With no martial power to speak of, Madam Zhou could only give up despite her unwillingness. Xu Fu also advised her that if she went, she would only be a burden and cause trouble.
Although she couldn't go with them as she wished, Madam Zhou didn't give up. Upon realizing she had no hope of accompanying them, she quickly rushed to the small kitchen and began stewing all the tonics.
Fortunately, the Prince and his entourage wouldn't depart until the evening, so there was still time to stew them. The more she could bring, the better, allowing him to drink them slowly on the journey.
Huo Qiyuan wanted to remind Madam Zhou not to trouble herself with these preparations. The weather was so hot, and bringing tonics along the road would surely cause them to spoil before long. What if they then caused stomach issues?
More importantly, they had important business to attend to in the capital, and he didn't want to drink those tonics. What if he couldn't control his primal urges on the road and that affected their important matters?
However, seeing Madam Zhou so busy and energetic, Huo Qiyuan eventually let her be. After all, Su Muqing had a spatial ability that could store things; if they were about to spoil, she could simply put them in the space to ensure they wouldn't.
"Let her be! If she doesn't do something for you, she'll always feel uneasy," Xu Fu said, standing at the entrance of the small kitchen and looking at the bustling Madam Zhou as he comforted Huo Qiyuan.
In the evening, the group had a simple dinner and set off in their vehicles as the sun began to set. Thanks to Su Muqing's presence, they hadn't packed much and traveled light.
Besides the few people inside, the rear of the vehicles was filled with over a dozen ceramic pots. These were the various tonics Madam Zhou had spent the entire afternoon stewing for Huo Qiyuan.
Everyone except Xu Fu, Madam Zhou, and the remaining members of the Lengzi Team watched as the vehicles drove further and further away. Many onlookers from the surrounding area were also present, most of whom were former soldiers from the Great Yu Dynasty.
Because Chehe City had suffered severe damage, Su Muqing and Huo Qiyuan had discussed and decided to give them an opportunity to atone for their actions. Those who helped with the city's repairs would not only be provided with food and drink but also receive substantial rewards.
This was why Chehe City, despite being heavily damaged only a little over ten days ago, was rapidly recovering. With ample manpower and resources, it was regaining its former prosperity at a rapid pace, even showing signs of surpassing it.
Through their interactions over this period, the Huaxia Army had truly lived up to their promises. Apart from the troublemakers who were apprehended, all other civilians, including the surrendered soldiers, had been treated with exceptional care.
Later, when Zhao Chenggong was successfully captured, everyone in Chehe City learned that the mastermind behind the city's destruction was, in fact, their own Emperor. This removed all reservations they had about the people from Huaxia City; instead, they felt immense gratitude.
Without the people of Huaxia City, even if they hadn't perished in the fires of war, they likely wouldn't have been able to overcome the myriad of problems they would face in the aftermath.
Similarly, the civilians' perception of Emperor Rui shifted from admiration to hatred. They were just ordinary people who, throughout their lives, only wished for a peaceful existence.
Yet, when the enemy showed them kindness, their own Emperor had personally ordered the destruction of everything they had. Even if they were unwilling to let the city fall into enemy hands, there was no need to confine all the civilians within the city and then issue an order to raze it.
Emperor Rui had intended for all of them to be buried with his folly! He was truly unworthy of being a ruler!
Inside the SUV, Su Muqing leaned back in the rear seat. With a wave of her hand, she collected all the ceramic pots prepared by Madam Zhou into her spatial dimension. This was Madam Zhou's heartfelt gesture towards Brother Huo, and it would be a shame if they spoiled.
The journey from Chehe City to the capital would take about fifteen days on horseback, but they were traveling by car, and with several people taking turns driving, they covered a third of the distance in just one night.
In the capital of the Great Yu Dynasty, Emperor Rui lay on his dragon couch, surrounded by empty wine bottles. They had received a carrier pigeon ten days prior, informing them that Huo Qixiao had achieved a great victory and Chehe City had fallen.
The Emperor, who hadn't received a report from Zhao Chenggong returning to the capital, knew in his heart that he had likely been captured by the Huaxia people. Gripping his wine cup with a grim expression, Emperor Rui wondered if Zhao Chenggong had followed his order to destroy the city.
Emperor Rui thought sinisterly, "Zhao Chenggong, you'd better have destroyed Chehe City! If I lose too badly, wouldn't those Huaxia people have it too easy!"
Having not held court for more than half a month, the several princes who had been stripped of their military authority had not ceased their clandestine activities. Every day, Emperor Rui listened to the reports from the Dragon Guards, feeling an immense headache.
"Huo Qixiao, you useless wretch! You claim to have the ability to predict the future. Yet, you can't even do one thing right! You can't even deal with a dead man! Bastard..."
As he cursed, Emperor Rui swept everything within his reach onto the floor. Tea cups and wine bottles clattered noisily. Several beauties, still drunk around him, cried out in alarm at the sudden noise.
"What are you screaming about? All of you, shut up! You useless trash! I brought you here to entertain me, and you haven't! You've entertained yourselves, guards! Guards! Take these vixen who have bewitched your sovereign and have them beheaded! Beheaded!" Emperor Rui, as if driven mad, kicked and hit the terrified women.
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, please spare your concubine!"
"No! Don't behead me, Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
For a time, the imperial study was filled with cries and screams, like a noisy marketplace with a herd of animals howling. There was none of the solemnity and dignity expected in a palace; it was utterly undignified.
Fortunately, knowing that Emperor Rui had completely changed, the ministers who had been kneeling outside the imperial study no longer did so; otherwise, the scene would have been even more spectacular.
Hearing the commotion from within the room, the head eunuch waiting outside rushed in, scrambling on his hands and feet. The Emperor's emotions had been too unstable recently; any slight displeasure would result in a large number of deaths. Just two days ago, a batch of beautiful palace maids had been executed, and today it seemed there would be more bloodshed.
Behind the eunuch followed a group of expressionless guards. After entering, they skillfully dragged one woman after another out of the room, treating them like livestock.
The room finally fell silent. After venting his rage, Emperor Rui sat disheveled and with his hair in disarray on the messy dragon couch, panting heavily. It took a long time for the agitation within him to subside.
Three days later, news finally arrived from Chehe City. Upon hearing that Zhao Chenggong had indeed bombarded the city into smithereens with divine fire cannons, Emperor Rui burst into laughter that lasted for a full half-hour.
However, as he laughed, the corners of his eyes began to redden. He once thought that if he had the chance to ascend to this supreme throne, he would become a benevolent emperor who loved his people. But he had failed...