The Snake Guard’s report detailed the situation at the Southern Bastion.
The Three Great King Scorpions had launched their assault, and the South Legion was no match for them. Now, the bastion had sealed its gates and was hunkering down. If things continued this way, the Southern Bastion would fall by the day after tomorrow at the latest.
The Myriad Snake Queen nodded thoughtfully. The situation matched her memories from her previous life perfectly. However, Ye Mei had obeyed her orders and chosen not to meet the enemy head-on, opting instead for a defensive turtle-shell strategy. It was a bit humiliating, but it was far better than letting her soldiers die in vain.
“How goes the evacuation of the refugees from the Southern Bastion?”
“Most have been settled in the villages at the bases of the other cities, while a few have gone into the capital to stay with relatives.”
“Good, as long as they’ve been relocated.” The Myriad Snake Queen spoke flatly. “Once the civilians are clear, have the legion withdraw bit by bit according to the plan. See that it’s carried out without error.”
“Yes!”
Since the Southern Bastion was doomed to fall anyway, it was better to abandon it voluntarily and preserve their forces.
Still, this would deal a heavy blow to morale. Ye Mei hadn’t been thrilled about the idea either, but the Myriad Snake Queen had insisted it was a secret strategy and forced them to follow orders.
The Sand Scorpion Clan had all benefited from the tempering of the Great Crimson Heaven Flame, dramatically boosting their strength. The City of Water couldn’t stand against them in a direct clash—not unless the Myriad Snake Queen advanced to Mystic Ancestor.
And to reach Mystic Ancestor, she needed her Snake God Bloodline to evolve.
Normally, it would take another two or three years, but time was short now. Her only option was to borrow the power of the Great Crimson Heaven Flame once more!
That flame was currently in the lair of the Red Sand Scorpion Lord.
Her plan was the same as in her previous life: while the Red Sand Scorpion Lord led his army to surround the City of Water, she would slip through the underwater passages to raid his nest from behind. Using the Great Crimson Heaven Flame, she would complete her evolution and then return to strike back.
There was no point in pointless sacrifices. They needed to preserve as much of their forces as possible and hold the City of Water until her return.
For now, the key was simply to “let” the sand scorpions in.
Once the Four Directions Fortress “fell,” the Red Sand Scorpion Lord would emerge to lead the Sand Scorpion Army in encircling the City of Water. That was when she would launch her counterattack.
Until then, they just had to wait patiently.
This was the Myriad Snake Queen’s “Line-Releasing Plan.”
“And the other three bastions?”
“They’re facing constant small-scale raids, but nothing major yet.”
It was identical to her previous life. They would need the covert intervention of the Demon Domain’s emissary before they could execute the Line-Releasing Plan—otherwise, it might arouse suspicion.
Thinking of the Demon Domain’s emissary brought Jiu Youyue to the Myriad Snake Queen’s mind. Though she was the Evil Consort’s secondary body, she had fallen for Yan Zhen and even given her life for him. After her death, Yan Zhen had granted her a formal title, making her something like a “sister” to Zi Xunyi.
The Myriad Snake Queen hadn’t interacted with her much and wasn’t close to her. If they truly clashed, she wouldn’t hold back.
“Keep them at maximum alert. Report any changes immediately—no engaging the enemy on your own!”
“Y-Yes!”
The last issue was the reinforcements from the Three Major Kingdoms.
—Never mind. They were just a few clowns looking to fish in troubled waters. Whether they came or not made no difference; there was no need to pay them any heed.
The Myriad Snake Queen dismissed the Snake Guard and summoned another.
“Where are they now?” she asked.
The female Snake Guard replied cautiously, “Reporting to Your Majesty, those two are aboard a painted boat in the central river…”
She then recounted the details of her surveillance, including how the little boat had rocked back and forth.
After hearing the report, the Myriad Snake Queen waved her hand lightly, signaling the guard to withdraw.
The female Snake Guard practically bolted away in relief.
Leaning back, the Myriad Snake Queen let out a long sigh, her hands clenching tightly within her sleeves.
“Mother Concubine, let’s go find Father Emperor,” came her daughter’s voice in her mind.
It was as if the Myriad Snake Queen had found an outlet for her frustration. She replied coldly, “Didn’t you hear? Your father emperor’s been out rocking the boat all night with his first love. As if he’d have time for a money-losing good like you!”
Yan Yan pouted, unperturbed. She was used to her mother’s sharp tongue.
Whenever Father Emperor went to see Aunt Yun, Mother Concubine would get mad and take it out on her daughter, nitpicking this and that.
If it weren’t for the spoiling that always came afterward, Yan Yan would have run straight to Aunt Zi’s arms long ago. At least Aunt Zi never snapped at her.
“Come on, Mother Concubine. Think about it—if we don’t go find Father Emperor, Aunt Yun gets him all to herself for their little world of two. You okay with that?”
The Myriad Snake Queen’s expression shifted slightly, but she snorted. “What’s not to like? He’s so obsessed with that woman he’d throw away his life for her. Might as well let them have at it.”
Forget their current lack of any real relationship—even in her previous life, he’d only married her out of duty.
The one he loved had always been Yun Xiu, never her!
What could she even compete with?
“If Mother Concubine doesn’t marry Father Emperor, what about me? I wanna be born already~” Yan Yan whined pitifully. “It’s so inconvenient like this, stuck in the sea of consciousness all the time. I’m so bored.”
Thinking of her lively, energetic daughter confined in her sea of consciousness tugged at the Myriad Snake Queen’s heart. Her tone softened. “Just a little longer. It’s not time yet…”
—When that time came, whether she wanted it or not, he would force the issue.
Memories of her previous life made the Myriad Snake Queen’s cheeks flush, a rare hint of shyness crossing her face.
“Mother Concubine promises—once the sand scorpion crisis is over, I’ll take you out to play. Okay?”
Yan Yan mumbled, “But I wanna go find Father Emperor to play right now.”
“Yan Yan!” The Myriad Snake Queen’s voice turned cold again. “Are you determined to make me angry?”
The Little Princess replied stubbornly, “It’s been over a year since I last saw Father Emperor. Now that I finally have, and it’s the young version of him, of course I wanna play with him~ Flying Phoenix Mother Concubine must wanna see more of Father Emperor too, right?”
“No.”
“Liar. You totally do—you even sent people to spy on them.”
“That was to keep tabs on Yun Xiu’s movements. Who knows if she has other motives for coming to the City of Water so early… In the previous life, she didn’t show up until later, arriving as reinforcements with the Garo Royal Family.”
The Myriad Snake Queen offered the explanation deliberately.
Yan Yan knew her mother was too proud to admit it and immediately started coquettishly pleading. “Let’s go find Father Emperor~ Mother Concubine, pleeease, go, go, go~”
“No.”
“Mother Concubiiiiiine~~~ Mother Concubine, Mother Concubine, Mother Concubine~~~”
“Fine, fine! We’ll go. Just stop rolling around in my sea of consciousness—you’re making me dizzy!”
“Yay! Mother Concubine is the best. Love you, heart~”
“Hmph. If it weren’t for you, you little ingrate wanting to see him, I couldn’t be bothered.”
“Uh-huh, it’s all this child’s desire to see Father Emperor. Mother Concubine has nothing to do with it~”
“…”
The Myriad Snake Queen first returned to her chambers for a bath. After bathing, she changed into a fitted gown and had her maids help her dress up meticulously. She checked the mirror several times to confirm her appearance before veiling her face with purple gauze. Escorted by two Snake Guards, she departed the palace.
