After returning to the capital, the eldest daughter saved her entire clan with her medical skills.

Chapter 169 Nightmare from the Past Life

Looking at the herds of cattle and sheep in the pasture, Xue Ruanruan felt a surge of joy and satisfaction. These animals were the result of her hard work and the hope for her future. She carefully observed each animal, ensuring they were healthy and lively. The vast grassland provided ample food and a comfortable environment for the cattle and sheep to thrive. Imagining herself enjoying fresh milk and delicious beef from her own livestock, a happy smile spread across Xue Ruanruan's face.

That winter, the imperial court suddenly ordered the cutoff of food supplies to Xue's army, plunging them into dire straits. At the same time, the unusually cold weather and relentless blizzards brought even greater difficulties and challenges to Xue's army.

The generals of Xue's army were anxious, knowing that if the food supply problem wasn't solved in time, their soldiers would face the double torment of hunger and cold. Meanwhile, dissenting voices emerged within the army; some complained about the court's injustice, and rumors even circulated that Xue's army was about to be disbanded.

Against this backdrop, General Xue, the leader of the Xue family army, decided to personally travel to the capital to request assistance from the imperial court. He led a small group of trusted followers, traversing vast snowfields and enduring hardships to reach the capital. However, the court officials were not welcoming of his arrival; in fact, they were somewhat indifferent. They used various excuses to delay him, making General Xue wait.

During the long wait, General Xue gradually realized that the imperial court might have lost trust in the Xue family army. But he did not give up and continued to go to the court every day to request an audience. Finally, on a cold night, the emperor summoned him.

Inside the palace, the emperor sat high on his dragon throne, looking down at General Xue kneeling below. The emperor coldly asked, "You are the leader of the Xue family army?"

General Xue replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, it is indeed I, your subject."

After a moment of silence, the emperor said, "Your Xue family army has been performing poorly lately, and I am very disappointed in you."

General Xue quickly explained, "Your Majesty, our Xue family army has always been loyal, but we have recently encountered some difficulties. Please investigate."

The emperor nodded slightly and said, "Very well, I can consider restoring your grain supply, but you must prove your worth."

General Xue was moved to tears and immediately expressed his willingness to serve. Therefore, the emperor ordered Xue's army to win the following battles, or else he would no longer provide any support.

Upon returning to the Xue family army camp, General Xue immediately summoned his generals to discuss countermeasures. Everyone understood the importance of this mission; failure would mean annihilation for the Xue family army. After a heated discussion, the Xue family army formulated a detailed battle plan and began active preparations.

In the ensuing battles, Xue's army displayed unwavering fighting spirit and outstanding military talent. They fought bravely through a blizzard, ultimately achieving a crucial victory. This victory not only saved Xue's army but also made the imperial court re-evaluate their strength.

After the war, the imperial court restored the Xue family army's food and supplies, and also gave them more rewards and support. The Xue family army once again became a powerful force for the imperial court, continuing to defend the country's borders and contributing to the peace and tranquility of the people.

Fortunately, I had the foresight to prepare a large amount of food, water, medical supplies, and other necessities before the apocalypse, storing them in my spatial ring. This ring, which I obtained from a mysterious merchant, can store an unlimited amount of items, and I can retrieve whatever I need with a mere thought. This gave me endless resources during the apocalypse and became my guarantee of survival.

In this desolate border region, bitter cold rages and howling winds rage. People live in harsh conditions, lacking food and clothing, each day feeling like an eternity. There are not enough clothes to ward off the cold; people shiver, their lips turning purple. Food is also extremely scarce; they struggle daily to find enough to eat. Worse still, even hot water is a luxury. People can only drink icy water, their bodies gradually eroded by the chill. Their faces are etched with exhaustion and helplessness, their eyes revealing a yearning for life and a sense of uncertainty about the future. Everything here seems so difficult, yet they persevere on this land, using resilience and perseverance to fight against the harsh environment.

As Murong Xun turned to leave, he paused slightly. As he passed Xue Ruanruan, his dark, deep eyes, seemingly capable of seeing through everything, narrowed slightly, then he gazed intently at her. That single glance contained endless meaning and indescribable emotion. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and the entire world shrunk to the two of them gazing at each other.

Murong Xun's eyes held an unfathomable light, a hint of regret mixed with a subtle concern. His gaze was like a sharp sword, piercing through the barriers of time and space, striking deep into Xue Ruanruan's heart. She could even feel the powerful and mysterious force in his eyes trying to probe her deepest thoughts.

The youngest daughter hesitated for a moment, then slowly handed the portrait to the Left Prime Minister. The Left Prime Minister took the portrait and examined it carefully. At first, he didn't pay much attention to it, thinking it was just an ordinary painting. However, when he saw the figure in the painting clearly, his expression suddenly became serious.

The person in the painting was none other than the current emperor! The Left Prime Minister was secretly astonished; he couldn't understand why his youngest daughter would possess a portrait of the emperor. He looked at his daughter again, only to see her eyes flickering, as if she were deliberately avoiding his gaze. This unusual behavior made the Left Prime Minister increasingly suspicious.

The Left Prime Minister stared wide-eyed, his face filled with disbelief. He never imagined that his youngest daughter was holding a self-portrait of the Regent. The Regent in the painting was so lifelike, it seemed he might step out of the painting at any moment. A sense of foreboding welled up in the Left Prime Minister's heart. He knew all too well the Regent's power and methods; if his youngest daughter had any connection with the Regent, it could bring utter destruction to the entire family. He resolved to find out the reason behind this and not allow his family to be plunged into danger.

The Left Prime Minister took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He decided to have a serious talk with his daughter to understand her true thoughts.

“Father, I know I was wrong,” Miss Zuo said, kneeling on the ground with her head bowed.

The Regent sat on his high throne, his eyes blazing with barely suppressed rage. His face was grim, his hands clenched into fists as if he wanted to crush the world. His voice was low and icy, as if from the depths of hell: "Corruption! You despicable officials dare to engage in corruption right under my nose!"

The Regent's voice echoed through the hall, carrying boundless authority and anger. His gaze swept over the officials below, and each of them sensed his rage and disappointment. They lowered their heads, avoiding his eyes, their hearts filled with fear and unease.

The Regent rose and descended the steps, each step heavy, as if carrying immense pressure. He stopped before an official, his gaze piercing the official's eyes. The official trembled, his voice filled with despair and fear: "Your Highness, I...I..."

The regent gave him no chance to explain. With a wave of his hand, he shouted, "Corruption and embezzlement! This is what you've done! You officials, taking the state's salary, do nothing but embezzle and accept bribes to line your own pockets! Your actions have caused suffering for the people and plunged the country into crisis!"

Xue Ruanruan was unaware that her second brother was seriously injured. Her second brother, once a spirited young man, was now lying in a hospital bed, pale and weak, his body covered in wounds, blood constantly gushing from them, staining his clothes red.

Just when everyone thought the situation was settled, an unexpected event occurred. Xue Qing, who had been directing the battle from the rear, suddenly fell into a coma. This turn of events caught everyone off guard.

"General!" the soldiers around him cried out in terror, but Xue Qing did not respond. His face was pale, his lips were tightly closed, as if he had lost all signs of life.

Xue's army was thrown into chaos. Their leader, whom they had relied on, had fallen, and their morale was severely damaged. Some soldiers began to panic, unsure how to proceed in the ensuing battle.

The enemy seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, and the situation instantly became extremely unfavorable for Xue's army. Without unified command, Xue's army's defenses were gradually breached, and casualties continued to rise.

At this critical moment, some generals in Xue's army stepped forward to try to stabilize the situation. They organized the remaining troops and fought hard to resist the enemy's attack, but the situation remained dire.

The Regent thoroughly investigated the corruption case in Jiangnan and discovered that it was linked to flooding. It turned out that local officials had embezzled and accepted bribes, leading to the misappropriation of funds for water conservancy projects. This prevented timely repairs of dikes, resulting in frequent floods. The people suffered enormous losses and were plunged into hardship. The Regent resolved to severely punish the corrupt officials, recover the misappropriated funds, and strengthen water conservancy projects to protect the lives and property of the people.

Last year, the Jiangnan region suffered severe flooding, and the imperial court allocated a large sum of money for disaster relief. However, this money was not fully used for the aid and reconstruction of the victims. Some officials and local powers took the opportunity to embezzle large amounts of the relief funds for their own use.

The wind whistled past his ears, and Xue Da's emotions surged and ebbed like his rapid pace. He recalled every moment he had spent with his master: the trials and tribulations they had weathered together, their tacit cooperation in battle, and their mutual support in daily life—all of which had become the most precious memories deep in his heart.

However, he cannot dwell on the past; he has a responsibility and obligation to move forward. He must convey his master's beliefs to every soldier, inspiring their fighting spirit to fight for the defense of the country and its people.

As they drew closer to the military camp, Xue Da's eyes sharpened. He was ready to face the challenges and trials ahead. He believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would overcome all difficulties and protect this land.

The horse's legs were torn open, the muscles and skin ripped open, blood gushing out and staining the surrounding snow red. A strong stench of blood filled the air, attracting a pack of hungry snow wolves. Their eyes gleamed with a greenish light, revealing greed and ferocity. When they saw Xue Qing galloping towards them, they became even more excited, letting out low growls.

Xue Qing gripped the reins tightly, his gaze sharp as a sword, his eyes revealing determination and courage. He swiftly drew his sword from his waist, the blade gleaming coldly, as if echoing the courage within him. Without hesitation, he raised the sword and slashed straight at the snow wolf's neck. At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.

Xue Er, ignoring the stinging pain coursing through his body, stared wide-eyed at his master who had returned to save him from danger, his heart overflowing with gratitude. However, when his thoughts turned to his master's noble and special status, a strong sense of responsibility surged within him. Without hesitation, he roared at his master, "Go! You shouldn't have taken this risk! Get out of here immediately! Don't worry about my safety!"

However, Xue Qing ignored Xue Er's shouts; his gaze was firm and resolute. He swiftly reached for the bow and arrow hanging from his horse's back, gripped them tightly, and aimed the arrow at the strongest and most cunning alpha wolf in the pack. He steadied himself, adjusted his breathing, and focused intently on his target, as if isolated from the world around him. In an instant, he released the bowstring, and the arrow shot out like lightning, whistling through the air as it flew straight towards the alpha wolf.

The fruits here are not only enormous, like celestial fruits descended from heaven, making them incredibly tempting; but they also taste exceptionally delicious, as if watered by the purest spring water in the world, exuding an alluring aroma—truly a peerless delicacy. How wonderful it would be if I could send these incomparably precious fruits to my father, mother, and brothers in the distant Kingdom of Fufeng! They would surely praise this wondrous taste and feel my deep longing for them. Imagine the satisfied and happy smiles on their faces as they taste these fruits—that scene would be incredibly heartwarming. Perhaps, this could be considered a way of conveying kinship across thousands of miles.

The royal brothers were extremely anxious and personally led a large number of battle-hardened and highly skilled guards on a long journey to find their beloved daughter. Undeterred by hardships and exhaustion, they traversed every corner of Fufeng Kingdom and Chu-Qin Kingdom.

Whether in towering mountains, desolate deserts, bustling cities, or remote border towns, the resolute and determined figures of the imperial brothers were ever-present. They endured wind and rain, traveling day and night, all for the sake of finding their beloved sister as soon as possible and reuniting her with her family.

Because finding their sister was the most important thing in their hearts, and no difficulty could stop them from moving forward.