The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 716 - 467. The Cycle of Fate (5k)_2

Prince Hejian summoned his retainers for an emergency meeting to devise a strategy for eastward advance.

But when everyone looked towards the border army led by Duke Tang, they all felt a heavy heart.

Over the years, due to Duke Tang’s presence, Prince Hejian’s royal mansion has been severely suppressed, gathering considerable martial world forces, but once they advance eastward, Duke Tang’s cavalry will quickly catch up.

"Hmph, I refuse to believe he is so loyal?"

Prince Hejian waved his hand, his gaze resolute:

"Send word that I want to have a talk with Duke Tang!"

He knew that if he wanted to seize power, without Duke Tang’s support, the chances were too slim.

...

Marine Road.

On a vast river, several large ships were undergoing exercises.

Prince Chen, with a slender physique, stood silently at the front of the deck, watching the "Dragon Qi" gradually seep into his palm, and sighed.

"Husband, why do you sigh?" The Princess Consort emerged from the cabin, inquiring with concern.

Prince Chen with a troubled expression:

"I never had the heart to vie for supremacy against the court, it was merely for self-preservation, and now that Prince Jing and others have succeeded, our Marine Road has also boarded the pirate ship, what should we do?"

The wise Princess Consort thought for a moment and said:

"Our Coastal sailors are only skilled in water warfare; if we were to contest the world, we must use infantry and cavalry, therefore, if we firmly guard Marine Road, external enemies find it difficult to invade; if we attack, we are bound to fail.

So the current plan is to hold onto this corner, wait for the dust to settle, and then negotiate for a stable life later."

Prince Chen grasped the Princess Consort’s hand, nodding continuously in great agreement, and said to the retainers behind him:

"Pass down the order, from this day forward, blockade the waterways of Marine Road. Prince Jing and Prince Mu wish to go to the Capital, then let them go, as long as they do not invade our Coastal region."

"At your command!"

...

The Lingnan Road, most remote and impoverished, with only lychees and "exiled" criminals as its specialties.

The emaciated Lingnan King, looking like an old farmer, stood in a lychee orchard, heartlessly directing a group of servants to pick lychees.

Suddenly, he froze and pushed the straw hat on his head, looking south.

"Your Highness, what are you looking at?" A government officer brought a large bowl of tea, braving the scorching sun.

The Lingnan King came back to his senses, muttering:

"The world is about to fall into chaos. But what does it have to do with me? I can’t beat anyone anyway, and this shabby place doesn’t entice any Emperor to seize. Let them fight, just as well, saves me from delivering tribute lychees this year."

He muttered for a while, took the large bowl of tea and gulped a few mouthfuls, leisurely lying back under the shade to continue sleeping.

...

...

And amidst the chaos of the world, as the various Princes raised their armies.

West of Luo Mountain, hundreds of miles away, within a desolate bamboo forest.

A flock of crows circled the ground to feast, suddenly startled and flew up, emitting "caw-caw" sounds.

The air distorted, and two figures appeared out of nowhere, heavily crashing onto the forest floor covered in rotting leaves.

"Hmph."

Zhao Douan groaned, instinctively protecting the Empress in his arms before falling, using his back to hit the ground.

Unluckily, he landed on a stone, grimacing slightly in pain.

No time to complain, Zhao Douan quickly flipped up, nervously calling the woman in his arms:

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty? Wake up!"

But no matter how he called, the unconscious Empress showed no response.

In Zhao Douan’s eyes, Xu Zhenguan appeared quite miserable, her Dragon Robe stained red with blood, the crown atop her head lost when they fell off the cliff, her black hair disheveled.

Her face was pale as paper, eyes tightly shut, silver teeth clenched, breath extremely weak.

Yet there was a faint blue "气" circulating on her face, making her peerless beauty seem cloaked in death.

Her hand still held the Taia Sword tightly, even in her unconscious state, not letting go.

"Your Majesty!?"

Zhao Douan looked worried, quickly feeling the pulse on the Empress’s neck, forcibly prying open her eyelids to check her pupils.

Upon sensing that, despite appearing as if on the brink of death, her heart pulse remained strong, he breathed a sigh of relief, his expression fluctuating:

"Thank goodness... it seems severely injured, but still far from life-threatening... indeed, Zhenbao is truly at the Heavenly Human level of combat, facing off against two foes yet not dying..."

"I don’t even know where I am; this Transmission Jade is entirely random, and I’m not familiar with the terrain here... completely unable to judge!"

"But from here, not seeing Luo Mountain... indicates the distance from the escape is substantial enough, though I don’t know if ’Magic God’ and other enemies will catch up..."

Zhao Douan’s thoughts flashed, taking a deep breath to force himself to think calmly.

The urgent matter is to treat the Empress, not continue fleeing aimlessly. Choosing the wrong direction means certain death.

As for the failed Sealing and the chain reaction caused by the Empress’s disappearance... he could only force himself not to think about it for now.

Zhao Douan carefully picked up the unconscious Empress, looking around the bamboo forest, vaguely spotting what seemed like a house in the distance.

He immediately carried the Empress and rushed forward.

Soon, the scenery ahead gradually became clear, and Zhao Douan suddenly stopped, dumbfounded, feeling a sense of absurdity provoked by fate.

In the bamboo forest stood an old, long-abandoned Earth God Temple, where the building was barely intact.

Of course, this is not the South Suburb of the Capital, nor the Earth God Temple he first saw after traveling to this world.

Just a coincidence.

Facing the temple again in the bamboo forest after great upheavals, how could he not feel a sense of destiny deep in his heart?

A year ago, he appeared outside the bamboo forest Earth God Temple on the outskirts of the Capital, finding himself on the thin line between life and death, surrounded by enemies.