The Xie family reported the incident to the authorities.
Liao Yun and Shen Su, who were secretly watching, rushed back to their residence without saying a word.
Princess Yurong gritted her teeth and said, "Why does the Xie family still have so many guards? Weren't they all sent to the Northwest battlefield?"
She wanted to know more about who had the black-clad guards of the Xie family.
Just how deep is the Xie family's heritage?
The princess's residence sent out top-notch experts, yet they were all wiped out.
Princess Yurong gritted her teeth and said, "We must get our hands on the letter in the study."
However, this disturbance has put the Xie family on high alert.
Or, how about we kidnap someone?
Who should we tie up?
Would binding him even be useful? What if the letter Xie Anfeng gave was fake?
Princess Yu Rong was wrapped in a blanket, extremely worried!
Being a princess is no job for an inhuman!
She doesn't want to get involved in palace intrigue; she just wants to make money. So why is her life still not safe?
She handed a memorial to His Majesty, but His Majesty ignored her.
Even if they wanted to steal the letter from the Xie residence, they couldn't.
The Wei family has fallen, the crown prince has been deposed, and Princess Xiyan has been nearly killed by her husband. Not a single minister in the court likes her...
After thinking for a long time, I realized there was no one I could count on.
Just as Princess Yurong was feeling panicked and extremely anxious, three groups of people suddenly launched a fierce attack on the east, west, and south gates of the capital.
They were few in number, but their siege was fierce.
They were highly skilled in individual combat and used the curved swords commonly used by nomadic peoples. The defending troops hastily closed the city gates, but the attack was sudden, and dozens were still killed.
Those people didn't linger in the fight; seeing they couldn't win, they quickly retreated.
The garrison immediately reported to the imperial court.
At that time, Empress Xie was accompanying Emperor Hui in listening to state affairs.
"My esteemed ministers, His Majesty suspects that the escaped Wei clan is colluding with foreign traitors!"
The Empress said, "Most of the troops from the Military Command have gone to the Northwest, and the capital is now empty. I hope that all the ministers will offer their suggestions and strategies."
The court officials offered various suggestions.
For example, the time the city gates are open each day is reduced to half a day;
Only the west gate will be opened; the other gates will remain closed.
The Imperial City Guard intensified its search, preferring to kill the innocent rather than let the guilty escape...
The Empress shook her head and said no, as it would cause unrest among the people.
After the court session, Empress Xie summoned Xie Anfeng to the Imperial Study for a private questioning.
Xie Anfeng went to the imperial study, where Emperor Hui sat crookedly behind the dragon desk, his eyes glazed over.
Empress Xie sat beside him, her face full of worry.
"Lord Xie, the military command is currently short of troops. His Majesty intends to borrow 100,000 troops from the Xie family. We hope that you will cooperate."
Xie Anfeng was extremely surprised and said, "The Xie family's Xuanyi Guard has been reduced generation after generation. Now there are only 50,000 Xuanyi Guards, and they have all followed the imperial army to the northwest. Where are there any soldiers left?"
"The Xie family ancestors once defeated the previous dynasty and surrounding small countries with 200,000 Xuanyi Guards. The Xie family only sent 50,000 people to the northwest this time. Where did the remaining 150,000 Xuanyi Guards go?" Empress Xie asked.
Xie Anfeng spoke with a respectful expression, saying that since the time of the late emperor, the Xuanyi Guard had been deliberately reduced. The original 200,000 were no longer being replaced, and were further divided and relocated. By his generation, only 50,000 remained.
We really have no soldiers left.
Empress Xie said angrily, "The country is in peril, and I hope that my brother can set an example."
Xie Anfeng said with trepidation, "The Empress is the glory of the Xie family, and His Majesty is the heaven of the nation. If there are any surplus troops, how dare we not offer them to the court?"
Aside from the 50,000 Black-Clad Guards who participated in the battle, there were indeed no other troops!
Empress Xie, seeing that he was unmoved by reason, couldn't help but take a handkerchief, press it to the corner of her eye, and begin to cry.
"Brother, I beg you, please help His Majesty."
"Even if Your Majesty forces me to my death, it's no use; we truly have no troops!"
Empress Xie had no choice but to help Emperor Hui to his palace to rest and asked Xie Anfeng to stay for a meal.
Only Empress Xie and Xie Anfeng dined there.
Empress Xie looked at Xie Anfeng and said sadly, "How many soldiers does the Xie family still have? If my brother can't give me too many, even tens of thousands would be enough to protect the safety of the capital."
Xie Anfeng said respectfully but helplessly, "How could I dare to lie to Your Majesty! There really isn't any left."
"I heard that a few days ago, thieves attacked the Xie residence at night and killed several hundred people. Brother, tell me, who did all those killings?"
“Your Majesty, every family has its own resources to protect themselves. There are only a few hundred people to protect the safety of one household.”
"For the sake of the Xie family, I have been confined to this dark palace my whole life, unable to see my family or the people, and I have lost my children one by one..."
"The Xie family has sacrificed my entire life. Now that I've finally been crowned Empress, is all this wealth and glory just a fleeting moment? Brother, can you please consider your sister's feelings even once?"
"Your Majesty's achievements today are truly hard-won, and we hope that Your Majesty will cherish them!"
Both siblings spoke with hidden meanings. Empress Xie saw that Xie Anfeng not only refused to hand over the military tally but also implied a reprimand. She angrily said, "In that case, I will not make things difficult for Lord Xie."
He tossed his chopsticks aside and left.
Xie Anfeng respectfully said, "Your Majesty, please take care."
His eyes were icy cold.
Imprisoning my daughter, detaining my grandson, and trying to seize the Xie family's foundation—Xie Chunxi, what exactly are you trying to do?
The following day, His Majesty summoned Princess Xiyan and her husband, Luo, and their family to the palace.
Luo Cheng quickly ordered people to dress up Princess Xiyan, and the family entered the palace.
In the past, when Princess Xiyan entered the palace, she was always arrogant and looked down on the concubines in the harem, except for Wei Yingzi.
Now, she walks unsteadily and is filled with fear.
Prince Consort Luo and Princess Xiyan had a son and a daughter. Prince Consort Luo also kept a mistress outside the marriage and secretly fathered several sons with her.
Before entering the palace, the Luo family had already agreed that if His Majesty pursued the matter against Princess Xiyan, they would not hesitate to abandon Princess Xiyan and her two children.
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