Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

City Lord’s Mansion, Hanhai City, Chu Kingdom.

Zhao Wei, Li Dadan, Hei Daniu, and Xiao Mo’s other childhood friends—who had also joined the Iron Tiger Army alongside him—all paced back and forth outside the City Lord’s Mansion. Their eyes were filled with worry, yet none of them dared to disturb their General.

”Zhao Wei, the Prince... he...” Xiao Gui said anxiously.

”Sigh...” Zhao Wei shook his head. ”The Third Princess is the Prince’s wife, so of course the Prince was close with the Second Prince. I hear they often drank together. For something like this to happen now... sigh...”

”How could the Second Prince do something like this?” Li Dadan demanded, fuming. ”Aren’t they all family? How can family turn on one another like this?”

Xu Yongsheng shook his head. ”Dadan, you’re from a simple, honest family, so you wouldn’t understand. Even in ordinary rich families, relatives turn on each other for the sake of inheritance. What makes you think the Royal Family would be any different?”

”Actually, the Second Prince’s rebellion isn’t the biggest problem,” Xiao Yang said, shaking his head. ”Our Qin Kingdom is currently holding its own against the Yan and Chu Kingdoms, even maintaining an advantage. But if the Jin Kingdom attacks now, we’ll be facing a three-kingdom alliance. That’s when the Qin Kingdom will be in real trouble. On top of that, the two provinces bordering Jin are the Second Prince’s fiefs. The Jin army will be able to march right in unopposed.”

”So what do we do? Retreat?” Hei Daniu demanded, clearly indignant. ”But this is a golden opportunity! We can annihilate the Chu Kingdom in one fell swoop! We’re so close!”

”We’ll wait for the Prince’s decision. Our job is to follow his orders,” said Qu Weize.

Just as the words left Qu Weize’s mouth, the main gate of the City Lord’s Mansion swung open and Xiao Mo emerged.

”My Prince!” they all exclaimed, saluting.

”Relay my order,” Xiao Mo began, his voice measured. ”Tomorrow at dawn, we resume our march on the Imperial City of the Chu Kingdom.”

”But General, what about the Qin Capital...” Xiao Yang asked.

”The Eldest Prince has already gone to stop the enemy. We must destroy the Chu Kingdom before the first city in Guanzhong falls.”

Xiao Mo looked towards the horizon, his eyes so deep they sent a chill down one’s spine. He added:

”These are His Majesty’s orders.”

...

「Qin Kingdom Royal Palace」

Lifting her skirts, Empress Shi hurried to the Imperial Study.

”Is His Majesty in the Imperial Study?” the Empress asked Eunuch Li, who was standing outside the door, her expression anxious.

”He is, Your Highness,” Eunuch Li replied.

”I must see His Majesty!” As soon as the words were out, Empress Shi moved to push the doors open.

But Eunuch Li moved to block her in time. ”Your Highness the Empress, His Majesty is discussing important matters with the Prime Minister and other ministers. His Majesty said he will see no one... especially... you...”

Hearing Eunuch Li’s words, Empress Shi’s knuckles turned white from clenching her fists.

Empress Shi took a deep breath and called toward the Imperial Study, ”I beg an audience with Your Majesty!”

But from within the Imperial Study, there was no response at all.

Biting her thin lip, Empress Shi called out again, ”I beg an audience with Your Majesty!”

Still, there was no reply from the Imperial Study.

Empress Shi pressed her lips together tightly, then suddenly raised her head.

”Ah? Your Highness the Empress...”

Before Eunuch Li could stop her, Empress Shi pushed open the doors to the Imperial Study herself.

The Sovereign of Qin, along with the Prime Minister, the Grand Marshal, and the other ministers, all turned to look at Empress Shi.

Empress Shi glided forward and knelt in the center of the study. ”This humble servant has forced an audience without permission. I implore Your Majesty to punish my transgression!”

Prime Minister Li and the others looked on awkwardly, glancing at the Sovereign of Qin.

”You may all leave us,” the Sovereign of Qin said, waving his hand.

”Yes, we shall take our leave.” Prime Minister Li and the others bowed, exited the Imperial Study, and closed the door behind them.

”What is it, Empress?” the Sovereign of Qin asked.

”Your Majesty,” Empress Shi began, ”I... I heard... that Jing Yuan has rebelled. Is it true?”

”It is true,” the Sovereign of Qin confirmed with a nod.

”Jing Su and Jing Yuan are the sons I bore and raised. I watched them grow up. Your Majesty, you know Jing Yuan’s character as well as I do. Even if he couldn’t... couldn’t ascend to that position, he is absolutely not the kind of man who would be disloyal, dishonorable, or unfilial!”

Empress Shi prostrated herself on the floor, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.

”I beg Your Majesty to see the truth!”

”Sigh...” The Sovereign of Qin shook his head and sighed. ”Empress, people change. I once trusted him too, but now, Jing Yuan has rebelled!”

”Jing Yuan would not rebel!”

”He has rebelled!”

”Jing Yuan... he wouldn’t!”

”Yao’er!” the Sovereign of Qin boomed. Empress Shi’s delicate frame trembled in fright. ”How many times must I tell you? He has rebelled! From this day forward, he is no longer your son, but a traitor!”

Empress Shi took a deep breath, raised her head, and met the Sovereign of Qin’s gaze without flinching. ”No matter what, Jing Su and Jing Yuan are my children. And Jing Yuan would not rebel!”

...

”Big Brother! Big Brother...”

Qin Siyao ran into the Eastern Palace, looking for her eldest brother.

Before long, Qin Siyao saw her eldest brother walk out of his study, looking as if he was about to leave the palace.

”Big Brother!” Qin Siyao ran up and grabbed his sleeve. ”Second Brother... he... he didn’t rebel, right? This is all just a trick by the Jin Kingdom, isn’t it?”

Facing his most beloved younger sister, Qin Jingsu’s throat tightened, and he didn’t know how to answer.

Finally, Qin Jingsu shook his head. ”Siyao, I... I have to leave the capital.”

”Leave the capital?” Qin Siyao’s eyes quivered.

Qin Jingsu forced a smile. ”Jing Yuan has rebelled. I have been commanded by imperial decree to quell the rebellion.”

”You and Second Brother... are going to meet on the battlefield?” Qin Siyao said, stunned. ”So Second Brother... really... he really has rebelled...”

”Siyao, do you... believe in your second brother?” Qin Jingsu asked with a smile.

Qin Siyao was slightly taken aback, then nodded seriously.

”As long as you believe in Jing Yuan, that’s enough,” Qin Jingsu said, gently ruffling his sister’s hair. ”Well then, I’m off.”

Qin Jingsu said no more. He brushed past his sister and walked towards the palace exit.

...

「Prince Jing’s Mansion, Luzhou」

Qin Jingyuan was still sitting in the courtyard, drinking.

Not long ago, he had replaced the border generals of Luzhou, allowing the Jin army to enter the country.

In less than two days, the Jin army would arrive at his Prince’s Mansion.

”Husband, you’ve had too much to drink. Have some tea to warm your stomach...”

The Second Prince Consort, Ji Yue, came out carrying warm tea and offered it to Qin Jingyuan.

Without even a glance, Qin Jingyuan swatted her hand away. The warm tea fell to the ground, and the jade porcelain cup shattered into pieces.

”Why are you still here?” Qin Jingyuan asked, looking up.

”But I... I...” Ji Yue lowered her head, her voice trembling with fear.

”Your Jin Kingdom’s army will be here any moment. Your mission is complete, so what are you still doing here? Go back to your Jin Kingdom!”

Qin Jingyuan grabbed a wine jug and strode out of the courtyard.

Only Ji Yue was left in the courtyard.

Ji Yue smoothed her skirt, knelt down, and began to pick up the shattered pieces of the teacup one by one.

Her eyes could no longer bear the weight of her tears. Crystalline drops fell slowly, landing on the porcelain shards and splashing apart:

’But I... am your wife, too...’