When the court officials accused Lin Dan of being ruthless and called for severe punishment, the emperor found their arguments reasonable. If she could even kill her own father, then this person had clearly lost her moral compass and could no longer be trusted. However, after listening to the words of Old Madam Lin and reflecting on the actual circumstances at the time, the emperor suddenly realized that it was precisely because Lin Dan and her father held loyalty to the monarch and the country so highly that they made such a difficult choice.

For the sake of serving the monarch and repaying the country, they had already disregarded life and death. If such loyal individuals could not be employed, then who could be? Would it be those who enjoyed wealth and luxury in the rear, proclaiming that filial piety was more important than loyalty to the emperor? If they were placed on the battlefield, they would likely flee even before the drums of war could be sounded. They would surely use the ready excuse that they had elderly parents at home and could not die yet!

If everyone in the Great Wei Dynasty were like that, who would defend the borders, resist foreign invaders, and protect the land? The emperor pondered further, realizing that the peace he currently enjoyed, sitting in his court listening to the ministers’ endless arguments, was all thanks to the Lin family members, who had risked their lives for the country. The more the emperor thought about the loyalty of the Lin family, the more moved he became. When he turned to look at the officials who had impeached Lin Dan, he suddenly found them all to be sinister and repulsive. The court ministers caught in his gaze quickly lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe.

“Please rise, Matriarch Lin! How could I not understand the Lin family’s loyalty to me? Your words today have truly filled me with shame!” The emperor personally descended from his throne to help Old Madam Lin to her feet, his eyes already brimming with unshed tears. At that moment, he deeply regretted issuing the imperial decree that rebuked Lin Dan and summoned her back. If the border commander was replaced, could anyone be as loyal as her?

The more the emperor thought about it, the more frustrated he became. After sending Old Madam Lin off, he erupted in fury during court, finding any excuse to demote several officials who had impeached Lin Dan. What was the most important quality for a court official? It was loyalty, especially now that his sons had grown up and the battle for the throne had become increasingly intense.

The emperor, now elderly and physically weak, often felt incapable of keeping up with the demands of ruling. In such circumstances, his sons were all fixated on the throne beneath him, scheming in secret. Did he not feel anxious and unable to sleep at night? Did he not feel constant worry and the need for vigilance?

Thus, his criteria for employing people had fundamentally changed, shifting from prioritizing ability to prioritizing loyalty. If not for the deceit of these officials who had slandered Lin Dan, he never would have recalled her from the front lines. The Western Army was the largest and most powerful force in the Great Wei Dynasty, and as long as he had control of this army, the emperor felt secure in all his actions. But now, without the Lin family overseeing it, was the Western Army still loyal only to the emperor? Or had it already been infiltrated and controlled by his sons?

It was only then that the emperor realized, too late, that he had fallen into his sons’ trap, recklessly throwing away his most valuable card. His regret gnawed at him.

Old Madam Lin was unaware of the emperor’s remorse. She only knew that she had to protect her granddaughter and ensure her safe return. Fortunately, her speech at court had quickly taken effect and no official dared to impeach Lin Dan again for fear of being labeled disloyal to the emperor and unpatriotic, which would ruin their careers. Even the common people began to change their views, praising Lin Dan for her bravery and loyalty.

The Lin family finally regained some peace, but before long, another terrible piece of news arrived. Lin Dan, in order to save Prince Zhuang, had been struck by an assassin and fallen into a deep ravine, her whereabouts unknown. The ravine was several dozen zhang deep and the current at the bottom was fierce. Even a fish that fell in might not be able to float back up, let alone a person. Lin Dan was most likely doomed!

Old Madam Lin finally fell ill. She refused food and drink, only crying day and night. Madam Lin had not yet figured out how to face her daughter, but now she would never see her daughter again. She burst into wailing sobs. How she regretted it! She regretted that when the old madam had written to Lin Dan, Madam Lin, harboring a tiny bit of resentment, had refused to add a few comforting words. Now, even though she wanted to comfort her daughter, Lin Dan could no longer hear. Lin Dan had given so much for the Lin family and the Great Wei Dynasty, but in the end, her body couldn’t even be found. This was not the fate Lin Dan deserved!

The Lin family was shrouded in a cloud of sorrow. Even the emperor was struck dumb, sitting dazed on his throne and unable to recover for a long time. He had long planned that when Lin Dan returned to the capital, he would symbolically reprimand her a bit, reward her generously, and then send her back to the border to continue defending the land for him. Lin Dan was the only general he could trust, and now, in just a few days, she was gone.

How could the emperor accept this sudden upheaval, this hidden tide of conspiracies and power struggles? His anger, disappointment, and even hatred towards his sons deepened. His temper became increasingly volatile and he continued to demote officials, plunging both the court and the country into chaos.

Meanwhile, Concubine Shi quietly entered Prince Kang’s mansion and complained, “With Lin Dan dead, the Lin family’s prospects have greatly declined and many of the noble families have cut ties with us. You know Lin Qing is nothing but a useless fool. He cannot possibly take command of the Western Army. Without that army, the Lin family is nothing. Even if I give birth to this child, what’s the point? I’ll still have to suffer.”

Lin Wan chuckled lightly. “Mother, you’re thinking too small. The Lin family has been fighting wars for generations, and their spoils of war are immeasurable. Their vaults are overflowing with gold and silver. Once you give birth to the child, he will at least inherit that wealth. With that kind of financial backing, my life in Prince Kang’s household will be much easier. When Prince Kang ascends the throne, the child in my belly will be a prince. At the very least, I’ll secure the position of a concubine. And if fortune favors me in the future, who knows? Perhaps I might even rise to the very top. Don’t focus solely on the Lin family’s decline. You need to think further ahead.”

Concubine Shi’s expression of dejection was instantly replaced by joy as she nodded and said, “That’s exactly right. You must take good care of yourself and protect the baby! I’ve already checked and this child in my belly is a boy. Your pregnancy is still early, so it’s not clear yet, but give it another month and I’ll take another look for you. I’ll make sure you give birth to a prince.” After saying that, she placed several packets of medicine on the table and instructed, “You must remember to drink this medicine. I personally went to get it.”

“I trust mother’s medical skills.” Lin Wan said as she hid the medicine in her chest. Slowly, she began to indulge in thoughts of the future with Concubine Shi. However, they never expected their dream would shatter so quickly. A maid rushed in and whispered in panic, “Mistress, something terrible has happened! A report has come from the border. There’s news that the prince has been killed by Mo Xiao!”

“What did you say?! The prince went to negotiate with Mo Xiao, how could he be killed?!” Lin Wan’s face showed disbelief.

The maid knelt on the ground and hastily replied, “The prince and Mo Xiao were close to reaching an agreement. But somehow, the news of General Lin Dan’s death reached the ears of the Xiongnu. Mo Xiao immediately halted the negotiations, returned to the grasslands for half a month of reorganization, and then secretly allied with the Xianbei, Jie, Di, and Qiang tribes to quickly form an army. They launched a surprise attack on Great Wei’s camp, killing the officials responsible for the negotiations and the prince. They have now begun attacking the Hetao region again. Mo Xiao declared on the battlefield that he had only agreed to the truce out of respect for General Lin Dan. Now that she’s dead, he has no reservations and plans to take Hetao, occupy Jinbei, and flatten the central plains.”

The maid, terrified to the point of tears, held back her fear and said, “Without General Lin Dan to intimidate them, with Prince Zhuang recalled to the capital, and Military Advisor Ding not present, the Western Army is leaderless and unable to resist the Five Hu Alliance. They’ve been losing ground rapidly. Outside, the situation is already chaotic. Not only is the emperor not showing any sympathy for the prince’s sacrifice, but he’s also publicly cursing him in court, blaming him for harming loyal subjects, bringing disaster to the nation, and saying it’s his own fault. The princess consort went to the palace to inquire but the emperor had her thrown out, saying that among the officials who impeached General Lin Dan, the prince and princess consort’s people were the most numerous. They’re simply reaping what they sowed and are not worthy of pity.”

The maid, utterly lost, asked, “Mistress, what should we do? Should we go check on the princess consort?”

Lin Wan clutched her belly and collapsed onto the couch, completely unsure of what to do. Without Prince Kang, all her dreams of becoming a crown princess, an empress, or even an empress dowager had evaporated, leaving her no future to hold onto. Had she known this would happen, she never would have leaked the news of Lin Dan’s patricide to Prince Kang. Had she not, the prince wouldn’t have encouraged his people to impeach Lin Dan, leading the emperor to recall her. If Lin Dan had remained at the border, the Xiongnu would still be intimidated, the negotiations wouldn’t have broken down, and the prince wouldn’t be dead. She could’ve peacefully given birth to her child and awaited her rise to imperial consort, perhaps even becoming the empress.

But now, everything was gone. Prince Kang was dead and he had incurred the emperor’s wrath. The child in Lin Wan’s belly had become a burden. To ensure her child would inherit Prince Kang’s title, the princess consort would certainly take him away from Lin Wan and raise him under her care. And to prevent future trouble, with the princess consort’s ruthless nature, the other party would undoubtedly have Lin Wan killed!

“Mother, mother, what should I do?” Lin Wan, filled with regret and fear, had completely lost her wits. She never imagined that killing Lin Dan would lead to such catastrophic consequences.

Concubine Shi was equally regretful but forced herself to stay calm and said, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. First, protect the baby in your belly. At the very least, that will let you live a few more months. During that time, we’ll think of a way. Do you believe me, if you miscarry, the princess consort will have you killed immediately?”

How could Lin Wan not believe it? Before she even entered the household, the princess consort already wanted her dead, let alone now.

Mother and daughter clung to each other, sobbing bitterly, and for the first time, they made a wish. They hoped Lin Dan was still alive and would return. With her presence, the Xiongnu would be intimidated and the Great Wei Dynasty could enjoy peace and stability. With her around, the Lin family wouldn’t fall, and the princess consort, wary of the Lin family’s influence, wouldn’t dare harm them. In short, as long as Lin Dan lived, everyone would have a chance to survive.

At this moment, the old emperor was filled with rage. He had never so deeply realized how important it was to have a general capable of commanding the world’s respect. If Lin Dan were still alive, regardless of her gender or loyalty, he would greatly value her. Unfortunately, her life and death were no longer something he could control, and even the fate of the Great Wei Dynasty was now beyond his grasp.