Ye Xiuhan felt a small sense of loss when he did not hear Zhan Lan say his name.
Had he not counted as her friend, having rushed into the palace as soon as he heard the news?
Zhan Lan suddenly looked at him, "General Ye, it’s been a long time."
Having been singled out by Zhan Lan, Ye Xiuhan was a little elated, and the slight disappointment disappeared.
Being friends with Zhan Lan was enough for him; he dared not think of anything more.
Perhaps the way of friendship was the most enduring type of relationship.
Xiao Luobai always knew that Ye Xiuhan admired Zhan Lan, and as soon as anything happened to her, Ye Xiuhan would enter the palace immediately; he had never been so proactive when attending court sessions usually.
Zhan Lan spoke the truth; offending her was equivalent to offending the whole of Dayu. Behind her stood the Emperor of Dayu, its army, a family full of martial generals, friends sworn to loyalty through life-and-death experiences, and even his Great General Ye Xiuhan was on Zhan Lan’s side.
It was with Ye Xiuhan’s help that he ascended to the throne, and now these people all stood against him.
Xiao Luobai felt abandoned by everyone; was it worth it for Zhan Lan’s love?
He asked himself if by pursuing Zhan Lan, he had somehow lost who he truly was.
However, just as this thought crossed his mind, a sharp pain stabbed his head, and a voice told him that if he couldn’t have Zhan Lan in this life, he would die with regrets!
"Your Majesty, the soldiers are waiting for you. The Dayu army is pressing at the border, and the soldiers truly cannot hold on any longer!"
The messenger was in a state of urgency, for they had long heard of the Dayu Emperor’s ruthless approach—unstoppably cruel, using slaughter to end slaughter, with no mercy, except for his tenderness towards the Empress of Dayu.
If their Emperor remained lost in delusion, they all might have to sacrifice their lives for his actions!
"Shut up!" Xiao Luobai shouted.
He turned to Ye Xiuhan, "Ye Xiuhan, I command you to lead a hundred thousand soldiers immediately to eradicate the Dayu troops in Nie City!"
Ye Xiuhan looked at Xiao Luobai coldly, "Your Majesty, you are being held by the Empress of Dayu; how can you have the audacity to utter such words!"
Granny Qi and Alchemist Qi also thought Xiao Luobai had gone mad.
How could he have become so abnormal!
The civil and military officials who were about to attend the court watched from a distance as something major unfolded in the palace.
Xiao Luobai was being questioned by Ye Xiuhan; in his heart, he was conflicted. Indeed, he was being controlled by Zhan Lan, but he was convinced she wouldn’t dare to hurt him!
Zhan Lan still had some feelings for him, after all, they knew each other for quite some time, even before Mu Yan.
"Then let’s give up Nie City; Ye Xiuhan, I command you to immediately lead troops to Su State!" Xiao Luobai said with red eyes.
Huo Cheng, upon understanding the situation and learning of his Majesty’s absurd actions, clenched his fists.
Their Emperor had forsaken the soldiers in Nie City for the sake of one woman!
What was the point of defending such an emperor!
The ministers, upon hearing Xiao Luobai’s words, reached the peak of their disappointment in him.
Over these more than three years, the national strength of Beiyue had declined day by day; compared to the previous emperor, he had not changed the fortunes of Beiyue.
The ministers knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Please reconsider, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Luobai coldly looked at them, "I am the Son of Heaven of Beiyue, Ye Xiuhan you..."
Ye Xiuhan remained unmoving, his gaze cold as ice; the mistake was Xiao Luobai’s, and he would not assist. He had seen enough of Xiao Luobai’s inaction these past years.
Xiao Luobai looked at Ye Xiuhan in disappointment and sternly warned, "Ye Xiuhan, do not forget you have a mother and sister!"
Ye Xiuhan’s expression turned icy upon hearing Xiao Luobai; Xiao Luobai dared to use his mother and sister as leverage, how was he any different from the previous emperor!
His words thoroughly angered Ye Xiuhan, and with a chilling gaze and a voice full of heavy anger, Ye Xiuhan said, "Xiao Luobai, you’re insane! The same way I helped you to the throne, I can likewise remove you!"
Zhan Lan saw Ye Xiuhan’s angry demeanor and realized it somewhat resembled Mu Yan’s aura.
It was no wonder Ye Xiuhan was furious, given Xiao Luobai had threatened him using his mother and sister!
Xiao Luobai must be mad!
Xiao Luobai raised his voice, "Ye Xiuhan, I am the emperor and you are my subject; I can withdraw the military power from your hands. There are plenty of people who want it!"
Zhan Lan could no longer bear it, for Ye Xiuhan had been thoroughly provoked by Xiao Luobai. "Sorry, Ye Xiuhan, once upon a time I thought it wouldn’t be so bad if Xiao Luobai became emperor."
Xiao Luobai’s pupils constricted sharply; what did Zhan Lan mean by that?
His becoming the emperor of Beiyue was related to Zhan Lan!
Ye Xiuhan looked at Xiao Luobai, he said solemnly, "There is one thing you don’t know; this General supported you to the throne because Empress Zhan backed it at the time. Now you repay kindness with betrayal, Beiyue’s people grumble in discontent, the ministers have long held dissatisfaction with you, and now you face isolation and abandonment, which is your just deserts!"
Xiao Luobai’s face turned pale, his heart pounding violently, it was Zhan Lan who had supported him back then, allowing him to become the emperor!
It turned out Zhan Lan had always thought well of him, once believing he could be a good emperor of Beiyue!
His eyes turned red, suddenly feeling lost and at a loss for what to do.
Zhan Lan felt the deepest regret for Xiao Luobai, for in the previous life, no one knew Xiao Luobai was a good king of Beiyue, he didn’t claim the throne, and although young, he knew how to withdraw his sharp edges, and the people loved him.
She had died at twenty-one, and what happened afterward she did not know, but in this life, Xiao Luobai had changed because of knowing her.
Speaking of which, her rebirth also altered Xiao Luobai’s fate.
She had originally thought Xiao Luobai becoming emperor was just a course of nature.
Now she realized she bore a part of the responsibility.
The complexities of human emotion truly are vast; to be driven mad due to unrequited love, she felt Xiao Luobai was like someone under a spell of poison.
A sudden thought rushed into her mind: was Xiao Luobai’s obsession being manipulated!
The skill of poisonous insect magic was a specialty of the Poisonous Insect Clan, which comprised several tribes, making it not difficult to obtain a love poison.
Perhaps someone had intensified Xiao Luobai’s obsession.
Could it be Mu Cheng’an!
Zhan Lan suddenly realized a key issue - Mu Cheng’an schemed meticulously for the purpose of confronting her and Mu Yan; he had already incited conflicts between the two countries, what step would he take next?
To make the two countries go to war!
And use Xiao Luobai against Mu Yan!
But if Xiao Luobai was unwilling to start the war, what would Mu Cheng’an do to instigate a battle between Beiyue and Dayu?
Unveiling the mystery bit by bit, Zhan Lan suddenly understood!
She urgently asked, "Xiao Luobai, is Mu Cheng’an in the palace?"