Chapter 441: The Confrontation of Two Empresses!
Empress Ziyue had always arrogantly believed that what she did in Great Wu was a secret, unknown to the other empress. She was wrong. The other empress not only knew but knew very clearly.
She had long known that she was once the leader of the Taiyi Sect, causing trouble and manipulating people in Jiangdong.
She had long known her identity as Princess Ziyue. She had long known that she secretly nurtured a rebel army in the land of Wuxi.
She had long known about her collusion with the military strategist, and not only knew but also covertly supported it.
For example, when the Slanted Moon Army had to purchase a large number of wild rabbits due to food shortages and release them in the Qinglong and Fenghuang Mountains, it wasn’t as easy as it seemed. However, the empress assisted them behind the scenes, making it all go smoothly.
For example, after the recapture of Wuxi, the Slanted Moon Army became the biggest threat to Great Wu in the west. However, the empress didn’t take action against them; instead, she shielded them, allowing them to proceed smoothly to Dayue and carry out their grand plans.
It can be said that without the empress’s help, her grand plans wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
It can be said that if she had intervened even slightly, her grand plans would have been aborted.
Who would allow foreign invaders to run amok and expand their influence in their own territory? But the empress had the generosity to do so!
“I owe the empress too much,” Empress Ziyue sighed.
She, a self-confident woman, had always seen the empress as her competition, dreaming of one day surpassing her. But now she realized that she was far behind in comparison.
What she had always taken pride in was invisible under the empress’s watchful eye, like a small, insignificant matter.
What astonished her the most was that the empress knew about the secret collusion between Lin Beifan and her, involving many treasonous acts, yet she didn’t punish Lin Beifan; instead, she promoted him.
And now, she was even preparing to marry him. “Is this the empress’s love for the strategist?” Empress Ziyue was deep in thought.
If she were in the empress’s position and discovered that one of her lovers had a woman opposing her in secret, she definitely wouldn’t tolerate it and would do everything to eliminate the threat.
But the empress didn’t, because she cared about the other person and didn’t want to harm those dear to them.
This capacity to forgive was truly admirable. However, though she admired it in her heart, she couldn’t admit it openly.
A letter personally written by Empress Ziyue was urgently sent 800 miles to Great Wu Capital. Upon receiving the letter, the empress chuckled and said, “Still not convinced? I will make you call me sister!”
The empress immediately wrote a response and sent it back. Empress Ziyue, upon seeing this letter, instantly lost her composure.
This letter not only brought the empress’s greetings but also her promises.
These promises were incredibly generous, making it impossible for her to remain calm.
Food aid!
Taiping rice seed aid! Tax-free trade between our two nations!
An alliance between our two nations, with mutual military assistance!
Firstly, food aid, which is of utmost importance. They had just experienced a severe frost last year, and until now, they were in chaos, with no one farming. Many fertile lands had turned fallow, leading to a significant decrease in food production this year. Many people were going hungry.
If the food issue wasn’t resolved, their nation would remain unstable, and their government wouldn’t be secure. Meanwhile, Great Wu had a bountiful harvest this year, nearly doubling its food production. They possessed a vast surplus of food. If the other side could provide some food, it would undoubtedly help them get through the year.
In doing so, the Slanted Moon would be able to develop smoothly. Secondly, aid with Taiping rice seeds, which was also crucial.
Now, everyone in the world knew that Great Wu had achieved a bountiful harvest thanks to planting Taiping rice seeds, stabilizing the nation and making the people prosperous.
If the Slanted Moon could obtain Tai Ping rice seeds, they would undoubtedly have a bountiful harvest next year. With the people well-fed, the Slanted Moon would stabilize, develop rapidly, and soon restore its former glory.
Tax-free trade between our two nations is essential.
The Slanted Moon had money but lacked resources. If they could purchase goods from Great Wu at a lower cost, it would undoubtedly aid in economic recovery and promote economic and trade development.
An alliance between our two nations, with mutual military assistance, is also much needed.
Their nation had just been established, and although they bore the name of a dynasty, they didn’t have the strength of one. Many neighboring countries were eager to take advantage and seize Slanted Moon territory. At this time, forming an alliance with Great Wu would deter potential enemies, making them think twice about taking action, lest they offend Great Wu.
“I may not be able to defeat you, but Great Wu will send troops to deal with you.”
After reading this letter, Empress Ziyue gritted her teeth and muttered, “That woman is so despicable! She knows I can’t resist this kind of temptation and still brought it up! She’s clearly taking advantage of me!”
Taking a deep breath and embracing a fearless spirit of sacrifice, Empress Ziyue said, “Alright, for the sake of the Slanted Moon, what does it matter to me personally? I’ll just call her sister. I accept!”
Empress Ziyue immediately wrote a letter in response to the empress’s proposal, agreeing to the terms beyond what was written in the letter.
When Lin Beifan found out about this, he was shocked, saying, “An alliance between our two nations? How did I not know about this?”
Empress Ziyue smirked, “Strategist, of course you didn’t know! Because it was discussed between me and that woman!”
Lin Beifan turned pale, “What? You two discussed it yourselves?” Empress Ziyue nodded, “Yes!”
Lin Beifan was stunned. These two arch-enemy women, who seemed to have no connection on the surface, were secretly communicating and even discussing forming an alliance…
Lin Beifan felt a chill creeping up his spine, as if there were a major secret hidden from him.
He asked, “How did you contact each other?”
Empress Ziyue replied, “Through letters, of course!” Lin Beifan asked again, “What did you discuss in the letters? Can you tell me?”
“We discussed many things in the letters, but…” Empress Ziyue’s gaze shifted, accompanied by an inexplicable smirk, she said, “This is a secret between the two of us, I won’t tell the strategist!”
Lin Beifan was itching to know. Not knowing made him very uneasy. It felt like these two women were plotting something behind his back!
“Just tell me what you discussed, please. I promise not to reveal it!” Lin Beifan said softly.
Empress Ziyue shook her head, “I still can’t tell you!”
“Your Majesty, just tell me! You said I’m your most trusted strategist! Now, you won’t even share a little secret with me? Do you no longer trust me?” Lin Beifan pretended to be pitiful.
Seeing Lin Beifan’s pitiful appearance, Empress Ziyue couldn’t help but suppress a smile. “Strategist, it’s not that I don’t want to tell you, it’s that the other woman won’t let me tell you! So if you really want to know, go and ask that woman! Strategist, you’ve been in the Slanted Moon for long enough; it’s time to return to Great Wu!”
“But I don’t want to go back now. I can’t bear to leave you!” Lin Beifan pretended to be affectionate.
Normally, this approach worked well, but now…
“You must go back! If you don’t return, the food promised by that woman won’t be delivered! So you must go back! For the Slanted Moon, for me, you must go back!” Empress Ziyue said firmly.
Lin Beifan, with a mix of sadness and anger, said, “Your Majesty, you’re selling me out for just this?”
Empress Ziyue retorted, “What do you mean ‘just this’? It’s a lot of things! If that woman hadn’t offered so much, I wouldn’t bear to have you leave! But there’s a long road ahead, and we’ll have many opportunities to be together!”
Empress Ziyue spoke tenderly as she led Lin Beifan away.
Lin Beifan, perplexed, asked, “Your Majesty, what are you planning?”
“Strategist, since you’re preparing to leave, we need to make good use of our time to continue the bloodline. The dynasty must not end!” Empress Ziyue said urgently.
Lin Beifan was bewildered, “But it’s daytime now!”
“Does that displease you?”
Lin Beifan replied solemnly, “Your Majesty, you misunderstand! What I meant is that, day or night, I am ready to serve you wholeheartedly, even if it means giving my all and sacrificing everything for you!”
