The female official turned pale with fright and dared not respond.

"Get out," the Empress said again, pointing at the female official, "lest I kill you."

The female official left immediately, and Li Hu also wanted to take the opportunity to slip away, but the Empress called out again: "Li Hu, you don't need to leave."

Li Hu turned around and saw the Empress pick up the wine cup on the table again, fill it with imperial wine, and then hand it to Li Hu. "Drink it," he said abruptly.

“This…” Li Hu was immediately taken aback.

The Empress wouldn't casually bestow imperial wine upon her ministers, and the last person to drink imperial wine was Lin Wenzhong.

As for the consequences after drinking it, those who know, know!

“Your Majesty, I am not thirsty!” Li Hu replied, trembling all over.

"Drink it quickly! This is my order!"

So Li Hu took the wine cup with a bitter expression and drank it down. The imperial wine was bitter and astringent, so strong that it stung his eyes.

"Is this the legendary Heavenly Wave Flower Poison?" he thought bitterly. "This poison is colorless and odorless, dissolves upon contact with blood, and kills instantly upon drawing blood!"

Time seemed to freeze.

But... I don't seem to feel any discomfort! Li Hu thought to himself.

This is not poison!

He breathed a long sigh of relief.

At this moment, the Empress sat down again. "Minister Li, General Li!" she spoke again, "I placed high hopes on you, and what has become of you? How have you repaid me?"

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die!"

"Oh? A capital offense?" The Empress grinned, a half-smile playing on her lips. "What is the offense?"

"Regarding Lin Mo, it was my negligence!" Li Hu said. "I never expected that he... he would actually do that!"

"What can you do?"

Li Hu was speechless again. He hadn't expected that Li Hu would wipe out all the bandits in Shu, and even eliminate Yang Fei in the process? He was disappointed that Shu had finally achieved peace.

Such words are simply unspeakable, and should not be uttered by a general of the current dynasty.

Seeing this, the Empress spoke again: "Tell me, what should we do next?"

Li Hu pondered for a moment and said, "The border of Shu, Jianping Pass, has been attacked by local chieftains for days, and the people are suffering greatly. Since Shu has been able to wipe out tens of thousands of bandits, and is so brave, why not send the King of Shu to wipe out the local chieftains?"

If he can't do it, you can just teach him a lesson...

After saying this, Li Hu's face was full of sinister intent.