Golden Ranking Appears, My Empress Turns Out to Be Wu Zhao

Yuan Dynasty Military Tent.

Temujin sat high in the seat of honor, with all his generals standing below.

Every battle-hardened commander had gathered.

Prince Ruyang Chaghan Temur, Chilaun, Boorchu, and countless other generals with illustrious war records stood in line.

All of them looked at Temujin with eager expressions.

Only one final capital remained. As long as it was taken, the Yuan Dynasty would complete the great cause of national conquest.

Every general's heart surged with excitement at this moment.

The Southern Song Dynasty was completely different from the previous nations they had destroyed.

This was, in the truest sense, one of the dynasties of the Nine Provinces.

"Khan, please give the order. We shall surely destroy the Southern Song Dynasty."

"That's right, Khan. Under our Yuan Dynasty's iron cavalry, the Southern Song Dynasty is nothing more than a lamb waiting to be slaughtered."

"Hahaha, good, good. All forces heed my command. Immediately set out and attack the Southern Song Dynasty's final capital!"

"I await the day I can celebrate with you in the Southern Song Imperial Palace!"

"Yes, Khan!"

Immediately, the entire Yuan Army moved out.

Every general, and even every soldier, had bloodlust and excitement flashing in their eyes.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

The final battle between the Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty had finally erupted in full!

==========

Southern Song Imperial Palace.

Emperor Zhao Gou was discussing with Qin Hui how to escape the capital.

Suddenly.

A wave of indescribable pain surged through his heart.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Zhao Gou immediately collapsed to the ground.

His entire being visibly withered at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye.

Just moments ago, no matter how disgraceful Zhao Gou had been, he still possessed a certain aura and spirit.

At least in appearance, he still looked like an Emperor.

But now.

That spirit had vanished. Especially his aura and bearing, completely gone.

He had become utterly ordinary.

To anyone, he now looked like a plain man on the street wearing a dragon robe.

Even Qin Hui beside him was momentarily stunned.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would have never believed that the person in front of him was the Emperor.

At this moment, Zhao Gou seemed no different from any commoner.

His eyes were dull and lifeless.

"Who are you?"

Qin Hui almost thought Emperor Zhao Gou had been swapped with an imposter.

The face was the same, but every other aspect was unrecognizable.

"Ah! It hurts so much!"

For some reason, Zhao Gou felt an ominous sensation.

As if he had lost the most important thing deep in his soul.

Even more so than the fall of the capital, this left him completely at a loss and utterly broken.

"Your Majesty!?"

"Minister, I suddenly felt as if I lost something incredibly important."

"My entire being feels hollow... what should I do?"

"Your Majesty, Temujin is about to breach the capital. Our priority must be to escape!"

"Very well, I shall follow your lead."

Emperor Zhao Gou was in complete panic, his mind blank.

Like a puppet, he was dragged away by Qin Hui toward the secret passage.

Behind them followed a few trusted subordinates.

At this critical moment.

They abandoned their posts and fled alone.

Incompetent no longer sufficed to describe him.

==========

Yuan Dynasty Military Tent.

"Khan, our scout has just captured a big catch."

"Who?"

"The Southern Song Emperor Zhao Gou, and the Prime Minister Qin Hui!"

"What? Weren't they in the Imperial Palace?"

"Reporting to Khan, the Emperor and his minister tried to flee through the secret passage out of fear. But the moment they exited the city, they were discovered by patrolling soldiers."

"Upon interrogation, it was confirmed that the one caught was indeed the Southern Song Emperor Zhao Gou."

"Hahaha, interesting. How very interesting!"

"Zhao Gou, what a pathetic waste!"

"Bring them here. I want to personally witness this ridiculous Zhao Gou!"

Soon, two disheveled figures were brought forward.

"Minister Qin Hui, greets Genghis Khan!"

"Hahaha, well done, Qin Hui. You did your job excellently. Rise!"

What was surprising was that Temujin showed no alarm upon seeing Qin Hui.

Judging from his tone, they were quite familiar.

"I did not fail the Khan's command. I successfully lured Zhao Gou out of the city, making him a prisoner of our Yuan Dynasty."

Hearing this, Zhao Gou could no longer remain in denial.

So...

Qin Hui had already become one of Temujin's people.

And yet he had foolishly placed all his trust in him.

Regret.

Endless regret!

He had been wondering how the secret passage, known only to Southern Song Emperors, could have been so quickly exposed.

As soon as they left, they were caught by Yuan Dynasty troops.

As it turned out...

Qin Hui had already betrayed him long ago.

"Qin Hui, you traitor!"

"I will kill you!"

"Hmph. Kill me? You should worry about how to survive first!"

Qin Hui sneered with an arrogant expression.

"When did you betray me?"

"Zhao Gou, didn't you ever wonder? Why did I go to such great lengths to stop you from sending reinforcements when the Khan attacked?"

"Anyone with a hint of intelligence could see through my intentions."

"But you? Simply because you feared your military generals, you watched them die one by one, treating them harshly and with no gratitude. You deserved to be the last Emperor of a fallen dynasty."

"Those loyal ministers and generals under your rule did not fall in battle. They died at the hands of a worthless Emperor like you. How absurd!"

Zhao Gou's expression grew uglier and uglier.

"But I never treated you unfairly!"

"You merely saw me as a tool to suppress those generals."

"Don't make yourself sound so noble. I saw through your true nature long ago!"

"Now, you'd better think about how to save your own life."

"Your only chance to live is to surrender to the Khan and persuade the remaining Southern Song Dynasty generals to surrender."

"Never..."

Zhao Gou was about to refuse, but when he saw the vicious and cold gaze of Temujin at the head of the hall, he shuddered.

He dared not say another word.

"Someone come, bring this Southern Song Emperor to the front lines. Perhaps he can be used to make the Southern Song Dynasty soldiers surrender!"

"Wise decision, Khan!"

Qin Hui flattered shamelessly.

Temujin enjoyed the praise.

But then, his eyes narrowed as he glanced coldly at Qin Hui.

After dismissing him, Temujin gave a meaningful glance to the monk Phagpa beside him.

"After we take the Southern Song Imperial Palace, find a chance to execute Zhao Gou and Qin Hui in secret."

"Khan, Zhao Gou is still the Southern Song Emperor..."

Before Phagpa could finish, he was directly cut off by Temujin.

"Of course no one can know. Make it seem like he died in the chaos, or use some more plausible method."

"I understand. But Qin Hui, wasn't he your man? Why would you..."

"A mere traitor who betrayed his own lord. How could I possibly keep him?"

"Southern Song Dynasty's fall is half due to that man."

"Such a scourge deserves to die."

Phagpa understood.

But he didn't care. In fact, he held deep disdain for both Zhao Gou and Qin Hui.

==========

Border of Southern Song Dynasty and Northern Song Dynasty.

Zhu Houzhao and Mei Yinxue wandered and traveled together, completely carefree.

This was the happiest time Mei Yinxue had experienced in years.

To be accompanied by the one she loved filled her heart with joy.

Even she found it unbelievable.

She was, after all, a dignified God Demon Realm cultivator. Yet now, she was acting like a shy little woman.

The emotion of shyness, which she had never experienced before, was surfacing often.

But it felt wonderful.

She wished it could last forever.

Unfortunately.

Annoying people always showed up in front of her husband.

"Your Majesty, this is urgent intelligence just received!"

"Interesting. The Southern Song Dynasty has fallen?"

"Faster than I expected!"

"To think their capital couldn't even hold for three days before it fell!"

"Zhao Gou, what a pathetic fool!"

"I greatly overestimated him!"

Zhu Houzhao glanced at the secret report and shook his head, full of scorn.

He had destroyed the Southern Song Dynasty's Dragon Vein and devoured its National Fortune.

Naturally, the Southern Song Dynasty could no longer continue.

But it was still a dynasty. Even in destruction, it should have shown some resistance!

Yet sadly.

Even at the end, the Southern Song Dynasty was just as weak as ever, utterly useless.

"Your Majesty, there's more to it."

"Oh? Speak."

"After the Yuan Army began their attack, Southern Song Emperor Zhao Gou and Prime Minister Qin Hui escaped through a secret palace passage."

"But unexpectedly, Qin Hui turned out to be Temujin's spy."

"As a result, Zhao Gou was captured by Temujin and paraded at the front lines to demoralize the defenders."

"Southern Song Dynasty morale collapsed. Not even an hour passed before the gates fell."

The Dark guard Leader reported all he had found.

"What about Zhao Gou?"

"Reportedly killed in the chaos. It's unclear if it was Yuan Dynasty soldiers or enraged Southern Song Dynasty troops who killed him."

"Qin Hui, who was with him, also died miserably on the spot."

"Heh, so it was all part of Temujin's plan."

"Pity those patriotic generals of the Southern Song Dynasty!"

Zhu Houzhao sighed and shook his head.

Thankfully, he had the foresight to recruit Yue Fei and other renowned generals of the Southern Song Dynasty in advance.

To serve under him.

Otherwise, letting them die under Zhao Gou's command would have been a real waste.

Without generals like Yue Fei, the Southern Song Dynasty stood no chance.

Zhao Gou ended up with a miserable fate.

Yet it was not worthy of pity.

Still, it was a shame to see the Southern Song Dynasty's fine lands fall into the hands of the Yuan Dynasty.

Fortunately, Zhu Houzhao had prepared in advance.

Now that the Southern Song Dynasty had fallen, it was time for the Vast Sea Dynasty to strike.

The Southern Song Dynasty had been so useless, it didn't even cause the Yuan Dynasty the slightest trouble.

There was no benefit to be reaped from either side.

How disappointing.

In that case, it was time for an all-out war.

After years of preparation, it was finally time to unleash their strength.

==========

In the south, Yue Fei Military Tent.

"The Southern Song Dynasty has already fallen?"

Yue Fei looked conflicted.

Reading the report on the final battle of the Southern Song Dynasty, he wasn't sure how to feel.

He had originally been a Southern Song Dynasty citizen, and had once planned to enlist.

Fortunately, the Emperor recruited him first, and he joined the Vast Sea Dynasty.

Over the years, he earned great military merit and had now become one of the renowned marshals of the Nine Provinces.

A glorious achievement.

Had he not joined the Emperor, he would likely have ended up as a low-ranking officer in the Southern Song Dynasty.

Under the Yuan Dynasty cavalry, he wouldn't have been able to accomplish much.

Worse yet, he would have lived a life of frustration and repression.

Nothing like his current prestige.

At the same time, he received word from Yuan Dynasty-controlled areas of the Southern Song Dynasty people's suffering.

They were treated like livestock.

Slaughtered at will, with terrifying cruelty.

Yue Fei held no fondness for Emperor Zhao Gou, but that did not mean he was indifferent to the people.

On the contrary, he was furious at the atrocities committed against them.

"Marshal, this is the Emperor's decree!"

"Good! We finally don't have to hold back!"

"Send the order immediately. Mobilize the army. The war between our Vast Sea Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty has begun."

"If Temujin wants to take the Southern Song Dynasty, he'll have to get through us first."

Yue Fei roared with determination.

He quickly gathered his generals and issued one command after another.

The entire military tent was soon in motion.

At an astonishing speed, they advanced toward the Yuan Dynasty forces.

Not only Yue Fei, but even Han Xin's forces were doing the same.

In fact, Han Xin was even more aggressive than Yue Fei.