct confrontation with the allied armies of Qi, Zhao, and Jin at this juncture, any unfavorable turn in the war could easily inspire rebellious ideas among the people of the newly conquered Chu and Yan Kingdoms.

They could very well be forced to spit out everything they had just swallowed.

After repeated deliberations.

In mid-May, the Sovereign of Qin ordered a withdrawal of his forces.

Aside from the troops garrisoned in the Chu and Yan Kingdoms and in the three major prefectures along the Jin Kingdom’s border, the rest of the army was ordered to pull back.

Additionally, to pacify the people of the Chu and Yan Kingdoms, the Sovereign of Qin rewarded the Noble Families who had willingly surrendered their allegiance. He also decreed a fifty-percent tax reduction for the common people of both former kingdoms, a policy which would last for twenty years.

Upon Xiao Mo’s return to the Imperial City with his commanders, all were handsomely rewarded.

For his role in conquering the Chu Kingdom and assisting the Town-West King in the fall of the Yan Kingdom, Xiao Mo’s fame throughout the Imperial Court, and indeed the entire realm, had begun to eclipse even that of his father.

Xiao Mo paid little mind to the rewards bestowed by the Sovereign of Qin.

However, looking at the Sovereign of Qin’s expression, Xiao Mo felt that the brilliant and ambitious Monarch seemed to have aged a great deal in the past three years.

After the ceremony, Xiao Mo returned immediately to the Frost King’s Mansion, going to see Qin Siyao at the first opportunity.

Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao had not seen each other in three years. Furthermore, Siyao had just lost her beloved second brother, and Xiao Mo couldn’t stop worrying about her.

”Husband, you’re back.”

In the Frost King’s Mansion, when Xiao Mo saw Qin Siyao, her eyes curved into crescents as she greeted him with a curtsy, just as she always did.

”Yes, I’m back,” Xiao Mo nodded.

”I’ve prepared a hot bath for you, Husband. Why don’t you go wash up first? Afterward, we can go visit Mother together. You haven’t been home in three years, and she has missed you dearly,” Qin Siyao said softly.

”Alright.”

Since Siyao didn’t bring up the subject, Xiao Mo found it difficult to say anything either.

After bathing and changing into a fresh set of clothes, Xiao Mo and Qin Siyao headed to the Xiao Mansion.

He hadn’t seen his mother in three years, and seeing the growing number of white hairs on her head and the new lines on her face, Xiao Mo felt a pang in his heart.

He felt a deepening guilt, especially knowing he had been away at war for so long and hadn’t been there to accompany her.

Yet Qin Siyao remained as cheerful and lively as ever, joking and laughing with Xiao Mo’s mother. Their bond had clearly grown even closer, and her smile was as radiant as he remembered.

But as he watched his wife’s beautiful smile, Xiao Mo couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache for her.

Xiao Mo knew. ’She’s just forcing herself to smile.’

Because the kingdom had been in a constant state of war, there had been no opportunity for the Qin Kingdom to hold a funeral for the Second Prince.

Thus, it wasn’t until the month after Xiao Mo’s return to the capital that preparations for the funeral of the Second Prince, Qin Jingyuan, finally began.

Although Qin Jingyuan’s body had not been brought back to the Imperial City, the Sovereign of Qin did not insist, choosing instead to respect his son’s final wishes.

Inside the coffin lay the robes and effects that Qin Jingyuan had once worn.

On the day of the funeral, Qin Siyao, dressed in mourning clothes, did not shed a single tear.

She stood by Xiao Mo’s side, silently watching every step of her second brother’s burial rites, quietly observing as he was laid to rest in the Imperial Mausoleum.

She did not utter a single word the entire day.

「That night, after the funeral.」

Qin Siyao held a vigil for her brother for two days and two nights.

Seeing her haggard state, Xiao Mo and the Eldest Prince pleaded with her until they finally convinced her to return to her mansion to rest.

Back at the Frost King’s Mansion, she sat in a daze in the courtyard, gazing quietly at the stars.

Xiao Mo sat beside her, keeping her silent company.

”Husband...”

After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke, her voice slightly hoarse.

”Yes?” Xiao Mo responded softly. ’This is the first time I’ve heard her speak today.’

”Husband, did you know? When I was little, the ones who doted on me most were my two older brothers.”

A faint smile touched Qin Siyao’s lips, and a light mist veiled her eyes. Her tone was calm, as if she were recounting the most ordinary of stories.

”Whether it was Eldest Brother or Second Brother, they never got angry with me. They could never even bear to scold me.

No matter what I did wrong, they never blamed me.

When we were children, Eldest Brother and Second Brother would often spar. The loser had to pretend to be my horse.

Second Brother lost most of the time, so I was always riding on his back, running all over the place.

He would complain every single time, but he always let me ride on his shoulders anyway.

Whenever there was something delicious to eat or fun to do, Eldest Brother and Second Brother always thought of me first.

I was a princess of Great Qin, yet I was naughty and mischievous, running around all day and not acting like a proper young lady at all.

Because I knew that in this world, I had my Eldest Brother and Second Brother to protect me.

Then, I was lucky enough to meet you, Husband. To meet someone I truly love.

And there was one more person in this world who genuinely loved me and would genuinely protect me.”

As she spoke, Qin Siyao straightened her legs beneath her dress, clasping her slender hands between her thighs.

”I never had to face anything on my own, because Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and you would always solve any problem for me, just like that.

All I had to do was be the Princess of Qin.

I used to think that I must be the happiest woman in the world.

I imagined that after you and I were married, we’d have several children. Eldest Brother and Second Brother would have children of their own, too.

And all the children could play together and go on outings in the spring.”

As she continued, the corners of Qin Siyao’s mouth began to tremble.

”But...

But... Second Brother...

Second Brother... is gone...”

At last, the tears she had been holding back could be contained no longer. They streamed down her face like a torrent as she spoke through her sobs.

”Why?

Why was Second Brother so foolish...?”

Watching the woman beside him weep, Xiao Mo gently pulled her into his arms.

Qin Siyao’s tears soaked the front of Xiao Mo’s robes as the emotions she had suppressed for so long finally burst forth like a breaking dam.

”Husband, I’ll never see Second Brother again.

I’ll never see him again...

Never again...

Never...

I only have you and Eldest Brother left...”

Qin Siyao sobbed, her chest heaving.

Xiao Mo said nothing, simply holding her and watching over her in silence.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Qin Siyao’s cries gradually subsided,

fading into choked sobs.

Finally, all that remained were quiet, hitching breaths.

Qin Siyao pressed herself against Xiao Mo’s chest, as if it were the only way she could feel any warmth.

”Husband...”

A long while later, having finally regained her composure, Qin Siyao lifted her head and stared blankly at her husband.

”Can you promise me one thing, Husband?”

”What is it?” Xiao Mo asked, gently caressing her cheek.

”You must live. Promise me you won’t leave me all alone, alright?” Qin Siyao stared directly into Xiao Mo’s eyes, her slender hands clutching the collar of his robes.

He looked into her wavering, pleading eyes.

Xiao Mo froze for a moment, unsure how to respond.

”Can you promise me, Husband?” A flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

”Alright. I promise you, Siyao.”

Xiao Mo gave a faint smile, gently stroking her hair.

”I will never.

Leave you behind.”