Chapter 870
Chapter 870
Inside Shen Lang's military camp.
Everything was developing just as Shen Lang had predicted, perhaps even more smoothly than he'd anticipated. It wasn't enough for Dybas to simply surrender. Anyone could surrender with words. She had to surrender psychologically, in body and in action.
So, Shen Lang had to engineer a situation where she was abandoned by everyone, completely isolated and helpless. Only when she was not only on the brink of death from illness but also at risk of being cut down by traitors could Shen Lang become her one and only savior. It was a matter of letting things fall into place naturally when the conditions were ripe. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, his Amazon legion would soon be able to march into Bigeum City. After saving Dybas, she would personally take up a sword and execute the treacherous ministers. He would then pressure her into a confrontation with the conservative vassals, and after all that, wouldn't it be delightful to get her pregnant?
After hearing these plans, the look in Princess Dora's eyes as she gazed at Shen Lang turned peculiar. It was as if she were looking at a venomous snake. Just then, Zhang Chunhua came galloping madly on a fast horse. Shen Lang was puzzled.
*'Zhang Chunhua is the top official guarding Mulan City. Why would someone with such an important duty rush all the way here? Has there been an accident? Something big must have happened. I hope it's not bad news!'*
Zhang Chunhua arrived before Shen Lang, panting for breath, and said in a trembling voice.
"Shen Lang, you... you have to get back to Mulan City, quickly."
Shen Lang asked in surprise.
"What's happened?!"
"Your... your sister has come to find you!"
Shen Lang was completely stunned.
*'What? My sister?!'*
Shen Lang shot to his feet.
*'Sister? Could it be Princess Helene?'*
Until now, he truly hadn't had the time to do anything else. Otherwise, he would have gone looking for Princess Helene immediately. Because she was the true master of the entire southern region of the Sauron Dynasty. The north was hostile to Empress Helene, calling her a traitorous empress, but the newly risen nobles of the south held her in high esteem. It was thanks to Empress Helene that the southern part of the Sauron Dynasty had truly developed, allowing countless families to rise to prominence, and many Veda people to advance into the middle class.
Moreover, Empress Helene had permitted intermarriage between the Sauron and Veda people. As a result, many nobles in the south now had Sauron names and even skin tones similar to the Sauron people, despite having Veda blood. Furthermore, rulers with such mixed heritage received the absolute support of the Veda populace. Duke Hall of Queen's City was a prime example.
After the fall of the Second Sauron Empire, why had the entire south completely fractured? Wasn't it because the south had no master? Princess Helene, a direct descendant of Empress Helene, had left Queen's City at sixteen to go on an adventure and had disappeared for a full seventeen years. If Helene were to arrive, many difficult problems would naturally be resolved. Of course, the problems of the Sauron Dynasty would become more severe, leading to an immediate confrontation between the north and south. The south would support Princess Helene, and the north would support Emperor Solon.
The Black Widow, Hila, was a representative figure. She was a magnate among the Veda people, controlling immense resources but lacking political power. Deep in her heart, she supported Princess Helene.
Just as Shen Lang was reeling from this unexpected news, a fast horse galloped into the camp. A woman dismounted, rushed before Shen Lang, knelt, and offered a box with both hands.
"Lord Shen Lang, this is the seal of Duke Ruso. I now formally present it to you."
Shen Lang took the seal and examined it closely. The official seals of the West were very different from those of the East. In the East, bigger was considered better, and some national seals were made as large as a human head. But the seal of the Ruso Clan was smaller than a fist. This ducal seal represented the supreme authority of the Ruso Clan and was exquisitely crafted. The top was a golden sculpture of a sea beast, while the bottom, depicting it treading on turquoise waves, was carved from jade. Moreover, what was carved on the seal was not text but a highly intricate design. A sea beast soared through the waves, and the shape of the waves formed the word "Ruso" in Latin letters. This seal was likely five hundred years old, or perhaps even older.
Tina said.
"Her Grace the Duchess commands you to immediately dispatch your troops, enter Bigeum City, and take charge of its defense. With this ducal seal, you may exercise the full authority of the Duke of Ruso."
"Me, lead my army into Bigeum City? That doesn't seem appropriate, does it?"
*'You still want to play coy in a situation like this? Isn't this the outcome you've been wanting all along?'*
Tina shot Shen Lang a fierce glare and said.
"Lord Shen Lang, there are already people secretly plotting a rebellion within Bigeum City. If you delay any longer, Duchess Dybas will be beheaded by them, a new duke will be enthroned, and all the orders Her Grace previously issued will be overturned. At that point, you will once again become an enemy of Bipa Province, so you must act quickly."
Tina, too, had been patient for a very long time. In the past few days, she had run back and forth between Dybas's ducal estate and Shen Lang's camp nearly ten times. She had never in her life met someone as shameless as Shen Lang. Shen Lang asked her.
"Did Duchess Dybas have any message for me?"
Tina was fiercely protective of her mistress and really didn't want to relay the message. Because the words were a great blow to Duchess Dybas's dignity. But faced with his all-knowing question, she couldn't lie and had no choice but to speak.
"Duchess Dybas asked me to relay this message to you. Listen carefully."
Shen Lang made an exaggerated gesture, cupping his hand to his ear to show he was listening intently. But beside Shen Lang, someone else leaned in to listen even more closely. It was Zhang Chunhua.
"Duchess Dybas said this: 'My husband, please come and save Dybas quickly. After you save me, I will immediately wash myself clean and await your pleasure. I am your little slave girl, so please, come save me. Hurry and make my belly big.'"
As soon as those words were spoken, Shen Lang felt instantly at ease. For someone as arrogant as Dybas, uttering such words must have been incredibly difficult. But beside him, Zhang Chunhua's expression turned ugly. Even though conquering Duchess Dybas was part of the plan she had proposed, this was supposed to be a political marriage.
*'Did you have to say something so embarrassing? Who do you think you're flirting in front of?'*
"Your Scum Majesty, I hope you remember what you promised me."
Zhang Chunhua said in a low voice. Shen Lang couldn't recall what promise she was referring to, but he replied earnestly.
"A promise? What promise? Don't worry. I would never dare to forget what I promised you."
Then, Shen Lang issued a command.
"The army will march into Bigeum City and take over its defenses!"
"Yes, sir!"
The five thousand soldiers of the Amazon Legion were already prepared. At Shen Lang's command, they immediately set off for Bigeum City, their warhorses galloping madly at a flying pace.
***
Inside Count Vytin's mansion.
This upright master of the sword couldn't smooth the frown from his brow. He was completely powerless in the current situation. He possessed great martial strength and the talent to command large armies, but he disliked politics. If ordered to fight and die against an enemy on the battlefield, he would have no fear. Even someone as powerful as Princess Dora couldn't defeat him in a pure contest of martial arts.
But what was he to do now? His family had served the Dukes of Ruso with loyalty for generations, and he was no exception. In his generation, the relationship with the Ruso Clan had grown even closer. Duchess Dybas was not only his student but also his liege, and in some ways, she was like a daughter to him. That was why, after Dybas was captured by Shen Lang, Count Vytin had immediately led an army of one hundred thousand, prepared to pay any price to rescue her.
But the order Dybas had now issued was clearly a reckless command. Of course, it couldn't be called entirely reckless. She had given the order to save her own life, and Count Vytin certainly didn't want Dybas to die. In truth, Vytin hadn't agreed with many of the things Duchess Dybas had done. For example, her getting too close to the Fire God Sect. Or her previous decision to hold a sacrificial ceremony, to make a pact with the Fire God by choosing a handsome stranger from the East and marrying him. Almost everyone, including the vassals, had attended that wedding between Dybas and Shen Lang. However, Count Vytin, her most direct subordinate, had not attended. He believed such a wedding desecrated the sacred institution of marriage. But since she was already married, Count Vytin thought it was better to have a husband than none at all. The Ruso Clan needed an heir.
But afterward, Dybas had burned Shen Lang to death in the sacrificial ceremony. At the time, Count Vytin had advised her against it several times, saying that since they were already married, it would be fine to just go along with it. Marrying an Eastern man with no foundation wasn't a bad thing. At least the man was incomparably handsome, and one could tell at a glance that he was of noble birth. Besides, things like sacrificial ceremonies and making pacts with a fire god were all nonsense in Count Vytin's opinion, but he still couldn't stop Duchess Dybas's will.
Count Vytin was furious that Shen Lang had brazenly occupied the Byeokjo Peninsula and even sent troops to attack Bigeum City. However, Vytin didn't particularly look down on his Eastern heritage. He naturally didn't support Dybas marrying an Eastern man, but since it had already happened, he didn't think it was a catastrophe.
Though no one ever mentioned it, Vytin also had Veda blood. When Empress Helene ruled the empire, many southern families fell and many others rose. At that time, many families welcomed Veda women in response to the Empress's call, and the Vytin family was one of them.
"Hah..."
Count Vytin sighed in anguish and drained his teacup in one gulp. In times like these, he couldn't even drown his sorrows in wine. Count Vytin also disagreed with other decisions made by Duchess Dybas. For instance, her becoming the protector of the south, or her attempt to become Emperor Solon's mistress.
On the other hand, Vytin held Duchess Dybas's decision to raise an army, attack the Witch Empire, and attempt to establish the Third Sauron Empire in high regard. For the great cause of the empire, it was only right for any hero to raise an army. But Dybas was too self-serving. A family could have ambitions, but she had taken too large a step. Dybas was highly capable, but the Ruso Clan did not have many talented people prepared, nor did they have the ability to rule the entire south.
But none of that mattered now. Duchess Dybas was now breathing her last, her life hanging by a thread. The High Priest of the Fire God Sect was helpless, and the ducal estate's physician couldn't even identify the illness. It seemed clear that only Shen Lang could cure this disease. But to get Shen Lang to act, she had to offer him Bigeum City and allow his Amazon Legion inside.
Count Vytin had to make a choice. Should he let Dybas die? Or should he let Shen Lang into the city?