She had already considered that this might be a scheme by Gu Chaonan and Xu Mengdie, deliberately claiming the Emperor had died, then transporting the body back just to gain entry into Yecheng.
When Gu Chaobei left, he had said that Yecheng must be defended. Unless he personally brought Gu Chaonan back himself, they could not allow him to enter and occupy this easily defended, difficult to attack strategic pass.
Shen Guiyan had remembered these words, so she first ordered the city gates closed.
However, when she opened the letter in her hand, the handwriting was indeed Gu Chaobei’s, only it was covered in fresh blood, making it barely possible to discern a few characters.
“Yan’er, as you read this letter, consider it seeing me. I… the iron cannons’ power is tremendous, countless casualties, if not… this journey to the border, fear millions may perish… the foreign tribes are tyrannical, the generals refuse to submit, going forth to continue the pursuit, if… one month without return… no need to wait for me.”
Where the bloodstains had contaminated the letter, the writing was completely illegible. From the remaining words, she could barely make out that the Emperor seemed to have truly experienced a fierce battle.
One month without return? It had only been half a month, yet the dragon coffin had already returned, and he was telling her not to wait any longer?
Her body swayed, and Shen Guiyan felt somewhat unsteady on her feet. Vice General Zhang impatiently snatched the letter to look at it. At one glance, his face turned deathly pale: “His Majesty has truly passed away…”
The tone in this letter, how could it not read like a final testament? Were the foreign tribes really that formidable?
“Open the city gates. We must respectfully welcome His Majesty’s sacred body. Next we must discuss establishing a new ruler to continue resisting the foreign tribes,” Vice General Zhang said gravely.
“Yes.” The soldier received the order and was about to leave when Shen Guiyan shouted coldly: “The city gates must not be opened!”
“Empress! Your Majesty!” Vice General Zhang was furious: “You are the mother of the nation, how can you ignore His Majesty’s sacred body? To leave the dragon coffin outside the city walls, how can your heart bear it?”
“This palace does not believe that is a dragon coffin!” Shen Guiyan’s face was pale, but her eyes were exceptionally resolute: “The Emperor is not someone who would rashly throw his life away. Look below—all of His Majesty’s vice generals are absent, only General Gu is there, even General Lian has not shown himself. If these city gates open and treacherous people take the opportunity to occupy Yecheng, but His Majesty has not actually died and is instead shut outside Yecheng, can you bear the responsibility for such consequences?”
Vice General Zhang was stunned, his heart trembling slightly. He had not thought this through. That General Gu was said to be as close as brothers with His Majesty, and there was His Majesty’s letter in his own hand, plus the dragon coffin below—how could it be false?
“Empress…”
“This palace will not permit the city gates to be opened. The imperial decree is posted on the city gates. Whoever dares open the gates privately, this palace will have his head!” Shen Guiyan took back the letter from his hand, eyes reddening as she descended from the city tower.
“General, what should we do?” a soldier whispered. “If we truly don’t welcome the dragon coffin into the city, what about General Gu’s side? Must they all remain outside the city?”
Vice General Zhang was silent for a moment, then said: “Wait another month. His Majesty’s letter mentioned a one-month deadline. If after one month His Majesty has not returned, then we’ll open the city gates to respectfully welcome the sacred body and General Gu.”
The soldier acknowledged the order.
Outside the city were clearly their own people. The Yecheng magistrate didn’t understand why the Empress was so anxious. First she had all the grain from the towns in the rear collected into Yecheng’s granaries, then she sent people to guard the water sources, and even doubled the guards around the granaries. She even had soldiers set up camp beneath the city walls, patrolling day and night.
Such a display—wasn’t it excessive?
When Gu Chaonan received news that Shen Guiyan refused to open the city gates, he flew into a rage and immediately set off signal flares. The smoke drifted into Yecheng with the southwest wind, causing some panic among the common people. From somewhere in the city, rumors began spreading that His Majesty had already died, his body was outside the city gates, yet the Empress refused to open the gates.
“Women’s hearts are truly vicious. His Majesty is the Empress’s husband, yet she disregards her husband’s remains.”
“No matter how you explain it, it doesn’t make sense. The city gates should be opened.”
Some idle scholars even wrote essays, using veiled language to say that Shen Guiyan was domineering and tyrannical, that everything she did wasted resources and labor, and had no effect whatsoever.
When the rumors reached the First Prince’s ears, he was furious: “The common people are so foolish, believing whatever they hear, blindly joining the clamor.”
Nuo’er looked at him curiously: “What does ‘blindly joining the clamor’ mean?”
“It means one person doesn’t understand but starts things off, then everyone else pretends to understand and joins in the shouting,” Xu Zhuangzhou beside them explained with a smile.
Nuo’er nodded with partial understanding. Shen Guiyan looked at her son’s indignant expression and said with a laugh: “You cannot argue with so many people, because one mouth cannot win against so many mouths. Either you accept that dirty water they throw, or you persist to the end—there will always be a day of vindication. Words are the most useless things.”
The First Prince stared blankly at his mother for a long while before gently nodding.
For several days the common people gossiped. Gu Chaonan had already set up camp outside the city, having people shout every day. The content was nothing more than that failing to welcome the dragon coffin was a grave disrespect, that no matter how great the Empress was, she could not be greater than His Majesty, and so on.
No matter what he did, Shen Guiyan withstood the pressure, yielding not a single step, never allowing anyone near the city gates.
Three days later, Gu Chaonan could no longer restrain himself and began directing soldiers to attack the city.
“Empress! Your Majesty! General Gu says he must transport His Majesty’s sacred body back to the capital. If Your Majesty does not open the city gates, he will have no choice but to force his way in.” Vice General Zhang frowned. “The foreign tribes have not been pacified—how can we engage in internal strife? Your Majesty should open the city gates!”
Shen Guiyan laughed coldly, raising her head to look at Vice General Zhang: “All they want is to enter the city. If we open the gates, that would be giving them the opportunity to engage in internal strife with us.”
Vice General Zhang gritted his teeth: “Why is Your Majesty so unwilling to listen to counsel? If His Majesty has truly died, leaving the remains outside like this…”
“This palace has said, His Majesty has not died.” Shen Guiyan’s face darkened: “General should go prepare to defend the city. This Yecheng absolutely cannot be given to them!”
Vice General Zhang was helpless and angrily swept his sleeves as he departed. Shen Guiyan’s body went limp as she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples.
In truth, she wasn’t that confident either… If Gu Chaobei was unharmed, then with Gu Chaonan already at Yecheng, why hadn’t he sent word back? Where had he gone?
But she could not let anyone see her lack of confidence, or else Yecheng would very likely be seized by Gu Chaonan.
Gu Chaonan had already begun attacking the city. War drums sounded, and battle horns blared.
The Yecheng defenders took their positions. The city’s military strength was still sufficient—they weren’t afraid they couldn’t hold out.
However, having declared war, Gu Chaonan did not immediately attack, as if waiting for something.
Vice General Zhang rode through the city on horseback, inwardly complaining about the Empress while preparing to inspect the granaries and arrange for military provisions.
However, just as he approached the vicinity of the granaries, he saw a team of guards escorting several people, their hands and feet bound, walking forward.
“What’s happening?” Vice General Zhang stopped his horse and inquired.
The guards cupped their fists: “Reporting to the General, these people were loitering near the granaries with intent to commit arson. They have already been captured alive by this humble officer.”