The Grand Princess spoke plainly that, being advanced in years and lacking strength, she could not distinguish clearly whether it was the Crown Prince who committed treason or Prince Liang who rebelled. But whether the Crown Prince or Prince Liang, both were of imperial blood. This time, the Grand Princess would not interfere and would leave everything to the Emperor’s decision.

After Prince Liang was refused, he dispatched Fan Yuhuai to send men to surround Princess Zhenguo’s mansion, ordering that no one be allowed to enter or leave.

On the twenty-ninth day of the third month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, General Xie Xun of Yan broke through Weishu City. The Empress Dowager of Wei perished in the flames, and the fate of the Emperor of Wei remained unknown.

On the first day of the fourth month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, under the earnest entreaties of Liang’s veteran Chancellor, Emperor Liang finally issued an order to relocate the capital to Xiangliang.

In an instant, high-ranking officials and nobles all packed their belongings. The common people of Han City were filled with anxiety and panic, following suit one after another. Even before the Jin army arrived, the scene already revealed the chaos of war and disorder.

Even within the imperial palace, there was pandemonium. Emperor Liang’s consorts and princes, along with the palace maids and eunuchs, busily packed their valuables, fearing they would be left behind.

However, relocating the capital was a major undertaking. First, large numbers of palace maids and eunuchs had to be sent ahead to the Xiangliang temporary palace, followed by the Emperor and consorts’ processions.

In the rear palace, even the belongings and luggage of consorts of lower rank required more than ten carts to transport, not to mention the Emperor’s traveling arrangements.

Only the Third Prince was determined to remain and defend Han City, waiting for the Ghost-Faced Prince of the Rong and Di tribes to bring reinforcements. He only arranged for his wives, children, and concubines to accompany Emperor Liang in relocating the capital to Xiangliang.

On the eleventh day of the fourth month in the eighteenth year of Xuanjia, just as Emperor Liang’s procession was preparing to leave the city, when the people of Han City were each fearing for their lives amidst the chaos of war, the Jin army descended like heavenly troops. Zhao Sheng led his forces to surround and block the eastern, western, and northern gates of Liang’s capital, Han City.

At the same time, Emperor Liang received news that after Princess Zhenguo’s forces appeared before the city and he resisted stubbornly for three days, General Lin Pengfei of Yuegu City had surrendered by leaving the city and had already submitted to Princess Zhenguo. At this moment, Princess Zhenguo was leading her troops toward Han City.

Upon hearing this news, Emperor Liang vomited blood and fainted, and was carried back to his bedchamber. Han City fell into great chaos.

The Third Prince made a decisive decision, ordering the capital relocation army to travel light and immediately escort Emperor Liang out of the city toward Xiangliang.

Who would have known that when Emperor Liang regained consciousness and had not yet had time to leave Han City, news arrived that Princess Gaoyi was leading her forces in a surprise attack from the direction of Daquan, currently assaulting Han City’s eastern gate.

In less than an hour, more news arrived: Jin’s Grand General Liu Hong had broken through Zhongxing and was leading his main force to press toward Han City’s southern gate.

General Lin Pengfei of Yuegu had surrendered, and Princess Zhenguo Bai Qingyan was also leading her forces toward Han City…

The Jin forces attacked from three directions and besieged Han City. The great situation of Liang was already lost.

As for Liang’s imperial family, because Emperor Liang had earlier hesitated and refused to relocate the capital, they were now trapped in Han City. The veteran Chancellor earnestly petitioned Emperor Liang to cede territory to Jin in exchange for peace, henceforth paying tribute and acknowledging vassalage to preserve the kingdom.

Emperor Liang knew the veteran Chancellor spoke reasonably. Looking at the court officials kneeling on the ground and refusing to rise, he was still unwilling to accept defeat and shouted in reproof: “The Ghost-Faced Prince of the Rong and Di is already on his way! As long as we can defend Han City and hold out for a few more days, once the Ghost-Faced Prince arrives, he will surely resolve Han City’s predicament!”

At this time, Bai Qingyan rode a completely snow-white steed, leading her troops at the forefront. She could already see Han City’s walls and hear the sounds of fierce battle coming from within the city.

“Report…”

Seeing a scout riding swiftly back on horseback, Bai Qingyan raised her hand. The vast and mighty army obeyed orders and prohibitions, their movements uniform and orderly.

The scout leaped down from his horse, knelt on one knee, and cupped his fists, saying: “Reporting to Princess Zhenguo, Princess Gaoyi is leading troops to attack Han City’s eastern gate!”

“Report…”

Another scout came galloping back swiftly, yellow dust flying behind him.

The scout dismounted and knelt on one knee: “Reporting to Princess Zhenguo, General Liu Hong has already taken Zhongxing City and is leading his forces toward Han City’s southern gate.”

“Report…”

Scouts continued to return one after another.

“Reporting to Princess Zhenguo, the imperial family and noble relatives of Liang are trapped within Han City. Those few who escaped Han City have been captured alive and detained by Princess Gaoyi!”

Bai Qingyan nodded. She tightly gripped the reins in her hand, gazing at the majestic Han City under the blazing sun, and suddenly felt a heroic emotion surge in her heart.

The once prosperous and powerful kingdom of Liang, which had backed against the northern sea and profited from the advantages of salt, fish, and maritime transport, would cease to exist from this day forward.

And this was only the beginning of unifying the realm.

After taking Liang, Bai Qingyan’s next step would be to overthrow the already corrupt Lin imperial power of Jin, to establish principles and purpose for the common people of Jin, and to govern Jin in a completely new way—one that prioritized the people rather than solely benefiting the privileged noble clans.

“Reporting to Princess Zhenguo, there are those claiming to be Princess Zhenguo’s shadow guards, saying they come bearing orders from the Bai family’s Second Miss, Madam Qin, requesting an audience with Princess Zhenguo!” Yang Wei, a subordinate of Yang Wu, came forward on orders to report to Princess Zhenguo.

Jinxiu had dispatched shadow guards—could something have happened in the capital?

“Where are they? Take me to see them!” Bai Qingyan turned her horse around and galloped swiftly toward the rear of the main army together with Yang Wei.

Since leaving the capital, these shadow guards had ridden fast horses continuously, traveling day and night without rest, covering five hundred li daily, sometimes even approaching six hundred li. At relay stations they changed horses, eating hastily when hungry, and when truly unable to stay awake from exhaustion, they would bind themselves securely to their horses’ backs, letting their steeds gallop forward following their companions.

Using such extreme methods, in merely nineteen days, they had delivered their message to Bai Qingyan’s hands just as she was about to reach Liang’s capital Han City.

Their mission accomplished, these shadow guards could finally hold out no longer. They collapsed sitting on the ground one after another, some even already falling asleep.

Seeing Bai Qingyan galloping swiftly toward the rear of the army from afar, the shadow guard Xingchen, who had several times infiltrated the Bai mansion at night in the capital to deliver messages to Bai Qingyan, hurriedly stood up.

Before Xingchen could step forward, he was pointed at with spears by Jin army soldiers and had no choice but to step back.

Only when Bai Qingyan reined in her horse did Xingchen wake the other six shadow guards, and they all knelt on one knee to pay respects to Bai Qingyan.

“We greet our master!”

“Has something happened in the capital?” Bai Qingyan raised her horse whip, signaling the soldiers guarding these shadow guards to withdraw.

“Reporting to the master, on the twenty-fourth day of the third month, Second Miss ordered this subordinate to bring men to deliver a message: Prince Liang has conspired with Left Chancellor Li Mao and Imperial Guard Commander Fan Yuhuai in rebellion!” Xingchen spoke extremely rapidly.

Yang Wei, who was beside Bai Qingyan, was shocked. From Jin’s capital to this place, these shadow guards had taken only nineteen days!

Bai Qingyan’s palm tightened.

Fan Yuhuai and Prince Liang… and Li Mao.

Indeed, what Bai Qingyan had suspected would happen had come to pass.

But hadn’t she sent word back early, telling Bai Jinxiu to go with Qin Lang to take up their posts in Baivo City? How was she still in the capital?!

“Is Second Miss still in the capital?” Bai Qingyan asked.

“Reporting to Eldest Miss, yes!”

She gripped the reins tightly. Prince Liang’s renewed uprising this time was surely intended to pin the crime of regicide on the Crown Prince before the main army returned from destroying Liang, then ascend the throne and proclaim it to all under heaven. In this way, he could settle the grand strategy.

This time, without Prince Xin as cover, Prince Liang had no retreat—either succeed or die. He would certainly exert all his strength. Even if she immediately led troops back to provide aid, she feared it would be too late.

Moreover, with only her own family’s shadow guards reporting, it would likely be insufficient to convince Liu Hong to return with her, leading troops back together.