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

"Are you trying to force me to my death?"

In the imperial study of Bianliang Palace, Guo Huang and Li Gang knelt before Zhao Huan, pleading with him to abandon his strategy of sending women to please the Jurchens.

Zhao Huan was so angry that he trembled with fear.

"I have been so worried about the precarious state of the Song Dynasty. Now that we have finally seen a chance for peace, you insist on destroying it before you will stop, is that it?"

"It seems you have no respect for me, the emperor of the Zhao family. In that case, I will not sit on the throne. Whoever is capable can sit on it!"

Hearing Zhao Huan's suppressed growl, Ye Fan hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, it's too late to talk about anything else now. The most urgent thing is to send these women to the Jin camp."

Lai Ba: "Yes, Your Majesty, Prince Wanyan also said that if he can't see the woman in time, he doesn't know if he can keep those arrogant and fierce soldiers in check."

What if the Jurchens attack again...

Guo Huang interrupted him directly, saying, "If they attack again, this humble general will defend the city to the death and not let a single Jurchen soldier set foot in Bianjing!"

"Enough! Stop arguing and let me have some peace and quiet."

Zhao Huan shouted angrily, stopping this pointless argument.

After a long while, he sighed, looked at Guo Huang and Li Gang, and said with a pained expression: "General Guo, Vice Minister Li, do you think that doing this will make me feel better?"

In truth, my heart aches a thousand times more than yours. The thought that my Great Song Dynasty must be reduced to sending women to humbly beg for peace breaks my heart.

But there's nothing we can do. The Song Dynasty is currently plagued by internal problems and weak, while the Jurchens are powerful—that's a fact. We can't defeat them.

"Minister Li, don't say it. I know what you're going to say. It's nothing more than to strive for progress, eliminate long-standing problems, and revitalize the court. I understand all of this."

"But these things take time to deal with, and right now our Great Song simply doesn't have the time to do them."

"The only way is to submit to the Jin people. Only if they are willing to withdraw their troops will the Song Dynasty have a chance to breathe, and only then will I have time to reorganize the court and revitalize the country."

"Suffering some humiliation and injustice right now is nothing; the key is what to do in the future."

"I have made my decision. After the Jin army withdraws this time, I will emulate the military system of the Chu Kingdom, procure weapons and arm the Song Dynasty with an elite force, and in the future, we will march north to wipe away the shame and restore the prestige of our nation."

Upon hearing this, Guo Huang seemed slightly moved, but still looked up and said, "Your Majesty, please believe me. Even without such humiliation, I dare to predict that the Jin army will definitely retreat within two months at most."

Zhao Huan waved his hand: "I believe General Guo's words are true, but has General Guo considered that even if we repel the Jin this time, what about next time?"

What if the Jurchens return? Our Great Song Dynasty still won't get enough time to recuperate and rebuild.

Negotiating with the Jurchens is the only viable solution at present. It's not that I'm afraid of the Jurchens; it's simply that the circumstances are unavoidable.

So, General Guo, please don't interfere in this matter anymore. I'm begging you, okay?

As he spoke, Zhao Huan stood up and was about to bow to Guo Huang.

"Your Majesty, it is absolutely impossible!"

Everyone in the Imperial Study was shocked and shouted in unison to stop him, especially Guo Huang, who was moved to tears.

"Your Majesty's suffering is something I deeply understand. Please, Your Majesty, do not demean yourself in this way, and do not let me bear the name of disloyalty."

For a time, the sound of weeping in the imperial study was so moving that it moved heaven and earth; the sight of the emperor and his ministers shedding tears was truly rare.

"So, will you agree to my request? Will you send these women to the Jin camp?"

After this incident, Guo Huang and Li Gang no longer insisted as much as before.

After all, the concept of ruler and subject was already deeply rooted in their hearts. Zhao Huan had already put it this way, so what could they possibly insist on?

"This must never be done!"

Just then, Zhou Xianwu's voice rang out from outside the Imperial Study.

Zhou Xianwu strode into the imperial study and knelt down directly in the direction of Zhao Huan.

"Imperial Censor Zhou, what brings you here?"

"I have come here to apologize to His Majesty."

"What's the crime?"

Zhou Xianwu raised his eyes and said calmly, "The women that the Right Chancellor arrested during the day have all been sent out of the city by me."

"What? They've all been sent away?"

Zhao Huan felt a wave of dizziness and stared at Zhou Xianwu in disbelief.

Zhou Xianwu replied frankly, "I cannot stand by and watch the women of my Great Song Dynasty be violated by the Jurchens like lambs to the slaughter! I cannot allow the dignity of the Great Song Dynasty to be trampled upon like this!"

"Zhou Xianwu, how could you face me?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huan completely dropped his pretense and roared furiously at Zhou Xianwu.

"I command you to bring the person back to me immediately, and I will forgive and forget this matter!"

Zhou Xianwu shook his head blankly: "The person has already gone far away and will not come back. I have come here today only to apologize to Your Majesty."

"You... fine, fine, fine, Zhou Xianwu, you have disappointed me greatly. In that case, guards, take Zhou Xianwu to the imperial prison and await my judgment!"

With his plan thwarted, Zhao Huan was extremely anxious and immediately ordered his guards to enter the imperial study and detain Zhou Xianwu.

Guo Huang hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, he..."

"Anyone who pleads for him will be punished as well!"

Zhao Huan effectively blocked all of Guo Huang's and his men's escape routes.

"Xue Congli!"

"Wei Chen is here."

"Go and investigate immediately which door those women left through, and make sure you bring them back to me!"

"Yes."

Xue Congli wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and decisively turned and left the Imperial Study.

"No need."

Just then, Ye Fan's voice rang out from outside the Imperial Study.

Upon seeing Ye Fan enter, Zhao Huan immediately went to greet him: "Brother Yu, where have you been? What did you mean by what you just said?"

Ye Fan replied, "I apologize for causing Your Majesty concern. I had anticipated this, so I returned to the manor to ask my master and senior sister to secretly keep an eye on the women."

Sure enough, not long ago, these women had been bribed by the imperial guards and quietly headed towards the south gate.

Zhao Huan's eyes lit up: "Then I will immediately notify the guards of the southern city..."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I have made arrangements. My master and the others will handle this matter well, and these people will be sent to the Jin camp as agreed tonight."

Zhao Huan was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Excellent, my brother, you truly understand me best."

Ye Fan replied modestly, "Your Majesty is too kind. This is merely my duty."

"Okay, okay!"

Zhao Huan is finding Ye Fan increasingly pleasing to the eye; he's far superior to Li Gang and Zhou Xianwu.

……

Outside the South Gate, Lin Yunxiu and more than twenty disciples of Jinyun Manor escorted a group of women as they made their way south towards the Wu region in the dark.

But just as they were passing through a desolate area, two sword energies appeared, one on the left and one on the right, blocking their only path.

"Who are you? How dare you block my carriage!"

Ouyang Xuanyi: "Leave the person behind, and you will live."

Without hesitation, Lin Yunxiu retorted with two words: "Dream on!"

Li Wan'er slowly drew her longsword: "Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite!"

Lin Yunxiu immediately drew her sword: "Then let's give it a try."