For Rostislav, this night was the most satisfying he had experienced since arriving in this era; countless honors accompanied him, and countless people shouted his name.
His future was incredibly bright, as if he were walking on a luminous path.
That night, he also cast aside his former restraint, guzzling glass after glass of wine until he could barely stand.
Fortunately, his last bit of willpower allowed him to control himself, preventing him from becoming completely dead drunk.
When the sun rose the next day, the former battlefield was strewn with drunkards.
When the Pei City scouts, sent out after the Polovtsy had hastily departed from beneath the city walls, found this place, they couldn't help but be astonished by the sight.
The news of the victory quickly reached Pei City, and the city naturally erupted in joy.
Their Great Duke Rostislav had won, and they no longer had to live under the threat of nomadic scimitars.
Prince Rostislav's third uncle, Vsevolod, led his personal guards out of the city and hastily came to his father and brothers.
There, he also learned of Prince Rostislav's accomplishments, and the young Prince couldn't help but be surprised by his nephew's achievements.
Such a young Prince of war would undoubtedly have an immeasurable future.
The Pei City militia also arrived at the battlefield one after another, beginning to help the Kiev army clear the field.
For the people of Pei City, the army had saved them, so helping them clean up the battlefield was only right.
Everyone was extremely enthusiastic.
By noon, the effects of the hangovers dissipated among the drunkards on the ground.
They struggled to pat their heads and get up, then were rushed by personal guards to do various chores; the battlefield still needed to be cleared, and the camp still needed to be tidied.
However, after only two days, they had to abandon these tasks, entrusting them to the citizens of Pei City.
The commanders of the Ross Army, meanwhile, were in an extremely foul mood, with Yaroslav's face looking the worst.
The reason was simple: a riot had broken out in Kiev.
Let us push time back to the night a few days prior.
At that time, the Black Hat Army, having fled the battlefield, returned to Kiev.
They rode at full speed for nearly a day and a night, bringing news of the Great Duke's army's crushing defeat.
Subsequently, the Ross Army's scattered troops arriving one after another further confirmed the truth of the matter.
This caused Kiev to explode in an instant.
The Great Duke's defeat meant they had lost their protection, and the large Polovtsian army would soon arrive in Kiev, beginning a difficult siege.
Many people had heard countless times from the elders about the horrors of a siege.
Fear pressed down like a giant boulder, crushing almost everyone, and the reaction outside the city was particularly immense, leading to drastic changes.
After the Great Duke left, the farmers seeking refuge outside Kiev were once again exploited by unscrupulous merchants who raised grain prices.
These merchants were backed by Kiev's powerful nobles.
While the Great Duke was present, they were somewhat restrained, but after he left, they became utterly unrestrained.
Moreover, the Veche, which was supposed to distribute grain, stopped distributing it altogether, and quite a few people had already starved to death in the "slum."
The news of the Great Duke's defeat became the final straw that broke the people's backs.
The accumulated resentment from exploitation mixed with the fear of war, festering among the populace and undergoing a qualitative change.
Once this qualitative change was complete, the outcome would be terrifying.
It was at this moment that a group of perun followers suddenly stood up and told the people that those in the city who worshipped the cross God were responsible for everything, that they had caused the current predicament.
Followers of the Slavic gods had been active among the farmers these days, winning their trust with food and medicine.
Now, they began to guide the people's anger, and the result was very successful.
"Kill all those Christians!"
"Burn them all!"
"Let that Christian get out of Ross! It brought those greedy people!"
The farmers, full of grievances and hatred, shouted such words.
Their anger had been fully ignited, and words they once dared not speak were now uttered without restraint.
Even many citizens joined their ranks, as they too were oppressed by those damned nobles and lived difficult lives.
No one came out to stop all this; the Veche's militia had long since stopped managing what happened outside the city, and now they were naturally powerless to control it.
"Yes, that's it! Go kill those damned lords! Go reclaim what's yours!"
The sorcerer stood on high, shouting.
With his words, the surging emotions reached their peak.
A crazed expression appeared on the sorcerer's face; this incredibly fervent scene before him was exactly what he needed most.
The people's anger had ignited, and the nobles of Kiev suddenly realized at this moment that the situation, which should have been completely under control, was now out of their grasp.
Those farmers and citizens, whom they had previously disregarded, now suddenly took up arms to resist them!
Even the Black Hat Army stirred.
They had already betrayed the Great Duke Rostislav, so what was another betrayal now?
It was only right to take this opportunity to loot Kiev, as Yaroslav was most likely dead (in their view).
As the gates of Kiev were opened by someone unknown, the farmers, who had long been kept out, entered the city with weapons.
Inside the city, the agitated people also raised their weapons, and nomadic horsemen galloped through the streets.
Everything had changed.
Prince Rostislav's Red Mansion, usually quiet, since Prince Rostislav was rarely at his residence except at night, was now different.
Countless torches stood on the courtyard walls, and armored figures were everywhere, with some even adjusting their bows.
"Princess Zoe, please come with us.
It's truly too dangerous here; those rioters could attack at any moment!"
Leo was dressed as a warrior, wearing a pointed iron helmet and chainmail.
Combined with his strong physique, it was impossible to tell that he was actually a man well-versed in books.
Leo's clerks were similarly dressed, more or less armed with armor, but compared to Leo, these people looked clumsy and awkward, completely lacking the appearance of soldiers.
In contrast, the personal guards Prince Rostislav had left with Zoe stood so upright.
Their armor seemed weightless on them, their backs were perfectly straight, and their hands rested on their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment.
"No, absolutely not."
Zoe wore a black robe, her hair coiled at the back of her head, and her words were filled with resolute determination.
"My husband's savings are here.
He cannot lose this money, and I will not leave."
Inside Prince Rostislav's Red Mansion was the vast wealth he had inherited from his father, the foundation for his future endeavors.
"This... I imagine your husband wouldn't blame you.
Right now, saving your life is the most important thing!
We'll take as much of the gold and silver as we can."
Leo was also one of Prince Rostislav's confidants, so he knew this information.
However, more than the gold and silver, he cared about saving Zoe's life.
On one hand, it was due to his quasi-familial affection for Zoe.
On the other hand, if Zoe were gone, his investment would be a complete failure, a situation Leo absolutely did not want to see.
But since Zoe had said that, he had no choice.
As for forcibly taking her away, it wasn't that he couldn't forcibly take Zoe away, but rather that his subordinates, these newly armored ragtag individuals, definitely couldn't defeat the dozens of personal guards protecting Zoe.
"Princess Zoe, a team of armed personnel has arrived outside the gate.
They say they want to see you."
At that moment, a personal guard opened the door, delivering news that instantly heightened the tension of the situation.