You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

In the bedroom of the prefectural governor's mansion in the backyard.

"Grandma, how could this happen?"

Liu Hongyan's eyes were red and swollen, and her tone was unwilling. The other two women also lowered their heads and wept, their faces full of sorrow.

Since the turmoil began yesterday, their acupoints have been sealed by their mother-in-law, confining them to the bedroom. It wasn't until Lu Qingyuan returned this morning that they were able to tell her everything.

"well……"

Lu Qingyuan sighed softly, "What can we do now that things have come to this?"

"The secret medicine of the Black-Clad Guards is so potent that it can rip out one's heart and bones; apart from their unique antidote, no one can cure it."

"If An'er wants to live, she must obey orders."

"He had no choice, and neither did I. It was either death or obedience."

"But you lot..."

"That's so stupid!"

Lu Qingyuan raised her hand and stroked her daughters-in-law's hair: "Did you think that by responding to Dongyang and serving the Sui Dynasty, you would be appreciated and your family's power would rise further?"

"But don't you think the six great families would willingly let Dongyang take over the world?"

"Even if Dongyang conquers the world, how much will the Chen Kingdom's vitality be damaged by the ensuing turmoil?"

"The Sui Dynasty is still eyeing us covetously!"

Liu Hongyan: "But we..."

"Are you suggesting that serving the Sui Dynasty is also a good option?"

Lu Qingyuan scoffed, "The Great Sui Dynasty already has five prominent families and seven noble clans; where is there room for middle-ranking families like yours?"

"Have you seen enough instances of powerful families intermarrying and then annexing each other over the years?"

"In the State of Chen, you are deeply rooted and enjoy great wealth and honor."

"If we were to reach the Sui Dynasty..."

"I'm afraid they'll swallow even the bone fragments!"

The three daughters-in-law were all startled at the same time!

Liu Hongyan and the others finally panicked and stammered, "Then, what should we do now, Grandma?"

"What should we do?"

Lu Qingyuan looked towards the door: "Let's follow His Majesty's orders..."

"remember!"

"Whatever His Majesty asks you to do, you must do it to the best of your ability."

"Only in this way can you, and the families behind you, be preserved."

dong dong dong.

Just then, a sergeant knocked on the door.

"His Majesty has summoned me."

"Ladies, please wash and dress yourselves immediately, and come with me to the inner hall to see the Emperor."

.......

A short while later, in the back room.

"His Majesty is inside. Ladies, please go in."

With a creak, the soldier pushed open the door, and the scene inside came into view.

Liu Hongyan looked up and saw a tall, handsome young man with bright, clear eyes sitting in the main seat, looking down at the table in front of him.

On the table was a detailed map of Nantong.

As for her husband, Shen An, she stood cautiously to the side, pointing out the key points of Nantong to him.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Lu Qingyuan patted the backs of her daughters-in-law's hands to show them not to be afraid, and then took the lead in going in and kneeling down to worship.

Liu Hongyan and the others nervously entered the back hall, kneeling down like their mother-in-law and shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

"Has Madam arrived?"

Lu Zuo waved his hand and said without looking up, "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Liu Hongyan and the others said softly, stood up gracefully, and then froze on the spot!

Then, Lu Qingyuan, the mother-in-law, stepped forward and came directly to the emperor's side. She gently leaned against him and said softly, "Your Majesty, these are my daughters-in-law."

Lu Zuo reached out and pulled Lu Qingyuan into his arms, placing her on his lap, which made her giggle and exclaim, "Your Majesty is so annoying..."

what?

The three women stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with astonishment!

My mother-in-law...

Looking at her husband, he was still as cautious and timid as ever, not daring to even lift his head.

Recalling the emperor's disgraceful reputation, Liu Hongyan and the others exchanged glances, all feeling even more apprehensive about this audience with the emperor.

As he pondered, Lu Zuo's gentle voice reached his ears: "How many martial artists and soldiers do the Liu, Bu, and Fang families of Wu County have?"

"What is the cultivation level of the clan's disciples?"

Liu Hongyan replied softly, "Your Majesty, the Liu family has a total of 5,000 soldiers and about 700 martial artists under its command."

"There are about five hundred members of the Liu family, most of whom have acquired their strength later in life, while a few are not skilled in martial arts."

"I... I and the elders of my clan are all of the Innate Realm."

Oh?

This woman is actually a congenital being?

Lu Zuo looked up and carefully examined Liu Hongyan before turning to the other two women: "And you?"

"Your Majesty, the Bu family and the Fang family are roughly equal in terms of their backgrounds, but the Bu family is slightly inferior to the Liu family."

"The garrison has three thousand soldiers, five hundred warriors under its command, and more than three hundred and sixty members of the clan who practice martial arts, all of whom are trained later in life."

"Only my father and a few uncles, my great-uncle, have entered the Innate Realm."

Lu Zuo calculated in his mind that if the three families used all their resources, it would be equivalent to the fighting strength of more than 20,000 Divine Martial Army soldiers...

Thinking of this, he said in a deep voice, "You three families have received the favor and blessings of the Chen state for generations, protecting your homeland. You should be loyal to the country and serve your superiors diligently."

"However, instead of thinking of repaying the country, you harbor the hearts of wolves and jackals, secretly colluding with the Northern Sui and joining forces with the rebel Dongyang."

"They even dare to stir up trouble in Nantong, attempting to divide Chen territory and disrupt the hearts of my people."

"You tell me yourselves!"

"Should this heinous crime of treason be punishable by the extermination of three generations of the family, or the execution of nine generations?"

As soon as he finished speaking, under the impetus of the Imperial Scripture, a majestic and imposing aura of an emperor suddenly erupted from his body!

It is as majestic as the heavens, and as imposing as a mountain!

Pressing down on them, he instantly felt a chill run down his spine, a coldness shooting straight to his head, and his heart and lungs felt as if they were being gripped tightly by a giant hand, making it difficult to breathe...

poof...

Shen An was the first to succumb and kneel on the ground.

Thump, thump, thump...

Immediately afterwards, the three women knelt down and bowed their heads, their pretty faces deathly pale and their foreheads covered in sweat.

"His Majesty!"

"I know I was wrong, Your Majesty, please have mercy! Please have mercy!"

Lu Zuo's imposing manner subsided, and he pondered for a moment before saying, "Considering that your mother-in-law and husband have already repented and made meritorious contributions, I may give you a chance."

"As long as you write a letter back to Wu County, explaining the advantages and disadvantages to your family, and persuading them to pull back from the brink and submit to the imperial court."

"I will then pardon you and your families for their sins."

Will this work?

Treason is a heinous crime. Once committed, it's like an arrow on a bowstring, there's no turning back!

Lu Qingyuan glanced at Lu Zuo with a questioning look, but the latter ignored her and instead beckoned the women to come forward and write letters.

Shortly after, the three letters were written.

Lu Zuo handed the letter to the soldier beside him and instructed, "Give it to Chen Wu and have him find a way to get these three letters into the hands of the Dongyang spies."

"Yes."

The soldier took the letter and left the back room.

The women in the hall then understood Lu Zuo's intention: he didn't want to persuade them to surrender, but rather to make Shen Xun suspicious and leave the three families with no way out!

At least……

After the uprising in Dongyang, the combined strength of the three families was insufficient to assist Shen Xun!

After finishing his business, Lu Zuo stood up from his seat, walked slowly to Liu Hongyan, and lifted her chin with his hand: "My lady, would you be willing to share my bed tonight?"

coming!

Shen Anxin, kneeling on the ground, shuddered and thought to himself: This moment has finally come!

"I, this humble servant..."

Liu Hongyan's delicate body trembled!

She glanced at her mother-in-law and saw Lu Qingyuan winking at her repeatedly. She said softly, "His Majesty has given the order, and I dare not disobey."

Lu Zuo then looked at the other two women: "What about you?"

"This concubine dares not disobey."

"His Majesty!"

Suddenly, a hurried shout came from the back room.

Lu Zuo looked up and saw Chen Wu rushing into the back hall with a red-feathered secret letter in his hand.

"Your Majesty, Shen Xun has rebelled!"

He knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice, "I have just received a secret report that Shen Xun has already raised an army in Dongyang, gathering 180,000 troops by land and sea, and is marching towards Nantong!"

"People from all over the country who have attached themselves to Shen Xun's family are rushing to provide support."

So fast?

Lu Zuo knew this day would come sooner or later, but he didn't expect it to come so quickly.

"Summon all officers of the Divine Martial Battalion to the Prefectural Governor's Mansion immediately for a meeting!"

"Yes."

……

At this moment, outside Dongyang City, in the open wilderness.

"Waaaaah..."

Accompanied by the sound of bugles, squads of heavily armored infantry marched in unison like a torrent, heading into the distance.

It's over, it's over, it's over...

The soldiers, their faces concealed by iron helmets, pointed their spears at an angle, the rubbing of their armor plates creating a monotonous, tidal sound that shook the ground, causing pebbles to bounce and dust to billow.

More formations followed closely behind: archers, cavalry, and supply wagons...

The clanging of metal and the groaning of wheels intertwined, like heavy, muffled thunder, pouring out continuously.

Men, horses, weapons, and flags converged into an iron-colored torrent, carrying a weight that could devour everything, pressing down into the distance.

On a gentle slope in the distance, a towering figure stands.

This man was dressed in armor, with white hair and beard, exuding a powerful aura. His eyes were sharp as knives, radiating a sense of oppressive power.

And he was the backbone of the Shen family in Wuxing, the true head of the family, Shen Xun!

"The army marched forth, its might blotting out the sky, stretching endlessly, truly awe-inspiring and unstoppable force..."

Behind him, an old man with a hunched back, wearing a gray robe, with a withered face and holding a cane, said in a hoarse voice, "No wonder so many people in the world are fighting for the word 'power'."

"The allure of a thousand troops being mobilized at a single command is truly enviable."

"Hehehe..."

Beside him, a petite man who looked like a seven or eight-year-old child grinned and said, "Ghost Lord, once Lord Shen kills the tyrant and takes the world."

"I could also bestow upon you the title of Grand General to satisfy your craving."

"Oh, oh, oh, no, no..." the old man hurriedly waved his hands, "I don't know anything about military strategy, how could I command an army?"

"I'm fine with charging in recklessly and tearing through enemy lines, but leading troops...?"

"Let's forget about it."

"In my opinion," a woman wearing a bamboo hat, her face obscured, whispered, "we should infiltrate the palace, kill that scoundrel emperor, and vent Lord Shen's anger, rather than fight him head-on!"

The old man chuckled and said, "Hey, that's a good idea."

"But this kind of thing..."

He glanced at the boy beside him and grinned, "Only with the Blood Child's help can we be absolutely certain of victory."

"I don't need anyone!"

Shen Xun spoke in a deep voice, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword: "I have already achieved mastery of the Three Elements, and the Shen family's secret Hundred Refinements Blade Qi is now complete."

"I will personally behead this dog emperor and offer his head as a sacrifice to my Shen family!"

Clang!

A soft cry, like the low murmur of a blue dragon.

Shen Xun drew his long sword from his waist, and a flash of cold light appeared. His robes fluttered without wind, and mysterious forces seemed to converge on the blade.

Tsk!

A sharp screech that tore through the air made the old man, the blood-stained child, and the woman's eardrums ache, and they instinctively took a half-step back.

Shen Xun held his longsword horizontally in front of him, with a faint blue aura swirling around the blade, and the shapes of dragons and tigers faintly coiling around it.

"Let's use this hundred-forged sword!"

……

Further away, a man in white stood atop a mountain peak, his eyes burning, and murmured, "Even from a thousand feet away, I can feel a sharp aura rushing towards me..."

"Is this the Tripartite Perfection?"

"There is Shen Xun, 180,000 Dongyang soldiers, plus Blood Boy, Ghost Lord, Snake Bone Granny, and small aristocratic families gathered from all over the country."

"It seems..."

Yang Guang grinned: "The Southern Chen dynasty is going to have some interesting shows to watch."

"Your Highness!"

A middle-aged scholar, holding a white paper fan, with a handsome face and a smile on his lips, spoke up: "You don't intend to return to Jiankang, do you?"

At this moment, neither Yang Guang nor Shen Xun knew that Nantong had fallen into Lu Zuo's control.

He chuckled lightly: "In the eyes of the six great families, this tyrant is already disobedient, and they will never lend a hand."

"They might even take advantage of the chaos and establish a new ruler."

"This is already a done deal, why bother going again?"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged scholar slowly breathed a sigh of relief: "Phew..."

"I was terrified! If Your Highness is to take any more risks, I will have to remonstrate with my life."

"However..." Yang Guang added, "we must make a trip to Nantong."

Why?

Yang Guang: "Nantong is where the various forces of the Shen family of Wuxing converge. I need to assess Shen Xun's strength..."

"It's just taking precautions."

……

Meanwhile, in the back hall of the prefectural governor's mansion.

"His Majesty."

"The Dongyang army is coming in with great force, and they are fighting a desperate war, while we have not yet completely taken control of the situation in Nantong..."

Yue Qing cupped his hands and said, "Let's send an order to General Ren to lead the four battalions to our aid immediately."

"No!"

Lu Zuo waved his hand: "The Four Great Battalions are indeed setting off, but not in Nantong, but on the border of Nanxu!"

Yue Qing looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with astonishment and anxiety: "Your Majesty!"

"In this way, our army will be stretched thin. How can we withstand Shen Xun's 180,000-strong army?"

"not to mention......"

"Many smaller aristocratic families have also sided with Shen Xun, with a combined force of at least two hundred thousand!"

"There is no other way." Lu Zuo took a deep breath and slowly exhaled: "The six great families are just watching from the sidelines, waiting to see me and Shen Xun both suffer heavy losses."

"The Imperial Guards cannot be mobilized, and the Northern Sui must be on guard."

"I currently have no spare troops available to deploy."

He paused, looked up at the door, and asked in a deep voice, "Hasn't Song Que been brought over yet?"

"Report!"

Before anyone could reply, a secret agent in black robes rushed in from outside.

"Your Majesty, this is the latest confidential report."

"The three figures, Blood Child, Ghost Elder, and Snake Bone Granny, have been spotted in the Dongyang army, suggesting that they may have already submitted to Shen Xun."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Wu, who was standing to the side, gasped in surprise, stepped forward, his tiger-like eyes wide open, and stared intently at the spy: "Say that again!"