"Fifth Sister, you're doing quite well now, much more spirited than when you used to cry for toys back then," Li Mengdie said with a cold laugh.
Li Xinyue shook her head. "Second Sister, you don't need to be sarcastic. This fight between us didn't have to happen. It's you, seeking power, who deliberately caused it. Must we really settle who is superior?"
Li Mengdie burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Settle who is superior? What superiority is left between us? This Yunyue Kingdom was always meant to be mine. You were just lucky, favored by the Empress."
"The throne should belong to the capable, not be decided by mere preference," Li Xinyue replied.
Hearing this, Li Xinyue nodded. "Second Sister, you're right. If it were based on ability, you would certainly be stronger than me. But since the Empress has placed this burden on my shoulders, I can only bear it."
"If this position were my own, I would hand it over to you without hesitation, Second Sister."
"Second Sister, I and the Empress are waiting for your return." Li Xinyue looked at Li Mengdie earnestly.
Li Mengdie took a deep breath. "I will return, but only after I defeat you and take the Yunyue Kingdom."
Li Mengdie sneered and pointed at Li Xinyue. "Stop pretending. If you have the guts, come at me."
"If you defeat me, people will listen to you. If you don't, your words are just air."
Li Xinyue nodded and waved her hand. A Jin Yi Wei beside her jingled a bronze bell. Immediately, a large contingent of Jin Yi Wei surged out from the warm chamber. These Jin Yi Wei had been strategically placed there by Chu Chen, waiting for Li Mengdie.
Li Mengdie's eyes turned sharp. She hadn't expected that after days of preparation, she would be surrounded the moment she arrived. "I refuse to yield! You cannot possibly win against me. Even if you anticipated this, I will defeat these men and show you my strength. Attack!"
Li Mengdie commanded her soldiers to charge at the Jin Yi Wei, while she herself spearheaded the assault, aiming to eliminate enemies as quickly as possible.
Concurrently, Chu Chen's chamber door was knocked upon. Chu Chen sat up, glanced at the sleeping Empress beside him, dressed himself, and opened the door.
"What has happened?" Chu Chen asked calmly, closing the door.
"Prime Minister, Li Mengdie has led troops into the palace. A fierce battle is underway."
Chu Chen's heart leaped. "It's actually happening. Hurry, escort me to the palace."
Suddenly, Chu Chen thought of the Empress. He hesitated for a moment. "Wait for me." With that, Chu Chen returned to the chamber and closed the door.
"Your Majesty, Li Mengdie has attacked the palace again." Chu Chen approached the Empress respectfully.
The Empress sat up and took a deep breath. "She has come after all."
Chu Chen nodded. "Your Majesty, do you wish to see her in the palace?"
The Empress shook her head. "No. I will not see her. Wait until you have captured her and brought her to my chambers. Then I will see her."
Chu Chen pondered for a moment. "In that case, Your Majesty, please rest. I shall take my leave."
The Empress hummed in acknowledgment and closed her eyes. Chu Chen immediately found the Old War God and, outside the Prime Minister's mansion, hurried towards the Empress's sleeping quarters at the fastest possible speed.
Meanwhile, the battle had already begun, with Li Mengdie and the Jin Yi Wei locked in a fierce confrontation. Although the Jin Yi Wei possessed formidable combat power, they lacked their peak strength. Under Li Mengdie's ferocious onslaught, they appeared somewhat weaker. As for Li Mengdie's other soldiers, they seemed easily overwhelmed.
The battle was peculiar: Li Mengdie was relentlessly killing, while the Jin Yi Wei experts were continuously reaping the lives of Li Mengdie's soldiers. Fortunately, Guo Yong and his subordinates had some skilled fighters, preventing the battle from becoming too one-sided.
"Second Sister, surrender quickly. Your men are no match for mine. This fight is meaningless," Li Xinyue said with a sigh, looking at the increasing bloodstains on Li Mengdie's body and face. Although the blood wasn't Li Mengdie's own, Li Xinyue still felt a pang of regret for her sister's soon-to-be-foiled plan. With Chu Chen present, Li Xinyue knew Li Mengdie would not succeed.
Li Mengdie had desired this position for so long, yet she couldn't attain it. Li Xinyue, on the other hand, didn't truly want it, but it had fallen to her. If she were the Emperor now, she could have easily abdicated to her Second Sister. However, she also knew that Li Mengdie would never accept such a handover. Li Mengdie possessed her own pride; she would rather lose the position entirely than have it given to her.
"Fifth Sister, I would rather die on the battlefield than be pitied by you. Who do you think you are? These soldiers were arranged by Chu Chen for you, weren't they?" Li Mengdie said sarcastically. "Even if I lose, I lose to Chu Chen, not to you." As she spoke, she killed a few more people, a bloodthirsty smile appearing on her lips.
"Second Sister, I know you are stronger than me, but we are sisters. Why must we fight to the death over a position?" Li Xinyue pleaded. "Let it go. If you want to lead troops into battle, I can ask Chu Chen to take you on campaign. If you want to govern the court, once I become Emperor, I can entrust that duty to you. I don't care about this position; it has simply fallen upon me."
Li Mengdie raised her hand, her expression growing fierce. She even threw a dagger towards Li Xinyue. "What nonsense are you spouting? I told you, I, Li Mengdie, do not need your concessions or pity. Even if I can't hold on, I will grit my teeth and persevere. If not this time, then next. I will eventually obtain what is mine."
At that moment, a figure darted in from outside. It was Chu Chen. He quickly reached Li Xinyue's side and asked with concern, "Xinyue, are you alright?"
Li Xinyue shook her head. "I'm fine. Your subordinates have protected me well. It's just... Second Sister..." Chu Chen followed Li Xinyue's gaze to the battling Li Mengdie and felt a sense of helplessness. Li Mengdie had indeed come. Why was she so fixated on the throne? Was her lust for power so great?
Li Mengdie also saw Chu Chen. Her eyes lit up, then she concealed her expression. "Chu Chen, you brat, you're here too. Good. Prepare to die." Chu Chen chuckled sheepishly, recalling past events.