His Highness the Madman gave in again today.

"Your Highness, Princess Consort..."

Is she really going to do this?

For Your Highness?

Gu Jinzhi considered himself to have a good eye for people, but it seemed he had never truly seen through this princess.

"Treason is a grave crime!"

He took a deep breath and said sternly, "If we fail, the 100,000 soldiers on the frontier will all be executed along with their entire families. Without absolute certainty, you must not even entertain the slightest thought of such a thing."

Upon hearing this, Mo Sangyu couldn't help but feel surprised.

The reason why the Emperor of Dayou was so wary of Feng Xingyu was because he was worried that Feng Xingyu would stage a coup.

Judging from Gu Jinzhi's words, if they really rebelled, they wouldn't have much of a chance of winning.

According to the original owner's memories, the Great You Dynasty was indeed very powerful.

Besides the 100,000 soldiers under Feng Xingyu's command, an elite force he had slowly cultivated and grown over eight years, there were also nearly a million other troops distributed throughout the Great You Dynasty.

This doesn't even include the garrison and imperial guards of the capital, which together number approximately 100,000.

However, these troops varied in combat effectiveness and were scattered and far apart. Only the garrison and imperial guards of the capital were the main forces protecting the imperial city.

In other words, with a well-thought-out plan, the garrison and imperial guards can be dealt with before other armies return to the capital to provide support, allowing for a swift capture of the imperial city.

I wouldn't say I'm 100% sure, but I'm about 80% or 90% sure.

Seeing that Mo Sangyu was deep in thought, Gu Jinzhi knew that she was calculating in her heart that dealing with only the 100,000 troops in the capital might not be difficult.

But there's one thing she definitely doesn't know.

"Your Highness, are you familiar with the Tianyan Sect?"

"Tianyan Sect?"

Mo Sangyu nodded.

The Heavenly Evolution Sect is one of the three major sects of the Nine Provinces Continent, and she, possessing the original owner's memories, naturally knew this.

Gu Jinzhi only mentioned it once, but she quickly understood.

It turns out that what they were worried about was the Tianyan Sect behind the Third Prince.

The Third Prince, Feng Chengrui, is the personal disciple of the Sect Master of the Tianyan Sect and is also engaged to the Sect Master's daughter. In addition to its own strength, the Great You Dynasty also has the powerful Tianyan Sect as its backing...

That's a bit difficult.

Feng Xingyu held his wine cup, remaining silent.

Seeing Mo Sangyu holding the wine jar and taking another sip, he finally asked, "Will your drinking affect me?"

"Drunk?"

Who do you think you are!

Mo Sangyu took another big gulp: "I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk."

Besides, medicine can have an effect, but alcohol won't.

After a moment of silence, everyone assumed that Mo Sangyu had given up on the topic.

Gu Jinzhi also silently took a big gulp of wine.

Sometimes, being too clear-headed and rational isn't entirely a good thing.

Too many concerns will only lead to hesitation and timidity.

Besides these considerations, there is actually one more crucial point.

From the moment His Highness was born, he was deemed a demon and an evil spirit, considered an omen of misfortune. If he were to also be burdened with treason, regicide, and patricide...

Even if he were to seize the throne, he would suffer eternal infamy and find it difficult to win back the hearts of the people.

But it's different here.

Although life was hard, the people here depended on him and trusted him, and the surrounding forces dared not offend him easily.

His Highness hasn't returned for eight years, why force him?

Gu Jinzhi drank several mouthfuls in a row, but he drank too fast and choked, coughing repeatedly.

The princess consort just asked him what to do next.

Should we send His Highness to the Black Swamp again?

Or should we allow His Highness to defy the imperial decree?

"Jinzhi".

Feng Xingyu patted his shoulder and gently curled his lips: "You have done very well. I have already made up my mind about this matter."

"What decision?"

Gu Jinzhi suddenly looked up at him, seemingly a little nervous: "Your Highness, this matter is not urgent, let's plan for the future..."

"actually."

Mo Sangyu interrupted them, "I have an even better option. Would you like to hear it?"

She shook her head.

strangeness.

Why do I feel a little dizzy?

"What choice?"

Gu Jinzhi immediately asked.

Everyone else also looked at her.

Only Feng Xingyu remained, holding that cup of wine, only looking and not drinking.

"If the risk of rebellion is too great, and it's easy to leave a bad reputation without a legitimate reason, then let's change our approach."

"How about another way?"

"Yes, you can break away from the Great You Dynasty, create your own regime, expand your territory, grow your power... and then fight your way back to the Great You Dynasty!"

Mo Sangyu's voice wasn't loud, and it carried a hint of drunkenness, but his words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in everyone's hearts.

Break away from the Great You Dynasty? Create your own regime? Expand your territory?

This...this sounds even more shocking than treason...

Oh no, I want more excitement!

Gu Jinzhi's hand holding the wine glass froze in mid-air, his eyes sharpening.

He stared intently at Mo Sangyu, trying to discern from her face whether these words were a drunken, careless remark or a carefully considered statement.

Yan Qing's mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg, and after a long while, he murmured, "Declare myself king! This...this won't work?"

Yuan Zhao frowned and shook his head: "This place is remote and barren, surrounded by enemy tribes. If we really want to break away, how could the Emperor of Dayou sit idly by? If we are attacked from both sides, we will probably die even more miserably."

Luo Ming remained silent; he was merely a doctor and had no authority to offer opinions on such matters.

Feng Xingyu finally placed the wine cup in his hand gently on the low table in front of him, making a soft clinking sound.

He looked up and gazed at Mo Sangyu.

Mo Sangyu held the wine jar, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural redness.

She doesn't seem very reliable right now.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

"Of course."

Mo Sangyu smiled, but it wasn't her usual smile—it was either dangerous or aloof. Perhaps it was because she had been drinking; tonight's smile looked somewhat silly.

"I, Mo Sangyu, never joke."

Weird.

What kind of wine is this? I've only had a few sips, how come I'm so dizzy?

She shook her head again, trying to clear her mind.

"This place is bitterly cold, but it is also easy to defend and difficult to attack. You have been here for eight years, and the people's hearts are at peace and you have established a foothold. As for the surrounding enemy countries and tribes..."

After she finished speaking, she swayed slightly. Feng Mian subconsciously tried to help her, but she waved him away.

Then he raised his hand, pointing to the boundless snowfield and darkness outside the tent, and continued, "Here, beyond the frontier, lies vast land, scattered tribes, and chaotic forces... Why can't it be yours?"

"..."

"Your Highness."

Mo Sangyu turned her gaze to Feng Xingyu, looking directly at him: "Do you want to be forced to your death, to compromise, to swallow your anger, by one imperial edict after another, or do you want to try to take control of the world, decide the life and death of others, protect those you want to protect, and create a legitimate empire of your own with your own hands?"

There was silence around the campfire, with only the occasional crackling of the flames.

Everyone was stunned by this bold and crazy idea.

It must be said that Mo Sangyu's words were like a wildfire, burning deep into everyone's hearts.

This New Year's Eve became the most unforgettable one they had ever experienced.

Feng Xingyu's gaze was unfathomable as he silently met her eyes.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice calm and even: "This matter will be discussed later."

"Okay, think about it carefully..."

When Mo Sangyu saw the figure in front of her, it seemed to have multiplied into two. Her legs went weak, and her body involuntarily leaned forward.

Feng Mian, who had been watching closely, immediately reached out to help, but Feng Xingyu was faster than her, and Mo Sangyu fell directly into his arms.

"Is this what you mean by 'can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk'?"

"Oh……"

Mo Sangyu hiccuped in his arms, the smell of alcohol spraying onto his face. She grinned and said, "Sorry, I forgot... this isn't my body."

In her past life, she truly was someone who could drink a thousand cups of wine without getting drunk.

Who knew the original owner had such a low alcohol tolerance!

Mo Sangyu already felt dizzy, and she felt Feng Xingyu swaying back and forth in front of her, making her even more dizzy.

"Don't move!"

She wrapped her arms around Feng Xingyu's neck and climbed up his legs: "Come on, take me home to sleep."

Everyone: "..."

Everyone blindfolded each other and silently recited, "Do not look at what is improper, do not listen to what is improper."

Unexpectedly, the princess consort is like this.

Could she be trying to take advantage of her drunkenness to do something indecent to His Highness?

Feng Xingyu picked her up and said to those who were covering their eyes but were peeking through, "You can continue."

Then he carried Mo Sangyu and left the military camp.

"Miss……"

Fengmian wanted to chase after them, but Qingwu and Yuhe stopped her: "Sister Fengmian, we have to stay up tonight to celebrate the New Year. Don't go back, just stay here with me."

"But Miss, she..."

"Your Highness will take care of the Princess Consort, so you can rest assured."

Fengmian hesitated for a moment, but Qingwu and Yuhe pulled her down to sit and handed her a bowl of hot soup.

"It's alright. Look how worried His Highness was about the Princess Consort just now. He'll definitely take good care of her. Let's stay here to celebrate the New Year and go back early tomorrow morning."

Granny Yu, having suffered a fright and minor injuries, went to her tent to rest early.

Luo Ming seemed a little uneasy, so he picked up his medicine box and followed him out a few steps.

Seeing Feng Xingyu carrying someone onto another simple carriage that had been prepared in the distance, he stopped and turned back.

The atmosphere around the campfire became somewhat awkward due to the shocking remarks made earlier and the incident of the prince's wife being carried away after getting drunk.

Everyone fell silent for a while, but they couldn't calm down.

Yan Qing lowered his voice and said to Gu Jinzhi, "Mr. Gu, when you said that the Princess Consort, was she really thinking something, or was she just talking nonsense after drinking too much?"

Gu Jinzhi silently poked at the fire in front of him, sparks crackling and flying everywhere.

After a long while, he slowly spoke: "I can't say for sure either. Our princess consort often acts and speaks in unexpected ways. She may seem absurd, but upon closer inspection... she is not entirely without reason."

He paused for a moment: "But breaking away from the Great You and establishing our own regime is not very realistic for us at the moment."

"How is it unrealistic?"

"We're poor."

"..."

Although the imperial court deducts military pay and rations every year, it still provides a little bit. The already tight budget is even worse. If they can't even get this little bit, and they still have to face war at any time, consuming even more weapons and armor...

Compared to Yan Qing, Yuan Zhao would consider things more carefully.

He said with deep worry, "If even a whisper of this matter leaks out, it will be utterly disastrous for His Highness...

"Your Highness knows what you're doing."

Gu Jinzhi interrupted him, looking in the direction where the carriage had disappeared: "We only need to do our duty. Whether to advance or retreat, whether to endure or fight... in the end, it still depends on Your Highness's decision."

On the other side, in a simple horse-drawn carriage.

The carriage was cramped and only had a thick layer of felt on it.

Mo Sangyu was placed on a felt mat by Feng Xingyu, but how could a drunk person be well-behaved?