Although he wore a smile, his deep, cold eyes resembled those of a wolf from a snow-capped mountain abyss, chilling and bone-chilling.

Dressed in a white robe with a black mink coat over it, he stood there, clearly a gentle and polite young nobleman from a prestigious family, yet he sent chills down one's spine.

Ashileyan retreated, glanced at the surrounded suspension bridge, and, holding Chu Changning hostage, peered down into the treacherous river.

Chu Changning's body was instantly lifted into the air, her long black hair cascading over the suspension bridge. A surging, damp chill, accompanied by a cold wind, swept over her entire body, blowing up her light green dress as if it were about to devour her.

She could even feel the chill of the river water lapping against her back.

Yan Beimo glanced at him, his expression remaining calm and unchanged.

"Lord Yan is joking. We in Mo Nan have always been on good terms with Li Bei and have no desire to be enemies with you, Lord Yan."

Ashileyan looked over, his eyes and brows carrying a hint of provocative schadenfreude.

"I've only heard that Marquis Yan has taken over Beiyou. I wonder if Marquis Yan would be willing to exchange seven cities of Youzhou for your wife and children?"

The seven cities of Youzhou occupy most of the land in northern Youzhou, spanning the Tumo River. Taking these seven cities is equivalent to controlling half of northern Youzhou's territory.

Yan Beimo chuckled. "Are you trying to negotiate with me?"

Ashileyan couldn't fathom his thoughts and raised an eyebrow.

"What, does Marquis Yan think that the Lady is not as good as the seven cities?"

The blade sliced ​​through, leaving a faint bloodstain on Chu Changning's neck.

Yan Beimo remained calm and composed, his expression utterly undisturbed.

Chu Changning's face turned deathly pale with pain. When she saw his indifferent gaze, she looked away and glanced at the surging river beneath her.

"What has Marquis Yan decided?"

A biting north wind was blowing, and the temperature around was frighteningly low.

Yan Beimo glanced at the blade pressed against Chu Changning's neck, then slowly walked towards them, speaking softly.

"Let alone the seven cities of Youzhou, even if the princess wanted the entire Northern You, I would gladly offer it up."

A biting wind howled, a fleeting shadow flashed by, and a sinister voice carried on the cold wind reached my ears.

"It all depends on whether you're lucky enough to get it."

Suddenly, black mist swept in front of him, and the hand holding the knife snapped off with a crack, the hilt falling to the ground.

A sharp pain shot through my heart.

Ashileyan stared wide-eyed in disbelief, blood gushing from the corner of his mouth.

This happened so fast, almost in the blink of an eye, that no one had time to react.

"Princess."

The high priest, his eyes bloodshot with rage, roared, and the troops of Mo Nan swiftly regained their senses and attacked.

Those who came from the north drew their knives and blocked their way, leading to a fierce and chaotic battle.

In the blink of an eye, the entire suspension bridge was filled with the glint of swords and the flow of blood.

Ashileyan's eyes were bloodshot. With his last breath, he stabbed Chu Changning, who was hanging on the iron chain, in the heart with his knife.

But Yan Beimo was too fast. He flashed over and kicked her in the stomach.

Ashileyan suddenly felt a sharp pain as he was lifted up and pinned to thick chains, with half of his body protruding into the river.

Yan Beimo gripped her neck and smiled gently.

"Remember, the dead are not in a position to negotiate."

As soon as Chu Changning was released, he covered the wound on his neck and straightened up.

She glanced at the sinister-looking man not far away, and a chill ran down her spine.

If he had been even a fraction slower, Ashleyan's knife would have slashed her carotid artery.

He didn't consider whether she would die when he made his move.

A murderous intent suddenly surged from behind.

Chu Changning casually picked up the knife from the ground and slashed back.

The air currents mixed with internal force forced her to retreat repeatedly, her strength was draining away, and the throbbing pain made her break out in a cold sweat.

Yan Beimo glanced sideways, and a hidden weapon flew out with a whoosh, piercing into the High Priest's flesh.

The high priest winced in pain, shook off Chu Changning, and stared intently at Yan Beimo with bloodshot, terrifying eyes like those of a skull.

"You killed my princess of Mo Nan, you will pay with your life."

Yan Beimo said gently, "Come."

The battle swept across the land, leaving corpses strewn everywhere along the Yunlan River.

A guard attacked from behind, but Chu Changning noticed it and made no attempt to dodge.

She glanced at the surging river below, slipped, and fell instantly off the bridge.

"lady---"

Upon hearing the shout, Yan Beimo turned his head and saw the figure in light green falling. His expression changed, and he moved as swiftly as a ghost.

But the speed of the fall was too fast. In a daze, he grabbed the hem of his skirt that had slipped from his hand and jumped down, plunging into the boundless sea of ​​clouds.

"My lord!"

The night hawk was startled and swooped down to the side of the suspension bridge, where the thick fog was like a bottomless sea of ​​clouds.

All the men of the Northern Army, their faces pale, gathered around. Without any orders, they climbed up the cliffs on both sides, hooked onto the cliffs, and began searching for the person at the bottom of the mountain.

Countless soldiers from the north emerged from the dense forest, their crimson blood almost staining the wide bridge red; blood and corpses were everywhere.

The Nine Provinces were in turmoil, and news of Princess Mo Nan's death in Luzhou quickly spread.

Tens of thousands of iron cavalry from the southern desert attacked Luzhou City, and the princess of a nation died there, shocking the world.

Soon, news of the massacre of tens of thousands of soldiers from the southern desert beneath the Yunlan River suspension bridge spread throughout the entire Nine Provinces.

What is even more shocking is that Lady Yan fell into the river and disappeared on the 16th, her fate unknown.

As soon as this news came out, all sorts of rumors appeared. Some said that after the defeat at Luzhou, Lady Yan, who was hiding in Luzhou City, was chased by the troops from Mo Nan while fleeing for her life and her whereabouts were unknown.

The Marquis of Yan was furious. Disregarding the ceasefire between the two countries, he directly slaughtered all the soldiers who were lying in ambush at the foot of Mount Monan and also killed the Princess of Monan.

Blood stained the entire Yunlan River red.

Rumors spread like wildfire throughout the land, and when the news reached the capital, the court was filled with unease.

The southern regions of Mongolia are frequently at war with the Central Plains. The Marquis of Yan of the Great Jin Dynasty disregarded the interests of both countries and privately killed the princess of Mongolia. Mongolia must be furious and will definitely send troops to the border, making the border unrest difficult to quell.

But how could those who obeyed powerful families tolerate such humiliation?

Lady Yan was besieged in Luzhou City, but the imperial army never came to her aid. Now she has fallen into the river and her fate is unknown. Even if we kill her, what difference will it make to Princess Monan?

Besides, they were from an enemy country to begin with; killing her would be a blessing for the Great Jin.

"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Marquis of Yan has also gone missing. The most urgent task for the court is to stabilize the powerful families in Yandu and send people to appease the generals of Chaoge in the north. We should only appease them and not put pressure on them, lest it backfire."

"I second that opinion. Although aristocratic families have never interfered in politics, the Marquis of Yan is now missing. If we were to punish him, he might harbor rebellious intentions."

"I also agree. The most urgent task is for Your Majesty to send someone to Yandu to appease the powerful families and prevent any unrest."

In the high hall, Shen Yan held the memorial presented to him, his expression unreadable.

At this moment, an old minister angrily stepped forward to refute him.

"Although this aristocratic family never interferes in politics, I have heard that the Marquis of Yan won a great victory in Beiyou, captured Youdu, and even killed the You Emperor. Does he even take His Majesty seriously?"

"Beiyou was originally lost territory recovered by the imperial court, but the Marquis of Yan, with his military power, attacked Beiyou without authorization and stationed troops there. What about the imperial court?"

Shen Yan listened to the commotion below, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Enough. Convey my decree: dispatch a senior general from the border to Luzhou to accompany the army in searching for the missing person."