National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

"I’m well aware of the matter Her Majesty the Queen mentioned.

Our Guard members are a long way from home.

They work tirelessly at the Martial Artist Base, risking their lives every day to protect the people of your Great Jing Empire.

They’re all young. It’s inevitable they’ll make a mistake now and then.

But what about your own Great Jing Empire’s local guards?

They attacked without provocation, striking down the warriors of our Lighthouse Empire.

The Lighthouse Empire is deeply displeased by this.

And that brings me to the other reason I’m here today.

You have three days to have those guards, as well as an official representative of the Great Jing Empire, issue a formal statement,

formally apologizing to the members of our Lighthouse Empire’s Defense Team.

Otherwise, the Lighthouse Empire might have to consider this an intentional act of humiliation and provocation against our Guard members by the Great Jing Empire.

You should know that opinion is divided among the higher-ups in the Lighthouse Empire.

Some of them never agreed to us coming here to protect your Great Jing Empire in the first place, not when it means risking our lives and getting nothing but trouble in return.

If our efforts go unappreciated, some of them might consider designating the Great Jing Empire as an enemy,

and treating you like a criminal organization, no different from the New World Organization.

When that time comes, you will no longer be Her Majesty the Queen. You won’t be sitting comfortably in this fine office, speaking to me as an equal.

I have said all I came to say. I trust Her Majesty the Queen will consider my words carefully and not make a decision you will later regret."

With that, Joliton gave a slight bow in Ji Shengyue’s direction,

then swaggered out of the office with his men.

Ji Shengyue trembled with rage.

She stood frozen, speechless for a long moment, a sharp pang of pain even piercing her heart.

For a moment, she had the urge to summon her personal guard, arrest every last one of them, and have them ground to dust.

Never since becoming Queen of the Great Jing Empire had Ji Shengyue suffered such a humiliation.

To commit such an atrocious act on Great Jing soil,

and then demand that the Great Jing Empire apologize to the Lighthouse Empire.

If she actually did as they demanded, the Great Jing Empire would lose all face.

Ji Shengyue found it impossible to accept. She could already imagine it—

issuing an official apology would cause an unimaginable uproar among the already fractured populace.

"Get me Zong Yajuan."

Ji Shengyue picked up the glass on her desk and drained it in one gulp.

Then she sat back down. Once she had calmed her emotions, she picked up the desk phone, dialed a number, and issued the command.

Soon, Zong Yajuan entered the office.

The Time Girl Group had disbanded after a scandal that proved impossible to contain.

Upon their return to the Royal City, the remaining members of the Time Girl Group were subjected to the most rigorous interrogations and physical examinations.

Only after they were confirmed to be clear of any issues were they allowed to continue their work.

"Her Majesty the Queen," Zong Yajuan said with a bow.

Ever since the Time Girl Group scandal, the remaining members had been subjected to suspicious glares, even though they were innocent.

However, Zong Yajuan and the others did bear some responsibility.

If they hadn’t concealed the intelligence about the situation above the Demon Cave from the start, there might have been a chance to resolve things,

but now, it was too late to do anything.

Zong Yajuan was filled with deep self-reproach, but unfortunately, time could not be turned back.

Ji Shengyue’s expression was just as complicated.

She recalled how, in the beginning, the Time Girl Group had twelve members.

Ji Shengyue had placed her highest hopes in every single one of them.

It was just a pity that, in the end, that unspeakable incident had still occurred.

Thankfully, Zong Yajuan had been with her the longest and was the one person Ji Shengyue trusted most.

The fact that Zong Yajuan had remained untainted was a small comfort to the Queen.

"Take a look at this document."

Ji Shengyue placed the agreement Joliton had left on the desk.

Zong Yajuan walked over, picked it up, and began to read. Her expression soured after only a few lines.

By the time she finished, her face was ashen. She said furiously, "The Lighthouse Empire... give them an inch and they take a mile!"

Ji Shengyue sat down, swiveling her chair to face the beautiful scenery outside the window. "What do you suggest?" she asked.

"’The gap in Martial Artist strength between our Great Jing Empire and the Lighthouse Empire is simply too vast.’"

Zong Yajuan hesitated for a moment before speaking bluntly.

"Just give me your suggestion," Ji Shengyue said impatiently.

Zong Yajuan replied helplessly, "My suggestion is to do as the Lighthouse Empire demands.

The Lighthouse Empire is clearly making a power play.

Besides, our immediate priority is dealing with the traitor, Xiao Cangqing.

The New World Organization is a far more unstable threat than the Lighthouse Empire.

The Lighthouse Empire might harm a few dozen, maybe a hundred citizens.

But if the New World Organization suddenly goes on a rampage, the death toll could be dozens of times higher, if not more."

Ji Shengyue closed her eyes, her voice laced with exhaustion. "You have a point."

Then she muttered, more to herself than to anyone, "Tell me, was it a grave mistake to move against Chu He back then? I did it to consolidate my throne, to forge the sharpest blade of my authority... but did that one act lead to this whole chain of problems?"

Zong Yajuan fell silent. She didn’t know how to answer.

’But in her heart, she already had an answer.’

’Choosing to move against Chu He... back then, the consequences might not have been clear, but now the answer was self-evident. It was, without a doubt, a mistake grave enough to destroy the entire Great Jing Empire—a mistake that could no longer be fixed.’

"You must think it was a mistake, don’t you?"

Ji Shengyue’s eyes suddenly flew open in a glare, and she shot up from her seat. "Yes, almost everyone in the Great Jing Empire thinks I was wrong! So what?

Weren’t they the same ones who insulted Chu He back then?

What right do they have to point their fingers only at me?

Besides, in the current situation, what could Chu He possibly do?

Does he really think going to the Great Xia Empire will let them rest easy?

Just watch. The Great Xia Empire is doomed. And when it falls, all those who curse my name today will be silenced.

You’re right. I have to do as the Lighthouse Empire commands.

There’s no other choice. Even the Great Xia Empire, with Chu He protecting it, will be crushed under the might of the Lighthouse Empire.

Everyone just wait and see..."

Ji Shengyue hissed, grinding her teeth.

...

「Green Forest City.」

"Xiao Cangqing, did you know?

Public opinion in the Great Jing Empire has started to turn around.

A lot of people used to curse you out for being a traitor.

But now, tons of people online are actually praising you! And us!

They’re saying you’re the one with the most backbone in the entire Great Jing Empire."

Gao Yimin walked into Xiao Cangqing’s office, excitedly holding her phone.

She placed a summary of the comments on his desk and said happily.