Once again, when Da Ning and Da Xia were locked in a standoff, it was no longer Chen Yan standing atop the gates of Da Xia, but Chen Chi.
"Soldiers, let us conquer the Great Xia in one fell swoop! When we return to the capital, the King will reward us handsomely!"
Ling Ku raised his arms and shouted, and the soldiers of Da Ning swarmed towards the walls of Da Xia.
Gu Qingyan's eyes were icy cold as he continuously brandished his longsword. With each strike, the enemy's blood splattered onto Gu Qingyan's face.
Da Ning advanced with unstoppable momentum, causing Da Xia to suffer repeated defeats.
Gu Qingyan's reputation spread to more people in the military camp, and almost everyone knew that there was a ruthless killer in the camp.
"Young master, judging from the current situation, we will definitely be able to conquer Great Xia in less than half a month."
Their young master was even more valiant than his master was at that age.
Ling Ku looked at Gu Qingyan with great respect. Even someone as dull as him could see the future of Da Ning in his young master.
"Less than half a month?"
Gu Qingyan adjusted his armor, and every move he made surprised Ling Ku. Why did he feel that his young master seemed like a different person?
"I need to disguise myself and return to Daqing, General Ling."
"Young Master, the destruction of Great Xia is imminent, and the Prime Minister wishes you to do it yourself..."
Before Ling Ku could finish speaking, Gu Qingyan laughed, "The destruction of the Great Xia should be attributed to the efforts of many soldiers, not to any one person."
During this trip with the military, he learned everything he needed to know.
"Young Master can return to Daning first and meet with the Prime Minister. I'm sure the Prime Minister also has a lot to say to you."
"No need. I've already sent a message to Qin Wei. He'll be waiting for me in Yin City." Seeing that Ling Ku still wanted to say something, Gu Qingyan pointed in the direction of the Daqing Imperial Palace. "I have to go back to celebrate my mother's birthday."
"By the way, General Ling, do you know why I never retreated a single step on the battlefield?"
Ling Ku paused for a moment, then said, "Young Master is the Crown Prince of Da Ning."
"That's not all."
Gu Qingyan grinned. "I still have the blood of the Jiang family in my veins. On the battlefield, members of the Jiang family can never retreat a single step."
Previously, he had been blinded by the dream of unifying the world.
Now he understands.
Indium City.
Seeing Gu Qingyan looking travel-worn, Qin Wei stepped forward without a word to help Gu Qingyan change into ordinary people's clothes, and then smeared coal ash on his face. "Your Highness, shall we set off back to Daqing immediately?"
Gu Qingyan nodded, and Qin Wei didn't ask any more questions.
As the sun sets, the young man mounts his horse, eager to return home.
......
Amidst the fierce winds and torrential rain, Gu Qingyan had no choice but to seek shelter at an inn.
"Your Highness, let's rest here for the night before continuing our journey. If we keep track of the time, we can make it in time for Her Majesty's birthday."
The moment Gu Qingyan stepped into the inn, he immediately became alert.
"Your Highness, I have been waiting here for a long time."
Zhuo Yi smiled and raised the cup in his hand, his smile looking completely harmless.
"Why is the Prime Minister here?" Gu Qingyan sat opposite Zhuo Yi, and the look in his eyes was no longer as kind as before he joined the army.
"I only wish to see Your Highness off here." Zhuo Yi refilled Gu Qingyan's teacup. "Please, Your Highness."
"I'm still a little unaccustomed to the Prime Minister calling me Your Highness."
Gu Qingyan took a sip of tea, feeling a surge of warmth throughout his body. "The Prime Minister sent me to the military camp. I understand everything he wanted me to understand, and perhaps even things he didn't want me to understand."
"Your Highness has still chosen the Jiang family."
Zhuo Yi spoke in a definitive statement, without the slightest doubt.
"My mother told me about what happened back then. If my father hadn't risked his life to protect me, I certainly wouldn't be alive today." Gu Qingyan looked directly into Zhuo Yi's eyes. "Now my father has handed over the Crown Prince's seal to me, and I will be able to unify the world. I don't think anyone could resist such a temptation."
"But isn't Your Highness refusing right now?"
"Prime Minister, my mother is now surrounded by enemies on all sides and lives cautiously in the palace."
“When she adopted me, she told me that I was a man and that I could become a marquis and prime minister by my own abilities and live a carefree life.” Gu Qingyan smiled. “My father is also a man, so perhaps he will have a more suitable successor in the future.”
“But my mother only has me.”
“My mother and I, we both have the blood of the Jiang family flowing in our veins.” Gu Qingyan’s teacup was empty. “I cannot step on the flesh and blood of the Jiang family to ascend that supreme throne.”
"The first step to becoming a king is to be ruthless."
Zhuo Yi's tone was unusually calm, but Gu Qingyan remained unmoved.
Instead, he slowly straightened up and said, "Prime Minister, farewell."
If becoming a king meant being so heartless, he couldn't do it.
"Does Your Highness only have the blood of the Jiang family in your veins?" Gu Qingyan stopped in his tracks, and Zhuo Yi's voice rang out again, "You have both the blood of the Gu family and the blood of the Jiang family."
"What do you mean?" Gu Qingyan turned around abruptly, his eyes narrowing.
"This is a letter from the King. Your Highness, please read it yourself."
A letter was handed to Gu Qingyan. The letter was incredibly light, yet Gu Qingyan's hands trembled slightly.
......
The Imperial Palace of Daqing, Zhaoning Palace.
"Your Majesty, His Majesty went to the Imperial Prison again today."
Hearing Wanji's report, Jiang Yu's expression was mocking.
[I'm afraid Gu Qingling will be released again in a few days. I wonder if she's truly insane or just pretending.]
"I wonder how things are going with Ayan."
Jiang Yu felt a slight tremor in her heart when she thought of Gu Qingyan. Ayan... was Gu Lin's son, who had accepted the seal of Da Ning. She had once sincerely hoped that Ayan could unify the world.
But now, the Gu family and her Jiang family have a deep-seated hatred that has lasted for generations.
Jiang Yu was momentarily at a loss as to what to do next.
"Da Ning's advance is unstoppable; they will surely destroy Da Xia in one fell swoop this time."
Hearing the expected result, Jiang Yu pursed her lips and said, "I understand."
"Wanji, go and investigate someone for me."
On the other side, Zonglao.
Gu Qingling's injuries have almost fully recovered. Looking at Gu Qingling's innocent and harmless appearance, Gu Heng smiled and said, "I will think of a way to take you out later. This time, I brought you some ancient books first."
Fearing that Gu Qingling's amnesia would cause her to forget her knowledge, a pile of ancient books was sent to the imperial prison.
Gu Qingling got up, opened a book, and began to read aloud with great conviction. The more she read, the brighter the light in Gu Heng's eyes became.
"Imperial Physician, what's wrong with Ling'er...?"
"Your Majesty, the knowledge has long been ingrained in the Crown Prince's heart, and he will not forget it even if he loses his memory."
"Excellent!"
Gu Heng laughed a few times and happily walked out of the prison.
A few days later, Gu Qingyan arrived in the capital, travel-worn and exhausted.
"Your Highness, are you going directly back to the palace to see the Empress?"
Gu Qingyan paused, expecting a positive response, but then said, "Let's go stay at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence first. If someone recognizes me now, it will be a big problem."
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