Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The autumn wind swept through the courtyard, rolling up a few early fallen leaves.

Feng Mulan's eyes suddenly turned red: "What about their children? Chu Bin is only eight years old, and Chu Yue is only six."

"His Majesty has issued an edict granting Chu Bin the hereditary title of prince and conferring upon Chu Yue the title of Princess Qinghuai."

Shen Wanying comforted him, "I will personally take care of their living expenses."

At this moment, Sun Simiao's voice came from the inner room: "Your Majesty is awake!"

The three women hurried into the imperial study.

In the inner room, Chu Ning was already leaning against the head of the bed. Although his face was still pale, his eyes had regained clarity.

Sun Simiao was packing his medicine box. When he saw them come in, he bowed and walked out.

"Your Majesty!" Shen Wanying stepped forward and gently held Chu Ning's hand: "How do you feel?"

Chu Ning shook his head: "I'm fine."

His voice was a little hoarse: "Kids, are you settled?"

"It has been done according to your majesty's order." Wu Zhao took over the conversation: "I will go to visit them tomorrow morning."

Feng Mulan couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, Princess Zhao has made up her mind to die. This is not your fault."

Chu Ning looked out the window at the night scene and did not answer.

The moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on his face.

Chu Ning let out a long breath: "You guys go back and rest first, I want to be alone and quiet."

The three women looked at each other, knowing that any more words would be useless at this moment, and they bowed and left one by one.

Before leaving, Shen Wanying carefully put an outer robe on Chu Ning and asked the eunuch on duty to prepare ginseng tea.

When the door closed gently, Chu Ning sat alone in the dark.

On the last day of August, the autumn wind gradually picked up, bringing a little coolness through the window cracks.

He remembered that at this time last year, King Zhao was still here drinking and chatting with him, and said that he would take the children to travel to the south of the Yangtze River after the border was pacified.

A tear silently slid down the emperor's cheek and disappeared in the gold embroidery of his dragon robe.

Outside the window, the sound of the night watchman's drum could be heard from afar, it was already three o'clock in the morning.

A new day is about to begin, but some people remain in yesterday forever.

For the next two days, Chu Ning locked himself in the Yangxin Palace and did not see anyone.

During these two days, what happened in the State of Chu was transmitted through carrier pigeons to the ears of Liu Che, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, who was thousands of miles away.

Two days later, at midnight.

The night was deep, and the wind from the north bank of the Yangtze River carried moist water vapor, blowing the flags of the Dahan Water Fort.

Outside the tent, torches flickered, illuminating the solemn figures of the patrolling soldiers.

In the main tent, Liu Che was lying on the couch to rest. He was exhausted from the military discussions and deployments over the past few days, and now he had a rare moment of sleep.

However, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of the night.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

Commander Zhou Yu's voice rang out from outside the tent, his tone filled with excitement that was difficult to conceal.

Liu Che suddenly opened his eyes, frowned slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

He never liked being disturbed while resting, but Zhou Yu was his trusted general. He would never come here rashly in the middle of the night unless there was extremely important military information.

He quickly stood up, put on his robe, and said coldly, "Come in!"

The curtain was lifted, and Zhou Yu strode in, holding a secret letter tightly in his hand. The light of the oil lamp reflected on his face, which was flushed with excitement.

"Your Majesty, the Dragon Guards have sent an urgent letter via carrier pigeon!"

Zhou Yu knelt on one knee, presented the letter with both hands, and said in a trembling voice: "Great news!"

Liu Che's eyes fixed, he reached out to take the secret letter, and quickly opened it to take a closer look.

As his eyes swept over the handwriting, his expression gradually changed from gloomy at first to shock, and finally to ecstasy.

"Hahahaha! Okay! Okay!"

Liu Che laughed out loud, and his laughter echoed in the silent tent, even alarming the guards outside.

Zhou Yu couldn't help but smile. "Your Majesty, the Dragon Guards have reported that the King of Zhao's coffin has been secretly placed in a cellar. Chu Ning personally went to the King of Zhao's mansion to appease the Princess Zhao, but the Princess Zhao committed suicide by taking poison, vowing to be buried with the King of Zhao!"

Liu Che's eyes flashed, and a cold smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "I originally suspected that Chu Kuang's death was a trick of Chu Ning, but now that Princess Zhao committed suicide for love, it is enough to prove that Chu Kuang is really dead!"

He clenched the letter tightly, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Chu Ning is far away in the capital of Chu State. It is impossible for him to rush to the front line in a short time. This is a godsend opportunity for our army!"

He turned and walked towards the sand table in the tent, his eyes like knives, staring intently at the flag representing the Chu navy, and said in a deep voice:

"Zhou Yu, pass on my military order—starting tomorrow, the entire army will launch a tentative attack on the Chu State's water fort. We must fully understand the enemy's strength!"

"As soon as our Fuzhou ships arrive, we will launch a general attack!"

"I obey your command!" Zhou Yu clasped his fists and accepted the order, with a fighting spirit in his eyes.

Liu Che waved his hand to signal him to leave, but he was no longer sleepy.

He strode out of the tent, stood in the night wind, looked up at the dark sky, and a ferocious smile appeared on his face.

"Chu Ning, Chu Ning, you definitely didn't expect this day to come!"

He whispered to himself, his tone filled with sarcasm and pleasure, "You have caused me great humiliation. Now, I will make you watch everyone around you die one by one!"

The events of the past emerged in his mind - his queen was captured by Chu Ning. Although she was eventually exchanged, this incident has always been the deepest shame in his heart.

He swore to make Chu Ning pay for his blood debt with blood!

"Wait, Chu Ning..."

Liu Che sneered, "I want to see if you will faint again when you hear the news that the navy was destroyed and Han Xing and Guan Yun were killed in battle."

The night wind howled, as if responding to his wild words.

Tomorrow, there will be a bloody storm on the Yangtze River!

The night was as dark as ink, and the Han army water fort on the north bank of the Yangtze River was shrouded in silence.

The torches between the tents swayed in the damp river breeze, casting flickering light and shadows.

The warships were quietly anchored on the shore, their dark silhouettes like dormant beasts, waiting for the battle at dawn.

Occasionally, the low conversations of patrolling soldiers or the restless snorting of war horses could be heard, but they were quickly drowned out by the sound of the river lapping against the shore.

Inside the main tent, the candlelight was still on, reflecting Liu Che's figure pacing back and forth. His laughter just startled the guards nearby, but soon, everything returned to silence.

Liu Che paced back and forth in the tent, his eyes flashing with excitement.

Sometimes he would grab the secret report on the case and look at it over and over again, and sometimes he would sneer at the sand table.

The candlelight cast his distorted shadow on the tent, like a trapped beast that could not be restrained.

"Chu Ning, ah Chu Ning!" He stroked the sword at his waist, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The sound of the third watch clapper came from outside the tent, but he was completely unaware. The scene of the Chu army's defeat had already appeared in his mind, and a ferocious arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.

This night is destined to be sleepless.

Only the soldier on duty in the distant watchtower was still staring at the lights of the Chu army on the opposite bank, and his longbow in his hand never relaxed.

The night was terrifyingly deep, as if a storm was brewing that was about to break out.