Jin Shu led Zhou Yinghuai to sit at the lower end of the table. On the lotus platform in front of them, a group of singers were playing the zither and dancing. Accompanied by the profusion of flowers, the music was melodious and captivating, perfectly illustrating what it meant to be dazzled by the dazzling array of flowers in the capital.

Zhou Yinghuai sat to the side, his already fair face now looking somewhat haggard.

"After today, the Great Zhou will probably find a pretext to wage war against us."

"Well, then we've achieved our goal."

Zhou Yinghuai doubted his ears and looked at Jin Shu with a puzzled expression. He never expected that Jin Shu would not only be calm but also very happy, as if she was not worried at all about provoking the superpower, Great Zhou.

"Your Majesty, do you intend to wage war against the Great Zhou?"

"We have had plans in that regard."

"The Great Zhou is powerful. The reason we lost the last war in the northern frontier was largely due to the epidemic. If we launch a war this time, the main battlefield will be in Zhou, and we will not have any advantage. Going to war will not benefit us."

The Northern Kingdom is also large, but its foundation is unstable and its military strength is not as great as that of the Great Zhou.

"Please think it over."

"How powerful is the gun you're holding?"

Zhou Yinghuai thought for a moment and answered truthfully.

"Extremely powerful. With this gun, one can easily take on a hundred enemies."

"If everyone has a gun by then, do you think we still have any hope of winning?"

"The chances are high, but it's also very risky. The Great Zhou has the advantage of having more people and advanced gunpowder technology. Even if we win, we will pay a heavy price."

Jin Shu knew.

The Great Zhou Dynasty was skilled in the use of gunpowder. Although it did not have the technology to manufacture guns, it had a rich stockpile of firearms such as cannons. The reason why it was able to sanction neighboring small countries for so many years was because it possessed a fairly advanced gunpowder technology.

Jin Shu had considered this, which is why she accepted the invitation to come to the Great Zhou Imperial Palace without hesitation.

"What are you worried about? I'm very lucky."

Putting aside strength, Jin Shu sometimes believes that the only way to defeat someone with absolute strength is through sheer luck.

Given Huangfu Rong's current listless state of mind, the Great Zhou Dynasty won't last long under his rule.

After the banquet, all the kings were helped back to rest, but Jin Shu was about to leave when Huangfu Rong stopped her.

"It's been so long, Jin Shu, let's sit down and have a good talk."

Mu Han was about to leave, but upon hearing this, he turned back without hesitation and stood beside Jin Shu.

“Jin Shu and I are old friends. Why don’t you do me the honor of catching up with her first, Your Majesty?”

Huangfu Rong was not about to let this opportunity slip by. These people were leaving tomorrow, and if he didn't achieve his goal tonight, it wouldn't be so easy to get Jin Shu into the palace again next time.

Jin Shu could tell that Mu Han was trying to get her out of a tight spot.

“We’re going back anyway, so we can have a good chat on the way back.”

Mu Han lowered his voice.

"What's there to talk about between you and him? What? Still clinging to the past? Have you forgotten how he treated you back then?"

Everyone knows that Jin Shu and Huangfu Rong were childhood sweethearts.

Now the two are on opposite sides. Jin Shu has been abandoned by Huangfu Rong. It should be a scene of enemies meeting and being extremely hostile. However, one of them seems to be completely unconcerned, while the other pretends that nothing has happened, leaving onlookers completely confused.

"Jin Shu..."

"Alright, you two are the same kind of people. It doesn't matter to me who I talk to."

Jin Shu's words left Mu Han speechless for a long time.

Finally, he gave Jin Shu a deep look, and then stuffed something into her hand.

"Give me a signal anytime if anything happens."

Jin Shu looked down and saw that it was a signal flare unique to the grasslands, whose signal could be clearly seen from hundreds of miles away.

After Mu Han left, only Jin Shu, Huangfu Rong, and a few maids serving by their side remained in the back garden.

The moonlight was so bright that even without a lamp, Huangfu Rong could clearly see Jin Shu's face.

After so long, he never realized that Jin Shu had such a gentle and delicate face.

He used to only think about escaping; after more than a decade of relationship, he had never even given her a proper look.

After putting on a show of feigned affection until the very end, even he himself couldn't explain what his true feelings for Jin Shu were anymore.

“Sending you to the northern frontier was the safest choice I could make at the time; only in this way could I save your life.”

“In the past, 70% of people who went to northern Xinjiang would die on the way, and the remaining 30% would not survive more than half a year in northern Xinjiang. Is this how you protect me?”

Jin Shu's tone was devoid of emotion; she was speaking in support of the original owner of this body.

Huangfu Rong looked slightly embarrassed.

He is now very weak. Even though it is warm in the capital, he still has to wear a thick cloak at night, and he can only drink warm wine.

“I know you blame me, but the decision to deal with you was made according to the late emperor’s will. I have just ascended the throne and can only act in accordance with the will.”

Now that you have also established your own country, I believe you can understand how I felt back then.

"Hmm, emperors are all selfish, so you kept me here just to explain what happened back then?"

Jin Shu's calm reaction left Huangfu Rong somewhat at a loss.

"I won't do anything to the North. Even if you don't believe what I'm saying now, I still have to say that I've often missed you all these years."

I made a mistake back then. I should have stood up against all odds and kept you here, but it's too late now. The only way I can make it up to you now is to establish diplomatic relations with you.

From this day forward, I will never harm the Northern Kingdom, no matter what. You can rely on the Great Zhou for eternal peace. This is my promise to you as the Emperor of the Great Zhou.

Jin Shu took a sip of wine and smiled.

"Are you done talking?"

"Um."

"Now that you've finished speaking, it's my turn to speak. I've come here today to tell you that when I survived the Northern Frontier, I secretly made a vow to myself: to return here and stay forever."

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Rong's face lit up with undisguised joy.

"You can stay anytime you want, and stay as long as you want. We can be together forever, just like we used to be."

Jin Shu stood up and smiled slightly at him.

"Don't worry, I will stay in my own way."

Huangfu Rong was a little confused, but he quickly took it as Jin Shu saying something in a fit of pique.

This made him feel much more at ease.

This proves that Jin Shu still has feelings for him, whether it's love or hate. As long as she wants to come back here, they still have a chance to go back to the way things were.

After becoming emperor, he missed the old days, which were easy and carefree. He only needed to make Jin Shu happy every day. Most importantly, he was strong and resilient back then.

He was fed up with his current sickly appearance.

Jin Shu got up and left, her gaze sweeping over everything around her.

The original owner grew up playing here and had a deep emotional connection with the place, so Jin Shu wanted to preserve everything in front of her and give it to the original owner alone.