A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

The night was pitch black, and the Buddhist temple was in ruins.

In the dim firelight.

A man and a woman were heard whispering to each other.

"Wait a minute, Li Rui, something seems off..."

"What's wrong?"

"This step seems to be the wedding night, right?"

"That's right."

"But...but, how come I remember that the wedding night is after the wedding?"

"You've got it wrong."

"Huh? But I clearly remember..."

"Shh, don't speak. You don't want to wake the Queen and let her see us like this, do you?"

"Ugh, don't scare me, I won't tell."

"My baby is so good."

"Don't say such sweet words, I'm not that easy to fool."

"Mmm, you're the hardest to fool."

"Hmph, of course, you... oh dear!"

……

Outside the Buddhist temple.

A light drizzle was still falling.

Spring rains are constant.

It rained for a while, and then another shower came right away.

As night fell, the rain suddenly intensified.

The roads became muddy and impassable.

The blooming flower stamens, soaked by the rain, adorned the ground with a touch of crimson in the night.

As the saying goes.

Fallen petals are not heartless things; they turn into spring mud to nourish the flowers.

on the official road.

A cavalry unit was braving the torrential rain, desperately trying to keep going.

The horse's hooves pounded down, splashing up mud and water that was half a person's height.

Zhao Hongyin took the lead, his face full of anxiety.

On his left.

A burly young man shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Father! What happened? Why are troops being mobilized so late at night?"

Zhao Hongyin replied with a sullen face, without turning his head.

"The Empress traveled north with only two hundred personal guards, yet she encountered thousands of refugees and bandits!"

The 19-year-old Zhao Kuangyin was instantly terrified!

"What!?"

Zhao Hongyin continued.

"His Majesty was furious upon hearing this. The Imperial Guards in the capital have been hastily assembled, and the cavalry has advanced ahead of time. They must find the Empress!"

Zhao Kuangyin swallowed hard, his emotions suddenly surging.

He had just joined the Imperial Guard yesterday because of his father's military achievements.

On his very first day in the army, he encountered the great event of the Empress being in danger!

"Father! What if we don't make it in time..."

"Shut up! The Empress will be fine!"

Zhao Kuangyin kept his mouth shut, but he was inwardly cursing.

Two hundred imperial guards were tasked with dealing with thousands of displaced people who were part of a bandit group.

It doesn't look safe at all.

If the Empress falls into the hands of bandits.

Zhao Kuangyin shivered silently.

He had seen Empress Feng from afar; that woman was truly the most beautiful woman in the world!

Even the palace maids who served her were remarkably beautiful.

If such a woman were to fall into the hands of thieves, her fate would likely be...

When the empress of a nation is humiliated, one can imagine the rage that the emperor will feel!

at the same time.

Li Shouzhen, the military governor of Yicheng Army, was awakened in the middle of the night.

After returning from the front lines, Li Shouzhen went back to Huazhou, waiting for the time to go to the capital to receive his reward.

Anyway, Huazhou is located north of Bianzhou, very close to the capital.

Li Shouzhen was naturally unhappy about being woken up at this time.

But one sentence from his subordinate instantly brought him to his senses!

"General, disaster has struck!"

"What's the rush?"

"The Black Wind Stronghold gang, carrying the ballistae they just robbed, went to Bianzhou and even ambushed and killed the Empress!"

"What!?"

Li Shouzhen suddenly stood up!

He grabbed his subordinate by the collar, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, and said viciously.

"Say that again?"

The subordinate, with a long face, hurriedly said.

"Our informant in Black Wind Stronghold sent back a message that a guard, Ma Jun, rode to Huazhou to ask for help!"

The two statements echo each other, making it a certainty that this really happened!

Li Shouzhen's breath hitched, and she collapsed onto the bed.

The subordinates were also extremely anxious.

"The Black Wind Stronghold gang was forced into banditry because the military commander seized their land."

That ballista was even more deadly; it was a weapon secretly sold to the Southern Tang, but it was stolen by the Black Wind Stronghold halfway there and used against the Empress!

Li Shouzhen flew into a rage as soon as his subordinate finished speaking!

"Stop talking! What's the point of saying all this now?"

The Later Jin dynasty occupied the north and claimed to be the legitimate successor to the Central Plains.

South of the Huai River, or the South, was at this time splitting into six countries.

The Southern Tang was the most powerful of them all.

Li Shouzhen secretly sold the ballista, a large type of military weapon, to the Southern Tang Dynasty.

The charge of smuggling arms is enough to get him into serious trouble.

What's more, the trading party is none other than the Southern Tang!

Add another capital offense: treason and aiding the enemy!

Originally, the ballista was stolen by the bandits of Black Wind Village.

Li Shouzhen planned to send troops to wipe out this group after receiving the reward in the capital.

Unexpectedly, it only took a few days.

Black Wind Stronghold actually ambushed and killed the Empress!

This matter will inevitably provoke Shi Zhonggui's anger.

Once the people of Black Wind Stronghold fall into the hands of the Imperial Guards...

Then Li Shouzhen's crimes could no longer be hidden.

"What should I do? What should I do?"

Just as Li Shouzhen was pacing anxiously, his subordinate hurriedly said...

"What are you waiting for, Commander? Quickly mobilize your troops and kill everyone at Black Wind Stronghold before the Imperial Guards can!"

Li Shouzhen suddenly realized what was happening and slapped his forehead repeatedly.

"That's exactly right! But remember, our mission is to rescue the Queen; destroying Black Wind Stronghold is just a side effect."

"The commander's strategy is brilliant!"

"Wait, make sure everything is explained clearly, and that no one is left alive!"

"There, leave no one alive!"

……

early morning.

Li Rui, wearing clothes that had already dried, moved his left side.

When I raised my arm back, the wound on my back suddenly started to hurt.

Li Rui grinned slightly, his expression helpless.

The injury wasn't originally this big.

No matter what.

Last night, someone with sharp claws accidentally...

He scratched his wound so badly that it got worse.

Li Rui looked towards the corner of the Buddhist temple.

The sharp claw looked just like a kitten, huddled there whimpering.

Seeing Li Rui looking over, Yun Lian pouted and said fiercely.

"I'll scratch you to death!"

Li Rui chuckled and said helplessly.

"You not only scratched my back until it was covered in bloody marks, but you also bit my shoulder until it bled."

Upon hearing this, a hint of worry and guilt flashed in Yunlian's eyes.

But soon, she gritted her teeth and said.

"You deserve it! Who told you to be so rude?"

Li Rui felt wronged.

In all honesty, he had been extremely gentle.

Unfortunately, Yunlian was petite and rather thin.

It's due to objective reasons; we can't blame him.

"Alright, alright, let's check on your Queen first. Her fever should have gone down."

Yunlian frowned and moved slowly, step by step, to Feng Yao's side.

Reaching out to touch her forehead, Yunlian exclaimed in delight.

"It's really not hot anymore. Is the Empress really alright?"

Li Rui nodded.

"Physically, I'm fine, but I think I'm having some mental issues."

Upon hearing this, Yunlian tilted her head in confusion.

Meanwhile, Feng Yao, who was 'unconscious,' was secretly grinding her teeth!

She actually woke up late last night.

Li Rui also noticed that she woke up late at night.

But the two kept it to themselves, and neither of them revealed it.

After all, in that late-night setting.

If Feng Yao really wakes up, the scene will definitely be extremely awkward.

Squinting.

Feng Yao glared at Li Rui fiercely!

That jerk!

They actually took advantage of her unconscious state and took Yunlian, whom she regarded as her younger sister!

What a jerk!

Feng Yao was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth.

At the same time, I felt a little sour inside.

after all.

Compared to Li Rui, Shi Zhonggui is simply... unbearable to look at.

During the most difficult part of last night, Feng Yao couldn't help but fantasize.

If Yunlian were replaced by myself...

of course.

It is unknown how long this idea persisted.

Just then.

A rapid sound of horses' hooves approached.

Li Rui immediately went outside to observe.

In the distance, I could see the armor of the Jin army and a familiar face.

Li Rui shouted.

"Commander Zhao! The Empress is here! Come quickly to her protection!"