At night.

The alarm bells rang loudly in the imperial palace in the capital. All the officials, who were still half asleep, got up, dressed, and set off under the bright moonlight.

"Oh dear, Lord Li, what on earth is going on?"

"Yes, what happened?"

"I didn't know! I only rushed over after I heard the alarm bell ring!"

Several ministers met together at the gate of the Imperial Palace and asked each other questions. At that moment, Su Xu's carriage also arrived at the gate of the Imperial Palace.

"Lord Su, what on earth has happened? How could such a serious incident occur?"

Su Xu shook his head. He didn't know either. He had just arrived at the palace gate and didn't know what had happened.

"Open the palace gates."

The gatekeeper shouted loudly, and the heavy wooden door slowly opened, and the adults all walked inside.

Li Qiji and Guan Zhiyue were already sitting in the Golden Palace, which infuriated them.

——

Here in the Cold Palace.

Guan Zhiyue and Li Qiji were lying in bed chatting about some issues concerning his mother and their future development. Just as they were getting into the conversation, they heard Ji Wu's voice from the doorway, saying that he had something important to report.

Upon hearing Ji Wu's words, Li Qiji was furious. How could someone be so audacious as to commit a massacre of a village right under the emperor's nose?

Guan Zhiyue followed the conversation to the Golden Palace because she felt she had to stand up; these murderers were simply too horrible to witness.

On the throne room.

When the ministers entered, they saw the Emperor and Empress sitting angrily in the main hall, glaring at them with resentful eyes. All the ministers felt a chill run down their spines and quickly knelt down in the hall.

Soon, one after another, the ministers arrived at the main hall. Seeing that all the ministers were kneeling on the ground, they quickly knelt down as well.

After glancing at the scene, Hua Quan said to Li Qiji, "Your Majesty, all the ministers have arrived."

Li Qiji raised his eyes to look at the people kneeling in the court, his voice cold and distant, piercing and lonely, and said, "Have you all heard the alarm bell?"

The ministers answered in unison, "Yes."

"Alright, the reason I have summoned you all here is to tell you something. There is a village in our country that is two hundred kilometers away from the capital."

"The village was massacred by thugs."

These words caused an uproar. What was going on? Why was the village being massacred?

Who massacred the village!

How could the village be massacred!

These questions lingered in the ministers' minds. The military officers clenched their fists, straightened their backs, and knelt upright, saying, "Your Majesty, has it been found out who did this?"

Li Qiji said, "Japan."

"What!"

"How could this be? This shouldn't be happening!"

"My God, has Japan become so powerful? This is an offense committed right under the Emperor's nose!"

"How can this be! This won't do!"

"What a restless country! Is this something to be ashamed of?"

The ministers all started arguing, each offering their own opinion. Su Xu stood up and said with a serious expression, "Your Majesty, has this matter been investigated? Is it confirmed that it was the Japanese who spread it?"

Li Qiji nodded and said, "Yes, we have already sent people to investigate. The wounds on the deceased were from Japanese long knives. Blood flowed like a river at the scene. More than a hundred households in Darong Village were wiped out, including livestock. There was not a single survivor."

When Li Qiji said this, his hands were clenched tightly, not daring to loosen them even slightly, for fear that he might accidentally damage the palace.

"Your Majesty, let's send troops!" Guan Hongsheng knelt down and reported after hearing about the tragic situation in Darong Village. This was the last thing a soldier wanted to see. They protected the country and its people, but now the people had been slaughtered and their homes destroyed, and they, the soldiers, had not received a single piece of news. This was a disgrace!

"Yes, Your Majesty, let's send troops!"

"More than a hundred households in Darong Village should not have died like this, without any explanation!"

"Your Majesty, let's send troops to Japan! We must seek justice for the people of Da Rong Village! We must teach them a lesson!"

"emperor...."

In an instant, all the ministers volunteered to fight, to seek justice for the people of Darong Village, and to revitalize the Nanding Kingdom.

Just as everyone was talking, a loud voice came from the eunuch at the door.

"Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince has arrived."

Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look outside, only to be met with shock. Why was the Seventh Prince coming with the Empress Dowager? Something was fishy going on.

“Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the troops into battle,” Li An stepped forward, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting.

That attitude was absolutely genuine, showing no sign of reluctance whatsoever!

This puzzled Li Qiji, who looked at his imperial uncle and said, "Seventh Imperial Uncle, you should return to the borderlands as soon as possible."

Li An shook his head and said, "The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen!"

“As a prince of the Southern Kingdom, how can I stand idly by when my country is about to be invaded? How can I abandon the greater good of the nation and ignore it?”

"Your Majesty, issue the decree! Let this old minister lead the Nanding army to eradicate this Japanese country completely, so as to comfort the restless souls of the people of Nanding."

"Cut the weeds and eradicate the roots, to comfort the souls of the people of Nanding!"

"Cut the weeds and eradicate the roots, to comfort the souls of the people of Nanding!"

"Cut the weeds and eradicate the roots, to comfort the souls of the people of Nanding!"

The court was instantly filled with fervor. Guan Zhiyue looked at Li Qiji and nodded to him. Li Qiji then said, "Uncle, you should join General Guan in sending troops to punish the Japanese and avenge our people."

Li An and Guan Hongsheng quickly knelt down and accepted this sacred mission. Li Qiji then ordered all the officials from the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, and the Manufacturing Bureau to stay behind to discuss some details of the battle. Only in this way could all the Japanese be wiped out.

Since you're so heartless, then don't blame me for being ruthless too. Guan Zhiyue thought to herself, this time I really have to kill all the Japanese.

No one is innocent. If we were to make this race disappear from the world, our people would be innocent too, and they too would become victims of war.

Guan Zhiyue stood up and addressed the ministers: "Ministers who are about to go on the expedition, I have something to offer you as a sacrifice. May you return victorious soon and wipe out the Japanese without leaving a trace."

The room fell silent upon hearing this. After all, Guan Zhiyue's items were the best they had ever seen before, and their power was likely immense, which would be very advantageous for their expedition.

"In that case, please enlighten me, Your Majesty!" Li An bowed respectfully to Guan Zhiyue.

Guan Zhiyue glanced at Li Qiji and then said, "Several key ministers, please accompany the Emperor to the Imperial Study for a meeting. I will then present this method."

Li Qiji nodded, and then Hua Quan announced the end of the court session. The group then headed towards the Imperial Study.

An elderly man was lingering in the crowd, seemingly wanting to go to the harem to find a certain Japanese concubine, hoping to find out if the incident was indeed the work of the Japanese...