From cute to empress

"How could this happen..." The letter slipped weakly from my hands. I looked ahead blankly, and the contents of the letter kept echoing in my mind.

The enemy tore up the armistice agreement and invaded the border on a large scale. The defenders led by General Zhou fought bravely, but the enemy was unstoppable and the border was in crisis!

"Mengmeng, don't worry, I'll take care of everything." Zhen Youcai gently held me in his arms, trying to use his warmth to dispel the coldness in my heart.

I clutched his sleeve tightly, trying to calm my own panic. The border was in crisis, the fighting had reignited. This meant countless civilians would be displaced, countless soldiers would shed their blood on the battlefield... and none of this should have happened!

"Youcai, we must set off immediately to the border!" I raised my head, looked at him firmly, and said in an unquestionable tone.

Zhen Youcai looked at me, his eyes filled with heartache and worry. He knew that with the border raging, the journey would be extremely dangerous. How could he bear to let me take such a risk?

"Mengmeng, you are weak and shouldn't travel by boat or train. You should stay in the palace..."

"No, I must go!" I interrupted him, my tone firm, "I am the queen, your wife, and your comrade! I can't let you face danger alone!"

Seeing my determined look, Zhen Youcai knew that he could no longer change my decision. He took a deep breath, hugged me, and whispered in my ear, "Okay, let's go together. But you have to promise me that you will protect yourself."

I nodded, a warm feeling welling up in my heart. I knew that no matter how many storms lay ahead, as long as he was by my side, I would have nothing to fear.

We immediately issued an order to summon all ministers to urgently discuss the border war.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the border war is urgent, we must send troops to support as soon as possible!" The Minister of War stepped forward first, his tone anxious.

"I second the motion! The enemy is advancing with such force. If we don't stop them in time, the consequences will be disastrous!"

"I second the proposal!"

……

In the hall, the ministers were filled with righteous indignation, and they all requested orders to go to war. Looking at the passionate scene before me, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope in my heart.

"My dear ministers, please stand." Zhen Youcai raised his hand to signal for silence. He scanned the room, his tone calm and resolute, "The enemy nation has betrayed us and provoked war. Our dynasty will show no mercy! The Empress and I will personally lead the army and depart for the border tomorrow!"

His voice echoed in the hall for a long time...

The emergency meeting was held in a solemn atmosphere, with all civil and military officials gathered, each face filled with solemnity. Zhen Youcai analyzed the current situation in a clear and methodical manner and formulated a series of defensive measures, entrusting the safety of the capital to the experienced Lord Wang. I listened attentively from the sidelines, occasionally offering suggestions.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the envoy from the enemy country requests an audience." Just then, a guard came hurriedly to report.

"No," I blurted out without even thinking. The enemy had betrayed us, provoked the war, and now, hypocritically, they were sending envoys to me, simply to buy time. I would never let them succeed!

"Let him in." Zhen Youcai suddenly spoke, signaling the guards to bring the envoy into the hall.

I looked at him doubtfully, and he gave me a reassuring look. A moment later, the enemy envoy entered the hall, escorted by a phalanx of guards. He wore a false smile, and before even beginning to salute, he spoke impatiently, "Empress, our dispatch of troops this time was a misunderstanding. Please, for the sake of our long-standing friendship..."

"Shut up!" I interrupted him harshly, my anger no longer suppressed. "Misunderstanding? What you call misunderstanding is the displacement of countless innocent people and the bloodshed of countless soldiers on the battlefield?"

"This..." The envoy was frightened by my sudden momentum and stammered, unable to answer.

"Go back and tell your monarch," I stood up and walked up to him, staring at him fiercely, "Our dynasty fears no provocation. Anyone who invades our territory will be punished, no matter how far away they are!"

The envoy was intimidated by my aura and left the hall in disgrace.

"It's getting late, we should set off." Zhen Youcai stood up and held out his hand to me. I put my hand into his palm without hesitation and smiled at him.

"Let's go!" With a loud shout, we set off on the road to the frontier...

"Mengmeng, are you ready?" Zhen Youcai's voice sounded in my ears, low and firm.

I nodded, watching the scenery pass by outside the window, a surge of inexplicable pride welling up in my heart. To protect this land, to prevent the people from suffering from the flames of war, I'm willing to give everything!

We led our elite troops, marching day and night, non-stop toward the border. Along the way, I saw countless civilians leaving their homes, their faces filled with fear and anxiety about the war. My heart sank, and I became even more determined to drive the enemy out of the country.

"Report——"

A scout rode up, knelt on one knee, and reported loudly: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Yunxia Pass is fifty miles ahead, and the enemy is at the gates!"

Yunxia Pass is the last barrier leading to the heart of the frontier. Once it is lost, the consequences will be unimaginable.

"Pass the order down, the entire army speeds up!" Zhen Youcai gave the order decisively, his tone revealing an unquestionable majesty.

At dusk, we finally arrived at Yunxia Pass. Looking out, we saw flags fluttering on the city walls, swords and spears standing tall, and soldiers guarding the city in full battle formation. A solemn and murderous atmosphere filled us.

"I am General Zhou Wu, and I am here to pay my respects to the Emperor and the Empress!" A general in armor and with a resolute face stepped forward quickly, knelt on one knee, and saluted with his fists.

"General Zhou, please stand up quickly," I hurried forward to help him up, "What's the current situation of the battle?"

General Zhou stood up and said solemnly, "Reporting to the Queen, the enemy is coming with great force. Although our soldiers are fighting desperately, we are outnumbered. The situation is not optimistic!"

"Don't worry, my dear minister. The Queen and I have come here this time to fight side by side with the soldiers. We swear to live and die with Yunxia Pass!" Zhen Youcai's voice was sonorous and powerful.

I looked around, seeing only traces of battle everywhere on the city walls, and the air was thick with the smell of blood. My heart sank. A great war was about to break out, and I wondered how many more soldiers would be buried here...

As night fell, Zhen Youcai and I stood side by side on the city wall, looking at the dark enemy tents in the distance, with the little lights flickering like ghost fires.

"Mengmeng, are you scared?" Zhen Youcai held my hand and asked softly.

I shook my head, held his hand tightly, and said firmly, "With you here, I'm not afraid of anything."

He smiled slightly, took me into his arms, and whispered in my ear: "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

At this moment, a guard hurried up to the tower, knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, Prime Minister Li has an important matter to discuss with you!"

Prime Minister Li? Why wasn't he in the capital, guarding the rear, running off to this dangerous frontier? I couldn't help but feel a little puzzled...