Chapter Nine, counting it as a fleeting dream of life

Emperor Zhao Yuan, mature and indifferent, finally exhibited a moment of dazedness in his eyes, which were devoid of any ripples.

Esteemed mothers, sisters, aunts, and cousins

Emperor Zhao Yuan smiled faintly, his dark eyes fixed upon her. Although he was smiling, his gaze was devoid of warmth, making one almost tremble all over

The Tang Ding is one of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons, bestowed by the Son of Heaven of the Zhou Dynasty to the feudal lords of the Nine Provinces over several hundred years. It symbolizes national power; how could it possibly fall into the hands of the enemy?

Emperor Zhao Yuan did not get angry, but looked at the scene with an amused expression. After they had cried and made a fuss for a while, he turned to the Princess and said, "Do you want to live or die? I am also tired of dealing with this—just hand over that cauldron!"

Emperor Zhao Yuan expressed a sense of pride in his words—southerners are accustomed to water, and northerners find it difficult to surpass them in boating. Not to mention that the small boats of the Tang dynasty were propelled by strong and valiant soldiers; the fact that his own navy managed to catch up and capture the enemy was indeed a significant achievement. When he returned to the palace in the evening and received this news, he felt it was quite remarkable.

She is hesitating, yet a cold voice devoid of any warmth echoes in her ears

I know you are not afraid of death

Although steamed buns were delivered this morning, the princess and her faction resolutely refused to consume the food of the bandit leader. In order to uphold their steadfast integrity, everyone naturally was unwilling to partake.

The entire venue fell silent

These words were spoken with great force, and the people present were immediately moved to tears, with some radicals even contemplating to dash themselves against a pillar in despair, causing an uproar in the hall

Emperor Zhao Yuan stood before her, coldly watching her fall to her knees on the ground, yet he showed not the slightest mercy, nor did he allow anyone to help her up

I do not believe!

Dan Li walked up to him, and Emperor Zhao Yuan glanced at her and said lightly: "You seem to be in a good mood..."

The somber gaze of Emperor Zhao Yuan swept across, and the aura of years spent on the battlefield instilled a sense of dread, causing these women to gasp softly and retreat.

Long ago, there was also a woman before him, who displayed such an expression in front of him

Among a flock of sheep that are unworthy of cultivation, there exist individuals who stand out with exceptional brilliance

Emperor Zhao Yuan glanced at Dan Li and said, "Come here."

Her mind was in a state of confusion

The lives of your parents and younger brother depend solely on your words

Those who remain, harboring a resolute will to sacrifice themselves, while the departed loved ones symbolize the endless hope of the Tang nation

Dan Jia struggled to prop herself up, unconsciously gripping the small piece of paper she had hidden in her sleeve for many days, as if she were trying to draw strength from it, holding it tightly.

You are not afraid of death

I do not believe that my father and mother, as well as my brother Jing, have already set sail on the river. How could they possibly be captured by you

Behind him followed Xue Wen, who wore a smile that had endured for ten thousand years. Dan Li felt that his diligent management for this emperor resembled more that of a chief eunuch.

It is not because she is right, but because everyone is already so furious that they are seeing stars and have nothing to say

The pseudo-emperor before us, this warlord of humble origins, actually desires to obtain the national tripod of the Tang state

Faced with the cold and indifferent black eyes of Emperor Zhao Yuan, she bit her lip, allowing a drop of blood to flow down

Her voice was filled with sorrow and despair, the hem of her snow-white dress scattered on the ground, resembling the withering of cold plum blossoms on the branches, falling into the mud, evoking deep sympathy

Thus, hunger and cold are the sources of irritability

However, sometimes absurdity is often the closest to the truth

The princess trembled slightly, as if shaken by an invisible pressure, yet this only served to further ignite her pride. She raised her head slightly and said, "If you had arrived a moment later, all the members of the court present would have sacrificed themselves for the nation."

She continued to blink in confusion, "Is it because you are hungry and haven't eaten anything, that you have become so irritable?"

You shall not!

He looked down at her from a height, but saw that her eyes were brimming with tears, yet she stubbornly held them back, her expression so resolute, her face as flawless as cold jade

She remained calm and composed, blinking her bright black eyes as she looked at the crowd

Fortunately, she was still able to keep her mouth shut and did not express this heartfelt truth—after all, beautiful clothes and abundant food were all provided by him, and she understood the principle that one is at a disadvantage when relying on others and that one is easily swayed by those who provide for them

His statement was incoherent, yet the princess immediately understood it. Her complexion turned pale, and even her lips lost their color

Upon unfolding the letter, the princess felt as if struck by lightning. Despite her resolute spirit, she could no longer hold on. After a day and a night without food or water, in a state of dizziness and confusion, she finally collapsed to the ground.

Their ship is fast, but the soldiers under my command move even faster

Oh?

He seemed to chuckle softly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he scanned the crowd present, "Can you be sure that they are not afraid of death either?"

The princess met his gaze, straightened her back, and maintained a composed expression, exuding an air of cold pride. "Though my Tang nation is small and weak, I will not bow down to you like a servant, nor will I surrender and become your subject!"

At this moment, Dan Jia finally broke down, "I give."

Dan finished shouting in one breath without any pause, which was quite polite

She handed over the key to the secret treasury and the method of entry, her entire being seemingly devoid of any strength, her eyes glistening with tears, yet she stubbornly held back, unwilling to show any weakness in front of these enemies

I shall grant you but one opportunity; to give, or not to give, let it be decided with a single word

blinked in confusion

Why are you all so irritable

Ha ... ... very well said

Without waiting for Dan Li to respond, he shifted his gaze to the court ladies dressed in white silk.

Qin Yu still wore a simple black robe, with dark gold threads tied at his collar—evidently, he had just returned from the cold outside the palace

blinked

When a person is both cold and hungry, yet learns that someone in the group is well-fed and warmly dressed, and that this person has obtained such treatment through base and despicable means, how can it not ignite a fire in one's heart

Now, there is nothing left

Emperor Zhao Yuan waved his sleeve, and a letter suddenly flew out from his sleeve, landing perfectly in the hands of the Grand Princess

King Tang, the queen, and their only young son, Jing, escaped by boat from a hidden ferry on the river five days before the city fell. At that time, they insisted on taking Dan Jia with them, but she resolutely refused, simply stating: Someone must stay to guard this city

Dan Li is at the center of the storm, yet he has not been drowned by the sudden onslaught of spittle.

She whispered so softly, yet her gaze never left that letter; she was fully aware that this was indeed her father's handwriting

You ... ... !

A burst of laughter interrupted the dead silence in the hall. As the main door swung open, bright candles illuminated the space, revealing a figure at the forefront—none other than the so-called "False Emperor" and "Bandit," Emperor Zhao Yuan, Qin Yu.

You yourself may not fear death, but do your father, your mother, and your only younger brother also wish to die in loyalty to the country

This statement struck at the Achilles' heel of Princess Danjia, and she finally calmed down from her extreme despair

The people in the Fengxian Hall have been cold and hungry for a day and a night.