contracted the plague and died. That way, neither you nor the second princess would be implicated. It could only be blamed on her bad luck for going to that place. But the empress will definitely tak...Shiju thought about it and felt that Lianyi was right. If there weren't these time travelers, there wouldn't be so much resentment. Theoretically speaking, what they did wasn't wrong. He let go of this topic and directly changed the subject.

"Your eldest daughter has nearly gathered all the manpower and is now entering the capital in batches. Aren't you going to prepare"

"Prepare yourself, if she has the ability to kill me, the throne will naturally be hers. If not, just wait to be imprisoned!"

Ripples tossed the chess pieces into the box, and said carelessly.

"What a big heart!"

Three days later, Feng Di sent a message via flying eagle. She reported the crushing defeat of the Panlong Kingdom and also news that the second princess was plotting with Zhao family's main generals to seize the palace while returning to the capital city to receive their rewards.

The ripples remained calm, summoning the Phoenix Head and instructing her to keep a close eye on the commander of the Imperial Guard. The last time Zhu Xiu Yuan had rescued the emperor, she had called upon the Imperial Guard, which was revealed by ripples to be supported by Zhao family and appointed by the Second Princess. They were essentially natural allies of the Second Princess.

Then, taking advantage of the opportunity to prepare for the triumphant return of the army, the entire palace guard was replaced by the empress's personal guards. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

But the wise servant in the palace noticed something amiss. He endured for two days, but finally went to see Lianyi, asking with a worried face:

"Your Majesty, what happened in the palace Don't keep it from me."

"It's not a big deal, some people are just impatient and want my position."

Ripples said with a smile.

The wise servant's pupils contracted, and he quickly said:

"Your Majesty, she would never be a three-emperor princess. She told me herself that she was not capable of sitting in that position and had never even desired it."

"Ai Xian, I didn't say she was the Third Princess. Don't get so worked up."

Ripple smirked, pushing the teacup in front of her towards Jian Shijun, "Don't worry."

"Being addressed in such a manner, Your Majesty, makes me feel rather embarrassed. I steadied my cup of tea and said resolutely:"

"I'll be with you!"

"Great!"

Twenty days later, the army finally arrived at the capital city. The second princess, who had secretly returned three days earlier, had already joined the main force. After nodding to Zhao Li, she joined the returning troops and was greeted by the people of the capital city along the way.

The 80,000 troops accompanying them did not enter the city, but instead encamped thirty miles outside, waiting for the reward ceremony to end before returning to their original garrison.

As the sun set, General Phoenix Cry suddenly appeared at the army encampment thirty miles away, wielding the Eagle Seal and summoning fifty thousand lightly armed soldiers. They marched straight toward the imperial palace.

This evening's palace banquet has commenced, with Lianyi seated at the head, hosting the generals who have returned victorious.

"My valiant generals, your hard work has paid off. This time we have defeated the Panlong Nation in one fell swoop, tearing a piece of flesh from their body. All of you deserve great credit! I raise this cup to toast you!"

"Your Majesty!"

All the generals rose, accepted the cup of wine, drank it in one gulp, and Ripples raised his cup again, with a solemn expression, and said:

"This cup of wine is dedicated to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war. They are the pride of my Fengqi Nation. After the rewards ceremony, I will ensure they are laid to rest with dignity, erecting tombstones for them so that future generations will always remember their sacrifices!"

"Never forget!"

Everyone responded in unison.

After two rounds of wine, the atmosphere at the palace banquet gradually became lively. However, the wise attendant who had always been seated under Lianyi's hand did not touch a drop of alcohol. He was always on guard, watching everything around him.

"With a whoosh, an arrow shot from outside the main hall, heading straight for Lianyi. Xian Shijun didn't hesitate to spring to his feet, ready to shield her with his body, but Lianyi pushed him back, causing him to stumble. The arrow grazed Lianyi's earlobe, shattering an earring before embedding itself in the throne."

"Protect the lord!"

The melodious soprano, a woman of refined elegance, began to sing within the hall. The generals, who were engaged in drinking and merrymaking, all sprang to their feet, instinctively reaching for their swords at their waists. However, upon entering the hall, they had removed their weapons.

Meanwhile, the maids behind them, quick-witted and agile, returned swords to their masters' hands. They then, each armed with short swords, surged forward to the throne, becoming the Empress's first line of defense.

At this time, the eldest princess, the third princess, and the wise lady had all gathered before Ripples. Their faces were grave, but Ripples' face remained calm. She touched her empty earlobes and said with some displeasure:

"This is my favorite cat-eye earring, how could one get broken"

"Mother Empress, you are old! It's time to abdicate!"

At this time, the second princess was clad in armor, brandishing a sharp sword, and entered the hall with the protection of Zhao's army.

"What if I don't step down"

The ripples asked in a soft voice.

"The Empress Dowager wrote a decree of abdication to me, you will be the Empress Dowager, your status is honorable. If you don't write it, don't blame me for not considering our mother-daughter relationship."

Even if I wrote an abdication edict, you wouldn't allow me to live to see the second sunrise. You would commit regicide! This is a grave act of filial disloyalty!

Because of your ambition, you allied with the Panlong Nation to assassinate your third sister and placed those assassins in Zhuxiu Garden, intending to use them to kill her. However, the blade ended up killing your father. This is an act of injustice!

Those grain merchants who are inflating food prices, you have also introduced them into the Phoenix Nest Kingdom through Zhao Li, your border general. You aim to plunge the common people into misery, this is a lack of humanity!

As a person who is unfilial, unkind, unjust, immoral, incompetent, what qualifications do you have to sit on the throne!

The sound of the ripples was cold and devoid of emotion, as it listed out the Second Princess's crimes one by one. The generals in the hall were all taken aback, never expecting that this Imperial daughter had gone to such lengths for the throne.

"Shut up!"

The Second Princess's face was flushed red. She had never been scolded by her own mother like this before in her life.

"Second Princess, do not be provoked by a few words. The swords are in our hands, and outside the palace are also our Zhao family troops. Today, we must succeed!"

Zhao Li narrowed her eyes and whispered in the second princess's ear.

"Well, I told you you were a fool. Even if you succeed in forcing me to surrender today, wouldn't you still be bound Outside the gates are Zhao's troops, not Wu's."

Ripples let out a cold snort, directly drawing his own sword and injecting the spiritual energy of the third level of Qi into the blade. Then, under the gaze of all present, he swung his sword down with one stroke, uttering only one word: "Kill!"

In the next instant, Zhao Li, who had previously been confident of victory, was split in half. As blood splattered, a powerful force sent everyone around the second princess flying. The second princess herself was not spared.

After a brief moment of silence, the generals rallied and, brandishing their swords, charged into the ranks of Zhao's army like a wave.

The ripples drained the spiritual energy, but also stunned everyone. She looked coldly at the Second Princess who was struggling to resist with her sword, disappointment in her eyes. She thought this one would last longer, but she was so easily defeated.

Here, the generals protected the officials and retreated to the empress' side. The sounds of fighting outside had reached everyone inside the hall, and the fire illuminated half the sky.or two gulps. Then, she held Tiger Cub and warmed him up again before putting him to sleep. She didn't have to watch the night shift tonight, so she could rest soundly.After a night of silence, the Zh...