Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City.
"Your Majesty! The Heaven Dou Empire's front lines have suffered a crushing defeat, collapsing for a thousand miles! West of the Mingdou Mountain Range, everyone within Heaven Dou territory is fleeing at the mere approach of the enemy!"
"Duke White Tiger has already returned to take command! He is guarding against a Sun Moon invasion of our borders!"
"..."
In the imperial court, "victory reports" from the Heaven Dou Empire arrived one after another. None of Star Luo's ministers looked particularly pleased.
The Sun Moon Empire's offensive had been too fierce. It had broken the Heaven Dou Empire in less than half a month, and with Xu Jiawei's earlier death weighing on their minds, fear had taken root.
Watching the ministers cower, Xu Jiujiu sat at the head of the court with a majestic expression, but she did not reprimand them.
The Sun Moon Empire's momentum was at its peak. Scolding them would accomplish nothing. The immediate priority was to keep the Sun Moon Empire from taking the Heaven Dou Empire too easily.
They had to keep the enemy beyond their own gates!
Xu Jiujiu glanced at a figure below and gave her a meaningful look.
"Your Majesty! Once the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold! Heaven Dou and Star Luo must watch over and support each other. If we let the Sun Moon Empire continue, we will be next."
"I volunteer! Let us take the offensive!"
Zhu Lu stepped out of the ranks, her impassioned voice ringing throughout the hall and standing out even amid the ministers' discussions.
The moment she finished speaking, the ministers erupted.
"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! The unrest in Star Luo has yet to settle. We should not become involved! Caution would serve us best!"
"Precisely! Precisely!