The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1690: 823 The Regret of the King (One More Update)

Chapter 1690: 823 The Regret of the King (One More Update)

Xiao Hen’s speculation was confirmed in the days that followed.

In mid-August, news came from Tianshan Pass that the Jin Country’s army was marching east.

Two days later, news arrived from Yanmen Pass that the Liang Country’s army was also advancing east.

The Han Family and the Nangong Family were still on their way and had not yet reached the border pass. They might have been in contact with the border garrison commanders through their trusted aides.

Tianshan Pass was guarded by Han Family forces, while Yanmen Pass was guarded by Nangong Family forces. Although there were other generals, the main commanders were trusted aides from these two families. Almost immediately after receiving the urgent report, the two families’ forces swiftly cleared obstacles and seized control of the border situation.

When the intelligence reached Shengdu in Dayan, the monarch was so furious that he smashed the inkstone in the Imperial Study Room!

A room full of eunuchs and palace maids dropped to their knees in fear.

Zhang Dequan didn’t even dare to breathe heavily.

Who could have predicted that after capturing the Han Family members and imprisoning the crown prince, there would be a rebellion orchestrated jointly by these two great families?

They were far more audacious than the Xuanyuan Family of the past.

The Xuanyuan Family did not rebel out of fear of being arrested for their own crimes.

They decided to rebel upon learning of the secret agreement between the monarch and the Jin and Liang countries.

At that time, in the Imperial Study Room, only the monarch, Xuanyuan Li, and Zhang Dequan, who was serving tea, were present.

To this day, Zhang Dequan still recalls Xuanyuan Li’s indignant words with a sense of reverberation.

Xuanyuan Li said, “Shangguan Jingyang, do you really think the Xuanyuan Family is your greatest threat? To eliminate the Xuanyuan Family, you have conspired with the tiger! One day, you will regret this!”

Sixteen years later, Xuanyuan Li’s words finally came true.

The ambitions of the Jin and Liang countries could no longer be concealed. But now, without the Xuanyuan Family’s million-strong army, how could Dayan possibly confront the formidable forces of these two countries?

Not to mention that the Han Family and the Nangong Family took away nearly half of the troops!

How could this battle be fought?

What chance of victory did it have!

If Xuanyuan Li were still alive and if the sons of the Xuanyuan Family were still in this world, perhaps a battle of numerical inferiority could be won.

But they had all perished in the war.

Since the Han Family revealed its true colors, the monarch had lived every day in regret. Whether dealing with internal strife or external threats, as long as the Xuanyuan Family was present, there would not be so many demonic entities.

He feared the Xuanyuan Family’s distinguished merits and sought to annihilate the entire family because of a prophecy.

But in the end, the kingdom of Dayan still fell into a precarious situation!

The monarch took a deep breath to calm his emotions: “I still have the main army, and the forces of the Wang Family and the Mu Family. I also have the Hei Fengqi… I might not lose…”

“Report—”

Outside the Imperial Study Room, an urgent scout’s report suddenly echoed.

“Enter!” said the monarch sternly.

Zhang Dequan summoned the scout into the Imperial Study Room.

But it was not just one scout who came.

“Your Majesty, urgent report from Cangxue Pass: the Chen Country’s army has been spotted advancing towards the eastern border!”

“Your Majesty, a spy has discovered the Zhao Country’s army!”

“Your Majesty, the Zhan Country’s army has been spotted at Chishui Pass!”

Of the six countries in the world, five were now marching towards the Dayan Country.

This was no longer just an invasion by Jin and Liang, even three smaller countries seized this chance to take a bite out of the Dayan Country.

In the past, Zhao, Chen, and Zhan would never have dared, but now the news of Jin and Liang marching against Dayan had already shaken the entire Universe. The “good news” of the Han and Nangong families’ defection had not escaped the eyes of spies from other countries.

If they didn’t come to take a share now, when would they?

The monarch’s blood surged, and he spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot and fell unconscious!

Zhang Dequan quickly summoned the imperial physician and sent someone to fetch Gu Jiao, Shangguan Yun, and Xiao Hen to the Imperial Palace.

Honestly, the way things had developed was indeed somewhat beyond expectation.

Originally, it was believed that stopping the Han Family would prevent a civil war, and without the internal strife, Jin and Liang would not dare to confront Dayan directly.

Who expected Han and Nangong families’ rebellion not only brought internal chaos but also directly opened all of Dayan’s border passes, turning the two-country invasion into a five-country pillage.

In the dream, Zhan, Chen, and Zhao did not participate in dividing Dayan, because by then, Dayan was only a shell, easily taken by Jin and Liang.

But now, Dayan’s army was strong and powerful, destined to lose yet surely putting up a fierce fight, rendering it unable to consider the eastern border of Dayan.

“The situation has become even more serious than the dream,”

Gu Jiao had many prophetic dreams, but this was the one most out of her control.

Would everyone still walk towards the conclusion of the dream?

The carriage arrived at the Imperial Palace.

The monarch had just experienced a mild stroke, saved in time by the imperial physicians, his face looked worn out, as if he had aged more than ten years in a day.

He lay on the bright yellow Dragon Bed, his breath faint and weak.

He tasted the flavor of regret and the bitter fruit of retribution.

Gu Jiao examined his body, determining that his life was not in danger, but his body would not recover its former agility in the short term.

Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen could see that he had something to say to Shangguan Yun, so the two of them turned and walked out.

Zhang Dequan also led the palace maids away.

In the vast Sleeping Palace, only the father and daughter were left.

Shangguan Yun stood in front of the Dragon Bed, looking indifferently at the old and powerless ruler, and stabbed him with the question, “Do you regret it?”

The ruler’s lips twitched twice, a hint of remorse flashed in his cloudy eyes, yet he stubbornly refused to admit his former folly on the surface.

But in truth, he had long regretted it.

He just hadn’t expected himself to regret so thoroughly.

It wasn’t the Xuanyuan Family that took away Dayan’s destiny; it was himself.

He exterminated the Xuanyuan Family, destroyed Dayan’s strongest shield.

Dayan became a helpless fish on the chopping block, even the lower countries raising their butcher knives against it.

Countless times in his heart, he recalled, if the Xuanyuan Family were still here, who would dare invade!

“Protect…protect…”

He opened his mouth, struggling to say something, his voice faint and unclear after a recent stroke.

“You want me to protect Dayan?” Shangguan Yun said indifferently, “I won’t promise you that.”

“Life…save your life…”

He meant, save your life, escape quickly.

Dayan is about to fall.

The legitimate princess of Dayan will meet a tragic end.

Leave with the two children and never return.

The ruler of Dayan gazed towards the door, half-opened, from his angle he couldn’t see Xiao Hen, only his shadow cast on the ground.

He opened his mouth with difficulty, but in the end, didn’t call out that name.

–

Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen squatted on the ground, Xiao Hen had drawn a map of the Six Countries with a tree branch.

Pointing at the map with the branch, Xiao Hen said, “Yan Country is in the center, to the north is the Icefield, south is Chishui. The west borders Jin and Liang Countries, these three nations form a pincers position.”

Gu Jiao understood, “So Jin Country sought to ally with Liang Country back then to prevent Liang from becoming allies with Yan.”

Xiao Hen nodded, “Exactly.”

“What about the east?” Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Hen pointed at two small circles on the map with the branch and said, “To the east is Chen Country and Zhan Country. Chen is in the northeast, Zhan in the southeast. Zhao Country is the furthest, it must bypass Chen to get here.”

Gu Jiao asked, “The Tianshan Pass blocking Jin is guarded by the Han Family, and the Yanmen Pass blocking Liang is guarded by the Nangong Family… what about the Chen and Zhan borders?”

Xiao Hen responded, “Cangxue Pass is garrisoned by Mu Family’s forces to guard against Chen iron cavalry; Chishui Pass is guarded by Wang Family’s troops to prevent Zhan’s navy. If Zhao wants to attack Yan, the best way is to bypass Chen and go through the Icefield to Changping Pass, guarded by local troops.”

Gu Jiao paused, “Zhao Country is the furthest, they won’t come this quickly.”

Xiao Hen looked at the map and said, “In terms of travel and marching speed, the fastest would be the armies of Jin and Liang, followed by Zhan’s navy, then Chen’s cavalry.”

Gu Jiao asked again, “Who will lead Zhan’s forces?”

Xiao Hen pondered, “To cross Chishui, a navy must escort them. It would likely be my father—the Marquis of Xuanping.”

Gu Jiao: “…”

So should we fight or not?

“What about Chen?” Gu Jiao asked.

Xiao Hen thought for a moment, “Though there isn’t exact news from Chen, they suffered a defeat last year. To boost morale, it should be Yuan Tang leading the expedition.”

As for who would lead Zhao’s army, Xiao Hen wasn’t sure, as he didn’t know much about Zhao.

But one thing was certain, Yan could not simultaneously face the invasions of five countries.

Curiously, Gu Jiao asked, “If Yuan Tang and the Emperor of Zhan knew we were in Yan, would they still fight?”

Xiao Hen stared at her, “You…want to go to battle?”

Squatting on the ground drawing circles, Gu Jiao murmured, “As the commander of Hei Fengqi, shouldn’t I go to battle?”

If she wanted to stop being the commander of Hei Fengqi, she could do so at any time.

Xiao Hen opened his mouth, “You…”

“It’s not entirely for you and Jingkong,” Gu Jiao understood what he wanted to say, she looked up at the endless sky, “I just feel, it’s something I should do.”