noffsinger Chapter 348 Two armies approach, the crisis is hard to break
Chapter 348 Two armies approach, the crisis is hard to break
She stepped forward and asked, "Spirit King, what exactly is going on?"
Didn't the emperor of the Si Dynasty take an elixir made from a thousand-year-old snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains?
That elixir was said to strengthen the body's foundation, nourish vital energy, and prolong life; how could it have poisoned him?
Xiaoman nodded in agreement: "Yes! Let's not even talk about the effects of ordinary Tianshan snow lotus."
"With the pill refined from that thousand-year-old snow lotus, even a martial artist who takes it will see their internal strength improve by at least several decades, common illnesses will be no problem, and their lifespan will be greatly extended. How could this be…?"
The Empress handed the scroll to Daya, her voice tinged with weariness.
"What is said in the letter is exactly as the maidservant said."
Liu Xinhao was poisoned to death by Princess Qiulan.
"Princess Qiulan?" Shanzi asked in astonishment.
"That can't be! We spent more than two months with her in Si Chao back then."
She seems to have a gentle and kind personality, definitely not the kind of ruthless person.
Moreover, Liu Xinhao is her biological father who loves her so much, why would she do this?
Daya and the others nodded in agreement; they had a very good impression of Princess Qiulan.
It's simply impossible to associate the word "parricide" with that gentle and lovely woman.
The Empress sighed: "I don't believe it either. Although Princess Qiulan is a woman, she has always been kind-hearted in my heart."
Liu Xinhao's praise for her was no less than that for the other princes.
"I don't really believe she would do something so treasonous."
The group sat together, repeatedly examining the suspicious points of the matter, but they still couldn't find a clue.
If Princess Qiulan really wanted to kill her father, what would her motive be?
What will she gain after Liu Yao succeeds to the throne?
Seeing everyone's helpless expression, the Empress interrupted their thoughts.
"Let's put this matter aside for now. Now that my brother has retrieved the military tally and the royal decree, it seems he will be the one to take over the Ling Kingdom."
As for how he will act, I do not yet know.
You all must be extra careful and refrain from any rash actions.
Xiaoman then said, "Thank you for the reminder, Spirit King. We will be careful."
But the Spirit King is currently seriously injured, and I'm worried he might return to you..."
Although Xiaoman did not finish speaking, everyone in the hall understood what he meant.
Liu Lingzhen was able to be so ruthless to her own sister.
It's hard to guarantee that he won't kill the Empress for his own important cause, so that he can have no worries about the future.
A complex emotion flashed in the Empress's eyes, then she shook her head and said calmly, "If he really wanted to take action, he wouldn't have spared my life in the pavilion."
He wants the power of the Kingdom of Spirits, not my life.
At least not now.
She paused, then looked at everyone: "My injuries haven't healed yet, so I do need to rest."
Let's leave this matter here for now. You're all tired, so go back and rest.
"Whatever it is, we can discuss it further after I've recovered."
Seeing her resolute attitude, everyone knew that further discussion would be futile, so they could only nod in agreement.
Everyone knows the truth in their hearts.
Liu Lingzhen will definitely have some big moves to make next, but it's just a matter of when they will happen.
The death of Emperor Liu Xinhao of the Si Dynasty was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.
Princess Qiulan is accused of murdering her father; there must be some larger conspiracy behind it.
After bidding farewell to the Empress, Daya and the others left Huanling City and returned to their villa in the suburbs.
They originally wanted to stay in the Illusionary Spirit Garden to take care of the Empress, but the Empress refused and even ordered Hua Lingxing to personally "send" them out of the city.
Although the Empress's words were polite, they carried an undeniable firmness.
Left with no other choice, Shanzi and the others could only return to the villa first and then make further plans.
But no one expected that Liu Lingzhen would take over the power of the Ling Kingdom so quickly.
Within just three days, he swiftly consolidated the court.
When the high-ranking officials in the court saw him return, some of them were even more excited.
Liu Lingzhen gave the order, and the armies from all over the Ling Kingdom were quickly assembled.
The fortress stationed on the border of the Ling Kingdom looked ready for battle.
What was even more unexpected was that the Ling Kingdom's army was not yet fully deployed.
The army of the Si Dynasty had already reached the city gates, led by the newly appointed general.
They claimed to be seeking revenge for their fathers and to eliminate the rebels, and that they wanted to capture Princess Qiulan, the "father-killer" who had fled to the Ling Kingdom.
In reality, their aim is to target several key towns on the border of the Spirit Kingdom.
Almost at the same time, Gu Xuanchao's army also pressed in and stationed troops outside Jiaxian County.
Although neither side launched an attack immediately, they had already blocked all trade routes between Ling Kingdom and Gu Xuan Dynasty, putting on a posture as if they were ready to go to war at any time.
For a time, the Ling Kingdom was caught in a situation where it was attacked from both sides.
The previous earthquake had already displaced many people, who had barely caught their breath.
With both countries' armies pressing in on the border, people are filled with anxiety.
The residents of Jiaxian County stayed indoors, and the streets and alleys were no longer bustling with activity.
Only the footsteps of the patrolling soldiers remained, heavy like drumbeats pounding on everyone's heart.
In the villa in the suburbs, Shanzi and the others heard the news from the city, and their faces were all solemn.
Why would Si Chao and Gu Xuanchao suddenly join forces?
Cheng Peng slammed his fist on the table: "They're obviously taking advantage of our misfortune!"
Shi Zi frowned: "What I care more about is whether Princess Qiu Lan is really in the Ling Kingdom."
Or is it that Liu Yao is even more ambitious than his father?
Cheng Peng was so angry that he cursed loudly: "Damn it, this is clearly an excuse to attack Ling Kingdom."
Shanzi looked out the window; the distant horizon was covered with dark clouds, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.
"Regardless of whether Princess Qiulan is in Ling Kingdom or not, this battle is probably unavoidable."
However, the Spirit Kingdom has just suffered a natural disaster and is now facing internal strife. Now it is also facing external threats. I'm afraid...
Before he finished speaking, everyone already understood the danger involved.
Daya looked at them and said, "Whether we go to Jiaxian or Fengming City from here..."
Even at the fastest speed, it will take at least a month.
By the time we arrive, both cities will likely have already fallen!
Shanzi replied, "No matter what, as citizens of Ling Kingdom, we cannot stand by and watch our people fall into the flames of war."
We won't discuss what Liu Lingzhen will do for now, but at the very least, she needs to hold off the armies of Si Chao and Gu Xuanchao.
Xiaoman nodded in agreement: "That's right, put yourself in others' shoes."
When our Sujia Village suffered disaster, we longed for someone to come and save us.
The current situation is just like the scene we experienced back then.
They are in trouble; how can we, a group who have achieved some level of cultivation, simply sit idly by and do nothing?
Song Jiuxian was struck by their high morale.
He stroked his beard and said in a deep voice, "But the enemy is strong and well-equipped. With just a few of you, it's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."
The crowd fell silent. Yes, although they possessed martial arts skills, they were ultimately outnumbered and outmatched. How could they possibly fight against the combined armies of the two nations?