CHAPTER 662: CHAPTER 662: YOU?

Zhan Lan looked at Xiao Luobai with a cold expression, "Mu Yan surpasses you in everything. He loves me but gives me the greatest freedom to be myself. His love is the silent devotion in everyday life, never absent at critical moments, absolute trust in times of despair, protecting me with his life and staying with me through thick and thin. He understands me the best in this world. What else do you want to know?"

Zhan Lan looked at the dejected Xiao Luobai, "Xiao Luobai, look at what you’ve become!"

"You think drawing hundreds of portraits of me is love, you think abducting me is love. You’re moved by your so-called deep emotions, but in my view, it’s nothing!"

Xiao Luobai turned pale at Zhan Lan’s words, feeling guilty as he shook his head and said, "No, no, it’s not like that! Whatever he can give you, I can give you too!"

Zhan Lan sneered, "Including your throne, all of your possessions?"

Hearing Zhan Lan’s words, Xiao Luobai hesitated; his throne was his confidence.

Without his throne, Zhan Lan would be even less likely to like him!

In a hurry, Xiao Luobai said, "Look, this is the palace I built for you!"

"You can become Beiyue, no, if you wish, you can become the most prestigious woman in the world. I can unify the entire nation for you!"

As he spoke, he suddenly choked up, because he saw Zhan Lan’s disdainful eyes and heard her cold voice, "With you?"

Xiao Luobai’s self-esteem was shattered by Zhan Lan, he clenched his fists and said, "How do you know I can’t do it? I’m only eighteen, I have time, just wait until I..."

"Nonsense!" Zhan Lan frowned at him, "Only a child uses words to prove themselves."

Xiao Luobai was struck, like a defeated rooster; Zhan Lan once treated him like a younger brother, but now, even that bit of affection was gone.

Xiao Luobai was thoroughly wounded by Zhan Lan, his eyes reddened as he looked at her, "To be honest, it was Mu Yan who sent you to me!"

With those words, Zhan Lan’s disappointment in Xiao Luobai reached its peak.

"Sending a female general to another country’s emperor? You think he’s as brainless as you to do such a thing!"

Having lived two lifetimes, how could she not know whether Mu Yan’s kindness was sincere?

It was only that she had overlooked Yun He!

He hid for over ten years, deceiving everyone!

After all, who would suspect a subordinate who grew up with them, loyal and willing to sacrifice for them?

Yun He, seemingly more foolish than the Vermilion Bird and lacking insight, was the one with the deepest intrigue.

And Xiao Luobai, moved by his so-called deep emotions, was truly the most foolish!

If he focused on governing the nation, he wouldn’t have so much free time to pine for her!

Xiao Luobai was speechless against Zhan Lan’s reprimand, Zhan Lan completely believed in Mu Yan, so sowing discord was useless.

Since it was so, he’d use forceful means to keep her!

Xiao Luobai’s gaze suddenly darkened, he abruptly twisted a vase in his hand, instantly activating a mechanism as signal arrows shot into the sky outside, exploding immediately.

Zhan Lan frowned, Xiao Luobai was indeed stubborn!

"Zhan Lan, you can’t leave, you finally came to my side, I won’t let you go!"

Zhan Lan held a dagger at his neck, "I warned you, you didn’t listen — don’t regret it! Mu Yan will surely come to find me, he’s not like me, who considers our past acquaintance, or Granny Qi and Alchemist Qi, and still tries to persuade you to turn back!"

Xiao Luobai’s face flushed, he hated how Zhan Lan trusted Mu Yan so implicitly, he lowered his voice and said, "Are you so sure he’ll come? You’ve already entered my harem, will he believe your body remains untouched?"

Pa!

Xiao Luobai’s cheek burned with pain because Zhan Lan slapped him.

"Xiao Luobai, you disgust me!" Zhan Lan spoke each word clearly.

Blood trickled from Xiao Luobai’s lips as his handsome yet cold face showed a sinister smile, "Zhan Lan, I’ve thought it through, I’ve already gained the empire, why can’t I have you too?"

After speaking, he reached towards the wall behind him, Zhan Lan elbowed him as he retreated, her dagger pressing against his waist.

Suddenly, the area outside the palace filled with people, the door burst open.

Zhan Lan saw the Beiyue Hanlin Army, a force protecting the royal city, with over ten thousand troops.

The Hanlin Army’s Commander, Huo Cheng, a middle-aged man, looked at Zhan Lan sternly, "Release our emperor!"

Xiao Luobai turned to Huo Cheng and said, "Commander Huo, do not shoot arrows or harm her!"

Zhan Lan thought Xiao Luobai must be mad, did he even know what he was doing!

Huo Cheng was also bewildered, if not to kill, how to rescue the emperor!

Granny Qi and Alchemist Qi arrived and saw Zhan Lan holding a dagger to Xiao Luobai, Granny Qi shouted anxiously, "Zhan Lan, girl, don’t!"

Huo Cheng was bewildered again, the stunning woman before them was Zhan Lan!

Alchemist Qi saw clearly that the red-clad woman hijacking Xiao Luobai was Zhan Lan and stuttered nervously, "Lan, girl... don’t do this, well, let’s talk things over!"

As the stalemate persisted, Ye Xiuhan entered the palace with his men, Xiao Luobai noticed an old palace maid following him.

Disguised as a maid, Moye stood beside Ye Xiuhan, though she had left Beiyue Palace, those appointed to the palace still included their people.

Because their lord instructed her to watch Xiao Luobai’s every move.

From the moment the Madam entered the palace, she knew, and she reported to Ye Xiuhan immediately.

She couldn’t understand why their lord said to seek Ye Xiuhan’s help if necessary.

As their lord predicted, she found Ye Xiuhan and once she mentioned the Madam, he immediately grabbed the token granting palace entry and rushed her into the palace.

Zhan Lan looked at them, "General Ye, Granny Qi, Alchemist Qi, we are old friends, today your emperor abducted me, but I turned the tables and exposed the mastermind behind all this, who attempted to plot against me but ended up captured by me — if I killed him, would it be excessive?"

Ye Xiuhan furrowed his brow, Xiao Luobai really carried out the act of abducting Zhan Lan.

Granny Qi and Alchemist Qi’s faces were grim; Xiao Luobai now seemed mad, his character twisted.

How could he have the audacity to do such a thing!

Those who dwell in darkness cannot bear the light.

Xiao Luobai felt everyone’s disdainful and contemptuous gaze upon him.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"

As tensions peaked between the two sides, Xiao Luobai received an urgent military report.

"Your Majesty, it’s bad! Emperor Dayu has personally led an expedition, he has already captured Nie City, the city’s commander Fang Jinhuai was caught alive. We received an urgent report saying: if you harm his people, he’ll slaughter all Nie City troops, starting with Nie City, then Su State, and finally the royal city!"

Xiao Luobai’s face changed dramatically, Mu Yan has come!

Zhan Lan was so certain Mu Yan would come, she was right, Mu Yan has indeed arrived!

Zhan Lan knew Mu Yan would come but didn’t expect it so quickly; her lips curved slightly, looks like Mu Yan pursued her to Lizhou again, otherwise he wouldn’t bring the army to attack Beiyue so quickly.

However, she didn’t want to stain her hands with more blood, if Dayu and Beiyue went to war because of her, it would certainly lead to a ruined wasteland, with countless civilian casualties.

She spoke with a heavy sense of pressure, "Xiao Luobai, my husband is Mu Yan, my father, older brother, maternal grandfather, and their entire family are military generals. I also have dear friends like Xiao Chen, Dugu Yan, Huang Gun, Li Sui, and the Brave Army, as well as the brothers in the Zhan Family Army. By offending me, you have equally offended them, do you want Beiyue’s empire to fall in your hands? Then continue in your stubbornness and refuse to repent!"