Ning Chen's eyes narrowed. He'd meant to ask how Tantai Qingyue was doing in Xiliang, but in the end he held his tongue. This was no time for tender feelings.

He swept his gaze across the battlefield. His voice was low. "Old Feng, take him out there and have him talk them into surrendering!"

"Yes!"

Feng Qizheng led Bian Yangze away.

Ning Chen's gaze fell on Lou Guanghe, manacled hand and foot. "If this prince remembers right, you said just now your name was Lou Guanghe?"

Lou Guanghe had gone deathly white and was shaking all over. He nodded. "Yes!"

Ning Chen's voice turned sharp. "You came here from Xiguan City. What's it like there now?"

A shiver ran through Lou Guanghe as he thought back to the state Xiguan City was in. I can't tell Ning Chen the truth, or I'm a dead man.

"Xiguan City is a little run-down, but the people can still get by. We even left them a good deal of grain when we came through..."

Ning Chen's face went dark. "You're asking to die. You dare lie to me?"

Xiliang had sacked Xiguan City twice. Now it lay buried under snow, its people starving and freezing, and who knew how many had died?

The lying dog hadn't said a single true word.

Lou Guanghe was scared out of his wits. "I—I'm not lying to you..."

Ning Chen couldn't be bothered to waste any more breath on him. He turned to the men of the modao army. "Cut his head off!"

"Yes!"

Lou Guanghe let out a shriek. "Don't kill me, please don't kill me... I'm a member of the Xiliang royal house! I'm Tantai Qingyue's cousin! I'm still useful to you alive. Have mercy, my lord prince..."

Ning Chen's eyes narrowed. "You're Tantai Qingyue's cousin?"

Lou Guanghe's voice shook. "Yes!"

"How are things for her in Xiliang these days?"

Lou Guanghe couldn't get it out fast enough. "She—she's perfectly well!"

Ning Chen's eyes went to slits. "Looks like you're tired of living. Time after time you keep showing off a brain you don't have,…