Zhu Zhuqing's fingertips, gripping the letter, had gone white from squeezing it too hard. Her chest heaved violently, and she couldn't bring herself to accept the reality before her.
Her country had fallen, and her family had sold her without hesitation to an enemy general whose face she had never even seen.
All the strength seemed to drain from her in an instant, and she slumped limply against the back of the stone chair.
Her usually stubborn eyes were now filled with confusion. Where was she supposed to go from here?
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Beneath the soaring, spacious court hall, the assembled ministers stood with their heads bowed.
A messenger, covered in dust and blood, stumbled into the hall and dropped to his knees on the cold golden bricks.
"Report—a momentous victory!"
The messenger's voice was hoarse, yet brimming with excitement.
"Marquis of Wuyang has smashed through ten fortified cities of the Star Luo Empire on the southern frontier!"
"The Star Luo army has collapsed across the entire front, and their emperor has personally signed a surrender, submitting to our empire!"
His words struck the tranquil court like a boulder crashing into a lake.
Xue Ye, seated high upon the imperial throne, shot to his feet. He gripped the desk before him with both hands, his eyes filled with utter astonishment.
The hall erupted at once. The civil and military officials exchanged stunned glances, and an uncontrollable uproar broke out.
Marquis of Wuyang, Tang Yu, was still so young. Yet with nothing but his own army, he had forced the Star Luo Empire to surrender.
Such an unprecedented achievement surely made him the greatest peerless genius in history.
The eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, who stood at the head of the officials, was also stunned. Then an undisguised, fervent admiration surged in his eyes.
As expected of the man he had set his sights on.
Xue Ye drew a deep breath, forcing down the storm raging in his heart, and announced in a ringing voice,
"By my imperial decree!"
"Prepare the highest honors for his welcoming ceremony at once. I will personally welcome Marquis of Wuyang and celebrate his return."
"Let every corner of Heaven Dou Imperial City be decked with lanterns and banners. The celebration will last an entire month!"
The ministers shouted, "Long live the emperor!" Their voices shook the hall.
Yet after announcing these rewards, Xue Ye slowly sank back onto his throne.
In his deep-set, aged eyes, a trace of profound unease and wariness quietly flickered.
Several days later, outside Heaven Dou Imperial City.
The massive city gates stood wide open, and the roads on both sides were already packed with people who had rushed over at the news.
Deafening cheers soared into the sky as countless people waved their arms wildly, all shouting the name of Marquis of Wuyang.
A troop of elite cavalry, imposing and disciplined, slowly rode into the city, their murderous aura washing over the crowd.
Tang Yu rode at the head of the army on a pure black steed without a single stray hair.
He sat tall and straight as a sword, his sharp brows slanting toward his temples, his features handsome.
From the second floors of teahouses and taverns lining the roads, countless young ladies leaned out, gazing dreamily at the young man atop his horse.
When Tang Yu's gaze swept casually over them, the crowd erupted in deafening shrieks. Countless women flushed with excitement.
Tang Yu's expression remained calm as he rode all the way to the main gate of the imperial palace.
He swung down from his horse and strode into the palace with his head held high.
The fully armed imperial guards along the way dropped to one knee, while the civil and military officials respectfully stepped aside.
They cleared a broad path for him.
Xue Ye personally led several princes out of the hall and hurried forward to greet him.
"Marquis of Wuyang's triumphant return is a blessing for our Heaven Dou Empire!" Xue Ye said with a beaming smile.
Tang Yu merely nodded, his expression as composed as ever.
With a casual turn of his hand, he produced an exquisite sandalwood box and handed it over.
"Your Majesty, the Star Luo Empire has surrendered. This is their imperial jade seal."
Xue Ye accepted the box with trembling hands. When he opened it and saw the jade seal inside, his breath caught for a moment.
He forced himself to regain his composure and immediately announced that Tang Yu would receive five of the southernmost and most prosperous cities as his fief, along with an immeasurable fortune.
Faced with such an astonishing reward, Tang Yu merely raised his eyelids slightly and accepted it without the slightest disturbance.
Seeing this, Xue Qinghe hurried forward, undisguised admiration in his eyes, and softly offered his congratulations.
Xue Ye had stepped aside, but as he watched Tang Yu's air of absolute control, his expression grew ever more complicated and heavy.
That evening, the imperial palace blazed with light, and an extravagant banquet was held.
Countless high-ranking officials and nobles queued up with wine in hand to congratulate Tang Yu, fawning over him shamelessly and showering him with one nauseating compliment after another.
Xue Qinghe had arranged a seat right beside Tang Yu and sat down close to him.
"Marquis of Wuyang, you personally crushed the once-mighty Star Luo Empire. How does it feel?"
Tang Yu took a sip of strong liquor, his tone cold and utterly flat.
"Nothing special."
That domineering disregard for the heroes of the world made the excitement in Xue Qinghe's eyes burn even brighter.
A flush rose on Xue Qinghe's fair cheeks, and he asked, a little shyly,
"I wonder if you have any free time coming up?"
"I don't." Tang Yu cut him off, setting down his wine cup. "I'm leaving tomorrow to find someone from Shrek Academy."
Xue Qinghe paused, his face full of confusion.
What important person could possibly be worth Tang Yu making the trip himself?
After thinking it over quickly, Xue Qinghe suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said,
"I've heard there's a Soul Fighting competition coming up. Shrek Academy probably wants a spot too, so they'll most likely come to the imperial city."
Xue Qinghe's every word betrayed his fondness for Tang Yu.
Hearing this, Tang Yu's heart stirred. That works out perfectly.
The next morning, Tang Yu tidied up briefly and headed out.
In a bustling square in Heaven Dou Imperial City.
Zhu Zhuqing sat all alone on a stone step, staring blankly at the streams of people passing before her.
Her tight black outfit still outlined her striking curves, drawing the eye.
Her long legs, sheathed in black thigh-high boots, were pressed together, exuding a fatal allure.
The Star Luo Empire had fallen. What meaning was there, then, in all the years she had spent training day and night without rest?
Just as she sank deeper into her misery, a profoundly discordant voice rang out.
Dai Mubai came over carrying a large bouquet of flowers, a roguish smirk plastered across his face.
"Zhuqing, what are you thinking about all by yourself?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked up, her voice cold as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
"Our country has fallen. How can you act as if nothing happened?"
"..."
Dai Mubai forced the bouquet in front of her and spread his hands, unconcerned.
"I never wanted to go back to that Star Luo Empire anyway. It's a good thing it lost."
At those shameless words, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't hide the disgust in her eyes.
She was disappointed in her fiancé. As expected, he was a cowardly lump of mud that could never be shaped into anything.
She mocked herself a little. How had she ever expected anything of such a good-for-nothing?