He had just been reborn when he was imprisoned by his nemesis, the Empress?

"I don't know how your chess skills suddenly became so strong."

Xu Yi analyzed the chessboard.

"But the gap between us isn't so large that you're guaranteed to win in one match, so let's go again!"

Since Su Qingluan wasn't planning to refuse anyway, and it was an unconditional request offered for free, who would refuse? She smiled and said...

"Okay, okay, okay."

......

Two hours later, Xu Yi achieved the feat of losing ten consecutive games.

He felt like he was going insane.

Meanwhile, Su Qingluan, who was standing to the side, could no longer bear to win against him. She sighed and began to hold back.

Another game ended, and Xu Yi looked at the chessboard and smiled.

He won, he finally won.

"See that, Su Qingluan? You're not invincible!"

Su Qingluan leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, and spoke slowly and deliberately, in a tone used to coax a child.

"Yes, yes, you win. I am no match for you at chess."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yi couldn't help but scratch his ear, looking at her with disbelief.

This woman, who has always been competitive, would actually admit that she is inferior to him?

After those embarrassing entanglements a few days ago, Xu Yi felt that she seemed to have changed a little.

Seeing his stunned expression, Su Qingluan couldn't help but chuckle. She extended her slender finger and tapped the chessboard.

"However, you still owe me more than a dozen requests, and one game can only count as one."

Xu Yi snapped out of his daze, rolled up his sleeves, and said...

"Then let's play another dozen or so rounds."

"I'm not coming."

Su Qingluan refused without hesitation.

She looked up at the setting sun gradually sinking on the horizon, its golden-red afterglow bathing her exquisite profile.

"It's almost dark, what's the point of coming here?"

......

The two walked side by side on the way back to their palace, a gentle evening breeze carrying the fragrance of grass and trees.

Xu Yi glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs hurrying along the way and casually asked...

"What are you busy with?"

Su Qingluan paused slightly, turned her head to look at him, and asked casually.

"Have you forgotten what day it is in two days?"

Xu Yi paused, thought carefully for a moment, and frowned slightly.

"There's no holiday the day after tomorrow, I forgot."

Su Qingluan slowed her pace and said gently.

Think about it carefully.

Xu Yi pondered for a moment, and then a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

"Your birthday?"

Su Qingluan's eyes lit up, her red lips curved into a bright smile, and her voice became tinged with excitement.

"uh-huh."

It turns out he still remembered his own birthday.

Xu Yi drew out his words and nodded indifferently.

"oh......"

That light "oh" instantly extinguished the joy in Su Qingluan's heart.

She stopped and stared at Xu Yi with displeasure, her phoenix eyes slightly narrowed.

"You only have one sentence?"

Xu Yi looked up at her, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes, his tone tinged with self-deprecation.

"What can I, a caged bird trapped by you, do besides 'oh'?"

"Could it be that I've found you some rare treasure?"

Upon hearing this, Su Qingluan clicked her tongue twice, reached out and pinched Xu Yi's cheek, then leaned closer to him, her breath brushing against his ear.

"Tsk tsk, look at you looking so wronged."

"If our identities were reversed, you would probably be much more ruthless towards me."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yi coughed a few times.

He composed himself, changed the subject, and spoke with a hint of seriousness.

"Stop talking about that. Can you let me go out tomorrow? I'll go out and get you a birthday present."

Su Qingluan walked to the entrance of the palace. The vermilion gates opened automatically, and she stepped inside, glancing at Xu Yi.

"No need. Your presence by my side is better than any gift."

She paused, her gaze falling on Xu Yi.

"I just want you to say a few nice things."

......

Nighttime, in the world of dreams.

After these two crushing defeats, the empire was completely finished. Xu Yi led his army, broke through the last line of defense in the capital, and marched straight into the depths of the palace.

Deep within the palace, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was already in complete chaos.

All the civil and military officials were dressed in disheveled robes and had their hair in crooked buns.

A burly figure crashed into the hall. Zhang Yunwen, who was 1.9 meters tall, had bloodshot eyes and forcefully pushed aside the people around him with his large hands.

He looked at the panicked ministers around him and shouted hoarsely.

"Get out of here! Get out of here!"

"Can we hold out? Can we really hold out?"

"Beast tide! Beast tide! Why is it that all I ever receive is news of a beast tide!"

Zhang Yunwen abruptly overturned the table, scattering memorials and the imperial seal all over the floor.

"Why is the heavens treating me like this! A bunch of useless trash!"

A woman with flamboyant makeup, draped in a thin veil, stepped forward and spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Panic is useless now. Perhaps..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhang Yunwen slapped her across the face. The woman screamed and was sent flying, crashing into a pillar in the hall, blood trickling from her mouth.

"Get out of here! It's all your fault, you vixen!"

The woman fell to the ground, her eyes filled with terror, and dared not make a sound.

Suddenly, a figure rushed into the hall. A general, covered in blood, staggered in, knelt on one knee, and his voice trembled with despair.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The east and west gates have been breached by the rebel army..."

Upon hearing this news, Zhang Yunwen's mind nearly exploded. He staggered back two steps, barely managing to regain his balance by grabbing the dragon throne.

Just then, an elderly minister with white hair and beard pushed through the crowd and rushed to Zhang Yunwen's feet, his voice urgent.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! There are still eight hundred Bronze Army soldiers in the palace, each a powerful expert at the Yuanfu Realm or above! They can help Your Majesty escape the capital!"

The old minister gripped the hem of Zhang Yunwen's dragon robe tightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Once we escape the city, all the troops that came to the emperor's aid will pledge their loyalty!"

Hope ignited in Zhang Yunwen's eyes, and color returned to his face. He was about to give the order.

As a result, another general knelt heavily on the ground, his forehead pounding against the ground, his voice choked with emotion.

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die! This morning... the Bronze Army already defected and surrendered to Xu Yi!"

Zhang Yunwen's mind went blank again. He staggered and fell onto the dragon throne, his eyes glazed over and his whole body trembling.

Now the main hall was even more chaotic, like a vegetable market.

A moment later, another minister in purple robes prostrated himself forward and kowtowed several times on the ground, his voice extremely low.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, when the founding emperor passed away, he left behind two priceless treasures. Perhaps one of them holds the key to survival!"

Zhang Yunwen suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with a crazed light. He grabbed the minister's collar tightly and roared...

"Quickly! Take me to get it!"

The minister in purple robes nodded hurriedly.

"Yes, yes! Your Majesty, I will immediately lead you to the secret chamber of the Imperial Ancestral Temple!"

......

Inside the secret chamber of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The old minister directed the eunuchs to pry open the bluestone slab in the corner of the wall, revealing a treasure chest covered in rust.

Zhang Yunwen rushed forward, staring intently at the treasure chest, his breathing rapid.

He raised his hand with trembling hands, bit his index finger hard, squeezed out a drop of blood, and dripped it onto his finger.

A dazzling golden light suddenly burst forth.