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

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

From Anqing to Linyuan, the 1,200-mile official road is now shrouded in the biting wind and snow of the year-end and a desolate atmosphere unlike any other year.

The post stations along the way received the urgent imperial edict well in advance.

"When Her Highness the Regent Princess returns in triumph, all the post roads must be swept and cleaned, lodgings must be prepared, traitors must be strictly investigated, and all must remain quiet and respectful." The edict was cold, devoid of any festive joy, and contained only unquestionable authority.

However, the procession that actually walked on this "quiet and solemn" official road was quite different from the splendid display that should be associated with the word "triumphant return".

There was no victory procession stretching for miles, no deafening drums and music, and not even many intact banners.

Fewer than three thousand riders, all clad in black armor with white linen cloaks, their horses stripped of their bells and their hooves wrapped in thick cloth, silently marched through the swirling snow.

In the center of the procession, a specially made blue carriage with reinforced walls replaced the royal regalia, appearing particularly lonely and somber in the wind and snow.

Around the carriage, the "Umbrella of Ten Thousand People," symbolizing the supreme will of the people, was still there, but there were dozens of captured rebel and Northern Di flags, as well as a newly made "Regent Princess" banner with a black background and gold trim, fluttering in the wind and snow.

Inside the carriage, the charcoal fire burned brightly, but it couldn't dispel the weariness and sickness that permeated Yun Jin's brow.

She leaned against the thick brocade quilt, covered with a fox fur coat.

Her left arm was still in a sling, and although the wound on her right rib had scabbed over, the long journey still caused her some pain. Her face was so pale it was almost transparent.

Only his eyes, made exceptionally bright by days of persistent high fever, were also exceptionally deep, as if they had accumulated too much wind, snow, smoke, and blood.

Qingdai carefully blew on the medicine to warm it before bringing it to her lips.

Yun Jin took the extremely bitter medicine from her hand and swallowed it mouthful by mouthful without even frowning.

Since departing from Anqing, his injuries have been recurring, with high fevers coming and going. He only managed to survive thanks to the precious medicinal herbs that Han Lie brought with him and the round-the-clock care from the military doctors.

She knew she couldn't fall, at least not before returning to Lin Yuan and sitting in that chair.

Outside the car window, the wind and snow howled, drowning out the sounds of horses' hooves and wheels.

But she could still hear the shouts of battle from below Anqing.

The surging waves of the Baima Ferry, the crossbow bolts of Luoying Gorge, and even further back, the howling wind and snow of the northern frontier, the cries of disaster victims in the Jianghuai region, the pattering rain of the night in Liuyin Lane... This journey has been fraught with thorns and dangers at every turn.

How many people died for her, and how many died because of her?

The new scars on Zhou Bo and Zhao Jianing's faces, the many empty saddles of the Imperial Guard, the figures on the city walls of Anqing and the Baima Ferry beach who could no longer stand up...

The path to power is indeed paved with bones and blood.

Now, she has finally reached the end of this road, the highest point.

The Regent Princess oversees all government affairs, and all important military and national matters are decided by her.

In name, he was second only to the young emperor and above all others.

But this high place is colder than the snow and wind of the northern frontier, and more desolate than the city walls of Anqing.

"Your Highness, Qingfeng Post Station is just ahead. Shall we rest for a while?" Zhou Bo's deep and respectful voice came from outside the carriage.

Since departing from Anqing, he insisted on personally serving as the vanguard and guard, wearing hemp clothing over his armor, with a solemn expression.

"No need, let's continue on our way." Yun Jin's voice was slightly hoarse. "We must arrive at Yongding Gate before noon tomorrow."

"Yes," Zhou Bo replied, then hesitated for a moment before adding, "Your Highness, Mr. Su... has already prepared a welcoming procession outside Yongding Gate. Everything in the capital... is in order."

Mr. Su...

Upon hearing this name, Yun Jin's calm heart seemed to ripple slightly.

That man who was always dressed in a blue robe, who was always resourceful and could always come up with a solution when she was in the most difficult situation, and who cleared away obstacles for her and stabilized the capital after she left.

At this moment, he is in that majestic capital city, waiting for her to return.

Wait for her to go back and take back that scepter, and also that heavy burden.

Is their relationship one of ruler and subject?

Are they master and disciple?

Are they collaborators?

Or... some more complex and difficult-to-describe relationship?

Yun Jin closed her eyes, suppressing the inexplicable throbbing and melancholy in her heart.

Now is not the time to think about these things.

In the imperial court, countless eyes were watching her, waiting to see her, the "female regent," make a fool of herself, waiting for her to make a mistake, and waiting to bring her down.

Uwei is eyeing us covetously in the north, the remnants of Yuntao's forces in the south have not yet been wiped out, the national treasury is empty, official corruption is rampant, and everything is in need of rebuilding... Each of these issues is more urgent than personal matters.

"Tell Mr. Su that the ceremonial procession should be simple and not extravagant. I... am returning to the capital to govern, not to boast of my achievements," she said calmly.

"Yes."

The team continued their silent march through the wind and snow.

As darkness fell, the year-end wind grew increasingly biting.

A layer of white frost had formed on the linen cloaks of many soldiers.

Meanwhile, in Linyuan City, outside Yongding Gate.

The wind and snow were equally fierce.

But unlike the desolate and lifeless official road, the area outside Yongding Gate was bustling with people, banners fluttering, and armor gleaming.

Led by Marquis Zhao Qingcang of Weiyuan, the civil and military officials, members of the imperial family and nobles who remained in the capital stood solemnly on both sides according to their rank, stretching for several miles from the city gate.

Further out, the area was completely surrounded by imperial guards maintaining order and curious onlookers.

Despite the freezing weather, no one dared to complain, and no one left prematurely.

Everyone's gaze kept drifting toward the end of the snow-covered official road, their thoughts varied.

Marquis Zhao Qingcang, dressed in the official robes of a duke with a cloak over his head, stood at the forefront of the officials, his face calm and his eyes sharp as he surveyed the scene.

Behind him were ministers and vice ministers from important government departments such as the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Personnel, as well as some members of the imperial family.

Many people wore just the right amount of respect and expectation on their faces, but deep in their eyes, there was no shortage of scrutiny, doubt, and even hidden hostility.

The phrases "female regent" and "ruling the court" are like a boulder thrown into a pool of already turbulent water, creating far more than just ripples.

Even with the emperor's edict, the achievement of quelling the rebellion in the south, the military support of Marquis Weiyuan, and the shocking power of Su Che's thunderous methods displayed in Weiyang Palace that night, how could the ancestral precepts of "male superiority over female" and "women not to interfere in politics" be so easily broken?

Not to mention, this has affected the vital interests of countless people and disrupted the existing power structure.

Many people are resentful and unwilling to accept this situation, and they are simply waiting for the soon-to-be-returned "Regent Princess" to reveal her flaws or make mistakes in her governance.

They could then launch a coordinated attack, using the pretext of "ancestral laws" and "disorder of yin and yang" to seize power.

Marquis Weiyuan was naturally aware of these undercurrents.

He snorted inwardly and turned his gaze to the figure in a blue robe standing alone, aloof from the ranks of officials, not far to his side.