Fengyi Palace.
"What did you say? You want me to go and marry into the Southern Barbarians? Are you drunk, or has your brain gone mushy from too much bumping in bed?" Qiao Ci's face was filled with shock.
"The common people are suffering in dire straits. It's all because of Emperor Xiao Ren's incompetence. What does it have to do with me?"
"Excuse me, I have no morals, so you can't coerce me."
"When it comes to beauty, you're not lacking at all. Plus, you're experienced. Those uncivilized barbarians will surely like you more. You should go."
Not only did Wei Zhu fail to persuade Qiao Ci, but she was also so enraged that she almost attacked. Seeing the signs of Qiao Ci about to lash out, Wei Zhu quickly fled in embarrassment.
The Emperor was not surprised that she returned empty-handed. Which normal woman would be willing to go for a peace marriage? He merely held onto a sliver of hope, wishing Qiao Ci could be understanding for once.
He glanced at her strangely, "She didn't beat you?"
Wei Zhu: "..."
Why the Emperor's tone of disappointment?
Unable to deal with Qiao Ci, the two devised a new plan: to act first and report later.
They quickly drafted an imperial decree and announced it to the world:
"By the Mandate of Heaven, Emperor decrees. Qiao Ci, daughter of the former Grand General, unable to bear the suffering of the people from war, has voluntarily requested to be deposed as Empress and wishes to marry into the Southern Barbarians to foster good relations between the two nations."
Little Spoon, upon hearing this, was indignant. "They call him the Son of Destiny, yet he's so cowardly. He can send his nominal wife to another man's bed. And then they play the 'act first, report later' game, using the populace to pressure you. This is infuriating!"
"Heh, bargaining with a tiger is no different from drinking poison to quench thirst."
"His path has narrowed considerably~" Qiao Ci wasn't angry at all. She was playing with an exquisite pendant, thinking it would look perfect on Su Mo's waist. She planned to have the hidden guards deliver it to him...
The King of the Southern Barbarians understood nothing of propriety or shame. Hearing that the person sent for a peace marriage was the Emperor's wife, he felt honored and happily dispatched his trusted confidante to escort the bride.
To ensure no mishaps, the Emperor preemptively administered a potent sleeping potion to Qiao Ci. As soon as the Southern Barbarian envoy arrived, they were instructed to pack up Qiao Ci, dressed in wedding attire and veiled, and take her away.
The entire process went without a hitch, exceedingly smoothly.
Xiao Ren felt as if he were dreaming, a sense of unreality pervading him. However, this did not hinder his immense joy.
He even felt a hint of resentment towards Wei Zhu. If she had offered this rosemary earlier, he wouldn't have had to endure so many beatings from Qiao Ci...
It must be said that Wei Zhu had rendered a great service. Xiao Ren decided to reward her handsomely that night.
However, when night fell, he searched half the imperial palace but couldn't find Wei Zhu.
"Where else haven't we searched?" Xiao Ren felt a growing unease.
"The cold palace."
Xiao Ren: ...
Meanwhile, the sedan chair that was supposed to carry Qiao Ci jolted. The veil of the bride dressed in wedding attire inside the sedan slipped, revealing a woman with tightly shut eyes, deep in a slumber. It was Wei Zhu's face.
By the time they learned that Wei Zhu was the one taken away, a full day and night had passed since the Southern Barbarians departed.
Recalling how the Southern Barbarian envoys had behaved inappropriately with the unconscious bride when receiving her, and with a night having passed, Wei Zhu's chastity was likely compromised.
Gritting his teeth, Xiao Ren decided to accept his fate!
He secretly vowed to avenge Wei Zhu and ensure Qiao Ci met a terrible end!
Due to the cession of cities and the peace marriage with the former Empress, the court was extremely dissatisfied with the Emperor's handling of affairs. He could send his own Empress to the enemy. Where was his authority, his morality, his bottom line?
The King of the Southern Barbarians was very pleased with Wei Zhu and paid no mind to whether she was the original Empress. In any case, she was the Emperor's woman. Thus, he ignored her desperate pleas and forcibly took her.
Wei Zhu, alone and powerless, could only weep every day, waiting for Xiao Ren to rescue her.
After some time, Wei Zhu realized that Xiao Ren had completely abandoned her.
To survive, and to exact revenge on Xiao Ren and Qiao Ci, Wei Zhu began to curry favor with the King of the Southern Barbarians...
Human greed knows no bounds.
The King of the Southern Barbarians, having tasted sweetness, became increasingly demanding, wanting this and that. Xiao Ren slammed the table in indignation, vowing to personally lead the campaign to curb the Southern Barbarians' arrogance.
The army was ready, waiting only for the Emperor. However, he reneved at the last moment, deciding to reconsider.
Upon hearing this, the King of the Southern Barbarians laughed heartily and decided to follow his beauty's suggestion and march directly into the capital to seize it.
He had long yearned for the prosperity of the capital of the Great Yao. Previously, the Grand General's presence deterred him from acting rashly. Now, Xiao Ren had alienated all the old officials, and the populace was also murmuring with discontent. The Yao Kingdom was like loose sand, ripe for the taking with a decisive blow.
The Southern Barbarians advanced like a breaking bamboo, sweeping from south to north, having already conquered half of the Yao Kingdom. Xiao Ren was so worried he couldn't sleep, his hair falling out in clumps. He wanted to find the former Grand General to stabilize the situation, but he couldn't find him anywhere. Even Qiao Ci's whereabouts were unknown.
The court officials finally realized they had nurtured a threat. The Southern Barbarians' appetite was for more than just a few cities; it was for the entire Yao Kingdom.
The few old officials, accustomed to a life of luxury, were still patriotic. Since their bodies were already half in the grave, they might as well defend the city gates, aiming for eternal fame. They looked at each other, then immediately knelt and petitioned, "Your humble servants are willing to die defending the city gates with Your Majesty. If the Southern Barbarians dare to attack the capital, we are willing to fight to the death. To breach the city gates, they must first tread upon our corpses!"
Other officials followed suit.
The Son of Heaven guards the nation's gates; the monarch dies for the state.
Although they lacked the capability, they still possessed backbone. They would not be prisoners, nor would they be slaves!
Seeing this, Xiao Ren felt a flicker of emotion, but not much.
He didn't want to die!
Wei Zhu had secretly sent him a letter the previous night, promising him a kingship if he surrendered publicly. In the future, as long as he remained content in his corner, his remaining years would still be filled with wealth and honor.
Living miserably was better than dying honorably. Xiao Ren found the proposal feasible.
However, the words were difficult to speak. Those old officials alone could drown him with their spittle. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
On the day the enemy troops arrived at the city gates,
Xiao Ren stood on the city wall, dressed in armor, gazing at the overwhelming ranks of the Southern Barbarian army outside. For the first time, he felt the proximity of national demise.
"Hahaha, Emperor of Yao, have you made your decision? Surrender or not?"
"My patience is rather thin. If you are foolish, once my iron cavalry has flattened your entire capital, those preferential treatments for you will be void."
"I will count down from ten."
"Ten."
"Nine."
"Eight."
...
Have you considered? Surrender? Preferential treatment?
The officials who appeared on the city wall with Xiao Ren had come with the resolve to die. Hearing the countdown and seeing Xiao Ren's hesitation as the King of the Southern Barbarians' voice grew closer, they understood.
The Emperor must have reached some secret agreement with the King of the Southern Barbarians, without informing them, these old officials.
The ministers were heartbroken. Among them, the rigid Imperial Censor, Ren Zhengde, was the most distressed.
He knelt before Xiao Ren and kowtowed three times. Then, he resolutely stood on the city wall, his entire body swaying precariously in the wind, facing Xiao Ren, he shouted sternly, "Your humble servants are preparing to fight to the death, why does Your Majesty surrender first? We beg Your Majesty to reconsider! I, Ren Zhengde, die to advise!"
With that, he leaped from the city wall.
"Five." The paused countdown resumed.
"Four."
"Three."
Xiao Ren was deeply shaken by the Imperial Censor's death, but the echoing numbers further pushed him to the brink. He raised his hand and waved, shouting, "I surrender, I surrender! Open the city gates quickly!"
On the city wall, there was the despair and hatred of soldiers and officials. Below the city wall, there was the Imperial Censor's unclosed eyes.
A few old officials, unable to bear the humiliation, were preparing to follow the Imperial Censor to apologize to the late emperor. Suddenly, a powerful and resonant voice rang out.
"I'll see who dares to open the city gates!"