Inside the magnificent palace, the morning light, filtering through the heavy curtains, barely managed to squeeze into a corner of the court, but it could not dispel the gloom that permeated the place.

Wu Yunyin sat upright on the dragon throne, her face as pale as paper, her eyes flashing with anger and resentment.

She gripped the handrails tightly with both hands, her nails almost digging into the wood grain, her heart churning violently.

"Song Xuan, that treacherous scoundrel! I have treated him well, yet he repays kindness with enmity!"

She never expected that Chen Zhennan's words were true, and that Song Xuan was actually going to rebel.

Although Song Xuan has not yet launched an attack on the capital, the siege of the city is already as solid as an iron barrel.

Her rebuke went unanswered. The court was silent. The officials either bowed their heads in silence or looked worried and fearful. No one dared to speak at this critical juncture, for fear of getting into trouble.

"Your Majesty, Song Xuan has refused to enter the city, claiming that he will stay outside to protect the safety of the capital."

The ministers in the court looked at each other in dismay; they had not expected the situation to develop to this point.

An old minister mustered his courage, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the current situation is critical. Song Xuan's army has besieged the city, and it may not be resolved in a day. I believe that perhaps..."

Before the old minister could finish speaking, Wu Yunyin slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, interrupting him, a resolute glint in her eyes.

"Am I really going to hand over this vast empire? How can the foundation laid by my ancestors of the Great Wu Dynasty be so easily handed over to others!"

However, as soon as Wu Yunyin finished speaking, a murmur arose in the court. Many ministers began to whisper and discuss among themselves, clearly disagreeing with Wu Yunyin's firm stance.

"Your Majesty, for the sake of the stability of the Great Wu, perhaps you should consider abdicating the throne to Song Xuan." An old minister's voice carried a hint of helplessness.

"Your Majesty, if Song Xuan becomes emperor, perhaps more bloodshed can be avoided."

"Your Majesty, you should personally leave the city and resolve the issue face-to-face with Song Xuan."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin swayed slightly. She knew that she was alone and helpless at this moment, but her pride and unwillingness made it difficult for her to accept her fate.

I am the Empress of the Great Wu, the master of this land. How can I easily relinquish my kingdom? But... but faced with such a desperate situation, what should I do?

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the court, and a guard rushed in, holding an urgent military report in his hand.

The guard, still catching his breath, said urgently, "Your Majesty, Song Xuan's army is showing signs of unusual activity, seemingly intending to force the palace!"

These words caused an uproar in the court. The officials looked at each other in bewilderment, and many began to whisper about how to escape. The court was in complete disarray.

"So this is Song Xuan! I don't even put Chen Zhennan in my eyes. Today, even if it means fighting to the death, I won't let you succeed so easily!"

Having said that, Wu Yunyin suddenly stood up, threw off her dragon robe, put on her battle armor, and prepared to lead the newly arrived 150,000 troops out of the city to meet the enemy.

Everyone could see that Wu Yunyin's actions were tantamount to courting death. Currently, the most capable generals in the Great Wu Dynasty, apart from those under Chen Zhennan, were all by Song Xuan's side. The 150,000 troops in the capital were completely like a bunch of headless flies.

"Quickly assemble an army of 150,000! I will personally lead the army to fight Song Xuan to the death!"

However, the guard's response was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head.

"Your Majesty, I fear things are dire. The 150,000-strong army has been utterly routed, with fewer than 50,000 remaining in the city. The rest have either fled or defected to Song Xuan..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin was struck dumb, and the long sword in her hand almost slipped from her grasp.

She stared at the guard in disbelief, a surge of emotions welling up inside her.

The counterattack failed before it even began.

Fate is cruel. I have worked diligently all my life and have never wronged anyone, so why have I ended up like this? Is this just destiny?

In the imperial court, the ministers looked at each other, at a loss for what to do.

Outside the capital, Song Xuan's power grew stronger, while her military strength dwindled like flowing water.

"By imperial decree, tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), I will personally go to the city tower to pass the throne to Song Xuan, in order to ensure the safety of the people of the capital."

The guard nodded slightly, said nothing, and then turned and left.

...

The next morning, Wu Yunyin stood on the city wall dressed in plain clothes, accompanied only by a few loyal guards.

Song Xuan led his massive army up the city wall, the sound of iron hooves echoing across the empty wall.

The two faced each other, and Wu Yunyin could only manage a bitter smile.

"Song Xuan, as the Empress of Great Wu, I have the right to choose who to pass the throne to, and I also have the right to decide the fate of this jade seal. Song Xuan, if you truly want this throne, kneel down, and I can pass the jade seal to you."

As she spoke, Wu Yunyin reached into her sleeve and took out the jade seal.

Song Xuan's pupils contracted slightly, and he couldn't help but take a step forward, forcing a smile.

"Wu Yunyin, don't go too far! I have already taken control of the situation. Your threat with the Imperial Seal is nothing but a desperate struggle."

Wu Yunyin's lips curled into a mocking smile. She slowly raised a hand, pointing at Song Xuan, her eyes filled with provocation.

"Song Xuan, either you kneel down, or this jade seal is shattered. One of the two must happen."

Song Xuan pursed his lips and slowly walked to Wu Yunyin's side.

"Yunyin, you are my wife, and I am your husband. Does our relationship have to end like this?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Yunyin smiled and suddenly raised the imperial seal above her head.

"So you're thinking of dying a glorious death rather than living a shameful life? Fine, I'll grant your wish!"

After saying that, Wu Yunyin pretended to smash the imperial seal.

"slow!"

Song Xuan shouted and knelt on the ground, gritting his teeth.

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