Ruihua Hall, Nanjing Imperial Palace.

As Empress Wan looked at the letter in her hand, the curve of one corner of her lips deepened.

She tossed the creed into the incense burner with a smug look on her face. "Finally, one's been killed. Next up is that bitch Xu Yingshu."

The old woman seemed worried. "Your Highness, this time you went so far as to mobilize the entire Wan family army to kill Nanqian Yue, and even deceived Commander Pei. His Majesty and the Crown Prince must already know. If they blame you..."

"What's there to be afraid of?" Empress Wan fiddled with her fingertips, saying confidently, "His Majesty's punishment is inevitable, but it will be nothing serious. As for that rebellious son..."

"Heh, he and I have long been bound together. He understands the principle that we share both glory and loss."

"This time, out of consideration for his loss of his beloved, I will reluctantly listen to his complaints." Her tone carried a strong sense of condescension.

"Your Majesty the Empress." The head eunuch's voice suddenly rang out at the palace entrance as he entered, carrying an imperial edict.

Empress Wan frowned and said unhappily, "How dare you! Who gave you the audacity to not summon me to the palace?"

The head eunuch remained composed, holding the imperial edict with a forced smile, and said, "This servant has come to carry out His Majesty's decree. I hope Your Highness will cooperate."

Empress Wan felt inexplicably uneasy, but still raised her chin and walked down the steps haughtily. "Read it."

The chief eunuch said, "His Majesty said there's no need to read it aloud; proceed directly with the execution."

Empress Wan roared, "Outrageous! How dare you torture me?"

The head eunuch smiled slightly, then raised his hand and waved, "Guards, drag the Empress out and punish her with caning."

As soon as the eunuch finished speaking, Pei Hong personally led the guards into the hall and easily subdued the resisting nanny.

Pei Hong clasped his hands in greeting to Empress Wan, then gestured to the guards to escort her out.

"What are you doing?! Let me go!"

Empress Wan's mouth was quickly gagged with a wad of cloth by palace servants, and she was pressed onto the rack, where the wide wooden board fell heavily.

The chief eunuch stood at the front, conveying His Majesty's decree in a shrill voice.

"His Majesty said there is no limit to the number of people; just keep them alive. While Your Majesty is still conscious, make your choice: you can only choose between the position of Empress and the position of Crown Prince."

"If you still want to be Empress, then the Crown Prince must be replaced. If you don't want the position of Crown Prince to change hands, then you cannot be Empress."

"Your Majesty, please choose."

...An hour later.

Upon hearing the news, General Wan abandoned his military duties and rushed into the palace.

Ignoring the guards' attempts to stop him, he barged into the imperial study.

"Your Majesty! Please spare the Empress's life!" General Wan knelt down with a thud.

Xiao Beiming's gaze was authoritative, and his voice was cold, "Why did I say I wanted to kill her?"

General Wan exclaimed anxiously, "Isn't that kind of simplistic, indiscriminate attack just asking for her life? Your Majesty, she is your wife!"

Xiao Beiming showed no mercy, "General Wan's reach is quite long."

"Your Majesty!" General Wan moved his knees forward a few steps. "The Wan family army has served loyally for generations. Even if they haven't achieved great merit, they have certainly put in a lot of hard work. Please, spare the Empress!"

Xiao Beiming's suppressed anger was reignited. "Are you threatening me? You haven't said a word about what that wicked woman did!"

He picked up a folded document and threw it in front of General Wan, saying, "Look for yourself! How is this any different from a declaration of war!"

General Wan picked up the folded document and unfolded it, his pupils gradually dilating.

Xiao Beiming pressed his temples. "Dongling's stated intention is to hand over Wan Fangyi, or else they will annihilate the Wan family army."

"But in reality, they want to start a war! Prince Anzheng knows that I will not push a woman out to take the blame. Even if Wan Fangyi did such a wrong thing, it is because I failed to control her properly."

General Wan slammed the memorial to the ground. "Let's start the war! There are no cowards in Nan'an! They just had a battle in the north of Dongling, how can they still be so arrogant!"

Xiao Beiming glared coldly at this brute, "Aren't you supposed to have excellent intelligence? Didn't you find out that the Eastern Border has dispatched 100,000 Dragon Cavalry to Dragon Gate City!"

General Wan's face stiffened, but he stubbornly declared, "My 300,000-strong army has no cowards!"

Xiao Beiming pressed his brow once more. Prince Anzheng, with 100,000 troops from the north, was still able to defeat the 250,000 troops of Nan Jing and Yu Dan Kingdom. Now, with another 100,000 Dragon Cavalry...

"Your Majesty! A message has arrived from the secret sentries at Dongling!" A guard entered the Imperial Study holding up a letter.

The eunuch took it and respectfully presented it to Xiao Beiming.

Xiao Beiming unfolded the letter with a grim face, his eyes gradually filled with fear.

"Your Majesty?" General Wan called out.

Xiao Beiming breathed heavily, “The old emperor of Dongling is dead, and the rebellious Grand Commandant Song was killed on the spot by the Black Flag Army. Prime Minister Nan Xingzhuo led the officials to help the fourth prince ascend the throne.”

"With Nanxing Zhuo here, the Dongling court will not be in chaos, so 100,000 Black Riders are heading to Longmen City."

General Wan finally showed fear, completely losing his previous imposing manner. "This... what should we do? Prince Anzheng is clearly seeking revenge for his princess. He's actually starting a war for a woman!"

"Your Majesty, the situation is urgent! Please issue an order immediately to transfer half of the troops from the west. Otherwise, how can the 300,000 elite troops possibly stand against the Dongling Iron Cavalry!"

"Now you're scared?" Xiao Beiming roared. "Get back! Do not act rashly without my decree!"

General Wan had a lot to say, but to save his sister's life, he dared not offend Xiao Beiming any further and could only leave in silence, saying, "Yes."

After General Wan left, Xiao Beiming finally released all the exhaustion he had been suppressing.

He leaned back on the dragon throne, his gaze gradually losing focus.

The fact that Prince Anzheng was willing to go to such lengths to move the moon filled him with admiration, but also fear.

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