"Your Highness!" Tang Fu wanted to say something more.

But Feng Lingxu raised his hand to stop him: "There's no need to say anything, you should just rest!"

The most important thing right now is to find out what kind of drug the other party used, whether it is fatal, and to quickly develop an antidote.

"Your Highness! What should we do next?" They can't afford to wait for this battle.

"It's alright. Even if City Island is occupied, we still have Qingxuan City! With such a big commotion on City Island, Qingxuan City will surely receive the news soon. In the meantime, let's conserve our strength and wait for the right opportunity to act."

Qingxuan City is one of the most important military fortresses in the East China Sea. Even if the island is occupied, it is only a matter of time before Qingxuan City sends troops to retake it.

Now, what they need to do is to slow down the advance of the Jin army.

After saying that, Feng Lingru got up and headed to the military medical camp.

The imagination is beautiful, but the reality is harsh.

June 21st, Qingxuan City, Xiaoyao Tower, Main Building.

The main building is magnificent and grand, far surpassing the other auxiliary buildings.

On the top floor of the main building, Yu Nanqing, dressed in white brocade robes and with her black hair tied up in a crown, was holding an unknown book and reading it with great interest in front of the openwork carved French windows.

The sunlight outside shone on him, making him seem to glow.

Just as he was enjoying himself, a voice came from outside the door reporting: "Lord Qin, Chengdao has sent another distress signal. Should we send troops to reinforce him immediately?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Nanqing closed the book in her hand with a soft "snap".

With a single step, his large, well-defined hand drooped slightly and suddenly rested on a thick shoulder.

Inside the large room, there was another person sitting.

On the exquisitely carved bench, a fat, middle-aged man shuddered violently at Yu Nanqing's sudden movement.

He then composed himself before speaking: "No need. With an army of 300,000 under your command, how could Your Highness be defeated by mere bandits? The Great Jin's naval warfare is far inferior to ours. There's no need to pay them any mind!"

Upon hearing this, the person outside the door said "Yes" and withdrew.

The two sides of Da Jin and Dong Hai have been locked in a stalemate for a long time, and the distress signals from Chengdao have been sent more than once or twice. However, Yu Nanqing has long blocked Qingxuan City's reinforcements.

Qingxuan City's military strength is indeed considerable, but they all obey one person: the Lord of Xiaoyao Tower.

The seemingly mysterious master of Xiaoyao Tower is actually just an inner court official sent by the East Sea court, directly under the jurisdiction of the East Sea monarch. Everything that happens in Xiaoyao Tower, or any news obtained, goes directly to the East Sea monarch's ears.

Yu Nanqing went to great lengths to control this Lord Qin.

Of course, besides him, there were also a group of deputies in Xiaoyao Tower.

Hearing his words, Yu Nanqing patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"I've already done as you instructed. When are you going to let my two sons go?"

The owner of Xiaoyao Tower is surnamed Qin and named Qin Yandong. He is an inner court official of the Donghai Dynasty, directly under the Donghai King.

As a direct subordinate, his power in Qingxuan City is self-evident.

However, despite his great power, he has a problem: difficulty conceiving.

Now over thirty-five, he just had his twin sons born, who are still infants, not even a year old yet, and Qin Yandong cherishes them dearly.

However, he didn't expect that before he could be happy for long, Yu Nanqing would seize his lifeline.

He not only controlled his two sons, but also Qin Yandong's other family members, wife and daughters, parents, and thousands of other people.

Originally, Qin Yandong was not going to back down so quickly, until Yu Nanqing blew up one of his annex buildings, which was full of people who held important positions in the imperial court.

Meanwhile, a similar accident occurred at the home of his two sons, which frightened him.

"If you behave, I guarantee your family's safety." Yu Nanqing uttered only a few words.

The basement of Xiaoyao Tower is stockpiled with all the weapons needed for the entire Qingxuan City, enough to support tens of thousands of people in battle.

Yu Nanqing was extremely craving those things, and he didn't want to blow up such good stuff unless absolutely necessary.

Therefore, apart from Qin Yandong, Yu Nanqing immediately took control of the commander of the Qingxuan City army, the officials of the governor's office, and other local officials.

Because they brought only a small number of men, they could not act rashly in Qingxuan City, otherwise it would be like throwing an egg against a rock. Everything had to be done in secret.

"Report!" Suddenly, another report came from outside the door.

Qin Yandong's heart pounded, hoping it wasn't some important news.

However, things did not go as planned. A messenger outside reported, "The military provisions sent by the imperial court to the border have arrived. Please review the official documents from the court, Lord Qin."

It’s over! It’s over!

Qin Yandong was extremely anxious. With the city island occupied, if he had detained this batch of military rations and waited for the right opportunity, he could have delivered it to His Highness. But now…

Yu Nanqing stared sharply at the top of Qin Yandong's head. Qin Yandong felt a chill run down his spine and clenched his fists in his sleeves. "The war is urgent. I won't look at the documents. Let him pass."

Yu Nanqing was not unaware of his little schemes, but it didn't matter, as long as the order was issued.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, three long knocks followed by two short knocks—a coded signal.

Yu Nanqing glanced at Qin Yandong, who swallowed hard and said, "Come in."

A woman with brownish-yellow hair and an exotic appearance entered carrying a meal: "Young master, it's lunchtime."

The woman wasn't particularly striking in appearance, but her face was memorable. Her eyes were a very light reddish-brown, clearly indicating that she was a genuine local.

She looked up at Yu Nanqing, but Yu Nanqing didn't even glance at her: "Get down."

The woman didn't dare to be negligent and lowered her eyes, replying, "Yes."

Reaching the door, he hesitated again: "Young master... when will I be able to see my father?"

She was the daughter of the caravan leader, not yet twenty years old, who was sold to Xiaoyao Tower because she was involved in a human trafficking operation.

The human trade here is not the slave trade as commonly known.

When the caravan leader found out, he felt like the sky had fallen. He tried everything he could and pulled many strings, but he still couldn't get her out of Xiaoyao Tower.

Xiaoyao Tower is the most powerful place in Qingxuan City, but it is also the most unreasonable.

It can be described as a gathering place for merchants, but it can also be described as a place of extravagance and corruption for high-ranking officials and nobles.

Of course, only those who have experienced it can know these inside stories.

Meeting Yu Nanqing was also by chance. Merchants are profit-driven, and as long as there is profit to be made, everything is negotiable. In addition, the caravan leader regarded his daughter as the apple of his eye, and in his eagerness to save his daughter, he agreed to let Yu Nanqing take him into Qingxuan City.

But that's all. After he's taken to Xiaoyao Tower, what happens in Qingxuan City is none of the caravan's business.