Lin Zaozao couldn't help but laugh as she looked at the silly expression on Qianxing Prince's face. She poured herself a glass of water and spoke to him in a serious tone.
"Qianxing Prince, before I talk about whether the soldiers from the integrated armies of the countries of Canglan and Fengshuo are united in their hearts, I want to tell you a story. Once you hear this story, you will understand why."
"Please proceed, Your Majesty Mingzhu," replied Qianxing Prince, his voice filled with resentment towards Lin Zaozao's mocking gaze.
After taking a sip of tea, Lin Zaozao began to tell the tale.
Once upon a time, there was a little white rabbit taking a stroll in the forest. It encountered a big grey wolf walking towards it, who then slapped the little white rabbit on its ears twice.
The big grey wolf said, "I told you not to wear a hat."
The little white rabbit felt wronged, but it couldn't fight back against the big grey wolf, so it could only walk away dejectedly.
The next day, the little white rabbit encountered the big grey wolf again. Upon seeing the rabbit, the grey wolf once again slapped it on its ears twice, saying, "I told you to wear a hat."
The rabbit felt even more wronged and could only resort to complaining to the forest king, the tiger.
After listening to the rabbit's complaint, the tiger responded calmly, "I understand, I will handle this matter. You must trust me."
So when the tiger found the big grey wolf, it said, "Big grey wolf, your actions are inappropriate. You're making it difficult for me!"
Then, the tiger came up with a plan for the grey wolf and said, "From now on, when you meet the rabbit, tell it to bring you a piece of meat. If it brings you a fat piece, say you want a lean one. If it brings you a lean piece, say you want a fat one. This way, you can openly beat it up with a reason."
"Of course, you can also tell the rabbit to find you a woman. If it brings you a curvy one, say you prefer slender ones. If it brings you a slender one, say you prefer curvy ones. This way, when you beat it up, you'll have a valid excuse, and you won't have to worry about it complaining to me."
The big grey wolf nodded repeatedly, applauding the tiger's words.
Unfortunately, the little white rabbit overheard every word the tiger and the grey wolf said.
So, the next day, when the big grey wolf encountered the rabbit again, it said, "Rabbit, bring me a piece of meat."
The rabbit asked, "Big grey wolf, do you want a fat one or a lean one?"
Hearing this, the grey wolf's heart sank, but then it felt a glimmer of joy, thinking it still had another way to teach the rabbit a lesson.
So, the big grey wolf continued, "Rabbit, quickly find me a woman."
The rabbit responded, "Big grey wolf, do you prefer curvy or slender?"
After hearing the rabbit's words, the grey wolf fell silent for a moment, then raised its hand and slapped the rabbit twice, saying sternly, "Damn it, I told you not to wear a hat."
Lin Zaozao finished her story and finished the water in her cup. She turned her head and looked at Qianxing Prince, whose expression was particularly unpleasant, and spoke gently.
"Qianxing Prince, after hearing my story, what do you feel in your heart?"
"Your Majesty Mingzhu, what does this story mean?" asked Qianxing Prince.
Lin Zaozao couldn't help but feel amused as she looked at the dumbfounded expression of Prince Qianxing. She set down her empty cup and her gaze turned cold.
"Prince Qianxing, let me tell you something. In the eyes of Han Country, your Fengshuo and Canglan countries are like foolish rabbits."
No matter how many conspiracies and tricks you have, they are useless in the face of absolute strength.
For the past decade, the soldiers of Han Country, trained by High Priest Hanye during the Winter Night Grand Ceremony, have been formidable warriors capable of taking on ten opponents alone.
Furthermore, if Canglan and Fengshuo truly had a way to conquer Han Country, they wouldn't have waited for over a decade like fools.
Do you think that just because I, Lin Zaozao, grew up among the common people and became the Empress of Han Country, I would foolishly open the gates of Han Country and let the armies of Canglan and Fengshuo march in?
Let me tell you, you're dreaming!"
"Is that so? But Empress Mingzhu, it is true that Han Country's military strength is stronger than that of Canglan and Fengshuo."
But can you guarantee that the people of Han Country will be united?"
"Oh! Prince Qianxing, why don't you enlighten me? I'm curious to know why the people of Han Country are not united."
In the face of Lin Zaozao's mocking gaze, Prince Qianxing forced himself to remain composed.
"Empress Mingzhu, even if you return to Han Country now, the one who holds the political power is High Priest Hanye.
He has held control of Han Country for so many years. Do you think he would willingly hand over his power to you all of a sudden?"
Upon hearing Prince Qianxing's words, Lin Zaozao couldn't help but laugh.
"Prince Qianxing, what are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing because you're truly foolish! I never expected that I misjudged you earlier, thinking you were a sincere person!"
Suppressing the laughter in her eyes, Lin Zaozao looked at Prince Qianxing, who was now astonished, and spoke cheerfully.
"Prince Qianxing, I don't think you're so foolish as to not know! High Priest Hanye is not only the High Priest of Han Country, but he also has a deep connection with me that spans two lifetimes.
He was willing to give up his own life for me. If I, Mingzhu, still doubt his feelings for me, then I would be a brainless fool.
I really didn't expect that you would use this to try and sow discord between me and Brother Hanye.
Truly... you're incredibly foolish!"
Lin Zaozao looked at Prince Qianxing, whose face had turned pale with shock, and spoke again in a solemn tone.
"Prince Qianxing, there's something I don't understand, could you enlighten me?"
"What is it?"
Prince Qianxing suppressed his anger and asked.
"My question is simple. Isn't it true that Canglan and Fengshuo have a shortage of women, but why does Canglan have so many more women compared to Fengshuo?
Is it really because the climate in Canglan is better than in Fengshuo? Or is it because Canglan is wealthier than Fengshuo?
I don't believe that as a prince of a country, you wouldn't know the reason behind this!"
Lin Zaozao's mocking words made Prince Qianxing's face turn pale.
What other reason could there be?
It's because her mother, the Empress of Fengshuo Country, has been using the blood of virgins to maintain her youthful appearance.
In Fengshuo Country, women were already scarce, and the situation worsened due to the cruel treatment inflicted by their Empress on young girls. As a result, the number of women in Fengshuo Country continued to decline.
Upon learning about the Empress's peculiar behavior, affluent families started leaving Fengshuo Country one after another.
Families with some wealth relocated to Canglan Country, while those who were impoverished yet deeply loved their daughters would rather endure hardships on the frontier than stay in Fengshuo Country.
This way, they hoped to prevent a future calamity from befalling their precious daughters, turning them into pawns for the maintenance of the Empress's appearance.
Due to the decreasing number of women in Fengshuo Country, its population also began to dwindle.
Under such circumstances, Fengshuo Country and Canglan Country initiated a war against Han Country. If they were to emerge victorious, it might not be too bad, but if they were to fail, Fengshuo Country would be plunged into irreparable ruin.
Lin Zaozao noticed the increasingly pallid complexion of Prince Qianxing and couldn't help but sneer.
"Prince Qianxing, never mind whether Canglan and Fengshuo will spare our Han Country. What you should be more concerned about is whether Han Country will spare Canglan and Fengshuo."
Those one hundred thousand soldiers, I assume they were forcibly conscripted from your armies, Canglan and Fengshuo!"
Once you are defeated... Prince Qianxing, do you think I will spare you?
Because, my favorite thing to do is to take advantage of you when you're weak and then take your life!"
Upon hearing Lin Zaozao's suddenly icy tone, Prince Qianxing trembled all over.
He struggled to control his trembling body, lifting his head to seriously look at the young girl before him who still seemed so immature.
This girl, who had just returned from the common folk and ascended to become the Empress of Han Country, had managed to gather such detailed information about Canglan and Fengshuo in such a short time.
"Prince Qianxing, you better not look at me so directly. Don't try to flirt with me, as I am not interested in you!"
Because when I look at your face right now, it's like seeing a fat-headed pig.
Let me be honest, I have disliked you for a long time. Canglan Country not only pursued me but also harmed several of my suitors, forcing me to be separated from them.
And just now, Canglan's Empress nearly caused my precious Ruo Qiu to lose her life.
Moreover, your mother dared to poison my parents and nearly burned my husband Ji Fantian alive during the border conflict.
Do you think that with all these incidents piling up one after another, I will easily spare you?"
"Your Majesty Mingzhu, you are seeking personal vengeance!" exclaimed Prince Qianxing, filled with agitation.
"Wrong, wrong, wrong. I, Princess Mingzhu, am also the auspicious Immortal Lin. Seeking personal vengeance is done for the sake of the people of Han Country, to advocate for justice for the people who have suffered under Canglan and Fengshuo.
Besides, once I annihilate Canglan and Fengshuo, I will be the ultimate victor."
Qianxing, the eldest prince, don't you know? History is always written by the victors. Once I annihilate the Han Country and the Fengshuo Country, I can easily turn the black into white and portray it as settling rebellions for the sake of public interest."
"Indeed, it may be impossible to destroy the Han Country and the Fengshuo Country, but can your Han Country alone easily conquer both of them?"
Qianxing Prince stood up and slammed the table, speaking with resentment.
"Perhaps it wasn't possible before, but now it is. After all, I, Lin Zaozao, saved countless people from the plague that occurred not long ago in the Han Country. My reputation among the common people is undoubtedly better than that of the empresses of the Han Country and the Fengshuo Country!
Besides, the Han Country still has Han Xibei, the national teacher, who is spreading the word that our esteemed Emperor has received auspicious signs from heaven.
Within the Han Country, we have been recuperating our troops and horses for more than a decade. With all these factors combined, I don't believe we will lose to you.
Furthermore..."
Lin Zaozao leaned closer to Qianxing Prince, her voice cold.
"Do you really think that I, this auspicious sign from heaven, am just a superficial figure with no abilities or skills?
Do you think that a vast country like the Han Country would wait for a useless person for over a decade?"
Lin Zaozao's words shattered the last bit of hope in Qianxing's heart. He stared at her blankly, meeting her dark eyes.
He realized that the things he held in his hands, which he thought could control this esteemed Emperor before, were no longer worth mentioning at this moment.
Yes! In the face of absolute strength, schemes and tricks are simply not worth mentioning.
With this trip to the Han Country, he had truly become a sacrificial pawn.
"Qianxing Prince, I am not as cruel as your empress. Tomorrow, the troops from the Han Country and the Fengshuo Country will reach the borders of our Han Country.
At that time, I will secretly invite you to the battlefield to witness whether the newly appointed Han Country Empress, the renowned Immortal Lin, has the ability to handle the hundred thousand troops from the Han Country and the Fengshuo Country on her own."
After speaking with Qianxing Prince, Lin Zaozao turned and walked outside.
Once outside, she took a long breath.
Damn it, playing mind games with these people is really troublesome.
To be honest, being the Han Country Empress is not as comfortable as her life as a village woman, Lin Zaozao!
