"What? Is there a problem with my presence here?"
Master Sun snapped out of his daze and quickly waved his hand.
"Of course not. Your Highness is the master of the Western Regions. You can be anywhere you like."
His words brought a pleased look to the King of the Western Regions' face. "Well, I'm here today mainly to ask how the current situation is. Are all our men still in place?"
Of course, they were not. Since they had defected to Concubine Rui, they had confessed everything. The hidden forces had also been taken back by Concubine Rui in the name of the King of the Western Regions.
But he couldn't reveal this for now. After all, he didn't know if the King of the Western Regions could regain the throne. If he could, Master Sun had to erase any traces of his help to Concubine Rui.
After a moment of thought, he replied, "I've hidden all our men. Concubine hasn't found them yet. Your Highness, are you back to regain the throne?"
"Otherwise, what do you think I'm back for?"
The King of the Western Regions rolled his eyes and tapped his fingers irregularly on the table, one tap after another, as if hitting Master Sun's heart.
"I was out of line, Your Highness. What are your next plans?"
"First, you gather the others. I'll meet them all together."
"Yes."
The King of the Western Regions set the meeting three days later. However, as soon as he took action, the spy planted by Concubine Rui was about to inform her.
But Shimu Wan had anticipated this. So, from the start, she had arranged people to protect the King of the Western Regions. The spy had only taken two steps when suddenly someone hit the back of his neck, and he fainted.
"Humph, our Empress Dowager has said that no one should disrupt her plan."
After all, someone had to hold Concubine Rui in check.
Everything was settled after the meeting. Like Master Sun, the others didn't plan to tell the King of the Western Regions the truth for now. They wanted to see what this King could achieve.
At this moment, far away on the border, the Princess woke up.
She was completely disillusioned with that man this time. She knew clearly that the man might have helped with her poisoning. Otherwise, with no one at her disposal, how could Concubine Rui have easily poisoned her?
With blood - red eyes, supported by the maids, she went to see Shimu Wan. As soon as she entered the tent, she knelt straight on the ground.
"Empress Dowager, I know that only you can help me now."
Shimu Wan was feeding the white rabbit osmanthus cakes. Hearing this, she lazily looked up.
"What? The Princess is finally awake and not following that kind of man around anymore?"
The teasing in her tone made the Princess feel ashamed. While answering, she carefully observed this young lady who was the apple of the Shi family's eye and the most powerful woman in the current Great Liang.
Her skin was as white as snow, with willow - leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and a slightly curled red lip. Every frown and smile revealed the elegance and tenderness that a noble lady should have. At this moment, the Princess suddenly understood why that man had still been obsessed with the Empress Dowager after returning to the Western Regions.
It turned out that all of them women were too vulgar and couldn't compare to this young lady at all.
She withdrew her gaze and lowered her head this time.
"Please give me your advice, Empress Dowager. I will surely be loyal to you in the future, and the Zhao family will also serve Great Liang."
"Tsk, tsk. You sound exactly like your elder brother. You two siblings are really good at winning people's hearts."
The Princess was stunned for a moment. Realizing something, she lowered her head in shame.
"If it weren't for me, the Zhao family wouldn't have been suffering and being subordinate to others."
"Come on. Don't show off these official - like words in front of me. I'm not interested. Tell me, what can you offer me?"
The Princess didn't expect the Empress Dowager to be so direct. It was better this way. It would be easier to solve all the problems on the surface.
"Empress Dowager, I want to take back the Western Regions and make it a true vassal of Great Liang."
After she finished speaking, the young lady sitting on the high seat suddenly fell silent. The whole tent was filled with silence.
The Princess couldn't help but look up. As soon as she did, she locked eyes with the young lady. But this time, she didn't back away like before.
The two of them stared at each other until the white rabbit pushed its master impatiently.
Shimu Wan came back to her senses and smiled. "You're more ambitious. I appreciate this. But how do I know you won't use this ambition elsewhere in the future?"
Hearing this, the Princess suddenly took out a pair of gu worms from her body. "Mother - and - son gu worms. I'm sure the Empress Dowager is familiar with them. With this guarantee, will you trust me?"
After she said that, just as she was about to swallow them, Xiaoxiao's hidden weapon knocked them to the ground, and the gu worms quickly lost their signs of life.
The Princess let out a sigh of relief. She knew she had gambled right.
Shimu Wan stood up and patted the non - existent dust on her clothes.
"Such courage is suitable for following me. Rest for a few days. Then we'll go to the capital of the Western Regions. Don't slow us down."
She walked out of the tent. The Princess was overjoyed and went back to tell her parents and elder brother the good news.
When Lord Zhao first heard the news, he was a bit disapproving.
"We just want to get back what belongs to us and then leave this sad place. Daughter, you're still too impulsive."
The Princess's eyes gradually became sharp, as if poisoned.
"Father, Mother, have you forgotten how that heartless man treated us?"
"I... Alas, but we're not sure if the Empress Dowager will really help us."
"So I've decided to hand over the Zhao family and the Western Regions to Great Liang in the future."
Now, they finally understood what she meant. Thinking of all that had happened before, they finally said nothing more.
Their daughter had almost lost her life. What did all these powers matter? Great Liang had saved them in critical moments and surely wouldn't betray them.
With this thought in mind, they happily started to prepare for their return to the Western Regions. But this time, it would mean a change of dynasty.
...
A few days later, Shimu Wan looked at the large number of people behind her and clapped her hands in satisfaction.
"Remember our goal this time?"
"Remember. Capture the Western Regions."
"Good. All our hopes are pinned on you. Let's go!"
"Long live the Empress Dowager! Long live the Empress Dowager!"
When the people in the Western Regions heard a commotion, they had already quietly entered the Western Regions through a small path.
"Hey, did you hear anything strange just now?"
"I did hear something, but when I came out, there was nothing. Maybe we heard wrong?"
"Probably the people of Great Liang are up to something again. Forget it. As long as they don't attack, we'll just pretend nothing happened."
"Yeah, I agree. I still haven't recovered from the bites of those poisonous snakes last time. My butt hurts so much. Brother, help me apply some medicine when we get back."
"Okay, okay, I know."