Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

......

Soon, Chen Yuan was escorted by two Northern Mang soldiers to the Empress.

He raised his head and shielded his eyes from the sunlight with his hand.

I looked out over that familiar city.

I was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

There, he once received the congratulations of all the officials and reviewed the soldiers of the three armies.

He even stood there, full of vigor, ready to lead his troops into battle.

He knew why the Empress had summoned him.

At that moment, he hesitated.

This is the gateway to the Central Plains!

If I were to actually open the city gates, the Northern Barbarian cavalry would trample the capital region.

Then this ancient capital with hundreds of years of history will be reduced to ashes because of itself.

The people suffered terribly, and the entire Central Plains was filled with sorrow and lamentation.

Then what am I?

Are they still human?

How will we face our ancestors in the afterlife?

What's the difference between this and handing over the country to someone else?

Do not!

This cannot be done!

Chen Yuan closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and veins bulged on his neck as he roared with fury.

Everyone must die, or perhaps it is less serious than...

"Chen Yuan!"

Helian Yunni's voice interrupted his reverie.

Chen Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, and the moment he saw the murderous empress looking down at him from above, all his complicated emotions vanished instantly.

It's better to live a wretched life than to die a good death.

Only by living can one bring happiness to the people.

"You know why I called you, right?"

Chen Yuan bent down, his face beaming with smiles:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I... will go and order the city gates to be opened."

The empress snorted coldly and pointed the spearhead at his chest.

"If you can't get help, you're dead!"

"Rest assured, rest assured, I am the true Emperor of Great Yan. Those standing on the city wall are all my subjects and my loyal ministers. They will surely open the gates..."

"That would be best!"

Helian Yunni pointed her silver spear at the city wall.

Go!

Two Northern Mang soldiers stepped forward and ripped off Chen Yuan's shirt, leaving him shirtless.

One person held one of his arms and carried him step by step toward the city gate.

On the city wall, archers had already drawn their bows and nocked their arrows.

He aimed at the staggering figure approaching.

The arrow was aimed at the man's bare chest, and the bowstring was already taut.

Just then, Han Cao suddenly leaned out halfway and grabbed the archer's arm.

"Stop! Don't fire!"

Han Cao shouted urgently:

"That's the retired emperor! The retired emperor is still alive!"

The city walls erupted in an instant.

The soldiers peered out from the crenellations.

Many people have seen Chen Yuan from afar.

This completely threw everything into chaos.

"He's truly an emperor emeritus!"

"The Emperor Emeritus is not dead!"

"The Emperor Emeritus is back!"

Yu Qi'an's face turned ashen, and he froze on the spot.

This sudden change left him completely helpless.

Originally, death was the only outcome, but what can be done now?

To fight or not to fight!

To attack? That's the retired emperor, the legitimate ruler of the Great Yan. If he orders the arrows to be fired, it would be treason, and he would be condemned for generations to come.

If we don't fight... will the gates of the Central Plains be left wide open to wolves?

Shen Qingci frowned: "He's really a troublemaker."

The group all turned to look at Chen Shao.

Chen Shao also had a gloomy expression. Damn it, there really is someone who can do such a thing!

What should I do?

He dared not order the arrows to be fired, lest he bear the stigma of patricide while his power was not yet secure.

"Act according to the situation..."

Chen Yuan, shirtless, was dragged by two Northern Mang soldiers to a distance of fifty paces from the city gate.

He looked up at the city wall and immediately saw that rebellious son.

Chen Yuan simply chose to ignore it, he was certain that this bastard would not save him.

They hold grudges very much.

Just because I kicked him, he refused to help me when I was dying, let alone now.

Chen Yuan's gaze swept around and finally landed on his two trusted ministers.

Han Cao, Yuwen Huagu.

My dear family!

All the grievances accumulated over the past few days, the frustration of being reduced from emperor to prisoner, all converged at this moment, bursting forth like a flood breaking through a dam.

Tears immediately rolled down her cheeks.

"My dear minister...I...I'm back."

Chen Shaoneng held his nerve.

Han Cao and Yuwen Huagu couldn't hold back any longer.

"The Emperor Emeritus!"

Han Cao lunged at the edge of the battlements, almost tumbling over, and screamed with tears streaming down his face.

"How did you end up like this... Your Majesty, you have been wronged, this old minister is here to save you."

Han Cao looked at the soldiers around him and roared like a madman.

"What are you all standing there for? Open the city gates and bring the Emperor Emeritus back!"

With their lives at stake, the soldiers dared not move rashly.

Since Han Cao wasn't the main general defending the city, they looked at Yu Qi'an.

Yu Qi'an took a deep breath.

He closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then opened them again, his expression filled with murderous intent.

He took the bow and arrows off his back, waiting for Chen Shao's order.

As for Shen Qingci, he had already been dragged and pulled by Eunuch Wei.

"Let me go, let me kill him, I'll take the blame!"

Eunuch Wei refused to let go no matter what.

Bai Bingbing drew her embroidered spring knife, pondering how to make Chen Yuan look presentable.

Han Cao glanced at Chen Shao, who was expressionless, and then at the Emperor Emeritus below the city, who was shirtless, disheveled, and barefoot, being dragged by two barbarians like a dead dog, looking extremely disheveled.

He suddenly rushed in front of Chen Shao.

I can't believe it:

"Your Majesty! That is your father! The retired emperor of our Great Yan!"

"It's like tattooing a hen on an egg; are you showing off your mother?" Chen Shao said calmly.

"Prime Minister, please don't be agitated. I'm thinking about how to rescue my father."

"What are you still thinking? As a son, how can Your Majesty bear this? Please, Your Majesty, open the city gates immediately and welcome back the Emperor Emeritus!"

"Open the city gates?"

Shen Qingci suddenly stopped struggling, shook off Eunuch Wei's hand, and strode up to Han Cao.

"Han Cao, you are a veteran of three reigns. Do you know the consequences of opening the city gates? You're not welcoming back the retired emperor; you're welcoming in 50,000 Northern Barbarian cavalry!"

"Are we just going to stand by and watch the Emperor Emeritus suffer beneath the city walls?"

Han Cao's face turned red.

"Why do we study the classics? For loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness. Of these, filial piety comes before loyalty!"

"You wouldn't even save your own ruler and father, what right do you have to talk about defending the city and serving your country? Headmaster Shen, you also have parents!"

Shen Qingci sneered:

"My father has long since passed away; there's no need for Minister Han to worry about him."

"But since Prime Minister Han has mentioned the classics, did the sages ever teach you what it means to open the door to thieves? What it means to invite a wolf into the house?"

"You, Han Cao, have studied the classics your whole life, yet you don't even understand a principle that a three-year-old understands: when a bad person knocks on the door, the more they call your father's name, the less you should open the door!"

Han Cao choked until his face turned purple:

"you!!!"

"What do you mean, 'you'?! At this time, Han Cao, what are you pretending to be, a loyal minister and filial son? When you're busy forming cliques, abusing power, and ruining the country, why don't you ever think about loyalty?"

"Are you truly committed to rescuing the Emperor Emeritus, or are you simply trying to use this opportunity to let the Northern Barbarians in?"

"I..."

"What do you mean, 'me'?!"

Shen Qingci made full use of her strengths, dredging up and criticizing Han Cao's ancestors for eighteen generations.

If someone hadn't stopped him, they would have thrown him off the city wall.

In the Northern Mang army ranks, Helian Xiong frowned as he watched the commotion on the city wall and said:

"Your Majesty, Chen Yuan's card is probably useless. There's no movement from the city walls; they won't open the gates."

Helian Yunni's lips curled up slightly.

"Helian Xiong, you've been with me for so long, yet you haven't made any progress."

"Can't you see they're already fighting amongst themselves?"

She slammed her spear to the ground.

"Send word to Chen Yuan to return first."

"Every fifteen minutes, take them up and call them again."

"What does Your Majesty mean by this?" Helian Xiong scratched his head, puzzled but impressed.

"Fool!"

"Every time Chen Yuan calls out, it's a fatal blow to their morale."

"After a few calls, they will be completely incapable of fighting!"