Victory crowns the king, while defeat marks the outlaw.

"What did you say?" Yan’er, caught off guard, who had been half-kneeling, collapsed directly onto the ground.

Baili Mubai did not reach out to help her, letting her sit in a heap: "Yes, it should be two months now."

Yan’er bit her lower lip, lifting her face with a cold smile: "Did you see it? No matter what I did for your senior brother, how much suffering I endured, aren't all men the same once they turn away? Off with the new lover..." Yan’er sighed in despair.

Seeing Yan’er’s reaction, Baili Mubai regretted revealing the fact of Ou Ruolan’s pregnancy. He hadn’t expected his senior brother to disregard Yan’er’s feelings; after Yan’er disappeared from his life, his senior brother did not abandon his luxurious life because his beloved left. Perhaps he had misjudged Yan’er.

"Haha, to think I risked my life for him, so the child could survive—just a joke, really!" Yan’er stood, smashing the teacup on the table. In one swift motion, she grabbed a shard from the floor and slashed fiercely at her wrist!

"Ah, Mubai, what are you doing?" Yan’er stared blankly at the arm blocking her wrist; the vicious cut landed on Baili Mubai’s arm instead, blood flowing freely from the wound. Baili Mubai withdrew his arm.

Yan’er dropped the porcelain shard, stunned as she looked at Baili Mubai. Had she won this gamble?

"I will stay," Baili Mubai pressed the acupoint on his arm to slow the bleeding. Just now, seeing Yan’er about to end her life, he instinctively intervened. But when the shard cut into his skin, he felt deeply that Yan’er used all her strength with a resolve to die—it was no act for him to see. Because of the force behind that stroke, he believed Yan’er did it for his senior brother’s bloodline.

"With Ou Ruolan, there’s no need for me," Yan’er said shrewdly, eyeing Baili Mubai.

"Anyone at his side is in danger. I only hope you can preserve my senior brother’s bloodline," Baili Mubai’s heart twisted. He had just considered: if Guan Canghai won, Ou Ruolan’s child might die before birth, but with him and Guan Canghai present, Yan’er’s child would survive. If Guan Canghai lost, then he would respect Yan’er’s wishes and care for her and her child for a lifetime.

Yan’er nodded in relief. In this game, she had won.

In the imperial palace of the Celestial Dynasty, Guan Canghai wore a purple battle robe, his hair neatly tied in a bun. The palace troops were ready to depart at any moment. Guan Canghai glanced at Li Zuo by his side: "I leave this to you."

"Hmph, very well," Li Zuo replied disdainfully, casting a glance at Guan Canghai. Their relationship was delicate; Li Zuo, though an old friend, never spoke to Guan Canghai with the slightest formality.

"Let’s go!" Guan Canghai leapt onto his white horse, ignoring Li Zuo. He knew Li Zuo’s nature well—the more he cared for someone, the colder he acted. Now, as Guan Canghai faced life and death on the battlefield, Li Zuo’s arrogant tone spoke volumes about his deep concern. To have such a brother in life was enough.

Guan Canghai led the way to the palace gates atop his white horse, raising his hand high. The gates swung open immediately, and without looking back, he charged out with his guards. Outside the capital, thirty thousand troops were already gathered—the first wave, with another twenty thousand to follow.

Watching that purple figure disappear, Li Zuo sighed and turned to see Yi He under the palace eaves.

"Yi He, what are you doing here?" Li Zuo knew well his sister’s feelings, but Guan Canghai had no intention of marrying until the world was at peace.

"Brother, I came secretly to see him off," Li Yi He said with sorrow, gazing at the closing palace gates. He hadn’t even looked at her.

"Don't stand here, come with me to the study," Li Zuo shook his head.

"Mm, brother, do you think we will be victorious?" Yi He followed beside him.

"I trust Canghai," Li Zuo stopped, looking firmly at Li Yi He.

"I trust Brother Canghai too," Li Yi He suddenly took Li Zuo’s arm. "Brother, when Brother Canghai achieves his great work, do you think he will ever look at me properly?"

Their voices faded into the distance, leaving only their silhouettes on the palace corridor...

Under Guan Canghai’s command, the army advanced directly toward Panlong, bypassing Moon City, taking mountain paths straight to the imperial capital. No slaughtering of villagers in mountain hamlets, no disturbing ordinary life; the army marched with utmost speed, always choosing remote routes over bustling roads. Though they could have reached the capital in less than a month, taking only mountain and night roads meant a full month and a half before arriving at Haihe City, the strategic stronghold of Panlong. It was a small city, closest to the capital and most heavily guarded. Guan Canghai sought victory through surprise, preferring to abandon speed for secrecy, ensuring Panlong would not be prepared.

Watching the sky, Guan Canghai smiled coldly and signaled the army to rest.

"Pass the order: from tonight, no fires allowed. Only eat dry rations and drink water carried with you. Those who disobey will be executed," Guan Canghai tethered his white horse, taking a small package from the saddlebag—rations he’d prepared for himself and every soldier. Without his command, soldiers could not eat their own rations. Inside were a few hard dry buns; he broke off a piece and ate it with water. "Call the vanguard to see me," he leaned against a tree, gazing toward Haihe City.

"Your Majesty, I am Zhao Kexi, Deputy Commander of the Vanguard," a man in armor knelt before Guan Canghai.

"Zhao Kexi, the vanguard is my chosen elite. This time, it’s up to your skill," Guan Canghai brushed crumbs from his hands.

"Your Majesty, give your orders. Zhao is loyal to Tianfeng," Zhao Kexi looked resolutely at Guan Canghai. Though he hadn’t interacted much with this new emperor, Zhao saw hope for Tianfeng in him. When Guan Canghai rebelled, Zhao did not bring his vanguard to protect the old emperor, nor did he surrender to Guan Canghai. Only with Li Zuo’s arrival did he finally lead his vanguard brothers to swear allegiance to Guan Canghai.

"Tonight..." Guan Canghai’s voice was low, heard only by Zhao Kexi, whose expression gradually became one of admiration.

"Your servant accepts the command," Zhao Kexi, from the military camp, followed orders strictly. After kneeling, he quickly instructed his troops to prepare as Guan Canghai had planned.

The army rested until nightfall. All soldiers knew they were near the imperial capital, and a deadly battle was imminent within a day or two. So besides excitement, everyone was alert.

Zhao Kexi selected two hundred agile, skilled vanguard soldiers, each removing their armor for plain clothes, carrying a small pack. At midnight, as the watch sounded, Zhao Kexi signaled, and the two hundred vanguard soldiers flew from the grass like swords, arriving at the foot of Haihe City. Zhao Kexi looked up at the city wall, signaling the others to wait and follow the plan. He alone leapt onto the wall, silently sneaking into the night watch tower. With swift blades, the sentries fell dead without a sound. Zhao Kexi lowered their bodies, quickly changed into a sentry’s uniform, and tied a yellow cloth strip to his left wrist.

He signaled the vanguard below, who prepared grappling hooks and threw them up. Zhao Kexi guarded the wall, letting his men climb up quickly. Without a sound, a few hand signals sent the two hundred soldiers scattering for their tasks.

Guan Canghai, timing the operation, saw no distress signal from Zhao Kexi and ordered the army to advance on Haihe City.

When Guan Canghai arrived, the city gates opened automatically, and his soldiers marched in as if unopposed, entering the city straightaway.

"Report!" At dawn, a young eunuch rushed to the Emperor Jing’s bedchamber.

"Disturbing the emperor’s rest is a capital offense!" The gatekeeper eunuch scolded the clueless young eunuch.

"N-not good, Tianfeng is attacking!" the young eunuch quavered.

The news spread rapidly, sending the palace into panic. Emperor Jing paced the hall, his dragon robe askew, while officials knelt below, hardly daring to breathe: "What do we do!"

"General Pan has received orders and is leading the army to Haihe City. Can’t you sit down?" Empress Rong looked with disdain at the emperor, who lacked all composure.

"How did no one know about Tianfeng’s advance? What are you all good for?" Emperor Jing berated the kneeling ministers, complaining inwardly.

"As they say, a strong commander has no weak soldiers. You should reflect," Empress Rong sipped her tea with leisure—strangely, she felt a secret delight at that moment.

"Shut up!" Emperor Jing, in a rage, smashed Empress Rong’s teacup. "If not for your neglect of Panlong’s safety, always out practicing, how would Panlong be like this?" He grabbed her throat, glaring fiercely.

Though the emperor choked her, Empress Rong’s face remained calm, smiling lightly. With a gentle twist of her hand, Emperor Jing was flung aside and landed heavily on the floor.

"You..." Emperor Jing, frightened, sat pointing at her.

"All is fate. I have preserved Panlong for over twenty years—my efforts are done." Empress Rong brushed her sleeve, removing the phoenix robe to reveal a pure white gown—the attire for her departure.

Pan Yueyang, long controlled by Ou Ruolan, prepared for battle as soon as he heard the urgent report in the morning. He had not expected Guan Canghai to move so quickly, already breaching Haihe City. "Xueqing, notify Mubai immediately!" Pan Yueyang seized his spear.

"Be careful, my husband," Ou Ruolan caressed her belly, her hand never stopping as she gazed at Pan Yueyang.

Pan Yueyang did not spare Ou Ruolan a glance, his heart in turmoil. Xueqing, dressed for battle, had half her face covered by silk. "Army, heed the order! Tianfeng now presses upon Haihe City. We are people of Panlong. For our country, fight to the death!" Xueqing raised her sword skyward.

"All soldiers, listen! This battle must be won. Better to die on the field than become slaves to a lost nation!" Pan Yueyang looked at Xueqing, feeling as if he had returned to days past.