Yang Hanying's nostrils flared in anger upon hearing Tan Jiahao's words. He is the one who needs his help to support him against his enemies and now him and to please him he should agree to his request to execute Yuan Song in punishment. However, he dares to say that he did nothing to be punished? How can a mere Commander's life be compared to this marriage alliance?

" Emperor Tan, are you even thinking before speaking? You're saying that you won't punish him? Even when he hurt the Emperor of the Yang Dynasty?" Yang Hanying asked with his grim expressions.

Tan Jiahao looked at him calmly and said, " Yes. That's what I meant. Also, he didn't hurt the Emperor of the Yang Dynasty but he saved the princess of Tan Dynasty from being exploited, that should be the right wording." he said indifferently.

Tan Xiu looked at her father whose respect in her eyes has increased a lot after seeing him supporting her and Yuan Song at the stake of this marriage alliance. Her eyes watered as she remembered how she blamed her father for all of this.

Yang Hanying stood up in anger and glowered at Tan Jiahao, " Exploit? She is going to be my consort. I can do anything to her and no one can stop me. Not even her." he said while turning to look at Tan Xiu.

Tan Xiu shivered when he glared at her, but Yuan Song came in front of her, covering her from his disgusting gaze. He stood there like a mighty mountain, hiding her behind him.

Yang Hanying snickered seeing him acting like her savior.

Tan Jiahao's expressions also turned dark. He was talking about his daughter after all. " Who said she is going to be your consort? I, the Emperor of Tan Dynasty, is canceling my daughter, Tan Xiu's marriage with you. Yang Hanying, The marriage alliance between the two states, you can take it as canceled." he said while calling Yang Hanying with his name for the first time.

" I can bear anything but my precious daughter being tortured and exploited by an animal like you, I can't accept that. You should be glad that I didn't kill you right away. Otherwise, I don't leave someone who dares to touch my family so easily." Tan Jiahao said with his powerful voice and confidence.

Yang Hanying snickered and looked at him as if mocking, " You want to end this marriage alliance? So you're saying that you chose this...insect-like petty commander over me? Tan Jiahao, you won't regret your decision right? I hope you won't." he said, his tone became grim and cold with every word.

He stood up seeing his determined expressions and turned to Tan Xiu once again, who hid behind Yuan Song and snickered before saying to Tan Jiahao, " Tan Jiahao, you remember my letter, right? If there is no marriage, then there is no Tan Empire." his lips curled up in an evil smirk as he descended the chairs down the throne and walked out of the palace, with his powerful steps.

Tan Jiahao stayed silent as he watched him leaving. Slowly, the confidence inside him dropped as he almost fell off the chair.

"Your Majesty!" Yuan Song shouted and ran to hold him.

"Are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?" he asked worriedly, seeing him holding his chest as if he was in pain.

Tan Jiahao turned to him and said weakly," Thanks for protecting Tan Xiu. But Yuan Song, I didn't do anything wrong, did I?" he asked guiltily. He tried his best to avoid making Yang Hanying angry but he couldn't bear when he saw Tan Xiu in that condition. He doesn't want to imagine what would have happened if she had married him.

" Your Majesty, you did nothing wrong. Believe me. I am here. I will fight until the last drop of blood in my body. I will protect Tan Xiu and you. You have done your duty, now it's my time." he said while looking at him reassuringly.

-

Just as Tan Jiahao and Yuan Song had expected, Yang Hanying attacked their west and east border, just a week after leaving the Tan Dynasty. The country was in chaos as the invaders from both sides were trying to push them into a dead-end.

Yang Hanying had joined hands with Tan Jiahao's neighboring enemies and attacked them from both sides, letting them have very little time to fight against him.

Tan Xiu looked at her father whose condition has been worsening since the war had started. It's been a week since it has started and he fell unconscious upon hearing that news. Since that day, his condition is worsening and even the imperial doctor has said that it's very difficult for him to get over this shock.

Yuan Song was fighting at the western border while trying to coordinate both the borders. It was difficult for their soldiers to fight on the western border, due to its unfavorable terrain and lack of proper weapons than the enemy, it was getting difficult for him to control the situation.

Meanwhile, Tan Xiu was trying to manage the situation in her father's absence as he can't work and was bedridden. It was her first time managing all the political things, some people were looking down on her for being a girl, but her maternal uncle and also the king of Liu kingdom came to help her and supported her throughout the difficulty.

She has been blessed with good people around her. She believed that they would get over this difficult situation as well if they all worked hard.

Tan Xiu's mother stood outside the study and watched Tan Xiu's reading the documents seriously. She has been working day and night since her father fell ill. She smiled remembering Tan Xiu's words she has said to her other day," he has done so much for me, it's time for me to make him proud."

-

Tan Xiu was working when a guard who sued to be Yuan Song's subordinate guard, came running and barged into the study. She looked at him and saw his pale face and walked to him worriedly, " What happened? Did something happen?" she asked, seeing his pale and obvious heavy expression. She tried to harden her heart for bad news but she was hoping that it's not the one she was expecting.

The guard looked at her while huffing and said after taking a deep breath, " Your Highness, it's bad news. The soldiers of the enemy have invaded the capital city. Their troops are now moving towards the palace. We need to hurry and go in hiding." he said with panic written on his face.

Tan Xiu's expressions turned pale upon hearing this unfortunate news. Her hands shivered and she held onto the gate to control herself from losing her consciousness.

She took a deep breath to keep calm and not lose her sanity and asked, " What about the soldier troops about in the palace?" she asked. There is a portion of soldiers that reside at the palace area to protect against foreign invasions in time of emergency.

" Your highness, King Liu has assigned half of those soldiers to the east border since we were short on soldiers over there. And only half of them were left and it's not sufficient to go against more than 100 soldiers of the enemy who are now marching towards the palace."

" Common..der Yuan Song? Any news from him?" she asked her with expectant eyes.

The guard shook his head, making her last hope to fall apart.

'What's going to happen now?'

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