Chapter 31: Return to the Nation

replied, "This case is already under my jurisdiction, and I intend to see it through to the end. There's no need to trouble Zhao, sir."Zhao Deyi chuckled and leaned in close to Zhao Kang, lowering his..."Liao Hongying"

Li Yuyao felt that this name seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite remember it.

"My father, Liao Zhan!"

Liao Hongying knelt on the ground, her eyes red as she spoke.

Li Yuxiang's body trembled suddenly.

"General Liao Are you General Liao's daughter"

Li Yuyao hurried forward, helped Liao Hongying up, and was astonished.

"Yes."

Two years ago, at the Yongwangfu residence, I had only glimpsed Your Majesty from afar. At that time, I was among a group of ladies-in-waiting, quite far away from Your Majesty. It is natural that You did not recognize me.

Li Yuxiang pondered for a moment, then was suddenly startled.

"Yes, I remember that day. I remember..."

"I remember! I knew you!"

This time, Liao Hongying was surprised.

At that time, although Li Yuyao had not yet ascended the throne, she was still the emperor's only daughter, the renowned Princess Pingyang.

Even if she saw herself, how could she remember such a small person

"I remember that day, you were dressed in armor, head to toe in gleaming silver. You had your hair tied up in a high ponytail and wore a red cloak, looking so valiant and dashing. At the time, you truly caught my eye, and I couldn't help but admire how impressive you were as a female warrior!"

Li Yuyao's words made Liao Hongying's tears flow again.

Your Majesty actually remembers yourself!

"I never expected it to be you!"

"Your appearance now is so different from that day. If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have been able to connect the person before me with the dashing figure of that day at all."

Li Yuxiang couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Liao Hongying, whom I met today, was very impressive and striking.

And here before me stood Liao Hongying, dressed in thin clothing and with her hair loose. Though still spirited, she looked like a kindly neighborly aunt, utterly unlike the imposing female general clad in fiery red armor!

The changes are really huge.

Li Hongying's eyes were still red, and she wiped away the tears from her eyes as she said, "Your Majesty, you're still alive! That's truly wonderful!"

The two of them had only met once. Li Yuyáo didn't recognize Liao Hongying, and Liao Hongying had never recognized Li Yuyáo before.

She just felt a bit like it, but she didn't dare believe it. The great empress would be like her, becoming a refugee.

Until last night, when Yang Lin asked Li Yuyao what she wanted, Li Yuyao, with that domineering air, said she wanted the world... Liao Hongying was taken aback.

Today, during a meal, they again talked about the hardships faced by the common people in Dagan. When it came to changing strategies, Liao Hongying became even more determined in her thoughts.

However, she never expected that this Princess Pingyang, who was deposed by a traitorous plot and had fallen into such circumstances, would be the very emperor who washed Yang Lin's feet tonight!

This surprised her very much.

She didn't want to see Li Yuyao self-destruct, and she certainly didn't want to see the Empress humiliated. So tonight, she couldn't bear it any longer and called her out, hoping that she would rally and reclaim everything that was rightfully hers!

"Your Majesty, are you just going to accept this"

She felt sorry for Li Yuyao.

Li Yuyao chuckled wryly and shook her head, saying, "Don't call me Your Majesty anymore. From now on, there's only Li Yao, a married woman. There's no more Empress."

"No!"

"Your Majesty, you are the only blood of the late Emperor, you are the only legitimate heir to the Great Qin! If you give up like this, what will those who once swore their lives to you do"

Liao Hongying glared intently at Li Yunyao.

Li Yuxiang shook her head self-deprecatingly: "Third sister, I know you're not willing to accept this, and neither am I."

But even if we are unwilling, what can we do

The tide has turned, we are both alone and abandoned. There is nothing we can change!

Now that we are both married, even though I still don't like him, he has done us a favor, so I will just repay the kindness and spend my life with him.

From now on, there will be no more female emperors! You don't have to call me Your Majesty anymore. We are sisters, and I still want to call you Third Sister! Do you understand

Liaohongying was deeply shaken.

To be able to become sisters with a former princess and emperor is an unparalleled honor.

But she wouldn't give up! "Your Majesty, in my heart, you will always be Emperor!"

"The only true emperor is you!"

"Rest assured, I wouldn't address you like that in front of others, but in my heart, Liao Hongying's heart, you will always be the only Emperor!"

Liao Hongying knelt again, kowtowing to Li Y Yao.

She was born into a family of military officials and from a young age, she understood the importance of loyalty to the country and serving the monarch.

To her, there's only him.

That's the one right here!

Even though she was down on her luck, even though she identified with her sisters.

But you are you, and I am I.

This is the principle deeply ingrained in Liao Hongying's bones.

That's enough!

Li Yuxiang's cold eyes flashed with tears, and she said mournfully: "Have you ever seen an emperor who washes feet for people"

"I've already given up, what are you still holding on to"

Li Yuxiang clenched her fists.

She was also very unwilling, but even if she was still unwilling, what could she do

Even if Yang Lin had some skills and could rely on selling tofu to provide them with a good life.

Well, how about that

Can this help her reclaim the throne

No!

Liao Hongying wept, tears streaming down her face: "Your Majesty, I want revenge!"

"Did you know My entire family, the Liao clan, is gone. Now there's only me left!"

That day, your father led his troops to follow you, covering your escape from the city gate. After you left, he held the city gates, stubbornly defending them for three hours...

"Do you know what happened at the city gate Corpses piled up like mountains, blocking the entire gate!"

"The father's head was cut off and hung on the city gate..."

Liao Hongying couldn't say anymore.

She wiped her red-rimmed eyes hard before continuing to say fiercely, “I will never forget that scene.”

"Your Majesty, revenge is the only thing that keeps me going. I believe you feel the same way."

“Yang Lin is a prodigy, and also our benefactor. With him here, maybe the future really has a chance. We can’t give up!”

"Your Majesty, please, don't give up, okay"

"If even you give up, I'll seek revenge... there will truly be no hope left!"

Those who follow you and would go through fire and water for you, they too will be chilled to the heart!

"Your Majesty, we can rebuild our nation here! Let us plot great affairs!"

Saying this, Liao Hongying knelt before Li Yuyao again, her face resolute.

Li Yuyao stared blankly at Liao Hongying.

Only then did she realize that if she gave up, she wouldn't just be giving up the throne.

What's even more so is that they are the hopes of countless people, those who stand behind them— Liao Hongying, Liao Zhan...

Her heart was burning with a raging fire.

Even though you know it's wrong, you still want to do it.

Yes, I can't give up yet!

"I agree!"

Li Yuyao helped Liao Hongying up from the ground.

However, this matter still needs to be carefully considered. We need to wait for the right time and tell Yang Lin the truth. If we want to restore the country, he is crucial.

"But before that, we're still sisters..."

Outside the courtyard walls, two people whispered.

Inside, in the darkness, Yang Lin peered through a window crack, watching everything outside...re the summer taxes are due. We just need to gather three teams of yamen servants in advance and go to the mountain village. Find some excuse, and harass their villagers. If Yang Lin can't stand it a...