On this side, Yan Beimo traveled by boat all the way down to Jingzhou.

Jingzhou is a vast city, adjacent to Nanliang, and its canal port is very developed, with cargo ships constantly coming and going on the river at night.

After the ship docked, he was escorted ashore by the crowd.

Jingzhou Governor's Office.

Zhang Lin was indulging in pleasure with his beautiful maids in his mansion, indulging in debauchery and dissipation.

At that moment, a servant rushed in to report.

"General, His Majesty has arrived in Jingzhou, and the General of the Household wants you to go there immediately."

Zhang Lin was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. His face, which was flushed from drinking, turned deathly pale, and he jumped to his feet.

"Didn't we start from Chaoge? How did we get here so quickly?"

"I heard they came all the way by warship."

Zhang Lin was anxious; how could he possibly face the emperor in this state?

"Quickly, quickly, go get some clothes to scent and brew some hangover soup."

As he spoke, he hurriedly put on his official robes and ran outside, swaying his fleshy body.

After disembarking at the dock, Yan Beimo rode directly to the Governor's Mansion.

The prefect of Jingzhou and a group of officials followed behind on horseback, all looking on with trepidation.

After stumbling out of the mansion gate, Zhang Lin saw a group of people coming up the steps under the moonlight.

"Your subject—Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty."

Yan Beimo glanced at Zhang Lin, who was kneeling on the ground, and smelled the alcohol on him. He suddenly smiled.

"Lord Zhang has a refined taste."

Zhang Lin's expression changed drastically as he lay prostrate on the ground. "Your subject dares not."

"Get up."

Yan Beimo's expression showed no change in emotion as he stepped into the mansion.

"Have you found them?"

Zhang Lin and the group of adults followed behind, exchanged glances, and swallowed hard.

A few days ago, Jiankang ordered a search for the Lady's whereabouts in Penglai, but the people sent out have not yet sent back any news.

"I am already doing my best to search."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Beimo suddenly turned around and kicked Zhang Lin. The moonlight reflected into his eyes, revealing his gloomy, dark eyes.

"You're living a very comfortable life as a local tyrant."

Everyone was horrified and immediately knelt on the ground.

Emperor Daqi was born into a prominent family in Yandu. He was usually gentle and rarely showed anger in public. The fierceness in his eyes could not be concealed.

"Such a good-for-nothing, who only knows how to indulge in wine and women, Lord Zhang would be better off returning to his hometown to enjoy his old age."

He spoke slowly and casually, raising his bony hands with a light touch. His entire demeanor was like that of a long-dormant beast, inspiring fear in those around him.

Zhang Lin coughed up blood from the corner of his mouth after being kicked, and upon hearing his words, he was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, trembling.

"Your Majesty, I am filled with fear and trepidation. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness."

The officials behind him also prostrated themselves on the ground, not daring to breathe.

Night Hawk watched as his usually composed lord lost his temper in public, swallowed hard, and silently prayed for the lords.

Jiankang ordered a search for the Lady's whereabouts, but the officials in Jingzhou disregarded the imperial order, indulging in drinking and merrymaking, and made no progress. It is estimated that these officials in Jingzhou will be replaced.

"I have already dispatched troops to garrison and search various cities in Penglai. I have also secretly sought out the Jianghu Secret Pavilion to find the whereabouts of the lady. However, for fear of alerting the enemy, the progress has been slow."

"But I have searched all the other capitals and have not found any trace of you. As the saying goes, the greatest hermits are hidden in the city. I suspect that you are hiding in the capital of Penglai."

The words had barely left his mouth when the light and shadows went dark, and a cold hand suddenly gripped his neck.

Zhang Lin was in pain and suddenly couldn't breathe.

The officials looked up in horror, only to hear a cracking sound as bones broke.

The person was thrown to the ground with a thud and died instantly.

They stared in horror at the unseeing eyes of their commander, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

Yan Beimo's expression remained unchanged. He slowly took the handkerchief from behind him to wipe his hands and spoke softly.

"Do you all understand the matter of sending troops to garrison various prefectures of Penglai?"

"I obey the order."

Penglai.

Chu Changning had just given birth and had been recuperating, being forced to drink all sorts of tonics every day, which made her figure quite plump.

She was not happy, but after her postpartum period, she exercised every day and received special care. Her figure recovered quickly, becoming fair, slender, and curvaceous.

“Princess, you look like you’ve never had a child.”

Looking at the beauty in the bronze mirror, Taozhi couldn't help but sigh a few times.

"However, I still think that I was more plump and feminine when I was pregnant."

Chu Changning was applying peach blossom cream to her fair neck in front of the bronze mirror when she heard this and laughed and teased.

She was only wearing a white gauze dress, and the bodice underneath could not contain her snow-white curves, which were soft and tender. The moonlight shone in from outside, making her skin appear as white as a demon.

Taozhi stood behind her, combing her hair, and couldn't help but notice the bulge in her chest. She asked in a low, hesitant voice.

"Princess, your breasts really do get bigger after giving birth. Yours are even bigger than before."

Chu Changning was taken aback and subconsciously looked down a few times.

She wasn't shy at all and said directly, "I'll have breast milk after giving birth."

Taozhi carefully tidied her hair behind her back, muttering to herself.

"None of the concubines in the palace know how to feed their own children. The poor princess is raising her child alone, and there are pursuers outside, so she can't find a wet nurse."

Upon hearing this, Chu Changning cursed Yan Beimo in his heart once again.

After she finished her skincare routine, she went to the cradle to check on the baby.

As time went by, Ayu's face became fair and tender, and her little mouth was pink and chubby, making her extremely cute.

He doesn't cry or make a fuss, and is very easy to take care of. He often kicks the blankets and plays with his fingers by himself, but every time he sees Chu Changning, he stretches out his little hands and asks her to hold him.

Those wet, dark eyes blinked as they looked at you, making you incredibly endearing.

Chu Changning grew increasingly fond of him, and would often pick him up and play with him whenever he had free time.

But she would always complain to Taozhi that the child didn't look like her.

Recently, Penglai has been in a state of panic. Xiao Yan, who was secretly doing intelligence business in his restaurant, discovered that there were many more troops in the capital.

Knowing that the princess was in confinement after childbirth, he didn't dare to disturb her. Instead, he sent his guards to investigate in secret, only to discover that all the exits from Penglai were blocked.

Upon hearing this news, Chu Changning had a bad feeling.

"Your subordinates have discovered that people from the Great Qi have also been seen in other cities of Penglai, and all the waterways leading out of Penglai have been blocked."

"Our informant reports that the emperor of Southern Liang in the Central Plains has surrendered to Great Qi. Now, the entire Southern Liang is under the control of Great Qi, and Penglai has also become Great Qi's territory."

Chu Changning stood in the courtyard, listening to his words with a furrowed brow.

Xiao Yan pursed his lips, pondered the message that had been sent back, hesitated for a moment, and then continued to speak.

"The Great Qi Emperor is Yan Beimo; the old emperor is dead."

Chu Changning was startled, his mind wandering for a moment.

"So you mean we can't stay here?"

"Not very safe."

Chu Changning stared at the sky above him, and his eyes couldn't help but sting.

To escape that madman, she faked her death and went to Penglai, where she lived a life of wandering and hardship, yet he still wouldn't let her go.

"But all the ways out of Penglai are blocked, where can we go?"

Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king.

With war raging outside and refugees everywhere, where could she run with her child?