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In the grand hall of the court of Emperor Li Chang of Later Tang, a confrontation about the fate of the nation and the destiny of the family is unfolding.
Yan Lan, the Empress of Later Tang who hails from Ba-Shu, faces her husband, the ruler of this empire, with a look of pleading and determination in her eyes.
"Your Majesty, I once again implore you to withdraw the order to send troops," Empress Yan's voice was low and powerful, her hands tightly gripping her robes. This was her final effort, and also a reflection of her deep despair.
Emperor Li Chang stood on the dragon throne, his face devoid of much expression as he coldly looked at the former Ba-Shu princess, now the Empress of Later Tang.
"Your Majesty, as the Empress of Later Tang, and having given birth to Prince Li Yan, whose side has your heart truly been on all these years?" His voice carried an unquestionable authority.
Empress Yan took a deep breath, knowing that every word at this moment was crucial. "Your Majesty, while my status may belong to Later Tang, my family and my people, their blood runs through my veins. If Ba-Shu were in trouble, how could my heart be at peace?"
The emperor's eyes narrowed slightly. He stood up and walked slowly down from the dragon throne, steadily approaching Yan Lan. "I understand your thoughts, but how can we treat national affairs as child's play? If we do not eliminate Ba-Shu, Later Tang will never have peace."
Yan Empress's knees weakened, and she knelt on the cold marble floor, tears involuntarily streaming down her face. "If the emperor insists on going to war, I am willing to kneel here and never rise again." Her voice carried despair, but more so, determination.
The emperor looked at the Empress Yan kneeling on the ground, and unexpectedly felt a ripple in his heart. He turned around, facing away from Yan Lan, and fell silent for a moment. "Get up, I will reconsider this matter," his voice was no longer as cold as before.
Yan Lan slowly stood up, knowing that this was only a temporary concession from the emperor, but at least she had fought for a glimmer of hope for Ba-Shu.
At that moment, Consort Guo and Consort Yan hurried over, their faces filled with worry. "Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Consort Guo's voice carried a tone of reproach.
Queen Yan Lan turned around, her eyes revealing a hint of determination. "I am fighting for the survival of my family and the people of Ba-Shu."
Princess Yanfei's eyes flashed with a hint of admiration, and she stepped forward. "Sister, we will definitely find a solution."
The three of them locked eyes. Although the future was filled with unknowns and dangers, at this moment, their hearts were tightly connected as they faced this unknown situation together.
Outside the Imperial Censorate, the emperor stood alone in the corridor, gazing into the distant night sky, his inner struggle akin to a fish fighting against the current, unable to break free. He knew that this decision not only concerned the life and death of a nation, but also tested his emotions towards himself and Princess Yan Qing.
Meanwhile, on this night, Princess Yan Qing of Ba Shu also gazed at the stars from the distant Ba-Shu Palace, her heart feeling like a tightly clenched flower bud, on the verge of blooming or withering in the wind and rain.
Yan Qing's fate is closely tied to the impending war, and she is unaware that her aunt Yan Lan, the Empress Dowager, is currently in a struggle with the Emperor for the sake of the Ba-Shu kingdom.
In the deep palace of the Imperial Palace of Later Tang, the candlelight flickered in Yan Lan's chamber, casting her worried shadow.
She sat in front of the sandalwood dressing table, the silver mirror reflecting the increasingly thin face due to worry. In her eyes, there occasionally flashed a trace of determination, but it was immediately replaced by deep helplessness.
"Empress, why do you torment yourself like this?" Concubine Guo walked in lightly, her voice carrying a subtle and imperceptible sadness.
Yan Lan gently set down the silver comb in her hand and turned around, meeting Concubine Guo's gaze with tears in her eyes. "Concubine Guo, you don't understand. That is my home, my roots. Even though I am in this palace, my heart has always been with Ba-Shu."
Guo Guifei walked up to Yan Lan and gently touched her shoulder, trying to comfort her: "But Empress, the royal family of Ba-Shu is suddenly in turmoil, and the internal situation is unstable. The Emperor's military intervention may be a kind of relief for them."
Yan Lan shook her head, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes: "Relief? Massacre and enslavement are called relief? No, Guo Guifei, I cannot stand idly by."
In the eyes of Concubine Guo, there was a hint of complexity. She knew the character of Empress Yan, once she made a decision, she would not easily change it: "What does the Empress intend to do?"
Yan Lan stood up, walked to the window, pushed it open, and let the cold night breeze dispel the stuffiness in the room: "I will personally go to see the Emperor. Even if I have to kneel at the Emperor's feet, I will make the Emperor revoke the decree."
Guo Guifei followed closely behind, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes: "Empress, this is too dangerous. What if the Emperor...?"
Yan Lan interrupted Guo Guifei and turned back with a firm and deep gaze: "I know that doing this may anger the Emperor, but if I don't consider the people of Ba-Shu, who will?"
Consort Guo remained silent, knowing that Empress Yan had made up her mind, and any dissuasion would be in vain.
At that moment, Consort Yan hurried over, her face filled with a sense of foreboding: "Sister, something's wrong with the Emperor..."
Yan Lan's heart sank, and she hurriedly asked, "What's wrong?"
Yan Yurui's voice trembled, "The Emperor has already ordered that at dawn tomorrow, the army will officially march to Ba-Shu."
Yan Lan's face turned pale in an instant, and she tightly grasped the window frame as if supporting a body on the verge of collapse: "It's impossible, how could the emperor go back on his word like this?"
Guo Guifei and Yan Yurui exchanged a glance, knowing in their hearts that this war was now irreversible.
Empress Yanlan walked unsteadily back to the dressing table, her hands trembling as she picked up the silver comb, but ultimately put it down weakly. Her face instantly turned pale, gripping the dressing table tightly, and she seemed to age several years in an instant. "How is it possible... to send troops so quickly..."
The Yan Consort hurriedly supported her, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes: "Sister, now is not the time to be shocked. You must stay strong for Yan'er."
The next night, Empress Yan sat quietly by the window, her handkerchief soaked with tears. Her eyes, illuminated by the moonlight outside the window, seemed to be searching for the once prosperous Ba-Shu.
"Sister, you've been crying all day again. You should rest soon," Yan Fei gently interrupted Yan Lan's contemplation, her worried expression showing on her face.
Yan Lan smiled faintly, a smile filled with endless bitterness. "Yurui, how can I rest peacefully on this night?"
Yan Yurui walked to her sister's side, gently holding her hand, which was cold and trembling. "Sister, we cannot give up hope. There will always be a turning point."
Yan Lan shook her head gently, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes. "Turning point? When Li Chang's sword is pointed at our homeland, how much of a turning point is there?"
Yan Yurui's eyes flashed with a hint of unwillingness: "Then we'll create our own opportunity. Sister, you can't give up like this, for Ba-Shu, for Yan'er."
Yan Lan's gaze fell on Li Yan, who was quietly sleeping on the side. He was her only son and the embodiment of all her love. "Yurui, if one day I'm no longer here, you will protect Yan'er, right?"
Yan Yurui nodded firmly and said, "Sister, what are you talking about? You can't give up on yourself!"
"First, you tell me, will you protect Yan'er!" Empress Lan of Later Yan said in a serious tone.
Yan Yurui had to speak seriously: "I swear, even if it costs me my life, I will protect him."
Empress Yan took a deep breath, a hint of pain and determination flashing in her eyes. "Yurui, go find Lady Guo and see if she can help," she said.
Yan Yurui nodded.
At the same time, in Consort Guo's chamber, she was playing chess with her son Li Zhao. Li Zhao's eyes were focused, carefully considering each move.
"Mother, why don't you make this move?" Li Zhao's voice was innocent and curious.
Guo Guifei's eyes flashed with a hint of complexity as she gently caressed Li Zhao's head: "Zhao'er, chess is like life, every move must be cautious, because every move could determine the entire situation."
Yan Fei hurriedly walked in, her expression serious: "Guo Guifei, the situation is urgent, we must discuss a strategy together."
Concubine Guo nodded and said to Li Zhao, "Zhao'er, go play outside for a while. The Empress Mother has something to discuss." Although Li Zhao was puzzled, she obediently agreed and left the room.
After Lady Guo and Lady Yan sat down, Lady Guo's gaze became sharp as she said, "Speak, what happened?"
Lady Yan recounted the whole story in detail, and Lady Guo's expression turned serious after listening.
"I've long heard of the emperor's ambition, but I didn't expect him to act so soon," said Guo Fei, her voice as cold as ice.
There was a flash of anger in Yan Fei's eyes as she said, "Guo Guifei, we cannot sit idly by. We must make one last effort."
Guo Guifei sighed deeply, her eyes revealing a hint of helplessness. "I can't do anything about it. If even the empress cannot persuade the emperor to change his mind, then how could I?"
Empress Yan furrowed her brows, her voice tinged with urgency: "But the Emperor dotes on Li Zhao the most, perhaps Li Zhao could..."
Consort Guo gently shook her head, interrupting Empress Yan. "We are sisters, and I will do everything in my power to help the Empress plead with the Emperor. But we can only leave it to fate, and the outcome may also lead to my implication." Her voice carried a hint of determination, her gaze firm and profound.
Yanfei's eyes flashed with a hint of gratitude, knowing full well that Guo Guifei was taking a great risk. "Guo Guifei, by doing this..."
Guo Guifei smiled faintly, with a touch of desolation in her smile. "I am considered a sister to the Empress, so her affairs are also mine. Moreover, this is not just for the Empress, but also for Later Tang."
Concubine Yan bowed deeply, her voice firm and resolute. "What will happen to Concubine Guo next?"
Concubine Guo stood up, her figure appearing particularly determined in the candlelight. "I will find an opportunity to talk to the Emperor and see if the decision can be changed. Concubine Yan, you continue to comfort the Empress and tell her not to worry too much."
Yanfei nodded. She knew that every step from now on was crucial, and every decision could affect the entire situation.
Guo Guifei came to the palace garden alone, which was once the place where she and Li Changqing had made their vows.
In the moonlight, the shadow of Lady Guo stretched long, filled with complex emotions. She loved this country, its people, and the man who once exchanged tokens of love with her.
But Lady Guo seemed to have forgotten that when love and power clash, when the interests of the nation conflict with emotions, everything will deteriorate. Even two people who once loved each other cannot escape this truth.
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