The news that Anding Gate was burned down overnight spread throughout Dragon City like wildfire.
Especially in the latter half of the night, the city gate was attacked by artillery fire, the explosions startling almost everyone in the city, who thought a war had broken out.
However, the guarding general saw no sign of Da Liang’s troops, leading many to suspect that someone within the city had started the fire.
Xie Beihan ordered a search for hidden Da Liang soldiers throughout Dragon City and executed many rebels and spies.
The news that the Great Liang Dingbei King had trespassed into Dragon City with the intention of taking Ye Luan also spread quickly.
The entire city was on edge.
Dragon City, with its stringent defenses, had been breached by Da Liang forces. Not only had Anding Gate been set ablaze, but their grain supplies had also been destroyed. The generals of the Southern Border were furious enough to faint.
However, some individuals had not slept all night, thrilled by the prospect. The Dingbei King was the true ruler of Da Liang, holding immense power. Capturing him would mean Da Liang's defeat without a fight.
Consequently, the entire city was scoured for him, but he could not be found for several days.
Memorials from the Southern Border were submitted one after another, but Xie Beihan remained uncommitted, unwilling to initiate a war. Those from the Southern Border grew impatient.
Although their king wished to align with Northern Qi, they could not swallow this insult.
Some generals, disregarding royal orders, led their troops towards Xiguan.
However, within two days, Da Liang’s forces suddenly emerged from Xiguan, bypassed the Qu Nan River, and began their advance towards Dragon City.
Over a hundred thousand troops camped at Chaonan Mountain, and by nightfall, the army pressed forward, the city walls besieged.
Ye Luan, sitting in her room, could hear the sounds of battle horns and drums from outside.
The anxiety that had plagued her for days finally eased.
Da Liang was attacking Dragon City; it seemed he had returned safely.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, there was a sudden bang, and the door was flung open.
Ye Luan immediately turned around to see Xie Beihan standing at the doorway, silhouetted against the moonlight, his features deep and striking.
He wore a black dragon robe with interwoven silk patterns, his collar and narrow sleeves intricately embroidered with golden coiled dragon motifs. Clad in the black and gold dragon robe and wearing a crown, he appeared imposing and radiating an aura of dominance.
She was momentarily stunned before he walked towards her with a smile.
Several maids followed him, carrying trays laden with the empress's court robes, a dragon and phoenix coronet adorned with pearls and jade, and prayer beads.
“What is Your Majesty doing?”
Xie Beihan chuckled, “Can’t you tell? I’m trying on the court attire.”
Ye Luan also smiled, “Dragon City is under attack, and Your Majesty still has the leisure to concern himself with this?”
“What use do I have for an empty city? If he wants it, let him take it.”
He drew closer, embraced her waist, and whispered in her ear, “What I want is his life!”
Ye Luan’s expression remained unchanged. She raised her hand to shove his away, but his grip was too strong, his fingers tightening around her. He even began to undo her waist sash.
Her body stiffened, and she quickly pressed down on his hand, glancing sideways.
“It’s too late, I don’t want to change.”
Xie Beihan laughed softly, half-embracing her, his cool fingertips pressing heavily against her lips.
Ye Luan did not hesitate and bit him.
Drops of blood fell, gleaming brilliantly.
Xie Beihan’s smile widened. He tightened his hold on her waist, pulling her into his embrace, and smeared the blood-stained fingertip onto her lips.
Her moist lips instantly appeared rosy and translucent. Illuminated by the candlelight within the hall, they seemed even more delicate, alluring as if imbued with a hint of enchantment.
Ye Luan felt a wave of nausea, unable to hold back, and forcefully slapped his hand away.
“Aren’t you disgusting?”
“Didn’t you bite me?”
Xie Beihan’s voice was low, laced with an inexplicable hint of indulgence as he smiled.
Ye Luan frowned, “Let go first.”
He did not move, his cold eyes fixed on her with a smile that sent shivers down her spine.
“Dragon City’s grain supplies are insufficient; they cannot fight for long. Your Majesty should consider where to retreat.”
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow, “How about I take you to Southern Border?” he said, then leaned in, his warm breath caressing her ear. “Don’t you want to find that unconscious woman? She’s been taken to Southern Border, and I’ll take you to her.”
Ye Luan’s heart jolted.
It seemed Xie Beihan was fully aware of her subtle intentions.
Since that was the case, she might as well play along, feigning truth and falsehood to glean information from him.
“Didn’t Your Majesty say he never used women? Now you are so despicable as to use an unconscious person to kill Tantai Ye.”
Upon hearing her words, Xie Beihan burst into laughter.
“It’s just that Da Liang is full of lovesick fools.”
He tightened his grip and lifted her chin.
“But I will not use you.”
Ye Luan shook off his hand and looked at him, “I am truly tired and want to sleep.”
“With fighting raging outside, you can sleep?”
Xie Beihan did not believe her. He reached for her waist, chuckling softly.
“I don’t want to force you. Be good and change, or else I can help you change.”
Ye Luan glanced at the phoenix robe held by the maid beside them and pursed her lips.
“This was tailor-made for you; the size should be just right.”
As he spoke, he reached out and measured her waist.
Ye Luan flinched and instinctively batted his hand away.
Xie Beihan was not offended, his gaze fixed on her waist, a playful smile in his eyes.
“Your waist has become even slimmer.”
“----”
Ye Luan glared at him, “Get those filthy thoughts out of your head.”
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow, “How do you know what I’m thinking?”
As he finished speaking, he suddenly moved closer, a smile playing in his beautiful phoenix-like eyes.
“You’ve misunderstood!”
“----”
“If you want, I can satisfy you.”
Ye Luan covered his face with her hands and retreated.
“You can think about it yourself.”
Xie Beihan laughed, cupped her face with both hands, and tugged at it playfully.
“You’ve squeezed it out of shape.”
Ye Luan cried out in pain and raised her hand to strike his away, but he suddenly moved down, grabbed her skirt, and tore it open.
She gasped in shock, quickly pulling her clothes together and leaping away.
Xie Beihan dodged and caught her ankle, pulling her down with swift force, the action almost instantaneous.
Her eyes hardened, and she blocked his chest with her arm, grabbing his spine with her right hand and dislocating it ruthlessly.
Xie Beihan’s breath became ragged. He twisted sideways and, with lightning speed, seized her hand.
The next moment, her entire body was lifted and thrown onto the couch.
Ye Luan immediately sprang up, but his afterimage moved too quickly. In the blink of an eye, he was pressing down on her, pinning her hands above her head, a wicked smile gracing his lips.
“Can you beat me?”
Ye Luan showed no fear, “Isn’t it just changing clothes? You get up, and I’ll go change.”
Xie Beihan raised an eyebrow, his gaze slowly drifting down, settling on her lips.
Sensing his intention, she forcefully headbutted his forehead. As their foreheads collided, pain shot through her, and her fair forehead instantly turned red.
Xie Beihan hissed and released her.
“Doesn’t it hurt you?”
Ye Luan immediately leaped up and twisted her wrists.
“To sober Your Majesty up.”
Xie Beihan chuckled at her words and said nothing further.
He looked at the maids standing respectfully with their heads bowed behind him and instructed them.
“Take her inside to change.”
“Yes.”