The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

"Commander Zhou, Commander Zhao, take a look." She handed the secret report to the two men.

Zhou Bo and Zhao Jianing quickly finished reading and were also shocked, then their faces showed great joy and excitement.

"Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations!" Zhou Bo knelt on one knee, his voice trembling. "Your Majesty is wise! Your Highness is the one everyone hopes for! From this day forward, I, Jiang Qiong..."

"It's too early to congratulate you now," Yun Jin interrupted him, her voice calm.

"His Majesty is critically ill, the Crown Prince is young, there is an emergency in the north, and the rebellion in the south has not been quelled. My position as 'Regent Princess' is not easy to hold. First and foremost, I must be able to return to the capital alive and take the throne."

She looked at the two men: "What's the situation in the city? How long can it hold out? Perhaps... we should launch a preemptive strike?"

Zhou Bo suppressed his joy and reported the news in a deep voice.

"While Your Highness was unconscious, the rebels did not attack the city again, but their camp remained untouched, clearly indicating that they had suffered heavy losses yesterday and were resting."

I just inspected the city, and there are still about eight thousand men in the city who are still capable of fighting.

Most of the arrows and logs had been used up, but some of the new crossbow bolts that Han Lie had rushed to make were already usable. The most crucial thing was…” He paused.

"Yesterday, Your Highness led your cavalry to charge into the enemy lines. Although you did not kill Yun Tao, you greatly damaged the morale of the rebel army."

According to reports from 'Di Ting's' informants in the city, rumors are circulating in the rebel camps that Feng Kun has been defeated and fled, that something has happened in the capital, and that Yun Tao's patron has fallen. Morale is already wavering.

"Oh?" A glint flashed in Yun Jin's eyes. "The news spread so quickly?"

"It was Mr. Su's doing," Zhao Jianing replied, his eyes filled with admiration.

"The people of 'Di Ting' managed to spread news of the upheaval in the capital and the imprisonment of the Third Prince into the rebel camp last night. At this moment, the rebel high command is probably already aware of it and is in a state of panic."

"Good!" Yun Jin's spirits lifted, and enduring the pain, she tried to get up again. "The opportunity is fleeting! Give the order to beat the drums and gather the generals!"

"Your Highness, your injuries..." Qingdai said anxiously.

"It's alright, I won't die." Yun Jin gritted her teeth and, with Qing Dai's help, forced herself to stand up, changed into casual clothes that were easy to move in, and tied the Shangfang sword to her waist.

A moment later, in the main hall of the government office.

The main generals and civil officials who remained behind, as well as Chen Youde, Zhang Kui, Wu Dayong and others who rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, all gathered together.

Everyone wore expressions of exhaustion and confusion, wondering why the princess, who was still recovering from serious injuries, had suddenly been summoned so urgently.

Yun Jin sat upright in the main seat, her face still pale, but her back was straight and her eyes were sharp as she swept over the crowd below.

Without wasting words, she directly instructed Zhou Bo to announce to the public the dramatic changes in the capital, the contents of the imperial edict, the imprisonment of the Third Prince, and the news that the rebels' backer had fallen.

The news was like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, instantly creating huge waves!

There was an uproar in the hall!

The officers' expressions changed drastically, some shocked, some overjoyed, some incredulous, and some deeply fearful.

"Is...is this really true?!" Chen Youde's voice trembled.

"The royal decree is here; the imperial edict will soon be announced to the world," Yun Jin said coldly, patting the command flag on the table.

"The traitorous King Yuntao, colluding with corrupt officials in the court, plotted treason. Now that his backer has fallen, his demise is imminent! You are soldiers of the court, receiving the emperor's favor; do you intend to be buried with this desperate traitor?!"

Her gaze, sharp as a knife, pierced Zhang Kui, whose face was deathly pale and drenched in cold sweat: "Deputy General Zhang, you have a very close relationship with Feng Kun. You cannot escape responsibility for the defeat at Jiujiang! I'm giving you one last chance. Redeem yourself through meritorious service, and perhaps you can be spared death. If you remain obstinate..."

"Your Highness! Your Highness, spare my life!" Zhang Kui knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly.

"This humble general is willing to surrender! This humble general is willing to atone for his crimes through meritorious service! This humble general knows several of the rebels' supply depots and a secret path! I am willing to serve as Your Highness's vanguard and launch a counterattack against the rebels!"

"Very good." Yun Jin nodded, then looked at the other generals.

"And you? Are you willing to follow me, quell the rebellion, achieve merit, gain titles and honors for your families, and have your name etched in history? Or do you wish to follow Yun Tao, perish together, and be infamous for eternity?"

"We are willing to follow Your Highness, to quell the rebellion and make meritorious contributions, even at the cost of our lives!" Chen Youde, Wu Dayong and the others shouted in unison without hesitation.

The situation in the capital has changed. The eldest princess is about to assume the regency. If not now, when?

"General Chen, Lieutenant General Wu, you two are to muster all the combat-ready troops in the city, including the lightly wounded, and prepare to launch a counterattack!"

Zhang Kui, tell me everything you know about the rebels, and draw a map of that secret path!

Han Lie, distribute all the newly made crossbow bolts and the stockpile of "Thunderbolts"!

"Zhou Sima, Zhao Tongling, you two will lead your personal guard and the original cavalry as the vanguard of the entire army!"

The orders were issued swiftly and decisively.

Despite her physical weakness and the pain from her wounds, Yun Jin's mind was exceptionally clear.

She knew this was the best, and only, chance to defeat the rebels, quickly pacify the south, and return to the capital to assume regency! She had to seize it!

When the rebels learn that their patron has fallen, their morale will inevitably be thrown into chaos.

Yun Tao was like a cornered beast, fighting desperately to the death.

They either flee in panic and retreat back to their stronghold.

Regardless of the type, a fatal blow must be delivered before it can react!

"Your Highness, you are injured and it is not advisable for you to personally lead the troops into battle. You can command from the center," Zhou Bo advised.

"No, I'm going." Yun Jin shook her head, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"I want to personally witness the defeat of Yuntao, and personally demonstrate His Majesty's last edict and the imperial authority to the rebels!"

We must let the world know that the sky over Jiangqiong has changed!

"My title of 'Regent Princess' wasn't earned by hiding in the deep palace; it was earned through countless battles, fought my way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood!"

She leaned on the table and slowly stood up. Although she swayed slightly, her do-or-die, indomitable spirit intimidated everyone.

"Gentlemen, follow me out of the city and defeat the enemy!"

"Beat the thieves! Beat the thieves! Beat the thieves!"

The shouts, as loud as a mountain and as powerful as a tsunami, resounded throughout the government office and soared into the sky, dispelling the gloom that had shrouded Anqing for many days.

An hour later, the south, east, and west gates of Anqing were opened wide!

After days of rest and recuperation, the garrison, spurred on by the banner of the "Regent Princess" and the promise of "doubled bounties and generous rewards for meritorious service," unleashed astonishing fighting spirit and combat power.

Like a tiger released from its cage, they charged towards the rebel camps outside the city, where the rumors had caused them to panic and their formations to falter!

Yun Jin did not ride in a carriage, but instead endured the pain and mounted the white horse. Surrounded by Zhou Bo, Zhao Jianing, and the most elite personal guards, she stood under the central military banner.

In her hand, she held aloft the newly made banner, black with gold trim, embroidered with the words "Regent Princess Yun"!

"Soldiers! The traitorous King Yuntao has colluded with the Northern Barbarians, wreaking havoc on the nation. His patron has fallen, and his death is imminent! Follow me, kill the enemy, achieve merit, quell the rebellion, and return to the capital in triumph!"

"kill--!"

The war drums beat and the bugles sounded.

The defending troops surged toward the rebel camp like a tidal wave.

The rebels clearly did not expect that the defending troops, who were on the verge of collapse yesterday, would dare to launch a full-scale attack today. Moreover, their morale was in chaos and their command was in disarray, causing many camps to collapse at the first sign of trouble.

The hidden path that Zhang Kui pointed out had a remarkable effect.

An elite cavalry unit circled around to the rear of the rebel main camp and launched a surprise attack, setting fire to the grain storage points.

The fire raged into the sky, thick smoke billowed, and the rebel army was thrown into even greater chaos.

Yun Tao was filled with shock and anger, and tried to organize a counterattack, but the defeat was inevitable and there was no way to turn the tide.

After seeing the banner of "Regent Princess" with his own eyes and confirming the news of the upheaval in the capital, his last bit of fighting spirit vanished. Under the protection of his trusted loyalists, he hastily abandoned his army and fled south with a small number of the remaining soldiers.

The army was defeated like a mountain.

Tens of thousands of rebel troops collapsed in an instant, with countless surrendering and fleeing.

The siege of Anqing was lifted in a single day.

When the blood-red sunset shone once more upon the walls of Anqing, the area outside the city was littered with corpses and flags of surrender.

Yun Jin stood at the ruined site of the rebel army's central banner, gazing in the direction Yun Tao had fled, but did not order a pursuit.

Her body had reached its limit, and her vision was blurring. She was only holding on by sheer willpower.

"Your Highness, the main force of the rebels has been defeated, and Yun Tao has fled south. He is no longer a threat. The most urgent task is to gather the surrendered soldiers, stabilize Anqing, and then... return to the capital," Zhou Bo said in a low voice.

Yun Jin nodded, and with her last bit of strength, she spoke to the clerk beside her.

"A report of victory was drafted and sent to the capital by express courier, covering 800 li."

It is said that after the great victory at Anqing, the rebel army was routed and fled south, and the south was now pacified.

Your subject, Princess Yun Jin, the Grand Princess of the State, will depart immediately to return to the capital… to report back.”

After saying that, her vision went black, and she could no longer hold on, falling backward.

"Your Highness!"

"Quickly! Help His Highness back to the city!"

Before she lost consciousness, she seemed to hear deafening cheers, see the majestic capital city, see that blue robe, and see that supreme, cold, and lonely throne...

The journey has finally come to an end.

No, it's another, much more difficult and longer road that has just begun.

Mr. Su...

I'm back.

Bearing countless wounds, yet possessing supreme power.

归来。