Gazing at the heartbroken Royal Family and the silent ministers atop the city wall, the Empress fell silent for a long time before suddenly smiling in resignation.
’That’s right.’
’In this entire, vast Imperial City, she was the only one who had ever truly cared for Li Yang.’
’To say nothing of the officials from other families. They were outsiders to begin with. Even if the dynasty fell, they would at most lie low for a time, and they would still have a chance to serve as officials under a new dynasty.’
’But this group of Royal Family...’
’...they were the real parasites, leeches clinging to the giant that was the Liyang Dynasty.’
’When Li Yang was strong and prosperous, they latched on and fed on its blood.’
’They all grew fat and bloated from it.’
’Now that Li Yang was weak and nearing its end, they were still lost in their daydreams, thinking that as long as they took one step back, and then another, they could always find a way out.’
’But they didn’t realize that it was their constant retreats that had drained the very last of Li Yang’s blood.’
In fact, ever since the day she began recruiting talented individuals...
...Su Ying had been prepared for a fight to the death between the Three Great Sects and Li Yang.
The only thing she hadn’t expected was for this day to arrive so soon.
Taking a deep breath, Su Ying ignored the clamor behind her and addressed the Buddhist and Demon Sects below the wall, "The people of Li Yang die on their feet, we do not live on our knees! We will not agree to a single one of your conditions. If you want something, then breach our walls and take it yourselves!"
Her tone was utterly resolute.
She showed no intention of yielding.
Behind her, everyone who heard her reply was shocked.
No one had expected the Empress to be so mad as to truly prepare for a head-on clash with the two Major Sects to the bitter end.
Someone rushed forward, wanting to urge for peace.
Su Ying flicked her sleeve, her voice laced with chilling killing intent. "Anyone who disrupts the army’s morale in the face of battle shall be executed! Guards! If anyone else speaks of cowardice or peace, drag them out and execute them as a sacrifice to our banners!"
The moment she spoke.
Another uproar erupted on the city walls.
The soldiers defending the wall wanted to fight. The outrageous demands made by the Buddhist and Demon Sects were not only an insult to the Empress but also to every last one of them.
Many of them had been bottling up their fury for a while. Now, they stepped forward and roared, "KILL! KILL! KILL!"
After ascending the throne, Su Ying had never mistreated her soldiers.
She had also spent a fortune cultivating a number of loyalists among the various guard units of Kyoto.
Thus, at her command, a formidable general immediately stepped out from the army’s ranks. He glared menacingly at the assembled officials and the Royal Family and Relatives.
He looked ready to seize, drag out, and behead anyone who dared utter another word about peace.
At the sight of this, everyone fell silent.
Although the Empress had made an example of people in the past, she had never been so unreasonable or reckless.
Half were frightened into submission, while the other half watched from the shadows, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.
Finally, the Grand Elder, a man of great prestige within the Imperial Family, stepped forward and rebuked her harshly, "Su Ying, what do you think you’re doing? What are you doing?! Li Yang is the foundation built by our Su Family ancestors! It belongs to the entire Su Family, not to you alone! Do you really think being the Empress gives you the right to kill your own family? If you dare do this today, I will convene the family council and have you deposed! Not even the Third Elder could protect you then!"
The Imperial Family had always been divided into two factions.
Su Ying was backed by the Third Elder, who had always been a staunch member of the war faction. He believed in fighting to the death before the great tree of Li Yang was completely uprooted, seeking a chance for it to flourish once more.
The capitulationist faction, led by the Grand Elder, obviously disagreed.
In their view, the Three Great Sects were in their ascendancy, and Li Yang should not oppose them at this juncture. Instead, it should preserve its strength, develop in secret, and wait for the Three Great Sects to weaken before seeking an opportunity to reclaim its lost lands.
Both sides held firm to their opinions, and neither could persuade the other.
In the end, it was the Third Elder who, relying on his cultivation at the Grandmaster Peak Realm, had forcefully suppressed all internal dissent and placed Su Ying on the throne.
But now, the Third Elder was in death seclusion on the top floor of the Library Pavilion, completely unaware of events in the outside world.
Su Ying had lost her greatest backer within the Imperial Family.
Naturally, she now found it difficult to command their obedience.
...
Below the city wall, the Buddhist and Demon Sects were also surprised that Su Ying had left absolutely no room for negotiation. After a brief discussion, they still did not attack.
The best tactic is to thwart the enemy’s plans. The next best is to disrupt their alliances. The next is to attack their army. The worst is to besiege a walled city.
Especially since the Li Yang Capital City not only had high, thick walls but also numerous Arrays designed to counter Martial Artists, as well as weapons of mass destruction.
They were unwilling to launch a siege unless it was their last resort.
Moreover, before making their move, the two Major Sects were already aware of the situation within the Imperial Palace.
Therefore, after a moment’s discussion, the Grand Elder of the Demon Sect chuckled and said, "For Your Majesty to be so principled is a rare sight indeed. Truly, I am impressed!"
"However, for a matter of this magnitude, Your Majesty shouldn’t be so quick to decide. We can wait outside the city for three days. If Your Majesty still feels the same way after three days, then we shall settle things on the battlefield!"
Hearing the Demon Sect Grand Elder’s voice...
...the Empress’s expression turned grim.
’She wasn’t afraid of the two Major Sects launching a direct assault. Once the war began, even if some within the Imperial Family had other ideas, there would be no turning back.’
’If they could present a united front, they might find a sliver of hope for survival.’
’But what she feared most was this exact situation.’
’The two Major Sects had stated their terms but were now besieging the city without attacking.’