General Chu's suggestion received Chu Yunyi's approval. But just as he was about to leave the city for negotiations, a surprising piece of news came to him.
"General, there's a report from West Liang that Emperor Tianhui has passed away!"
"What?!"
Chu Yunyi was stunned. After all, Witch Aunt had sent him a letter just a few days ago saying that Emperor Tianhui wouldn't die so easily. How come today …
There were a few eunuchs and imperial physicians in Emperor Tianhui's chambers, all of whom belonged to the fourth imperial prince. Witch Aunt had never found a chance to make a move against Tianhui. All she could do was wait …
"When did this happen?" General Chu asked hastily.
"It takes at least two hours for a flying hawk to send a letter. It should have been two hours ago," the attendant reported.
"What else did the letter say?" General Chu asked next.
"General, there was only a slip of paper from that side, but no letter." If there was a letter, the attendant would have brought it here long ago!
General Chu's heart grew uneasy as he looked towards Chu Yunyi. Chu Yunyi's eyes flickered between light and darkness. "Wait a moment."
Witch Aunt wasn't so unreliable. She must have sent a report in her panic, so she'd probably send a letter with details soon enough.
With Emperor Tianhui gone, Tianning's situation would change drastically as well as the entire western region. But no matter what, it would still be beneficial for them. At this point, they didn't need to rush to expose Gu Beiyue. They had to calm down and figure out the situation before deciding how to deal with the Duke of Qin.
"Ning Cheng should have received the news by now. Noble Consort Ning should be making a move as well," Chu Yunyi said. As Chu Yunyi spoke, he personally wrote a secret letter to Ning Cheng, then another to Witch Aunt. Immediately, he sent a messenger hawk north to deliver the message. No matter who the letter was, it was a plea for help.
Once the crown prince ascended the throne, Empress Chu could rule from behind a curtain and issue military orders to send Tianning's western troops to reinforce the Chu Clan troops. There was no need to wait for the Ning Clan troops to arrive. Although Tianning didn't have many troops stationed in the west, even a mosquito's leg was meat. The current situation at Youyun and Yaoshui was truly urgent!
Flying hawks were the fastest way to send letters across Cloud Realm Continent, but Chu Yunyi still hadn't received a reply from Ning Cheng after four hours.
They did not receive any news from Western Capital even when the sun was about to rise.
General Chu finally felt uneasy. "Could it be that something happened in Western Capital?"
"Not really! Tianyin's forces in West Liang are enough to oppose the fourth imperial prince, much less Noble Consort Ning! "Chu Yunyi said seriously.
General Chu had a complicated look in his eyes. Although he didn't want to be suspicious, he couldn't help but ask, "Big Brother, Ning Cheng … could it be …"
Before he could finish, Chu Yunyi refuted the idea. "Impossible! Old Man even handed Gu Beiyue over to him. He can't possibly betray the Chu clan at this time! "
Ning Cheng had always been loyal to the Western Qin imperial clan. After Chu Yunyi confirmed Ning Cheng's identity, he told Ning Cheng that the Western Qin imperial clan hadn't been exterminated and that his daughter had a phoenix birthmark on her back. Ning Cheng had been happy for three days and three nights, praising the Nether Clan's schemes over and over again.
His loyalty couldn't be faked. He had no reason to refuse to cooperate with the Nether Clan, much less trick the Chu Clan at a time like this. That wouldn't do him any good in reviving Western Qin!
Chu Yunyi waited … until it was daybreak.
But neither Ning Cheng nor Witch Aunt replied to her letter.
General Chu grew uneasy. "Big Brother, could it be that Ning Cheng discovered something …?"
Chu Yunyi stared at the map without a word.
Meanwhile, Han Yunxi had just woken up in Long Fei Ye's arms. She had no idea that the situation had changed overnight.
She remembered that after setting up camp last night, they'd all sat around the fire to discuss matters. As they chatted, she grew tired and somehow fell asleep.
By the time she woke up, Tang Li and Chu Xifeng were gone. Only she and Long Fei Ye were left in the tent.
Long Fei Ye still didn't know she was awake. He was currently staring at the fire, the flames dancing in his eyes as if his thoughts were unfathomable.
Han Yunxi was lying in his arms, so she couldn't see his eyes. She could only see his chin and Adam's apple from this angle.
When this man was quiet, he was like a statue carved by the workmanship of the gods. He was so perfect that there wasn't a single flaw. Han Yunxi would never tire of seeing him like this no matter how many times she looked.
As she stared and stared, she couldn't help but murmur, "Long Fei Ye, how did I end up running into you?"
How did she end up running into him after 3,000 years in a sea of people? How lucky was that?
Long Fei Ye finally realized that Han Yunxi was awake. He lowered his head and gently brushed aside her bangs. "What did you say?"
"Nothing." It was fine if he didn't hear her words. He probably wouldn't answer her even if she asked.
Han Yunxi lazily rose to her feet. Long Fei Ye didn't pursue the matter, but simply said, "Tianhui has passed away."
He was very calm, but Han Yunxi was stunned. "Passed away? When did this happen? "
"Last night. Chu Xifeng's already rushed over. The situation … I'm afraid it's not optimistic, "Long Fei Ye replied.
Han Yunxi understood the gravity of the situation, which was why she was so shocked.
Although they were on the battlefield, they were still keeping an eye on Western Liang's movements. After all, Long Fei Ye had to be on guard against Great General Ning taking control of the capital.
Noble Consort Ning might be unknown, but that didn't mean she had no power in Western Liang. Thus, Long Fei Ye was not only on guard against Chu Qingge, but Noble Consort Ning as well.
The spies he'd planted in the palace had sent word the day before yesterday that Emperor Tianhui would at least live through the new year. How could he have passed away last night?
"Someone must have made a move!" Han Yunxi was certain.
As soon as she finished speaking, Tang Li suddenly rushed in with a startled cry. "Big bro! We've been tricked! Great General Ning didn't send troops to the three eastern prefectures at all! His two main armies have long headed south. He even sent half of his cavalry troops to the east on the road. It looks like he's guarding against Long Tianmo! "
"What's the situation in Western Liang?" Han Yunxi asked anxiously.
Long Fei Ye and Ning Cheng had agreed to unite the three armies while he and Emperor Kang Cheng had sent troops to the three eastern prefectures ahead of time. One of their goals was to suppress the Chu Clan, but the other was to lure Ning Cheng's troops over.
Long Fei Ye naturally had to be on guard against Ning Cheng's designs on Tianning. Long Fei Ye had taken precautions in Western Liang as well.
It wasn't surprising that Ning Cheng would send troops to Western Liang. Right now, he was only mobilizing his troops. He hadn't taken control of West Liang yet, so Han Yunxi was most concerned about the situation there.
Tang Li's face was full of anxiety. "Chu Qingge and Noble Consort Ning are colluding!"
Even Long Fei Ye was surprised by the news. "Really?" he asked coldly.
"Absolutely. Big bro, those two women can't be underestimated! With the two of them working together and the Ning Clan's troops, our men won't be able to control Western Liang, "Tang Li said helplessly.
"How could that be? Since they're in cahoots, Ning Cheng should send reinforcements to the Chu Clan! "Han Yunxi didn't understand.
Ning Cheng had so many troops under his command, but he hadn't sent a single one here. All of them were stationed within Tianning's borders.
How was he supposed to cooperate with the Chu Clan? Chu Qingge had even more power than Noble Consort Ning in Western Liang. Would she be willing to be controlled by the Ning Clan? Would she just watch as General Chu was trapped in the three eastern prefectures?
Long Fei Ye had focused all his efforts on the three eastern prefectures just to wait for Ning Cheng's arrival!
"I don't get it either! But that's what Chu Xifeng reported. He wouldn't make a mistake! "Tang Li said seriously.
At this moment, Long Fei Ye spoke up. "Chu Qingge betrayed the Chu Clan to rely on Ning Cheng. Chu Yunyi was tricked as well."
"This …"
Han Yunxi didn't dare to believe it, but Long Fei Ye's conjectures cleared up all their doubts.
Chu Yunyi was still foolishly waiting for Ning Cheng's reinforcements. They were waiting for Ning Cheng to send reinforcements as well, but Ning Cheng had hooked up with Chu Qingge and worked with her from the inside. He'd effortlessly taken control of Western Liang and Tianning as well.
"In other words, Ning Cheng's two armies weren't sent to Western Liang, but south to guard against the Chu Clan and us?" Han Yunxi finally understood everything.
There was only one way for the Ning Clan troops to head south. It would take less than a day to reach the border between Tianning and the three eastern prefectures if they headed west. If they headed east, they would quickly reach Susi Pass. Once they gained control of Susi Pass, they would also gain control of Western Capital's southwestern defense line.
Ning Cheng had left Western Liang in Chu Qingge and Noble Consort Ning's hands while he sent troops east and west to set up defenses. He didn't want to provoke Long Fei Ye, nor save the Chu Clan troops. He wanted to dominate Tianning alone!
How despicable!
"Big bro, what do we need the three eastern prefectures for? Send reinforcements there immediately! Let's have the Baili Army send out troops as well. If we take the water route from Yaoshui, the mermaid soldiers will reach Western Liang within days! We'll use the marines to catch them off guard! "Tang Li was very excited.
But Long Fei Ye only glared at him coldly.
Tang Li wasn't excited at all, but impulsive. The mermaid soldiers were Long Fei Ye's trump card. How could they be exposed so easily?
Tang Li felt resentful at the glare and didn't dare to speak again.
Long Fei Ye's eyes flashed with cold light. Although he didn't show his emotions on his face, it was obvious that he was unhappy inside.
He'd calculated everything, but never expected Chu Qingge to betray the Chu Clan or Ning Cheng to hook up with her. This was the first time in his life that he'd failed at Ning Cheng's hands!
Even if he gave up on the three eastern prefectures and sent reinforcements now, it was already too late!
Long Fei Ye's face was gloomy, while Han Yunxi's expression wasn't any better. She said hatefully, "I really underestimated that woman, Chu Qingge."
If Chu Qingge hadn't betrayed the Chu Clan this time, Ning Cheng wouldn't have been able to take over Western Liang so easily no matter how capable he was!
In the end, Chu Qingge was the key.
At this moment, a guard arrived with Chu Xifeng's latest letter. Long Fei Ye opened it and glanced at it before handing it to Han Yunxi. It said that Ning Cheng had set up ten or so red coat cannons on Tianning's eastern front to keep Long Tianmo in check!
These cannons had to come from Cloud Realm Trade Consortium, which meant that there was no need to doubt Ning Cheng's identity as a member of the Di Clan's Ning Clan!
Han Yunxi and Tang Li were both unreconciled. They were waiting for Long Fei Ye to send reinforcements to save the day. Long Fei Ye's face was expressionless, making it impossible to tell whether he was angry or unwilling.
His emotions were hard to read.
Cold, he instructed Tang Li, "Go urge Chu Yunyi. Tell him that your lordship will give him ten days to think things over. If he doesn't surrender by then, your lordship's first strike will land on Chu Tianyin's hand!"
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