"Luo Zhen, do you know them?" Zhao Jiangning heard Luo Zhen’s muttering and asked in surprise.

Luo Zhen nodded: "The Black Shadow Killer Organization, my parents died at their hands."

"Madam..." Xu Miaozhen, who knew her background well, called softly when she saw Luo Zhen recalling the past.

"It’s nothing." Luo Zhen shook her head.

"That’s right, they are indeed from the Black Shadow Killer Organization. It seems they can’t wait to eliminate us. The person I sent to Nanyang to report seems to have been killed by them too..."

Quan Qiyang walked over: "Fortunately, we arrived in time, otherwise you would have been in big trouble."

Quan Qiyang felt a bit frightened. If something had happened to Luo Zhen and her group, the lord on the front lines would have returned with the army, regardless of whether the war was over.

"What exactly happened?" Yi Yao supported Jiang Ruoqing as they walked over.

"There was an incident at the Imperial Court, Empress Dowager Hu is a remnant of Nan Zhou." Quan Qiyang said.

"A remnant of Nan Zhou? Empress Dowager Hu?!" Ye Wanqiu widened her eyes.

"Let’s discuss this in detail when we return, it’s not safe here. The Empress Dowager and her entourage should be arriving soon, we need to go and greet them." Wu Lu interrupted their conversation and said.

Quan Qiyang nodded.

Ye Wanqiu was taken aback: "The Empress... the Empress Dowager is also coming."

...

Back at the State Governor’s Mansion, Ye Wanqiu found an excuse, saying she was unwell, and didn’t meet Xiao Yunxi.

Even though Wu Lu and the others didn’t recognize her, she couldn’t guarantee that Xiao Yunxi wouldn’t.

After all, Xiao Yunxi was the head of the Harem and had seen all of Zhao Ji’s concubines.

If recognized, it would be very awkward.

With Princess De Ning present, so was she.

Moreover, it was rumored that her relationship with the lord was ambiguous.

Just thinking about it made Ye Wanqiu feel ashamed, let alone consider how to end it.

...

Qingzhou City.

Although the battles here ended, there was still post-war work to handle, and Hulao Pass needed repairs.

Once repaired, troops would need to be stationed to prevent the Desolate Kingdom from launching a surprise attack, so Chen Mo couldn’t return to the Capital yet.

Additionally, Chen Mo chose a prisoner of the Desolate Kingdom as an envoy, letting him return, claiming that the Queen of Loulan was in his hands. He demanded a ransom of ten thousand taels of silver, ten cities, as well as provisions, and the release of Wei Ying in exchange for the Queen’s return.

Zhao Qianyi was recruiting her former troops in the city. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

With hundreds of thousands in the Celestial Dragon Army, she refused to believe all perished; she intended to recruit as many as possible.

These people were heroes, and she wanted to bring them to the Capital, to the Golden Hall, to receive honors from the current emperor. It was Zhao Qianyi’s way of easing her inner guilt.

Regarding that night’s incident, Zhao Qianyi didn’t confront Chen Mo.

She was just very angry.

Perhaps due to insufficient understanding of Chen Mo, her impression of him had always been positive.

Discovering his unfaithful side clashed with her perception, and since he had told her he was going for an interrogation, yet secretly did otherwise, she couldn’t accept it for a while.

But now she had let it go.

After all, she was not Chen Mo’s legitimate wife, his actions weren’t a betray to her; that was the Empress’s concern.

Moreover, her status was clandestine, making her act surreptitiously.

Thinking this way, Zhao Qianyi didn’t feel upset anymore.

...

Dusk was falling, and Zhao Qianyi had some gains for the day, having recruited two from the Celestial Dragon Army.

The two were low-ranking soldiers, still bearing wounds.

After narrowly escaping, they hid as refugees in a small town.

Upon hearing that the Song Army had arrived, they came over, discovering Zhao Qianyi recruiting former Celestial Dragon members in Qingzhou City.

Zhao Qianyi registered their information, planning to have Chen Mo submit it for commendation.

She adeptly reached the study in the government office, opened the door, and saw Moon Slave lying in his embrace.

Seeing Zhao Qianyi, Chen Mo gently patted her bottom, signaling her to leave first.

Moon Slave, having her sneak indulgence found out, dared not look at Zhao Qianyi, and silently walked out with her head down.

Seeing him send away the servant, Zhao Qianyi felt somewhat reassured, approached, and handed him the book: "These are two former Celestial Dragon members, help me ask His Majesty for a reward."

With sticky fingers, Chen Mo, embarrassed to find a towel in her presence, discreetly wiped them on himself, took the book, glanced at it, and wrapped his arm around Zhao Qianyi’s waist: "This is a small matter."

As he spoke, Chen Mo placed the book on the desk, sat down with her in his arms behind the desk, and held her shoulders to prevent her from rising: "Qianyi, currently we have twenty-seven thousand troops, I plan to have Xishan lead seventy thousand to guard Hulao Pass, what do you think?"

Talking business, Zhao Qianyi paid no mind to Chen Mo’s flirtatious nature, saying: "Isn’t seventy thousand a bit too few?"

The Celestial Dragon Army had over three hundred thousand stationed at Hulao Pass originally.

"It is a bit few, but we have no choice; the remaining provisions can’t support more. Once back in the Capital, I’ll redistribute provisions to Hulao Pass. Also, the internal rebellion isn’t resolved, so we can’t deploy too many forces." Chen Mo explained.

Hearing this, Zhao Qianyi sighed, given the current situation, the Great Song was barely hanging on.

With war and disasters over recent years, the Great Song’s population was perhaps only a third remaining.

Sometimes, Zhao Qianyi pondered if a country like this was worth existing?

Chen Mo gently stroked her back, softly saying: "It’s almost over. After such a heavy defeat, the Desolate Kingdom shouldn’t have the capacity to bother us for a while. Next, we just need to handle internal matters."

"I hope so... you..."

Suddenly Zhao Qianyi exclaimed, as Chen Mo’s hand had unexpectedly touched her bottom.

"Qianyi, it’s late, time to rest." Chen Mo smilingly stood up, making her lean over the desk.

"...We should return to the room, what are you doing here?"

"No... mmm..."

...

Day two hundred and twenty-five of the great turmoil.

In Qingzhou City, a group of military officers gathered outside the government office, peering inside with curiosity.

Today, five messengers arrived in succession, none of whom have left yet, and the lord inside hadn’t appeared either, leaving everyone anxious.

Inside the government office, three urgent documents lay in front of Chen Mo, alongside two decrees.

One urgent document was from Wu Lu.

One was from Xiao Yunxi.

The last was transmitted through the Mo Bing Platform by Quan Qiyang.

The contents were identical: an upheaval in the Capital, almost all ten thousand troops in Bianliang fell into Hu Mei’Er’s hands, urging him to return with the army quickly.

Both decrees summoned him back to the Capital for investigation, sealed with the Seal and endorsed with Huangfu Hao’s General’s Seal.