novelraw Chapter 1291 685: Battle to Reach the Heavens (Part 2)
Chapter 1291 685: Battle to Reach the Heavens (Part 2)
Like the last island in the vast ocean.
Clad in a bright red Python Robe, stepping on the cracked green bricks, Mr. Hai, with all his hair now white, deeply gazed at the Empress's back, bowed with a trembling voice:
"As per Your Majesty's decree, bury all the soldiers who died in battle within the city on the spot, wrapped in the Dragon Flag. Now there are forty-eight people left in the city, all gathered here, awaiting Your Majesty's orders."
Amidst the smoke of war, the Empress, as poised as a jade figure, finally recovered her senses, turned around, and her gaze swept across the forty-seven lined up below the city wall.
In the silence.
Xue Shence, dressed in black armor and holding a heavy halberd, stepped forward, suddenly knelt on one knee, and spoke earnestly and loudly:
"Your Majesty! The battle is lost, the Emperor's body cannot be harmed, I humbly request to escort Your Majesty out of the city, reunite with the reinforcements, and rebuild the old rivers and mountains!"
Tang Jinzhong, the Imperial Palace Tributor, followed closely behind, also kneeling on one knee:
"I humbly request to escort Your Majesty out of the city!"
Song Jinxi, having stepped into the Worldly Realm, knelt on one knee, his voice like a melodious cuckoo:
"We humbly request to escort Your Majesty out of the city!"
"We request permission..."
"I request permission..."
One after another, seasoned warriors knelt, their sincerity overflowing.
But Xu Zhenguan's gaze bore sorrow, she gently shook her head, and said, "It's too late."
"Your Majesty..." Mr. Hai raised his head in shock, seemingly wanting to confirm his suspicions.
Xu Zhenguan's next words hit their hearts like a heavy hammer:
"I can perceive the changes in destiny; I've sensed Xuan Yin's breakthrough days ago, which is why I took a desperate gamble. Unfortunately, now that we're at Yumen Pass, it's still one step too late."
At this moment, almost everyone felt the change in the aura between heaven and earth, as if a furnace had risen from the west, even more scorching than the sun behind them.
Just like when a vast ocean is boiled, every life within can feel it.
Xu Zhenguan's voice drifted in the wind:
"Beyond Heavenly Human, there is no match in the mortal world. Even if we charge out again, where can we retreat to?"
Suddenly, she stretched out her delicate Jade Hand, grasping the flagpole beside her. The Empress held the Dragon Flag in her hand, raising it high:
"It is often said that the Emperor guards the nation's gates. I received my mandate in crisis, have reigned cautiously for years, and now with no retreat, how can I allow Yumen's lands to be handed over?"
The elderly Eunuch Hai, his voice choked and hoarse, stretched out his hands:
"Your Majesty, this old servant has guarded the Xu family for over a hundred years and today, I humbly request to carry the flag for Your Majesty."
Xu Zhenguan laughed freely, nodded gently, and handed the Dragon Flag over. With her left hand, she gripped the sword hilt, looking once more towards the surging, silent enemies outside the city, the sword sang in a soft, low voice, and she murmured:
"Shall I, with my servant, charge again?"
Xue Shence and the other soldiers were moved, a wave of tragic heroism surged up:
"We swear to follow till death!"
Xu Zhenguan smiled as the cold wind blew through the pass, lifting her yellow robe.
At this moment, she finally, longingly, turned once more towards Mubei Forest, pursing her red lips, thinking:
Zhao Douan, I must go ahead first.
It's a pity I won't wait for you to return.
But just as her heart was ready for death, about to draw her sword west, the Taia Sword at her waist suddenly, as if sensing something, began to tremble wildly, excitedly, joyfully!
Xu Zhenguan, bewildered, followed the sword's intent, turned around, and in her pupils was reflected a white rainbow spanning the heavens and earth, arriving from thousands of miles away in an instant.
A breeze brushed across her face.
A figure silently appeared beside her.
Zhao Douan's warm, dry hand rested on the Empress's icy Jade Hand tightly gripping the sword hilt.
He smiled and asked, "Your Majesty, where do you intend to go?"
The Empress stared blankly at the familiar face she had longed for countless nights over the past year, just inches away.
Tears burst from her eyes, streaming down her cheeks.
Endless, complex emotions, filled with yearning, surprise, resentment, pity... countless feelings intertwined inseparably.
She could no longer maintain the appearance of an emperor, almost desperately throwing herself into his arms, weeping silently:
"I... thought you... were already dead."
Zhao Douan smiled warmly:
"I promised Your Majesty to meet outside, how dare I defy the imperial command?"
Beside them, Eunuch Hai, carrying the Dragon Flag, was so shocked he almost lost his speech, simply trembling.
Beneath the city wall, Xue Shence, Tang Jinzhong, Song Jinxi, and the tributes were equally astounded, gazing at the figure embracing the Empress on the wall, a figure known far and wide across the Yu Country.
"My Lord..."
"Mr. Zhao... is back..."
For no reason, even in dire straits, a vigorous, strong vitality surged in the hearts of the forty-eight people, like a wildfire spreading, impossible to extinguish.
It was as if everyone firmly believed that as long as this person appeared, all miracles could happen.
"I... I..."
Xu Zhenguan belatedly realized her loss of composure, hurriedly breaking away like a small woman, wiping her tears to maintain the emperor's demeanor, yet found it difficult, and finally, steeling her heart, ignoring the ministers around, she looked up, lips parted, wanting to ask.
Wanting to ask everything, everything from the past year, but at a loss for words.
Zhao Douan smiled, suddenly extending a finger to her lips, and then gently tapped the Empress's brow with the same finger, with a hint of light blooming.
Scenes and pieces of information, like torrents, flowed from his fingertip into the Empress's Sea of Consciousness.