Blood-Sucking Empress - Chapter 37

At the Yuling Pass, the two armies facing each other quickly began their war plans. The Sang Empire had failed to entrap the Qianhe army with an ambush and had entered a stage of attacking by force instead. Hundreds of thousands of troops forcibly set up war formations, storming the garrisons day and night, the soldiers guarding the Yuling  Pass entered into a bitter and hard battle.

However, the Qianhe’s dire straits of being passively beaten were quickly dispelled. The Yuling Pass’s Gatekeeper, General Jiang Hanyan, led troops out of the fortress under the cover of night, using only a mere 5,000 men strong battalion and captured over 30,000 soldiers and laborers from the enemy. In addition to these consecutive defeats in the war, there were only more than 100,000 or so soldiers left in the Sang Empire’s reserve. Some of these soldiers were also grievously wounded or disabled.

When the good news arrived, the entire Qianhe Empire was stirred. Qianhe Liyou recognized Jiang Hanyang’s military merits, issuing an Imperial decree to inform the rest of the continent that the Sang Empire would soon be defeated, demonstrating the might of the Qianhe dynasty’s bold and powerful soldiers.

While the Sang Empire suffered continuous defeats, the enemy camp was surrounded in a bleak atmosphere, the soldiers were dispirited and downcast. The two empires once again reached a certain stalemate.

However, this temporary stalemate was quickly shattered. Under Qianhe Liyou’s secret decree, Jiang Hanyang dispatched troops again, but this time it was not a surprise attack, but the entire army had been dispatched. Bringing out the whole army was a counter strategy intended to completely annihilate the enemy. The Sang Empire was caught off guard, their stationed remaining troops retreating…

Qianhe Liyou wondered why the opponent had been so incompetent. The other party had obviously ignited the war on their own initiative, but they did not show any real fighting power. Even if Jiang Hanyang was powerful, even if her strategy had been appropriate, after all, the opponent they were facing also possessed a normal army. No matter how bad the enemy was, they could not have been so easily beaten, cutting a sorry figure. However, intelligence acquired by the Anbu quickly dispelled her doubts. Although Empress Sang had the ambition to dominate all five empires, she was bold but not very astute., only knowing to flaunt fierceness and look ruthless. In addition, in the Sang Imperial court, a treacherous minister conspired against the state, withholding all the power. In reality, the ruler who sent troops this time around was just a villain on paper. When the real war had broken out, she had acted arrogant and conceited, but quickly panicked after being defeated so many times. The end result was truly humiliating.

Loud thunder, but only tiny drops of rain was the perfect phrase describing the Sang Empire taking the initiative to provoke. The Sang Empire’s army was thoroughly crushed by Jiang Hanyang and had retreated, quickly becoming the laughingstock of the five major powers. While the Sang Empire was feeling panicked, they immediately dispatched an envoy to negotiate peace talks. All of the members of the envoy had high status. In addition to the dynasty’s Minister of Rites, there was also the Sang Empire’s third prince, Sang Ziling. This third prince was not only the newly ascended Empress’ younger brother but also one of the treasured beauties of the Sang Empire. The intention to have him as part of the envoy was self-evident. 

Loud thunder, but only tiny drops of rain (idiom): meaning a lot of talk, but no action or his bit is worse than his bark)

When Qianhe Liyou received this information, she could not help but think this was a little ridiculous. She could not help but think about the eleventh prince, Sang Zixin, who was regarded as a discarded pawn used to probe out the enemy. He was still in the Imperial palace, chopping wood and carrying water. This Sang Empire sent yet another prince, and this time so blatantly, did they not think this was enough to lose face? Or did they plan to send the entire Sang Empire’s palace over? She did not mind accepting them, it was just a matter of raising a few more people. Mayhaps, in the near future, this way of thinking will be realized…

She was not a person with a ton of desire, or to be precise she was a zombie. With 10,000 years’ worth of cultivation, if she really had any desire, what could she not do? Not only did she possess immortality, but she was also able to produce clouds with one turn of the hand and rain with another, what she possessed, most others dreamed of obtaining. But, she had never abused her power to do these things. She just lived a reclusive life, avoiding mortal matters unless it was absolutely necessary to do so. As such, as long as others did not offend her, she would not offend them. But if someone had to stir up trouble, don’t blame her for participating in his game, and occasionally indulge her own playfulness…

able to produce clouds with one turn of the hand and rain with another(idiom): meaning tricky, able to slip/shift out of any situation

“Empress, these visitors do not have good intentions, what are Your Majesty’s plans? Do you need these ministers to cooperate?” The Sang Empire’s Imperial Peace Envoy had already arrived outside the Imperial capital. People across the entire Qianhe Empire knew about the envoy’s arrival. Moreover, due to the intentional propaganda disseminated by the Sang Empire’s envoy, news had spread like fire that there was a distinguished prince amidst the procession, and there were rumors that this prince had been sent by the Sang Empire’s Empress with the intention of a marriage treaty. The Qianhe dynasty from top to bottom were all talking about this matter, and there were a lot of discussions. Long Xizhao was also very curious as to the Empress’ thoughts, and it was the hardest to receive grace in the form of a beauty. She wondered how the Empress would deal with this beauty?

“How would you cooperate? Would you like the beauty to be rewarded to you instead?”

“This minister does not dare to accept. The other party is an Imperial Prince, one that is sent to marry Your Majesty. How can such beauty be given to this little one. Empress, don’t make fun of this minister.” The Imperial Prince, even if he was not a spy, but his identity is where the troubles lay. She unfortunately could not enjoy this blessing, but she was living free and unfettered, happily going about her days. She did not want to place that trouble by her side and give herself a migraine.

“This is not a joke. If Beloved Official Long really wants, zhen can reward you.”

“Empress, this minister cannot accept this blessing, how about you ask Official Li….” She really wanted to have nothing to do with the Imperial prince, but she suddenly recalled that Li Yao was still unmarried. Li Yao was older than herself and in her thirties.

The monarch’s gaze fell onto Li Yao’s figure, but Li Yao slightly frowned and solemnly rebutted: “This minister has already vowed to the Heavens that he will never marry another man in this life. Please let the Empress grant this!”

Who was not frivolous when they were young. When she was young, she had also fallen in love with others, but she just had to fall in love with a person she was not supposed to love. Although she was unable to marry them, she had never fallen in love with anyone else. Therefore, she had already vowed that she would not marry any man in her life. She had long prepared herself to live the life of an old maid!

“Oh? In that case, zhen will not force it. About the Sang Empire’s envoy and peace talks, zhen will leave it to you two to attend. As for the bottom line, do not hesitate, zhen does not mind starting another war!”

Laced with a strong, murderous tone in Qianhe Liyou’s voice, Li Yao and Long Xizhao were startled, but overall overjoyed. However, Long Xizhao hesitated to ask: “Empress, what does Your Majesty plan on doing with the Third Imperial Prince of the Sang Empire?”

The Empress’ marriage, she did not dare to call the shots on the matter.

“…Zhen does not care if there are multiple men in the harem, but not everyone can enter my harem. Regarding the prince, zhen will personally make the decisions. You all are welcome to handle the other issues, no need to be polite.”

“Yes, these ministers will comply with the order!” As long as this problem was not to be handled by them, the other matters would not be a problem. With the Empress backing, if these peace negotiations did not leave the Sang Empire bleeding from losses, then she was not Long Xizhao! 

After Long Xizhao and Li Yao withdrew, Qianhe Liyou summoned Feng Ying.

“Empress, what is Your Majesty’s order?

“How is that male pet?”

“According to Your Majesty’s instructions, Young Master Mu has been assigned to do some rough labor, and there is no problem.” Speaking of this Young Master Mu, he was a bit strange. When assigned to do rough labor, he did not say a word and he really went to do what the subordinates did, and also he completed his work very seriously. He did not even show any expression of complaints.

“Go find him. Zhen wants to see him.” She knew that this little prince would no longer be a problem, but when the Third Imperial Prince of the Sang Empire arrived, she could not predict if there would be any potential problems…

“Yes, this servant will go now.”

Feng Ying was still unaware of the prince’s true identity and she had always felt the matter was strange in her heart. She had felt a little pity for this prince, but she could not interfere with the Empress’ affairs. She only needed to do her duty.