Seeing cart after cart of grain, Feng Jiu’er finally felt at ease.

Her brothers had gone hungry for two full days, and now that they could finally eat their fill, they were all reinvigorated.

As night fell, a thunderous boom echoed from the city gate — the gate was blown open, and the army charged out of the city.

General Lu had never imagined that, with Feng Jiu’er’s army cut off from food, she would still dare to take the initiative and attack.

Caught completely unprepared, he was taken by surprise.

Feng Jiu’er had little grain, but plenty of gunpowder.

The next day, the Empress and General Yao’s army entered the city, joining forces with Feng Jiu’er’s troops from inside and out.

With the addition of the twenty thousand elite Western Mu soldiers who had joined midway, General Lu’s hundred-thousand-strong Guard Army suffered defeat after defeat, retreating steadily eastward.

No one knew exactly how much explosive material was in Feng Jiu’er’s hands — the sound of the blasts moved steadily eastward, drawing closer and closer to the imperial palace.

With the west in defeat, the situation on the eastern front wasn’t looking good either, and Feng Jin had no choice but to seek an escape route for himself.

In the end, he decided to marry Noble Consort Ya.

Amid the constant fighting, in a town southeast of the imperial capital, gongs and drums resounded loudly.

Unfortunately, not a single onlooker could be seen on the wide streets.

Sitting in the carriage, Noble Consort Ya wore a red robe, adorned in pearls and jewels.

The moment she lowered the curtain, the smile on her face vanished at once.

“Xiao You, don’t you think this Consort is quite ridiculous?” Noble Consort Ya looked at the woman kneeling beside her.

Gong Xinyue blew on the ginseng tea in the cup and handed it to her. “My lady, why do you say that?”

Noble Consort Ya took the cup, sipped it lightly, and shook her head.

“Knowing full well that he has no place for me in his heart, I still insist on marrying him… ha… how foolish!”

“Since this is what my lady wants, why dwell on it further?” Xiao You stood up and began massaging her shoulders.

“But if it were me, I would never choose this path.”

Noble Consort Ya curved her lips into a bitter smile and asked softly, “Why not?”

Becoming Empress, revered by all under heaven — wasn’t that a position countless women dreamed of? She herself had longed for it for so many years.

“A woman’s youth is so brief — why must she hang her fate entirely on one man?” Gong Xinyue recalled Feng Jiu’er’s words, and the corner of her mouth curved up unconsciously.

“To make enemies of countless women for the sake of one man, scheming and calculating endlessly — what does one gain in the end?”

No amount of wealth could compare to being someone’s sole beloved — truly not worth it!

“My lady, this servant heard that the Empress and His Majesty have divorced. Is that true?” Gong Xinyue returned to kneel before Noble Consort Ya.

She glanced up briefly, then quickly lowered her head again to massage the Consort’s legs.

“This servant also heard that the Empress is now with the man she truly loves — that general waited a full twenty-some years for Her Majesty. What true love!”

Gong Xinyue’s hands paused for a moment, and she let out a somewhat wistful sigh.

“Actually… my lady could do the same.”

“Do what?” Noble Consort Ya lowered her gaze to look at her, brows furrowing slightly.

Gong Xinyue lifted her head and said softly, “My lady could also pursue her own happiness, just like Her Majesty the Empress did.”

“If you no longer love the Crown Prince, there’s still time to change your mind now. If you keep letting yourself sink further, you’ll only be wasting your youth.”

“Is there really still time?” Noble Consort Ya closed her eyes and leaned back against the soft cushion.

Gong Xinyue withdrew her gaze and continued massaging the Consort’s legs.

“My lady is young and beautiful, virtuous and talented — surely there are plenty who admire you. How could it be too late?”

“Of course, if my lady truly does love the Crown Prince, then now is your time of happiness. Who’s to say the Crown Prince doesn’t love you?”

“Once the war is won and the Crown Prince ascends the throne, my lady will become Empress, revered by all under heaven.”