After saying this, Qin Shuhuai felt a chill in his heart.

Not only did he recall the humiliation of having Zhao Peng's body forcibly taken away by Zhao Yu, but more importantly, what Zhao Yu's words revealed was a naked threat.

If he didn't care about Zhao Peng's life or death back then, why would he care about Qin Peng's life or death now?

If his obsession was only to take Qin Peng back, then why would he care whether the person he was taking back was alive or dead?

Qin Shuhuai clenched his fists, his face expressionless.

Jiang Chun leaned over and said in a low voice, "My Lord, a large number of soldiers are coming."

"Whose people?"

Qin Shuhuai stared at Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu looked completely fearless. He hugged Qin Peng and looked at Qin Shuhuai with a smile.

"have no idea."

Jiang Chun frowned: "They don't look like people from Beiyan, but I don't know which army they are from."

Qin Shuhuai said nothing, as he had already understood that Zhao Yu was not just showing off. Perhaps he had already guessed that something might happen to them in Quancheng and had made plans.

Qin Peng has been thinking about the current situation.

Now Zhao Yu obviously has a new trump card, but no one knows what it is. Qin Shuhuai rushed over, and no one knows how many troops he brought with him. If the stalemate continues, Qin Shuhuai might be killed.

Qin Shuhuai also understood that he had to either take action immediately or evacuate quickly. The large group of people rushing over must not be his people, and they would be very dangerous.

However, Zhao Yu's hand was placed on Qin Peng's artery, which was a threat and an attitude. Qin Shuhuai took a deep breath.

He was afraid to move forward because he was concerned about Qin Peng's life.

He didn't dare to retreat. If he couldn't stop Zhao Yu this time, it would be even more difficult to bring Qin Peng back.

He pursed his lips and finally said, "Why do we have to take her back? We might as well do a business."

"Hmm? What kind of business is good?"

"I can open all the ports of Qi to trade. If you put her down, everything will be fine. If you refuse," Qin Shuhuai said coldly, "then let Beidi and her be buried together in Qi."

Hearing this, Zhao Yu burst into laughter.

"All ports of Qi are open to trade? Ha... Qin Shuhuai," Zhao Yu looked at Qin Shuhuai with a very amused expression and said, "You don't think that I really care about Beiyan and the country, do you?"

"I'll just make do with being the emperor," Zhao Yu said helplessly, "Who said that? Sister has always wanted me to be the emperor?"

Zhao Yu lowered his head and looked at Qin Peng, his eyes full of doting: "Who said that only by becoming the emperor can I keep my sister?"

"You..." Qin Shuhuai frowned. Qin Peng closed his eyes, trying to adjust his internal strength, and held the hidden weapon in his palm.

Zhao Yu looked at Qin Peng's appearance, and simply walked to the stone chair under the tree, sat down with Qin Peng in his arms, and buried his head in Qin Peng's neck.

He looked at Qin Shuhuai with bright eyes: "Qin Shuhuai, don't scare me. Are you willing to lay hands on my sister?"

He raised his hand and placed it on Qin Peng's face, his expression gentle: "If you were willing to give it up, you wouldn't have been talking to me here for so long. If you were willing to give it up, sister, I would have been yours a long time ago."

"Look," he hugged her tightly, entwining them like vines and branches.

Their clothes were tangled together, their hair was tangled together, their fingers were intertwined and clasped together.

"Look," Zhao Yu rubbed his face against Qin Peng's, as if he was enjoying the feeling very much, his voice was hoarse: "I killed her and got her back then."

"Now I can still have her, dead or alive."

"You're crazy..." Qin Shuhuai trembled and said, "Zhao Yu, she is your sister."

"Hmm?" Zhao Yu raised his eyelids, his eyes revealing mockery: "Sister?"

"Yes," he suddenly sighed, "She is my sister. But, if she is my real sister," Zhao Yu clenched his hands, as if he wanted to embed her into his body, "That would be great."

These words struck everyone like thunder. Qin Shuhuai and Qin Peng were both shocked. Zhao Yu raised his hand and held Qin Peng, turning her face to look into his beautiful eyes.

"How do you feel?" He looked at Qin Peng with a smile: "Happy? Or scared?"

Qin Peng looked at him without saying a word. Zhao Yu raised his hand and pressed on her acupuncture points. Her throat was finally able to make a sound. Zhao Yu approached her, his eyes full of expectation: "Speak."

"you……"

Qin Peng's mind was in a mess: "I don't understand."

She couldn't believe it: "Why...why do you say that?"

As he was talking, someone came on horseback, with soldiers and horses behind him. He quickly stopped beside Zhao Yu, dismounted, and said respectfully, "Meet the Northern Emperor."

Zhao Yu heard the voice and looked towards the person who came.

The other person lowered his eyes, his brows were gentle. Qin Peng's eyes widened: "Liu Shuyan?"

"Princess."

Liu Shuyan didn't look up at her, and his tone was somewhat cautious.

Qin Shuhuai was not surprised. Now that the noble family had rebelled, it was not something incomprehensible that Liu Shuyan was still here.

He spoke calmly: "So, after talking for so long, you just called Liu Shuyan?"

"Well, what if there is also Wei Yan?"

Zhao Yu smiled, and Qin Shuhuai's pupils shrank very slightly. He looked at Zhao Yu and said slowly: "What did you promise them?"

Qin Shuhuai thought that Zhao Yu must have paid a huge price to get something that could convince both Liu Shuyan and Wei Yan.

"Prince," this time, Liu Shuyan spoke first. He walked towards Qin Shuhuai and knelt on one knee on the ground: "The Liu family has no intention of rebelling."

Qin Shuhuai looked calm and lowered his eyebrows: "Continue."

"Liu Shixuan has been captured by me and transferred to Xuanjing. The noble family is plotting a rebellion, and I am willing to be a lobbyist and accompany the prince to quell the rebellion."

"So what are you doing here?"

The more Liu Shuyan expressed his loyalty, the worse Qin Shuhuai felt. Liu Shuyan took a deep breath and said, "Now there are 500,000 soldiers stationed at the border of Northern Yan. If you are willing to marry the princess to Northern Yan as a marquis, and cede the 16 states of Yannan to Southern Qi, then the two countries will be friends. If not, we will go to war immediately! For the benefit of the country, I, General Wei Yan, and other court officials will follow the Queen Mother's order to marry the princess."

"You're crazy!"

Hearing this, Qin Peng suddenly spoke and looked at Zhao Yu.

Even Qin Shuhuai couldn't help but look at Zhao Yu, his eyes full of shock.

What is the Sixteen Prefectures of Southern Yan? The land there originally belonged to Southern Qi, but was later seized by Northern Yan. The Sixteen Prefectures had a wall defense line that stretched for thousands of miles. The terrain was steep and dangerous. With the Sixteen Prefectures of Southern Yan, Northern Yan had almost no success in invading Southern Qi.

Until a foolish emperor ceded one of the states. Later, Northern Yan used that state as a starting point to invade Southern Qi and seized the sixteen states of southern Yan.

For hundreds of years thereafter, the wars between Southern Qi and Northern Yan were extremely difficult, because the area behind the Sixteen Prefectures in the south of Yan was all plains, with almost no natural defenses to defend.

Now Zhao Yu returned the Sixteen Prefectures of Southern Yan to Southern Qi. From now on, if Northern Yan wanted to attack Southern Qi again, it would have to cross this high mountain wall first, which would be almost impossible. On the contrary, it would become particularly easy for Southern Qi to attack Northern Yan.

Zhao Yu did more than just promise peace.

He even sold out hundreds of years of Northern Yan's safety to Southern Qi!

Qin Peng panted heavily, his voice trembling with anger: "Zhao Yu...you traitor, are you worthy of the ancestors of the Zhao family and the people of Beiyan!"

"I'm sorry," Zhao Yu said calmly, "I'm sorry to everyone in my life."

As he said that, he stood up, hugged Qin Peng, looked at Qin Shuhuai and said, "Qin Shuhuai, if you let me go today, from now on, all our grievances will be written off. You will be the regent king in Southern Qi, and I will be the monarch in Northern Yan. If you don't let me go today, you should think clearly. This war between the North and the South will all depend on you."

"Zhao Yu," Qin Shuhuai said calmly, "When you said these words, did you consider your subjects and people of Northern Yan? Did you consider the 500,000 soldiers?"

"I am not like you, with so much in my heart." Zhao Yu smiled slightly: "Qin Shuhuai, you used to say that my sister is the most important to you. You always lied to her, saying that there is no one more important than her in this world. Now you want to show me how important she is?"

"I dare to go to war. She is much more important to me than the world. Do you understand?!"

Qin Shuhuai said nothing. He just looked at Zhao Yu quietly. After a long time, he slowly smiled.

"Zhao Yu," he said calmly, "regardless of whether you are his brother or not, regardless of whether I exist or not, she will never fall in love with someone like you who has no bottom line or principles."

"Shut up!"

Zhao Yu spoke suddenly, Qin Shuhuai took a step forward, Liu Shuyan suddenly drew his knife and pointed it in front of Qin Shuhuai: "Prince," his eyes were full of struggle: "You can't go any further."

"I remember you liked her."

Qin Shuhuai looked at the young man in front of him with eyes full of pity, and said calmly: "She even wanted to marry you."

"So," Liu Shuyan's hand holding the knife trembled slightly, "it's a blessing that she didn't marry me."

Qin Shuhuai said nothing.

How come today, I still don't know that when Qin Peng fell in love with Liu Shuyan, it was not the real Liu Shuyan who attracted her, but the dream that she pinned on Liu Shuyan.

She wanted stability, peace, and the kind of life they had imagined and promised when they were young.

Liu Shuyan stared at Qin Shuhuai for a long time. Qin Shuhuai spoke: "You are a good subject."

As he spoke, he looked up at Qin Peng.

He wondered why people always had to face so many hardships and dangers, and so much pain and suffering in their lives?

"Peng Peng." Qin Shuhuai spoke softly, and Qin Peng closed his eyes.

At that moment, Qin Shuhuai attacked suddenly, and Qin Peng tried his best to stab Zhao Yu with the small sword in his sleeve!

Qin Shuhuai bypassed Liu Shuyan, knocked away the people around Zhao Yu with a palm, and slashed towards Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu was dodged by Qin Peng's small sword, and at the same time, Qin Shuhuai's sword also fell. Zhao Yu turned over and rolled away, and Qin Shuhuai chased after him.

There was a sudden commotion nearby, Qin Peng stepped back, and someone supported his back. Qin Peng swung forward, but Liu Shuyan grabbed his wrist.

Liu Shuyan looked at her with an uncertain expression. Qin Peng now knew that Liu Shuyan was Zhao Yu's man, so he did not dare to let go of the sword in his hand.

"Liu Shuyan," she panted softly, "let me go."

Liu Shuyan trembled his lips. At that moment, Jiang Chun rushed over, kicked Liu Shuyan away, grabbed Qin Peng, and said anxiously: "Prince, let's go!"

However, Qin Shuhuai did not leave. The two sides intertwined with each other, and Qin Shuhuai chased Zhao Yu closely, looking like he would not stop until death.

Qin Peng and Jiang Chun fled to the boat. Looking back, they saw Qin Shuhuai still in the crowd. Qin Peng gritted his teeth and said to Jiang Chun, "Go and help him kill Zhao Yu."

When she said this, her whole body was shaking, which showed how much courage it took for her to say this.

However, Jiang Chun said, "Princess, my duty is to send you away."

After that, Jiang Chun cut the ropes that anchored the boat, and the boat started moving. Qin Peng had no strength left, so he was helped inside. Qin Peng struggled and said anxiously, "As long as Zhao Yu is alive, he won't leave!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the boat shook violently. Qin Peng hit the bow of the boat and saw someone on the shore grabbing the boat rope and standing on the shore.

Qin Peng raised his head and found a person in white standing there.

It’s Wei Yan.

He is here too.

He grabbed the boat rope and pulled the boat back. Jiang Chun rushed over with a knife in hand. Wei Yan yelled, "Liu Shuyan!"

Liu Shuyan's expression gradually became firm, and he slashed towards Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun and Liu Shuyan were entangled together. Wei Yan jumped onto the boat and stretched out his hand towards Qin Peng.

"Sister-in-law."

His expression was calm, without any disturbance.

Qin Peng smiled, with helplessness in his eyes: "Liu Shuyan took refuge with Zhao Yu, I can understand, what about you, why did you do that?"

"Qi State needs the Sixteen Prefectures of Southern Yan."

Wei Yan spoke calmly: "I understand what my sister-in-law and Qin Shuhuai mean. If Zhao Yu is killed here, everything will be in vain. You want to support a new person to ascend the throne. Under the current situation, Beiyan is unwilling to go to war. You think so, right?"

As Wei Yan spoke, he helped Qin Peng up.

He was very strong and his movements were firm, but he looked extremely respectful.

Qin Peng was dragged by him and forced to walk towards the shore.

Qin Shuhuai's guards rushed towards Wei Yan, and Wei Yan raised his hands to push them away. The people Wei Yan brought were entangled with them. Wei Yan dragged Qin Peng and walked towards Zhao Yu.

"But are you sure you can support the person you want to ascend the throne? Are you sure you can make Beiyan stop the war? All of this is unknown, isn't it?"

"But if you go there," Wei Yan held Qin Peng tightly, "if you go there, Nanqi will have the Sixteen Prefectures of Yannan. Do you know what the Sixteen Prefectures of Yannan mean? Do you know how many soldiers die every year on the Nanqi border because of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yannan?"

"Sister-in-law," Wei Yan led her to stop not far from Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu and Qin Shuhuai were still fighting. Zhao Yu had more people, and Qin Shuhuai was almost surrounded by them. Qin Peng stared at Qin Shuhuai blankly. He held the sword and had no intention of stopping. Wei Yan's voice echoed in her ears: "You are the eldest princess of Nanqi."

"Some people are born into hardship. They lack food and clothing, they work hard, they fight and kill. Then they give what they get to the country, and the country uses it to raise you, the royal family. You are supported by the people, you have no worries about food and clothing since you were young, what responsibility you shoulder, don't you understand?"

"I know." Qin Peng closed his eyes and sighed, "I know."

But she was the eldest princess of Southern Qi, and she was also the eldest princess of Northern Yan. Whoever got the Sixteen Prefectures of Southern Yan would be responsible for it.

How should she choose? It seems that she has no choice.

What Zhao Yu offered was not a choice at all. With the Sixteen Prefectures of Southern Yan as bait, no one in Qi would want to keep her except Qin Shuhuai.

Qin Shuhuai and Zhao Yu have been entangled for a long time. He did not have an overwhelming victory over Zhao Yu. Now Wei Yan and Liu Shuyan have brought a steady stream of troops. If Qin Shuhuai delays any further, he is afraid that he will not be able to escape.

Qin Peng finally made a decision and shouted, "Stop!"

Hearing this, Qin Shuhuai stopped moving first. Qin Peng did not dare to look at him, but turned to look at Zhao Yu: "Let Qin Shuhuai go, I will accompany you back to Beiyan."

Zhao Yu had the wounds Qin Shuhuai had cut on his body. He raised his eyelids and looked at Qin Peng: "Really?"

“Really.”

Qin Peng lowered his eyes and attacked Zhao Yutian.

Zhao Yu didn't say anything. He looked at that hand. That hand was no longer the same as in his memory. She hadn't actively extended her hand to him for many years.

Countless emotions surged in Zhao Yu's heart, but he didn't say a word. He smiled slightly and walked quickly towards Qin Peng.

Qin Shuhuai raised his eyes and looked at Qin Peng, holding the sword in his hand, without saying a word.

As soon as he moved, the people around him pointed their swords at him.

"Shuhuai," Qin Peng softened her voice, "I am the eldest princess."

Qin Shuhuai opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

He held the sword, he couldn't move.

In fact, Zhao Yu was right. He was far from being as decisive as Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu's feelings for Qin Peng are like a moth flying into a flame, regardless of everything. This world, these people, all the innocent and not innocent people, are not worth mentioning in Zhao Yu's heart.

His feelings for Qin Peng were biased and exclusive, and nothing could disturb them.

Qin Shuhuai thought he was the same.

He also thought that he could do anything for Qin Peng.

But when faced with innocent people and the people who provided for him, he found himself feeling deeply powerless.

He had fought alongside those people on the border battlefield, and he had also known the preciousness and fragility of life.

He also made a silent wish, hoping that his country would be at peace, and that those who had told him over the years that they wanted to go home early would be able to return home safely.

Faced with these wishes, he suddenly realized that his feelings for Zhao Peng were not as strong as he thought.

He always hopes to have a solution that has the best of both worlds, and always hopes to balance the relationship between his lover and others, but he finds that there are always dilemmas in this world.

He doesn't know right from wrong.

He didn't know what to do.

He wanted to save Qin Peng at all costs, but there was always something in his heart that hindered him. He was cautious and did not dare to act rashly. He wanted to just let Qin Peng go like a qualified regent, like Wei Yan and Liu Shuyan, and let her leave the world in exchange for peace and well-being for the people. But he felt it was such a huge humiliation.

The peace of a country was sacrificed for a woman.

Zhao Yu’s words back then are still vivid in my mind.

He couldn't protect her. He couldn't protect her seven years ago, and he couldn't protect her seven years later.

It’s not that he is not strong enough, but that he can’t be as disregarding as Zhao Yu.

Family, country and the world, the most basic kindness and principles. Love may be great, but people living in this world always have more important things to do. There are always obstacles that he cannot overcome.

Those things are heavier than life, heavier than love; they are engraved in his bones and are the bottom line that cannot be crossed.

He would never allow the warriors of the two countries to fight each other for his personal feelings, nor would he cede a country's most important line of defense for his own feelings.

He struggled, unable to speak. Qin Peng saw it, she leaned on Zhao Yu, patted Zhao Yu's hand, and said calmly: "Give me the antidote, I'm tired standing like this."

Zhao Yu understood Qin Peng's attitude, and now she had to go with him.

Zhao Yu didn't say much and gave Qin Peng a pill. After she took it, she felt her body slowly regain strength. She stood up, no longer relying on Zhao Yu, and took a few steps forward.

Qin Shuhuai heard footsteps and looked up at her.

The girl looked peaceful, gentle and calm.

She raised her hand, tucked her hair behind her ear, straightened her appearance, and looked up at him.

"I've thought about it, Shuhuai." She was gentle and calm. Qin Shuhuai's hand holding the sword trembled slightly as he waited for her verdict.

At this moment, he decided not to think about anything. He just treated her as a sword and obeyed her in everything.

If she wanted to stay, he would do everything he could to let her stay.

If she wanted to leave, he was willing to let her go.

Qin Peng smiled and looked at him with bright eyes: "Southern Qi is good at farming, and Northern Yan is good at animal husbandry. Northern Yan has been short of food and grass for many years, so there are many wars. Princess Chengde went to Northern Yan in the past and exchanged it for ten years of peace. As the eldest princess, I am supported by the people, so I should protect the people."

"I am incapable of serving the people in the imperial court, nor can I protect the country on the battlefield. I am fortunate to have caught the eye of the Northern Emperor and to be able to do my bit for the people."

Qin Shuhuai didn't say anything. He stood in the crowd. The rain began to pour down. Swords were pointed at him. He held the sword and looked quietly at the people who were facing him across the crowd.

"Shuhuai," Zhao Yu took the umbrella from the side and held it on Qin Peng's head. Qin Peng looked at Qin Shuhuai as if every glance was the last. She snorted and said softly, "I'm leaving."

He was speechless. He clenched the sword in his hand. The raindrops were very thin and light. They hit him like needles, piercing into his flesh.

He wanted so much to ask to keep him, but when he thought of the wars on the border in those years; he remembered the soldiers sitting in front of the fire and saying to him, "General, when the Sixteen Prefectures of Southern Yan can be returned, our lives will be much better"; he remembered the day before he was sent to Northern Yan as a hostage at the age of eight, his mother, wearing the queen's black embroidered phoenix dress, bent down to look at him.

Her eyes were gentle and bright, and she said, "My son, if you leave this time, I'm afraid you will have no home when you return."

"But it doesn't matter. As the crown prince, you should consider the country as your home."

He couldn't say it.

The girl seemed to understand his feelings, and her eyes were full of smiles.

"Shu Huai, you know what I like most is the way you look now."

"I don't need a soul that only loves, and I don't need your love for me to dominate yourself."

"Whether I come back or not."

Qin Peng raised his hand and placed it on his heart, his expression gentle: "I will remember everything."

She didn't say what she would remember.

But she and Qin Shuhuai both understood.

She will remember that she loved this man, and most of all, she will remember that he gave her the best years and the most handsome appearance.

Qin Shuhuai trembled slightly, holding himself up, and said nothing.

Qin Peng turned around gracefully, his expression sank, and he said calmly: "Northern Emperor, let's set off."

Zhao Yu lowered his eyes, raised his hand, held her hand, and turned with her.

She stood straight with a calm and composed look, noble and elegant.

Farewell seemed to have no effect on her. She could always control her emotions. She was not like them, who were happy when she was happy and sad when she was sad.

After they were far away, everyone put down their swords.

Wei Yan walked in front of Qin Shuhuai, knelt on one knee, and said calmly: "Your servant Wei Yan, I admit my guilt."

Liu Shuyan also came over and knelt down with Wei Yan, saying with difficulty: "Your Majesty, Liu Shuyan, admits my guilt."

After that, the people around him knelt down one after another and surrounded Qin Shuhuai in the middle.

Qin Shuhuai held the sword, the wounds on his body were still dripping with blood, the rain soaked his clothes, and he couldn't help laughing.

"What is your crime?"

He did not blame anyone at all, and said slowly: "It is because of you that Qi State has been able to reach where it is today."

"You are not guilty. I am the guilty one." He raised his hands and spoke with difficulty: "It's me, Qin Shuhuai."

"For the country, I was selfish, unfair and unwise; for my family, I was weak and incompetent and could not protect my wife's safety."

"You are right," Qin Shuhuai said hoarsely, "You are right."

The fault lies with him.

He turned around and walked slowly towards the river.

Jiang Chun stood on the street and saw Qin Shuhuai walking towards him step by step with a sword in hand.

Like Qin Peng, he kept his back straight, but he couldn't control himself and trembled slightly.

Everyone looking at his back could easily see the unconcealable despair and sorrow in his expression.

Liu Shuyan looked at him quietly for a long time, then slowly said, "Seven years ago, when I met him at Jiang's house, he was like this."

Seven years later, what could not be protected could no longer be protected.

Qin Shuhuai boarded the boat and returned to Xuanjing overnight.

When they arrived at the capital, Zhao Yi had already led troops from the north and laid siege to Xuanjing.

When Zhao Yi saw Qin Shuhuai, he was slightly stunned and asked subconsciously: "Where is the princess?"

Jiang Chun stood behind and tried his best to wink at Zhao Yi.

When Qin Shuhuai heard this word, he was stunned for a long time, as if he was thinking about something.

Zhao Yi also understood what Jiang Chun meant, and quickly extended his hand, changing the subject: "Prince, please get out of the car."

Qin Shuhuai slowly looked at Zhao Yi.

"She's not coming back."

He spoke, every word very slowly.

As he spoke, he held Zhao Yi's hand and walked down from the carriage.

He seemed to be carrying an enormous burden on his shoulders, even though he was standing straight and trying so hard to stay in this world.

But everyone still feels that even a drop of rain falling is enough to make this person collapse suddenly.