Catapults were brought to the front of Youlan Valley, and stone balls covered with pine resin were placed on them, lit, and launched.
Fireballs, like red shooting stars, flew towards the Valley of the Orchid.
After three consecutive hours of firing, no thick smoke rose from Youlan Valley, indicating that the fireballs were ineffective.
"Pause." Jun Molin raised his hand.
All catapults immediately stopped.
"Your Highness, the fireball is useless. What should we do now?" Pei Chen asked.
The Valley of Orchids is surrounded by mountains, all of which are steep cliffs that are impossible to climb. Outside the mountains, a rushing river winds its way around, making it a truly impregnable fortress.
Jun Molin remained silent, his eyes unfathomable, as he had no solution for the time being.
"High Priest, the fireball has stopped," Gao Muqing reported to Jing Hongying as he came down from the observation platform.
"Mm." Jinghongying nodded.
When he chose Youlan Valley, he knew that it was a naturally defensible place, and there was no other way to get in except by fire.
Therefore, when building the valley, he ordered all the timber used for building the houses to be coated with lime mud, so that the houses built with the lime mud would not be easily ignited.
He chose three types of vegetation for the valley: coral trees, sea pines, and ivy. These three plants are natural fire-resistant trees; they won't burn even if placed in a fire.
The Valley of Orchids is now impeccable!
"High Priest, should we launch a counterattack?" Gao Muqing asked eagerly.
"No need, just keep at it with Jun Molin." The High Priest took a sip of tea and said calmly.
“But this is a golden opportunity! Are we exposing Youlan Valley just to waste time with Jun Molin?” Gao Muqing didn’t understand.
“Yes, we exposed Orchid Valley just to wear down Jun Molin.” The High Priest finished speaking and sighed silently.
Although Yuan'er's move achieved two goals at once, it was far too risky. If he hadn't been careful, the Heavenly Demon Sect would have been destroyed.
I hope everything goes well!
Yun Qingran and Yun Qingbi led 10,000 light cavalry to Western Yan.
"Who goes there?" At the border city of Xiyan, the city gates were tightly closed. General Hu Tiande, the garrison commander, stood on the city wall, looking at the more than 10,000 people below, and asked warily.
"I am Princess Rongchang of Beiyin, and I am a close friend of your Crown Princess Zhaohua. She invited me to visit Xiyan. This is her personal token." Yun Qingran took a token from her waist and held it high.
Hu Tiande looked at the token, which had the words "Princess Zhaohua personally visited" written on it, and was also engraved with the national seal.
This is no ordinary token; it is a token that symbolizes the presence of Princess Zhaohua herself. Seeing this token is like witnessing Princess Zhaohua's personal presence.
Looking at the token, Hu Tiande hesitated. The Emperor had passed away, and Princess Zhaohua had already been imprisoned by Prince Jing. If he were to release this Princess Rongchang of Beiyin to Yanjing now, who knew what kind of trouble it would cause?
"Hu Tiande, I remember that your title of General of the Garrison was personally bestowed by the Emperor of Yan, wasn't it?" Yun Qingran curled her lips slightly, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes.
Although she came to Western Yan under the guise of visiting Princess Zhaohua, the fact that she brought such well-equipped cavalry would cause trouble even under normal circumstances, let alone in the midst of chaos in Yanjing. Therefore, she inquired about the life of General Hu Tiande, the garrison commander, on her way there.
Hu Tiande was personally promoted by the Yan Emperor, who had shown him great favor.
Hu Tiande's expression turned somewhat unpleasant after hearing Yun Qingran's words. Was she implying that she was favored by the Yan Emperor but not helping Princess Zhaohua, who was also favored by the Yan Emperor?
"Princess Rongchang, did you really come to Xiyan to visit Princess Zhaohua?" Hu Tiande asked, staring at Yun Qingran.
The fact that she could utter such veiled remarks indicates that she already knew what had happened in Yanjing. Her purpose in coming to Xiyan was probably not to visit Princess Zhaohua, but rather she had other plans.
"In short, I came here for Princess Zhaohua. As her good friend, I will never let her be bullied by villains." Yun Qingran looked at Hu Tiande with sparkling eyes.
Hu Tiande lowered his head and hesitated.
"Hu Tiande, the Emperor of Yan has shown you great favor, don't you really remember? Even if you don't remember, does your Prince Jing remember?" Yun Qingran's lips curled into a cool smile, her phoenix eyes slightly raised.
Hu Tiande trembled. If His Highness Jing succeeded in seizing the throne and became the new emperor, his first step would definitely be to eliminate the emperor and Zhaohua's forces. He himself was promoted by the emperor and belonged to the emperor's forces.
"Given your kindness and the bright future ahead, have you thought this through?" Yun Qingran continued to press.
Hu Tiande hesitated for a moment, then looked up and stared intently at her, asking, "Is Princess Rongchang really here only to help Princess Zhaohua?"
What if Princess Rongchang is planning to take advantage of the situation? Wouldn't he be inviting a wolf into his house?
"I swear to heaven that I will not take a single needle or thread from Yanjing this time," Yun Qingran said, raising her hand to swear.
Hu Tiande nodded, then ordered, "Open the city gates and let Princess Rongchang of Beiyin in."
At the command, the massive city gates slowly opened.
"Thank you." Yun Qingran clasped her hands in a fist salute to Hu Tiande, then led the light cavalry into the city.
“Princess Rongchang, there is still a long way to go to Yanjing. Let me escort you.” After entering the city, Hu Tiande came down from the city wall and said to Yun Qingran.
"Oh?" Yun Qingran looked at him with great interest.
"His Majesty has shown me great favor. Now that Princess Zhaohua is trapped, I must fight with my back to the wall and rescue her," Hu Tiande said, licking his lips.
If he fails to save Princess Zhaohua on this trip to Yanjing, his career will be over, and his life will be over as well. But if he saves Princess Zhaohua and helps her ascend the throne, he will have rendered meritorious service, and not only himself, but also the future of his descendants will be limitless.
He was trying to gamble and make a fortune. Yun Qingran naturally wouldn't refuse, saying, "Let's go."
"Yes." Hu Tiande nodded, then selected three thousand cavalrymen to accompany Yun Qingran to Yanjing.
Zhaohua Palace
"Qiuju, how are you?" Yan Shuangshuang was dressed in white mourning clothes, her hair was simply combed up, with a small white flower in her hair bun. Her face was without makeup, and she looked very tired and somewhat disheveled.
"The entire Yan Palace has been taken over by that traitor Yan Jing," Qiu Ju said angrily.
"Where is Father?" Yan Shuangshuang's eyes instantly filled with tears as she mentioned the Emperor.
"The Emperor's remains have been moved to the Ju'an Hall," Qiuju said in a low voice.
Ju'an Hall is a side hall. The emperor's remains should have been kept in the main hall, Chaoyang Hall, where the emperor resided.
"Outrageous! That lowly Yan Jing dares to place my father's body in a side hall. I, the princess, will have him torn to pieces!" Princess Zhaohua was furious and tried to leave.
When she arrived at the palace gate, the door was locked, and no matter how much she pounded on it, the people outside wouldn't open it for her.
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