At this moment in the Empress's palace, Dongfang Yi had been waiting for a long time after Shu Pin left. She then asked Xiaolan, "Has anything happened in the palace during the days I was in the dungeon? How is Concubine Dong?"
After all, she had exposed Concubine Dong before being imprisoned, and was quite certain that she was the one who had sent the assassins from outside the palace. But the Empress Dowager seemed not to trust her at all.
Xiaolan replied, "The night after you left, the Empress Dowager summoned Concubine Dong in the imperial garden. But for some unknown reason, Concubine Dong came back unscathed."
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi frowned. She thought that it seemed the Empress Dowager didn't completely deny her words. At least, she suspected Concubine Dong. Relying on the Empress Dowager's own intelligence network, it was impossible for her not to find out that there was something wrong with the Dong family. Moreover, she might have already learned about the Golden Wolf Guards.
After thinking this over, she sighed. It was a pity that she was now trapped here. There was no way for her to investigate the case anymore. Sizheng had disappeared, and now she was like a headless fly, with no clue at all.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. At least the Emperor is still alive for now. And I heard that General Liancheng is back," Xiaolan said.
"What? Liancheng is back. Has he found Bai Juen? Where is he now? Hurry and ask him to enter the palace!" Dongfang Yi blurted out these words in quick succession, her tone full of excitement. But when she saw the woman in front of her lower her head, she knew she had hoped too much.
"Liancheng didn't find Bai Juen?" she asked softly.
Xiaolan nodded heavily and then said, "General Lian just came back to report. His father urgently summoned him..."
Hearing this, Dongfang Yi couldn't help sneering. Then she sat back on the armchair, thinking that she had been too impulsive. What could she gain from being so anxious? Now she was just useless.
Seeing her mistress so disappointed, Xiaolan immediately said, "Your Highness, are you hungry? I'll go and prepare some snacks for you!"
Then she strode out of the palace.
Sitting behind her, Dongfang Yi's eyes gradually dimmed, and her heart was filled with sorrow.
On the other side, outside the palace, in a secluded inn.
Tian Gang asked the young man in front of him, "Young Master, what shall we do next?"
Hearing this, Meng Yu didn't respond. He just picked up the tea on one side and took a few sips. Then he said, "Not bad. It's good tea!"
"Young Master!" Tian Gang frowned and asked again a bit angrily.
"Don't be impatient. I'm still waiting for news from someone," Meng Yu replied with a smile.
The person he was talking about was Ye, the second prince of the Southern Neighboring Country. A few days ago, he had personally delivered the news that Helian Qi had been poisoned and was in a coma. Now it was up to the second prince to decide whether he wanted to take over the Eastern Victory Country.
Tian Gang naturally understood what he meant, but he felt a bit uneasy in his heart. They clearly knew that the internal situation in the Eastern Victory Country was already in great chaos.
Not to mention that Emperor Helian Qi would soon die, just one Nangong Liuyun was enough to turn the whole Eastern Victory Country upside down. There was no need for any interference from the outside court. This would only lead to a bigger war.
Thinking of this, he asked, "Our enemies are only the Helian family, the current royal family of the Eastern Victory Country. Why involve innocent people?"
"Innocent people? When did you, Left Envoy Tian, become so indecisive? It's just a war. What are you being so soft - hearted about?" Meng Yu said coldly, his eyes full of disdain.
Hearing his words, Tian Gang's heart skipped a beat. The person in front of him was clearly a cold - blooded demon who could talk about war so casually. He didn't look like a fifteen - year - old boy at all.
Seeing his sorrowful expression, Meng Yu couldn't help sneering and asking, "What kind of look is that? Are you afraid of me?!"
Tian Gang immediately lowered his head and then said, "I dare not, my lord!"
"Then do as I say!" the young man opposite him roared loudly.
Although his voice still had a bit of childishness, it couldn't help but make Tian Gang shiver.
"I obey, my lord."
At this moment, in the Southern Neighboring Country.
The emperor of the Southern Neighboring Country was sitting on the highest throne, listening to the man below tell him the probability of winning if they launched a war this time.
The man said that the current emperor of the Eastern Victory Country, Helian Qi, would surely not escape this disaster. Now that the Eastern Victory Country was leaderless, it was impossible for them to resist their army.
Just then, a shout came from outside the palace: "Princess Yaoji is coming!"
Then a woman in a light purple dress walked in. There was a purple veil on her face to prevent others from seeing the wound on it.
"Yaoji pays respects to Father!" she bowed as soon as she entered the palace.
As soon as the emperor of the Southern Neighboring Country saw her, he couldn't help frowning. He remembered that she had been under house arrest in her mansion and was absolutely not allowed to come out without his permission.
Ye looked at her without any expression. After all, it was he who had revealed the matter of Helian Qi to her and was sure that she would never let it go.
As expected, Yaoji frowned and said word by word, "Yaoji requests Father to send troops to the Eastern Victory Country!"
Hearing this, the emperor of the Southern Neighboring Country frowned. Then he replied, "Presumptuous! Who allowed you to come and say these things!"
But Ye bowed and persuaded, "Father, you might as well listen to what Yaoji has to say."
The emperor of the Southern Neighboring Country then waved his hand, indicating with an unhappy look that she could continue.
"Father, now is the perfect time to send troops! Our Southern Neighboring Country has been bullied by them year after year. Now we can finally stand up. Aren't you looking forward to it? Don't you want our country to be the one receiving tributes? With your great prestige, Father, it's not difficult to dominate the four directions!"
Yaoji said word by word, her eyes full of hatred.
She would never forget what she had suffered in the Eastern Victory Country. Since God had let her live, the days to come would all be for revenge.
The emperor of the Southern Neighboring Country was already a bit wavering. Now, after hearing what Yaoji said, the last line of defense in his heart was also broken. Then, as if making up his mind, he said, "I agree to send troops, but we have to wait until the emperor of the Eastern Victory Country is completely dead and the whole country is in mourning."
After all, he would never bet the whole Southern Neighboring Country. He still had to make full preparations.
Hearing this, Ye said that he obeyed. After all, he had received reliable news that Helian Qi was bound to die, so there was no need to worry about not being able to send troops.