The Yangtze River before them was surging with white - capped waves. The snowflakes fluttering from the sky mingled with the splashing waves.
Lü Baiwei seemed to be frozen stiff as she stared at the vast expanse of the Yangtze River. Somewhere in the distance, warships had somehow appeared, covering the river.
Starting from dots and gradually spreading, they were approaching them.
The battle flags fluttered in the wind, and the shape of those ships was so familiar.
Weren't they... the elite naval forces newly trained by Lan Guangling?
Lü Baiwei shuddered all over. Only then did she realize what was happening and let out a heart - rending cry:
"Where is Vice - General Zhou! Where is Vice - General Xu!"
Vice - General Zhou and Vice - General Xu were the people Lü Baiwei had placed beside Lan Guangling.
In name, they were there to assist Lan Guangling, but in fact, they were to monitor his every move.
It was just that neither of them had ever revealed that they were Lü Baiwei's people.
The only reason Lü Baiwei had dared to hand over the commander's seal to Lan Guangling was because of these two vice - generals.
Lan Guangling had seemed to be on good terms with them and had trusted them completely.
However, Lü Baiwei was disappointed after she called out.
No one came forward.
Lan Guangling sneered, "Stop calling. Those two were killed by me long ago!"
"Did Your Highness really think I didn't know about your secret communications? I knew they were loyal to you!"
"My Lan family has been on the battlefield for generations. I've seen all kinds of people. How dare you act so recklessly under my nose!"
He tightened his grip on Lü Baiwei's shoulders and said menacingly, "If it weren't for the fact that the Southern Army is like a centipede that won't die easily and the Yan Army is not good at naval battles, and a forced crossing of the river would result in heavy casualties, do you think my father and I would have been acting with you here?"
He had originally thought he would have to lead his troops into the imperial city to capture this evil queen, but unexpectedly, she had walked right into their trap by coming to the naval base in person!
She had dared to use poisonous gu on Shu'er and A Li to threaten them, driving them to the brink of death.
Lan Guangling wished he could cut her into a thousand pieces!
"You... you..."
Lü Baiwei's teeth chattered. Looking at Lan Guangling, she felt as if she was looking at a ferocious demon.
Suddenly, she remembered the young emperor still in the imperial city. Her heart instantly sank to the bottom.
Lan Yuanyi... He held the seal of the capital army.
And the imperial guards in the young emperor's imperial city were no match for the 100,000 - strong capital army!
As for the so - called impregnable city walls of Shangjing, with problems from within, there was no need for Song Yinghuai to launch a strong attack!
Lü Baiwei felt dizzy for a moment. She stared blankly at the river.
In the blink of an eye, the leading warships on the river had reached the dock.
The man at the head had extremely handsome features, but his lips were filled with boundless chill. His eyes were cold, looking even more aloof in the white snow. It was none other than King Yan, Song Yinghuai!
The woman beside him was wearing a red dress as flamboyant as fire. Against the backdrop of the sky - high snow, she was extremely eye - catching, looking like a celestial being from the ninth heaven. That was Caiyu!
Lü Baiwei's pupils constricted sharply. Tears welled up in her eyes instantly. She rushed forward and knelt down, trying to hug Song Yinghuai's leg:
"Xuanyao! Xuanyao! I didn't mean to harm Caiyu!"
"I gave her the antidote! It was her choice to be with Sheng Jiangli. I didn't force her..."
Song Yinghuai nimbly dodged her embrace. He glanced at Caiyu and didn't even want to say another word to Lü Baiwei.
He only said coldly, "I had always been tolerant of you for the sake of my master, but you became more and more excessive. You tried to drive a wedge between Yu'er and me, making us separated by life and death..."
"Moreover, for the sake of the throne and your ambition, you used poisonous gu to threaten Yu'er and Sheng Jiangli. Sister, you deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!"
Lü Baiwei was so intimidated by his fierce look that she was like an ice sculpture.
She knew that Song Yinghuai was never a soft - hearted person.
The reason he had spared her time and time again was because of her late father.
Now, there was not a trace of hesitation in his eyes when he looked at her. That threat of being cut into a thousand pieces was real!
Suddenly, she burst into tears, "Xuanyao! For the sake of my father, please forgive me one more time! I won't be the empress dowager anymore... I'll go and tell Zhu'er to abdicate the throne and yield it to you. Please spare my life..."
Humph!
Abdicate?
Song Yinghuai smiled faintly, "If I, Song Yinghuai, want the world, why should I wait for that yellow - haired boy to yield it? I'll just take it! But you... must die!"
Lan Guangling ordered his men to drag Lü Baiwei away. Then he looked at Song Yinghuai with satisfaction:
"I'm relieved to hand Shu'er over to you now that you've made up your mind to deal with Empress Lü."
Caiyu, who was listening to their conversation, finally understood the whole story.
It turned out that on that day, after Han Fen had delivered Song Yinghuai's letter to Lan Guangling, Lan Guangling had told him everything.
The secret passage he and Lan Yuanyi had dug in Hainan under Xu Ziteng's care was indeed to prevent the Guangwu Emperor from wiping them out.
Later, when the people from the Eastern Depot came secretly, they had escaped through the secret passage and survived on a deserted island in the sea for some time.
It was Suobude who had found people and brought them back to Daye.
As soon as Lan Yuanyi landed, he learned that Song Yinghuai was at war with the young emperor. He knew that the Southern Army was not easily defeated. There were still many forces in Daye and the surrounding vassal states.
If the war continued, it might last for years, just like the war with the Tatars.
In order to end the war as soon as possible and reduce the casualties of the common people in the war, he had decided to pretend to surrender to the young emperor and wait for an opportunity to defect.
Caiyu was relieved. She gave Lan Guangling a reproachful look, "I knew that my father and brother were not so pedantic... But why didn't you tell Brother A Li in advance? You don't know how anxious he was..."
She choked up and looked at Song Yinghuai, "Will he be okay?"
Song Yinghuai hugged her and said softly, "Don't worry. The Southern Princess is no match for him. How could he be in danger?"
At most, he would just have a headache.
The man showed a sly smile.
Lan Guangling looked at them hugging each other with disgust.
His wife and children still couldn't show their faces because of his and his father's important matters. They had been hiding in the countryside!
It had been so long since he had had a warm family life.
Lan Guangling coughed lightly and said, "Alright, alright. I already know that you two have gotten rid of the poison. Lü Baiwei has done many bad things, but she accidentally did one good thing. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been willing to let Shu'er marry you!"
After all, Song Yinghuai had been poisoned by the twin snakes. Whoever married him would be like a widow!
"Stop hugging. Father is still waiting for Your Highness to deal with that yellow - haired boy in the imperial city!"
...
At this moment, the imperial city of Daye was in complete chaos.
The news that the Yan Army had successfully crossed the Yangtze River reached the young emperor's ears. He was changing clothes in his bedroom. Immediately, he was struck like a thunderbolt, and the military report in his hand dropped to the ground with a "thud".
"Crossed... the river... and landed?"
His eyes were fixed. Suddenly, he staggered out of the bedroom, "Where... is Lord Lan?"
As soon as he rushed out of the palace gate, a silver light flashed before his eyes, and his neck felt cold.
The young emperor's legs trembled. He looked at the fierce - looking old general.
Lan Yuanyi's deep voice rang in his ears, "Your Majesty, I'm here!"
The young emperor's hands trembled. Looking at the soldiers who had suddenly rushed into the palace and surrounded everyone, his face changed drastically, "Marquis Yongchang! Are you rebelling?"
Lan Yuanyi laughed heartily, "I've always been labeled as a rebel. What's wrong with being a rebel one more time?"
The young emperor staggered and stood unsteadily. He opened his mouth wide, "Guards... Guards..."
Unfortunately, the bedroom was filled with eunuchs and maids, all kneeling on the ground.
As soon as the young emperor's voice fell, more people entered the palace from outside.
The young emperor's pupils dilated in shock. He blurted out, "Uncle Four!"
Although he had already suspected something when Lan Yuanyi rebelled, he still couldn't help being shocked.
Song Yinghuai led a group of Yan Army generals into the palace one by one. After standing still, he bowed to the young emperor and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty."
The young emperor staggered back. He looked at Song Yinghuai in panic and questioned, "Uncle Four... Why?"
Song Yinghuai straightened up, looked up at him, and slowly said:
"Your Majesty asks me why?"
"I also want to ask Your Majesty why?"
"Why did you still not spare the people and soldiers in the Yan region even after I handed over the military power of the capital army and petitioned to return to Yan?"