Shuhan

Luoyang Palace City of Wei State.

Although the soldiers of Wei knew that the situation was hopeless, they still held on to their posts and defended their last bit of dignity with their flesh and blood.

Their faces were covered in sweat and blood, but their eyes revealed determination and resoluteness.

They knew that they might not be able to change the fate of Wei, but they could at least make the Han army pay a greater price.

Cao Rui felt mixed emotions as he tried to break out.

He looked back and saw that Luoyang City had fallen into chaos, with flames shooting into the sky and smoke everywhere.

His heart was filled with guilt and helplessness. He felt guilty for not being able to protect the legacy left by his ancestors, and he had no choice but to flee in panic.

A hint of sadness flashed across his eyes, but was quickly replaced by determination.

He knew that he couldn't give up just like that. As long as he was still alive, he would have a chance to make a comeback.

He rode on a warhorse with an upright posture. Although his clothes were a little messy, his royal temperament remained unchanged.

He held the sword tightly in his hand, and there were still bloodstains on the sword, which were left by the enemy general he killed with his own hands during the breakout.

His face was covered with dust and sweat, but his eyes were still as bright as torches, revealing an unyielding light.

"Your Majesty, let's go!" the guards beside him urged anxiously.

Cao Rui nodded, took a deep breath, and urged his horse forward.

His heart was filled with uncertainty and fear about the future, but he knew that he had to face it bravely.

Zhuge Liang stood at the highest point of Luoyang City, overlooking this thousand-year-old capital.

His eyes were filled with joy and pride of victory, but also with a hint of regret.

The fall of this city means the end of one era and the beginning of another.

He sighed softly and said, "Luoyang, you are finally back in the hands of the Han Dynasty."

As the Han army advanced deeper, the resistance in the palace became weaker and weaker.

Finally, after a fierce battle, the gate of the palace was breached by the Han army.

The soldiers of Wei State fell one after another, and their blood dyed the land of the palace red.

The Han soldiers cheered and rushed into the palace. The victory at this moment meant the complete demise of the Wei State.

Cao Rui was filled with bitterness on his way to escape.

He knew that although he had escaped from Luoyang, how far could he escape?

The pursuit of the Han army was like a leech on his tarsal bones, making it impossible for him to escape.

A hint of despair flashed across his eyes, but was quickly replaced by determination.

I can't give up like this. As long as I'm alive, there is hope.

He recalled every moment of his time in Luoyang City, the laughter, the tears, the glory and the shame.

He knew that he had lost a lot, but he also understood that only by surviving could he get back everything he had lost.

He tightly grasped the sword in his hand and silently said in his heart: "Although the Wei Kingdom is destroyed, my heart will never perish."

Luoyang was shrouded in chaos and panic at this moment.

Within the palace, people are divided and the former prosperity and order are gone.

The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled weakly on the mottled palace walls, reflecting a desolate and bleak scene.

The palace maids and eunuchs, who usually followed strict rules, were like frightened birds at this moment, and they all took the jewels from the palace and fled in the chaos.

They either held pearl necklaces or carried gold and silver treasures in their pockets. Their eyes were full of fear and anxiety, and they walked hurriedly, fearing that if they were a step slower they would be swallowed up by the impending disaster.

However, fate did not seem to let them off easily.

Before they could escape from the palace, a group of remnant Wei soldiers appeared quietly like ghosts.

These remnants of the army were dressed in rags and looked tired, but their eyes were gleaming with greed and cruelty.

Holding sharp blades in their hands, they pounced on the fleeing palace maids and eunuchs like hungry wolves.

"Don't run! Hand over all the jewels on you!" A Wei soldier roared and slashed at a eunuch with a knife.

The eunuch screamed and fell in a pool of blood, with the jewels in his hands scattered all over the ground.

The other palace maids and eunuchs were so frightened upon seeing this that they quickened their pace.

However, where can you escape to?

The Wei soldiers captured them one by one like a cat catching a mouse.

They snatched jewelry and money from the palace maids and eunuchs with ferocious smiles on their faces.

Some palace maids and eunuchs knelt down and begged for mercy, but were instead killed even more cruelly.

In this chaos, some soldiers knew they could not escape death, so they wanted to make a big splash before dying.

There was madness and evil in their eyes, and they actually wanted to rush into the harem and humiliate the innocent concubines.

The harem, this originally sacred and inviolable forbidden area, is now in an unprecedented crisis.

The concubines were either pale with fright or trembling with fear, for they knew very well that their fate would soon be controlled by these brutal soldiers.

However, in this desperate moment, Empress Dowager Guo showed extraordinary courage and wisdom.

She had anticipated this situation and had prepared for it in advance.

She ordered the palace maids to guard the empress dowager's bedroom with swords and protect all the concubines and palace maids.

Although these palace maids are usually weak and fragile, they are like heroines at this moment, holding swords and sticking to their posts.

Their faces were firm and resolute, and their eyes revealed an unyielding light.

Empress Dowager Guo stood in the bedroom, looking solemn and calm.

She was wearing a gorgeous palace dress, but it looked a little messy at the moment.

Her hair was a little messy and draped over her shoulders, but there was a determined light in her eyes.

This crisis concerns his own life and death, as well as the fate of all the concubines and maids in the harem.

"You must defend this place and never let those rebel soldiers take a step further!" Queen Mother Guo ordered in a deep voice.

Although her voice was a little trembling, it revealed unquestionable firmness.

The palace maids responded in unison, they gripped their swords tightly and looked forward with firm eyes.

This is a life-and-death battle, and I must not retreat.

However, the rebels outside did not stop.

They roared and yelled, trying to break through the palace maids' defense.

Some of the soldiers even brandished sharp blades and rushed towards the palace maids.

The palace maids were not afraid at all. They brandished their swords and fought a desperate battle with the soldiers.

As the swords flashed, blood splattered. Some palace maids were injured, but they gritted their teeth and persisted in fighting.

Seeing this, the soldiers rushed towards the palace maids even more frantically.

They were like mad dogs, desperate to break through the defense line, enter the harem and humiliate the concubines.

However, the palace maids stood firm like a solid wall of steel.

They used their flesh and blood to build an indestructible line of defense.

Although the rebel soldiers were extremely ferocious, they were still unable to break through this line of defense.

The battle lasted for a long time and both sides were exhausted.

Seeing that they could not break through the defense line, the rebel soldiers retreated one after another.

Although they were unwilling to give in, they also knew that continuing would only result in more casualties.

Empress Dowager Guo and the concubines all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw this.

They knew they were safe for the time being.

However, their hearts were filled with worry and anxiety.

This crisis is only temporarily alleviated and has not been completely resolved.

The State of Wei had been defeated, and the palace city of Luoyang was in chaos.

What will be the fate of these concubines and palace maids in the harem?

They were either humiliated by the rebel soldiers or given away to others and became their playthings.

Thinking of this, a trace of sadness flashed across Empress Dowager Guo's eyes.

She looked out the window at the chaotic palace, her heart filled with helplessness and emotion. She used to be the most noble woman in the palace, with supreme power and status.

However, he is now in such an embarrassing situation, with his life and death uncertain and his fate unpredictable.

"Queen Mother, what should we do?" a concubine asked timidly, with a hint of fear and uneasiness in her voice.

Queen Mother Guo was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "We can only leave it to fate. I hope that God can bless us to survive this disaster."

Although her voice was calm, it revealed a hint of helplessness and sadness.

She could not change the situation and could only pray silently for God's protection.

As night fell, the Luoyang Palace City fell into darkness.

Only the occasional shouts and cries of fighting and crying broke the silence of the night.

Empress Dowager Guo and the concubines sat in the bedroom, their hearts filled with anxiety and fear.

They don't know what will happen tomorrow, nor do they know what their fate will be.

At this moment, a palace maid hurried in and said in a panic, "Queen Mother, it's bad! There are more rebel soldiers outside!"

Empress Dowager Guo felt nervous when she heard this. She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the chaotic palace outside.

I saw a group of soldiers waving sharp blades and rushing towards the bedroom.

There was a gleam of cruelty and greed in their eyes, as if they wanted to devour everything here.

Queen Mother Guo took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

I can't panic at this moment, otherwise it will only make the situation worse.

She turned to look at the palace maids and concubines, and said in a deep voice: "Don't be afraid, everyone. As long as we hold on here, we will be able to survive this disaster."

However, although her words were firm, her heart was filled with helplessness and sadness.

This disaster is not so easy to overcome.

These concubines and palace maids in the harem were like fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.

The soldiers were getting closer and closer, and their roars and shouts were deafening.

Empress Dowager Guo and the concubines hugged each other tightly, their hearts filled with fear and anxiety.

They don't know what their future will be like, nor do they know whether they can survive this disaster.

At this critical moment, there was a sudden sound of hurried horse hooves.

I saw a cavalry rushing into the chaotic soldiers like lightning, waving spears and sharp blades, and engaging in a fierce battle with the chaotic soldiers.

This cavalry is dressed in armor and looks heroic.

There was a determined light in their eyes, as if they were determined to annihilate the chaotic soldiers in front of them in one fell swoop.

Seeing this, the soldiers panicked and fled in all directions.

Empress Dowager Guo and the concubines all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw this.

This cavalry is his life-saving straw.

They hugged each other tightly, tears in their eyes.

What’s funny is that these are the Han troops entering the city.

They were originally nobles of the Wei State, but now they were almost insulted by the Wei soldiers. In the end, it was the Han army that rescued them.

There is no greater change in life than this.

It was when the sky was about to brighten.

The chaos in the Luoyang Palace City was like a raging storm, which finally subsided.

The afterglow of the setting sun shines on the mottled city walls, giving this ancient city a faint golden glow.

The entire Luoyang city seemed to gradually quiet down as the strong wind subsided.

On the streets, the once bustling crowds have long disappeared, leaving only a few scattered fallen leaves, gently fluttering in the breeze.

Occasionally, from some distant corner, there would be bursts of shouting and killing sounds, the sound was like thunder in the dark night, making people terrified.

However, these sounds were soon extinguished by a more powerful force, just like a candle flame swaying in the wind, and was eventually swallowed by darkness.

The atmosphere in the palace was extremely solemn.

The towering palace looks particularly solemn in the sunset, but it also reveals an indescribable desolation.

The palace gates were closed and the guards all looked nervous, as if they were facing a great enemy.

They knew that this palace city, which was once the power center of the Wei Dynasty, had now changed hands.

In the deepest part of the imperial city, in a gorgeous palace, the stunningly beautiful Empress Dowager Guo Zhao, who was dressed in palace clothes, with a plump figure and graceful posture, was sitting quietly in front of the window, staring at everything outside.

Her face is picturesque, her eyebrows are like distant mountains covered with smoke, her eyes are like autumn water, and her lips are like cherry blossoms.

The palace dress she wore perfectly outlined her graceful figure.

However, at this moment, her eyes revealed an indescribable complex emotion, including worry, confusion, and a subtle determination.

Guo Zhao knew in his heart that the Han army had completely taken control of Luoyang.

She listened to the shouting and screaming that gradually faded away, and knew that the remaining soldiers in Luoyang City had been almost wiped out.

This change came so suddenly and so fast that she was almost caught off guard.

However, as a queen mother who had experienced many ups and downs, she quickly adjusted her mentality and began to think about the situation that would follow.

Soon, the Emperor of Han will step into this palace and become the new master here.

And where will she and the other women in the palace go?

Guo Zhao couldn't help but feel an inexplicable fear and uneasiness in his heart.

As daughters of a defeated nation, the fate of these female relatives is often not very good.

woohoo~
Just then, a low cry broke the silence in the palace.

Guo Zhao turned around and saw several concubines huddled in a corner, tears streaming down their faces.

"Queen Mother, what should we do?" a concubine asked sobbingly. Her voice was full of despair and fear, as if she had seen her own tragic fate in the future.

"Yes, Queen Mother, we have heard that the Han Emperor Liu Gongsi has a reputation for being lustful, and we are afraid that we will be insulted." Another concubine also echoed.

Her eyes revealed deep fear, as if she had already seen the nightmare she was about to face.

When Guo Zhao looked at these concubines, she couldn't help but feel pity in her heart.

They are all innocent, but because they live in this chaotic world, they have to endure these unexpected disasters.

However, isn't she the same?
As the queen mother, she should have been the most honorable woman in the palace, but now she has to face an unknown fate.

However, Guo Zhao was a woman who had experienced many ups and downs after all, and she quickly calmed down.

She stood up, walked slowly to the concubines, and comforted them softly, "Don't cry. Women are supposed to depend on men, this is a matter of course. Whoever is stronger will be the one to depend on, and whoever is stronger will have the most beautiful woman. Now that the emperor of the Han Dynasty is about to enter Luoyang, although we are the daughters of a defeated country, as long as we know the times and do our duty, I believe that we will not be too embarrassed."

As she spoke, she gently patted a concubine on the shoulder, signaling her not to be too sad.

The concubine looked up at Guo Zhao, with a hint of doubt and confusion in her eyes.

She seemed to not understand why Guo Zhao could face his impending fate so calmly.

Guo Zhao saw her confusion and smiled and said, "There will always be ups and downs in life. Although we have lost our former glory and status, as long as we are alive, there is hope. And, look at me, I was once the queen mother! Don't I have to face this unknown fate now? But we can't just give up on ourselves! We have to save our lives and don't do stupid things."

Her words were like a warm current, warming the hearts of the concubines.

They all raised their heads and looked at Guo Zhao's determined eyes and calm demeanor, and an inexplicable power surged in their hearts.

Yes! Although they cannot change their fate, they can at least save their lives!
At this moment, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the palace. Guo Zhao and the concubines could not help but get nervous, they knew that this might be the arrival of the vanguard troops of the Han emperor.

Guo Zhao took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

She turned and walked to the mirror, carefully examining her face and figure.

She knew that as a stunning beauty, her looks and figure might be her life-saving straw.

After a while, the door of the palace was gently pushed open, and a heroic general in armor walked in.

He glanced at everyone in the palace, and finally cast his gaze on Guo Zhao. His eyes revealed a hint of surprise and admiration, but he quickly regained his composure.

"The Emperor of Han is about to enter Luoyang. I have been specially ordered to convey the Emperor's will. I hope Her Majesty the Queen Mother and the ladies in the palace can recognize the current situation, abide by their duties, and not do anything stupid." The general's voice was cold and powerful, leaving no room for doubt.

Upon hearing this, Guo Zhao bowed slightly and said respectfully, "General, what you said makes sense. I will not cause any trouble to His Majesty the Emperor."

The general nodded, seeming to be satisfied with Guo Zhao's attitude.

He turned around and prepared to leave, but suddenly stopped, looked back at Guo Zhao and said, "Empress Dowager Guo, His Majesty has heard of your beauty and talent and is looking forward to meeting you. He will summon you soon. I hope you can prepare well and don't let His Majesty down." (End of this chapter)