Madam, please listen to my explanation.

Chapter 88 Things have changed

"Have you heard, Lord Chang? There's been quite a commotion in the west lately."

Changfu.

After the morning court session, Zhang Longxing and Chang Wei, who rarely sit together, are brewing tea around a stove.

Between the two, there is a chessboard with crisscrossing lines.

Zhang Longxing frowned, placed his black piece in a corner of the board, and waited quietly for his opponent to make a move.

"West side."

Chang Wei stared intently at the chessboard, his brow furrowed.
"Lord Zhang, are you referring to the affairs of the State of Qi?"

Zhang Longxing: "What Lord Chang said is quite unexpected. Not only is Princess Ruoxi not dead, but she has also made such a big fuss as soon as she showed up. She is truly a woman who is just as capable as any man!"

Snapped!
Chang Wei placed a piece on the board and solemnly said:
"Yes, just a few days ago, everyone was still worried about the fall of Bianzhou."

Who could have imagined that things would take such a dramatic turn in just a few days?
To my shame, after serving as an official in the capital for so many years, I was utterly blind to her true worth. I never realized that Princess Ruoxi was such a ruthless character.

Zhang Longxing's eyes lit up. "Lord Chang, please explain in detail."

Yesterday morning, military intelligence from the western frontier shook the court and the public!

The State of Qi has fallen!

General An Qing, who had been missing for a long time, actually took a risky move and joined forces with Zhou general Chu Yunlu, catching the Great Qi off guard.
The Great Qi Kingdom, which had dominated the vast northwestern territory for hundreds of years, was thus completely devoured by the Yan and Zhou states in just a few days through a coordinated attack from within and without.
Unfortunately, most of the nation's elite troops were stationed in Bianzhou, and by the time they realized what was happening, it was too late!

The person who swept through the city and stormed into the Qi capital palace was none other than the legendary Seventh Princess, Zhao Ruoxi, who was rumored to have died long ago!

It is said that when she stepped into the Xuande Hall, the Prince of Qi had already hanged himself, dying with his eyes wide open in disbelief!
The Great Qi Kingdom, which held the richest mineral resources on this land, was thus divided in two by Yan and Zhou, each taking half.

For a moment, it left countless people speechless!

Although tens of thousands of elite troops remain outside, they are like rootless duckweed, only able to sigh in despair.

Zhu Gangli, the Minister of War, who was on his way, sent an urgent message overnight, saying that everything was planned in advance by him and An Qing.
The reason they remained silent was simply to avoid revealing military secrets.

This caused an uproar throughout the court.

Unexpectedly, early this morning, another urgent battle report arrived directly to the emperor.

During the morning court session, this Lord Chang read the contents aloud in front of everyone, once again shocking the court and the public!

The battle report was written by An Qing himself, stating that all his actions were carried out under the instruction of Princess Ruoxi and had nothing to do with Minister Zhu!
Finally, An Qing also denounced Zhu Gangli for being a deadbeat who was accused of misappropriating military merits and should be executed according to the law!

After this battle, the story of Princess Zhao Ruoxi of Yan, who single-handedly stopped tens of thousands of Qi cavalry outside Qu County, resounded throughout Qin Lu.

However, since Lord Chang brought this up intentionally, there must be some information that I am unaware of.
"Lord Zhang, you are unaware of this."

Chang Wei stroked the chess piece in his palm, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes:
"Since the fall of Qijing, everyone thought that Bianzhou would be a tough nut to crack, but unexpectedly, His Highness cleverly resolved it with a flick of his finger."
Princess Ruoxi led her troops to garrison Qijing alone, and sent An Qing to Bianzhou as an envoy.

He declared, "If the city doesn't surrender in a day, I will slaughter the entire city of Qi!"

"what!!!"

Zhang Longxing was shocked upon hearing this.

He couldn't imagine that such a weighty word as 'massacre' would come from the mouth of that princess!
Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that although the elite Qi army seemed to hold the power of life and death over hundreds of thousands of people in Bianzhou, it was ultimately only one city.

But Your Highness holds half of the Qi Kingdom in your hands!

Not to mention, the relatives and family members of those Qi soldiers were all among them!

The best strategy is to attack the enemy’s plan.

At this moment, it seems that rather than engaging in back-and-forth exchanges and probing with those tens of thousands of remnants of the Qi state, it is better to...

Your Highness's move was absolutely brilliant!
However, how many people in this world have such courage?
"what's the result?"

Even though he had already guessed the ending, Zhang Longxing still couldn't wait to ask.

Chang Wei placed another piece, and the white pieces on the board had already gained momentum. No matter how Zhang Longxing tried to counterattack, he was powerless to turn the tide.

The teapot beside them was gurgling.

Chang Wei smiled meaningfully and offered to refill the other person's cup.
"The result? Just before you and I sat down, the gates of Bianzhou opened wide, and 30,000 Qi soldiers, having abandoned their armor and weapons, knelt neatly in the middle of the road."

An Qing broke them up and sent them in batches to the five provinces of Yanxi.

Bianzhou has returned to the control of my Great Yan!

it is good!
What a bloodless victory!
At this moment, Zhang Longxing felt his blood boiling.

Bianzhou is thousands of miles away from the capital. How did Lord Chang know all this?

No. It's not just this one thing.

He felt that lately, the flow of information from all sides seemed a little too fast.
His mind had already flown away from the chessboard, soaring to the heavens.

He casually placed a chess piece somewhere, looked up, and saw that the man opposite him, Lord Chang, who was fond of playing the role of a groom, was putting a cup of scalding hot tea into his mouth.

Even though beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, he still looked completely at ease.

"Lord Chang, aren't you hot in this sweltering summer heat?"

boom!
Chang Wei stroked his beard and slammed the white piece in his hand heavily onto the center of the chessboard!

Seeing the five white pieces lined up in a row, he suddenly looked up and laughed loudly:
"The sweltering summer heat? Lord Zhang, you're really talking nonsense."

He stretched out a finger, pointing towards the sky:

"Lift your head and take a good look."
Why do I feel like the weather has changed?

Zhang Longxing squinted and drank the hot tea in his hand in one gulp.

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

"By the way, I haven't yet congratulated Lord Chang on his successful appointment as Minister of War."

"Lord Zhang, you flatter me. I am only temporarily acting!"

"When Lord Zhu returns, it will naturally be returned!"

Zhang Longxing laughed heartily, "Exactly! Hahahaha!"

You said the weather was going to change.
Will Lord Zhu, who served the emperor so well, really be able to return?
-
In the Xiefang Garden, Zhao Jingqian's face was frighteningly gloomy. Not only the eunuchs and maids, but even the old tortoise in the corner was tightly huddled in its shell, not daring to show its head.

Logically speaking, the past few days have been nothing short of a series of joyous events.

Not only did the barbarian tribes in the southern border region inexplicably withdraw their troops, but Bianzhou was also lost and then regained.

He did nothing at all, yet he became the first Yan emperor in hundreds of years to conquer such a vast territory.
Half of the Qi Kingdom!

This is a magnificent achievement that our ancestors could never have imagined.
Now that disasters have been eliminated and foreign enemies have retreated, it should be a time of peace and prosperity for the whole world.

He, however, felt no joy whatsoever.
Because the person who made such a great contribution was someone who should have been dead long ago.
Zhao Ruoxi!!!
My dear sister.
You really gave your brother a very generous gift!

boom!
Zhao Jingqian punched the artificial hill beside him into pieces.

Although he had never received systematic training, he could feel that he was now sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, and strong-boned.

In terms of physique alone, he is probably no less than an ordinary martial artist.

But this only makes people more worried.

Since Zhao Ruoxi is still alive and kicking outside, what does the blood pill I swallowed even matter?
Mr. Ning's whereabouts are unknown. He really wants to find that damned Xu Jinhuan and ask him about it face to face.

Unfortunately, after causing a scene at the palace gate, the other party vanished without a trace and never showed up again.

Yu Xiao is still in their hands!

In the past, tasks like finding people could be handled by the Mingjing Division.

Now, as the spies planted within the Mingjing Division are dying or going mad for no apparent reason...

Even this sharp blade, which should have obeyed only him, was gradually showing signs of slipping out of his control.
Although it is a pipe dream for Zhao Ruoxi, a woman, to try to shake her position with a little military merit.

But he still felt a vague sense of unease.

It seemed as if an invisible hand was slowly approaching him.

"Cao Gao, hasn't the Celestial Master returned yet?"

"Your Majesty has not."

Outrageous!

Zhao Jingqian turned around angrily and headed straight for the Imperial Guards outside the garden.

Since unilaterally agreeing to the marriage, Wu Yao, who had finished dealing with the disaster in Suizhou, deliberately slowed down her journey and kept delaying it!
Zhuang Yuning is like this, and so is this Great Sage Celestial Master.

He is the emperor of the Yan Kingdom, the supreme ruler, what kind of worthless junk is he?
bass!
Zhao Jingqian could no longer contain his anger. He drew the sword from the Imperial Guard's waist and rushed straight towards the Xuan Turtle!

This old tortoise has been holed up in its shell for a long time and hasn't shown its face.

It seems that everything began after that first wisp of dragon energy entered his body.
It is afraid of itself!

Ignoring the panicked face of the imperial guard, Zhao Jingqian approached the tortoise shell and thrust his sword fiercely towards the hole in the center!

clang--!
At the critical moment, the glans darted out and bit down hard on the sword.

A murderous glint flashed in its eyes, but it deliberately feigned panic.

Zhao Jingqian sneered, and the remaining dragon energy within his body flowed along the sword.

Little did he know that in the other party's eyes, his actions were as ridiculous as those of a clown.

Wait a little longer.
Before that princess arrives in the capital, this damned emperor must not die!

"I know you can understand."

The jade tassels on Zhao Jingqian's crown swayed back and forth, making a crisp sound.

"If Wu Yao is not found when the temple is completed in a few days, I will execute you and use the proceeds to consecrate the golden statue!"

"Guards! Take this old tortoise to the Qiyun Temple for me!"

Seven or eight imperial guards rushed forward.

Suddenly, a tremendous force burst forth from the tortoise shell, lifting everyone into the air.

The black tortoise clenched its teeth, and the sharp sword in its mouth immediately shattered into countless pieces!
This is outrageous!

Just as it was about to unleash another attack, a figure rushed over:
"Your Majesty, Celestial Master Wu requests an audience!"

The black tortoise crunched and chewed on the shattered sword with an air of nonchalance, rolling its eyes at the man opposite it.

Zhao Jingqian's face turned ashen, and he was already plotting to kill.

With the Kyoto Grand Formation at his disposal, how could he possibly do anything to this beast in a shell?

After thinking for a moment, he waved his sleeve and said, "Send it!"

The familiar sound of silver bells soon came, slightly soothing the pent-up frustration in his heart.

A fragrant breeze wafted by, and he turned around, finally seeing the person he had been longing for once again.

"Wu Yao greets Your Majesty."

"Master Wu, are you hiding from me?"

Zhao Jingqian's tone remained icy.

Wu Yao raised her head, her eyes shimmering with tears:

"Your Majesty, what makes you say such a thing!"

"Since that day we met, I have not stopped thinking of Your Majesty for a single moment."
Upon learning of His Majesty's favor, Wu Yao was eager to rush back immediately! Unfortunately, she was unable to be in two places at once.
The people along the way are suffering from many illnesses and calamities, and I could not bear to see them suffer, so I treated them along the way, which delayed my journey.”
-
A light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

A tall, weary-looking man, holding up an oil-paper umbrella, stopped in front of a shop.

He took out two copper coins and handed them to the shopkeeper.

"Give me a pound of green tangerines."

"Got it!"

(End of this chapter)