Her hands began to tremble violently, starting from her fingertips and quickly spreading throughout her arm, as if an invisible and powerful force was manipulating them at will.

The fingertips were pale from excessive force, like the remaining snow in winter, fragile and helpless.

Even so, she gritted her teeth and used all her strength to suppress the urge to follow the Emperor's gaze.

He simply stared at the Emperor with an empty yet stubborn gaze.

It was as if by simply staring intently at the emperor, one could draw strength from his seemingly indestructible body to support one's faltering spirit.

Seeing his empress so distraught and terrified, the emperor felt a pang of pain in his heart, as if he had been stabbed by a sharp dagger.

The Empress herself is exceptionally intelligent and perceptive; she has likely already vaguely guessed the seriousness of the matter, but simply dares not confront this cruel reality.

He subconsciously turned his gaze back to the letter in his hand, which seemed to weigh a ton. At this moment, the paper was no longer an ordinary document in his eyes.

Rather, it is a heavy declaration bearing the loss of countless vibrant lives, a cold verdict of a catastrophe.

His usually warm and powerful hands now seemed to have been pulled from the depths of an ancient ice cellar, exuding a bone-chilling cold, as if even the blood had frozen in that instant.

The chill spread from his arm to his whole body, causing him to tremble slightly.

His lips trembled uncontrollably, and his upper and lower teeth chattered, making a faint but rapid "clucking" sound.

It felt like a thousand words were churning wildly in my throat, and I couldn't wait to pour them out.

But his throat felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible and icy hand, as dry as a dried-up riverbed, unable to utter a single complete sound.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment, becoming eternal, with each passing second like a heavy hammer blow.

It struck his heart again and again, relentlessly and slowly, causing him unbearable pain.

After what seemed like an eternity, the Emperor slowly closed his eyes, his thick, long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Like withered leaves trembling in the autumn wind, they seemed to be struggling against the cruel reality before them, which was like a nightmare.

When she opened her eyes again, they were filled with grief and sorrow, her gaze as if she had experienced endless vicissitudes and sorrow.

Like a deep, cold pool, it exudes endless despair and desolation.

His voice became hoarse and rough due to extreme grief, like sandpaper struggling to rub against a cracked wooden board, making a heart-wrenching "shh" sound.

His voice was filled with endless weariness and heaviness; every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his broken heart, carrying traces of blood and pain.

"General Zhenyuan led his entire family to defend the country when the Kingdom of Jizi suddenly attacked the city. In the end, they all died for their country, with none escaping."

My father, the Empress Dowager, along with the Duke of Qin and his wife, have already rushed to the border of the Kingdom of Jizi.

That hateful Jizi Kingdom actually hung the heads of General Zhenyuan and his entire family above the city gate to demonstrate their so-called "victory".

"My dear Zitong, I truly do not know how to express this devastating news to Qin Qianluo."

As the emperor spoke, tears welled in his eyes, and his voice gradually choked up, as if he were being choked by immense grief and could no longer speak.

Only the tears of sorrow slowly slid down his cheeks, dripping onto his dragon robe, staining it with patches of deep sadness.

Upon hearing the Emperor's death knell-like pronouncements, the Empress felt as if a sharp, gleaming blade had pierced her heart; she was struck by lightning and her body swayed slightly.

She slowly closed her eyes, her thick eyelashes trembling slightly, as if futilely resisting the grief that was crashing down on her like a raging tsunami.

However, this grief, like a raging torrent, surged forth from the deepest corner of her heart, ruthlessly shattering all her psychological defenses.

When she opened her eyes again, those once bright and beautiful eyes were now filled with glistening tears.

Like dewdrops trembling on lotus leaves in the early morning, swirling in her eyes, a mere breeze would cause them to slide down her fair, jade-like cheeks.

Her gaze involuntarily followed the Emperor's previous line of sight, slowly turning towards the direction where Qin Qianluo was, her eyes filled with deep reluctance and endless compassion.

She knew all too well that what awaited Qin Qianluo was a catastrophe capable of leveling her entire world.

She herself felt as if she were in a fog, unable to find any suitable words to uncover this cruel, nightmarish truth.

Looking at the Empress's grief-stricken and frail appearance, the Emperor felt as if his own heart had been torn into countless pieces.

With a heart full of tenderness, he gently reached out his hand—the hand that had once commanded the court, a hand brimming with authority and power.

At this moment, however, his heart was filled with grief and worry, and he trembled slightly as he gently placed his hand on the empress's trembling hand and patted it lightly.

He was trying to convey the power deep within his heart to her through this subtle gesture.

Then, he turned his head slightly, his gaze like a sharp lightning bolt, shooting straight at Eunuch Li, his eyes conveying an unquestionable command.

Eunuch Li served the emperor for many years and understood the emperor's every glance and every subtle movement perfectly.

He instantly realized the gravity of the situation, and a surge of grief and indignation, like a volcanic eruption, welled up in his heart.

But with the composure and forbearance he had honed over many years in the palace, he suppressed the emotions that were about to consume him and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Then, he turned around hastily and walked out of the tent with quick but steady steps.

His figure paused briefly at the tent entrance, he took a deep breath, tried to calm his fluctuating emotions, and straightened his neat but slightly heavy robes.

He quickly disappeared from everyone's sight, like a black shadow, to complete the important mission entrusted to him by the emperor.

Upon hearing the order, all the ministers felt a sudden tightness in their hearts, and an ominous premonition quickly enveloped their minds like a dark cloud.

They knew in their hearts that for the emperor to summon everyone so urgently, there must have been a major event concerning the life and death of the country.

Therefore, they dared not delay for the slightest and put down the prey they were processing.

Their steps were hurried and flustered; some didn't even have time to straighten their official hats, running all the way with solemn expressions and deep worry and anxiety in their eyes.

Qin Qianluo and Su Jinyun were also among the hurried crowd.

They keenly sensed the unusual atmosphere around them, as if a sense of oppression and tension permeated the air, like the dullness and oppression before a storm.

This strange feeling made their hearts beat faster involuntarily, as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping their hearts.

A strong sense of unease welled up in Qin Qianluo's heart, and her eyes revealed a hint of panic, like a frightened fawn.

Su Jinyun noticed the change in Qin Qianluo's emotions and quietly reached out her hand. Her hand was fair and warm, and she gently grasped Qin Qianluo's hand.

Their fingers intertwined gently, with a slight pressure, conveying a silent comfort.

Qin Jiyuan lagged slightly behind, his tall and upright figure standing out in the crowd.

His brows were furrowed, like two intertwined mountain peaks, and his eyes revealed deep worry.

It was as if they had a premonition that what was about to happen would be incredibly difficult and could deal a heavy blow to the entire country.

As he walked, he quickly considered all the possible scenarios in his mind.

His steps were steady and firm, yet carried a subtle heaviness, as if each step bore countless worries and responsibilities.

Once all the officials had arrived, the tent fell silent, as if time itself had frozen.

You could even clearly hear everyone's rapid and heavy breathing, and the pounding of their hearts.

Everyone looked up and saw the emperor's face full of indignation and reluctance. His expression was like a statue eroded by anger and sorrow, frozen with endless pain and helplessness.

His eyes burned with furious rage, as if he wanted to incinerate the enemy who dared to offend the dignity of the nation.

And deep within those eyes lay endless unbearable sorrow and grief, as if bearing the suffering and pain of the entire nation.

This scene caused a stir of panic among the crowd, as if a huge rock had been thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that surged and churned.

Qin Qianluo naturally noticed the unusual expression on the Emperor's face. Her expression instantly turned ashen, and her originally rosy lips turned slightly pale.

Her eyes held an unprecedented seriousness and focus, as if she were trying to decipher what was about to happen from the Emperor's expression.

Since the Emperor ascended the throne, she had followed him through countless occasions and witnessed his composure and majesty.

But I have never seen the Emperor show such a heartbroken and indignant expression.

A strong sense of unease welled up inside her, as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, making her feel suffocated.

Qin Qianluo felt her heart was in turmoil, as if countless little deer were running wildly inside her.

It was as if I were in a vast fog, surrounded by unknown fears, with no direction in sight.

Su Jinyun sensed Qin Qianluo's unease. She gripped Qin Qianluo's hand again, using her warm and firm strength to try to dispel the fear in Qin Qianluo's heart.

She tilted her head slightly and looked at Qin Qianluo with gentle and encouraging eyes.

Qin Qianluo turned her head slightly and glanced at Su Jinyun. Her eyes were full of dependence and trust, as if Su Jinyun was her only support in this chaotic world.

She forced a smile, a smile tinged with bitterness and helplessness, as if she were putting on a brave face to try and hide her inner fear.

But she still tried her best to hold Su Jinyun's hand back, attempting to draw some strength from Su Jinyun, and then quietly waited for the emperor to speak.

Although she was in a state of panic, she regained some composure with Su Jinyun's company.

It was as if she had grasped a lifeline in the darkness, giving her a sliver of support amidst her endless fear.

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