Chapter 1216: The Princess Consort Whose Memories Were Altered (91)

This strategy of slowly devouring Southern Shu bit by bit, like boiling a frog in warm water, truly proved formidable.

Without realizing it, Southern Shu lost one city after another, and countless treasures vanished along with them.

Its ministers had long become numb. No matter what they said, Shangguan Yi refused to listen, while Shangguan Jing always stood by his side.

They watched their territory steadily shrink, until at last the once-mighty Southern Shu, whose lands had stretched far and wide, was left with fewer than three cities.

By then, they no longer had any expressions left.

When the army of Northern Yan marched upon the imperial capital, the people of Southern Shu's capital burst into tears of joy upon hearing the news.

They were only a step away from going out personally to welcome Northern Yan's soldiers.

They envied those who already lived under Northern Yan's rule.

Those people truly lived happy lives.

Unlike them, who had to worry about food, clothing, and shelter, and who also had to fear that a bad mood from Shangguan Yi could cost them their heads.

Now that Northern Yan's army had arrived, it meant that better days had finally come.

"Your Majesty, Northern Yan's army has already entered the imperial capital."

In truth, the soldiers defending the capital had long since lost the will to fight.

Shangguan Yi had become the ruler of a doomed nation because of his obsession with taking back a woman. Such a tyrant and foolish ruler wasn't worth dying for.

Southern Shu's fate had already been decided.

None of them asked for much. They merely put on a show of resistance before pretending they had been defeated and opening the way.

The people of the capital all shut their doors tightly, peeking through cracks as the disciplined army marched past.

Seeing that Northern Yan's soldiers neither broke into homes nor kicked over the market stalls, but instead advanced in orderly formation toward the palace gates, they found themselves strangely conflicted.

These people were invaders.

They were here to destroy their nation.

Yet the common people felt no hatred for them.

On the contrary, they welcomed them from the bottom of their hearts.

They asked for very little—only peaceful lives, enough food and clothing, and the assurance that they wouldn't lose their heads over a careless word.

Soon, Northern Yan's army arrived at the palace gates.

Yun Mujun stepped down from his carriage with a cheerful smile.

"Why hasn't the Emperor of Southern Shu come out yet?" he called. "You only have this palace left."

"Imperial Brother, they've come."

Shangguan Jing spoke with a dazed expression.

In merely five years, how had mighty Southern Shu fallen so far?

By the time he regained his senses, only the imperial palace remained unconquered.

Shangguan Yi's expression was gloomy.

"So what if they've come? I haven't completely lost yet. I will bring her back."

"Can we really still bring her back?" Shangguan Jing asked dejectedly. "Had I known things would end like this, I would never have arranged for someone to alter her memories. None of this would have happened."

Shangguan Yi shot him a cold glance.

"I still have one final trump card. As long as Beitang Huo truly cares about her, Southern Shu—and she herself—will all be returned to me."

Shangguan Jing couldn't understand.

Nor did Shangguan Yi care to explain. Inwardly cursing him as useless, he straightened his dragon robe and walked out.

When Yun Mujun saw Shangguan Yi standing atop the city walls, he laughed.

"Shangguan Yi, you've lost. Surrender."

"No, I haven't lost yet."

"Heh, still deceiving yourself?" Yun Mujun sneered. "Coward."

Shangguan Yi glanced around but failed to find the person he wished to see.

"Prime Minister Yun, is it?" he called out. "Please relay a message to your Empress."

"I have something extremely important to tell her."

"If she doesn't come..."

"She'll regret it for the rest of her life."