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The mornings on Kamimyama are always a little chilly.

Jiang Si wrapped his white fox fur coat tightly around him and looked at the misty mountains in the distance.

In a trance, I seemed to see myself standing in the same position in my previous life.

"Jiang Si, the Great Elder has been waiting in the conference room for a long time." Lu Chuchu reminded softly, her bright eyes full of worry.

Jiang Si came back to his senses and nodded gently: "Let's go."

In the meeting hall, the seven elders of Nanwu were standing on both sides, and in the center sat the chief elder Wumuda with white hair and beard.

His sharp eyes locked onto Jiang Si the moment she stepped into the hall.

"Miss Jiang, I heard that you are coming to negotiate peace with Nanwu on behalf of the Great Zhou?" Wumuda's voice was low and majestic, with obvious suspicion.

Jiang Si performed a Southern Wu salute with a calm demeanor, "Great Elder, please understand. I have come here to prevent the suffering of the people of both nations."

The Third Elder sneered, "What a boast! How dare a mere woman discuss military and national affairs?"

Lu Chuchu couldn't help but step forward: "Third Elder, please..."

Jiang Si raised his hand to stop Lu Chuchu, and looked at the Third Elder calmly: "Third Elder, do you know why Nanwu ultimately failed in the war thirty years ago?"

“…” The hall suddenly fell silent.

The defeat thirty years ago is an eternal pain for Southern Ukraine, and no one dares to mention it easily.

"Because the Nanwu army encountered a once-in-a-century snowstorm on the day of Frost Descent, their supply lines were cut off, and more than half of the 100,000 soldiers froze or starved to death." Jiang Si's voice was soft, but every word was as powerful as a hammer. "This year, Frost Descent will arrive seven days early."

The great elder Wumuda stood up suddenly and said, "How do you know this? This matter is the highest military secret of Southern Wu!"

Jiang Si closed his eyes, and memories of his past life came flooding back.

She saw corpses all over the mountains, the wailing soldiers, and herself standing in the snow crying helplessly.

"Because I've been there before." She opened her eyes, tears welling in them. "In my dream, I saw the outcome of this war. Both the Great Zhou and the Southern Wu suffered heavy losses. Ten border cities were reduced to scorched earth, and 300,000 civilians were displaced. In the end, the Northern Di took advantage of the situation and invaded, nearly destroying both countries."

The Second Elder scoffed, "Ridiculous! How can a dream count?"

"What if I told you I know there's a secret passage beneath the Nanwu Royal Court, built by the founding monarch, Urhan, as a precaution, with the entrance just three feet below the throne?" Jiang Si looked directly at the Great Elder and continued with a shocking revelation. "This secret should only be known by the Great Elders of all generations, right?"

Umudah's expression changed.

He sat down slowly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest: "Go on."

"Retreating isn't a sign of weakness, but a wise move." Jiang Si stepped forward. "Civil strife will soon break out in the Great Zhou. By then, Nanwu can maximize its benefits at the lowest cost. If we fight now, both sides will suffer."

"What evidence do you have to prove that there will be internal strife in the Great Zhou?" asked the fourth elder.

Jiang Si pulled a letter from his sleeve. "This is evidence that the Princess of Great Zhou falsely transmitted the imperial edict, ordering the border general Cui Xu to attack Nanwu. She is planning to usurp the throne."

The elders passed the letter around and whispered to each other.

Wumuda pondered for a long time, and finally said: "Even so, after Nanwu withdraws his troops, Da Zhou will become stronger. Wouldn't we be in greater danger?"

Jiang Si smiled faintly. "Great Elder, have you ever thought about why war is necessary to strengthen Nanwu? Nanwu is rich in jade and medicinal herbs, which the Great Zhou needs. And the silk and porcelain of the Great Zhou are coveted by the Nanwu nobles. Wouldn't opening border trade and exchanging what we have and what we don't have be more beneficial than war?"

"Are you asking us, Nanwu, to bow to the Great Zhou court?" the third elder said angrily.

"No, this is about letting Southern Ukraine gain benefits through wisdom rather than bloodshed," Jiang Si said firmly. "I can facilitate peace talks between the two countries and ensure that Southern Ukraine gets the respect and benefits it deserves."

Wu Muda looked at Jiang Si and suddenly asked, "Who are you? These are not things that an ordinary woman can know and do."

Jiang Si took a deep breath and said, "I am Jiang Si, and I am also the reincarnation of the Saint Nanwu."

There was an uproar in the hall.

The Great Elder stood up suddenly, his eyes flashing with disbelief: "What did you say?"

"Thirty years ago, Wuya, the last saint of Nanwu, jumped off a cliff to stop the war. Before her death, she vowed to end the hatred between the two countries in her next life." Jiang Si's voice was soft but firm. "I am her reincarnation."

Lu Chuchu also looked at Jiang Si in surprise. Obviously, this was the first time she heard about this.

The Great Elder trembled as he got down from his seat and walked in front of Jiang Si, examining her face carefully. "No wonder... No wonder you look so familiar to me..."

He suddenly looked at Jiang Si with tears in his eyes, "Wu Ya...is it really you who came back?"

Jiang Si gently held the Great Elder's hand and said, "Great Elder, please believe me. Retreating is for the better future of Nanwu."

Wumuda was silent for a long time, and finally turned to the elders and announced: "Pass on my order, the entire army retreats thirty miles and awaits further instructions."

……

Meanwhile, in the Northern Border military camp, Yu Qi was facing a difficult negotiation.

Inside General Cui Xu's tent, candlelight flickered.

The general, who was over forty years old, had a resolute face and his brows were marked by the frost left by years of fighting.

He repeatedly looked at the "imperial edict" sent by the eldest princess with a frown on his face.

"Your Highness Prince of Yan, you keep saying that this is a fake imperial edict. Do you have any evidence?" Cui Xu placed the imperial edict on the table, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

Yu Qi calmly took out a jade pendant from his bosom and asked, "General, do you recognize this?"

Cui Xu's pupils shrank: "This is... the emperor's personal jade pendant!"

"That's right! When the Emperor handed this item to me, he said that if the general saw the jade, it would be like seeing you." Yu Qi said seriously, "The Princess has placed the Emperor under house arrest and is plotting a rebellion. This imperial decree is definitely not the Emperor's original intention."

Cui Xu took the jade pendant, examined it carefully, and sighed, "Even so, I can't easily mobilize the border guards. The Southern Wu army is approaching, and if we withdraw our defenses, the border will be in danger."

Yu Qi stepped forward and said, "Don't worry, General. Jiang Si has already gone to Nanwu to negotiate peace. Good news will be coming soon."

"Jiang Si?" Cui Xu raised an eyebrow. "Is she the woman with you? How could she convince Nanwu to withdraw his troops?"

Yu Qi smiled slightly: "General Cui, because she is the reincarnation of the saint in the Nanwu legend."

Cui Xu almost dropped the teacup in his hand. "What? The reincarnation of the Saint? Your Highness, Prince Yan, you can't make such a joke!"

"Absolutely true." Yu Qi said solemnly, "General, you should have heard the legend of the Nanwu Saint jumping off a cliff thirty years ago. Jiang Si possesses all of the Saint's memories, and she can influence Nanwu's decision-making."

Cui Xu stood up and paced back and forth in the tent. "Even so, secretly sending troops back to the capital is a serious crime. If the princess is not plotting rebellion, my entire Cui family is in danger."

"General!" Yu Qi also stood up. "The Emperor is in imminent danger, and the Great Zhou Dynasty is in jeopardy. As a general guarding the frontier, are you going to sit idly by and watch a traitor usurp the throne?"

Cui Xu turned around abruptly and asked, "Do you know what will happen if I lead my troops back to the capital and the border is left empty? What if the Southern Wu invades?"

At that moment, a messenger hurried into the tent: "Report! General, the Nanwu army suddenly withdrew thirty miles, and the scouts reported that they are dismantling the siege equipment!"

Cui Xu and Yu Qi were both stunned.

Yu Qi quickly reacted and said with a smile, "It seems Jiang Si has succeeded. General, what are you worried about now?"

Cui Xu looked at Yu Qi in shock: "She really did it..."

Yu Qi seized the opportunity and said, "General, this opportunity must not be missed. We can disguise ourselves as a merchant caravan and secretly return to the capital, catching the princess off guard."

Cui Xu pondered for a long time before finally making up his mind: "Okay! Today, I, Cui Xu, will risk my life and the lives of my entire clan to go back to the capital with you to defend the king!"

……

In Ling'an City, Zhen Heng was imprisoned in a dark and damp prison.

The princess's minions tortured him to the point of forcing him to reveal the whereabouts of the people from Dongping State Government.

"Master Zhen, why suffer for a few unrelated people?" The interrogator pinched Zhen Heng's chin. "Tell me, Her Royal Highness the Princess might even use you."

Zhen Heng spat out a mouthful of blood and sneered, "Tell the princess that she will never find those people."

The interrogator was furious and was about to torture him again when a guard suddenly ran over and whispered something in his ear. The interrogator's face changed and he hurriedly left the cell.

Zhen Heng raised his head with difficulty, and through the narrow window, he saw a blue kite floating in the sky. It was the secret signal agreed upon by him and Princess Fuqing.

A smile appeared on his pale face, and he used his last strength to carve a symbol on the wall.

At the same time, Princess Fuqing was "flying a kite" in the imperial garden, and her eyes occasionally drifted towards the prison outside the palace wall.

"Princess, the Queen is looking for you." A palace maid came hurriedly.

Fuqing put away the kite string and said softly, "I understand."

When she arrived at the queen's bedroom, she found the queen packing her belongings.

"Mother?" Fuqing looked at all this in surprise.

The Queen turned around, tears in her eyes: "Qing'er, your mother has found a secret passage out of the palace. You will leave tonight and go find your uncle."

Fuqing shook her head firmly: "No, my daughter will not leave. I want to be with my mother."

"Silly child," the queen stroked her daughter's face, "the princess won't let us go. If anyone can escape, it's a good one."

Fuqing held her mother's hand and said, "Mother, Prince Yan and General Cui will definitely return. Lord Zhen said they are on their way."

The Queen sighed, "I hope so... but you must be prepared. If the situation changes, you must leave immediately."

Fuqing nodded, but secretly swore in her heart: unless Zhen Heng went with her, she would never escape alone.

……

Three days later, Yu Qi and Cui Xu's team disguised themselves as a merchant caravan and successfully sneaked into Ling'an City.

However, at the city gate, the guards discovered something unusual.

"Stop!" the soldiers stopped the convoy. "What's in your car?"

Cui Xu's men nervously grasped the hilt of the knife hidden under the cargo.

Yu Qi quietly signaled them to calm down, and then he went to greet them with a smile on his face: "General, we are herbal medicine merchants from the north. We have some tonics like ginseng and deer antlers in our car."

The soldier looked at them suspiciously: "Open it and check!"

At this critical moment, a group of people came out of the city.

The leader was the King of Qi.

"What's going on?" The majestic voice of King Qi came.

The soldier saluted quickly and said, "Your Highness, I suspect there's something wrong with this caravan and am about to check it out."

The King of Qi glanced at the caravan, his gaze lingering on Yu Qi's face for a moment before he said, "This is a merchant I invited. Do I have to be inspected as well?"

The soldier was so frightened that he shook his head repeatedly: "No, no! Your Highness, please do as you please."

The King of Qi snorted coldly and waved to the caravan: "Follow me."

In this way, Yu Qi and Cui Xu were brought to the Dongping Marquis's Mansion.

In the secret room, King Qi described the situation in the palace in detail.

"The Princess has already taken control of the Imperial Guards and most of the court officials." The King of Qi said solemnly, "She plans to force the Emperor to abdicate during the sacrificial ceremony the day after tomorrow."

Yu Qi frowned. "Time is running out. We must act quickly."

Cui Xu asked, "How is the guarding situation in the palace?"

The Prince of Qi produced a map and said, "The Princess trusts her 'Swift Wind Guards' the most. They have three hundred men, and they guard the Emperor and important ministers day and night."

Yu Qi studied the map carefully, and suddenly his eyes lit up: "I have an idea. We can send someone to secretly replace these Gale Guards."

"How to do it?" King Qi asked in confusion.

Yu Qi smiled: "The Gale Guards are all wearing masks. This is our opportunity. As long as we understand their shift patterns and passwords..."

The three of them planned in the secret room until late at night, and a bold plan gradually took shape.

……

On the day of the sacrificial ceremony, the eldest princess dressed in gorgeous clothes and walked towards the Taimiao with a proud look on her face.

Behind her were the "escorted" emperor and empress, as well as a group of coerced ministers.

"Brother, what have you considered?" the princess whispered to the emperor. "Today, in front of our ancestors, if you write a letter of abdication, you can still save your life."

The emperor's face was pale but firm: "I would rather die than hand over the country to a traitor like you!"

The eldest princess sneered: "Then don't blame my sister for being ruthless."

She waved her hand, and the guards immediately brought forward the Queen and several important officials. "Every time an incense stick of time passes, I will kill one person. My royal brother, please take your time to consider this."

When the first stick of incense burned out, the virtuous concubine was pushed out.

The eldest princess drew her dagger and asked, "Who should I start with?"

At this moment, the King of Qi came hurriedly holding the imperial seal: "Your Highness, the seal has been found!"

The princess was so overjoyed that she forgot to be on guard for a moment and quickly walked towards the King of Qi: "Give it to me now!"

Just as she reached out to take the jade seal, Yu Qi, disguised as a eunuch, suddenly flashed out from behind the King of Qi and put a dagger to the princess's throat.

"Don't move!" Yu Qi shouted sternly, "If anyone dares to come forward, I will kill her!"

The eldest princess's guards were at a loss for what to do.

The eldest princess was surprisingly calm: "Yu Qi, do you think this can turn the situation around? Those people outside are all mine!"

Yu Qi sneered: "Really?"

As if in response to his words, a large number of archers suddenly appeared on the rooftops around the hall.

Cui Xu walked in fully armed: "Your Highness, your men have all been taken under control."

The princess panicked: "Impossible! Where are the Swift Wind Guards?"

"Is that what you're talking about?" Cui Xu waved his hand with disdain.

A group of soldiers wearing Gale Guard masks took off their masks, revealing their true faces. They were all Cui Xu's subordinates.

The eldest princess looked ashen, but she still refused to give up: "My trusted followers will not sit idly by!"

Yu Qi leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Are you referring to Master Nineteen? Unfortunately, he fell silent... forever last night."

The eldest princess finally realized that the situation was hopeless, her legs went weak and she fell to her knees.

The emperor stepped forward, his eyes filled with mixed emotions: "I've treated you well, why are you doing this?"

The eldest princess looked up, her eyes gleaming with madness. "Because this kingdom should have been mine! Just because I was born a woman, do I have to be inferior to others forever? I refuse to accept that!"

Yu Qi handed the princess over to the guards and turned to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, the rebels have been largely eliminated. Miss Jiang Si has also successfully persuaded Nan Wu to withdraw his troops."

The emperor nodded with satisfaction: "Good, good! Yu Qi, Cui Xu, you have made great contributions, and I will definitely reward you handsomely."

Just when everyone thought everything was settled, a messenger rushed over: "Report! The Southern Wu army has suddenly regrouped. Great Elder Wumuda claims that the Saint Girl is under house arrest in the Great Zhou Dynasty and is threatening to bring an army to investigate!"

Yu Qi's expression changed drastically: "Not good! Jiang seems to be in danger!"

...(End of chapter)