[Fantasy] The Harem is in Chaos (Complete) - Chapter 31

After spending

half an hour frolicking behind the rose trellis, Li Yue and Yan Huang returned to Linde Palace and stayed there for the afternoon. That evening, they resumed their passionate lovemaking, resulting in… waking up late the next day, feeling weak and listless.

She was used to being alone, at most accompanied by her lover or a man she liked. Seeing the palace maids bustling about, she grew impatient. After washing up, she chased everyone out of the hall and sat alone at her dressing table, combing her hair. As

she combed her long hair, her thoughts drifted far away.

Yu Wuchen had become the leader of the martial arts alliance, and Yuexiao Manor firmly held its position as the number one manor in the world, still wielding absolute influence over the martial arts world. The Emperor of Xiwu was reassured and issued a kill order against Huangfu Jue. Now, what was the situation in Xiwu?

However, the fact that Guan Du was able to inform her of news like the Dongyi coup before Ye Qianxun and his ilk received it shows that the Xi Wang Mansion's strength is indeed extraordinary.

But no matter how extraordinary, it probably can't stand against the imperial court.

She ran her fingers through her long hair a few times, then thought: Although she no longer felt the anger she had towards Huangfu Jue, words spoken are like water spilled—there's no going back. She had promised to help him seize the throne, so it was best to act sooner rather than later. Otherwise, if she waited until their forces were wiped out before going… she seriously doubted whether Huangfu Jue would actually sit on the throne if it were seized that way.

Now that she was the Empress of Dongyi, and the young, delicate woman claimed she would obey her every word, overthrowing Huangfu Zaichun's rule shouldn't be too difficult. The problem was, she didn't want the two of them to act directly. She should give Huangfu Jue some face; the throne he seized through bloodshed and injury was the one he could hold onto securely. She could only be one of his external allies.

But, she and Yan Huang had only been married for a few days; wouldn't leaving now be too cruel?

Actually, it didn't matter how long or short she stayed; she couldn't have children…

Lowering her eyes, she looked at the strand of hair she held in her hand, regretting for the first time her hasty decision. But in her despair, how could she have foreseen such a peaceful day?

Not being able to have children… meant that if she wanted to continue her lineage, the men around her would have to find other women to father children. She couldn't let them all die without an heir just because they loved her, especially since they were emperors.

The thought pained her, yet she knew she had to accept it. She couldn't be selfish; their willingness to stay peacefully by her side was the deepest love they could give her. She couldn't deprive them of their right to continue their lineage; it was the very foundation of human existence.

She sighed heavily, put down her comb, and prepared to go find the Empress Dowager. Logically, after the wedding, Yan Huang's two former concubines should have come to pay their respects to the Empress, but neither yesterday nor today had they come. Upon inquiring, she learned that both concubines were ill and had been sent out of the palace to recuperate.

Hearing this excuse, she knew it was the Empress Dowager paving the way for her exclusive favor, but she couldn't give birth.

She had to ask the Empress Dowager to bring those two concubines back, if... there was still time.

The thought of pushing Yan Huang to another woman caused her a sharp pain in her heart, but she deliberately ignored it, pretending to be relaxed as she raised her head. She intended to tidy her hair, but her gaze fell on the mirror and she was startled.

Ye Qianxun was standing behind her!

She turned around abruptly, looked outside the hall, then at the man in front of her with slightly swollen eyes, and asked in a low voice, "How did you get in?"

Ye Qianxun wasn't good at drinking. After drinking heavily with Murong Juan and Su Yingge that day, it took him two days to recover. As soon as he recovered, he came to find Li Yue.

"I'm leaving. Will you come with me?" The man didn't answer, only staring at her intently, with a look that said, 'If you don't come with me, I'll kidnap you.'

Li Yue stood up and hurriedly pulled him behind the heavy brocade curtains of the dragon bed.

Although Yan Huang didn't object to her continuing her interactions with other men, it wouldn't be good if someone saw her with another man in his palace… In short, it wasn't a good thing.

"Where are you going? Back to Xiwu?" Hiding behind the bed, Li Yue finally calmed down and asked.

"Yes." Ye Qianxun stared at the hickey on her neck, his heart bubbling with jealousy.

"Then go ahead, see you at Xiwu." Li Yue said.

"Aren't you coming with me?" Ye Qianxun frowned.

"I can't leave now." Li Yue looked at the obvious jealousy in his bloodshot eyes, feeling both a pang of heartache and a bit of exasperation.

"Why? Do you really like living in this shabby house? If you like it, I can build you one…" Before he could finish, Li Yue covered his mouth with her hand, silencing him firmly: "Keep your voice down."

Ye Qianxun didn't care, pulling her close and pinning her against the wall, pushing her hands away and kissing her lips.

Seeing his posture, as if he were about to force himself on her, Li Yue struggled against his chest. It was almost noon, and Yan Huang would likely be calling her to lunch soon. Besides, she had just been tormented by Yan Huang at dawn; she didn't have the energy or the preparation to go through it with another man so soon.

Ye Qianxun wouldn't let go, and as the two were entangled, the sound of palace servants bowing to Yan Huang came from outside the hall.

Li Yue reached out and pinched his ear, pulling him away, and whispered, "Don't make a sound, don't come out. After I leave here, I'll go to the Illusionary Snow Mountain to stay with you for a month."

"Really?" Ye Qianxun's eyes, which had been filled with resentment, suddenly lit up.

Li Yue nodded and whispered in his ear, "I'll be leaving Dongyi in the next couple of days. Go back to Xiwu first and help me see how the situation is in Xiwu now, okay?" Saying this, she planted a kiss on his cheek, turned around, and walked out of the curtained area.

Just then, Yan Huang entered, his gaze subtly sweeping over the back of the bed before he smiled and said, "Li Yue, let's dine together."

Li Yue, still slightly nervous from their tryst, was only thinking about how to get him out of there as quickly as possible. Her eyes darted around, and she said, "Let's eat with Mother."

As she spoke, Yan Huang had already moved in front of her, pulled her close, and kissed her cheek. Li Yue froze instantly.

She wondered if her month-long promise was enough to appease Ye Qianxun's jealousy. If he couldn't stand it and jumped in now, she would be embarrassed.

Fortunately, there was no movement behind the bed until Yan Huang released her after the kiss.

It seemed that guy really wanted her to go to the snow mountain with him.

"Why did you suddenly decide to eat with Mother?" Seeing how tolerant she was, Yan Huang let it go.

"I have something to say, let's go." Li Yue took his arm and dragged him out of the hall.

"

Mother, please arrange a selection of concubines for the Emperor." In Cixi Palace, at the long dining table, Pei Qingyao sat at the head of the table, with Yan Huang and Li Yue on either side. Experienced palace maids moved around the table, carefully serving the three mistresses from among thirty or forty delicious dishes.

Li Yue suddenly uttered this remark, causing Yan Huang to pause noticeably. Fortunately, being well-mannered, he didn't spit it out, only coughing lightly twice while covering his mouth with a handkerchief.

Pei Qingyao was in an excellent mood today, enjoying her first meal at the same table with her biological daughter and adopted son, feeling a sense of harmonious joy and finding the world beautiful.

Upon hearing this, the deep smile on her lips faded slightly. She put down her carved phoenix silver chopsticks, wiped her lips with a handkerchief, and said to those around her, "You may all leave now."

The palace servants agreed and withdrew from the main hall. Only then did Pei Qingyao turn to Li Yue and ask, "You just got married, why did you think of selecting concubines for the Emperor?"

Yan Huang also looked at her with a puzzled expression. They had just been so passionately intimate last night, and today she was actually going to select concubines for him... Although he knew she was special, couldn't she not be so special?

Now he seriously suspected that the guy hiding behind the bed in Linde Palace had been gossiping about her.

Li Yue said, "I don't want to have children right now. I want to relax and enjoy myself for a few years. But for both the country and the royal family, the imperial heir is extremely important. Therefore, I would like to ask the Empress Dowager to arrange a selection of concubines for the Emperor, choosing some virtuous and beautiful women to continue the imperial lineage."

Pei Qingyao listened without comment and turned to ask Yan Huang, "What does Your Majesty think?"

Seeing that she had once again pointed the finger at Yan Huang, Li Yue felt helpless. On the surface, she had married into the palace, but it felt like Yan Huang had married into the family.

Yan Huang stared at Li Yue, gritting his teeth, and said, "I'm only eighteen, I'm not in a hurry to have children."

Pei Qingyao turned her gaze to Li Yue and said, "I've now retired to the inner palace, and the Emperor is ruling in his own right. Since he doesn't want any, I can't force him. If the Empress doesn't want to have children now, she can have them in a couple of years. I was twenty-one when I had my son."

Li Yue was distressed. This mother and son clearly wanted to trap her in this palace. But she couldn't reveal the fact that she couldn't have children. If she did, Pei Qingyao would surely depose her as Empress, and even if Yan Huang didn't object because he loved her, he would definitely be suspicious.

Her eyes darted around, and an idea came to her. She glanced at Yan Huang's unfriendly expression, her cheeks flushing red. She stood up and walked to the Empress Dowager's side, whispering a few words in her ear.

Yan Huang looked at the two huddled together and suddenly realized that Li Yue and his mother seemed to look somewhat alike. No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity with Li Yue the first time he saw her… Just as he was thinking this, he noticed an unnatural blush rising on the Empress Dowager's well-maintained cheeks. He immediately became curious: What did Li Yue say to his mother that made her blush?

Meeting Yan Huang's suspicious gaze, Li Yue sat back down. The Empress Dowager coughed lightly, suppressing a hint of awkwardness, and said, "In that case, I think there's no need to hold another selection of concubines. We can bring Consort Yuan and Consort Qing back to the palace after they recover from their illnesses."

Yan Huang was even more shocked upon hearing this. What exactly did Li Yue say to his mother? How could she bring back the concubines who had already been sent out of the palace? He looked left and right, but clearly neither of the two women was going to answer his questions.

"What exactly did you say to the Empress Dowager?" As soon as they left Cixi Palace, Yan Huang pulled Li Yue aside and asked.

"Nothing much, just that Your Majesty is valiant and heroic…" on the bed. Li Yue suppressed a laugh.

Seeing her eyes darting around, both cute and mischievous, Yan Huang reached out and pulled her close, saying with a hint of sadness, "Are you really that happy to push me to another woman?"

Li Yue glanced to both sides, seeing the palace maids and eunuchs standing far away, then looked up at Yan Huang with a mournful expression, tugging at his hair with her small hands, saying, "Who told you to be so rough? I can't take it..."

Yan Huang also glanced at the palace servants in the distance, leaned down slightly, and teased, "Really? I seem to remember that you were on top three times out of five?"

Li Yue's ears turned red, she pinched him hard, and turned to leave.

Yan Huang followed behind with a light laugh.

"If you don't want the harem filled with lonely, resentful women, you'd better not try to persuade me to hold a selection of concubines," Yan Huang said softly after they stood side by side.

"Why? Don't emperors all have three palaces and six courtyards? Why don't you want one?" Li Yue asked.

"Do you want to hear the deeper reason or the superficial reason?" Yan Huang asked solemnly.

"I want to hear both." Seeing that there was a distinction between deeper and superficial reasons, Li Yue became interested.

"The deeper reason, of course, is love. Love, to some extent, has an exclusivity, so right now I don't want anyone but you," Yan Huang said.

Li Yue glanced at him.

Yan Huang smiled back and said, "People are different. You just think there are no women as good as Qin Li Yue, but there are men as good as Yan Huang."

Li Yue felt a little uncomfortable. She turned her face away and asked, "Then what about the superficial reason?"

Yan Huang leaned closer and whispered a few words. Li Yue's face turned bright red, and she raised her hand to hit him. Yan Huang, disregarding his image, strode ahead and laughed loudly.

Li Yue was furious and embarrassed. This guy dared to say that she alone had drained him dry, leaving no room for anyone else? Who was draining whom here? He was taking advantage and acting innocent!

After a noisy journey back to Linde Palace, Li Yue suddenly remembered something and asked, "Yan Huang, does that Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden live in the palace?"

Mentioning him, Yan Huang's smile faded, but his expression remained relatively natural. He replied, "No, he only comes when summoned. He doesn't usually live in the palace."

The Moon Gu poison was administered by the Empress Dowager. The only person who could have given the Empress Dowager the Moon Gu was Yun Qian, that androgynous creature. Li Yue had met him a few times and always felt that beneath his glamorous exterior lay a treacherous heart. Before, not knowing the Empress Dowager was her birth mother was one thing, but now that she knew, and considering her connection with that man, she felt inexplicably insecure.

Although there was still a distance between them, she knew from Yan Huang that she was also a good mother. Even if not for herself, for Yan Huang's sake, she should show her more care.

"In the future, if he comes again, be secretly on guard. I always feel this person is not a good person," Li Yue said. In

the

afternoon, Yan Huang went to the Imperial Study to review memorials. Li Yue, remembering Jin Lü still lying pitifully in the temporary palace, slipped out to see him.

However, when she arrived, he wasn't there; the palace servants said he had left that morning.

Li Yue was quite puzzled. He had come with such fanfare, how could he have left so quietly? And according to the imperial physician, he was severely weakened and needed proper recuperation; how could he have been gone in just two days?

Leaving the temporary palace, Li Yue was about to return when someone suddenly appeared and handed her a letter, then vanished again.

Li Yue only glanced at him, feeling he looked familiar but unable to place him. Opening the letter, she remembered seeing him in Jin Lü's Eastern Palace; he must have been one of his guards.

The handwriting was beautiful, but unfortunately, there were many unidentified watermarks on it, whether from tears or saliva, ruining the overall aesthetic.

Li Yue glanced at the three long sheets of paper, which essentially conveyed the same message: "Sister Yue, Yan Huang is truly a good man. I wish you a sweet marriage. Don't forget, in faraway Nanfo, I, your devoted lover, will always be waiting for you."

There was a dark red stain at the bottom corner, resembling blood.

Li Yue sighed, "What's this guy doing? Tears of blood?"

Seeing them all leave, and preoccupied with the battle situation in Xiwu, Li Yue couldn't sit still any longer. The next morning, while Yan Huang was at court, she left a letter and fled to Nanfo. When

Yan Huang returned and couldn't find Li Yue, he searched for a while and found a letter pressed down on his dressing table by a jade comb. He pulled it out and read that the woman said she had built a city on the banks of the Jiaye River in Nanfo, and hundreds of thousands of people depended on her for their livelihood. Now that she was his empress, it wasn't convenient for her to stay there for long. She would go back to choose a new city lord to replace her and then return.

The letter sounded nice, but considering her sudden departure, Yan Huang knew that she might not return for a long time.

Although he knew she would leave sooner or later, he hadn't expected it to be so soon; it was only the third day of their wedding.

He figured that even with him by her side, life in the palace must be tedious and monotonous for her.

He sat alone on the edge of the bed for a long while, then tucked the letter into his sleeve. He sent someone to inform the Empress Dowager and summoned Murong Juan to the palace for an audience.

Murong Juan arrived quickly, looking less imposing and more haggard than before.

At that moment, Yan Huang was standing in the palace window, outside which a row of canna lilies were in full bloom.

After exchanging greetings, the two, who were both ruler and subject and friends, remained silent.

After a long while, Yan Huang spoke: "Leave the family affairs to Murong Ting for now. Go out and clear your head."

“Your Majesty, I do not wish to travel far.” Murong Juan thought the Emperor was worried he was still haunted by the memory of Li Yue’s wedding, hence his words.

Yan Huang turned to look at him; he lowered his head, his eyes unreadable.

“She’s gone.” Yan Huang was aware of Murong Juan and Li Yue’s past; after all, his first encounter with Li Yue was actually due to his pursuit of Murong Juan.

Murong Juan’s eyelashes fluttered, but he didn’t look up.

“I’m worried about her, but I can’t go with her. You go. With you by her side, I’ll feel as at ease as if I were there myself,” Yan Huang said.

Murong Juan suddenly looked up, staring at Yan Huang in disbelief.

"Don't look at me like that. We're brothers who've shared life and death. There's nothing we can't say openly. I know she's never forgotten you, otherwise I wouldn't have seen you in the tavern that day. You've never forgotten her either, otherwise you wouldn't have fought with Ye Qianxun that day." Yan Huang looked at Murong Juan, his face calm. "Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video, Fan Bingbing's lower body, realistically molded, highly realistic vulva shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large-particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, providing a more realistic experience... A rhythmic flow, irresistible! Click to enter."

If it were before their marriage, discussing this with Yan Huang wouldn't have been a problem, but now that Li Yue was Yan Huang's empress, discussing this again felt like a betrayal of a friend's wife.

Murong Juan turned his head, his heart conflicted.

Just as he was at a loss for words, a hand landed on his shoulder, and Yan Huang's voice slowly rang in his ear: "She will never be just me. Rather than sharing her with outsiders, why not share her with my brother?" Author's Note: Uh... I didn't write about Huangfu being abused, so Qingqiu just lay down and let you all tease her as an apology. However... if you all want a double update tomorrow, please let Qingqiu have some time to write! ~o(∩_∩)o~ After the smut, here's some ketchup, a lettuce leaf, and then Murong's smut. What do you all think of this arrangement? I dare not give a preview for the next chapter. The following is a hint: Basically, it's about Liyue and her gang robbing and killing in Xiwu while also picking up handsome men. The war ends, the harem is built, and then the whole story is finished. Next are the serious side stories and the unserious sandwiches, which Qingqiu wants to complete next week. Hehe, I wonder if I can achieve my goal. *Fist pump*

Main text: Liu Shang Returns to

Xiwu Zhuwu Gate.

More than a month ago, the Xi Prince's Mansion moved all its forces underground, luring the imperial army into the city to ambush them. The imperial court then twice sent troops to attack the city. Zhu Wu Gate was the Xi Prince's Mansion's stronghold; its walls and watchtowers had been reinforced and heightened. Numerous hidden holes in the walls, coupled with crossbows firing at high speeds, caused heavy casualties among the imperial army.

Therefore, more than 100,000 so-called pacification troops failed to capture the city in over a month.

However, the reason they could hold out for so long was largely due to Xiang De, the general they had planted at Tongxuan Pass. He not only guarded their retreat, giving them confidence, but also continuously supplied Zhu Wu Gate with provisions.

Huangfu Zaichun acted faster than Guan Du had anticipated. After more than a month of fierce fighting at Zhu Wu Gate, other forces affiliated with them within the country finally began to mobilize. Suddenly, the entire Western Wu region was engulfed in war and chaos.

It seemed that many members of the Xiwang Mansion had joined the rebellion, but this was merely a smokescreen laid by Guan Du to divert the court's attention. The court generally wouldn't act rashly against the border troops; besides them, only the 150,000 Dragon Tiger Army stationed in Bajia City south of Linying and the 150,000 Imperial Guards in the three major defensive cities of Linying were worth noting.

He hoped that the rebellions in various places would draw the 150,000 Dragon Tiger Army away from the only route to Linying, allowing him to lead the main force of the Xiwang Mansion, which had been secretly building up for years, directly to Linying.

Although victory wasn't guaranteed, any battle for the throne was the biggest gamble in the world; no one could predict the outcome beforehand. All one could do was try their best.

However, now a new problem seemed to be facing them.

Inside Huangfu Jue's room, a maid carried out a basin of bloody water. Huangfu Jue, shirtless, allowed the doctor to wrap his left arm with gauze layer upon layer, his expression somewhat blank.

Guan Du looked at him.

For the past month or so, every time the enemy attacked the city, he would climb the city wall to personally command the troops, fighting bravely alongside his soldiers. Unexpectedly, he was

hit by a stray arrow in the battle this morning. Although it pierced his left arm, fortunately, it didn't break the bone. When the arrow was pulled out, he didn't utter a sound even without anesthesia.

Guan Du had noticed something was wrong with him when he heard the news of Li Yue and Yan Huang's wedding more than a month ago. Now it seemed that this event had a huge impact on him. With his martial arts skills, he could have easily blocked an arrow shot from that angle. The fact that he couldn't avoid it could only mean that he was distracted at the time.

Distracted even during battle... If only he had known this would happen, why did he do it in the first place?

Now, even knowing that he still had feelings for Li Yue, he didn't know how to win her back.

"Your Highness, the Princess has come to see you." Just then, Lin Jiu walked in and reported.

Huangfu Jue snapped out of his daze and said, "Don't let her in. Just say I'm fine."

Lin Jiu was speechless and turned to look at Guan Du standing to the side.

Guan Du said, "The princess is afraid of blood. Let her come later."

After bandaging Huangfu Jue, he put on his clothes and was about to leave.

"Your Highness, may I ask what you're going to do?" Guan Du blocked the door and asked.

"To patrol at night. The enemy might attack at night," Huangfu Jue said.

"My subordinates will be on guard. What Your Highness needs now is rest," Guan Du said.

Huangfu Jue paused and said, "I'd feel more at ease if I went myself." Saying this, he walked around Guan Du and headed out the door.

"Your Highness, can't you sleep?" Guan Du asked, his back to him.

Huangfu Jue stopped in his tracks.

Guan Du slowly turned around, looking at his somewhat stiff back: "Why can't you sleep? Is it because of the war, or something else?"

Huangfu Jue lowered his head, his eyes downcast and silent, but his uninjured right hand gradually clenched.

"Some feelings, some people, once missed, are a lifelong regret. You can learn to remember, but not now. Besides her, there are thousands upon thousands of soldiers watching you, waiting for your rise. You've already failed one; don't fail any more." Guan Du spoke earnestly in the tone of an elder.

Seeing him frozen in place, Guan Du walked over and said, "I'm going to patrol the city tonight. If you really can't stay idle, go tomorrow. My men reported that she has returned to Nanfo Phoenix City, and I will go to see her tomorrow."

*

On the banks of the Nanfo Jiaye River, under the golden sunflower-like sunlight of September, on the watchtower more than twenty feet high behind the city lord's mansion, Su Yingge held a monocular telescope, his light ink bamboo-patterned white robe fluttering slightly in the wind, looking at the farms and orchards surrounding Phoenix City. Li Yue, waiting impatiently, reached out and grabbed his arm, trying to snatch the telescope from his hand while complaining, "Are you done yet?"

This damn guy, his sense of smell is even sharper than Tan Lang's; he came as soon as she returned from Dongyi.

"Wow, there are so many of your brothers and sisters over there!" Su Yingge handed the binoculars to Li Yue, pointing to the west side of Phoenix City.

Li Yue looked suspicious, while Niu Hong chuckled beside her.

Li Yue raised the binoculars and saw that it was a pig farm. From a distance, she could only see a large patch of white, fleshy balls rolling around. She immediately kicked Su Yingge, who burst into laughter.

Li Yue looked through the binoculars, observing the farmland, orchards, pig farm, cattle farm, sheep farm, and chicken farm, all arranged in an orderly fashion, with men working in each area.

"Where's the horse farm?" Li Yue asked Niu Hong as she looked around.

Niu Hong replied, "The horse farm is too big, there's no room around, so I ordered it to be set up in a mountain valley, over there." Niu Hong pointed to a mountain valley on the side of Phoenix Mountain in the distance.

Li Yue nodded.

Her gaze shifted, and she saw a huge waterwheel erected on the banks of the Jiaye River, continuously channeling river water into the crisscrossing ditches to irrigate the fertile fields. Livestock and poultry manure was being collected to fertilize the soil. Agriculture and animal husbandry were organically and efficiently combined around Phoenix City, a sight that pleased everyone.

"That waterwheel is nice, who built it?" Li Yue asked.

"The court sent the Ministry of Works to build it while you were away," Niu Hong replied.

Upon hearing this, Su Yingge muttered under her breath, "Sycophant!"

"Hey, they've already given you the antidote, why are you still so upset?" Seeing his jealous look, Li Yue was both annoyed and amused.

"I don't need a reason to hate him," Su Yingge said, turning his head away.

Li Yue smiled helplessly and turned away. It was nearly noon, and smoke curled from every chimney in the city, a scene of peace and prosperity.

Her eyes darkened slightly, and she sighed inwardly. She had originally returned to lead these men to fight in Xiwu, but… seeing them happily reunited with their families, she felt her actions were inhumane.

She had rescued them from the jaws of death, given them only a few days of happiness, and now she wanted to drag them into a hail of bullets to their deaths? The more she thought about it, the more despicable she felt.

Therefore, she had refrained from speaking for the past few days.

The situation in Xiwu was dire. Zhu Wu Gate was surrounded by the imperial army sent to quell the rebellion, and after more than a month of fierce fighting, it was uncertain how long they could hold out. If she didn't take the people of this city out, where would she find troops to deploy? Should she borrow from Xiao Fen Nen? Or from Yan Huang?

But the Western Wu is currently engaged in an internal war. Once foreign powers intervene, not only could the scale of the war potentially escalate several times over, but the decades-long peaceful border relations would also be shattered. With the armies of the three kingdoms at war, hundreds of thousands of border civilians would inevitably suffer collateral damage. In that case, even if Huangfu Jue could conquer the Western Wu, the price would be far too high.

Sighing, what should she do?

"Hey, look who's that on the river?" Just as she was worrying, Su Yingge suddenly tugged at her sleeve and pointed to the Jiaye River.

Li Yue raised her binoculars and looked in the direction he was pointing, immediately stunned.

A bamboo raft, a long pole, pale blue robes fluttering like reeds in the river breeze, a tall, straight figure, and a leisurely demeanor as he drifted on the water—it all seemed familiar.

He…he is…

"Liu Shang! This guy…" Su Yingge jumped up and ran downstairs.

...

When Li Yue returned to the City Lord's Mansion, Su Yingge and Murong Juan...no, in this situation, perhaps it would be more appropriate to call him Qu Liushang, were already standing in the courtyard.

Tanlang, as always, stood on his hind legs, his forelegs repeatedly leaving paw prints under Qu Liushang's clean, simple robes as a gesture of welcome.

Seeing Li Yue enter, Qu Liushang withdrew his hand from rubbing Tanlang's head and looked up at her.

His long hair was loosely tied back with a light blue ribbon, his eyes lazily narrowed into fox-like arcs, and his pale lips curved into a smile. He said, "Long time no see."

Li Yue looked at him, her heart filled with emotion.

After so many twists and turns, he had finally decided to return, to her side.

A lingering regret that had long weighed on her heart vanished at this moment, and she smiled, saying, "Welcome back."

The

three had known each other for a long time, and although some conflicts had occurred, their reunion now felt like a fine, aged wine, fragrant and captivating, its essence permeating the soul without conscious effort.

As night fell, the three enjoyed wine and conversation in a side hall of the mansion. Qu Liushang had reverted to the way she was when she first met Li Yue, and with Su Yingge's sharp tongue added to the lively atmosphere, it was truly extraordinary.

After a few rounds of drinks, Li Yue, resting her chin on her hand, watched the two bickering across from her, thinking: If two are this lively, how chaotic it will be if all six of them gather!

Thinking back to the chaotic scene at the tavern in Yong'an Ancient City, she rubbed her temples, comforting herself: No, I'll never let those people get together again…

“Lord City Lord, an old man surnamed Guan is requesting an audience.” Lost in thought, her attendant Miao Haoyan reported from outside the hall.

Guan Du? He arrived so quickly. But… she hadn't figured out what to do yet…

“Invite him to the living room and serve him some good tea,” Li Yue said.

Miao Haoyan agreed and went to meet her.

Li Yue turned around and found Su Yingge and Qu Liushang both looking at her.

“Why are you looking at me? You two continue eating.” Li Yue put down her chopsticks and got up to walk out of the hall.

Behind her, “She has something on her mind,” Su Yingge said.

“I can tell,” Qu Liushang said, taking a sip of wine and rubbing the rim of his glass.

“Then…” Su Yingge turned to look at Qu Liushang, who glanced back at him. The two of them got up simultaneously, following her like thieves.

Living room.

"A-Du, you've come so late at night, is there something urgent?" Li Yue swayed as she sat down beside him and asked.

Guan Du looked at Miao Haoyan leaving and said, "The young man is quite handsome."

Seeing that he avoided answering, Li Yue couldn't help but tease, "I didn't realize you'd taken a liking to this kind of thing, A-Du?"

Guan Du's old face instantly turned red. He cleared his throat and said, "Actually, I've come on behalf of my lord to apologize to you, Miss Qin. That day..."

"He apologized to me, and I've forgiven him," Li Yue interrupted him before he could finish.

Guan Du looked up at her, hesitant to speak.

Li Yue was puzzled. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Is the situation at Zhu Wu Sect critical right now?"

Guan Du shook his head and said, "Miss Qin, please don't misunderstand. I didn't come for that. It's just..." He originally wanted to find some reason to test whether Li Yue still had any feelings for Huangfu Jue. If she didn't, he could go back and think of a way to help Huangfu Jue climb out of his emotional slump as soon as possible. However, remembering Huangfu Jue's words and actions that day, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Just then, he keenly sensed someone outside the window, and their martial arts were quite impressive. Even with his cultivation, he could only vaguely sense the other person's presence, but couldn't be sure.

He immediately changed the subject, took out a golden token from his sleeve, and said, "Zhu Wu Sect is in chaos right now. This originally belonged to Miss Qin. I was afraid it would be lost, so I came to return it."

Li Yue took it and saw that it was the golden-threaded Crown Prince's Token that she had given to Huangfu Jue before.

Recalling that time, in the dimly lit corridor of the inn, he left, she saw him off, he said "thank you," she said "you're welcome." At that moment, an inexplicable, pure, and natural affection quietly blossomed between them.

She thought, if it weren't for the series of events that followed, they could at least have become friends.

It was ultimately her fault; breaking with Ye Qianxun and losing Qu Liushang, in her confusion and pain, she shouldn't have taken it out on him, hurting herself and him.

Youthful folly was unbearable to recall.

Clutching the gold medal, she sighed heavily, looked up at Guandu, and smiled, "Adu, go back and tell Huangfu Jue that past grievances are wiped clean. However, I, Qin Liyue, never take back what I've said. Therefore, I will definitely come to Xiwu's aid within half a month.

"

After seeing Guandu off, Liyue stood alone on the riverbank for a long time until she heard faint footsteps behind her, at which point she turned around.

"The outcome of the Xiwu battle is uncertain. Are you really going?" Qu Liushang asked, standing beside her, facing the river breeze.

"If I go, he will win." Liyue was confident, a confidence stemming from herself and from the men standing behind her.

"You and he made a promise?" he asked again.

"It was a promise I made to him." Liyue didn't shy away from the question, looking up at the vast, boundless night sky. She felt that things in this world were sometimes truly unpredictable. You never know what will happen next, or whether its course is right or wrong at this moment. By the time you know, it might be time for you to die.

She and Huangfu Jue had always been a couple where resentment outweighed affection. At her most hateful, she wished she could kill him with a single blow. But now, seeing him truly in trouble, she genuinely wanted to help him.

A woman's heart is truly unpredictable; even she herself couldn't understand why this was the case.

Could it be because of their past relationship? But it was clearly not a pleasant memory…

“If you go, I will go with you,” Qu Liushang said.

Li Yue shook her head, turned around and walked towards Phoenix City, saying, "This matter has nothing to do with you."

"To be honest, I really don't care whether he succeeds or fails, I'm just worried about you..." He grabbed her hand, met her gaze, and added, "The battlefield is different from other places. Even if you have three heads and six arms, you can't avoid unexpected events. You need a shield."

Li Yue shook off his hand and stared at him, saying, "Do you think I would let you be my shield? What do you take me, Qin Li Yue, for?"

Qu Liushang scratched his head helplessly and said, "No, what I mean is, the shield I saw hanging on the wall of the council hall in the city lord's mansion is beautiful and of superior quality. It would be perfect for you, but if you carry it yourself, it will inevitably damage your elegant and beautiful image. It would be better if I carried it for you to the battlefield."

Li Yue: "..."

She almost forgot that the original Qu Liushang had such a nonsensical side...

When she returned to the city lord's mansion, she was surprised to find the council hall brightly lit.

Li Yue was puzzled. Normally, if she didn't go to the council hall, there wouldn't be a gathering inside. What was going on today?

She went in and saw Niu Hong and nine brigade commanders kneeling in the hall, their faces filled with grief and indignation.

Li Yue was taken aback. She walked up to them and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Lord City Lord, I heard you're planning to borrow troops from the court to aid Xiwu in the war. Is that true?" Niu Hong raised his head, his voice rough and choked with suppressed grief and indignation.

"How did you know?" Li Yue did indeed have this plan, but she hadn't told anyone. Where did these brutes get the information?

"Lord City Lord, how can you insult us like this?!" Upon seeing her admit it, Niu Hong's face instantly turned purple, and tears welled in his tiger-like eyes. His appearance startled Li Yue, who jumped back, staring at him in shock.

"You saved our brothers' lives, built a city for us, allowed us to reunite with our families, marry, and have children... We can never repay your immense kindness to us brothers! Now, you have a problem, and instead of using us, you go to the court to borrow troops..." At this point, he was filled with extreme grief and indignation, his neck stiff and his breathing labored. Not wanting to be disrespectful to Li Yue, he calmed his emotions for a long time before continuing, "Aren't we men? Can't we fight for you? Back then, we were the elite of the Anhui army. Although we've suffered hardships and losses this past year, those who survived are the cream of the crop! Lord City Lord, I'm telling you this today: in the Battle of Xiwu, if you don't let us fight, we'll die in front of you!" With that, he drew his broadsword from his waist and held it to his own neck.

The nine men behind him followed suit, and instantly, the hall was filled with the gleaming light of blades.

Li Yue knew that these stubborn guys wouldn't get up unless she agreed, so she simply sat cross-legged on the ground, facing them, and said, "Tell me, who told you I was going to fight in Xiwu and to borrow troops from the imperial court?"

Niu Hong's eyes flashed, and he betrayed someone without any sense of loyalty: "It was Young Master Su."

Li Yue really wanted to facepalm; it really was that guy who had been eavesdropping on her and Guan Du's conversation outside the window!

She paused, looked at Niu Hong and the others, and said, "I don't want to take you this time, not because I look down on you, but because I see you living peacefully here, enjoying your families. I can't bear to send you to the battlefield with me. Swords have no eyes; what if something happens to you... How will I explain to your families when I return?"

"I know the city lord cares about us, but my mother said that even if it costs her life, she will repay your great kindness. That's what our mothers all say, so you don't need to worry about explanations! Besides, we have wives, children, and elderly parents, don't the imperial soldiers have them too? The city lord's refusal to take us is clearly favoritism! Even knowing you're protecting us, we're still unhappy. Thinking of our benefactors fighting on the battlefield while we're here basking in the sun eating for free, it's worse than death. Anyway, the knife's already at our throats, city lord, you decide what to do," Niu Hong said angrily.

Having said all that, further refusal would be hypocritical.

Li Yue immediately stood up and said, "Leave 10,000 men here to guard the city and cultivate the land. The rest of you, assemble at the city gate first thing tomorrow morning. I have a speech for you." "Yes!" Niu

Hong was overjoyed, sheathed his sword, jumped up, and loudly accepted the order. The next morning, as the sun rose, Phoenix City was bathed in a brilliant dawn. Li Yue, dressed in a red dress, stood atop the city wall, her radiance comparable to the rising sun. Squinting, she glanced at the dense crowd below the city walls and raised her voice, "Soldiers of Phoenix City, now that you are here, I don't want to say anything more. There are only two points I want to make clear to you. First, this trip to Xiwu is going to be a fierce battle. What does fierce battle mean? It means that we will kill many people, and correspondingly, many people will want to kill us. You have chosen to come with me, so you must obey my command. Now I will tell you my principle: fight if you can win, run if you can't. We will not make unnecessary sacrifices! Prove that you are men, kill the enemy, and come back alive. This is my first hope for you." Niu Hong, standing to the side, began to silently wipe away cold sweat again. Before a major battle, telling his soldiers "fight if you can win, run if you can't"—perhaps only this lady in the world would do such a thing. Halfway through wiping away his sweat, he suddenly noticed that Li Yue had turned to look at him. He was stunned for a moment, then quickly handed over the military flag with the character "Phoenix" printed on it. Li Yue held up the fiery red banner, saying, "Look at this banner. On the battlefield, this banner represents me. I charge forward, you charge with me; I retreat, you retreat too. Don't consider retreating a shameful escape. To a stubborn general, that's called running away; to me, it's called a flanking maneuver. Do you understand?" "Understood!" the soldiers answered in unison. Li Yue handed the banner back to Niu Hong, her impassioned tone turning somber: "Secondly, I believe that surrender a few months ago was an indelible and painful memory in your years of military service. Unfortunately, Nanfo didn't provide you with a battlefield to prove yourselves. This time, the Battle of Xiwu gives you the opportunity to prove yourself to the world, to your families, and to yourselves. You are indeed an invincible elite force. You don't lack fighting power, courage, or perseverance; you simply lack a true leader."

I assure you that after this battle, my Phoenix City Army will lay down its weapons and never fight again! In other words, the Battle of Xiwu will be the last battle of your lives. I hope you can bring your military careers to a perfect close. Every army has its own style and spirit, and I hope you can fight with your own style and spirit. More importantly, I hope you will return alive. Remember, your families, your fields, your orchards, your pigs, your cattle, your sheep—they are here, waiting for your return. "

...

The voice of an eighteen-year-old girl, clear and melodious like a nightingale's song, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority, echoed in the ears of everyone inside and outside the city gates.

Qu Liushang stood on the city wall facing the Jiaye River, watching her from afar.

She was indeed no ordinary woman, so no man was worthy of possessing her alone.

Her ruthlessness, her charm, her strength, her gentleness... every aspect was captivating, every aspect enough to charm a certain type of man. Therefore, she had Yan Huang, Jinlu, Su Yingge, Ye Qianxun by her side...

He wondered if they felt the same way he did, that looking at her always brought a faint pain mixed with deep love...

"Look, the sycophant is here again." Just as he was lost in thought, Su Yingge, standing beside him, suddenly said disdainfully.

Qu Liushang snapped out of his reverie, turned around, and saw a magnificent dragon boat slowly approaching on the Jiaye River.

It was Jinlu.

"Let's go see if that guy is done talking. If he is, let her take us to the mountains to play." Su Yingge pulled Qu Liushang towards the city wall.

Qu Liushang said, "Why bother? Knowing his personality, he won't leave until he sees her. Do you think you can stay on the mountain forever? She's about to send troops out; she has so much to do. She doesn't have time to go up the mountain."

Su Yingge paused, then suddenly smiled wickedly, saying, "Oh, I almost forgot, these are her periods."

Qu Liushang was stunned, his cheeks flushed slightly, and he slapped her, scolding, "How can you say such things so openly?"

Su Yingge rubbed the back of her head, which he had slapped, and said irritably, "What's wrong? I'm just direct, unlike you, who's always secretly thinking things through."

"Who's secretly thinking things through?" Qu Liushang was speechless with anger.

"I didn't expect you to be loitering outside her room in the middle of the night?" Su Yingge looked at him, her gaze mischievous.

Qu Liushang choked on his words, staring at him for a long while before guiltily turning his head away.

"Don't worry, I understand. I won't tell anyone and ruin your image as a gentleman in her eyes," Su Yingge said with a smile, patting his shoulder.

*

At the City Lord's Mansion, Li Yue was discussing the deployment of troops with Niu Hong and others when Miao Haoyan rushed in from outside, somewhat nervously saying, "City Lord, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Li Yue frowned and muttered, "How annoying!" He then dismissed Niu Hong and the others, straightened his clothes, and returned to the backyard.

As soon as he entered, he found Jinlu, Su Yingge, and Qu Liushang standing in the courtyard, seemingly facing off. The moment Su Yingge and Qu Liushang entered, their gazes towards Jinlu were fierce, but upon seeing Li Yue, they immediately softened without a trace of bravado, their expressions changing swiftly.

However, compared to Li Yue's astonishment, Su Yingge and Qu Liushang were even more dumbfounded.

They smiled, and Jinlu knew without turning around that it was Li Yue. Then, something miraculous happened.

The man who had just been glaring at them with murderous intent instantly became full of grievance, tears welling in his eyes and visibly rolling down his cheeks.

His ability to cry so easily was truly astonishing and utterly awe-inspiring!

While Su Yingge and Qu Liushang were still stunned, Li Yue approached and asked, "What are you doing?"

Su Yingge and Qu Liushang watched helplessly as Jinlu turned away, her face streaked with tears, looking pitiful. She sobbed, "Sister Yue, I came to see you, but they bullied me, blocking my way." Who

could resist those irresistible, tearful eyes?

"Hey, what are you two doing? Why are you bullying him? Don't you know that guests from afar are guests?" Li Yue chimed in protectively.

Su Yingge and Qu Liushang, initially indignant, suddenly understood upon hearing the last sentence. "Guests from afar," so Jinlu was a guest, and they weren't... Thinking this, they laughed again, stepping aside and adopting the air of hosts, saying, "Please."

Jinlu, holding back her tears, quickly burst into shameless sobs again: "Sister Yue, you're bullying me too! Why am I a guest and they aren't?"

"Because they're staying here. Don't cry, I'll take you for tea." "Li Yue didn't wait for him to dawdle any longer and pulled him into the house.

"Tell me, what are you doing here?" Li Yue asked, leaving Su Yingge and Qu Liushang outside.

Jin Lu hugged her tightly, nuzzling her shoulder, and said, "I missed you."

Hearing the hint of sorrow in his earnestness, and recalling what he had said in Yong'an, Li Yue's heart softened. She hugged him back and said, "I'm going to Xiwu to fight."

Jin Lu stiffened, gently pushing her away, and asked, "To help Huangfu Jue?"

Li Yue nodded.

"I won't let you go! I won't let you go!" he protested.

"This is my own decision," Li Yue said.

"Swords have no eyes. What if you get hurt? Going to the battlefield is a man's business. If you absolutely must help Huangfu Jue, I will send my Southern Buddha general with troops to support him. I absolutely do not want you to put yourself in danger." Jinlu abandoned his usual coquettish and adorable demeanor, his words and actions revealing a ruthless decisiveness unique to emperors.

Liyue looked at him without speaking.

Jinlu snapped out of his reverie, realizing that his concern had clouded his judgment and he seemed to have revealed his true colors. He awkwardly grabbed her hand and said, "Sister Yue, the only person in this world I truly care about is you. If I can't even protect you, what's the point of being the crown prince or the emperor?"

Liyue smiled slightly, reaching out to pinch his plump, fair cheek, and said, "I know you care about me, but I can't entrust this matter to anyone else. I must go myself because it's a promise I made. Don't worry, once I'm on the battlefield, it's others who will have to worry."

Jinlu held her hand and said, "How can I not worry? What's so good about Huangfu Jue? Is he worth you risking everything for him?" As he spoke, jealousy surfaced again.

Liyue pinched him and said, "Can't you think of anything else besides romantic love?" "

Sister Yue, when I ascend the throne, will you marry me and become my empress?" Jinlu suddenly said.

"Ah?" Liyue was taken aback.

"Will you?" he pressed.

"I...I'm already the empress of Dongyi..." Liyue stammered.

"I don't care about all that! If Yan Huang stops you from marrying me, I'll send troops to attack Dongyi!" Jinlu became unreasonable.

Upon hearing this, Liyue raised her hand and gave him a sharp rap on the head!

"Sister Yue, why did you hit me? Or is it that you don't want to marry me?" he said, rubbing his head aggrievedly.

"So young and already so bloodthirsty, who else should I hit if not you? Remember, if you disrupt the peace with Dongyi, I'll be the first to not forgive you!" Liyue said fiercely.

"So, will you agree or not?" he asked, his red lips curling into a smirk.

"We'll talk about it later. While I'm away in Nanfo, there's something I need you to do," Liyue said.

"What is it?" “

That Yun Qian from Tian Sheng Palace, have someone keep a close eye on him,” Li Yue said.

"Why are you suddenly interested in him?" Jin Lu became alert.

When Liyue saw him like that, she went up to him and said, "What are you thinking about? Just keep an eye on me."

...

Outside the door, Su Yinge was scurrying around like a headless fly, while Qu Liu stood under the window with a frown on his face, as if eavesdropping.

"Why don't you come out yet? There's so much nonsense!" Su Yinge complained.

"I heard Jinlu's cry." Qu Liushang said.

"Really? Okay, beating him to death will be more satisfying." Su Yinge approached.

As soon as the two of them got together and prepared to eavesdrop, a chair suddenly broke through the window pane and flew out. Liyue was heard scolding inside: "Is it addictive to eavesdropping? Don't you want to hang out anymore?"

The text was shocked to hear the truth,

on the night of September 12th.

Inside and outside the Zhuwumen city wall, it was like hell.

The all-out attack on Zhuwu Gate began three days ago. For three days, the attacking and defending sides fought fiercely day and night. Men fell constantly, and replacements constantly took their place. Outside the city, corpses piled up like mountains, and inside the city walls, rows of dead bodies stretched out. The pungent stench of blood permeated the night sky above Zhuwu Gate.

After a day of fierce fighting, the enemy army, leaving behind thousands of corpses, retreated like a receding tide, leaving another noisy midnight filled with the groans of the wounded.

Huangfu Jue threw away his steel sword, its blade already dulled. His upper robe was almost soaked in blood, his hair slightly disheveled, and his somewhat gaunt face splattered with blood.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Lin Jiu, who had also been fighting on the city wall all day, wiped the blood from his hands and approached.

"I'm fine. Go check on the situation with my father and the others." Huangfu Jue turned and said calmly, inspecting the casualties of the soldiers on the city wall.

Lin Jiu obeyed and quickly ran to the other side of the city wall.

Huangfu Jue frowned, treading through the blood, watching his soldiers swiftly throw down the enemy corpses from the city walls and carry his fallen comrades to the foot of the city.

Looking up, the sky was moonless, pitch black, mirroring his current state of mind.

Facing the weary yet respectful gazes of the soldiers, he descended the city wall alone, reaching for the wall in a dark corner untouched by torchlight.

During the fierce battle earlier that day, an enemy warrior had scaled the wall and exchanged blows with him. Although he had ultimately been killed, his left arm, still wounded by an arrow, was immobilized. He had been struck by the enemy's spear; in the heat of the moment, he hadn't felt it, but now, with his strength receding, he felt a sharp, numb pain in his right arm, likely a reopening of an old wound. Just as he was about to roll up his sleeve to examine it, Guan Du, standing behind him, a calm gaze concealing worry, said

, "Your Highness, you haven't rested for three days." Huangfu Jue turned abruptly. "Leading the charge and setting an example is commendable, but becoming their spiritual leader is even more important. To achieve this, your first task is to never fall," Guan Du said, looking at him. "Attack," Huangfu Jue suddenly said. Guan Du was taken aback. "This is a pointless sacrifice. Our men are dying in this war of attrition. We could have attacked." Despite his bloodshot eyes, his gaze was as dark as night. "They've died more than us," Guan Du said. "Proportionally, we can't outlast them no matter what," Huangfu Jue said. "You know we have to wait. The 150,000 Dragon Tiger Army of Bajia City hasn't moved yet. I also know that if we send all the soldiers from our underground city out, we can easily fight our way out. But once we break through, we'll be attacked from both sides. And if we abandon the city, Tongxuan Pass will be their next target. If Tongxuan Pass falls, we'll have no way out." Guan Du patiently analyzed the pros and cons. "What if the Dragon Tiger Army of Bajia City doesn't move?" Huangfu Jue's eyes held a hidden pain. Guan Du met his gaze for a long time, then said, "They will move, they will." Huangfu Jue emerged from the shadows like a blood-stained epiphyllum, pale and desperate. After taking only a few steps, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he staggered. Guan Du quickly stepped forward to support him, noticing his pale face, and called out to someone not far behind, "Lin Jiu, help the Prince back to the manor!" The group had just arrived at the gate of the Xi Prince's manor when a guard came forward to report that Li Yue had sent a messenger. Guan Du took the letter and went to Huangfu Jue's room. He first had the physician treat the lacerated wound on Huangfu Jue's left arm before opening the letter under Huangfu Jue's concerned gaze. Li Yue's message was concise: she had stationed 10,000 cavalry and 30,000 infantry ten miles behind Zhu Wu Gate and asked two questions: First, would both sides cooperate to annihilate the enemy forces outside Zhu Wu Gate tomorrow? Second, the battle plan. Guan Du had always known she would come and hoped she would lend a hand, but now that he knew she had actually arrived, he hesitated. After all, this battle for the throne had nothing to do with her, and now he had dragged her into it for no reason; thinking about it, he felt quite ashamed. But he also knew Li Yue's character well; once he came, he wouldn't leave until he achieved his goal. He handed the letter to Huangfu Jue, then paced back and forth in the room for a long time before pausing and saying, "Your Highness, perhaps we can change our plan." Huangfu Jue read the contents of the letter, remained silent for a while, and then said, "Now we have three forces, which can be divided into left, center, and right routes to attack Lin Ying. I will lead the main force to directly attack Bajia City, while the Phoenix City Army and the Royal Army of the Underground City will flank from both sides from a distance. If the Dragon Tiger Army does not move, we can form an encirclement around him; if he moves to one side, we can directly attack..." "Attack Linying." Guan Du deliberately asked, "How should the armies on both flanks be arranged?" Huangfu Jue got up and went to the east wall, where a map of Xiwu was hanging. He looked at it for a while and said, "Let the Phoenix City Army be responsible for the left flank, and the Prince's Army for the right flank." The left flank was blocked by the Poplar Mountains, making the route to Linying almost a semi-circle. The right flank route was right next to the official road from Zhuwu Gate to Linying. With both sides attacking and capturing cities, at a normal pace, the right flank army would definitely approach Linying first, making it the easiest way to lure the main force of the Dragon Tiger Army over. Guan Du noticed that since the passing of the Dowager Consort, Huangfu Jue had indeed matured rapidly. For example, at this moment, he knew to protect Liyue subtly. The left flank route looked rugged and difficult, while the right flank was flat and easy. But it was precisely this stark contrast that showed Huangfu Jue's painstaking efforts. By having the Phoenix City Army advance slowly on the left flank, the attention of the Dragon Tiger Army and the imperial court could be diverted, but intercepting and annihilating them would be difficult due to the long, winding Poplar Mountain Range. The real challenge to the Dragon Tiger Army and the imperial court would ultimately lie with the 100,000 main force troops from Tongxuan Pass and the 38,000-strong royal army from the underground city of Zhuwu Gate. If they won, they would have finished their task before the Phoenix City Army even reached Lin Ying; if they lost, the route the Phoenix City Army took—whether retreating southeast into Dongyi territory or returning to Nanfo—would be fine. This arrangement demonstrated Huangfu Jue's wisdom and magnanimity as a mature man. "Father, do you think my arrangement is appropriate?" Seeing Guan Du looking at him silently, he couldn't help but ask. Guan Du nodded and said, "Very good. However, given your current physical condition, you are probably not suitable to be the main commander. It would be better to let the left and right flanks advance first, and the main force can set off ten days later. You don't need to participate in tomorrow's counterattack against the enemy outside the city. Getting better is more important than anything else. The test before you has only just begun. "

Zhu Wumen endured another sleepless night. This time, however, as the new sun rose, instead of closing the gates and climbing the walls, the soldiers of Zhu Wumen opened them, unleashing the more than 30,000 armored soldiers who had been holed up underground. Simultaneously, the Phoenix City army of Liyue split into two groups, flanking the enemy from both sides of Zhu Wumen.

The imperial army was dumbfounded. After a siege of Zhu Wumen for over two months, they had assumed the enemy was merely holding out, and that capturing the city and taking Xi Wang Huangfu Jue prisoner would be imminent. They hadn't expected the enemy to be able to mount such an attack.

Caught off guard, the imperial army was routed after only a morning, fleeing in disarray.

While the soldiers of Zhu Wumen, Huangfu Jue, and Guan Du were exhausted, the imperial army, having marched a long distance, was even more exhausted. At least the soldiers of Zhu Wumen had beds to sleep in and food to eat, while the imperial army had to make do in tents outside. Over time, both their physical strength and energy were severely depleted. Furthermore, with no war between Xiwu, Dongyi, and Nanfo for decades, these soldiers had become complacent. Lacking regular training, their combat effectiveness was questionable.

In the past, it would have been a pipe dream for over 100,000 men to fail to conquer a city of only tens of thousands in two months.

But now, it wasn't a pipe dream at all; in fact, they suffered heavy casualties. Of the 130,000 who came, only 70,000 remained when they retreated—nearly half lost.

The moment the imperial army was repelled, Zhuwu Gate erupted in jubilation. Seeing the enemy troops, who had swarmed outside the city like flies for over two months, finally disappear, the defending soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, and the people were liberated from the oppressive shadow of war. Although they didn't know if the enemy would counterattack, they took to the streets to celebrate their initial victory.

Li Yue was also worried that the imperial army might regroup and launch another counterattack, as they appeared to have a considerable number of soldiers when they fled. Therefore, she ordered Niu Hong to lead the troops to guard outside the city, while she herself, along with Qu Liushang and Su Yingge, entered through Zhu Wu Gate.

Guan Du and the Xi Wang Mansion troops lined the road to welcome the three.

Guan Du hadn't personally participated in the morning's fierce battle; he had commanded from the city wall and thus had a clear view of the battle below.

This Phoenix City army truly lived up to its reputation as the elite force of the former Southern Buddha and Southern Anhui armies, possessing unparalleled combat power and seemingly invincible. Moreover, Li Yue, their commander, was no ordinary soldier; dressed in a red dress, she led the charge, appearing from afar like a delicate flower blooming on the battlefield, yet her swift and decisive strikes were ruthless and merciless. With Qu Liushang always by her side, the combined lethality of these two made the enemy army almost give way at the mere sight of them.

Amidst the chaotic battlefield, they remained oblivious, leisurely leading their five thousand armored cavalry to dig out and encircle over three thousand enemy soldiers from the main force. The Xi Wang Palace's army was currently escorting prisoners of war.

"A-Du, not bad! Such a small city hiding so many soldiers! I lived here for so long and never noticed. They've hidden them quite well!" Upon seeing Guan Du, Li Yue teased with a smile. "A last resort,

truly a last resort," Guan Du said as he welcomed the three to the Xi Wang Palace.

It was past noon, and the palace was already stocked with wine and food. However, Guan Du noticed that the host, Huangfu Jue, hadn't come out. He secretly asked Lin Jiu to call him, but Lin Jiu said with a bitter face that the prince was still asleep. Guan Du had no choice but to find an excuse to leave the living room and go find Huangfu Jue himself.

"Hmph! What a big shot! Not only did he not come to greet you, but he didn't even show his face at his residence. He hasn't even become emperor yet, but he's already putting on airs." Thinking of Li Yue's past pregnancy with Huangfu Jue's child, Su Yingge felt a surge of displeasure. Leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed, she spoke sarcastically.

Li Yue kicked her, saying, "Come on, if he came out to greet you, you'd probably say he was being hypocritical. I know your mouth; you can say anything, no matter how you twist it."

Hearing this, Su Yingge grabbed her arm, lifting her wide sleeves and examining them closely.

Before leaving Nanfo, Jinlu had specially given her a national treasure of Nanfo—a pale silver, gossamer-thin soft armor, said to be impervious to swords and spears, and water and fire. Li Yue had tried it on in Nanfo, and it truly was; it felt almost weightless. So, at the demon's repeated pleas, she put it on, promising never to take it off until the war was over.

Su Yingge cursed Jinlu the flatterer the whole way, but didn't tell her to take off the soft armor. Instead, whenever she had a spare moment, she would tear open Jinlu's clothes to examine what the soft armor was made of. Qu Liushang even got into a fight with him because he couldn't stand him tearing her clothes off anytime and anywhere.

Seeing his posture, Li Yue assumed he was studying the material of the soft armor again. She used her chopsticks to poke his forehead and push him away, saying, "Stop looking. After I finish this battle, I'll give it to you to study slowly."

Su Yingge scoffed, "I don't want his rubbish. I'm just checking which way your elbows are pointing. Why are they always siding with the outside?"

Before Li Yue could scold him, Qu Liushang on her right spoke up again, "It's not the first or second time she's siding with the outside. Why are you making such a fuss? Look how calm I am."

Su Yingge glanced at him and said, "Yes, calm down. Calm down and poke a few holes in the table."

Li Yue looked back and saw that Qu Liushang had indeed poked a few holes in the hard nanmu wood table edge with his chopsticks. She immediately slapped him, saying, "Do you have to show off now? Have some manners, okay?"

Qu Liushang dodged, innocently saying, "I didn't mean to. Who knew this table edge was like tofu, it just pierced right through me."

Li Yue looked at the two clowns sandwiching her on either side and was instantly exasperated.

She was just here to help Huangfu Jue fight a battle and seize the throne, did they have to be so jealous?

*

Guan Du pushed open Huangfu Jue's door and found him not in bed, but sitting on the edge of the bed, deep in thought.

"Why don't you go out to greet the guest?" Guan Du asked bluntly.

Huangfu Jue raised his face. Although he had fallen asleep exhausted last night, he had only been awake for a little over an hour. Two months of injuries and overwork had made him look haggard.

"How can I see her like this?" It wasn't that he didn't want to see her; he had just looked in the mirror and realized that it would be very embarrassing to see her looking like this.

Guan Du looked at his bloodshot eyes and pale face for a long time, then sighed softly and said, "I told you to treat her well back then, but you didn't listen. Now you regret it, but it's probably too late."

Huangfu Jue lowered his head, his long, slender fingers gripping the edge of the bed, deeply conflicted.

Guan Du closed the door and sat down opposite him on the stool at the table, saying, "If—I mean, if—we could succeed, if we could kill Huangfu Zaichun and seize the throne, if we could weaken the world and ascend to the throne, how would you treat Qin Liyue and Jiang Hanyu?"

"Hanyu… all these years, I've only ever considered her a younger sister. I'm willing to do everything I can to repay her for everything she's done for me, but… I can't marry her," Huangfu Jue said, his eyes lowered.

"You know perfectly well that her only purpose in life is to marry you," Guan Du bluntly exposed his self-comforting thoughts.

Huangfu Jue turned his face away, speechless.

"As for Qin Liyue, I can say with certainty that if Jiang Hanyu's matter isn't resolved, no matter what your past or present circumstances are, your future is hopeless.

I remember Yan Ji once said that she not only has the face of many husbands, but also the face of a woman who brings good fortune to her husbands. Now it seems that this is no exaggeration. Jinlu, because she successfully eliminated Jin Wei and seized power, is now just waiting for the emperor's death to inherit the throne. Yan Huang, with the Chen Prince's coup failing and the Empress Dowager stationed in Yong'an, his uprising in Xiongzhou is doomed to failure. With Liyue's arrival, the conflict was resolved peacefully, the wedding exchanged for power, and Dongyi returned to stability. Looking at the people around her, there is no shortage of those who hold great power, such as Yan Huang and Jinlu; there is no shortage of those who are wealthy and beautiful, such as Yu Wuchen and Su Yingge; and there is no shortage of those with superb martial arts skills, such as Ye Qianxun and Murong Juan."

"If you can't let her go, and you have to compete with so many formidable rivals, not to mention having a childhood sweetheart who's not quite yours, tell me, do you think you have any chance of winning?" Guan Du analyzed for him.

Huangfu Jue's sword-like brows furrowed slightly, suppressing a pang of heartache as he said, "I know I have no hope. If she doesn't hold a grudge against me for the mistakes I made for her in the past, I'll be content. But even if she never looks at me again, I'm willing to watch her silently from behind. Father, perhaps you don't believe me, but this is truly how I feel. This feeling influences all my imagination about love between men and women, so no matter what the future holds, I cannot marry Hanyu. Marrying her would ruin her life."

Guan Du stared at him, silent for a long time, then said, "In that case, pull yourself together and fight for it, whether it's the throne or her. Leave Princess Hanyu to me."

Huangfu Jue was stunned for a moment, then shook his head slightly, saying, "The throne, I still have the confidence to fight for it, but her… I have no right, no qualification."

"You do. " "Having suppressed his emotions for so long, Guan Du finally decided to tell him the truth at this moment. He needed this kind of shock now. Whether it was fate or love, he had entered the most crucial juncture of his life. At this moment, one wrong step could ruin his entire life.

Hearing Guan Du say that he was qualified, Huangfu Jue raised his head, looking at Guan Du with incomprehension.

Guan Du looked at him calmly and said, word by word, 'You may not know, but Qin Liyue... she was pregnant with your child, and then, on the way to rescue the Dowager Consort and Jiang Hanyu, she lost this child in a fierce battle.'

As if struck by a bolt from the blue, Huangfu Jue was instantly stunned, his entire body, even every strand of hair, frozen in extreme shock.

'Now you know that the harm you caused her, even if you spend your whole life making amends, it wouldn't be enough. So you have the right to fight for it, because you want to atone for your sins, to live, to make up for the mistakes you made.'"

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[Fantasy] The Harem is in Chaos (Complete) - Chapter 31

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