Han Ye's expression froze for an instant when he met Gu Shan's mocking gaze on a cold night. But in the next moment, he couldn't help but burst into a light laughter.
"Gu Shan, I can lecture you here because I am already standing at the pinnacle of power. I am free to do whatever I want, except for life itself. I no longer have any choices to make between me and Ruo Qiu, Murong Hai, Ye Yi, or anyone else. How can someone without even the freedom to choose talk about love or not?"
Though Han Ye's voice was gentle, it caught Gu Shan off guard.
Indeed! If it weren't for the intervention of the national teacher this time, Gu Shan wouldn't have had a chance to return and see Zaozao!
But the lives of so many people cannot be decided by him alone.
In his Eighteenth Floor, there were Murong Hai's Murong Clan and Ye Yi's father's clan. Ruo Qiu was different, as he only cared about his father.
"Gu Shan, some people live in more pain than death. Even if you save them, they would still be living dead. Letting them leave this world is the greatest respect you can give them."
Han Ye's words left Gu Shan stunned.
Those people had fought alongside him, sharing life and death. Now, he had crawled out of hell.
Could he not save them and instead leave them in hell?
But what if sacrificing them was necessary for a greater cause? Gu Shan's heart ached.
He couldn't bear it.
And he couldn't do that.
Gu Shan turned around, respectfully bowed to Han Ye, and then headed off into the distance.
As Han Ye watched Gu Shan's departing figure, he couldn't help but take a deep breath.
Although he had advised Gu Shan to give up just now, if it were so easy to give up, he wouldn't have waited for Zhuzhu for two lifetimes.
Gu Shan's turning point depended on Zhuzhu.
But Han Ye didn't want Zhuzhu to take any risks.
After all, the life and death of others had nothing to do with him.
The only person he cared about was Zhuzhu.
Han Ye glanced at Ji Fantian and Xiao Taohua, then turned and walked towards Lin Zaozao's room.
Entering the room, he noticed the brightness inside. Upon closer inspection, he saw a pile of night pearls on Lin Zaozao's bed.
Those night pearls seemed to have been brought by Gu Shan for Zaozao. Han Ye couldn't help but admit that Gu Shan, a cold-blooded assassin, possessed a warmth that was no less than anyone else's once he was moved.
"Han Ye, you're here."
"Zhuzhu, there's still some time until dawn. Aren't you going to rest?"
"I can't sleep right now."
Lin Zaozao held two night pearls in her hands, her tone somewhat despondent.
"What are you thinking about, Zhuzhu?"
Han Ye sat beside Lin Zaozao and asked in a gentle voice.
"Han Ye, I'm thinking about Gu Shan. I wonder if he will encounter any danger when he goes back this time. I'm worried about him."
"Zhuzhu, if you want to help him, then tomorrow you and I will return to the Han Kingdom. When you become the Empress of Han, only then will you have the qualification and power to pull Gu Shan and Ye Yi out of the quagmire."
"But Han Ye, I'm afraid I won't be a qualified Empress. I know my own abilities."
"If I disappoint you and Uncle Zhang's expectations, what should I do? Will you be very disappointed in me?"
Han Ye looked at Lin Zaozao's despondent expression and embraced her, comforting her in a gentle voice.
"Zhuzhu, believe in me. As long as I'm alive, you will become a qualified Empress."
"Zhuzhu, I have arranged everything for your journey forward. So on your path to becoming Empress, everything will go smoothly without any obstacles. And I believe my Zhuzhu will be an Empress who will lead Han Kingdom back to its pinnacle."
"Han Ye, you're really flattering me. But I promise, although I may not be an exceptional ruler for all eternity, I will do my best to be a qualified Empress.
At the very least, I won't be someone who indiscriminately kills innocent people."
"Good! I believe in my Zhuzhu. You will definitely be a qualified Empress."
Han Ye kissed Lin Zaozao's forehead and whispered softly.
After carefully packing the things brought by Gu Shan and locking them in the box, Lin Zaozao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
These were the things Gu Shan gave her, and she must keep them safe.
Han Ye's words were right, she should go to the Han Kingdom as soon as possible. Only by becoming the Empress of Han would she have the power to pull Gu Shan out of the quagmire.
"Han Ye, let's stop talking and go to sleep! I feel so tired."
After saying that, Lin Zaozao hugged Han Ye directly and closed her eyes to sleep. At the moment her consciousness faded, she was still worrying about Gu Shan's safety.
Five days later, Lin Zaozao looked at Ji Fantian standing at the door and asked him in confusion.
"Fantian, aren't you coming with me?"
"Zaozao, you just recovered the border city. The city has just been through an epidemic, and the people's minds are unstable. I have to stay here to stabilize the situation."
"People's minds are unstable!"
Looking at the people coming and going outside, Lin Zaozao couldn't help but laugh lightly.
"Fantian, the border city now belongs to the Han Kingdom, and the lives of everyone in the city were saved by me, Lin Zaozao.
If anyone dares to have a change of heart, they will be killed directly. If they dare to rebel against their saviors, what use are they? I, Lin Zaozao, have never supported those who take advantage of others."
Lin Zaozao's merciless words made Ji Fantian's expression freeze.
Is this the same Lin Zaozao who used to like to laugh and play? The one standing in front of him now exudes the aura of an emperor. With a casual conversation, she can easily decide the fate of others.
At this moment, Ji Fantian finally realized. The young girl standing before him is no longer the village girl Lin Zaozao, but the true Empress of the Han Kingdom.
Seeing Ji Fantian's silence, Lin Zaozao urged once again.
"Fan Tian, yesterday I already transferred the generals and strategists stationed at the border city from the Han Kingdom. I also closed the eastern gate that connects with the prosperous country and opened the western gate that borders the Han Kingdom.
With the presence of the defending generals and strategists at the city, I can receive information promptly if there are any movements at the border. As for the members of the divine physician clan who stayed at the border city, their foot injuries have improved significantly. Once their injuries heal completely, they can be directly transferred to the Han City.
When the members of the divine physician clan arrive in Han City, no one will dare to harm them as long as I am there to protect them."
Lin Zaozao walked over to Ji Fantian and held his hand, speaking earnestly.
"Fantian, come with me to Han City and accompany me in becoming the Empress of Han Kingdom. Only when I become the Empress, will I have the power to protect you and your people.
And also Gu Shan and Ye Yi, their current situation is not good. Only with power, I can find a way to help them achieve their desires. So, Fantian, come with me now, okay?"
Ji Fantian looked at Lin Zaozao with a dazed expression, took a moment to compose himself, and replied seriously.
"Alright, I will follow you to Han Kingdom. I want to witness you ascending to the position of Empress with my own eyes."
"Then let's go. Oh, Xiaotaohua, bring Xiaoliuli along too. I've been busy lately and that rascal has become so thin. He's almost lost all the weight of the hundred jin of flesh."
"I understand, I will bring Xiaoliuli along."
Xiaotaohua took the hand of Xiaoliuli beside her and headed towards the prepared carriage for Lin Zaozao.
Sitting in the carriage, Xiaoliuli pulled back the curtain and looked at Lin Zaozao sitting in the sedan chair in front. She was dressed in a black robe, wearing a jade crown on her head, her expression serious.
At this moment, she was completely different from the flirtatious Lin Zaozao. She still had the same fondness for teasing and the same lack of understanding of common knowledge, but when it came to the way of rulers and the art of controlling people, she seemed to have it at her fingertips, effortlessly deciding the life and death of others. It was as if she had been learning about the way of rulers since she was a child.
Listening to Xiaoliuli's words, Xiaotaohua looked at Lin Zaozao ahead. Even without him saying it, he could feel the change in Lin Zaozao during this period.
From when did it start?
Probably from when she entered the border city!
Since she entered the border city, she had been able to distribute antidotes to the disaster victims while orderly arranging the affairs of the city. Every detail was handled properly. She also showed no mercy when dealing with the traitors in the city.
This decisive Lin Zaozao was something he had never expected. He thought that even if she returned to Han Kingdom, she would only become a puppet in the hands of the High Priest of Han Ye.
But from what he had seen in these few days, with a casual remark, she effortlessly stripped Princess Qianyue of her qualifications to compete for the throne.
Now, Princess Qianyue is imprisoned in her own palace, and it seems she will never be able to come out again in her lifetime.
As for whether Princess Qianyue can survive after this, it will depend on her fate.
It's unclear what method Lin Zaozao used early on, but suddenly the Female Emperor of Fengshuo Country and those noble ladies and gentlemen at the banquet gained two hundred pounds.
Coupled with the consecutive three days of loud flatulence from the Female Emperor of Fengshuo Country and those noble ladies and gentlemen, the upper-class families of Fengshuo Country have turned the embarrassing incidents of the Female Emperor and those nobles into after-dinner gossip.
Now, the Female Emperor of Fengshuo Country is furious with Lin Zaozao because she doesn't dare to act recklessly with Han Ye around.
In any case, Lin Zaozao has thoroughly offended the Female Emperor of Fengshuo Country this time. Her intention in offending the Female Emperor is, as Han Ye said, to create an opportunity to trouble her in the future.
Once the Female Emperor of Fengshuo Country dares to cause trouble for Lin Zaozao in the future, it will be the time when Lin Zaozao destroys Fengshuo Country.
One step at a time, she appears to be playing around casually, but with each step she takes, she clearly arranges what she needs to do next.
With such deep scheming, Lin Zaozao can truly be considered the real Female Emperor of Han Country.
No wonder the Commander-in-Chief and the Great High Priest of Han Country, even if they have to risk their lives, are willing to wait for Lin Zaozao to return and become the Female Emperor of Han Country.
This witty and decisive Female Emperor of Han Country, if placed on his side, he, the Poisonous Prince, is willing to wait for her even if it takes a lifetime.
Returning her attention, Xiaotaohua looked at Xiaoliuli who was holding a green fruit and trying to stuff it into her mouth. A hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.
This Fifth Prince, during this period, not only did he not reject Lin Zaozao, but he also inquired about her preferences in every aspect of life.
Now, in order for him to be able to be with her, he actually eats three green fruits a day, all for the purpose of nurturing his body.
This Fifth Prince, his feelings for Lin Zaozao now, I'm afraid they have changed! Even if they have changed, so what?
Once Lin Zaozao establishes a relationship with someone from the beginning, it's basically impossible to change.
Just like Lin Wuwu and Lin Wanwan, they can only be her younger siblings. Dashan is her older brother.
As for Xiaoliuli, in this lifetime, she can only be Lin Zaozao's "little sister."
