Chapter 311: He Wants Revenge, Not to Seek Death

The Empress had no intention of launching an attack, so she only brought two thousand Silver Armor Guards with her to Beicang.

They traveled at a steady pace, but their objective was clear: a direct path to Yingdu, the Beicang Royal City.

At first glance, the Empress’s small contingent seemed to be delivering itself right to their doorstep. It looked like a god-given opportunity, a chance to encircle and eliminate her completely.

However, the two thousand Silver Armor Guards were accompanied by one hundred cannons and countless munitions. Moreover, Prince Wei was stationed at the Longsheng border with an army of thirty thousand strong.

You could try to fight, but reinforcements from the border would arrive before you could even defeat the Empress’s Silver Armor Army.

Go ahead and try. See if your bones are tougher than the Empress’s blade is fast.

The Beicang people already knew about the fall of Yue Country and were aware of the Empress’s methods. After hearing that Gong Houyuan had let her pass, officials in the other cities had no intention of resisting.

Thus, the Empress’s journey to Yingdu was completely unimpeded. Gates opened as soon as she arrived.

Chu Lingyi was now one of the Empress’s guards. As she was the only woman, she had been given the exceptional opportunity to guard the Empress’s person.

The Empress had not had time to speak with Chu Lingyi these past few days. But ever since her foot had fully healed, she had begun training with the Silver Armor Guards. She wanted to become a qualified Silver Armor Guard first before she could become a General.

And after witnessing the Empress’s capabilities, her resolve to become a General had only grown stronger.

She glanced at Chu Yungui in the ranks ahead of her. In such a short time, her brother seemed to have been completely transformed. The once reclusive boy now carried himself like a mighty general.

’I can’t lose to him.’

It took the Empress two days to travel from Jade Dragon City to Yingdu.

The Beicang King’s heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally dropped when he learned the Empress had arrived outside the city walls.

In the end, he ordered the city gates opened and led his officials out to welcome her personally.

The Beicang King had been blessed with many descendants; he had eight sons alone.

Some were favored, and naturally, some were not.

Two of the princes were brought to the Beicang King’s side to meet the Empress, while the others could only trail behind, completely ignored.

As they watched the approaching procession, a figure appeared like a phantom behind the Eldest Prince of Beicang, Xia Jie, and spoke in a sinister, cold voice, "Has the Eldest Prince made his decision? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There won’t be another."

Xia Jie was the Beicang King’s eldest son, but because his birth mother was a mere slave, he was not favored by the king. In fact, one could even say he was despised.

Despite being the Eldest Prince, he was looked down upon by everyone and grew up amidst contempt and verbal abuse. His mother was even beaten to death right before his eyes.

His heart was filled with hatred. Ambitious and driven, he longed to take revenge on all his enemies.

The Beicang King, on the other hand, was cowardly, incompetent, and greedy. He was unfit to be a king. Xia Jie had long coveted the throne.

The Empress’s arrival was indeed a golden opportunity. By using her to eliminate the Beicang King and everyone else, he could easily become the new King of Beicang.

But he knew it wouldn’t be easy. The man behind him had a greater goal in mind: he wanted to kill the Empress.

’Kill the Empress, seize the world... it sounds so tempting. But I’m not a fool.’

The Empress and the Beicang King were in two completely different leagues. He wanted revenge, not a death wish.

Seeing Xia Jie’s silence, Xu Nianqing knew he was scared. ’What a coward.’

His gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on the carriage in the middle of the long procession. He knew the Empress was inside. He thought of the day the Empress had called him Lu Nianqing, and the shock he felt then was still difficult to quell.

’It’s just as I thought. Mother was reborn, too. She recognizes me, she remembers me, and she wants... to kill me.’

He had been so looking forward to meeting her and being acknowledged. But she actually wanted to kill him. It was unbelievable. ’What have I done wrong?’

’Nanny Qian said Mother was a madwoman. It seems she was right.’

His mother looked so much like him. He had waited for so many years that his longing had long since become an obsession. He still wanted to see her, to have a proper conversation with her.

’If she’s the Empress, she definitely won’t listen to me properly. In that case, I’ll just have to drag her down from her throne.’

But she was too powerful, an existence that ordinary people could not hope to challenge.

He needed to obtain even greater power, but she was expanding her empire too quickly, giving him no time at all.

’Empress! Mother!’

The piercing wound in his side ached faintly, but the pain in his heart was worse. His gloomy eyes glanced at the Eldest Prince of Beicang beside him. ’He doesn’t dare? Then I’ll give him a push.’

The Silver Armor Army was majestic and imposing. Their neat formations and solemn aura were enough to make one’s heart tremble at the mere sight of them.

And the Empress, who commanded such an army, had an even more overwhelming and oppressive presence. The moment the Beicang King laid eyes on her, his knees couldn’t help but go weak, and he felt the urge to kneel in submission.

He was a man who coveted wealth and women, and his harem was full of beauties of all shapes and sizes. Yet, faced with the Empress’s stunning beauty, he felt not a single lustful thought—only fear.

Xiao Li emerged from the carriage and stood at its edge. She wore a Black Gold Dragon Robe, looking sharp and elegant without sacrificing her majesty. In truth, she was quite casual and wasn’t deliberately putting on airs, appearing as relaxed as she always did.

But her reputation for ruthlessness created a filter that made people afraid to provoke her. She seemed untouchable, inspiring awe and fear, which naturally made her appear majestic and domineering.

She glanced at the Beicang King and smiled. "You are too kind, King of Beicang. Why come out to welcome me yourself?"

The Beicang King forced a smile. "Your Majesty’s arrival brings splendor to my humble nation. How could I not come to greet you personally?"

"Your Majesty must be weary from your long journey. A banquet has been prepared in the palace to welcome you and wash away the dust of your travels."

He had been a king for so many years, yet this was the first time he had ever been so fawning and servile.

He didn’t want to be like this, but compared to having his country annihilated, this was nothing.

He was simply terrified by the Empress’s methods. Otherwise, he never would have known he was capable of being so flexible.

The civil and military officials craned their necks in anticipation, while the common people, both frightened and curious, tried to catch a glimpse of the famously formidable Empress.

But when the Empress actually walked before them, few dared to raise their heads. One did not gaze directly upon the awesome might of an emperor.

The procession slowly entered Yingdu. As the royal capital, Yingdu was Beicang’s largest city. But Beicang was a small, remote country, and its capital was not even as large or prosperous as a single city in Longsheng.

The Royal Palace was only about three or four times the size of the Prince Yanping Mansion.

The procession only stopped when it reached the gates of the Royal Palace. Hong Yue and Wang Wanqing dismounted first to wait, while the towering Rong Qing stood by the carriage, raising a hand to shield the Empress as she alighted.

Once the Empress was out of the carriage, the Beicang King immediately walked over, but before he could get close, Yang Jun extended an arm to stop him three paces away.

"King of Beicang, halt. My Empress dislikes excessive enthusiasm."

’The implication was clear: Don’t get any closer.’

The Beicang King was, after all, the ruler of a nation. To be treated this way stoked his anger. But he glanced up at the Empress and the military generals by her side, his peripheral vision catching sight of the Silver Armor Army, and knew he had to endure it.

"This way, Your Majesty."

Looking at the Beicang King’s feeble and aged face, Xiao Li had no desire to exchange pleasantries with him.

’In truth, I’m starting to regret this. I shouldn’t have wasted my time coming here. I could have just sent Xiao Jingyi, and I’m sure he would have handled things beautifully.’

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a gloomy gaze on her back, so intense it was almost tangible. ’So, Xu Nianqing really is here. Oh well. Since I’ve come all this way...’