There are too many ruthless, domineering women who are considered "losers"!

Imperial City, Baode Gate.

An extremely majestic city gate stands before the Dragon Wall, with its brackets, flying eaves, and clearly defined dragon scales.

Outside, there was a bustling night market with bright lights and lanterns lining the streets; inside, there were deep palaces with red walls and black eaves, where imperial guards patrolled back and forth, creating a tense and oppressive atmosphere.

The commander on duty at the city gate tonight is Yan Xiaojiu, the commander of the second battalion of the Fengxi Army.

As an independent imperial guard separate from the Three Departments and Six Ministries and distinct from all the military forces in the country, the Fengxi Army obeyed only the Emperor himself, and there were four imperial guard units in total.

They are: Tiger Guard Army, Dragon Xiang Army, Phoenix Creek Army, and Wolf Fierce Army.

These are the four major military forces guarding the imperial city.

Along with the Kheshig army that guarded the imperial family, they were the two most powerful forces in the Yuan Dynasty, the most elite troops in the land, and were rigorously selected from all over the country, including non-Han, Han, Mulam, and Mongol people.

Originally, the Imperial Guards should have obeyed the Emperor, but now that the late Emperor has long since left on his northern expedition, his power has been divided, and the Imperial Guards have long been divided and infiltrated by the Empress Dowager's relatives and other members of the imperial family.

The four major military forces have long since fallen into the hands of the Empress Dowager.

The Kheshig army remained in the hands of the late emperor's maternal uncle.

Yan Xiaojiu was only in his early twenties, but he already had a mustache, making him look much older than his age. He gripped the phoenix-headed and swallow-tailed sword at his waist and loudly reprimanded, "Hurry up! The Empress Dowager has ordered that you assemble outside Ning Shou Palace within a quarter of an hour. No delays!"

Squads of soldiers, clad in scale armor and wielding swords, trotted forward, making a rustling sound. They were fully armed from head to toe, their faces bearing cold, iron-like expressions.

However, soon, a group of yellowish-brown bicycles came into Yan Xiaojiu's view.

"This is......"

Yan Xiaojiu slowly narrowed her eyes; the car frame in front of her seemed somewhat familiar.

"His Majesty's carriage!"

He immediately recognized the person in front of him, and hurriedly led his men forward to greet him, kneeling down to pay their respects:

"This humble general pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Lu Chang'an, in the carriage, lifted the curtain, revealing half his face, and said calmly, "Your men, move aside. I need to see the Empress Dowager."

"this..."

Yan Xiaojiu was very hesitant, as the Empress Dowager had just given the order not long ago.

No one is allowed to approach Ning Shou Palace without her order.

Who doesn't know the current imperial court?

When the Empress Dowager was in power, she was the ruler.

"Even my verbal decree is no longer valid?"

Upon seeing this, Lu Chang'an immediately became angry.

"This humble general dares not!"

Yan Xiaojiu quickly apologized, but he didn't make any move.

Lu Chang'an finally sighed.

A mere battalion commander, a Grandmaster at the seventh level, in the Foundation Establishment stage.

Then you can disobey his orders.

This shows his current status in the imperial court.

Gu Wushuang, who was inside the carriage, was meditating with her eyes closed when she heard the noise outside and couldn't help but open them.

He glanced at Lu Chang'an, giving him a playful look.

The emperor, a man of great stature, could not even command his own personal guards.

Is there any emperor more pathetic than this?

However, she couldn't let this lowly commander ruin her plans.

The sword in his hand had already been quietly drawn.

Lu Chang'an glanced at it from the side and was startled.

If a fight breaks out now, he will probably die a violent death immediately.

He immediately scolded Yan Xiaojiu, "You've ruined my plans! Tomorrow, when I see the Empress Dowager, I will definitely dismiss you from your post. You know her temper; at that time, it's not certain whether your entire clan will survive!"

Lu Chang'an's threat actually had an effect.

Yan Xiaojiu's face showed fear.

Although Yan Xiaojiu was not afraid of Lu Chang'an, he was afraid of the Empress Dowager!

Who doesn't know the methods of Empress Dowager Murong?

Those ministers who defied her, all met their end in death and extermination of their families.

Yan Xiaojiu was among those whose homes were confiscated and sealed off.

Men were put into slavery and women were sent to the brothels; their lives were likely ruined.

Seeing that it was effective, Lu Chang'an immediately pressed his advantage, saying, "Don't worry, if any trouble arises, I will take full responsibility. You won't be blamed."

After struggling for a while, Yan Xiaojiu finally gave in. He waved to the soldiers behind him and said:

"Make way!"

Seeing that the road had cleared and the carriage continued forward, Lu Chang'an breathed a sigh of relief.

Gu Wushuang slowly sheathed her sword and continued to close her eyes to rest.

"Miss Zishuang, could you please stop drawing your sword so easily?"

Lu Chang'an smiled bitterly.

"What's it to you?"

Gu Wushuang responded coldly.

Lu Chang'an sighed and said, "This is the capital of the Great Yuan Dynasty, where there are many experts, including Golden Core cultivators at the seventh level of the Divine Power Realm. If you alert them, you may not be able to escape."

Gu Wushuang said casually, "You don't need to worry about me. But you, you seem to have a very good relationship with that wicked empress?"

Although his words were plain, it was as if Lu Chang'an would die on the spot if he gave the wrong answer.

Anyway, she came to kill the Empress Dowager, so killing the Emperor would be a piece of cake for her.

Lu Chang'an shook his head: "How could that be? She wishes I were dead, and I wish she were dead too. The relationship between this mother and son is just a facade."

Gu Wushuang frowned and said, "She relies on you to control the entire court, how could she possibly want you dead?"

Lu Chang'an was speechless for a moment. He couldn't very well say that he had seen it through a prophecy, could he?

"I am the late emperor's younger brother. My succession to the throne is based on the patriarchal system and is a compromise among many parties. You don't understand."

Lu Chang'an could only find another excuse to evade the question.

He was indeed the rightful heir, even if he didn't want to be emperor, because he was the most qualified.

Others who want to be can't, because they're not qualified.

So if he dies, some people will be even happier.

Gu Wushuang, however, was too lazy to deal with these complicated matters and continued to close her eyes and rest.

The carriage continued on its way and soon arrived at the entrance of Ning Shou Palace.

"Your child greets Your Majesty!"

Lu Chang'an alighted from the carriage and bowed loudly.

Empress Dowager Murong's leisurely voice echoed from the main hall: "I didn't expect you to be able to reach the entrance of Ning Shou Palace. It seems I underestimated your abilities."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chang'an's mind raced, and his eyelids twitched.

Recalling the troops that had just gathered, he seemed to understand something.

That old hag!

She knew all along that assassins would enter the capital, so she set up an ambush in the palace beforehand and deliberately let the assassins in. Then, she used the assassins' names to get rid of the emperor.

So, in the previous prophecy, she allowed herself to go out and parade in the streets and pacify the troops on the city walls, was it for this reason?

"Eunuch, what is the punishment for holding the emperor hostage?" Empress Dowager Murong's lazy voice came from the palace.

"He shall be executed by slow slicing, and his entire family shall be exterminated."

The old man, Fu, revealed a look of righteous indignation as he stared at the carriage.

"What if we assassinate the emperor?"

The wealthy old man was stunned, and said in disbelief.

"Exterminate...exterminate their entire family!"

Before anyone knew it, squads of heavily armored soldiers surrounded the carriage, forming three layers inside and out. Above the Ning Shou Palace, over a hundred streaks of light flew in, all of them Qi Refining cultivators standing in the void with swords in hand, their white robes fluttering, their swords gleaming with azure light.

Traveling by ethereal light and releasing true energy is considered a supernatural ability.

All the Qi cultivators under one roof were experts at the Divine Power Realm.

This is a rare sight in the entire world.

In an ordinary second-rate sect, upon reaching the Divine Power Realm, one must become a disciple of an elder of that sect.

A first-rate lineage, worthy of being a true disciple.

Seeing such a grand display, Lu Chang'an broke out in a cold sweat.

He seemed to know why the prophecy foretold his sudden death.

Even so, Gu Wushuang showed no fear whatsoever. Instead, she looked at Lu Chang'an, raised an eyebrow, and questioned him:

"You leaked information?"

Lu Chang'an quickly waved his hand: "I didn't."

Gu Wushuang gestured with her eyes, "Such thorough preparations, how could they have been done without a leak?"

"Really, no!"

Lu Chang'an sighed deeply.

"If Miss Wushuang doesn't believe me, I can swear on my reputation for the rest of my life."

Upon hearing the address Lu Chang'an used, Gu Wushuang's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and her tone suddenly turned three degrees colder: "You know my real name?"

Lu Chang'an scratched his head awkwardly.

He had no other choice but to save his life.

"I'll settle the score with you later."

......