Holding the script, I want to give up.

"By the way, why...don't you like him?"

After dismissing the servants, Song Yao began chatting with Shangguan Zitong.

"I don't know, maybe I just prefer the idea of ​​one person for life."

"Even if he were the emperor, I still wouldn't like someone as fickle as him."

Shangguan Zitong began to miss Ali again, as if Ali was more suitable for her.

"Then you're just dreaming. It's normal for people here to have multiple wives and concubines."

"Are you influenced by Liu Yunwan to think this way?"

Song Yao found her words utterly ridiculous.

"Maybe, what about you?"

"You...like...him?"

"Knowing that he's wavering between you and me, you... still like him?"

If Song Yao answers yes, Shangguan Zitong will think she's hopelessly love-struck.

No, his heart is no longer with me.

"I realized long ago that he... is ultimately unreliable. The only person I can rely on is myself."

Song Yao shook her head as she watched the crabapple blossoms fall.

Have you ever thought about leaving him?

"Is it because of the child?"

Shangguan Zitong didn't understand why she didn't leave. Since she had accumulated enough disappointment, she should start over somewhere else.

"You...you're asking a question you already know the answer to!"

“My family has long since fallen into decline, how can I have the confidence to leave?”

Because of Huangfu Hongxi, Song Yao was unable to return to Dongchuan to keep vigil for her father. She tried to leave alone, but his threatening words still seemed to echo in her ears!

During that time, she spent her days in tears, begging Huangfu Hongxi to soften his heart and let her return to Dongchuan! But his resolute words deeply hurt her. She had never hated anyone so much.

"Sorry! I forgot."

"So, what do you have in mind?"

Only after she said that did Shangguan Zitong remember that her father had already...

"Should I have any ideas?"

As Song Yao recalled her father, tears streamed down her face like broken beads. She looked at Shangguan Zitong with confusion, trying to see through her.

"For example...to replace it?"

"That way you can go back legitimately."

Shangguan Zitong got up and groped her way to the wooden chair, then sat down.

"This is practically impossible!"

"I've never heard of a woman being an emperor!"

Song Yao's eyes flickered. She had thought about this question before, but...

"Then overturn those claims, become the first empress, and let them see your strength."

"I don't believe that a young lady raised by a noble family would be without shrewdness and just be a pretty vase."

"Your talent is not much worse than theirs!"

"So... what I'm trying to say, do you... understand?"

Shangguan Zitong stretched and yawned. He had said everything he needed to say; now it was up to Song Yao to decide what to do.

“I admit that the ideas you’re proclaiming are interesting, but they don’t apply here.”

Song Yao shook her head and sighed.

"I know this won't happen overnight but will be a gradual process; it all depends on whether you want to..."

"Anything is possible. How can you know the outcome if you haven't even tried?"

"Would you like to stay and have dinner with us?"

Shangguan Zitong heard Le Qi calling her to eat, so she got up, took a fallen flower, and placed it on the wooden table. She looked in the general direction of Song Yao.

"Since you've sincerely invited me, I'll reluctantly stay and eat with you."

Song Yao also got up and helped Shangguan Zitong walk into the hall.

"..."

I was just being polite with you, I didn't expect you to... Sigh! You reap what you sow. Shangguan Zitong wanted to slap herself twice.

"Um... Your Majesty, you are in a delicate condition, please do not pick up your chopsticks yet."

"Leqi, why don't you taste each dish for me and see how it is?"

Shangguan Zitong, under the guise of doing what was best for Song Yao, wanted Le Qi to taste the food to see if it tasted bloody. She and Song Yao waited for Le Qi to taste the food.

"No problem, I'll go now."

After finishing her sentence, Leqi bowed deeply to Song Yao and left.

"Why are you being so cautious even in your own palace? Are you worried that he can't protect you?"

Song Yao looked at Shangguan Zitong with confusion, trying to find a trace of fear in her expression, but she remained calm.

"Because... I can't tell you the reason."

"Telling you would drive you crazy, wouldn't it? I don't want to ruin my life when I'm about to die." Shangguan Zitong didn't want to say that it was because Huangfu Hongxi had put his heart's blood into her daily medicine and food.

......

Inside the palace, Huangfu Hongxi ate alone, feeling lonely.

"Where's the queen?"

Huangfu Hongxi asked the maid beside him.

"Your Majesty, the Empress has gone to the Crown Prince's residence to speak with that person."

The maid bowed to her and replied.

"I understand. You may leave."

Huangfu Hongxi wondered what Song Yao would say to Shangguan Zitong, since the two had only met a few times. He wondered where all this talk came from.

After finishing his meal, he went to the Cining Palace to revisit the unpleasant memories they shared.

"Your Majesty, are you really going to hand over those ten cities so easily?"

Hongjin stood aside and asked.

"Fake! How could that be? I want both the empire and her."

"Get ready, come with me to reclaim everything that belongs to us."

After speaking, Huangfu Hongxi left without waiting for Hongjin's reaction. Hongjin then went to gather the army to help him retake the city.

The following day, before leaving, Huangfu Hongxi went to the Crown Prince's residence to see Shangguan Zitong one last time. She was swinging on a swing, seemingly lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about? You're so engrossed that you didn't even notice me coming!"

Huangfu Hongxi sat on a wooden chair, dismissed the maids who were serving him, and left only Leqi to take care of him.

"...a white-haired boy..."

"...fox..."

"I...miss home."

"Where...will I go after I die...?"

Shangguan Zitong said that she had returned to her previous frail and delicate state.

"How could there be a white-haired boy? Are you suffering from hysteria? Should I find a royal physician for you?"

"Is it the white fox you used to keep?"

"Home? Isn't your home right here?"

Huangfu Hongxi asked a series of questions, making him sound like a fool.

"I only have gray hair, that's all. I don't need it, thank you for your kindness."

"Another fox."

"My home is in a very far place."

Shangguan Zitong didn't know why she was able to answer his questions so patiently now.

"I'm going to war. Can you see me off?"

"Or you could say a blessing."

Seeing her sickly appearance, Huangfu Hongxi did not want to make things difficult for her.

"I'm sorry, I can't, and I can't say."

"You go."

Shangguan Zitong's patience was running out, and she was starting to get a little impatient. Seeing her get up and grope her way towards Le Qi, Huangfu Hongxi didn't say anything more.

"Okay, until we meet again!"

He left Tangxi Pavilion with a sorrowful expression and embarked on the journey to reclaim lost territory.

Meanwhile, Song Yao, having taken in a bit of Shangguan Zitong's words, unusually refrained from seeing Huangfu Hongxi off and instead pondered in her own bedchamber.

"Granny, do you think there was an empress?"

Song Yao asked the old woman beside her.

"Your Majesty, since ancient times there have always been male emperors, how could there possibly be a female emperor?"

"Are you a little confused? Should this old servant bring you a different imperial physician?"

The old woman was shocked by Song Yao's outrageous remarks; she thought Song Yao had been possessed by some demon or monster.

"Well, I know."

"No need, you may leave."

"If you dare to tell anyone what happened today, you'll lose your head."

After finishing her sentence, Song Yao continued to play with the teacup in her hand.

“This old servant knows.”

The old woman trembled as she finished her bow and withdrew.

This is the kind of reaction a normal person would have. In that sense, Shangguan Zitong is quite interesting. It's just a pity she's about to die.

A few days later, Huangfu Hongxi swiftly recaptured several cities near Dongchuan, but the city where Mu Rongyi and Liu Yunwan were located remained unconquered.

Huangfu Hongxi led the remaining five thousand elite cavalrymen and shouted to Mu Rongyi and his men outside the city gate.

"Mu Rongyi Ke, if you return this city to me, I guarantee that you will return to Dongchuan safely. If you don't return it, don't blame me for being impolite."

Huangfu Hongxi stood below the city wall, while Mu Rongyi and her group stood on the city wall. They could hear his words clearly.

"You...you're really funny! Going back on your word?"

"Don't even think about it! With your small force, you think you can take back this place? You're just dreaming!"

"What? You just said you'd give it up, and now you're trying to take it back? You're more fickle than a woman!"

Mu Rongyi said sarcastically.

"Then don't blame me for being rude."

"Soldiers, heed my command! Charge!"

"Follow me to reclaim our homeland!"

Huangfu Hongxi took the lead, breaking through the city gates and storming into the city. His troops were in high spirits and surged into the city with unstoppable momentum.

......