Peace Order

Chapter 1882: Chapter 9: Heroes Compete, Dragons and Serpents Arise

She had never seen the emperor in such a panic, nor had she ever seen Jiang Gao, who was always gentle as jade, transform into such a despotic demeanor. Even the slightest glance made her entire body tremble.

What an aura of kingship.

Her dream awoke, and as she came to consciousness, she found herself already sitting here. For several consecutive days, no one came to look after her. She calmed down gradually, knowing that her father was still alive and aware that the world’s great forces still needed a Divine General like He Ruoqinhu.

As long as her father still held such enormous value.

She would not die.

Suddenly, Empress He Ruo’s body trembled. She heard footsteps, and when she looked up, the composure and grace she had while observing laborers in Juzhou with Emperor Jiang Yuan were gone, leaving only panic.

The Cold Palace’s door opened, and a female official stood outside.

Gracefully beautiful, her demeanor ethereal.

Jiang Cai.

Empress He Ruo’s face changed, and she instinctively took a step back, saying, "Jiang Cai... why have you come?"

Jiang Cai glanced at the untouched dishes on the table, then folded her hands before her abdomen, her voice crisp and cold, "Knowing the Empress has been melancholic and eating lightly lately, I have come to present a cup of tea."

Empress He Ruo’s expression trembled.

Her hair fell into disarray, her large and beautiful eyes now frantic like a startled animal. She watched as the maid behind Jiang Cai carried a tray with a cup of soup, walking slowly towards her.

How could Empress He Ruo not know the severity of the harem.

How could she not understand the cruelty of imperial succession.

Her face trembled immediately, she stepped back two paces and stumbled over a stool, sitting on the ground, her hands supporting her, and her lips quivering like autumn leaves in the wind, saying, "What, what do you want to do!"

"I am the Empress!"

"The Empress of the world!"

Jiang Cai moved forward calmly, while the once spirited Empress retreated on her hands, her tone changing, seemingly composed but actually filled with unspeakable panic, gritting her teeth and saying, "My, my father is He Ruoqinhu, the Divine General of the world."

"He followed the Great Emperor in campaigns east and west for a 60-year cycle, achieving remarkable feats."

"You cannot kill me!"

Suddenly, a realization struck her, saying, "You... it’s you who want to go to extremes; it’s you who want to go to extremes. Emperor Jiang Gao is kind-hearted; it’s you who made him attack his brother."

"Even if it meant killing the Emperor, he must feel guilty in his heart."

"He definitely wouldn’t want to harm his sister-in-law; I, I still have the Emperor’s blood and flesh within me. Do you intend to harm the royal family?! You all..."

Jiang Cai said, "It is a direct order from Emperor Jiang Gao."

A calm statement.

Yet it felt like a sharp sword.

Once again shattering Empress He Ruo’s last sliver of hope. She remained silent for a while, before speaking dreamily, "You said... what?!" Her gaze was dazed, staring at the cup of medicine.

Jiang Cai looked at Empress He Ruo and said, "Empress, please."

A maid and a Powerful Warrior stepped forward from the sides.

Empress He Ruo’s final hope and expectation was indeed Emperor Jiang Gao’s merciful heart, but now, this last hope was gone. She attempted to evade but was held by two strong maids, who poured the cup of soup down her throat.

She felt pain in her abdomen, dazed, lying down as if she was on a cloud. Only then did she see her robes stained with blood.

The child she had carried for months was miscarried.

Empress He Ruo’s face was ashen, unable to accept it, she wailed aloud. Jiang Cai stepped back, turned away, and walked far away, feeling that in the midst of chaos, she was merely a pawn.

A gentleman transforms.

Jiang Gao understood certain things.

At times, ruthlessness and directness are the best ways to handle things. If He Ruo were allowed to give birth to that child, many troubles would surely arise in time. Factional politics and governance have always been harsh and merciless.

Merely having He Ruo miscarry the child but preserving her life.

In such brutal matters as imperial succession, this was the utmost Jiang Gao could achieve. He couldn’t and wouldn’t let his weakness lead to greater problems.

In the Heavenly Prison—

He Ruoqinhu was tied up, and mystical iron, capable of forging Divine Weapons, confined the body of this Divine General. However, such material might suppress a Martial World Grandmaster but could never hold such an extraordinary Divine General.

Yet He Ruoqinhu simply sat there, his hair and beard messy, quiet like a statue.

What truly imprisoned him was not these chains, but himself.

In the clattering sounds, footsteps approached; an official from the Ministry of Justice, trembling, took out a bunch of keys and opened the jail door, saying, "General He Ruo, Your Majesty has come to see you."

He Ruoqinhu sat solemnly, akin to a crouching tiger.

Upon hearing this, he opened his eyes, which remained filled with piercing Divine Light, as he looked at the approaching figure. Jiang Gao entered the cell, composed and calm.

He was alone.

Yuwen Lie did not accompany him.

Jiang Gao seemed to know what He Ruoqinhu was thinking, saying, "Yuwen has gone to see General Qin Yulong; I came to see General He Ruo on my own accord."

He Ruoqinhu finally spoke, with a hoarse voice, "Is Your Majesty not afraid that I might seize the opportunity, capture Your Majesty?" He raised his arm, the terrifying chains of mystical iron binding his wrists and body, while the other end of the chain was directly connected to the entire foundation.