The Empress Kneels in Her Palace to Admit Her Mistakes After Slaying Her Ways in the Female-Oriented

Ning Wanqin was a woman of her word; she gave Lu Chaosheng a big one, and she did, leaving Lu Chaosheng so exhausted that he could barely get up.

However, Lu Chaosheng's physical condition, being that of a military officer, was not weaker than Ning Wanqin's. Allowing Ning Wanqin to leave was simply part of the plan.

"Alright, I'll go find General Zhang Shi now. From now on..."

"I won't have that chance!"

Lying in bed, Lu Chaosheng thought sadly.

Ning Wanqin was equally distressed. After all, she was exhausted and had to sneak off to find Zhang Shi. If it weren't for the grand plan, she really wouldn't want to move now.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Even the patrolling soldiers seemed to be blind, as they didn't see her at all, allowing her to reach Zhang Shi's tent without any trouble.

The tents were brightly lit.

It was already late at night, but Zhang Shi was still awake. Ning Wanqin could already imagine Zhang Shi's mental breakdown, which boosted her confidence even more.

She immediately slipped inside, and just as she was about to speak, a sword was placed against her neck.

"Ha, I didn't expect a woman to dare assassinate this general?"

"You've got some nerve!"

Zhang Shi's eyes were sharp, and the sword in his hand was crackling with fire. Combined with his scarred and somewhat ferocious face, it sent chills down one's spine.

Ning Wanqin was initially terrified, but then overjoyed.

As expected of an unparalleled general who swept across the northern frontier and annihilated enemy strongholds, even a close encounter with him exerted a mountain-like pressure on her.

He quickly said, "General Zhang Shi, please don't misunderstand, I'm not here to assassinate you."

"My name is Ning Wanqin, and I come from the other side of the Yangtze River."

"The other side of the Yangtze River?" Zhang Shi frowned. "People from Yunjing?"

"Yes!" Ning Wanqin replied, "I'm from Yunjing!"

"Ha!" Zhang Shi's eyes grew even colder, the blade in his hand pressing close to Ning Wanqin, leaving a bloody gash on her neck: "People from Yunjing dare to enter my army camp?"

"They're really courting death!"

"Since you're so reckless, this general will be magnanimous and send you on your way!"

Ning Wanqin was terrified and quickly cried out, "General Zhang Shi, I... I have something important to discuss with you, something important to discuss with you, please don't kill me..."

Zhang Shijian then stopped, and said calmly, "What important matters could someone from Yunjing like you possibly have to discuss with me?"

"I...I wish to invite General Zhang Shi to pledge allegiance to our Grand Commander..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Shi snorted coldly, his expression perfectly controlled: "Me, pledge allegiance to your Grand Commander?"

"What a joke!"

"Under the Duke's command, I was a force to be reckoned with in the northern frontier, wiping out entire territories. Becoming a king or general is a given for me. Why not pledge allegiance to your Grand Commander?"

"Will all my life's achievements be wasted?"

"What unrealistic dreams are you having!"

Ning Wanqin was prepared for this and immediately said, "General Zhang Shi, your achievements in sweeping away the enemy's strongholds and conquering the northern frontier will not change in the slightest, whether you are in Dayu or in our Yunjing."

"This is the achievement you've made for the Yu people!"

"The whole world will remember it."

"We in Yunjing will naturally remember this."

"Moreover... we will not only remember this, but Yun Jing will also grant you a very high official position and will absolutely not allow you to suffer such humiliation under Ren Tianye's command as you have today!"

Zhang Shi's hand trembled, but he remained silent.

Seeing an opening, Ning Wanqin immediately intensified her attack, saying, "General Zhang Shi, you are a genius that comes along only once in a century, yet under Ren Tianye's command, you were outshone by a mere Wang Ming. Ren Tianye even publicly humiliated you. Can you... accept this?"

"But it's different in our Yunjing."

"After you pledge allegiance to the Grand Commander, he will surely treat you as an honored guest. When you defeat Ren Tianye and Yun Jing launches a counterattack on the capital, with your talent, who else but you could be appointed as the Grand General of the Northern Expedition?"

"Aren't you really going to give it a second thought?"

Zhang Shi remained silent, but sheathed his sword.

Ning Wanqin was even more pleased and intensified her offensive.

They specifically picked on the fact that Zhang Shi was outmaneuvered by Wang Ming, constantly criticizing him for being a "flanking general" or for wasting military resources. It was as if every word they stabbed Zhang Shi in the heart!

Zhang Shi's veins bulged as he listened.

If it weren't for the plan, I would have killed Ning Wanqin on the spot.

Damn it, the Duke and his brothers were just joking around, and he was annoyed but wouldn't say much. But this Ning Wanqin dared to mock him like that, every word of hers was like a knife to the heart.

Do you really want to die?

However, it was precisely Zhang Shi's genuine expression that made Ning Wanqin even more certain, and she spoke eloquently and endlessly until...

With a resounding clang, Zhang Shi cleaved the table in two with his sword, then roared, "Shut up!"

Such imposing force terrified Ning Wanqin, turning her face pale, but she still said, "General Zhang Shi, surrender!"

"The price has dropped; this is very beneficial for you!"

After saying all this, Ning Wanqin finally stopped talking and waited anxiously for Zhang Shi's reply.

Zhang Shi's face was filled with conflict and struggle, then...

He suddenly looked up, his eyes sharp: "Fine, you've surrendered!"

"I've wanted to surrender for a long time!"

"Why should all the credit go to Wang Ming? How can a mere deputy general compare to me? I swept across the northern frontier, eradicated enemy strongholds, and accumulated enormous merits, yet I am constantly overshadowed by Wang Ming. This general cannot swallow this insult!"

"Wang Ming... Ha! Then this general will stand against Wang Ming and show him my true power!"

Ning Wanqin jumped up excitedly.

It's done! It's done! It's finally done!

He immediately said, "General Zhang Shi, congratulations on abandoning the darkness and embracing the light! Without further ado, you'd better cross the river with me now and head to the Yangtze River defense line!"

"Do you think this is feasible?"

"Alright!" Zhang Shi readily agreed, saying, "This general is a straightforward man. Since I've promised you, I'll act quickly and won't dawdle or hesitate!"

"Let's go, let's go now!"

Zhang Shi tidied up briefly.

They simply grabbed a sword and didn't even ride the Jade Lion that Ren Tianye had given them, before leaving the camp under the cover of night with Ning Wanqin.

Even if Zhang Shi hadn't planned it, given his current status under Ren Tianye, no one in the military camp would dare to stop him, let alone ask where he was going.

Everything went smoothly, and we soon arrived at the riverbank.

As always, there were boats preparing to cross the river, including one belonging to Shen Zhian's family.

Ning Wanqin quickly said, "General Zhang Shi, those are the ships that came to pick us up!"

Zhang Shi nodded, said no more, and boarded the ship with Ning Wanqin. Just like when Ning Wanqin and Shen Moyan returned before, they were arranged in the same cabin and watched the large ship slowly cross the Yangtze River.

The difference this time was that neither of them went to sleep.

Looking out at the vast Yangtze River and seeing the opposite bank getting closer and closer, Zhang Shi felt a surge of heroic emotions. This journey was a risky one, undertaken alone.

But for the sake of the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, and to truly surpass Wang Ming, he did it, unaware of what kind of situation awaited him.

Ning Wanqin was secretly heartbroken. The last time she returned to the Yangtze River Pass with Shen Moyan, Shen Moyan's voice and smile were still vivid in her mind, but the old friend was no longer there.

She was all alone in the world.

Oh, and there's also Lu Chaosheng, who's changed so much she hardly recognizes him anymore, and who only wants her body.

However, Ning Wanqin did not dwell too much on this melancholy mood, because she had important things to do next!

"We need to send a letter to the other side of the Yangtze River to tell them the good news and let them prepare in advance..."

"that is……"

"Should we send a letter to Ruan Fei?"

"Should I still send a message to Shen Zhi'an?"

"They've both allied with me, so I won't lose out by giving the letter to either of them. But... if I send the letter to both of them at the same time, wouldn't my position be even more secure?"

……