Since returning from ‘there’, she had completely changed. Her stubbornness and hatred were gone, making her unrecognizable. The woman he once admired had transformed completely. Who could he blame? It was all his own doing. Now she was like a vase, with a cold and beautiful exterior, and equally cruel and ruthless heart…
Hu Yannan asked, “Have you really made your decision?”
Shan Xiao Ya nodded. “Go back by yourself. I’m staying here.”
Hu Yannan glanced at Man Hanting and said to Shan Xiao Ya, “He is a monarch with three thousand concubines. Are you really willing to be one of them? Follow me, and at least I belong to you alone.”
Shan Xiao Ya laughed. “General, you don’t need to worry about that. Believe me, with my beauty, I will definitely make…” She walked to Man Hanting’s side, wrapped her arms around his neck, and seductively blew in his ear, continuing, “The monarch will like me and believe I’m special to him. Right, my lord?” She clung to Man Hanting…
Receiving such treatment from Shan Xiao Ya was something Man Hanting never expected. He had never beaten Hu Yannan before and was always constrained. Today, he could finally turn the tables… Women had always been dispensable in his life, but she unexpectedly held a place in his heart. Loving the kingdom but loving beauty, especially a ‘special’ beauty like Shan Xiao Ya.
Man Hanting reached out and patted her hand, nodding. “General Hu, Xiao Ya is right! I will treat her well in the future. You can go!
More and more guards closed in, and everyone under Hu Yan Nan’s command was a killer. Guards fell one by one, and more surged forward. The entire banquet hall was filled with blood and a brutal atmosphere, with cruel slaughter. Hu Yan Nan was covered in blood, unable to distinguish between his own blood and others’, looking horrific.
Shan Xiao Ya looked at the sudden change, feeling countless emotions. This is life – the law of the jungle, cruel and vicious. For survival, one would use any means possible. Could she rely on others for lifelong security? Using a woman’s skills is good, but depending too much on men is self-destructive. Unifying the world? If she were the ruler who unified everything, who would dare touch her? Shan Xiao Ya’s eyes flashed with fierce determination, then vanished. Man Hanting pulled Shan Xiao Ya away from the banquet hall.
Hu Yan Nan, having killed until his eyes were red, was surrounded by more and more guards. Even a hero cannot fight many hands. Man Hanting’s tactics were indeed effective against Hu Yan Nan. At this moment, Hu Yan Nan was already gasping, looking at the corpse-strewn ground. A survival instinct flashed through his mind.
He feinted, used his internal energy to leap up, spinning around his body’s center and disappearing. His high-pitched voice echoed far away: “Man Han Ting, I will definitely return to take your head.”
Hu Yan Nan had betrayed the country. His wife was not a princess of Man Yi Kingdom, but a trap set by Hu Yan Nan and the Man Yi Kingdom’s ruler to deceive the Jin Ri Kingdom’s emperor and launch a massive attack to replace them. Now, Hu Yan Nan had become a laughingstock and object of public contempt.
The 88-year-old Jin Ri Kingdom vanished overnight, with the Jin flag replaced by the Man flag. The entire country reduced taxes for a year, opened trade routes, and promoted commerce. Man Han Ting pacified the Jin Ri Kingdom’s citizens in just half a month. The entire country celebrated, with people caring little about who was emperor or which dynasty ruled. As long as their small interests were served and benefits were plentiful, the emperor’s identity was irrelevant. Patriotic passion was not so intense. Some harbored resentment, but the tide had turned, making resistance futile. They could only think about it internally without action. A small group of patriots wanted to restore the Jin flag, but they quickly dispersed.
Zhao Yeqing helplessly returned to the Famous Sword Manor.
After the change of dynasty, all internal and external affairs of the manor needed to be redeployed and reorganized. Today, all matters were finally settled, but he couldn’t feel happy. His mind was filled with question marks about Dan Xiaoya.
The steward glanced at the distracted Zhao Yeqing and cleared his throat: “Hmm!” effectively bringing Zhao Yeqing back to his senses.
The steward continued: “Young Master, these are the matters of the manor. There is one more thing about the new emperor.”
Zhao Yeqing raised an eyebrow. “New emperor?”
“Yes! The emperor of Manyi Nation, now the ruler of Jin Ri Nation, invites you to the imperial palace as a guest.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow! Are you going?”
“Can I not go? I’ll go! I want to meet him. Prepare ten fist-sized night-luminous pearls as a gift for him.”
“Yes!” The steward said and withdrew.
Zhao Yeqing arrived at the palace hall with an exquisite peach wood box. He elegantly followed the guards into the imperial courtyard. Various pavilions, exquisite and extraordinary, rockeries, and corridors, lake and mountain scenery, pavilions, and towers, beautifully surrounded him. While walking and observing the surroundings, Zhao Yeqing thought his manor was already magnificent, but he didn’t expect such scenery in the imperial city.
What surprised Zhao Yeqing was that Man Hanting received him in casual attire. At the door of a side hall in the palace, the escorting guards stopped. “Young Master, please enter!” They gestured respectfully.
Zhao Yeqing glanced at the guards standing on both sides of the entrance, nodded politely, and strode in.
Man Hanting laughed as Zhao Yeqing entered. “Young Master, accepting my invitation is a great honor for me. Welcome!” He walked to Zhao Yeqing’s side and grabbed his arm.
Zhao Yeqing smiled. He tossed the exquisite box, which landed on the table farthest from the door without making a sound… After showing off, he grasped Man Hanting’s hand, preparing to bow. “This humble one, Zhao Yeqing…”
Before he could finish, Man Hanting quickly pulled him up. “Young Master, no need to be formal! I’ve long heard about you and wanted to meet you. Today, I finally get my wish. I’ve prepared a sumptuous feast. Shall we have a few drinks?”
“I’ve always heard that the ruler of Manyi Nation is wise and open-minded. Meeting you today indeed lives up to your reputation. I’ll be honored to comply.”
“Please!”
“Please!” They said in unison, supporting each other towards the table laden with food and wine…
Just as they reached the table, a voice came from outside: “Your Majesty! Miss Dan has arrived!”
Zhao Yeqing’s heart stirred at these words. Could it be her?
Man Hanting suddenly interjected, “Young Master, General Huyan temporarily sent Xiao Ya to the Demon Kiln, but that is already in the past. In the future,朕 will treat her well.”
Zhao Yeqing was filled with self-blame and guilt. The hand that reached out to caress Shan Xiaoya’s cheek stopped midair and curled into a fist. Before the turbulent emotions could settle, a black-clad figure burst through the window.
This black-clad person was none other than Huyan Nan. His chin was covered in stubble, and after half a month, he looked much more haggard, with obvious weariness on his face.
Man Hanting saw Huyan Nan as if he had expected him, not surprised at all. He merely took a few steps back, creating distance between them. “I have been waiting for you for a long time. You have finally appeared.”
Huyan Nan gave a cold laugh. “Is that so? I think you’re waiting to die.”
“Dying by your hand would be my honor. But that depends on whether you have the ability.”
Zhao Yeqing looked at the disheveled Huyan Nan with confusion. “General Huyan, what’s with this appearance?”
Huyan Nan glanced at Zhao Yeqing, his face still hard and cold. “What appearance can a defeated general have?”
