Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Ten miles outside Jinling City, in the open fields, people who had fled from Luoyang City sat in small groups.

Their eyes were numb, and their whole bodies showed signs of exhaustion.

After a month-long journey, they finally managed to shake off the Western Xia pursuers and arrive at the outskirts of Jinling.

The soldiers escorting these civilians were the remnants of Han Yu's main force.

At this moment, the entire army, including Han Yu and Li Jing, consisted of twenty-six people after a bloody battle.

This was the last remaining garrison of the Heluo region, an elite force guarding the northwestern gateway of the Chu state.

"Is there any dry food left?"

"Without the general, we have gone without food and water for two days."

Han Yu's lips were cracked, his face was pale, and his armor had been torn to shreds in the battle with the cavalry.

But at this moment, what he cares about most is still the people who have been escorting him all the way.

Li Jing took out his empty food bag, shook his head at Han Yu, and sighed helplessly.

"General, why don't we continue? We only need to go another ten miles to reach the capital."

"With Luoyang fallen, how can I face His Majesty? Further ahead lies Jinling. I only hope that the court can take in these people and pardon my brothers for their retreat."

"General, this is the fault of that treacherous Zhang Liang, it really has nothing to do with you!"

"Enough said. As the city's garrison commander, I bear the same responsibility."

Han Yu looked towards Jinling, his eyes filled with determination.

"My wish is that one day, the royal army will recapture the old capital, the nation will endure forever, and the rest..."

He sighed softly, and in his pupils, a cloud of dust appeared on the distant horizon.

"I have no other regrets!"

A slight smile appeared on Han Yu's lips. The large banner with the character "Chu" in the distance was so beautiful and dazzling.

"Giddy up!"

Upon learning of Han Yu's return, Ye Mo, despite his old age, frantically urged his horse forward, quickly approaching the refugees' location.

Behind him, the Empress, dressed in military attire, also rode on a warhorse, riding alongside Ye Mo.

This was the first time in her life that she had ridden a horse and spurred it on, yet she felt no discomfort whatsoever.

What surprised her most was the unprecedented excitement and nervousness she felt in Ye Mo's expression.

When the imperial army arrived at the refugee camp, Ye Mo immediately bowed to the Empress and said, "Your Majesty, please allow this old minister to proceed first."

Jiang Mengxuan pulled on the reins, and the imperial guards following behind her also shouted at her to stop their warhorses.

"Ah."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Having received the promise, Ye Mo leaped off his horse and hurriedly ran towards the refugee settlement.

Before he could even open his mouth to call out, Han Yu had already taken ten steps in front of Ye Mo, then knelt down on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and shouted, "Prime Minister Ye, please wait!"

Ye Mo was taken aback, his cheeks twitching slightly.

"Prime Minister Ye, I have failed your teachings and was unable to protect Luoyang. As a result, the people of the city have been enslaved by the barbarians. Please forgive me, Prime Minister Ye!"

After saying that, Han Yu put down his other leg and kowtowed heavily to Ye Mo.

Ye Mo's eyes immediately turned red: "Han Yu, it's good that you're alive. Get up, get up quickly! I know this isn't your fault! Get up!"

Han Yu showed no intention of getting up, but instead looked up at Ye Mo and said, "Prime Minister Ye, I know that my failure to fight is an unforgivable sin."

At this time, it is inappropriate to make excessive demands, but I would still like to ask Prime Minister Ye to consider that I began guarding Luoyang at the age of twenty-two.

Even if they haven't achieved anything great, they've still put in the effort, so I'll grant the student two requests!

"Don't say anything more, get up quickly. If you have something to say, go back to the capital and tell His Majesty." Ye Mo hurriedly said, "His Majesty learned of your arrival and came to greet you personally. Han Yu, you haven't met His Majesty yet, have you? She..."

Ye Mo, trembling, pointed to the location of the Empress behind him: "Her Majesty has come to welcome you in person!"

Han Yu looked in the direction Ye Mo pointed and saw a beautiful woman riding a horse faintly emerging under a golden banner a few dozen steps away.

"His Majesty……"

He called out softly and gave a bleak smile.

"Long live your Majesty!"

With almost all his strength, Han Yu shouted towards the Empress, then bowed down again!

Upon seeing this, Jiang Mengxuan spurred her horse and slowly rode towards Han Yu's location.

At this moment, Han Yu stood up and said to Ye Mo, "Prime Minister Ye, I have two requests to make of you, and I hope you will grant them!"

"As I said, if you have anything to say, get up and speak to His Majesty."

"No, I am too ashamed to face the Emperor in this state. I can only swallow my pride and beg Prime Minister Ye for help."

"Alright, speak, what do you want to say, and I will certainly grant your request!"

Ye Mo had never been so nervous before. Looking at Han Yu, he realized that he had completely lost the calm and composure that a powerful minister should have.

"Prime Minister Ye, these people have finally managed to escape from Luoyang and fled here with the students. I hope you will not make things difficult for them."

"You don't need to tell me that; I will take good care of them!"

"Also, the brothers of the Second Battalion of the Western Army are not cowards. They only retreated because the students ordered a breakout. I hope Minister Ye will not make things difficult for them."

"I know this is not their fault, and they are all meritorious for protecting the people from danger."

How could the imperial court blame you? They'd be too busy rewarding you! Han Yu, don't take it to heart. Get up and come with me to see the Emperor!

Ye Mo suddenly seemed to realize something, and his expression immediately became tense.

Seeing that Ye Mo had agreed to the terms, Han Yu gave a miserable smile, then drew his military knife and held it to his own neck.

"Han Yu! Don't do anything foolish!"

"I have failed my teacher and the court, causing the deaths of millions of people in Luoyang. How can I face living in this world?"

Your Majesty! I pray from the afterlife that the royal army will advance westward, reclaim the old capital, and defeat the barbarians on that day.

Long live the Great Chu! Long live His Majesty!

After saying that, Han Yu resolutely slashed his neck.

In an instant, blood splattered everywhere.

"General!!!"

"Han Yu!!!"

Li Jing, the surviving soldiers, and Ye Mo all exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this scene.

Jiang Mengxuan, who was on horseback, was equally shocked by what she saw.

"Han Yu...ah..."

Ye Mo rushed to Han Yu's six corpses without hesitation, pushed Li Jing and the others away, and burst into tears.

"My child, why are you so foolish! Why!"

"With you gone, when will we be able to recapture Chang'an..."

He wept uncontrollably, like a lonely old man who had lost a loved one.

Even Jiang Mengxuan was deeply moved by this scene.

She composed herself and immediately issued an order: "Issue my decree that the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works cooperate to resettle the people. Also, have the Ministry of War take over the soldiers of the Western Army and take them to the gardens in the western suburbs to recuperate."

"According to the order!"

Her subordinates immediately did as the Empress instructed.

Jiang Shangxian stepped forward: "Your Majesty, what should we do about Prime Minister Ye?"

Jiang Mengxuan looked at Ye Mo, who was still heartbroken, and simply sighed softly.

"Let Ye Xiang have some peace and quiet."

Just then, a rider galloped away in the distance.

Li Hanyun immediately led his troops to guard in front of the Empress, shouting at the front: "Who dares to charge at the Empress? Halt!"

Upon seeing him, Lai Qi immediately dismounted and quickly walked to Li Hanyun, taking down the letter tube hanging behind him.

"A report has come from Jingzhou that the Xia Kingdom has dispatched an envoy who will arrive in the capital soon to meet the Emperor!"

Li Hanyun took the bamboo tube and turned to hand it to Jiang Mengxuan.

"An envoy? To meet the emperor?"

Jiang Mengxuan's face was frosty, and then she let out a soft snort.

"Summon Shen Lang back to the palace. I want to see how the Xia Kingdom's envoy intends to explain himself to me this time!"

After saying that, she glanced at Ye Mo and the refugees kneeling on the ground crying, then turned her horse around without saying a word.

……

In the land of Shu, the palace of the Prince of Shu in Yuzhou.

Twenty-five-year-old King Jiang Chong of Shu stood in front of a fish tank, playing with a golden carp with great interest.

A moment later, a refined figure suddenly appeared behind him.

The man had a face as smooth as jade, and his calm demeanor revealed a subtle, almost imperceptible sharpness.

"Your Highness, Luoyang has been captured by the Western Xia as planned. I imagine the Great Chu court must be in great shock because of this."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chong paused slightly in his hand as he tossed the feed, then let out a cold laugh.

"Zhang Liang is reliable, so let him stay in Shu."

After speaking, he swatted the fish feed off his hand and turned to look at the refined young man.

Then, he walked to Ye Fan's side and asked, "Do you think that with the court and the public in such turmoil, my dear imperial sister might summon me, her elder brother, to the capital?"

Ye Fan replied, "Probably not. The Empress would never allow a vassal king to enter the capital; that's the bottom line for any emperor."

Jiang Chong frowned deeply: "Then tell me, what are my chances of winning if I raise an army now and take Jinling directly?"

Ye Fan shook his head: "Your Highness, raising an army at this time is a very bad idea. Although the Chu Kingdom is currently in turmoil..."

However, the foundations are still solid, and the aristocratic families still favor legal orthodoxy, while His Highness will ultimately be branded a traitor.

"It would be better to wait and see how she resolves this Western Xia invasion before making a decision."

"Humph."

Jiang Chong snorted coldly, his eyes revealing a fierce glint.

"The throne should have been mine; it's all because my father is too biased."

Ye Fan calmly replied, "Your Highness need not worry too much. The throne will belong to you sooner or later."

"Ah."

Jiang Chong responded, then added, "Surely not many people know that we instigated the Western Xia court to attack Heluo?"

"Except for Zhang Liang, everyone else has been dealt with."

"That's good. Keep a close eye on Zhang Liang and don't let him leave Shu."

"As ordered."

After Ye Fan left, Jiang Chong turned and went into the study.

After pressing a mechanism behind a hidden door, a secret passage slowly emerged.

Upon entering, one is immediately greeted by a dazzling array of jewels and precious stones.

In the very center, on a clothes rack, hung a dragon robe, and behind it was a dragon throne inlaid with gold.

He changed into a dragon robe and sat on the dragon throne.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

In an instant, it was as if I could see a scene of officials paying homage and worship.

"My lords, you may dispense with the formalities. Today I ascend the throne and grant a general amnesty to the world. Hahaha!"

In the realm of his own fantasy, Jiang Chong's empty heart finally found some satisfaction.