"Disaster, Your Majesty! The Yellow Turban Bandits have reached the outskirts of Heaven Dou City! And quite a few lowborn scum inside the city have risen in revolt!" A young eunuch came scrambling in from outside and fell to his knees with a thud, addressing Xue Ye, who lay on his imperial bed with purple lips, apparently suffering from some heart trouble.
"What! Cough, cough, cough..." Xue Ye's eyes widened. Blood rushed to his head, bringing a little color to his face, and he coughed violently, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood.
"Your Majesty!" The young eunuch hurried over.
"Quick... get me out of here." Xue Ye hastily wrapped himself in an outer robe. "As long as I still live, Heaven Dou has not fallen! I cannot become the emperor who lost his country. South-we must head south."
"Disaster, Your Majesty! Prince Xue Xing's residence has been attacked by a huge number of bandits. It has already become a sea of flames!"
"What?" Xue Ye's head swam, and the world spun around him. He felt as though he were already half dead.
His younger brother had actually suffered such a calamity!
"Father!" Crown Prince Xue Qinghe rushed in, looking disheveled.
Barging into the emperor's bedchamber would normally have been an act of disrespect, but at a critical moment like this, it made Xue Qinghe seem deeply filial.
"Father, I have already prepared a carriage. Please leave Heaven Dou City with me!" Xue Qinghe cupped his hands, his face full of urgency.
"Good, good, good! Truly, you are my fine Crown Prince!" Finally hearing some good news, Xue Ye weakly rose to his feet. Supported by the young eunuch and a palace maid, he changed into a plain robe and hurried out of the palace.
Outside the palace stood a carriage.