The Supporting Male Characters Who Died Alone All Those Years Later

The following day before dawn, the Chao Kingdom’s large military camp was already bustling. Soldiers responsible for provisions started fires and set up stoves, and soon the aroma of cooking spread throughout the camp.

Soldiers orderly lined up to receive their meals, eyeing the walls of the Chen Kingdom’s capital like hungry wolves, ready to pounce. They only waited for the command from the main tent to tear the city to pieces.

As the sun rose, the Chao Kingdom’s army had assembled in formation and began advancing towards the southern gate, preparing for the assault.

He Dongchen, as the commanding general, rode a tall horse, exuding an imposing aura. Several other commanders stood beside him, like stars around the moon. The remaining generals led their own troops to attack the other three city gates.

The first to breach the city gates would earn great merit!

The Chao Kingdom’s army was fierce like wolves and tigers, their morale soaring. The Chen Kingdom’s defenders, on the other hand, looked pale and fearful, trembling with anxiety.

The skies changed unpredictably, and the battle was on the verge of breaking out.

***

Wang Yi looked up at the sky. The sun was shining brightly, the sky azure blue; a good omen.

He smiled and said, “Your Highness, we can attack now.”

He Dongchen nodded, drew his sword from his waist, aimed towards the main gate of the Chen Kingdom’s capital, and with a deep breath, commanded, “Follow my orders! Attack!”

The heavily armored soldiers with shields charged forward aggressively.

“Hold on! I have hostages!”

A shout came from the city wall.

He Dongchen thought to himself; Finally, they’ve come.

The next moment, Meng Linglong, dressed in fiery red like flames, was lifted onto the city gate by a Chen Kingdom commander. A blood-stained broadsword was pressed against her fair and tender neck.

Meng Linglong’s mouth was gagged, preventing her from speaking. She could only shake her head frantically towards He Dongchen, appearing weak and helpless, evoking pity.

“Your Highness! The greater good is at stake!” When Wang Yi saw Meng Linglong appear, his heart leaped into his throat. He cursed at Meng Linglong in frustration, then nervously glanced at He Dongchen beside him.

Before He Dongchen could speak, the Chen Kingdom commander on the city gate shouted again, “This woman, Meng Linglong, with her unparalleled beauty. Your Highness of Chao Kingdom, take a good look. She’s the beauty you can’t afford to miss in this lifetime!”

The Chao Kingdom soldiers erupted into murmurs, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

“Your Highness! This is not the time for compassion towards women! 600,000 soldiers and citizens of Chao Kingdom are watching behind us!” Wang Yi poured his heart out, impassioned and vehement, exuding an aura that suggested He Dongchen would be committing suicide if he withdrew.

He Dongchen gave him a calming look and instructed the soldiers behind him, “Bring me my bow and arrows.”

“Yes!” Almost instantly, a gleaming bow and arrow were placed into He Dongchen’s hands.

Unable to clearly see the actions on the city gate and witnessing the Chao Kingdom army indeed hesitating, their morale rising, the Chen Kingdom commander’s eyes turned bloodshot with excitement. He decided to apply even more pressure. Under his breath, he offendedly muttered a remark, then drew a knife and plunged it viciously into Meng Linglong’s shoulder. It looked tragic and blood splattered, but in fact, it didn’t hurt her vital parts at all.

Meng Linglong groaned as severe pain invaded her whole body. She turned pale with pain, and beads of sweat slid down her forehead, soaking her hair.

Although it hurt, Meng Linglong felt it was worth it as she looked at the stagnant Chao army and thought of the isolated Xuan Yuanhao!

I’ve let Brother Dongchen down, so in the next life, I’ll be his slave to repay him!

Meng Linglong closed her eyes, a pale smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

The next moment, excruciating pain struck!

Meng Linglong abruptly opened her eyes, and in disbelief, she looked down at her chest. There, an icy arrow was lodged, blood gushing out and splattering on the wall in stark red dots.

***

“You dare to kill me?” Meng Linglong’s first reaction was to glare at the commander beside her who held her hostage.

The commander was momentarily stunned, then cursed, “Damn it! It’s an arrow from the Chao army!”

After saying that useless remark, the commander roughly threw Meng Linglong aside and shouted, “Prepare for defense! The Chao army is about to attack the city!”

As Meng Linglong collapsed, she caught a glimpse of He Dongchen outside the city, towering in white armor under the sun, his bow and arrow gleaming brightly!

No way!

Meng Linglong widened her eyes. How could Brother Dongchen possibly hurt me!?

With a loud bang, Meng Linglong fell to the ground, staring wide-eyed in death. Amidst the chaos of shouts and battle drums, she was trampled upon a few times, staining her fiery red dress black.

Outside the city, He Dongchen swiftly and decisively shot an arrow, piercing Meng Linglong. He waved his hand and ordered, “Continue the attack! The first to breach the city will be heavily rewarded!”

“Charge!” The Chao army no longer hesitated, surging forward through the rain of arrows from the city walls. Siege engines, ladders, catapults, battle drums, and war cries blended into a cacophony, the air thick with bloodlust.

Wang Yi snapped out of his shock at witnessing the Crown Prince shoot Meng Linglong himself. He opened his mouth but could only manage to sorrowfully say, “Your Highness, may you find solace in mourning.”

He Dongchen, focused on the battlefield, spared him a puzzled glance.

Mourn? What is there to mourn about?

The system reminded from the side, [According to the original character of the original owner who deeply loved Meng Linglong, you just killed Meng Linglong for the greater good. Now you should be in inconsolable grief, feeling unbearable pain.]

He Dongchen smirked slightly and explained to Wang Yi after some thought, “Yesterday, I received a secret report that Meng Linglong had defected to the enemy. Today’s feigned plan was merely to threaten me and force the retreat of the army.”

“What?! How dare she!” Wang Yi erupted in anger! No wonder His Highness took decisive action!

He Dongchen nodded, “Military Advisor, there’s no need to be angry over a dead person. Capturing the city is crucial.”

Wang Yi regained his composure, took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and analyzed, “The situation is excellent now. The Chen Kingdom is defended by nothing more than literati and the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled. Holding the city walls, they can at most last half a month.”

He Dongchen shook his head, lifted the bow and arrow in his hand, aimed at the Chen Kingdom commander busy commanding on the wall, and remarked, “Half a month is too long.”

As he finished speaking, he released the arrow, which whistled through the air and pierced the commander’s throat, and took his head!

A shout erupted from the Chao army, “The Chen Kingdom commander is dead! Charge!”

With those words, morale surged, drums beating loudly.

Already lacking in confidence, the Chen Kingdom soldiers, now without their commanding officer, quickly lost their formation, showing signs of defeat.

Wang Yi, elated at the sight, exclaimed, “Your Highness, your archery is god-like! It’s as if the heavens are aiding us!”

He Dongchen relied on his unparalleled archery skills, keeping a sharp eye on the wall. Any commander or soldier who showed themselves was immediately shot down. As the sun reached its zenith, the Chen Kingdom troops broke ranks, their morale shattered. The first Chao soldier climbed the city wall, followed closely by the second and third. Combat ensued on the wall, chaos reigning supreme.

Before long, the Chao army managed to open the city gates from within.

The city was breached!

He Dongchen raised his sword, and the army surged through the city gates, their hoof beats echoing as they hunted down the fleeing Chen Kingdom soldiers in the streets and alleys.

“Surrender and you won’t be harmed! Drop your weapons!” The iron hooves of the Chao army traversed the Chen Kingdom’s capital, herding surrendered soldiers together like sheep and heavily guarding them.

Due to strict orders against killing civilians, the Chao army refrained from harming the populace or looting, though they were as hungry wolves.

As a result, the trembling Chen Kingdom civilians hiding in their homes inexplicably felt a slight sense of relief.

***

He Dongchen led his troops deep into the city, marching straight into the Chen Kingdom’s palace. After a thorough search yielded no sign of Xuan Yuanhao, they rounded up numerous members of the royal family, all appearing pale and distraught, some even acting crazed or foolish.

“Continue the search! Leave no stone unturned!” He Dongchen commanded coldly from the dragon throne.

“Yes!”

The soldiers’ hearts raced with excitement as they meticulously searched every person in the palace, not even sparing elderly maids or old eunuchs.

Unfortunately, they found nothing. Finally, someone discovered a secret passage in the palace’s back garden.

“It seems Xuan Yuanhao escaped through this tunnel. I’ve already sent men in pursuit,” Wang Yi said through gritted teeth.

The thought of Xuan Yuanhao escaping through the secret tunnel, which had been kept a closely guarded secret and served the previous dynasty well, was infuriating. It suggested there was a traitor, and that person was likely Meng Linglong!

Wang Yi’s disgust was palpable. “The Meng family sought refuge with us in Chao Kingdom, feared and hunted by Chen Kingdom. Even though only one girl was left, we treated her with kindness. Who would have thought she was harboring a viper in her bosom! If Meng Ze knew his daughter had sided with our clan’s enemy, he would rise from the grave!”

Looking down upon the grand hall, He Dongchen’s thin lips parted slightly. “Meng Linglong is not a daughter of the Meng family.”

“What!” Wang Yi was shocked! No wonder! No wonder Meng Linglong would set aside her deep-seated grudge to help the Chen Kingdom. Turns out she’s not a daughter of the Meng family.

“Alright, Advisor, Meng Linglong is no longer a concern. Now the most important thing is to find Xuan Yuanhao to prevent any resurgence.”

As the Emperor of the Chen Kingdom, as long as Xuan Yuanhao was alive, countless Chen Kingdom people would rally behind him. He Dongchen doesn’t want an enemy who can’t be killed lurking in the shadows and shooting from the cold.

Wang Yi thought for a moment and suggested, “Now that Chen Kingdom is broken, if we say he’s dead, then he’s dead.”

He Dongchen gave him a satisfied look. “Go ahead and do it.”

“Yes.” Wang Yi took a few soldiers to create the illusion that Xuan Yuanhao had died.

***

He Dongchen ascended the city wall, looking at the devastated Chen Capital after the battle, knowing that capturing a city was easy, but governing it was hard.

There’s a whole heap of things to be dealt with next.

At this moment, a grim-looking general strode forward, followed by a few soldiers carrying someone.

“Your Highness!” The general saluted, then pointed to the woman being carried. “Young Lady Meng’s body is here.”

He Dongchen raised an eyebrow, looking at Meng Linglong, her red clothes now dirty and blackened, her complexion pale and purple, her beautiful eyes staring lifelessly with an incredulous expression, clearly refusing to accept her fate.

Heh, Meng Linglong knew that the original owner had deep feelings for her, so she was fearless and confident when she climbed the city gate to give Xuan Yuanhao a chance to survive. It’s normal for her to die unyieldingly.

Chao Kingdom rescued and nurtured her, and the original host protected her since childhood. Although Meng Linglong was an orphan, she lived more freely than the noblewomen of Chao Kingdom, all for a man.

“Bury her,” He Dongchen said casually.

The general was stunned, scratching his head. His beloved was dead, even if he killed her himself, it was for the greater good. At the time, facing 600,000 soldiers and a woman, anyone would have chosen the greater good. But now that the situation is settled, shouldn’t he mourn a bit? Isn’t this attitude too indifferent?

The general couldn’t understand, but he still followed orders to have her buried.

Just then, one of the soldiers carrying her suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “She’s alive! She’s alive! She’s not dead! Look, her eyes are moving!”

The crowd was startled and looked down. They saw Meng Linglong’s eyes slowly moving, momentarily dazed, then locking onto He Dongchen’s direction with shock and grievance flooding out. Her purple lips trembled as she said, “Dong… Dongchen, you… you wanted to kill me!”

The generals and soldiers exchanged looks.

Not succeeding in killing her was a bit awkward now.

Some quietly glanced at the Prince’s expression, only to see his naturally cool face break into a casual smile. “Did I fail to kill her?”

What’s all the excitement about?

Meng Linglong looked at his unapologetic and self-assured demeanor, rolled her eyes in agitation, and fainted.