Changxin Hall.

The incense burning inside the hall could not mask the strong, bitter smell of medicine.

When Night Hawk entered, he saw a slender figure in white sitting quietly on a soft pillow on the couch by the window. The cool moonlight shone through the windowpane, illuminating the pale face, making it appear cold and hazy.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

The hall was quiet, and the figures overhead made no sound.

He paused, then carried the tray over and respectfully placed the gilded porcelain bowl on the couch.

"Your Majesty, the imperial physician has prepared the herbal medicine."

Yan Beimo looked at the soup bowl and said calmly, "How long have I been awake?"

"Half an hour."

"Is the Xin Palace really that big?"

The nighthawk lowered its head, "---"

Although the Cold Palace is far from here, it's only a half-hour walk away.

"From the time I fell into a coma until I woke up, he never asked me a single question, nor did he even glance at me."

His hoarse, low voice betrayed no change in emotion.

Night Hawk's lips moved, but he didn't know what to say, so he could only look down at the tips of his shoes.

The surroundings were silent; the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The small couch was near the round window. From where Yan Beimo sat, he could see the bright moon rising above the imperial eaves.

He looked at it carefully for a few moments, then suddenly said, "Tomorrow is the ceremony for the empress's coronation."

Nighthawk, "---"

He glanced at His Majesty's pale profile and offered a reminder.

"Your Majesty, the medicine has gone cold."

Those three bone-breaking nails, I wonder if His Majesty used internal force to pierce them, caused extremely serious injuries. He was unconscious for so long, and as soon as he woke up, he sat on the small couch to admire the moon. Even an iron body couldn't withstand that.

"Your Majesty~"

Yan Beimo seemed not to hear, staring blankly at the moon outside the window.

Seeing this, Night Hawk bowed and retreated out of the hall.

The war in the north was intense, with various states fighting each other. Northern Liang, backed by the Western Regions, was locked in a fierce battle with Northern Capital. However, when Li Bei sent troops to Northern Liang, the situation instantly turned around.

Ashletur colluded with the governor of Ji Province and led troops to kill Yan Beimo, but was outmaneuvered and fled back to Liang Palace wounded.

Helian Ye had just returned from Northern Yan when he heard the news.

He was dressed in a striking red outfit, riding a Red Hare, with his hair tied up in a high braid and golden earrings. The fierce, cold wind blew across his devilish face, making him look unruly and arrogant.

Ashletur sat in the hall, with a large crowd standing below. Everyone knelt down when they saw the newcomer.

"Greetings, young master."

Helian Ye strode into the palace, saw Ashiletuer's pale face, and grinned wickedly.

"In this battle, the Little Khan not only lost Yuancheng, but also had all his troops retreat to the Beiling area. It would be better to retreat directly to Mohe in the south of the Gobi Desert, and there would be no need to attack the Central Plains."

Ashletur was already annoyed by Yan Beimo's trickery, and this public taunt only fueled his rage.

"That treacherous Yan Beimo is truly cunning; Jizhou is not one of our people at all—"

"Alright." Helian Ye didn't want to hear his rebuttal and said bluntly, "Once Beiliang is destroyed and the north is unified, Mo Nan might as well go back to the royal court."

Ashletur was humiliated in this way, his face turned pale, and he remained silent.

"Who exactly is leading the troops in the Northern Capital, and where have they fought to?"

Someone stepped forward and respectfully greeted them.

"The commander of the Northern Capital was Li Mang, a close advisor of the Northern Emperor. His offensive was extremely fierce, and he crossed the Canglang River all the way to Yanzhou."

"Back in Northern Yan, I heard that this Northern Emperor was on good terms with Li Bei. According to the military tactics of the Central Plains, this is called 'using someone else's knife to kill someone else'?" Helian Ye raised his eyelids slightly. "Why would the Northern Emperor be willing to be someone else's knife?"

"Young Master is probably overthinking things. The Central Plains are divided between the North and South. The Northern Emperor is using the power of the North to unify the North. It's hard to say who will be the one to use force."

In the past, Helian Ye might have believed it, but he had clashed with Yan Beimo in the Central Plains many times. Given that man's cunning and treacherous nature, how could he possibly do the work for someone else?

"Someone once told me that the young masters of noble families in the Central Plains are the most cunning. If you don't believe me, you can go all out and try your luck. You might even get your home base attacked."

Ashletur's face darkened as he recalled the scene of his humiliating escape back to the Northern Ridge, and he fell silent.

Helian Ye didn't have time to deal with him. He had gone to Northern Yan and was busy with many things. He couldn't hold a grudge and had to deal with the affairs of Northern Liang first.

Ashletur was furious. His younger sister had been massacred in Luzhou after coming to the Central Plains, and he had been tricked by Yan Beimo and fled back to Liang Palace in a sorry state. He would never rest until he avenged this.

After he finished discussing the matter, he stopped Helian Ye from leaving.

"I heard that the Great Qi Emperor has a son, but he is in the Jiankang Palace and we cannot interfere. However, my men say that he has a woman who has come to the North."

A beautiful image flashed through Helian Ye's mind in an instant. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Speak your mind."

"When it comes to war, how can everything be perfect? ​​There's always an opportunity to be found."

"as you like."

After Helian Ye finished speaking, he got up and walked outside.

After he left the main hall, he saw a blond, blue-eyed man waiting outside.

"Young Master, we've found it."

"explain."

The man's name was Wu Ji, and he was a general who fought alongside Helian Ye.

"Our medicine was intercepted in Libei and was supposedly sent back to Jiankang. As for whether that young lady took it, I don't know."

"However, I heard that the Emperor of Great Qi is seriously injured."

"Oh?" Helian Ye chuckled sarcastically. "What happened?"

Wu Ji said, "I only heard that she was seriously injured and unconscious for several days, and that the girl was imprisoned in the Cold Palace."

"The Cold Palace?!"

Helian Ye narrowed his glassy eyes, looking at the brightly lit palace, and touched the snake bracelet on his wrist.

"That's really interesting."

With the deposed empress out of favor, the powerful families were all eager to make their move. The grand singing and dancing in the front hall were all a pretext for sending women into the emperor's harem.

But His Majesty was nowhere to be seen in the high hall.

When He Xing arrived, he saw a tall, elegant man in a white robe standing under the moonlight in the octagonal pavilion. The hazy moonlight enveloped the surroundings, and his profile was faintly visible, like a halo around a clear moon, exuding a noble and aloof air.

He bowed and walked over, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

The lights under the eaves flickered, and the man's expression was indifferent and calm.

He Xingdao said, "The governor of Jizhou is dead, and officials and civilians in the Beiling area have revolted. General Li Mang is advancing directly towards Beiliang. Should I withdraw my troops to appease the people of Jizhou?"

"Continue the attack. Once we capture Yuancheng, we will head north to attack Yanzhou."

"Is the Northern Yan going to withdraw its troops? If the Northern Emperor finds out, he might distance himself from us."

Yan Bei Mo said calmly, "No need. Just send a letter to the King of Mo Bei, and say that the Western Regions are sending reinforcements to Northern Yan."

He Xing paused, then immediately replied respectfully, "Yes."

"Notify Qilin to go to Jizhou and incorporate those 30,000 troops into the north. Also, tell Yan Lingchen that if there is a next time, he will lose his head."

Yan Lingchen is the second son of the third branch of the Yan family. He has always served in the northern region. After Yan Beimo ascended the throne, he hid in his fiefdom and lived a carefree life, doing many foolish things. He cannot escape responsibility for the incident in Jizhou this time.

“Yes.” He Xing said, then took out a letter and presented it, “This is a letter from Beidu.”

Since Shen Yan conquered Northern Yan and Western Liang, the situation in the entire north has changed dramatically.

“Yuwen Yong had close ties with the young master of the Western Regions. This time, after returning from Northern Yan, the Liang Emperor met with Helian Ye.”

Yan Beimo calmly opened the secret letter and sneered.

"Yuwen Yong!"

"The Yuwen family of Beiliang has produced a devoted lover."

He threw the letter into the brazier, indifferent.

"Send assassins to kill him."

He Xing lowered his eyes and said, "Yes."