Chapter 26

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Early the next morning, as everyone was gathering in the war room, having last-minute discussions before they moved out the next day, the Queen was making her way towards the dungeons with her two personal guards Xingchen and Song Lan. Even though her grandson may have had a change of heart about Yu Ziyuan, she did not. She does not trust the woman, nor does she forgave her for what she had done. She does not blame her grandson he always had a good heart just like his mother.

Upon reaching the cell where Yu Ziyuan was held and the Imperial guards had granted her entry and unlocked the cell door. The Queen had instructed her own two guards to stay outside as she walked inside the cell and closed the door behind her. Yu Ziyuan looked up from where she was seated on the bed in her cell as soon as the door opened. Suprise flashed across her face when she saw the Queen standing before her, and she quickly kneeled and greeted her.

"You can rise, Ziyuan."

The Queen ordered her, and she stood up while keeping her head bowed.

"I want you to look at me. Look me in the eye because what I want to say to you. I need your full attention."

The Queen spoke once again, and Ziyuan lifted her head and looked the Queen in the eyes.

"You may not have heard, but lotus pier had fallen to Wen Rouhan."

The Queens' words shook Yu Ziyuan when she heard it, and her face immediately contorted into anger as she balled her hands into fists at her side. Her actions did not escape the Queens eyes, and she continued.

"You need not worry because your husband and son are safe. They are here in the palace."

She watched as Yu Ziyuan unclenched her fists, and her body relaxed visibly as she blew out a soft breath of relief.

"It's good to see that you at least care about your family. Yu Ziyuan, my grandson, had asked the Emperor to let you participate in this upcoming war. Now none of us are to please about it see how much you hate my grandson but his mate agreed the same though can't be said about me though."

The Queen said, and Yu Ziyuan did not know what to say. She did not even know that the lotus pier was attacked and that the Emperor would go to war against the Wen kingdom.

"You see, I want you to know that I do not care whether or not you rot inside this cell for the rest of your life. Nor do I know why my grandson feels the need that you should avenge the fall of lotus pier see as you weren't even there, but apparently that's the reason he gave us. Now my reason for coming here."

The Queen said, and Yu Ziyuan's body went stiff as she pulled her lips into a thin line as she kept her eyes on the Queen, who looked at her with control anger on her face.

"You have taken my only daughter from me. You have murdered her knowing that she was the crown princess of the Celestial Kingdom. You have taken my grandsons mother and father away from him before they could even start their family. You were the reason that my grandson lived on the streets for five years. You and your husband have treated my grandson as nothing but a servant knowing full well what his heritage was."

Yu Ziyuan gritted her teeth she did not feel an ounce of remorse for what she did, nor did she care much about Cangse or Changze or their son. She never wanted that boy in her sect or family, but her husband could not live with the guilt, and so he went looking for the boy.

"I want you to remember and know that you are not let go free. If this war is over, you will pay for what you did. You will answer for all the pain you have cause me and my grandson. I will seek your head for the deaths of my daughter and her mate and not only yours but that of your husband too. I believe that your son would be a much better leader than the two of you could ever be. And Yu Ziyuan."

The Queen spoke in a mild and controlled voice, letting her anger seep into her voice. Yu Ziyuan stiffened as she clenched and unclenched her fists.

"You better not die on the battlefield. You do not deserve an honorable death, nor do you deserve the praise and honor that comes with it. You will never change. Your hatred and jealousy are too deeply rooted, and for what. Your own insecurities and selfishness. You can't stand anyone who is better and stronger than you. I feel sorry for you, but I'm not sorry enough not to avenge the deaths of my daughter and son in law and for every lash and hateful word you have ever spat at grandson. So Yu Ziyuan enjoy this freedom that my grandson so good heartedly granted you in the name of taking revenge for lotus pier because it will be your last."

The Queen ended before she gave Yu Ziyuan one last look over and turned towards the door, but before she opened it, she said.

"If anything should happen to A-Ying on the battlefield and it's because of your doing."

The Queen turned her head and looked Yu Ziyuan straight in her eyes.

"I will kill you without a second thought."

With those last words, she opened the door to the cell and walked out. Yu Ziyuan stood in that same spot as she watched the Queen leave. Anger was evident on her face as she perched her lips into a thin and hard line but not at the Queens' words but at the fact that the Wens had attacked lotus pier and that Fengmian did not stay behind to defend the sect. How could he show such weakness before the Wens and the rest of the world. She lowered herself onto the bed as she shook in anger as she thought of what a coward her husband was.

The Queen made her way back to her room to meditate. Come tomorrow morning, they will leave, and none of them knows how long this war will last. Not long after the Queen had left, Yu Ziyuan were taken from her cell and brought to the rooms her husband was in. Her golden core was unsealed, and her spiritual weapons were given to her.

"You will give these back as soon as the war is over. Your spiritual whip will then be given to your son as he is the rightful heir to lotus pier, and your sword will be kept within the swords room of the Imperial Palace for good. Yu Ziyuan, this is a courtesy bestow upon you with the full intention that you will participate in this war and not intend to stray and cause trouble. You will be seen and treated as a soldier and not as the Madame of a sect. You will not receive any special treatment. You are still a prisoner, and it's only because of the Empress that you are rewarded this courtesy. You should be wise not to forget that. "

The First prince had told her as she kneeled before him before he instructed the Imperial Physician to unseal Yu Ziyuan golden core as he place her sword and whip on the table beside her and once it was done he left.

That evening, they all dined together in the dining hall. Silence engulfed the whole room as worry and uncertainty could clearly be seen on so many of those present faces. They know that not all of them would make it back alive. That they would lose family, friends, and sect disciples on the battlefield. So as soon as dinner was done, everyone made their way towards their rooms in the hopes to get atleast a good night's sleep before they moved out early the next morning.

Early the next morning, they left. Jiang Wayin and Jin Zixuan would lead the attack to take lotus pier back with Minster Jiang and Yu Ziyuan and their troops as the Emperor, the Empress, the Queen and the first prince and general Nie and the rest of the Ministers and soldiers will rode on towards Qishan Wen. Young lady Jin said her teary goodbyes to her husband and two brothers as she stayed behind with Imperial Uncle Lan Qiren and Huaisang and the rest.

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