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

Faced with Yue Fei's well-reasoned and evidence-based explanation, Qin Chuan immediately looked troubled.

But he quickly came up with a new excuse: "General Yue, have you already defected to the State of Chu?"

Yue Fei remained silent, simply gazing at Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan continued, "When I entered the city, I saw the weapons that General Yue's troops were equipped with. I suppose they are the legendary Chu army, right?"

The Song Dynasty had initially wanted to purchase a batch of firearms from the Chu Kingdom but was unable to do so. Unexpectedly, General Yue Fei's entire force was equipped with such formidable firearms.

I believe that only by pledging allegiance to the State of Chu could you gain such favor from the Chu court. Please allow me to say something unpleasant.

If General Yue has truly served the State of Chu, then why are you now appearing on the soil of my Great Song Dynasty with these so-called righteous armies?

There's no difference between you and the Jurchens, because you're fighting for the Chu Kingdom, not for the revival of our Great Song Dynasty.

You are invaders just like the Jurchens; the difference is that you invaded our Song Dynasty territory under the banner of recovering lost lands.

Such actions are tantamount to betraying the Song Dynasty and betraying His Majesty's trust in you.

Faced with such a pointed question, Yue Fei calmly replied: "The soldiers of the Independent Brigade are all citizens of the Song Dynasty, but they were all conscripted by the Chu Kingdom."

"May I ask, Your Excellency Qin, why are the people of my Song state appearing on Chu territory, willing to serve in Chu's military?"

Qin Chuan: "The fate of the Song Dynasty has changed, and it is understandable that the Song people are seeking refuge in the State of Chu. I wonder what General Yue is trying to prove by saying this..."

"Have they also betrayed the Song Dynasty?" Yue Fei countered. "They already had a stable life in Chu, yet they still followed me to Song territory."

What was the purpose? Wasn't it to save the Song Dynasty from its precarious state? Yet Lord Qin regarded this sincere intention as equivalent to the Jurchen invasion.

If these words get out, what will the people of the Song Dynasty think?

Qin Chuan: "Those common people don't understand the laws of the country, they..."

"They may not understand the laws of the country, but they are fighting for the country. It is one thing for Lord Qin to falsely accuse me, Yue, of treason, but why humiliate these soldiers who are fighting for the country?"

In your eyes, are all those who don't do what you say just a bunch of ignorant and unruly people?

Qin Chuan was speechless again, and when he met Yue Fei's sharp eyes, he couldn't help but frown.

"I have already made myself very clear. I, Yue, only serve the legitimate Song Emperor, not the enemy prince. Your Highness, Prince Kang, is a son of Emperor Hui."

Seeing his father and brothers suffering, he should do everything in his power to bring them back, instead of hiding in Guangling and declaring himself emperor.

"Furthermore, if the State of Chu truly intended to invade the State of Song, they wouldn't have allowed a Song citizen like myself to lead the army, and they wouldn't have sent just this mere brigade."

Do you know how many armies like the Independent Brigade are in the Great Chu? If Lord Qin insists that we have other purposes for coming to the Song Dynasty, then please leave.

I don't have time to play these pointless games with you right now.

Qin Chuan was immediately in a dilemma.

He had boasted to Wang Boyan that he could definitely persuade Yue Pengju's troops to serve Prince Kang.

But now he realizes he may have been too optimistic.

Although Yue Fei did not explicitly reject him, his attitude was very clear: he did not acknowledge the Prince of Kang as his master.

"General Yue, I apologize for what I just said."

Qin Chuan quickly changed his approach, realizing that forcing the issue was useless, so he had to settle for second best and try to get some useful clues from Yue Fei so he could make further plans when he got back.

"Now that the two emperors have been captured by the Jurchens and taken north, their fates unknown, His Highness Prince Kang is just as worried. However, the fall of Bianjing and the deaths of the two emperors are already facts."

The Song Dynasty cannot be without a ruler for even a day. At present, only Prince Kang enjoys the most popular support and will be the one to inherit the throne sooner or later.

Shouldn't General Yue serve His Highness Prince Kang?

Yue Fei replied calmly, "I apologize, but my purpose in returning to the Song Dynasty this time is singular: to expel the Jurchens."

Protect the people of my Great Song Dynasty from the ravages of war; I have no other concern myself with anything else. You can go back and tell Prince Kang that I, Yue, only recognize Emperors Huizong and Qinzong.

As for Prince Kang, please forgive me for not having the time or inclination to concern myself with him. Please leave.

Qin Chuan wanted to say something more, but seeing that Yue Fei had no intention of continuing the conversation, he could only sigh and give up. He bowed to Yue Fei and turned to walk out of the city.

"Report~"

The guard's voice rang out from outside the door.

"Reporting to the innkeeper, Lin Yunxiu, the master of Jinyun Manor, requests an audience outside the city."

"welcome."

Before long, Lin Yunxiu appeared before Yue Fei in a smart outfit.

Before Yue Fei could speak, Lin Yunxiu cupped her hands in greeting and said, "General Yue, would you be willing to take me in and help me fulfill Zhou Xianwu's unfinished wish?"

Yue Fei glanced at the valiant female warrior and nodded vigorously: "Of course, please sit down, Miss Lin. I also have many things to discuss with you."

After Lin Yunxiu sat down gracefully, she slowly spoke: "General Yue wants to know about the Jurchens' actions, right?"

Yue Fei: "Lady Lin is a woman of few words. I was just wondering about the deployment in Bianjing and the situation of the two emperors."

Lin Yunxiu: "The current situation of the Song Dynasty is all due to the incompetence and servility of Emperor Huizong and Emperor Huan, who bowed and scraped to the Jin people. Does General Yue intend to pledge allegiance to them?"

Yue Fei replied, "It was only with the permission of the Empress Dowager and the Regent of Great Chu that I was able to receive the order to enter Song and turn the tide."

But without a suitable reason for sending troops, it will ultimately lack legitimacy and justification. Does Lady Lin understand what I mean?

Lin Yunxiu: "I am not clear about the defenses of Bianjing, but I know something about the situation and whereabouts of the two emperors."

Yue Fei frowned.

Lin Yunxiu continued, "The two emperors were captured by the Jurchens and suffered constant humiliation and beatings along the way. The rest of the Song imperial family also endured the same fate."

Judging by the time now, we should be arriving in the capital soon.

Upon hearing this, Yue Fei closed his eyes, not wanting Lin Yunxiu to see the sorrow in them.

"General Yue?"

"I am fine."

Yue Fei mustered his strength and tried to calm his various emotions.

"Go on, is there anything else?"

……

On the outskirts of the capital, a long line of people is slowly approaching the city.

After a long journey of more than a month, the captured Song people and their officials finally arrived at their destination—Shangjing.

"Go faster!"

The Jin soldiers in charge of supervision gave Zhao Ji and his son a push, urging them to walk faster.

At this moment, Emperor Huizong and his son were wearing heavy fur coats, their faces covered in grime and etched with the marks of time.

October in the north is unusually cold, and it has just snowed heavily.

Emperor Huizong and his son huddled together, shivering from the cold.

Along the way, the two experienced all walks of life.

The 300,000-strong force was divided into several waves and headed to various parts of the North.

Of the 10,000 people in this group, less than half survived when they arrived in Shangjing. Most of them died from humiliation at the hands of the Jurchens, or from freezing and starvation.

Only these members of the royal family and the artisans and physicians in the group were spared from death due to the special care they received from the Jurchens.

"Father, Father, and Brother!"

As soon as he entered the capital, Zhao Ji heard someone calling his name from ahead.

Looking up, Zhao Ji couldn't help but burst into tears.

The group of women in front of him—weren't they his concubines and daughters?

"Jin Nu, Consort Wei, Jin Yan, you're all here too..."

The group met there and immediately embraced and wept bitterly.

But before they could even enjoy the joy of their reunion, they were interrupted by the arrogant Jurchens behind them.

"Hurry up! The King wants to see you at the palace. Quickly!"

"What does he want to do by meeting us?"

"Of course, I must wish all the readers watching on screen a Happy New Year! You should all kowtow together too!"