The Imperial Study is now the most forbidden area in the palace.

Inside the room were four experts at the second rank, while the outer perimeter was guarded by several new defensive lines personally arranged by the newly appointed deputy commander, Yin Zhe, making it virtually impenetrable.

With numerous sentries, both visible and hidden, and all guards having undergone the most rigorous screening, safety should be assured.

Besides the main hall used for handling government affairs, the Imperial Study also has a warm pavilion next door, which His Majesty can use for a short rest when he is tired from reviewing memorials.

At this time, beds and soft couches were moved in, and for some time to come, all the imperial heirs would reside here temporarily.

They no longer cared about the custom of separate rooms for men and women, and simply used a screen to separate them.

During this special period, we'll just have to make do with what we have.

When lunchtime arrived, the head chef of the imperial kitchen turned pale and trembled as he plated the dishes.

He had served in the palace his entire life, and this was the first time he had ever faced such immense pressure.

Working under the cold, watchful eyes of the Xuanji Guards the entire time, the fact that they were able to serve the food smoothly already shows their exceptional mental fortitude.

The meals underwent two strict procedures: first, palace servants tested them for poison, and then special personnel from the Xuanji Guard inspected them.

Only after confirming that everything was correct was she carefully escorted into the Imperial Study.

"Dinner's ready! We're all starving!"

In the Imperial Study, this was the most enthusiastic voice, and it was obvious who it belonged to.

This brings us to Qin Zhaoyue's second well-known and prominent characteristic—her gluttony.

There was no time to worry about rules and etiquette; the meals were served directly to each person in individual portions.

A Xuanji Guard carefully placed a small table beside Qin Zhaoyue. She glanced at the dishes and pursed her lips:

"Tsk, there aren't many dishes... Why isn't there any wine?"

"After such a fright, shouldn't you have some drinks to calm your nerves?"

"Oh my goodness! My little darling!" Eunuch Su Quan almost jumped up.

"You should tone it down a bit!"

Once Your Majesty is fully recovered, I will prepare whatever you wish to drink.

Absolutely not now. Let this old servant serve you your meal.

"Oh, now you know how to be obsequious? You weren't like this when you were ripping me off."

"Your Highness desires nothing more than the stars in the sky; this old servant will find a way to pluck them for you..." Su Quan was almost in tears.

"Tsk, old man, still quite loyal." Qin Zhaoyue muttered, and finally picked up her chopsticks.

Despite being in a critical and oppressive situation, she was still able to maintain this almost carefree composure.

Princess Qin Zhaowan watched from the side, feeling ashamed of her own inferiority.

She secretly imagined what would have happened if her sixth sister hadn't been here to oversee things...

The consequences would be unimaginable!

She put down the memorial in her hand, unable to hold back any longer, and asked:

"Sixth Sister, how confident are you in saving Mother Empress?"

Qin Zhaoyue popped a piece of bamboo shoot into her mouth and said, though her words were muffled, she was certain:

"As long as the country is peaceful and the people are safe, there shouldn't be any major problems."

My older sister was seriously injured during disaster relief efforts, and I was the one who pulled her back from the brink of death.

Everyone in the Imperial Study breathed a sigh of relief to varying degrees.

Despite being the most unreliable and eccentric one, he suddenly became everyone's pillar of support, their greatest comfort and reliance.

...

As night fell, like a giant, dark velvet blanket, it slowly covered the war-torn Zhenbeiguan Pass.

In the northern regions during the White Dew season, the autumn wind already carries a biting chill.

It sobbed as it swept past the dilapidated gate, kicking up clouds of dust that smelled of burnt earth and blood.

Both countries sounded the retreat, but the desolate bugle call echoing across the wilderness could not take away the devastation and the heavy sorrow that permeated the air.

Inside the barbican, the scene was one of utter desolation after the calamity.

Amidst the ruins, the flames had not yet been completely extinguished; orange-red tongues of fire licked at the charred wood, emitting a crackling sound.

The survivors, like terrified moles, cautiously crawled out from cellars, dilapidated houses, and even piles of corpses, their faces a mixture of fear, bewilderment, and numbness at losing everything.

From beneath the ruins and rubble, faint groans and desperate cries could be heard from time to time.

"My son... my son! Where are you..."

The old woman's hair was disheveled, and her ten fingers were covered in blood.

They were still digging in vain at a completely collapsed mud house, and their hoarse cries drifted in the night wind, heartbreaking to hear.

Squads of Xuanwu Army soldiers moved silently through the crowd, their faces weary and solemn, collecting the corpses of their comrades and enemies.

They picked up those broken and cold remains one by one and arranged them neatly, as if performing a silent farewell ceremony.

Qin Zhaoqiong rode slowly across this land soaked in blood.

She was no longer the elegant woman she once was; her armor was stained with ash and dark bloodstains, and her face was ashen.

Only his phoenix eyes, though smoky and grime-covered, still shone brightly, concealing an unspeakable heaviness and sorrow within.

Behind them followed the remnants of the Phoenix Feather Camp, who had survived the ordeal.

Liu Yan remained by her side like her most loyal shadow, but deep weariness was evident between his brows, and the back of his hand holding the reins was hastily bandaged and oozing blood.

Of the two thousand light cavalry who set out on the expedition, fewer than a hundred can still sit upright on their horses.

Many of the warhorses were also injured, and almost every cavalryman was bruised.

Bloodstains soaked through his uniform, and the silence suppressed immense pain.

"General!"

"General!"

The soldiers she encountered along the way, regardless of which unit they belonged to, all spontaneously stopped what they were doing when they saw her approaching.

Standing solemnly, addressing her in a low and respectful tone, no one addressed her as "Your Highness" or "Prince Chen" anymore.

After that day, in this pass forged in blood, the title of "General" was the highest recognition given to her by the soldiers of the North.

A newly formed military camp, mostly composed of women, charged into the left flank of the Shuofeng army with a do-or-die attitude during this national war.

At the cost of near total annihilation, they forcefully tore open a breach, accurately located the enemy's central command, and pointed out the direction of destruction for the Shence Xuanjia Heavy Cavalry that would decide the course of the battle.

Two thousand went, and a hundred returned; the cost was devastating beyond measure.

But the backbone of the Phoenix Feather Camp was truly forged in blood and fire, standing firm amidst the mountains of corpses and seas of blood!