C24

Huo Yanrann was the first female god and the only female emperor in the thousand years of history of the Fire Phoenix Empire, because after her, Fire Phoenix Empire no longer existed. But towards such a "ruler of a dead nation," whether it was the person in question or a bystander, most of their attitudes were vague and unclear. They all felt that the matter of the dead nation could not be completely blamed on Huo Yanrann. After her father had disappeared, she had taken over the massive empire from her grandfather at the tender age of twenty-three. The next moment, she encountered the most powerful enemy in the empire's history. At that time, Huo Yanrann's response could not be said to be perfect, but it could not be said to be beyond her ability. It could only be said that the reason the Fire Phoenix Empire had encountered such a drastic change was due to fate rather than the ability of humans to change it.

The only thing was that the current Huo Yanrann was not the emperor of a nation, nor was she the ruler of a nation. She was only walking by Kong Sheng's side as she received the cheers of the people of Phoenix City Pass, the empress who had just ascended the throne.

The ceremony to enter the city was extremely simple. Her Majesty rode her horse into the city under the guidance of Kong Sheng, and after receiving cheers from the citizens at the entrance of the Castellan Mansion, she gave a passionate speech.

However, no one blamed Kong Sheng, since this was an extraordinary period. Furthermore, the person who berated Kong Sheng had not arrived, and it was only after the Queen had finished her speech and rested for another hour, did the civil and military officials who accompanied her to the battlefield finally arrive. The Her Majesty was too impatient, leaving their friends and leaving the county immediately after them. As for the remaining old men, they had to look at the logistics, guarding, and other big and small matters. They didn't dare to say that they were in dire straits.

Since this group of people were here, they naturally didn't dare to get angry at His Majesty. Since they couldn't find Kong Sheng, they could only go and complain to old commander Shi Keren. Commander Elder Shi accompanied them to drink tea with a smile on his face while muttering to himself, "If you guys knew what His Majesty is doing now, you guys would probably complain even more."

This was because the Empress of Fire Phoenix Empire was currently following Kong Sheng around the city.

The two of them donned a gray cloak made of Border Army, and just like that, they slowly walked on the streets of the inner city. The female horsemen had also hidden themselves, leaving two people far behind.

The current Huo Yanrann did not have the same demeanor as she had when she was in the Her Majesty. Looking at the broken streets, the houses with the roof beams torn off, the old dog who was so skinny that only bones remained, and the hungry crying child, the corners of her eyes were already moist. Kong Sheng followed behind her without a word. He knew what this kind-hearted girl was thinking. This was the border, not the imperial capital, not the imperial palace. There weren't so many songs and dances, nor so many peaceful times. This was the situation that the people living in the borders could face at any time. This was the real and cruel life. This was war.

The two of them turned a corner and arrived at the small academy. The academy no longer had any students, so it had been turned into an injured barracks. The wounded soldiers were brought here for medical attention. As there had been too many sick and injured people before, the doctors were already too busy to do anything about it. Therefore, many women from the government came over to help. In an instant, this place became the busiest place within the Phoenix City Pass.

Huo Yanrann looked at the commoners who were going in and out busily, and the wounded soldiers who were lying on the bed and had lost their arms and eyes, and who were completely wrapped in white bandages. She covered her mouth with her palm, trying her best not to make a sound. However, large tears still flowed out from her eyes, landing on the ground with a splash.

Kong Sheng sighed softly, but he did not plan to advise her otherwise. As a Monarch who had personally come to the front lines, this was indeed the only scene he could see. It was a place that he had always been bitterly guarding, a place where there was a lack of food. He was even glad in his heart that His Majesty had not yet gone to Wulian Mountain Range Camp, where he had fought with the ferocious Demonic Beast almost every day. Not to mention a girl in her twenties like His Majesty, even a man who had never been to a battle before might not be able to bear the sight of such a scene.

Right at this moment, a young lady raised her head and saw Kong Sheng. She put down the cloth in her hands, and with a smile and timidness, she came up to the two and greeted them.

Kong Sheng also smiled and nodded at her, "There's nothing wrong, I'll have to thank you that day, Lady Xiu’er."

Seeing Kong Sheng smiling at her, Xiu'er's face immediately turned red. She quickly changed the topic.

Kong Sheng looked to his left and right, to Xiu'er's ears, and said in a soft voice, "Don't make any noise, this is Her Majesty, she just came to the Phoenix City Pass and came out to take a look."

"Ah?!" Xiu'er's face became even redder because of Kong Sheng's unexpected action, and only after a while did she react. She subconsciously covered her mouth with her hands, and sized up the woman that Kong Sheng called Her Majesty from head to toe. Because she was taking care of the wounded soldiers, she didn't go to the Castellan Mansion Plaza, but she never thought that this woman who was not older than his by more than a few years, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying, would actually be the empress dowager of the strongest nation in the continent, Fire Phoenix Empire!

Huo Yanrann also sized up the girl in front of him. She was of medium height and wore the red jacket that the women of Fire Phoenix Empire usually wear. Although there was still a hint of childishness on her face, there was no doubt that she would become a devastatingly beautiful woman in a few years time.

Everyone liked beautiful things, men were the same, women were the same, and as the empress, Huo Yanrann was also not exempt from it. She casually extended her hand towards Xiu'er and lowered her voice as she said, "The ministers have not arrived, so you can just call me Yanran in private."

Xiu'er was stunned at first, but then her face was filled with joy. No matter what, it was good to be so close to the emperor even once. She carefully wiped her hands on her clothes a few times, then extended her hands out with a heart full of joy, and gently held Huo Yanrann's hands.

Just as the two jade hands were about to touch each other, Huo Yanrann's expression changed. Her smile disappeared in an instant, and she stared at Xiu'er with a weird expression for a while, before forcing out a smile. Then, she let go of Xiu'er's hand and turned around to leave.

This change of hers stunned both Kong Sheng and Xiu'er. No one knew what had happened. Kong Sheng could only shake his head and smile bitterly at the Xiu'er, before hurriedly turning and following. This was the Her Majesty, no matter what, he couldn't let anything happen to her here.

She quickly caught up to Huo Yanrann, who gently asked, "Your Majesty ~ ~"

"surrogate commander Kong." Without waiting for him to finish speaking, Huo Yanrann had already cut him off, her tone cold and stern.

Kong Sheng was startled, he knelt down on one knee, then lowered his head and replied, "This subject is here."

The empress said indifferently, "I am feeling a little unwell. I shall go back and rest." Could surrogate commander Kong please take a look to see if the officials who accompanied the carriage and the food delivery team arrived. If they arrive, I would like to trouble you to pass on our message to them: Tonight, the entire city is going to have a banquet and reward the three armies of Phoenix City Pass. As for the handover of defence, you just need to discuss it with Mr. Shi.

"This subject accepts the decree, this subject thanks Your Majesty's grace on behalf of all the warriors of Phoenix City Pass!" Kong Sheng lowered his head deeply.

Huo Yanrann replied indifferently, then waved her hand and led the female rider away, throwing the mysterious Kong Sheng to the side.

Although she was confused, she still had to follow the orders of the Her Majesty. Although she said it was simple, it was troublesome to do it. Kong Sheng shook his head helplessly, waiting for Huo Yanrann's figure to disappear into the distance. Then, he stood up and rushed towards the Castellan Mansion.

That afternoon, the entire Phoenix City Pass was full of joy. Her Majesty brought over two hundred thousand troops in one breath. Not only that, but hundreds of cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks, and fishes were being sent to the city. The plaza in front of Castellan Mansion had already been transformed into an enormous open-air kitchen, with hundreds of large pots and several hundred cooks bustling about. The news that Her Majesty was going to attend the banquet had already spread out. Border Army and people's militia who had finished handing over their defensive tasks over were all surrounding the plaza and excitedly watching the cooks slaughter pigs and sheep as they set up pots to boil water. This usual scene was filled with joy and bliss.

The happiest thing was Ling Zilu. Forget about human food, even the horses food had been replenished for him, he personally checked all of them and found that they were all good bean cakes and oats made. This was a treatment that only the Red Camp of the imperial city could enjoy, not to mention Phoenix City Pass, even the other Red Camp that were a little further away from the imperial city wouldn't see this kind of good bean cake.

Ling Zilu excitedly went to find Kong Sheng. Other than reporting the good news, he also had his own little intentions. After all, Qu Feizhi had already been locked in the Quiet Room for a while, and now that the reinforcements and food were here, would he be able to loosen up and let go of that brat's matter?

However, just as he knocked on the door, Kong Sheng shouted towards him, "Get out!" After eating, Ling Zilu retreated back while being completely confused, and sat on the stone chair by the door in a daze. After a long while, Kong Sheng's room door opened and he walked out. He smiled at Ling Zilu and turned to leave.

When Shi Keren was far away, Kong Sheng finally called Ling Zilu to let him in. As he closed the door, he said indifferently, "Don't bring up Xiao Qu for now, just wait a few more days."

"Lord Kong, what's going on? "It's not a big deal, just let His Majesty out while he's in a good mood." Ling Zilu was confused.

Kong Sheng stared at him, "Didn't I already say that you wouldn't be able to mention it?"

Ling Zilu felt wronged, "No matter what, we are brothers, it's fine. "Perhaps you should at least let me know, now that all the brothers have asked me, I don't know how to answer that question."

Kong Sheng sighed: "Originally, Xiao Qu's matters were not big, not to mention Your Majesty, I just released him after greeting the Commander Elder Shi. But his problem now is not that he sneaked out of the camp, but that he's in the wrong place. "

Ling Zilu was startled, and then reacted. Qu Feizhi committed an offense and was locked up by the furious Kong Sheng. There was originally no prison in Phoenix City Pass, so the place that he was imprisoned in was the same barn from before. Then the war got tight, and many of the barns were torn down, and the stones and wood used to build the barns were used for other purposes, except for this one. Then, when Chen Chu committed another crime, they simply locked him up together with Qu Feizhi. As a result, the two of them unwillingly became "prison mates".

Now, if you were to describe Qu Feizhi not being allowed to be released as "locked in the wrong place", then since there was no problem with the barn, then it would naturally be this Chen Chu.

Thinking up to here, Ling Zilu carefully asked: "Lord Kong, then what exactly is Chen Chu's identity?"

Kong Sheng waved his hands impatiently. "I don't know."

He could not be blamed for being in a bad mood. Less than a quarter of an hour ago, he too had asked Shi Keren this question, and the old commander had replied him with four words: "I will not kill."

Asking further, old commander's mouth seemed to be sealed shut, no longer saying anything. In the end, Kong Sheng became a little anxious, and spoke without caring about the difference in their positions, age, and qualifications, "Then I'll directly go find Your Majesty, I'll go beg her to pass down the order to release that person."

Shi Keren said with a stern expression, "The four words that I said before were precisely what your Majesty wanted me to say. "If you ask His Majesty about this, what if he changes his anger into a decisive action? What would you do when the time comes?"

Kong Sheng stared blankly for a moment, and subconsciously said, "No, that's impossible. She's not that kind of person."

Shi Keren sighed, patted Kong Sheng's shoulders and said softly, "People change, not to mention that she suddenly ascended the throne from the throne without any preparation and became the emperor. Some things are not what they used to be. " With that, Shi Keren patted his shoulder again and turned to leave.

Now, when Ling Zilu raised this question once again, he was unable to answer this question.

"Chen Chu, who exactly are you?"