As she unfolded it, she stared at the messenger and asked: “Defeated?”

“Your Majesty, Prince Han Cheng… died for his country!” The messenger’s voice choked with emotion.

Bai Qingyan’s movement of unfolding the letter paused, and in her mind flashed again the scene from her dream – Prince Han Cheng kneeling outside the great hall in farewell.

The messenger who came to deliver the message almost sobbed as he said, “Prince Han Cheng led a small number of warships only to escort fishermen out to sea. He never expected that Dongyi would mobilize so many warships to capture our Great Zhou envoys alive! Nor did he expect that they would start fighting! Who would have thought that the tiny nation of Dongyi would dare to attack our vast Great Zhou!”

Her throat constricted, and angry, bitter emotions seemed to surge up to the top of her head. She handed the bamboo tube to Wei Zhong and spread out the parchment to read carefully…

The battle report stated that Dongyi’s navy had come out almost in full force, claiming to capture the Dongyi Seventh Prince aboard Great Zhou’s envoy ship, but there was no Seventh Prince on the Great Zhou envoy ship.

Prince Han Cheng led warships to escort the civilian fishing boats. When preparing to return, he encountered Great Zhou envoy ships being pursued by Dongyi’s navy. Prince Han Cheng knew that being vastly outnumbered would certainly lead to defeat. He knocked out Cheng Yuanzhi unconscious and had people take Cheng Yuanzhi away, then led all naval warships to fight desperately against Dongyi naval forces several times their number, deciding to fight to the death to buy time for the envoy ships and fishermen to return.

Later, when arrows and crossbow bolts were exhausted and ships were damaged by Dongyi, Prince Han Cheng led his warship to ram into Dongyi’s main battleship.

After that… seeing they couldn’t stop the Dongyi forces breaking through their defensive line, Great Zhou’s navy all rammed their ships without exception.

Dongyi also brought back Prince Han Cheng’s body to Dongyi because their naval commander, Du Yulang, had died, saying that unless Great Zhou’s emperor came personally to claim Prince Han Cheng’s body, they would chop up Prince Han Cheng’s corpse and feed it to dogs.

In this battle, all warships and naval soldiers who went to sea with Prince Han Cheng died in battle, with none surviving. The envoy ships and fishermen returned safely. Lu Fenglang’s whereabouts were unknown, and Liu Rushi was still in Dongyi and had not returned.

By the time Bai Qingyan read to this point, she could barely hold back her tears. Her eyes were blurred by mist, and raging flames burned in her chest. How dare tiny Dongyi?! How dare they!

The messenger’s voice still rang in Bai Qingyan’s ears: “Your Majesty… you must avenge Prince Han Cheng and the naval brothers who died in battle!”

“Your Majesty… there’s also this!” Wei Zhong poured out a golden token from the bamboo tube.

That golden token was what Bai Qingyan had once given to Prince Han Cheng to… buy Prince Han Cheng’s loyalty!

Seeing that token, the messenger’s originally choked voice finally couldn’t help but cry out loud, saying: “This token was placed in the message tube by General Cheng. General Cheng said… before Prince Han Cheng departed, he entrusted him to convey a message to Your Majesty: Prince Han Cheng Xiao Ruxing has failed Your Majesty’s trust, bids farewell to Your Majesty, and will serve Your Majesty again in the next life!”

Hearing these words, Bai Qingyan’s tears finally couldn’t be held back. She clutched the golden token tightly in her palm, her heart painfully wrung by guilt and sorrow because of this one sentence.

Part of the trust she had given Prince Han Cheng was calculated to win this person over for her use.

But she never expected that Prince Han Cheng would say… he would serve her again in the next life.

She had always known that Prince Han Cheng had never received affirmation from the Great Liang Emperor, so when he received opportunities and affirmation from her, he was overjoyed and loyal…

She had known all this, yet still used some calculations and had never been completely honest with Prince Han Cheng.

She had never treated him with complete sincerity, yet Prince Han Cheng repaid her with such loyalty. How could she not feel ashamed? How could she not feel pain?

Dongyi!

She would ensure that Dongyi no longer existed in this world!

“Wei Zhong, send another person to summon Wei Bugong into the palace as well!” Bai Qingyan spoke with a hoarse voice.

Soon, Bai Qingqi, Bai Jinxiu, Bai Qingyu, Bai Qingjue, Bai Jinzhi, Grand Marshal Lu, and Minister Dong arrived successively at the entrance of the great hall, meeting at the bottom of the high steps and walking up together.

“A battle report? So, fighting has broken out at the coast?” Minister Dong was full of rage. “This tiny Dongyi dares to provoke our Great Zhou!”

“Since it’s a battle report, that’s pretty much certain!” Bai Qingjue said while quickly climbing the steps.

Bai Qingyu and Bai Qingqi supported Grand Marshal Lu on either side, pursing their lips as they hurried upward.

“With General Cheng there, Dongyi certainly won’t gain any advantage!” Bai Jinzhi, who had just been awakened, was now eager to try. “In a moment, I’ll request orders from Elder Sister. I want to go personally – I don’t believe we can’t deal with that tiny Dongyi!”

“Dongyi is surrounded by sea on all sides and excels at naval warfare. Even if you’re brave, going there won’t necessarily give you an advantage!” Bai Jinxiu’s lips were tightly pressed.

“I’ve read quite a few naval warfare military books!” Bai Jinzhi called out.

As the group came up from the bottom of the high steps, Wei Zhong quickly pushed open the palace doors to let them enter.

Bai Qingyan knelt at the low table, spreading out an imperial edict and writing. Hearing footsteps, she didn’t raise her head but pointed at the battle report placed on the opposite side of the table: “You’re here. This is the coastal battle report. Take a look.”

“Sister…”

“Elder Sister…”

“Your Majesty…”

After paying their respects, everyone sat down and gathered together to pass around and read the battle report.

“Prince Han Cheng died in battle for his country?!” Minister Dong looked shocked.

“Now, Liu Rushi is still in Dongyi, and Lu Fenglang’s… whereabouts are unknown.” Bai Qingyan’s eyes were deep and dark. She finished writing, placed the jade brush on the inkstone, and looked up at the court ministers and siblings kneeling across from her. “Since Dongyi dares to raise a blade against our Great Zhou, they must be able to bear Great Zhou’s fury!”

When Grand Marshal Lu saw that his granddaughter’s whereabouts were unknown, his hands trembled. He exerted all his strength to control his breathing to keep from collapsing, and spoke calmly: “Your Majesty, does Your Majesty now plan to send another envoy to Dongyi, or to fight?”

“Of course we fight!” Bai Jinzhi spoke first.

Before Bai Qingyan could express her position, Grand Marshal Lu bowed and said: “Your Majesty, this old minister believes that our Great Zhou’s gambling state affair is the priority now! Dongyi can be set aside for now. After dealing with the gambling state… it won’t be too late to settle accounts!”

Bai Qingyu looked at his sister whose eyes were deep and dark, understanding in his heart that his sister would absolutely not swallow this insult.

“I have decided… to send troops and annihilate the nation!” Every word Bai Qingyan spoke was forceful and decisive.

Minister Dong’s eyes widened as he glanced at Grand Marshal Lu, then quickly straightened his back and said: “Your Majesty, this minister believes… what Grand Marshal Lu said about setting Dongyi aside first and settling accounts after dealing with the gambling state is the best strategy!”

“Does Uncle think I’m acting impulsively?” Bai Qingyan stared steadily at her uncle.

“This minister knows that Your Majesty saw the news of Prince Han Cheng’s heroic death and the entire navy’s death in battle, and thought of the Bai family from the Southern Border battle. This minister also knows that the reason Your Majesty sits in this position today is to ensure that the tragedy of the Bai family army never happens again to soldiers who sacrifice their lives for the country!” Dong Qingping’s expression was solemn. “But our Great Zhou cannot fight now!”