Chapter 290: The Brainless Empress in the Arrogant Stallion Novel (40)

Chapter 290 The Foolish Empress in the Arrogant Harem Novel (40)

Xia Houyan beside them almost couldn’t believe her ears!

Destroy the dam?

It finally clicked why Guo Kai had specifically instructed her in his letter to dismiss the patrol team guarding the dam tonight for their private meeting...

"Guo Kai!"

The change in how she addressed him showed Xia Houyan had finally sobered up. "Are you out of your mind?!"

"If the dam is destroyed, what about the lives of thousands in my Kingdom of Wu?"

The Kingdom of Wu had long suffered from frequent floods. For decades, they’d struggled to control the Si River. Now that the river had finally been successfully reconstructed, Guo Kai actually planned to blow it up!

"Yan'er, victory requires sacrifice."

"In time, you'll understand..."

To further Zheng’s ambitions, the Kingdom of Wu was destined to be sacrificed.

And if it was to be sacrificed, why bother caring how many would die...

"Guo Kai!"

Xia Houyan, furious, shrieked at her former lover, "So from the very beginning, all your sweet talk was lies?"

"Yan'er... my feelings for you were genuine."

"Believe it or not, destiny wills it that you and I will be together."

This was the truth. In his past life, Xia Houyan had been his favored Consort Li, the most obedient noble-born beauty in his harem.

But now, the once most docile Consort Li had been driven to desperation! Seizing a moment when the soldiers behind her were distracted, she grabbed a blade and pressed it against her own neck!

"Guo Kai! If you ever loved me, call them off!"

The blade at her throat, Xia Houyan glared fiercely at Guo Kai and shouted, "Guo Kai!"

"If you insist on destroying the dam, I'll die right before your eyes!"

Guo Kai: "Yan'er, why must you do this..."

"I have grand ambitions, Yan'er... Why can't you help me rise to power?"

"Tonight, the dam must be destroyed—I've pledged my honor to His Majesty... Yan'er, why must you make this harder for me..."

Xia Houyan barked a bitter laugh at Guo Kai's shameless words. Coldly, she retorted, "I'm making it harder for you?"

"When we first met, you told me you sought a just world, tranquil and thriving!"

"Using the lives of my Kingdom of Wu's people to fuel your ambitions—Guo Kai, is this the 'just world' you spoke of?"

It was all lies meant to string her along!

The first time they met, he’d spoken so convincingly.

In their conversations, she had been swayed by his promises of how a great kingdom should be ruled...

Ruling through inaction, yielding to the people's wishes... Amidst all the rhetoric of the gentleman's way, she’d truly thought this First Scholar of Zheng State was extraordinary...

Now it was clear—Guo Kai had been scheming about her identity all along!

As the two kept arguing, Kou Yao couldn't help but urge, "Young Master Guo, there's no one around now. Shouldn't we begin?"

"The longer we wait, the riskier it gets."

Hearing this, Xia Houyan shouted desperately, "Guo Kai! If you give the order, I’ll kill myself right in front of you!"

The blade pressed inward, and a thin line of blood was already forming on Xia Houyan's neck!

No! Never!

If the dam were truly destroyed tonight, she would become the eternal shame of the Xia Hou clan!

A hundred years of Wu’s grand plans—gone in a flash!

Xia Houyan glared at Guo Kai, her defiance still tinged with pleading. If her dear Guo...

Had ever cared for her, even a little...

If he had truly loved her...

Maybe there was a chance...

But in the tense standoff, Xia Houyan heard the words that crushed her completely...

"Minister Kou, proceed!"

Her eyes flew open in shock, yet every word from Guo Kai cut through her like a knife.

Guo Kai... had never loved her at all. Even if she died before him tonight, he would remain unmoved!

In complete despair, Xia Houyan closed her eyes and squeezed the blade, ready to finish it.

When suddenly, a sudden gust of wind hit!

The military blade in her hand clattered to the ground!

Someone was here!

Xia Houyan jerked her eyes open, meeting a pair of smiling eyes...

The newcomer had striking looks, but what stood out most was her demeanor—though dressed as a woman, there was an unshakable confidence and calm in her every movement.

Xia Houyan knew all too well—such poise was something her father had cultivated over decades in the political arena...

"Lady Xia Hou, wasting your life over such a lowlife is truly unnecessary." Tang Qing stepped forward, nonchalantly kicking the blade aside from Xia Houyan's feet.

Then, her gaze shifted to Guo Kai as she spoke slowly, "First Scholar... fancy meeting you here."

Recognizing her, Guo Kai exclaimed in disbelief, "You!"

"Why are you here?"

The female emperor of Lin State—appearing tonight of all nights...

For some reason, Guo Kai recalled how Tang Qing's shadow seemed to keep appearing behind his schemes time and again...

Seeming to understand something, Guo Kai spoke in a chilling tone, slowly saying, "You knew I would come here tonight!"

The Empress sneered, "Indeed, I was waiting for you."

"Just as I thought... Guo Kai, you're still the same scum I remember."

Her calm voice uttered the harshest words.

Last time was just like this!

A few careless words, and she had him thrown out of the Golden Jade Pavilion, making him the joke of the realm!

"Planning to blow the dam and drown the farmland?"

Pointing at the explosives in Kou Yao's soldiers' hands, the Empress scoffed. "Guo Kai, I'm afraid your oath to your army will be broken again today."

As Tang Qing spoke, an army suddenly emerged atop the dam!

Xia Houyan recognized them at once—they were soldiers of the Kingdom of Wu!

Thank heavens!

The patrol troops never withdrew!

Her heart leapt, Xia Houyan spotted a familiar face among the troops.

Xia Houying had also arrived.

"Yan'er!"

"I told you long ago, this Guo Kai is not to be trusted!" Xia Houying's voice cracked with frustration, he was utterly exasperated!

His pride and joy, raised with all his devotion, had become obsessed with this hypocrite, Guo Kai, for no good reason!

Today, she had almost caused a disaster!

If not for the Lin State's Empress warning us beforehand, the dam at the Si River would already be gone!

This thought made him see red. His voice turned deadly, he said, "You saw it yourself just now—even if you died... he wouldn’t care."

"Yan'er, this is the 'darling Guo' you pined for!"

If he could, Xia Houying would gladly drown Guo Kai with his own hands right now!

That two-faced snake!

Leading Yan'er on with pretty lies! A liar through and through!

"Father..." Dazed, Xia Houyan realized how badly she'd screwed up and murmured, "I was wrong."

Cornered by the troops, Guo Kai could only watch helplessly as Xia Houyan rejoined the Wu forces!

Damn it!

His whole scheme was crumbling!

It was all her fault! She must have been the one who ratted him out to the Xias!

Again and again! Furious, he glared at Tang Qing. This self-styled hero of fate finally snapped and swore!

"You scheming bitch!"