Li Ji looked at Che Zhaohua and saw that her ashamed expression did not seem fake, so she couldn't help but sigh secretly.

If she were to talk about resentment towards the Che family and Che Zhaohua, she did have some resentment.

Why should she become Che Zhaohua's cover and target, and end up with the death of both mother and child?

But ever since she sent someone to visit Che's residence a few days ago and learned that Che Zhaohua was making a fuss about wanting an abortion, her resentment towards Che Zhaohua gradually dissipated.

She has worked her way through the world of pleasure and knows best how difficult it is to be a woman. Now, between her and Che Zhaohua, who can tell who is more pitiful?

"Miss Che, women have a hard time in this world, and now you and I are both suffering from it. What's the point of me beating you, scolding you, and wanting your life?"

"But if you want to leave the palace now, I'm afraid it will be difficult."

"The Yong army is outside the city. King Jin Yu has sealed off the entire royal court. On the way to the Yangxin Palace just now, I saw that the Yulin Army had been replaced."

"I heard him mention those guards once. They only recognize people and nothing else. Even if you take the token of Prince Jin Yu, those guards will not let you leave the palace."

Che Zhaohua couldn't help feeling despair when he heard this, and could only smile sadly for a long while.

"Forget it. A good minister who has not met a wise master will always end up like this."

"Empress Li, Grandfather told me that Qiao Zhongguo is not a man who kills innocent people. Once the Yong army invades, I will tell General Qiao and the others that the child in my belly is a bastard."

"The medicine was brought back to the capital by my grandfather. I will do my best to explain the plan. I hope that this can save you from disaster and atone for the sins of my Che family."

When Li Ji heard this, a hint of shock flashed in her eyes.

If the first thing Che Zhaohua said when they first met was to ask her to run away, she already had a good impression of Che Zhaohua.

Now that Che Zhaohua is so frank and thoughtful, Li Ji has to look at him differently.

She is such a beautiful woman...

"Empress Li, can we go to the Yuchao Palace?"

Shen Yuanbai's low voice came from outside the curtain.

When Che Zhaohua heard the man's voice, he clenched his hands in fear, his face full of horror.

Seeing this, Li Ji comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid, Miss Che. The one outside is King Beigui. It was he who subdued King Jinyu."

"Okay, please wait."

Li Ji responded loudly, then looked at Che Zhaohua, who was alone and helpless with red eyes, and suddenly sighed.

She is always softer towards women.

"Miss Che, since you want to tell the truth for me, then stay with me."

Che Zhaohua nodded immediately. Li Ji had already pulled down the curtain on the couch to cover Che Zhaohua's belly.

"Just make do with it for now."

Having said that, Li Ji turned around and left the inner hall, opened the door of the Yangxin Palace, and called in A Duo and the other three who were guarding outside.

But when the palace door was opened, Li Ji was still gentle and kind, as if nothing had happened in the palace.

It was at this time that Che Zhaohua finally met Shen Yuanbai.

But ever since she learned the true identity of Prince Jin Yu, she has developed an inexplicable fear of non-males.

She just glanced at him at this moment, and even though Shen Yuanbai was Yu Liu's son, she didn't look at him any more.

As for Prince Jin Yu in the corner, no one knew what had happened to him as he was tortured by Shen Yuanbai. He was covered by a cloak and made no sound. Che Zhaohua did not dare to look over there.

But Che Zhaohua couldn't help feeling strange at this moment.

I just heard Prince Beigui say that he wanted to go to Yuchao Palace, so why is Empress Li calling everyone into the Yangxin Palace now?

Inside the palace, Shen Yuanbai glanced at Li Ji, who nodded slightly. The two seemed to have reached some kind of consensus...

————

Outside the royal capital.

Qiao Diyi finished shouting, but the guards at the South Gate never responded.

Qiao Diyi's expression remained unchanged. After all, he did not expect the soldiers guarding the city to compromise.

Unfortunately, it was already dark when they arrived here. The situation in the Northern Kingdom's capital was unclear, and it was easy to be ambushed in the dark, otherwise they would have taken action long ago.

As for the soldiers guarding the royal capital, they were actually afraid.

Especially at this moment, looking around, torches were burning outside the city, indicating the absolute numerical superiority of the Yong army.

However, behind them are the people of the royal capital and the royal court. Even if the king is in such a state, how dare they take a step back when the country is facing destruction?

At this time, neither the Qiao family nor the Northern Kingdom's defenders had expected or even imagined that the cruel and frenzied King Jin Yu had already raised his butcher knife against everyone in the royal court.

At the South City Gate, the soldiers guarding the city stood close together, forming a human wall on the city wall. All of them looked depressed and had no fighting spirit.

Seeing Qiao Diyi riding his horse back below the city, no one on the city wall dared to draw their bows and chase him.

After all, everyone knew that if they angered the Yong army, they would not have to wait until tomorrow, but would probably rush in regardless of everything tonight.

The soldiers guarding the city were staring at Qiao Diyi's back when suddenly a noise broke out from below the city, scaring them all.

After careful observation, I found that the commotion seemed to be happening in the city.

Someone on the tower immediately went down to check, and then a shout rang out:

"Master Che!"

"Master Che, you...how did you become like this..."

"It's Master Che!"

Under the city wall, Grand Tutor Che suddenly appeared.

He was sitting in a wheelchair, looking haggard. He looked much older and thinner than the day the incident happened at the South City Gate.

The person pushing the wheelchair behind him is Che Pingjin, the son of Che Taishi and the father of Che Zhaohua.

When everyone took a closer look, they discovered that Che Pingjin's right sleeve was empty, and he actually...had a broken arm!

The Che family guards who were following around were all injured to varying degrees, and the situation looked extremely tragic.

"Master Che, what on earth is this..."

Master Che sat in a wheelchair, looking at the towering South City Gate in front of him, feeling indescribable bitterness in his heart.

It's over. It's time to end.

Facing the questioning of the soldiers guarding the city, Master Che suddenly opened his clothes and exposed his chest.

There was a hideous scar on it, which had not yet healed completely!

The guards' faces changed drastically when they saw this. Grand Tutor Che spoke in a hoarse voice:

"The king is immoral, disregarding human ethics and bullying the princess first, and cruelly persecuting the palace maids later."

"I have been loyal to my country and king for decades. I dare not take credit for myself and do not seek fame. But the king sent people to kill more than a hundred people in my Che family!"

"The palace guards risked their lives to save me. I was able to escape death, my eldest son lost his arm to survive, and the rest of them all died!"

"The king has disregarded human life and killed innocent people indiscriminately, and has thrown my loyalty and righteousness away like a worn-out shoe. I have lost all hope."

When the soldiers guarding the city heard this, their expressions changed drastically.

You know, Master Che was a loyal and righteous minister who was well-known in the capital, but in the end, he almost had his entire family wiped out...

Master Che's eyes swept over everyone one by one, tears welling up in his eyes, but he continued:

"The country's fate is irreversible."

"The Yong army has never killed innocent people along the way. Your loyalty to the country is evident to all. However, if you continue to resist stubbornly today, it will only increase casualties."

"That's all..."

The soldiers guarding the city understood the meaning of Master Che's words and couldn't help but take a step back. Their hearts were pounding and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

As these words came out, Master Che had already burst into tears.

Isn't the decision tonight heartbreaking for him?

After all, the land beneath his feet is his homeland that he loves and to which he has devoted his whole life!

But since the king is in such a state, it is meaningless to continue supporting him.

And his granddaughter Zhaohua was abducted into the palace. He couldn't imagine how his granddaughter was being treated.

The royal court is still a solid block. Apart from the Yong army, no one can save his Huaer...

Che Hebi has been "blind" all his life, and now the country's destruction is inevitable. He can no longer let these good men on the city gate sacrifice in vain. He must do his best to save his granddaughter, whom he owes so much!

"Today's surrender is Che's decision, and it is also Che's plea to you all."

"So from now on, the history books of the people can call me a traitor. If one day the whole world slanders me and I am despised by everyone, then I, Che Hebi, deserve it!"

"You are innocent, and your loyalty is not wrong. Since your king is unkind, from now on, you should devote your enthusiasm to the Spring and Autumn Period, respect the mountains and rivers, and protect your family!"

Having said that, Master Che slowly raised his hand and saluted towards the soldiers guarding the city.

"I, Che, beg you all to open the city gates!"