Chu Changning had been living in the Prince Ding's mansion. The people in the mansion did not mistreat her, but she was imprisoned in this small courtyard every day.
She was surrounded by heavily armed guards, and there were also specially trained expert bodyguards hiding in the shadows, for fear that she would escape.
At night, she sat at the stone table in the courtyard and overheard two maids carrying gauze lanterns gossiping in the corridor, saying that Yan Beimo was coming to the Northwest. She was slightly taken aback.
With frequent wars in the north, and foreign tribes colluding with the royal families to start uprisings in the north, isn't he afraid of losing his life by coming here?
She pursed her lips slightly, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Just then, the voice of a maid came from ahead.
Chu Changning looked in the direction of the sound and saw Sima Yue wearing a dark gold robe.
"Madam is quite composed."
He walked over with a faint smile and sat down opposite her.
When the Eight Princes attacked the Central Plains, a palace coup occurred in front of the Taihe Hall. Prince Pingxi was seriously injured and returned to his fiefdom to live out his days in peace. Sima Yue, Prince Pingxi's youngest son, took the opportunity to kill his father, Prince Chengjue.
Sima Yue had no concubines or children, and the hostage imprisoned in Jiankang was only his nephew.
When Chu Changning saw him, she remembered the letters she had found in Yan Beimo's study and chuckled.
"Your Highness, what brings you to see me alone?"
Sima Yue leaned back in his chair and sighed with a smile, "I've come to visit your wife on behalf of an old friend."
The moonlight was as clear and white as silver. She wore a long, smoky blue dress, her figure graceful, her small face fair and radiant like a painting, her long hair and red lips. The way she poured tea was tender and alluring. She was the epitome of a femme fatale who brought ruin to a country, naturally seductive.
He looked away, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
Chu Changning understood the meaning behind his old friend's words and handed him the tea.
"Please use it."
The moment Sima Yue accepted the tea, his fingertips brushed against her palm, and Chu Changning immediately withdrew her hand, hiding the paper in her sleeve.
The two sat and talked for a while longer before Sima Yue left.
Chu Changning pretended to be tired and went back inside to sleep.
As the year drew to a close, lanterns and decorations were everywhere, and the fighting in the northwest was not so frequent. However, the Prince Ding's mansion was not as lively as the city, and it was heavily guarded everywhere.
Upon hearing that Yan Beimo had reached Yujing Pass, Sima Yu opened the city gates wide and welcomed the emperor into the city.
On both sides of the street, soldiers in black armor knelt in rows.
Yan Beimo sat on the golden throne, his expression indifferent. The soldiers and officers following behind him filled the entire official road. After they entered the city, the entire city gate was sealed off.
The Prince Ding's mansion harbored numerous skilled assassins, and tens of thousands of soldiers were lurking within the city.
If the Emperor of Qi dares to come to the Northwest alone, then let him never return.
Inside the Prince Ding's residence, the princes stood in the empty hall, watching the crowd enter through the main gate. They did not put on any pretense and remained motionless.
The generals lined up on both sides, and Yan Beimo walked in surrounded by the crowd.
"I never expected Your Majesty to dare to come in person. I truly admire you."
A loud voice resounded throughout the entire hall.
Yan Beimo acted eccentrically and was not afraid of the kings. He slowly walked up the stone steps to the high platform.
The kings, "---"
"Yan Beimo, where is my son?"
Prince Ding lost his composure. In the battle of Yongzhou, he lost his life and had no more children. His heir was his only son and he absolutely could not let anything happen to him.
Yan Beimo did not answer, his gaze towards him deep and indifferent.
The Prince of Ding felt uncomfortable under his gaze and raised his voice.
"Back then, you used us to kill the new emperor and seize the throne for yourself. Then you turned around and brought the crown prince into the palace to be imprisoned as a hostage. Isn't that a bit too unrighteous?"
Yan Beimo chuckled, “Since ancient times, the victor is king and the loser is villain. The kings who lost back then should have stayed in the north and kept to their own business.”
"Bullshit!"
Before Prince Ding could finish his tirade, Prince Duan stopped him, smiling as he spoke.
"Today, Your Majesty has released the Crown Prince back to Beidu, and we will certainly release the Lady and Your Majesty back to Jiankang as well."
Yan Beimo put down his teacup and looked at Xuan Yao indifferently.
"Bring in the heir of Prince Ding."
A short while later, a young man was brought up.
When the Prince of Ding saw that his son was safe and sound, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Father."
Sima Yu immediately descended the stone steps, snatched the man away, and looked him up and down.
Seeing that their own heirs were not present, the other princes exchanged glances, smashed their wine cups, and the soldiers outside instantly surrounded them.
Someone's sword was pointed directly at Yan Beimo's head.
The entire hall instantly became tense, with swords drawn and crossbows poised to strike.
Yan Beimo remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged.
He Xing angrily retorted, "What does Prince Duan mean by this?"
"What do you mean? It means his life." Prince Duan laughed loudly, gripping his sword tightly. "Your Majesty dared to come to the Northwest alone, so you should have been prepared to die."
"Come on, bring His Majesty a pot of good wine, otherwise, there won't be any to drink in this underground place."
The current King of Huainan is Sima Liang. He looked at Yan Beimo's face and sneered.
"I never imagined Your Majesty would end up like this. When you killed my father, did you ever foresee this scene today?"
Yan Beimo glanced around at everyone in the hall and then fixed his gaze on the Prince of Pingxi.
Sima Yue immediately drew his sword and took Prince Ding hostage. This scene happened so fast that it shocked all the princes.
What are you doing?
"Sima Yue, are you insane?! I'm your uncle?!"
King Ding was greatly alarmed and shouted angrily.
Just then, the sounds of fighting and shouting suddenly came from outside, shaking the heavens and the earth.
The princes sensed something was amiss, and some wanted to bring the imprisoned Chu Changning to them. However, before they could go, someone reported that a general had stormed in and taken him away.
All the troops inside the city were brought under control, and many people attacked and entered from outside the city.
The kings were greatly alarmed.
The Prince of Ding was furious and looked at Yan Beimo, who was slowly getting up.
"Did you close the pass, leaving my men stranded outside?"
"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the emperor."
Yan Beimo's voice was calm, and his expression remained unchanged.
"The kings have been rampant in the north for many years. Why not make the northwest the burial ground for their nine clans?"
He slowly descended the stone steps, and after speaking, he suddenly kicked Prince Ding with such force that the man coughed up blood.
Seeing his ruthlessness, the kings fell silent and did not move.
Extremely arrogant, acting so arrogantly in the Northwest.
"you---"
Yan Beimo looked down at him and smiled faintly, "You dare to use her as a hostage to threaten me? You are truly audacious."
"If you kill me today, do you think you can leave the Northwest?"
Sima Yu struggled to his feet, his face flushed with anger.
Yan Beimo ignored him and glanced at He Xing not far away. The latter immediately understood and hung the Prince Ding's son up from the beam.
King Ding was terrified, and the other kings, hearing the roars of battle outside like a landslide, remained silent.
What are you going to do?
Yan Beimo said gently with a smile, "Your Highness, take a good look at how your son died?"
The white cloth was strangled around the neck, and the limbs were forcibly pulled apart. Prince Ding cried out and rushed forward, while the other princes also quickly drew their swords to stop him.
"Yan Beimo, are you going to break ties with us today?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Beimo's face turned cold. He pulled out a musket and with a bang, Prince Duan fell to the ground instantly, dying with his eyes wide open.
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