With a million soldiers, the empress begged me not to rebel

Lu Yan glanced at him sideways:

"Xiao Kui, when did you become so fussy? She's just a woman. If she dies, she dies. How can she ruin my reputation? Besides, my brothers in Shannan Prefecture finally have a chance to rest."

"I don't want to let them die again for an unrelated woman! Whether the empress lives or dies is none of my business!"

Li Kui sighed, knowing that he could not persuade Lu Yan, so he had to say:

"Then... should I ask someone to drive her away?"

"Kick her away? That's too rude and will damage my image. Send her abroad and say I'm busy with official duties and don't have time to deal with such trivial matters."

Lu Yan yawned and said impatiently.

So, Qiao'er was "invited" out by the soldiers of Shannan Prefecture and sent directly out of the territory of Shannan Prefecture.

Qiao'er looked at the tightly closed gate of Shannan Prefecture, her heart filled with despair.

He clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his flesh, and roared at the towering gate of Shannan Mansion at the top of his lungs:

"Lu Yan! You ungrateful and despicable villain! You will die a miserable death!"

The hoarse voice, filled with desperate cries, echoed in the empty wilderness.

"His Majesty trusted you so much and treated you well, yet you stood by and watched her die in her time of need! Where is your conscience?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision.

She saw the trusting look in His Majesty's eyes, but now it turned into a cold rejection.

"I curse you, Lu Yan! I curse you to live a life worse than death, and to have no good end!"

Qiao'er's voice was full of resentment, as if she wanted to pour out all her anger.

She staggered and turned, step by step away from this heartbreaking place.

On the way back to Jingzhou, Qiao'er stumbled and almost crawled forward.

The cold wind cut her face like a knife, but she no longer felt the pain.

His Majesty's kind face and Lu Yan's cold eyes kept appearing in my mind.

The two completely different images intertwined together, almost making her collapse.

As the sky gradually darkened, Qiao'er finally saw the outline of Jingzhou City.

However, what came into view was a sea of ​​fire.

Outside the city, flags covered the sky and shouts of killing shook the heavens. The enemy army had surrounded Jingzhou City.

Flames shot up into the sky from the city walls, and the defenders were fighting a bloody battle.

"No! This is impossible!"

Qiao'er's heart sank suddenly, and an intense feeling of fear engulfed her.

She ran desperately towards the city gate. Along the way, she saw countless fleeing people, their faces filled with fear and despair.

Qiao'er rushed into the city, grabbed a soldier, and asked anxiously:

"What happened? How's the battle going?"

The soldier, covered in blood, replied in horror:

"General Zuo Wei was defeated and killed. The enemy has breached the outer city. Jingzhou City is in imminent danger!"

Qiao'er felt a black screen in front of her eyes and almost fainted.

General Zuo Wei was defeated and killed in battle?

How is that possible? He is the general that His Majesty relies on the most!

Qiao'er suppressed her grief and stumbled to find Li Mu, telling him the result of her trip to Shannan Prefecture.

After hearing this, Li Mu frowned and his face became terribly gloomy:

"Lu Yan is so indifferent? This... this is really puzzling."

He paced back and forth, feeling confused and uneasy.

Xia Shanhu on the side said in a deep voice:

"Now is not the time to investigate the cause. The most urgent task is to find a way to break through and ensure the safety of His Majesty!"

Li Mu pondered for a moment, tapping the table lightly with his fingers, his eyes flickering:

"I suspect that something unpleasant may have happened between Your Majesty and Lu Yan when you went to Shannan Prefecture before, causing Lu Yan to harbor resentment and refuse to send troops to help."

Qiao'er smiled bitterly, her eyes moistening again:

"Maybe... who knows... it's too late to say anything now..."

Li Mu no longer worried about Lu Yan's attitude. He knew that now was not the time to pursue responsibility.

He must come up with a solution as soon as possible to lead everyone out.

"Since we can't count on Shannan Prefecture's support, we can only fight to the death! Tonight, I will open the South Gate to lure away the main enemy force. Qiao'er, you will escort His Majesty through the North Gate!"

Qiao'er said worriedly:

"I'm afraid His Majesty won't agree to this plan... She won't abandon her soldiers and escape alone..."

Li Mu gritted his teeth, a look of determination flashing in his eyes:

"I can't care less! This is our only way to survive! Even if His Majesty disagrees, we must take her away by force!"

Xia Shanhu rubbed his sore eyes and sighed tiredly:

"Your Majesty wants to drive the tiger to devour the wolf, but unfortunately that old fox Zhang Xinwang won't be fooled at all!"

He sank down on the chair.

Li Mu frowned and paced back and forth.

"What on earth does Zhang Xinwang want to do?"

"What else can they do? Of course they want to take advantage of the situation and swallow up our Datong Dynasty in one gulp!"

There was a strong sense of resentment in Xiashanhu's tone.

"He actually made such a huge demand, demanding that Your Majesty give him the National Seal! It's carved from a single piece of natural blood jade, so it's incredibly precious and extremely difficult to replicate!"

Li Mu stopped, a cold light flashed in his eyes:

"The national seal? He's so brave!"

"Not only that," Xiashanhu continued, his tone full of helplessness.

"He also requested that Your Majesty issue an edict to confer upon him the title of King Yi Zi Bing Jian, and to explain that it was Your Majesty who married him!"

"what?!"

Li Mu slammed his fist on the table, making a loud noise.

"This is simply too much! He is threatening the emperor to control the princes!"

Xia Shanhu leaned back in his chair dejectedly:

"With the imperial seal, he will become a co-king. He can then rule on behalf of the emperor and use the emperor to control the princes. Then, if you marry him, the engagement will be finalized. It doesn't matter if it's true or not, as long as others believe it..."

"By then, the Datong Dynasty will be in his pocket!"

Li Mu's face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth and said:

"I can't possibly give him the national seal! As for the last two requests..."

"Your Majesty actually wants to agree!"

Xiashanhu sat up straight abruptly.

"We strongly objected to His Majesty, but His Majesty had made up his mind and wouldn't listen!"

Li Mu took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm:

"Your Majesty, why do you do this? This is tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house!"

Xiashanhu shook his head, his face full of bitterness:

"Who knows? Perhaps they've reached a dead end... Now Jingzhou is under siege, and Shannan Prefecture is standing idly by. Your Majesty..."

Just when the two were at a loss.

A soldier rushed in, knelt on one knee, and reported hurriedly:

"General Li, His Majesty invites you!"

Li Mu's heart sank, knowing that what was coming had finally come.

He took a deep breath and said to Xiashanhu:

"Let's go and see what His Majesty wants to do."

The atmosphere in the meeting hall was solemn.

Chen Qingwan sat in the main seat, her face pale, but she tried to remain calm.

Li Mu, Xiashanhu, Qiao'er and others have all arrived.

Everyone's face looked solemn, like the calm before the storm.

"Is everyone here?"