From cute to empress

The wind howled, stirring up clouds of dust and sand, obscuring the sky and the sun. The sight before me made my heart sink. The border, once teeming with life, was now a shambles, a scorched earth spread across the landscape. The tattered military flags fluttered feebly in the wind, as if silently testifying to the brutality of the battle.

"Your Majesty, the enemy is coming with great force and has already occupied Eagle's Beak Cliff. The terrain there is dangerous and easy to defend but difficult to attack." Zhen Youcai pointed to a cliff in the distance that looked like an eagle's beak, his face solemn.

I followed his gaze and, sure enough, I could faintly see a cold glint on the clifftop, the reflection of enemy weapons. The enemy commander was no ordinary man, having so quickly seized a strategic position. The situation was extremely unfavorable to our army.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me for speaking frankly. Our army's morale is low and we have very little food left. It is not appropriate for us to engage in a head-on confrontation with the enemy." Prime Minister Li's old voice sounded behind me, with a hint of worry in his tone.

I naturally understood what he meant. The days of traveling and the tragic scene before us had left many soldiers exhausted and hopeless. The enemy was advancing with such force, and our army was at a disadvantage. This battle was not going to be easy.

"Prime Minister Li has a point, but we can't just sit there and wait for death," Zhen Youcai took over the conversation, his tone firm. "I've examined the terrain. While Eagle's Beak Cliff is easy to defend and difficult to attack, it's not without flaws."

He took out a map from his cloth bag and spread it on the makeshift sand table. He pointed to a spot and said, "This place is called 'Broken Soul Valley'. It's behind Eagle's Beak Cliff. The terrain is narrow and easy to defend but difficult to attack. The enemy will surely let down their guard. We can..."

I listened carefully to his analysis, a glimmer of hope rising within me. Zhen Youcai's plan was bold and risky, but it wasn't without chance of success. He intended to use the cover of darkness to lead his elite troops, bypass the Valley of Broken Souls, and launch a surprise attack on the enemy.

"This is a brilliant plan!" I nodded approvingly. "But the terrain in Broken Soul Valley is complex, and marching at night is extremely dangerous. General, do you have a foolproof plan?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I have already explored the route and arranged for a local guide familiar with the terrain to lead the way." Zhen Youcai's eyes gleamed with confidence. "We will definitely win this battle!"

As night fell, the stars twinkled, and the night wind carried a hint of solemnity. I stood outside the tent, watching the soldiers preparing to depart, my heart filled with worry and anticipation.

"Your Majesty, it's late at night and the dew is heavy. You should go to bed early." Prime Minister Li's voice sounded behind me.

I shook my head, looking into the distance with a determined gaze. "I'll be waiting here, waiting for the general's triumphant return!"

Prime Minister Li wanted to persuade me again, but I waved my hand, signaling him not to say anything more. He opened his mouth, but ultimately sighed.

In the distance, Zhen Youcai climbed onto his horse. He turned around, his eyes met mine, and he nodded firmly, then...

He turned around, met my eyes, nodded firmly, then led the team and disappeared into the night.

I watched them leave, feeling a mixture of emotions. Although Zhen Youcai was confident, I was still worried. The Battle of Eagle's Beak Cliff hinged on the fate of the nation, and I couldn't let my guard down.

"Prime Minister Li, pass the order down and immediately organize soldiers to strengthen the city defenses. At the same time, prepare sufficient food and medicine to ensure that the soldiers on the front line have no worries." I took a deep breath, turned back to the tent, and began to arrange the logistics work in an orderly manner.

"Your Majesty, you haven't slept for a whole day and night. You should take a rest first." Prime Minister Li looked at my tired face and said with concern.

"No, I'm not tired yet." I shook my head. "I'm going to wait here for news of their victory."

For the next few days, I didn't dare to rest for a moment. I personally visited the wounded soldiers in the wounded camp, bandaged their wounds, and encouraged them to cheer up. I also visited the people in the city, comforting them and assuring them that we would definitely defeat the enemy and protect our homeland.

My efforts paid off. The soldiers' morale gradually rose, and the people expressed their willingness to support the army and fight the enemy together. The entire city was filled with an atmosphere of shared hatred and solidarity.

It was late at night, I stood on the city wall, looking into the distance, praying silently in my heart.

Suddenly, shouts and cries came from afar, breaking the tranquility of the night.

"Report! Your Majesty, victory news!" A soldier covered in blood stumbled up the city wall and shouted excitedly, "General Zhen led the army and successfully captured the Valley of Broken Souls. The enemy suffered heavy casualties!"

I was delighted and asked quickly, "Is General Zhen injured?"

"The general..." The soldier hesitated, wanting to speak but stopped talking.

"Hurry up and tell me!" My heart suddenly rose to my throat.

The soldier took a deep breath and said, "The general... led the troops and was surrounded by the enemy..."

"Surrounded?!" My heart sank. Zhen Youcai's resolute face appeared in my mind, and an ominous premonition came over me. "What are the casualties? How is he?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the terrain of Broken Soul Valley is dangerous. Although our army has captured the valley, we have suffered heavy casualties... In order to cover the retreat of his brothers, General Zhen was besieged at the bottom of the valley by the main force of the enemy..." The soldier burst into tears when he said this.

"Your Majesty, the Valley of Broken Souls is easy to defend but difficult to attack. General Zhen is in great danger this time!" Prime Minister Li burst into tears, heartbroken.

"No, I won't!" I grabbed the battlements on the city wall and tried to calm myself down. Zhen Youcai promised me that he would return safely, and he would never break his promise!

"Pass the order down, gather all the troops, follow me to the Valley of Broken Souls, and rescue General Zhen!" I jumped on the horse and looked into the distance with a determined look.

"Your Majesty, absolutely not!" Prime Minister Li hurriedly dissuaded him. "Your body is worth a ton of gold. How can you risk it so easily? Besides, the enemy outnumbers us. A rash attack would only result in wasted lives..."

"There's no time!" I interrupted him, my tone unquestionable, "I have made up my mind, Prime Minister Li, there is no need to say more!"

As I sped along, my mind replayed every moment of my time with Zhen Youcai. From the misunderstandings of our initial encounter, to the tacit understanding we developed while fighting side by side, to the current worry about his life or death, my heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it impossible to breathe.

By the time we reached the outskirts of Broken Souls Valley, the deafening cries of killing had gradually died down. I dismounted and, in the darkness, surveyed the valley. At the bottom, I saw flames rising to the sky, and the cries of killing and screaming intertwined, a scene resembling hell on earth.

"Your Majesty, the enemy is well prepared. They've laid a tight net, waiting for us to fall into it!" A scout knelt on one knee and anxiously reported, "General Zhen and his soldiers are trapped in a cave at the bottom of the valley. The situation is extremely critical!"

My heart sank to the bottom. At this moment, I suddenly discovered a hidden path on the left side of the valley. It was the path I accidentally discovered when I was trying to avoid being hunted. Even Zhen Youcai didn't know about the existence of this path.

"Prime Minister Li, lead the main force in a feint attack to draw the enemy's attention!" I pointed to the path and ordered the guards beside me, "Take five hundred elite soldiers with me and go around to the rear of the enemy and catch them off guard!"

The guard was stunned for a moment, as if he couldn't believe his ears, "Your Majesty, this is too dangerous! You..."

"Follow orders!" I didn't give him any chance to question it, and resolutely embarked on that narrow and winding path full of unknowns...

The night wind whistled past my ears, branches scraping against my armor, making a rustling sound. This hidden path—if I hadn't been trying to avoid capture back then, I wouldn't have even noticed its existence. Five hundred elite soldiers followed closely behind me, each breathing clearly audible. I could sense the tension and anxiety in their hearts, but no one made a sound.

"Your Majesty, the enemy's rear is just ahead!" An hour later, we finally reached our destination. I crouched low, observing the enemy's movements by the light of the fire. They were completely focused on besieging the valley floor, completely unaware of the danger that was quietly approaching.

"Kill!" I drew the sword from my waist and, like an enraged lioness, led five hundred elite soldiers into the enemy camp like a tiger descending from a mountain. The sudden attack threw the unsuspecting enemy into chaos.

"Enemy attack! There is an enemy attack!" Panicked shouts echoed throughout the valley. Before the enemy commander could react, he was hacked to the ground by my personal guards.

"Brothers, follow me to kill the enemy and rescue General Zhen!" I raised my arms and shouted, and my voice echoed in the valley. When the soldiers who were originally trapped at the bottom of the valley heard my voice, their morale was immediately boosted, and they fought bravely against the enemy as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

"Meng Meng!" Just then, I heard a familiar cry. Looking up, I saw Zhen Youcai, covered in blood, leading the remaining soldiers towards me. His eyes were filled with surprise and worry, and he was obviously relieved to see that I was safe and sound.

"I'm glad you're okay!" I walked forward and held his hand tightly. Thousands of words turned into this sentence.

"I'll be fine, because I know you will come to save me!" Zhen Youcai looked at me affectionately, his eyes firm and gentle.

Attacked from both sides, the enemy's formation was thrown into disarray and they were forced to retreat step by step. Finally, under our combined efforts, the enemy army collapsed completely, and the remaining soldiers and generals abandoned their weapons and fled in all directions.

In this battle, we achieved a decisive victory and successfully resolved the border crisis. With this victory, Zhen Youcai and I became known throughout the country, and our prestige reached unprecedented heights.

On the way back to the capital, the people lined the streets to welcome us, their cheers deafening. I rode my warhorse alongside Zhen Youcai, my heart filled with joy and pride.

However, deep in my heart, there is always a lingering haze.

"Youcai, do you think this war is really over?" I turned to look at him beside me and asked softly.

Zhen Youcai was silent for a moment, then tightened his grip on my hand slightly: "This war is over, but..."

He hesitated to speak, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"The war is over, but..." Zhen Youcai's words weighed heavily on my heart like a huge rock. I knew what he was unspoken about. This victory was only an external one. The real challenge came from within, from those deeply entrenched old forces.

"We can't let our guard down." I gripped the reins tightly, my gaze determined. "Prime Minister Li is pretending to obey, but secretly disobeying. This time, I personally led the army, and while he publicly prepared for food and fodder, he actually procrastinated and prevaricated. If we hadn't been prepared, the consequences would have been disastrous!"

A cold glint flashed in Zhen Youcai's eyes: "Prime Minister Li is a powerful figure with many followers. If you want to move him, you must think long and hard."

"I know." I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. "To resist foreign aggression, we must first stabilize the country. I understand this principle. What we need now is evidence, solid evidence, so that we can bring him down in one fell swoop!"

On my triumphant return, I appeared elated, but a dark undercurrent surged within me. The cheers of the people seemed to remind me of the responsibility I shouldered, and that this invisible war had only just begun.

Upon returning to the palace, I immediately summoned the commander of the secret guards and tasked him with investigating Prime Minister Li. "Remember, be extremely cautious and don't alert the enemy."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The commander of the secret guards took the order and left. Only then did I feel a little tired.

"Mengmeng, you haven't slept for several nights. Go and have some rest first." Zhen Youcai looked at me with concern, his eyes full of worry.

"I can't rest yet." I shook my head. "As long as Prime Minister Li is not removed, I will never have peace."

I know this will be a long and arduous struggle, but I will not back down. For the sake of this country and for the well-being of its people, I must do my utmost.

Late at night, I was alone in the imperial study, reviewing memorials, when a secret letter from a secret guard shattered the night's tranquility. I eagerly opened the envelope, but the contents of the letter struck me like a bolt of lightning.

"Prime Minister Li is colluding with neighboring countries and plotting rebellion..."

The secret letter in my hand slowly slipped out, and my eyes were filled with shock and anger.

"Someone come!" I stood up suddenly, my voice icy cold.

"Your Majesty, what do you want?" The guard hurried over and knelt on one knee.

"Pass on my order. Immediately seal the city gates and arrest Prime Minister Li. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

The guards took their orders and left, but my heart lingered. Prime Minister Li held great power and influence, his entrenched position within the government. Taking him down would be no easy task. I felt as if I were witnessing the calm before the storm; the air was thick with tension.

Zhen Youcai rushed over upon hearing the news. Seeing the secret letter in my hand, his expression grew serious. "Prime Minister Li is so audacious! It seems we underestimated his ambition."

"There is no time to lose, we must act immediately and never let him succeed!" I acted decisively and quickly deployed troops to tightly guard the palace inside and outside. At the same time, I sent people to Prime Minister Li's residence to bring him to justice.

The night was deep, but the palace was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. I stood in the hall, armor on, sword in hand, waiting for news.

Time ticked by, and my heart grew heavier. Suddenly, I heard hurried footsteps, and a guard rushed into the hall, fell to his knees, and reported in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, this is bad! Prime Minister Li...he's led the rebels to attack the palace!"

"What?!" I was shocked, a surge of rage rising in my heart. "How dare this old scoundrel openly rebel! Pass on my decree, mobilize all the imperial guards, and defend the palace to the death!"

"Yes!" The guard took the order and left.

The cries of killing shook the earth. Outside the palace, flames shot up into the sky. The rebels surged in like a tide, frantically attacking every defense of the palace. I stood on the city wall, watching the chaotic scene before me, my heart filled with anger and worry.

"Mengmeng, don't be afraid, I'm here!" Zhen Youcai, wearing armor and holding a spear, stood beside me, his face full of determination and resoluteness.

"Youcai, you have to be careful!" I held his hand tightly, my eyes full of worry and love.

I know that this is a battle of life and death. We must try our best to defend this land and our common home.

"Kill!" Amidst the deafening cries of "Kill!", Zhen Youcai and I fought side by side, leading the soldiers loyal to us in a desperate struggle with the rebels. Blades flashed, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and I wielded my sword with only one belief in my heart: victory!