721 He Mingchi (2/2)
A clear slap sounded in the quiet palace.
Li Huiyuan covered his red cheeks, a blood dripping from his mouth.
Looking at his sister in terror, he cried out, ”I'm sorry. I know I am wrong, but I have done it and what can I do? How could I know he was from the Haotian Taoism. Li Qingshan lied to us!”
Li Yu was pissed off and began to tremble. She felt dizzy and was about to fall down.
”Sister! Sister!”
Getting up from the couch, Li Huiyuan held his sister's hand with the good hand and quaveringly said, ”There is no option. We have to surrender to the Divine Hall.”
Staring at him, Li Yu suddenly discovered that she didn't know her brother at all, someone who was brought up by herself. Then she slapped him heavily once again with a blank look.
Li Huiyuan seemed to feel no pain at all. Widening his eyes, he grasped her hand and would not let her go, screaming, ”The Headmaster died. He is dead!”
”Even he is dead, who can fight against Haotian? The Academy can't save our kingdom. Haven't you noticed there is no movement inside the Academy? We can only rely on ourselves and the Haotian Taoism. What else can we do?”
”What can we do?”
A lock of hair hung on her forehead. She wearily shook her head and said, ”If the Academy can't support Tang, I will. I will support it until I can't.”
”No, you can't.” Because of fear and tension, Li Huiyuan's voice was hoarse like the torn linen. He said, ”Even if the Southern Army didn't go north, they have to bypass Xiao Mountain to reach the Verdant Canyon. By that time, the West-Hill Divine Palace's army will have already arrived at the Great Lake, then head to Qinghe and approach Chang'an.”
Li Yu listlessly lowered her head and said, ”Chang'an won't be broken through.”
Li Huiyuan quaveringly added, ”They don't have to break through Chang'an. As long as they besiege us, we will starve.”
Li Yu stretched out her hand to comb his hair and said with a bitter smile, ”You're quite smart by saying this. Why were you so muddled?”
Even though she had been praised as a virtuous and wise person and trusted by her father in both governing the country and strategy, at this time, she was a helpless woman.
The Headmaster was gone and the whole world was invading her country. It was a millennial crisis. It would be difficult for her father to handle such an arduous situation, let lone her.
”We are the Tangs and we don't surrender.”
Li Yu gently stroked her brother's cheek and earnestly said, ”We will fight to the last moment and we'll never surrender. Even if you die, you have to die in the palace. Do you hear me?”
At this moment, a eunuch hurried into the palace with the fresh report of the Military Ministry.
General Xu Chi had escorted the Empress and the Sixth Prince to Wuzhou.
Li Yu kept silent while Li Huiyuan widened his eyes in shock.