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Inside the Nan Dynasty Imperial Palace.
It was the middle of the night, a time when people should be asleep. However, within the brightly lit hall, the Nan Dynasty Emperor and all the senior officials of the court were gathered.
The atmosphere was oppressive and gloomy, like a thick layer of haze weighing on everyone’s hearts. The officials’ faces visibly showed signs of anxiety, confusion, and unease.
They were pale and at a loss.
The old prime minister repeated what seemed to be the umpteenth attempt to persuade: “Your Majesty, the enemy army is already at the gates. Your Majesty should flee immediately…”
“Presumptuous!” The man sitting on the dragon throne had a stern and resolute appearance, but upon hearing these words, his face turned dark with anger. “This is my palace, my empire. Where should I flee to?”
“The Yong Kingdom’s army is invincible. If Your Majesty stays, there is only death!”
“Your Majesty!”
“Please reconsider, as long as the green hills are there, there will be wood to burn…”
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!” An armored imperial guard stumbled in, his face pale with fear. “There’s a signal in the night sky… a signal. The Yong Kingdom’s army is sending a signal…”
The officials looked at each other uneasily: “What signal? Are they about to attack the city?”
“Guards! Send out all the imperial guards to defend the imperial city at all costs!” Emperor Yan Yunshuo stood up, his tone revealing uncontrolled shock and anger. “Pass on my decree, whoever can kill the enemy’s general will not only be granted the title of Marquis but also be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and ten beauties!”
“Yes!”
As soon as the words were spoken, an eunuch hurried over: “Your Majesty, Consort Ying requests an audience.”
Yan Yunshuo’s face sank: “What is she here for?”
“This servant does not know.”
Yan Yunshuo sat down and said coldly, “Let her in.”
“Yes.”
A woman in her twenties entered the hall from outside. She was not dressed in luxurious palace attire but wore a neat black outfit, looking spirited and composed.
The officials were surprised to see her in this state and then suddenly realized something, a glimmer of hope lighting up in their eyes.
After entering the hall, the woman ignored the reactions of the officials, knelt on one knee, and spoke with a strong, resonant voice: “Your Majesty, I request to join the battle.”
“You?” Yan Yunshuo looked at the woman before him, exuding an air of valor, and his expression froze. “How can you…”
“I have been on the battlefield before and have killed enemies.” Consort Ying lowered her gaze, her kneeling posture dignified. “When the Princess was alive, she said that defending the homeland is a soldier’s duty. I was once a soldier, and in times of national peril, I am still a soldier. If I can defend the imperial city, the spirit of the Princess in heaven will be greatly comforted. If I cannot defend it… If I cannot defend the imperial city, I would rather die on the battlefield and be able to account for it to the Princess in the afterlife.”
Hearing this, the officials were invigorated: “Your Majesty, Consort Ying has achieved numerous military victories and can fight!”
“Yes, before entering the palace, Consort Ying followed the Eldest Princess through life and death, with rich experience against the enemy. With Consort Ying here, the imperial city can at least hold out for several more days.”
With several days to delay, the time for the Emperor and them to escape from the imperial city would be more ample. They would have enough time to settle their families and take their wives and children with them.
By the time the Yong Kingdom breached the imperial city, they would have long fled to a safe place.
However, Emperor Yan Yunshuo clearly did not think this way.
When Consort Ying mentioned the Princess, a shadow passed through his eyes. After listening to her words, he stared at her for a while, his gaze heavy: “You have been in the palace for over two years, your martial arts have long since deteriorated. Moreover, the Yong army outside the city is too numerous and too powerful. Can you be their match?”
“I will do my best.” Consort Ying lowered her gaze. “Even if I fail, I will die with honor.”
Yan Yunshuo remained silent for a long time.
Several key officials spoke one after another, trying to persuade him. It was clear they had already given up hope for the war. Their greatest hope now was to delay the fall of the city for as long as possible, giving them enough time to convince the Emperor to abandon the city and flee.
The Emperor, for some unknown reason, refused to leave despite the imminent fall of the city and the subsequent loss of the country. Even after becoming captives and slaves to the new Emperor, he was unwilling to leave, unwilling to give up his dragon robe and the dragon throne he sat on.
Was the dragon throne more important than life itself?
If the Emperor did not leave, they could not leave either. And the Emperor summoned them to the palace every day, as if he wanted them to accompany him in becoming slaves of a fallen nation. But the officials were unwilling, they feared death and even more so the humiliation of being slaves of a fallen nation. They did not want their wives and daughters to become playthings for others.
“Your Majesty, I request to join the battle.” Consort Ying, seeing that the Emperor had not yet agreed, asked again. “I swear to defend the imperial city with my life.”
“Your Majesty!” The old prime minister knelt and pleaded, “Please allow Consort Ying to join the battle!”
The officials knelt one by one: “Please allow Consort Ying to join the battle!”
“Please allow Consort Ying to join the battle!”
Yan Yunshuo’s expression was as cold as water, his face devoid of emotion as he stared at Consort Ying for a while, the dark light in his eyes fluctuating. After a long time, he finally spoke: “Very well.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Yan Yunshuo handed her half of the tiger talisman from the imperial desk: “I believe you can defend the city gates.”
Consort Ying took the tiger talisman and knelt on one knee: “As long as the gates stand, I will stand. If the gates fall, I will die.”
After saying this, she stood up without looking back and left, holding the tiger talisman tightly in her hand, as if using all her strength.