As he spoke, he felt much calmer.
"In other words, this troop deployment might be a test, not a real attack. We can't afford to lose our composure!"
Huang Zhong was taken aback.
"You mean they're doing this just to anger His Majesty and provoke him to send troops? But what good would that do?"
Deputy General Zhang shook his head, his gaze gradually becoming serious.
"I'm not quite sure either. If it's just a test... then their conspiracy is hard to fathom... Now that the Duxing Kingdom has refused to send troops, other countries certainly won't interfere... Wait! Could it be... that they've joined forces?"
Don't underestimate those countries. If they join forces, even a great power like the Heavenly Dragon Kingdom will be devoured! It's not impossible that many ants can eat an elephant!
Huang Zhong was shocked to hear this.
"What are you waiting for? Quickly report to His Majesty!"
Deputy General Zhang stopped him.
"This is just our speculation. If we report it to His Majesty now, it might be seen as an excuse for being cowardly and unwilling to fight. Let's wait and see if His Majesty can regain his senses!"
At this moment, the old emperor entered the imperial study and immediately overturned the table, scattering writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and musical instruments all over the floor! The eunuch Hai, who was standing nearby, was so frightened that he lay on the ground and dared not utter a word.
"Useless! I've raised them for so long, and all they do when danger strikes is open the door to negotiate! They're all useless! It's just that Wang Yan is missing, does my Tianlong Kingdom have no one else to rely on?!"
A series of angry roars came from the imperial study, startling everyone who lowered their eyes in panic, afraid that they had heard something they shouldn't have.
However, the truth was as shocking as a bolt from the blue, leaving no choice but to accept it!
In less than three days, the Ice Mountain Grassland Tribe turned its initial probing into a full-scale attack. Flowing Cloud City, which already had only average defensive capabilities, quickly began to decline.
Upon receiving the news, the old emperor was furious. He cursed loudly in the court, completely lacking his usual calm and composure.
Meanwhile, Qin Qing and Wang Yan were also having a tough time!
Although their village was quite far from Liuyun City, the city couldn't withstand the attack, and all the villagers were so frightened that they packed their belongings and fled overnight. In just five or six days, the first group of fleeing refugees had arrived at their village...
It also brought news to the originally peaceful village, and this seemingly distant event caused panic among many people.
Qin Qing only found out after waking up in the morning. Wang Yan got up early and took the initiative to cook for Qin Qing. After waking up, Qin Qing was bored and went out for a walk. She happened to meet a group of women chatting by the roadside.
"Huh? Aunt Yao? What are you talking about?"
Everyone looked up when they heard the voice and noticed Qin Qing's arrival, and smiles appeared on their faces instinctively.
"Hey Qin, come here, come here, we're having a chat!"
Since the last incident involving the meat exchange, Qin Qing's reputation in the village has been getting better and better. Everyone enjoys chatting with this couple who are sometimes sharp-tongued but have a cold exterior but a warm heart.
"You wouldn't believe it, but a lot of people who fled from Liuyun City have come to our village recently. I heard there's a war going on there!"
Qin Qing was stunned. War? War at the very beginning of spring? Has the old emperor gone mad? The Tianlong Kingdom has only been resting for a little over a year. Does he even have the money?!
"And there's more! I heard that some grassland tribe is suddenly starting a war, and it seems like Liuyun City is about to fall! Our emperor hasn't even sent any troops yet."
"Not only are they not sending troops, but they're also reportedly preparing to open the door for peace talks. It's really pitiful to think about those people; they've lost their homes out of nowhere. But it's best if there's no war, otherwise the court will definitely conscript soldiers again. My son just turned sixteen, ugh, it's so annoying!"
Listening to their back-and-forth conversation, Qin Qing roughly understood the situation and felt a sense of unease.
The fighting has already broken out? Liuyun City is about to fall. The old emperor is useless; after leaving Wang Yan, he can't even protect his own people!
Perhaps noticing her furrowed brows, Aunt Yao patted her hand gently and said.
"Don't worry too much, our village is far from Liuyun City! The first batch of refugees only arrived here yesterday; they ran non-stop for five days to get here. We're definitely safe here!"
Qin Qing nodded somewhat absentmindedly, and then...
"Ah Yan should have finished cooking by now. I'm going back to eat. You guys continue chatting."
After parting ways with the others, Qin Qing quickly returned home and immediately saw a man holding a plate and chopsticks.
When Wang Yan heard the sound, he looked up and his eyes softened when he caught sight of Qin Qing.
"You're back! I stir-fried some winter bamboo shoots with pork. I wonder if it'll taste good!"
Qin Qing was silent for a while, then she said, "How strange! He actually took the initiative to cook for me so early in the morning!"
"You know now, don't you? Why didn't you tell me!"
Wang Yan paused in his act of serving rice, seemingly surprised that Qin Qing had found out so quickly, and could only say helplessly.
"I'm sorry, I meant to tell you later so as not to upset you."
Qin Qing walked over, met Wang Yan's gaze, and stared at him.
"So... you still have to go back, right? War is about to break out, and you can't just sit idly by. You have great love in your heart, you have the people, you have the country, you have everything, except yourself!"
Wang Yan paused for a moment, then gently covered Qin Qing's eyes with his hand and said in a hoarse voice.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm afraid... I'll hesitate! I know you're worried about me, but protecting our country is every man's responsibility. I don't want you to live in a world where the country is destroyed and the family is ruined, I don't want to see you suffer, I don't want you to lose your current happiness... This time, I'm fighting for you! So I will definitely not let anything happen to me!"
At this moment, Qin Qing felt a pang of sadness and helplessness in her heart, and her throat tightened. She knew... how could she not understand!
Her man was a great hero, a mighty and powerful general in everyone's eyes, the guardian deity of the entire Tianlong Kingdom...
He wouldn't choose to escape for momentary pleasure, nor would he abandon the greater good of the nation for his own selfish desires! That's him!!
Then, she removed Wang Yan's hand and smiled gently.
"I understand. Let's eat then!"
Looking at her so dejected, Wang Yan felt a pang of heartache and helplessness... His thin lips parted slightly, but he couldn't bring himself to say those words. In truth, compared to her, national righteousness wasn't that important! But he also knew that Qin Qing would definitely not like him for being so selfish and cowardly!
A few days later, it was finally time for the two to leave. Wang Yan went to Liuyun City to provide support. Even though he was no longer a general, at least the title of Marquis was higher than that of the Prefect of Liuyun City.
Qin Qing then returned to the capital and tried to get the old emperor to send troops to support him as soon as possible!
Because of the long distance, Wang Yan escorted Qin Qing away first.
On that day, many people came to see Qin Qing off, and the village chief sighed.
"Why are you leaving all of a sudden! When are you coming back? We're all still here!"
Several women nearby echoed this sentiment, their faces filled with reluctance.
Qin Qing smiled upon seeing this.
"Farewell, everyone!"
Then she glanced at Wang Yan, but didn't say a word.
"drive!"
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