"But if we fail, I don't want you..." Chushi Lanfu said.

But Prime Minister Lan interrupted him, "You deserve this. Leave everything to me and I'll do the work."

"Yes, grandfather. Should we tell mother our plan?" Chushi Lanfu asked after hearing what Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Lan shook his head and answered, "Not now. She's not good at keeping secrets and she may give herself away."

"I see," Chushi Lanfu responded.

Then, Prime Minister Lan continued, "Go back to have some rest. I'm sure that His Majesty will send people to investigate this. So even if you will be discrowned, Imperial Concubine Xiao will also get in trouble. Don't worry. Let's plan our next move after tomorrow!"

"Yes," Chushi Lanfu nodded and left.

In the meantime, the Emperor was back to his palace. When he calmed down, he started to recall what had happened.

As the Crown Prince, Chushi Lanfu knew he should behave himself. And judging from their appearance, he assumed that they must have been drugged.

However, no matter why they did so, he had to take back Chushi Lanfu's title under such circumstances.

But he didn't expect that Imperial Concubine Xiao could be this bold. She should dare to trick him.

At the thought, Chushi Youtian flew into a rage and was going to ask people to bring her here.

Right at this time, Eunuch Li showed up and reported, "Your Majesty, Her Grace is waiting outside now."

"She's just in time! Let her in!" Chushi Youtian flicked his sleeves and said loudly. Then, he walked to his chair and sat down.

Just when Imperial Concubine Xiao stepped in, he asked, "Did you have anything to do with that?"

"Your Majesty, what do you mean? I don't understand," answered Imperial Concubine Xiao who looked away when hearing the question but calmed down quickly.

Her denial made Chushi Youtian pound on the table. He shouted, "I know how good-mannered Lanfu is! How come he would do that? He must have been drugged!"

"Your Majesty, I didn't do anything!" said Imperial Concubine Xiao who knelt and looked at him when Chushi Youtian lost his temper.

Despite that, Chushi Youtian snorted and continued, "Do you think I'm unaware of what you're plotting? Do you think I am a fool? Let me tell you. Even if I take Fu's title back, Weiming won't be the Crown Prince."

"Your Majesty, I... I really did nothing. I..." Imperial Concubine Xiao explained quickly after Chushi Youtian finished.

But he interrupted her again, "What are you coming here for? Tell me and then leave me alone."

"Your Majesty, Wenyi... died," Imperial Concubine Xiao answered. She couldn't help crying and took out her handkerchief to wipe her tears away.

Hearing that, Chushi Youtian stood up immediately and walked to her. He asked, "What?"

"Wenyi is dead..." Imperial Concubine Xiao repeated and didn't stop crying.

Then, Chushi Youtian asked in a loud voice, "What happened? How could he die in such a short time?"

"The wet nurse went to the bathroom and left him alone in the room installed with a hearth. The door and windows were closed so..." Imperial Concubine Xiao cried again.

Chushi Youtian frowned at her words. He asked, "Where is the wet nurse?"

"I suspected her so I already locked her up," replied Imperial Concubine Xiao who wiped away tears around the corner of her eyes.

Then, Chushi Youtian shouted, "Guards, investigate her! Do it right now!"

When Imperial Concubine Xiao went back to her palace, officials who had been informed of Wenyi's death all expressed their condolence.

When almost all officials left, Imperial Concubine Xiao called Chushi Weiming to meet her in her room.

"What did father say?" Chushi Weiming asked.

Imperial Concubine Xiao closed her eyes and answered, "He suspects that we have something to do with this."

"What did you say to him?" Chushi Weiming quickly posed another question when hearing that.

Imperial Concubine Xiao sighed, "What could I say? We're at a disadvantage now."

"Why?" Chushi Weiming asked in bewilderment.

Then, Imperial Concubine Xiao told him what Chushi Youtian said.

Leaning backward and pausing, he said, "We're doomed. We're doomed..."

"We're not!" Imperial Concubine Xiao stood up and retorted.

Chushi Weiming looked at her and asked, "Why?"

"His Majesty will investigate Wenyi's death. I think the Lan family has something to do with it. They will surely take some actions tomorrow when His Majesty takes Chushi Lanfu's title back. Because when people are cornered, they may do anything to save themselves," Imperial Concubine Xiao sneered.

But Chushi Weiming slightly frowned and asked, "Mother, do you mean they will..."

"Yes. After all, they're still influential. When the Lan family and your father are weakened by fighting against each other for the throne, we can meddle in and reap the benefits!" Imperial Concubine Xiao nodded and confirmed.

Hearing that, Chushi Weiming kept knitting his eyebrows. It seemed that they had no other choice now. The winner could take it all!

He knew that.

Later, they had a discussion and then, Chushi Weiming left to mobilize the army.

In the meantime,

Yang Zijin and her fellows who were in Beiling had left the cave.

Having stayed in the cave for days, they felt so refreshed when getting out.

As they expected, the exit was at the foot of the mountain.

Next, Yan Luo's men carried away the jewelry in batches.

After they got all supplies ready, Yan Luo contacted the Dark Army that her father trained in secret.

Zhan Qi, Yan Ji's guard, went back to tell Yan Ji what Shuo Ling said.

Also, he found out that Yang Zijin's companion was Yan He's daughter. They were on their way to look for the treasure Yan He left.

Hearing that, Yan Ji was greatly shocked!

It wouldn't be easy to send people to find them now. Because routes on the Arctic Mountain were difficult to recognize and the weather there was harsh.

Obviously, it was too late to stop them now.

Thus, Yan Ji dispatched all soldiers to the capital.

Yan Ji knew that things would go wrong if they found the treasure. And Yan Luo must have planned the treasure hunt for a long time. Besides, she got the token to order the Dark Army. He had looked for this token for years but didn't find it. Now, he assumed that Yan He might have given it to Yan Luo.

When she was back, Yan Luo asked people to tell her what Yan Ji did these days.

After knowing what he did, she sneered. It seemed that Yan Ji was afraid of being killed, too.

However, she wouldn't get scared even if he summoned all soldiers in Beiling to the capital.

When she got everything done, Yan Luo sent a letter to Yan Ji to declare war.

Yan Ji snatched the throne that belonged to her. And now she would get it back!

Then, the day to send her army to the battlefield came.

It was a gloomy and cloudy day. And it might snow later.

Leading her soldiers to stop before the capital gate, Yan Luo who looked heroic on horseback issued an order. Then, the Dark Army rushed out first.

At once, countless soldiers followed and all rushed to the gate.

Seeing that, a general standing on the gate shouted, "Shoot! Shoot!"

Immediately, thousands of arrows flew to those soldiers.

The falling arrows were as dense as raindrops.

At the sight of that, General Hei, the leader of the Dark Army, shouted, "Shield!"

Hearing that, soldiers in front rows sheltered themselves with their shields while those behind them held shields high to protect their heads.

Those shields worked as a shelter. Soldiers could hear arrows landing on the shields.

At this moment, General Hei shouted again, "March on!"

Taking the order, soldiers kept moving forward in the same formation.

They looked like a moving iron ball from a distance.

They were closer and closer...

The general on the gate got flustered. After all, he had heard about how skilled soldiers in the Dark Army were. Their good teamwork really scared him.

Soon, he ordered in a loud voice, "Throw rocks to them!"

Shortly after that, giant rocks were thrown down.

Seeing that, General Hei shouted, "Scatter!"

Instantly, soldiers put away their shields and scattered.

As a result, no one was injured although their enemy had thrown many rocks.

This demoralized Beiling soldiers.

Right now, General Hei and his soldiers had reached the gate. Dozens of soldiers were trying to burst the gate open with trolleys.

They had the first try...

Then, they had the second...

And the third...

At last, they made it and Yan Luo led other soldiers to rush in.

At once, soldiers started to fight against each other.

Yan Luo led a group of people to the palace.

Shuo Ling was in her team.

Yang Zijin was going to join them but Shuo Ling didn't allow her to do so. Besides, she was pregnant now. Yang Zijin also knew that she might be hurt if she chose to fight on the battlefield.

So she agreed to stay at home and wait for them.

Shuo Ling ordered Mo Li to stay there and team up with Jiang Wei to protect Yang Zijin.

Residents in the capital were so terrified when they saw the invading army.

Seeing that, Yan Luo stepped forward to comfort them in a loud voice, "Folks, don't be afraid. I'm Yan Luo and my father is Yan He, the former emperor. Yan Ji, the current emperor, killed my father to ascend to the throne. Now, I come back as your princess. And I will bring back the peaceful life you had before to you!"

Hearing that, residents looked at each other. They hadn't completely trusted Yan Luo yet.

Someone in the crowd said, "She and the former emperor indeed look alike."

Then, they looked at Yan Luo carefully and exchanged their opinions in a low voice.

When Yan He died, Yan Ji ascended to the throne. Right after that, he raised taxes. Therefore, residents had little left to support their families after paying taxes, although they always worked hard every year.

However, when Yan He ruled the country, they could store up grains every year after paying taxes.

Residents had harbored a grudge against Yan Ji since a long time ago. But now, Yan Luo was back to get her throne back. If she followed her father's path to rule the country, they would be better off again.

At this time, someone in the crowd said, "Welcome back, Your Highness."

Then, everyone knelt.