On the frontier, inside the general's mansion.

Qin Yue Zhao and Chen Wan'er saw the golden bowl disappear into the copper basin, so they hurriedly sought out a shaman.

The wizard said it wasn't a ghost, but a god.

So they set up an altar, performed rituals, and prayed to the gods.

The candles burned brightly, and the meter-long mahogany table was laden with gold and silver treasures, incense, candles, and yellow paper.

The great shaman, dressed in a yellow robe and wielding a peach wood sword, set up an altar and performed a spell in front of the offering table.

He gestured wildly, chanting incantations incessantly.

The surrounding air trembled slightly, and a huge golden dragon roared out of the bronze basin on the table and possessed the princess.

A hundred generals knelt before the steps, staring in disbelief at the sight.

"Heaven above, may the gods reveal their power and protect our great undertaking!"

Some people couldn't contain their excitement, their hands trembling as they raised them above their heads and cheered loudly.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers behind him raised their hands and, following his lead, pounded the ground and shouted, "May the gods show their power and protect us during this great undertaking!"

"May the gods show their power and protect us during this great undertaking!"

"May the gods show their power and protect us during this great undertaking!"

The scale of the event was so great that it shook the entire General's Mansion.

Qin Yue Zhao placed the gold, silver, and jewels, along with her prayers, into the treasure basin and knelt devoutly before the offering table.

She wore the same black robes and armor as the soldiers, with a nearly tattered helmet, and her snow-white skin was frighteningly pale in the candlelight.

Just then, a mournful and desolate wail suddenly came from outside the general's mansion.

"Help! Your Highness! My son is only three years old, he's starving to death, please save him!"

"My father is starving to death too, please give me some more food?"

"Your Highness, aren't you a goddess descended to earth? Why are you helpless when the people are starving to death?"

"I don't care! I want the food today. If you refuse to save us, we'll break out of Liangcheng. We're going to die anyway, so I'd rather die out there!"

Outside?

"The enemy is everywhere outside"—this doesn't sound like something an ordinary person would say.

Qin Yue Zhao put down her things and led the soldiers out of the general's mansion.

Outside the general's mansion, ruins lay scattered amidst swirling sand and dust, where countless emaciated people knelt by the roadside.

Upon seeing the princess emerge, they hurriedly gathered around her.

A pale and emaciated woman, holding her still-breastfeeding child, cried her heart out:

"Your Highness, please save my daughter! She's only eight months old. She's dying because of insufficient breast milk. If we don't get any more food, she'll surely starve to death and be taken by her father to exchange for food!"

Her thin face was covered in dust, with two winding tear tracks.

Seeing this, the lieutenant tried to stop her.

But then a middle-aged woman stepped forward, wailing, "Your Highness, I also have two children. His father has already taken one away to exchange for another. The one who is still alive is also going to be taken away to exchange for food. Please, save him!"

The princess was shocked and hurriedly asked, "Where is he?"

People in the city were exchanging children to eat every day, and she thought she had become numb to it all.

But now that she's actually heard about this, she still can't bear to ignore it.

After all, these are her people!

"Your Highness, my son is in the refugee camp on the next street! Please save him!"

Upon hearing this, the princess quickly sent people to follow the woman to rescue her.

However, the woman had only taken a few steps when a group of people started making a fuss.

"Your Highness! What good is it for you to just go and rescue people? We know you have grain here, please open the granaries and distribute the grain!"

"If all else fails, then open the city gates and let us out! The enemy has clearly stated that as long as you lead the way in surrendering, they will not harm the civilians. Why are you unwilling to open the gates?"

"Yes, is it that you can't let go of wealth and honor, and are unwilling to give up your position as a princess even if the country is destroyed?"