Chapter 2625: City Falls

The Prince of Yan's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Zhao Yuan gave him a meaningful look. "Do I look like someone who jokes around?"

"That's true..." The Prince of Yan mused, recalling Zhao Yuan's usually calm and even deeply calculating nature. "Then, what method do you have to deal with him?"

"If I tell you, it won't work. If it really comes to that, you'll know." After saying this, Zhao Yuan stood up and left.

After he left, a trusted confidant approached the Prince of Yan. "Your Highness, it seems Zhao Yuan has kept many things from you. It's as if he doesn't hold you in high regard."

The Prince of Yan narrowed his eyes. "Indeed, we must be wary."

Everyone had thought the coalition army was self-organized this time, but now, looking back, it seemed Zhao Yuan had instigated it all.

Many other vassal kings had also been contacted by him, and at a time like this, he was still withholding information and not sharing it. Who was truly in charge here?

However, for the past few years, Zhao Yuan had served in the Imperial Guard in the capital, knowing more about the court's secrets than the Prince of Yan. His connections with various vassal kings and officials were also better. For now, he couldn't be dispensed with.

Hmph, he decided, he would use him to help conquer the capital first, and then slowly settle accounts with him after the deed was done.

He wasn't flustered; after all, among the eighteen rebellious kings, his forces were the strongest.

He had long coveted the throne and had been secretly preparing for many years, far surpassing the other vassal kings who had risen up on a whim.

Meanwhile, in the capital, the Empress Dowager was also explaining the various details of the rebel army to Zu An.

She nestled against Zu An like a kitten, her face flushed with the afterglow, her brow no longer bearing its usual sternness. Her voice, too, was softer and sweeter than usual.

Zu An recalled the recent events and had to admit that the Empress Dowager was indeed at the peak age for a woman. Every time he was with her, he could "fight" without reservations, to his heart's content.

"Should we call Miss Sang to join us?" The Empress Dowager traced circles on her lover's chest with her finger. Amidst her soft, alluring gaze, there was a hint of fear. After several years, Zu An's body seemed even more robust than before. Was he still even human?

Zu An irritably said, "Don't change the subject. Continue talking about the rebels. Have they really been stalemated at Fenglao Pass for several months without doing anything else?"

"Yes, initially, Linglong and I were both worried they would hold the imperial army at Fenglao Pass while simultaneously ravaging other prefectures and counties, throwing the world into chaos. But they haven't done that. I suppose it must be because the eighteen rebel kings are not united," the Empress Dowager replied, recalling the intelligence from recent days.

"The rebels have managed to create such a massive force; they definitely have intelligent people among them. They wouldn't fail to consider this. There must be a reason why they're doing this," Zu An mused for a moment, then his heart suddenly stirred. "Could it be that they are confident they can capture Fenglao Pass?"

The Empress Dowager was startled, then immediately looked puzzled. "That's impossible. The most dangerous period has passed. Linglong is now personally on the front lines, and the situation has stabilized. With Linglong's capabilities, it's impossible for the rebels to break through Fenglao Pass."

"I hope so," Zu An said, though a sense of unease still lingered in his heart. "No, I still need to hurry to Fenglao Pass as soon as possible."

There were too many people he cared about there; he was truly worried they might encounter danger.

Seeing him hastily get up and dress, the Empress Dowager grumbled playfully, "What an unfeeling man, wiping himself clean and leaving afterward."

Despite her words, she still got up to help her lover straighten his clothes.

Zu An kissed her. "I'll come back to be with you after the rebellion is quelled."

The Empress Dowager reluctantly saw him to the door. Her current appearance made it inconvenient for her to go out, otherwise, anyone who saw her would know what had just transpired.

Only after Zu An's figure disappeared did she walk back. Within just a few steps, her expression suddenly changed. Tapping her toes, she launched herself onto a nearby soft couch, lying flat with her legs raised high against the wall.

Bathed in the afterglow of their intimacy, she was as radiant as a peach blossom.

Recalling the recent intimacy, she lightly bit her red lip, determined not to waste a single drop, hoping to conceive his child this time.

After leaving the imperial study, Zu An soon found Sang Qian and her daughter enjoying themselves in the imperial garden.

"Enjoying themselves" was perhaps an understatement; "feasting" would be more accurate.

The pavilion was laden with a dazzling array of snacks prepared by the imperial kitchen. Sisi held a chicken leg in one hand, a sweet drink in the other, and still had a pastry stuffed in her mouth.

Sang Qian stood beside her, a look of exasperation on her face, wiping her daughter's mouth. "Eat slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you."

Seeing the palace maids nearby trying to suppress their amused smiles, she wished for a hole to crawl into. This gluttonous girl was completely embarrassing her. The thought of what the Empress Dowager and Linglong would say made her head ache.

"Being able to eat is a good thing; it shows strong natural talent," Zu An's laughter rang out as he quickly approached and picked her up.

"Daddy, these are delicious, do you want some?" the little girl said, offering him the greasy chicken leg in her hand.

"Your hands are so dirty!" Sang Qian immediately panicked and rushed over to wipe Zu An's clothes.

The palace maids nearby were all inwardly astonished. This little girl called the Regent "Daddy," and seeing how familiarly Miss Sang wiped his clothes, they truly looked like a family of three.

Everyone had guessed the little girl had a special status, but they had assumed it was merely the Regent's affection for Sang Qian extending to her, not that she was his actual daughter.

They secretly congratulated themselves for having served diligently and without causing any trouble.

Sang Qian noticed the maids' strange expressions and finally realized what was happening. She wanted to tell her daughter not to call him that in public, but with so many people present, she didn't know how to phrase it.

Zu An shook his head at Sang Qian, then bit into the chicken leg with a smile. "Mmm, Sisi's chicken leg is delicious."

Seeing his big bite, little Sisi looked bewildered, her mouth drooping as if about to cry. "You ate it all, bad daddy!"

Seeing her plump, adorable face, Zu An burst into laughter. "Daddy was wrong. Daddy will buy you ten more."

Watching the heartwarming scene between father and daughter, a gentle warmth spread across Sang Qian's face.

Zu An's direct acknowledgment had confirmed Sisi's identity, and a great weight that had burdened Sang Qian for years finally lifted.

However, the palace maids were almost in tears. Was this information they were meant to hear? Would they be silenced?

Although the Regent had always maintained a positive image, those who served in the deep palace knew that many secrets, once known, meant death.

Seeing the maids huddled like quails, Zu An smiled. "You may all withdraw. I have something to discuss with Miss Sang."

"Yes!" The palace maids, relieved, quickly departed.

Zu An set his daughter down at the table, allowing her to feast, while he and Sang Qian sat by the lake.

"Thank you," Sang Qian said. There were so many words in her heart, but in the end, they condensed into just those two.

Zu An pulled her into his embrace. "How could I ever let you suffer injustice?"

Sang Qian smiled sweetly, rubbing her face against his chest, then suddenly looked up with a strange expression. "You smell entirely of the Empress Dowager."

Zu An immediately broke into a cold sweat. He had been careless.

"Did you make the Empress Dowager comfortable?" Sang Qian had initially been a little annoyed at being sent away by the Empress Dowager, but the recent events had put her in a good mood, and she couldn't resist teasing him.

"It was clearly the Empress Dowager serving me," Zu An huffed, his face expressionless.

"Ah?" Sang Qian initially found it hard to believe, but then, on second thought, it seemed quite plausible.

"You're truly outrageous..." The young woman's face flushed with embarrassment. "I wonder what it's like for the Empress Dowager to serve someone."

"Want to know? I'll call you next time. The Empress Dowager wanted to invite you earlier too."

"Pah, I'm not going to join you in your madness."

After a period of teasing, Zu An finally stated his purpose for coming.

Learning that he was about to leave again, Sang Qian was very reluctant but still said, "Your worries are not unfounded. Dandan and the Crown Princess are both there. It would be terrible if anything happened. You should go quickly."

After they said their goodbyes, Zu An soared into the sky from the palace, flying towards Fenglao Pass.

Travel was originally restricted in the capital. Soon, the magic array activated, and powerful figures appeared from all directions, emerging to reprimand him. However, upon seeing it was Zu An, they were all both surprised and delighted.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with them, he transformed into a rainbow and vanished into the distance.

He had deliberately shown himself publicly just now. With everyone in the capital seeing his safe return, the restless hearts of the people should now settle down.

Meanwhile, at Fenglao Pass, night fell. Bi Linglong had just finished her military duties and had barely fallen asleep when she was suddenly awakened by a clamor.

She sat up instantly, a faint sense of unease in her heart. Such a commotion on a quiet night was clearly abnormal.

Sure enough, Murong Qinghe, clad in golden armor, quickly rushed over to report, "Your Majesty, something bad has happened! The rebels have breached the city!"