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

As dusk settled, the last rays of the setting sun lingered on the tall, imposing city walls and battlements of Jianghuai City before finally sinking completely behind the rolling hills to the west.

The sky gradually transitioned from a magnificent purplish-red and orange-red to a deep sapphire blue, with a few impatient stars already twinkling at the edge of the sky.

The deafening battles and smoke of war during the day seemed to have been washed away by the evening breeze, leaving only a few new traces of smoke and fire on the city wall bricks.

The faint, lingering smell of rust and blood in the air silently recounts the harrowing events that have just transpired.

Chu Ning stood alone on the city wall of the east gate of Jianghuai City, dressed in a black casual outfit with a black fox fur cloak over it, gazing into the distance from the railing.

The fatigue on his face had not completely faded, but his eyes held a relieved tranquility and a relaxed ease that came from having taken control of the situation.

The soldiers guarding the city walls stood tall like pine trees, torches were lit one after another, and the orange-red light danced in the deepening night, reflecting the "Chu" banner fluttering in the evening breeze.

Inside the city, faint sounds could be heard of the people gradually regaining their vitality, as well as the sounds of the government organizing people to clean the streets and treat the wounded.

The crisis has passed, and this ancient city in the Jianghuai region, which has been ravaged by war, is striving to restore its vitality.

Suddenly, a steady, rapid sound of horses' hooves, growing louder as they approached, broke the silence of the suburbs and drew the attention of everyone on the city walls.

The sound came from two directions: northwest and southwest.

The thunderous hoofbeats, mingled with the clanging of armor and the fluttering of flags in the wind, though weary, carried the unique rhythm and momentum of a victorious return.

The captain on duty strode up the city wall, knelt on one knee, and reported:

"Your Majesty, a large army has appeared outside the city. Judging from the banners, it is the Imperial Concubine and General Xue Huaide's troops, and they are heading towards the city gate at the same time."

Chu Ning nodded slightly, showing no surprise on his face, and said calmly, "Understood. Open the city gates and welcome their triumphant return."

His gaze remained fixed on the gradually clearing dragon of torches outside the city, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Before long, the city gates opened and the drawbridge was slowly lowered.

First to enter the city was a troop of cavalry, weary from their journey but in impeccable military bearing. Following them, several sturdy horses, escorted by guards, went straight to the inner city's ramp leading up to the city walls.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed crisply on the bluestone slabs as the group filed up the city wall.

The flickering firelight illuminated the faces of the newcomers.

The leader was Feng Mulan, who had removed her heavy armor and put on a dark red riding outfit embroidered with a golden phoenix.

She wore a cloak of the same color, her black hair was tied up high and secured with a single white jade hairpin. Although she had been fighting for days, her face looked slightly thinner.

But those phoenix eyes remained bright and sharp, exuding a commanding presence with every glance.

Half a step behind her was Zhao Yu, whose silver armor was covered in dust, and whose exhaustion was palpable, yet whose eyes shone brightly.

Next came Xue Huaide, old but still strong and composed, and Ma Chao, handsome and with the fierce air of Xiliang.

The group walked a few steps in front of Chu Ning and bowed in unison, saying, "Your subjects pay their respects to Your Majesty!"

"All of you, rise."

Chu Ning's voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

He stepped forward and personally helped Feng Mulan, who was about to kneel, to her feet. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, revealing his concern.

"My beloved concubine, you've worked hard."

Feng Mulan stood up naturally, feeling the warmth from his hand. Her heroic features softened for a moment, then regained their clarity, and she shook her head, saying:

"To share Your Majesty's burdens and to eliminate troubles for the country is my duty, and I dare not complain of hardship."

She paused, then her tone shifted to that of a clear and concise military report: "Your Majesty, the Scorpion Khan Helian Hui, who fled north, and his main force were surrounded by our army at Eagle's Beak Bend. After a fierce battle that lasted until dawn, they have all been annihilated."

"Helian Hui himself was killed by General Zhao Yu on the battlefield. His wolf-headed banner has fallen, and none of his men escaped."

Her words were concise yet carried immense weight, announcing the complete eradication of a major border threat in the north.

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning's eyes flashed with satisfaction, and he nodded in approval:

"Excellent! My beloved consort and General Zhao's relentless pursuit, interception, encirclement, and annihilation of the northern barbarians were decisive and their coordination was superb. They have wiped out the northern barbarians in one fell swoop, a great achievement for the nation!"

He looked at Zhao Yu, his tone encouraging: "Zhao Yu, you have killed the enemy chieftain in battle, your bravery surpasses that of the entire army, and you have lived up to my expectations."

Zhao Yu bowed again, unable to hide his excitement: "It is all thanks to His Majesty's strategic planning and Her Majesty's decisive command that I was able to succeed. I dare not take credit for it!"

Chu Ning smiled slightly and turned his gaze to Xue Huaide: "General Xue, the war in the south must have been settled by now?"

Xue Huaide stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I have been ordered to pursue the rebel King Chu Xuan and have surrounded his remaining forces at Luoyan Gorge."

"The traitor Chu Xuan resisted stubbornly and threatened Mr. Su Tingmei's safety."

"Fortunately, thanks to the bravery of the soldiers and the persuasion of the greater good to his subordinates, the rebel army was eventually divided, and the traitor Chu Xuan was captured by his own men."

"Mr. Su Tingmei has been safely rescued and is now being properly cared for by the old minister's personal guards."

His words were calm and collected, clearly summarizing a complex battle that could involve a hostage crisis.

"I'm glad Mr. Su is alright."

Chu Ning visibly breathed a sigh of relief; Su Tingmei's safety was clearly something he was extremely concerned about.

"General Xue responded to the situation with composure and skill, capturing the rebels while protecting the nation's pillars. He was calm, experienced, and a true pillar of the state."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "I wish to see Mr. Su. As for Chu Xuan..."

His tone turned cold. "We'll deal with that later. Please invite Mr. Su up first."

"This humble general obeys the order."

Xue Huaide immediately turned around and whispered a few instructions to the guards standing at the crossroads.

The guards received the order and hurried away.

The city wall fell silent for a moment, with only the crackling of torches and the faint sounds of people coming from inside the city in the distance.

A cool evening breeze swept by, ruffling everyone's clothes.

Chu Ning stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant fields outside the city, completely shrouded in night, lost in thought.

Feng Mulan stood quietly beside him, while Zhao Yu, Xue Huaide, Ma Chao, and others stood solemnly waiting.

Before long, footsteps sounded again. Accompanied by two of Xue Huaide's personal guards, a scholar dressed in an old blue scholar's robe and with a slightly thin figure slowly ascended the city wall.

It was Su Tingmei.

His hair was neatly combed, his clothes were slightly wrinkled but clean, his face was calm, and his eyes were clear but slightly tired.

He walked with his usual refined and composed demeanor, as if he had just experienced not a life-or-death ordeal, but just an ordinary journey.

Su Tingmei stopped in front of Chu Ning.

To everyone's surprise, he did not bow and greet them first, but instead straightened his robes.

He then lifted his shirt, knelt down properly on both knees facing Chu Ning, and kowtowed.

"Su Tingmei, a criminal, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

His voice was not loud, but clear and steady, carrying a heavy sense of resignation.