"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The officials were also restless, but they didn't dare to overstep their bounds.

"Your Majesty, Empress Wei is here!"

Raising his head, Ji Shu could see Wei Xiao Hua walking to the hall with the empress' dress. The phoenix hairpin decorated her hair as she slowly walked inside. After becoming the empress, her attitude had slowly changed to that of a ruler. She was no longer the same playful girl who acted according to what she wanted, but she grew even more dignified.

Traces of weariness could be seen from Wei Xiao Hua's face. For the past few days, she was trying hard to make sure that everything was still under their control to make sure that they held the power. However, it was not easy. With Prince Ji Sheng blocking the route and all, they were forced to compromise or the people would rebel inside the city.

It would turn into a complete bloodbath and countless people would die.

Ji Shu didn't want that.

"Xiao Hua, what are you doing here? You should just rest in your palace?" Ji Shu said worriedly.

Wei Xiao Hua smiled lightly. "Your Majesty, I think it's already the time for us to stop hiding. Delaying will not give us anything good."

Ji Shu sighed. Just now, they managed to smuggle a letter into the palace and found out the situation at the south. It was really bad. The rebellions had killed many of his men there and decreased his influence. Without the officials and soldiers helping him, he would not be Prince Ji Sheng's match.

"I'm sending a messenger now."

"In that case… we should wait," Wei Xiao Hua said with a forced smile. She could guess what Prince Ji Sheng's demand would be. Prince Ji Sheng was depicted as a cold blooded general in the novel, but he was also someone who cared for his soldier very much. He wouldn't want to put his soldier and make them kill each other in a brutal brother's war.

Ji Shu noticed Wei Xiao Hua's smile. "Do you have any idea what he would ask?"

Under the gazes of the officials, Wei Xiao Hua found it hard to speak out. However, she knew that Ji Shu often asked her opinion in the past. She could always rely on her knowledge over the novel to figure out the situation around her. But… her knowledge was almost over.

The knowledge she knew was limited to this event.

And the event had changed over the course of time either because of her interference or because of other people here who had also transmigrated.

"He would want a duel with you, Your Majesty," Wei Xiao Hua said slowly.

The official nearby scoffed. "That's impossible! Even though General Sheng is a great general, he would not ask for something like that when he know that Emperor Ji Shu is also someone with great martial arts."

"Yes! It would be suicide!"

Wei Xiao Hua pursed her lips and refused to elaborate her reply. She merely looked at Ji Shu, wanting to see his reaction. Different from the officials, he was mulling her answer as if it might be something possible. No matter how absurd Wei Xiao Hua's suggestion in the past, Ji Shu would always try to consider it.

It was his good point that Wei Xiao Hua loved very much.

"It might be possible."

"Your Majesty!"

Ji Shu raised his head and looked at Wei Xiao Hua. "If that truly happens, all I need to do is just to win the battle."

"It's dangerous!"

"Your Majesty, you must be kidding!"

"Your Majesty…!"

As more and more officials complained, Wei Xiao Hua simply stared at Ji Shu. The two of them didn't exchange any words and let their eyes speak to them, ignoring the frantic officials around them.

…

Prince Ji Sheng's Side.

"They finally send a messenger," Yang Xian commented. He directed the horse to Prince Ji Sheng's direction with a faint smile. "Are you ready, General Sheng?"

"I am ready."

"Can you do it?"

Prince Ji Sheng kept his composure. There was no emotion visible in his face as he nodded faintly. "It's fine."

For the past two weeks, they didn't do anything but camping out here. Still, Yang Xian didn't let the soldiers relax because it was possible that Ji Shu turned desperate and launched a covert attack. They might have already tried to attempt it, but so far, there was no attack in sight.

"I'll relay the message now."

"Yes."

Sitting on top of the horseback, Wei Liuying watched everything unfolded from her position. She felt that it was already the time for everything to start. Yet, there was the unease that she experienced from the bottom of her heart.

Slowly, she turned her head to the back and saw the soldiers who were standing behind her. They treated this as if they were in training and stood still while preparing for battle when it was needed. It was good that they didn't make things difficult here.

Watching the messenger went back and forth, Wei Liuying wondered what they were talking about to the point that they have to negotiate it all a couple of times. She hoped that they would be able to finish everything as soon as possible. However, war was always a game of patience because those who were impatience would lose first.

When it was night time, she finally got the chance to ask what the messenger asked.

"There'll be the duel tomorrow," Yang Xian explained. "The messenger wants it to occur at the west side and with the soldiers keeping a distance more than three hundred meters away to prevent any side breaching the rules."

"What's the rules?"

"Are you asking about the duels or what we're going to get afterwards?"

"The second one."

"it's a life and death battle," Yang Xian said unhurriedly. He looked at Wei Liuying with a bitter smile. "No matter which one win, the other one will have to die."