Lan Yan heard the news that Prime Minister Lin had brought private troops to block the palace gates and rushed with the Imperial Guards.
Jun Yelan followed, also asking the Imperial Guards for a bow and arrows.
At the palace gate, Mei Dong was already guarding. Seeing Lan Yan arrive, she saluted, "Your Majesty, the palace gates have been closed. Prime Minister Lin cannot enter."
Lan Yan nodded. She worried Prime Minister Lin would act recklessly and take it out on the people outside the palace. "Where did Prime Minister Lin's private army come from? Why have we never known about this?"
Mei Dong begged for punishment, "This servant has been monitoring Prime Minister Lin and did not discover her treacherous ambitions. It is this servant's fault. She has been secretly cultivating her private army over the years, and it has never been revealed."
Thinking of the past years, Lan Yan held her forehead. It was all the original owner's fault. The original owner did nothing right! "Since it was not revealed, it has nothing to do with you. Now, you order people to guard the other gates, and I will guard this gate."
"Your Majesty!" Mei Dong cried out anxiously, "It will be dangerous for you to stay here."
Lan Yan raised her hand, "I have already sent someone to convey a message. Reinforcements will arrive soon. Now, we must stall for as much time as possible to avoid casualties." The previous war with Hao Country had already exhausted the people and the treasury, so there could not be any more trouble.
While Mei Dong was still hesitating, Jun Yelan, who was beside her, spoke, "Do as the Empress commands. I will stay with her."
Thus, Mei Dong took a portion of the Imperial Guards and left.
Lan Yan looked at Jun Yelan and a faint smile bloomed on her lips. She said nothing. She knew Jun Yelan would not leave, and what she had to do was to survive.
Only then could Jun Yelan live.
Jun Yelan protected Lan Yan by her side and smiled, "Yan'er, you do what you need to do. I am behind you."
"Okay." Lan Yan felt warmth fill her heart and gained more strength.
At this moment, Prime Minister Lin outside the gate shouted, "Lan Yan, you disregard the lives of the people and insist on starting a war. You are not fit to be the monarch of our Yan Dynasty. Today, for the sake of the Yan Dynasty, as long as you abdicate, we will withdraw our troops."
Lan Yan sneered, "I want to know, after I abdicate, who will be the one to take the throne as Empress?"
Prime Minister Lin pushed a little girl out from the ranks. Seeing the little girl still crying, she shouted, "Don't cry. Your aunt is inside. Hurry and call out."
The little girl cried even louder.
Prime Minister Lin became increasingly annoyed. If it weren't for the need for a legitimate reason, she wouldn't have to find such a young girl from the imperial clan.
These crying sounds reached Lan Yan's ears. She said coldly, "Prime Minister Lin, I think you should not trouble a child. If you want me to abdicate, you should give me a convincing reason. How about this, you enter the palace and confront me face to face."
"I permit you to bring your people in."
Prime Minister Lin's eyes darted around. The Imperial Guards inside the palace numbered only a few thousand, while her men were more numerous than the Imperial Guards. If she could meet the Empress, her chances of winning would be much greater.
She grabbed the little girl by the back of her collar and walked towards the palace gate. "Fine, I agree."
Lan Yan curved her lips. "Open the gates."
The Imperial Guards dared not disobey and opened the gates, standing at the entrance and staring at Prime Minister Lin menacingly.
When Jun Yelan saw Prime Minister Lin enter, he scanned the surroundings and his gaze fell upon a section of the city wall. He instructed the Imperial Guards to protect Lan Yan, then carried his bow and arrows towards the city wall.
Lan Yan stared at the smug Prime Minister Lin before her. "Prime Minister Lin, you were chosen by the late emperor and even appointed as Regent. Is this how you repay her?"
"Your Majesty, this subject is thinking for the people." Prime Minister Lin put on a show of righteousness, as if what she was doing was correct.
Lan Yan said, "I do not admit to any of the crimes you listed earlier."
She looked at the private army brought by Prime Minister Lin and slowly began to speak, "When I was young, I listened to slander and did not attend to state affairs. But now I know my mistakes and have been handling important state matters. Since the treasury was empty, I abolished the imperial concubines' quarters and released the palace staff."
"Moreover, my only elder brother was almost sent for a political marriage, and Hao Country took the initiative to attack us. Should we not counterattack! The people on the border are also our compatriots."
The private soldiers were somewhat moved by these words and looked towards Prime Minister Lin. They felt that the Empress was not wrong.
Prime Minister Lin angrily said, "You are spreading seditious rumors and cannot make up for your past mistakes."
"Prime Minister Lin, can you guarantee that you will not make mistakes!" Lan Yan's eyes shot coldly at Prime Minister Lin. "If I make mistakes, I am willing to admit them, and I hope my people will give me a chance."
"But can you do that!" Her voice grew louder, startling Prime Minister Lin.
Prime Minister Lin did not expect Lan Yan to possess such presence now. She was no longer the Empress regent of the past! "You, how can you..."
Lan Yan smiled, "It's your own treacherous ambition, which is rejected by heaven and earth. I have said enough to you."
Prime Minister Lin looked at the smile on Lan Yan's lips and realized something, but she was already surrounded by the emerging soldiers. She glared and said, "You were deliberately stalling for time."
"What else?" Lan Yan was incredibly leisurely at this moment and said, "Everyone, I know that although you follow the Prime Minister, you also have your own thoughts. As long as you are willing to lay down your weapons and surrender, I will not hold you accountable."
Prime Minister Lin became flustered and looked behind her nervously. She saw one person lay down their weapon, and then others followed. She ran over and shouted, "What are you doing? Pick them up quickly."
However, not a single person moved.
Lan Yan smiled at this, "Prime Minister Lin, you have lost. Surrender obediently."
Prime Minister Lin stood frozen on the spot, then suddenly gave a desolate laugh. Her plans, which had taken decades, had actually been defeated by the inexperienced Lan Yan. Unconvinced, she drew the sword from a private soldier beside her and swung it fiercely at Lan Yan.
"Lan Yan, you deserve to die!" The next moment, an arrow pierced her chest. She looked at Jun Yelan standing on the city wall with disbelief as she fell to the ground.
These two were her nemeses!
Lan Yan turned her head and smiled at Jun Yelan, her man was truly amazing! She said, "Take these private soldiers away. Given their final decision to abandon the darkness and turn to the light, they will be exiled to the border to serve in the army."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Mei Dong, having heard that something had happened here, rushed over to handle the aftermath. She looked at Lan Yan, "Your Majesty, you and the side consort should go back first. Leave everything here to this servant."
"Alright." Lan Yan walked forward, took Jun Yelan's hand as he descended from the city wall, and smiled faintly, "Everything is finally resolved. I can finally sleep soundly from now on."
Jun Yelan couldn't help but reach out and stroke Lan Yan's head, responding, "My Empress is very capable." His eyes were full of adoration.
"Of course, only someone as good as me can match someone as outstanding as you." Lan Yan's lips curved upwards, and she pulled Jun Yelan along, running forward. They happened to encounter Xi Chen, who was rushing over.
She smacked her forehead, "Blast it, I forgot about this matter!"