Chen Zhennan tiptoed through the lush garden, carefully avoiding the patrolling guards, and arrived at the deepest part of the inner palace.

Before her stood a magnificent yet elegant courtyard, once Wu Yunyin's residence, now a prison where she was held captive.

To Chen Zhennan's surprise, there were no guards at the courtyard entrance. After looking around and confirming that no one was around, he swiftly jumped over the courtyard wall and landed silently inside.

The courtyard was quiet, and the moonlight shone on every leaf, shimmering with silver light, adding a touch of melancholy and mystery.

Wu Yunyin sat alone in the center of the pavilion, seemingly isolated from the world, her face filled with deep loneliness and helplessness.

Chen Zhennan sneered. There must be something hateful about a pitiful person. Wu Yunyin, you are truly ridiculous and deserve your punishment.

Chen Zhennan appeared like a ghost, his steps light and silent.

"Chen Zhennan! You...you?"

Wu Yunyin's voice trembled, and her fingers turned white from clenching her fists.

"Oh, isn't this our Great Wu's Empress? What, even in such dire straits, you still have the mood to admire the moon?"

Wu Yunyin suppressed her anger, glanced at Chen Zhennan indifferently, and said coldly, "Chen Zhennan, what brings you here so late at night? It seems you know about Song Xuan's ascension to the throne. Aren't you afraid he'll kill you?"

Chen Zhennan approached Wu Yunyin, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Me? I just came to see what that once arrogant empress looks like now. Haha, I must say, it's quite interesting."

Wu Yunyin's face grew increasingly gloomy, but she tried her best to remain calm, managing to force a smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Oh? Is that so? You certainly have a lot of leisure time. But you risked your life to see me, surely not just to mock me?"

A hint of hatred flashed in Chen Zhennan's eyes as he slowly turned and sat down opposite Wu Yunyin.

"You guessed right, I'm not just here to mock you. Do you remember how you slaughtered my 300,000-strong army? That was my life's pride, and you destroyed it all!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin trembled slightly, her face turning as pale as paper.

"You've come to kill me?"

Chen Zhennan shook his head without hesitation, slowly picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

"Killing you would only benefit that bastard Song Xuan. Why would I do that?"

Wu Yunyin frowned slightly and couldn't help but ask, "Then what exactly do you want? If you don't kill me, how will you get revenge?"

Chen Zhennan found it strange; Wu Yunyin's attitude clearly indicated that she was asking for death.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhennan couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

"I have a question for you. When you framed me, was it because you were jealous of me, or because you were afraid of me?"

Jealousy? Fear?

Wu Yunyin lowered her head and pondered for a moment, and slowly came to an answer in her heart.

"To be honest, I have both. You, Chen Zhennan, wield immense power, but what about me? As the Empress of the Great Wu, I have absolutely no real power. I'm afraid. I'm afraid that one day you will usurp the throne, I'm afraid you will leave me, I'm afraid you..."

"So you regret it now? Yes, I wielded immense power, but look at the Great Wu now, it's Song Xuan's domain. Wu Yunyin, do you want Song Xuan dead?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin felt a surge of excitement, stood up abruptly, and began to breathe rapidly.

"Chen Zhennan, what do you mean? You're willing to help me? You're still willing to help me?"

Chen Zhennan's lips curled up slightly, and a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes.

"I can help you, but you must show sincerity. Jiang Wenyu is already under house arrest. Let's join forces and plan a great undertaking. You will be in charge of Da Wu, and I will control Da Yan. What do you think?"

Wu Yunyin seemed to see a glimmer of hope and reached out to take Chen Zhennan's hand, but Chen Zhennan dodged her.

"What sincerity do you want? What do I have to offer? As long as you help me get back Da Wu, I will be your woman, and the whole world will know that you are my man, Wu Yunyin's man!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhennan couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

"You're willing to be my woman to get back Da Wu? But that doesn't appeal to me. There are plenty of beautiful women out there. What other assets do you have?"

Wu Yunyin's face turned pale instantly, her lips pressed tightly together, and a flash of anger appeared in her eyes.

"Chen Zhennan, are you humiliating me?"

"Humiliation? No, Wu Yunyin, I'm just telling you the rules of this world. If you want to take back the Great Wu, you must pay the price."

Wu Yunyin clenched her fists, staring intently at Chen Zhennan.

What do you want?

Wu Yunyin frowned. Although she was now the nominal emperor emeritus, she had no real power and no capital, and had no idea what Chen Zhennan wanted.

“I can help you reclaim the throne, but there is only one condition: you must cede the thirteen states of the Customs District, including Tianyang Pass. This is my bottom line; I ask for nothing more.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin's expression changed drastically, and she questioned, "Chen Zhennan, you are taking advantage of my misfortune! You actually want me to cede thirteen states of the Customs District, how is this any different from treason?"

Chen Zhennan scoffed dismissively, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Wu Yunyin, don't forget, you're no longer an emperor. What right do you have to negotiate with me?"

Seeing Chen Zhennan's resolute attitude, Wu Yunyin was caught in an unprecedented dilemma and struggle.

She was once the emperor of this empire, a figure above all others, but now she has fallen to such a state, mocked by her former enemies.

She was filled with resentment; she hated her own incompetence and even more so Chen Zhennan's cold-heartedness.

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