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

"Stop, wait here."

As dusk fell, Jiang Mengxuan arrived at the General's Mansion in the West City.

Looking at the dim lights inside the mansion, she couldn't help but sigh softly, dismissed the servants who had accompanied her, and entered the mansion alone.

White banners had already been hung in front of the main hall. Inside the hall, a slightly hunched figure, dressed in mourning clothes, was kneeling before a coffin, throwing paper money into a burning brazier.

Ye Mo has been guarding Han Yu's coffin for three whole days without sleep or rest.

Ye Mo didn't notice Jiang Mengxuan entering the hall and continued to numbly throw paper money into the brazier.

"Ah~"

Looking at Han Yu's body placed in the center, and recalling the scene of his suicide in the suburbs of Jinling a few days ago, the Empress couldn't help but sigh softly.

"This old minister was unaware of Your Majesty's visit and has failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me."

Ye Mo then realized that the Empress had arrived at the mourning hall, and immediately cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to her.

"Prime Minister Ye, there's no need for such formalities. I haven't seen you attend court for three days, and I've been quite worried about you. Have you been here all these past three days?"

Ye Mo nodded, then continued to face Han Yu's body.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has a request of you. While Han Yu's desertion in the face of battle certainly violates the military law of Great Chu, he was also forced to do so."

Now that he is gone, I beg Your Majesty not to implicate his family, lest you discourage the soldiers guarding the city.

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent, walked silently to the memorial tablet, picked up three incense sticks, and lit them on the candlestick.

Then, he bowed slightly to Han Yu's remains.

Finally, he placed the incense sticks into the altar and walked back to Ye Mo's side.

Ye Mo glanced wearily at the Empress and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. If Han Yu knew that the Empress herself offered incense for him, he could rest in peace in the afterlife..."

As he spoke, he became emotional and silently wept, leaning against the coffin.

"Why is this child so stubborn?"

“I mentioned that if the Great Chu could recover the old capital, it could regain its former glory, and as a result, this child actually remembered it, and remembered it for a full thirteen years!”

“He is talented. I originally wanted to hire the best teacher for him so that he could enter the imperial court and serve the country in the future, but he insisted on going to Luoyang to join the army.”

"I never imagined that he would leave us like this after ten years, without even leaving behind any descendants. I'm so sorry, so incredibly sorry..."

At this moment, Ye Mo's hoarse voice echoed continuously within the General's Mansion.

Jiang Mengxuan remained silent, waiting quietly for Ye Mo to calm down.

At this moment, she couldn't quite understand what kind of person this powerful minister, whom she was so determined to overthrow, really was.

Soon, Ye Mo calmed himself down by sniffling and bowed to the Empress in apology.

"Your Majesty, it was this old minister who lost his composure. Please forgive him."

"Prime Minister Ye, what exactly is your relationship with Han Yu? Can you tell me?"

"Han Yu is a child I unintentionally rescued from slave traders years ago. Seeing that he is clever, I decided to have him as a study companion for my good-for-nothing sons in the future."

But who would have thought that this child was a prodigy in both literature and martial arts? At only eight years old, he could understand military texts and even point out the flaws in the politics of our Great Chu Dynasty.

At that time, the old minister thought that it was a waste of the child's talent to only have him as a study companion, so he wanted to ask a teacher to educate him to become a useful person.

Later, the child grew up and developed his own ambitions. He wanted to fulfill the old minister's unfulfilled wish.

That is to see the old capital of my Great Chu return to the imperial court in my lifetime.

Despite my advice, he insisted on going to Luoyang to join the army.

Unexpectedly, Han Yu left first.

Your Majesty, he is only thirty-two years old. With a few more years of training, he could become another great general for our Great Chu. It's such a pity..."

Jiang Mengxuan was shocked: "So, Prime Minister Ye, all these years have been for the day when Great Chu recaptures the old capital, Chang'an?"

"Your Majesty must be very surprised, right?" Ye Mo changed his kneeling posture. "This old minister knows that in Your Majesty's heart, this old minister and the Ye family are people of immense power."

But this old minister has never done anything to harm the state of Chu. My greatest wish in life is to drive out the barbarian barbarians and see the day when Chu recovers Chang'an.

That's exactly what I did. Your Majesty, immediately after your ascension to the throne, I coerced you into negotiating peace with the Yan Kingdom precisely to preserve your strength.

We await the opportune moment to wage a decisive battle against the Xia Kingdom. This old minister has prepared for this day for a long time, but the Great Chu is beset by internal and external troubles.

Your Majesty is still young, so this old minister must postpone speaking frankly to Your Majesty and quietly wait for the most suitable opportunity to arrive.

But man proposes, God disposes; the chieftain of the Xia state launched an attack first, leading to the fall of Luoyang and plunging our Chu state into an unfavorable situation.

At this point, Ye Mo seemed to remember something and immediately asked, "Your Majesty, is it an envoy from the Xia Kingdom who has come to see us today?"

"Hmm." Jiang Mengxuan responded, "The Xia Kingdom envoy was extremely arrogant and did not respect the Chu Kingdom's ruler and ministers at all. He was stabbed to death by Shen Lang on the spot in the Huangji Hall."

"What? The Xia Kingdom envoy is dead?" Ye Mo's face was full of disbelief.

"He and his thirteen accompanying deputy envoys were all killed by Shen Lang and the Jingwei Division."

"Good kill!"

Unexpectedly, Ye Mo uttered something surprising.

"In this way, the intention to make peace is completely severed, and we can prepare for war with peace of mind."

Ye Mo struggled to his feet and said to the Empress, "Your Majesty, Luoyang must not be lost. We should take advantage of the fact that the Xia army has not yet established a firm foothold and quickly send a large army to retake it."

Jiang Mengxuan: "I have ordered Shen Lang to return to Shanglin Garden to mobilize the Imperial Guards and they will soon be heading west. I have come here today specifically to ask Prime Minister Ye whether your son should be taken home for the time being?"

"No!"

Ye Mo immediately refused.

“Now that my son is a member of the Imperial Guard, everything should be done according to military regulations. He should not be allowed to enjoy special privileges just because he is the son of a veteran official.”

"But Prime Minister Ye, Ye Hui is your own son. On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. What if something happens to him..."

"Your Majesty, there's no need to persuade me further. My son joined the Imperial Guard not to enjoy a life of luxury, but to serve in the war."

He too will not escape this fate. Your Majesty need not concern yourself with this old minister; simply proceed according to your own will.

Jiang Mengxuan stared blankly at Ye Mo, quite surprised by what he said.

Ye Mo continued, "Besides, isn't His Majesty also tormented? With the Imperial Guards mobilized, only Shen Lang can subdue these arrogant and fierce soldiers."

"With Shen Lang leaving, I'm afraid we'll have to miss our wedding again."

Upon hearing Ye Mo's words, Jiang Mengxuan felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

In these turbulent times, what can be done?

"Prime Minister Ye, let me tell you something from my heart. I truly admire Shen Lang. Perhaps at first I only wanted to use him."

We supported each other because of our shared interests. In fact, I did nothing; he shouldered everything for me.

But now, my feelings for him go beyond mere exploitation; I genuinely want to be with him forever. Do you understand this feeling?

"Shen Lang is young and promising, and His Majesty is in the prime of his life; they are a perfect match. When he returns in triumph..."

"If Your Majesty were to give him a grand and spectacular wedding, he would surely be able to better assist Your Majesty in the future."

Jiang Mengxuan smiled and said, "Prime Minister Ye, this is the first time I've heard you use such flattering words."

Ye Mo smiled knowingly: "These are all my heartfelt words."

At this moment, the tension between the emperor and his minister eased considerably, no longer as tense as it had been when the emperor had first ascended the throne.

"Your Majesty, if the Imperial Guard needs anything for the expedition, just tell this old minister. This old minister will do everything in his power to help Shen Lang's army recapture Luoyang."

Seeing Ye Mo's statement, the Empress nodded slightly.

"Minister Ye, please accept my condolences. Our friend has passed away. Do not let this harm your health. I still have many things I need to rely on you for."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to give my life for you!"