Although Meng Lie was somewhat dissatisfied, he still obeyed the order and left. Ying Yuan looked at Meng Lie's departing back, but felt a little uneasy in his heart. He always felt that the Xiongnu's invasion this time did not seem to be accidental, and there might be a bigger conspiracy behind it.

That night, Ying Yuan tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He got up and went to the imperial study, and in the dim candlelight, he looked at a map hanging on the wall. On the map, the Great Qin had a vast territory, dominating the Central Plains. However, at this moment, the loss of Yanmen Pass was like a stain on the map, which made him feel extremely glaring.

"Your Majesty, are you still worried about the situation at Yanmen Pass?" A gentle voice sounded behind Ying Yuan.

Ying Yuan turned around and saw that Liu Ruyan had come to the study room without him noticing. She was wearing a lavender dress, with long black hair draped over her shoulders. In the dim candlelight, she looked particularly beautiful.

"Ruyan, why are you here?" Ying Yuan asked.

Liu Ruyan walked to Ying Yuan, gently massaged his shoulders, and said softly: "Your Majesty is very busy, so you should also take care of your rest. I believe that Your Majesty will be able to resolve the matter of Yanmen Pass."

Ying Yuan sighed and said, "I just don't understand why the Xiongnu chose to attack at this time? Aren't they afraid of my wrath?"

Liu Ruyan chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten what Li Bai said? Perhaps, all this is destined."

Ying Yuan was shocked when he heard this. Li Bai's words echoed in his mind again, making him feel terrified. Was he really just a chess piece, at the mercy of others?

"No, I don't believe in fate!" Ying Yuan stood up suddenly, his eyes flashing with determination, "I am the emperor, my destiny is controlled by myself!"

He walked to the map, pointed to the location of Yanmen Pass, and said, "I will personally lead the army to recapture Yanmen Pass and let the Xiongnu barbarians know that the emperor of the Qin Dynasty is not a lamb to be slaughtered!"

Liu Ruyan looked at Ying Yuan, a complicated look flashed in her eyes. She walked gently behind Ying Yuan, put her arms around his waist, and said softly, "Your Majesty, I will always be with you."

Ying Yuan felt Liu Ruyan's tenderness, and a warm current surged in his heart. He turned around and hugged Liu Ruyan tightly in his arms, feeling her body temperature, and his heart gradually calmed down.

At this moment, a sharp voice suddenly came from outside the door: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Prime Minister Zhao Gao... has rebelled!"

Ying Yuan was shocked. Zhao Gao was plotting a rebellion? How could this be possible? He took a deep breath and tried to keep himself calm. "Let him in!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a guard ran in in a panic, knelt on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, Zhao Gao... Zhao Gao led his troops to surround the palace, and... he also killed the commander of the imperial guards!"

A cold light flashed in Ying Yuan's eyes. Zhao Gao, you are so brave! He pushed Liu Ruyan aside, strode to the door of the imperial study, and shouted to the guards outside: "Pass on my order, mobilize all the imperial guards to protect the emperor!"

However, all he got in response was dead silence. Ying Yuan's heart sank. It seemed that Zhao Gao had already taken control of the palace. He turned around suddenly and looked at Liu Ruyan, only to see a strange smile on her face.

"Ruyan, you..." Ying Yuan had a bad feeling in his heart.

Liu Ruyan slowly walked up to Ying Yuan, stroked his cheek, and said softly, "Your Majesty, you'd better surrender. You can't beat me."

Ying Yuan grabbed Liu Ruyan's wrist and angrily asked, "What do you mean? Are you also Zhao Gao's man?"

Liu Ruyan chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, you are really a forgetful person. Have you forgotten that my father was executed by your order?"

Ying Yuan was struck by lightning, and he remembered that Liu Ruyan's father was the Prime Minister Liu Yong who was executed by him for treason. He never thought that Liu Ruyan would collude with Zhao Gao for revenge.

"You...you actually..." Ying Yuan pointed at Liu Ruyan, shaking with anger.

A trace of resentment flashed in Liu Ruyan's eyes, and she said, "Your Majesty, I will get back what you owe me bit by bit!"

After saying that, she waved her hand suddenly, and several men in black rushed in from outside the door and surrounded Ying Yuan.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry!" said a man in black, and then slapped Ying Yuan on the back of the neck.

Ying Yuan’s eyes went dark and he lost consciousness.

When he woke up again, he found himself locked in a dark and damp dungeon, with his hands and feet chained and unable to move.

"Awake?" A feminine voice sounded outside the cell.

Ying Yuan looked up and saw Zhao Gao standing at the door of the cell, looking at him with a smug look on his face.

"Zhao Gao, why are you doing this?" Ying Yuan asked gritting his teeth.

Zhao Gao laughed and said, "Your Majesty, you are so naive. Do you think this world really belongs to you? No, it belongs to me!"

Ying Yuan angrily said: "You are dreaming! I am the emperor of the Qin Dynasty, and this world belongs to me!"

Zhao Gao snorted disdainfully and said, "Your Majesty, you are already a prisoner. Why are you still acting like an emperor? To tell you the truth, I have already controlled the entire court. All your loyal ministers and generals have already submitted to me."

Ying Yuan's heart sank. He knew that what Zhao Gao said was true. He looked around. This dark and damp dungeon symbolized his current situation. He used to be an emperor, but now he was reduced to a prisoner. This huge gap made him feel extremely desperate.

Zhao Gao walked to the door of the cell, looked down at Ying Yuan, and said, "Your Majesty, do you regret it now?"

Ying Yuan raised his head, his eyes gleaming with an unyielding light, and said, "I will never regret it!"

Zhao Gao's face changed when he heard this. He kicked the prison door fiercely and said angrily, "If you don't accept my toast, you will be punished! Come, serve His Majesty well!"

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Ying Yuan alone in the dungeon. Several jailers came in with whips and beat Ying Yuan severely.

Ying Yuan gritted his teeth and said nothing. He knew that it was useless for him to say anything now. Only by enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens could he find a chance to make a comeback.

The dungeon was filled with the sound of whips hitting flesh and Ying Yuan's suppressed moans. This sound was like the howling of hell, making people shudder.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the dungeon, and then a familiar voice sounded outside the dungeon: "Your Majesty! I am here to save you!"

It’s Meng Lie!
Meng Lie? Why is he here? Ying Yuan had a glimmer of hope in his heart, but it was immediately extinguished. Zhao Gao had already controlled the entire court. Meng Lie was alone, what could he do?

"Your Majesty, I am leading my men to charge in! Please wait, I will come to rescue you right away!" Meng Lie's voice was getting closer and closer, mixed with the sound of swords clashing.

Ying Yuan was extremely anxious, as he was worried that Meng Lie would fall into an ambush by Zhao Gao.

With a loud "bang", the door of the dungeon was blown open, and Meng Lie, covered in blood and holding a long sword, appeared in front of Ying Yuan.

"Your Majesty! I am late!" Meng Lie knelt on one knee, his eyes full of guilt.

Ying Yuan looked at Meng Lie with mixed feelings. He didn't expect that at this critical moment, it would be Meng Lie who came to save him.

"Get up, General Meng." Ying Yuan said, "I'm fine."

"Your Majesty, that bastard Zhao Gao has taken control of the entire palace. We must leave here as soon as possible!" Meng Lie said anxiously.

Ying Yuan nodded, knowing that now was not the time to reminisce about the past. He struggled to stand up, but the chains on his hands and feet prevented him from moving.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry!" Meng Lie said, swinging his sword to cut off the chains on Ying Yuan's hands and feet. "Thank you, General!" Ying Yuan moved his hands and feet and felt sore all over.

"Your Majesty, let's go quickly!" Meng Lie supported Ying Yuan and walked out of the dungeon.

Outside the dungeon, shouts of killing were deafening. The soldiers brought by Meng Lie were fighting fiercely with Zhao Gao's imperial guards.

"Kill! Don't leave any one alive!" Meng Lie shouted and swung his sword to kill the enemy.

Although Ying Yuan was physically weak, he was not willing to be outdone. He drew the sword from Meng Lie's waist and joined the battle.

Although Ying Yuan's swordsmanship was not as exquisite as Meng Lie's, his cultivation was far superior to Meng Lie's. Every time he swung his sword, it contained a powerful true energy, making him invincible.

"Your Majesty is mighty!" Meng Lie's soldiers were greatly encouraged when they saw Ying Yuan being so brave, and they all shouted loudly.

Ying Yuan and Meng Lie fought side by side, like two fierce tigers, charging through the enemy group, unstoppable.

Although Zhao Gao's imperial guards were large in number, they were defeated by the joint attack of Ying Yuan and Meng Lie.

"Your Majesty, let's retreat quickly!" Meng Lie said to Ying Yuan when he saw the Imperial Guards were in disarray.

Ying Yuan nodded. He knew that now was not the time to fight. They had to leave the palace as soon as possible to preserve their strength and make a comeback.

The two men fought and retreated, and finally broke out of the palace.

"Your Majesty, where are we going now?" Meng Lie asked.

Ying Yuan looked around and found that they had arrived in a desolate wilderness.

"Go...go to Yan State." Ying Yuan thought for a while and said.

Yan State was the weakest among the seven states and the one farthest from Qin State. Ying Yuan chose to go to Yan State in order to avoid Zhao Gao's pursuit and also to accumulate strength and wait for the opportunity to make a comeback.

"Your Majesty, the journey to Yan State is long, and we are penniless now. How can we get there?" Meng Lie asked with some concern.

Ying Yuan smiled slightly and said, "General Meng, don't worry. I have my own way."

After that, he took out a jade pendant from his bosom, handed it to Meng Lie, and said, "Take this jade pendant and go to the richest bank in the city and say you want to pawn this jade pendant."

Meng Lie took the jade pendant and examined it carefully. He found that the jade pendant was crystal clear and exquisitely carved. It was obvious that it was not an ordinary item.

"Your Majesty, this jade pendant is so valuable, you..." Meng Lie hesitated.

Ying Yuan waved his hand and said, "It's okay, it's just a personal property. As long as I can make a comeback, I will redeem it sooner or later."

Meng Lie nodded, said no more, took the jade pendant, turned and walked towards the city.

Ying Yuan looked at Meng Lie's departing back, feeling mixed emotions. He was the great emperor of the Qin Dynasty, but now he had fallen to the point where he had to pawn his jade pendant, which made him feel extremely humiliated.

"Zhao Gao! I will definitely come back!" Ying Yuan clenched his fists, roared to the sky, his voice filled with resentment and anger.

At this moment, a clear voice came from behind him: "Hey, isn't this our Great Qin Emperor? How did he fall to this point?"

Ying Yuan turned around abruptly and saw a woman in a purple dress standing behind him, looking at him with a teasing expression.

This woman was none other than the princess of the State of Yan, Yan Dan.

Ying Yuan never thought that he would meet Yan Dan here. He secretly thought that it was not good, and he knew that he was in danger...

The appearance of Yan Dan made Ying Yuan's heart sink to the bottom. He forced himself to remain calm and sneered, "I have fallen to this point, and the Princess of Yan seems very happy?"

Yan Dan covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes full of sarcasm: "Ying Yuan, you have come to this day! Thinking back to how powerful you were in the past, you are like a lost dog now. It's really ridiculous!"

Ying Yuan gritted his teeth, anger boiling in his heart. How could he, the great emperor of the Qin Dynasty, have ever been humiliated like this?
"Yan Dan, don't be too proud!" Ying Yuan said angrily, "I will come back sooner or later, and when I do, I will make you pay the price!"

"Come back? Just you?" Yan Dan curled his lips in disdain. "What do you have now? You have lost all your troops. What else do you have to fight me?"

Ying Yuan was speechless for a moment. Yan Dan was right, he really had nothing now.

Seeing Ying Yuan remained silent, Yan Dan laughed even more wildly: "Ying Yuan, weren't you very good at pretending? Why aren't you pretending now? Weren't you invincible in the world? Why aren't you invincible now?"

Every word Yan Dan said was like a sharp knife, piercing Ying Yuan's self-esteem. He felt his face burning, as if he had been slapped hard in the face.

"Yan Dan, you..." Ying Yuan was furious, but unable to refute.

"What? You want to hit me?" Yan Dan looked at Ying Yuan provocatively, "Come on, hit me! Aren't you very powerful? Go ahead and hit me!"

Ying Yuan clenched his fists, wishing he could punch Yan Dan's smug face. But he knew he couldn't act impulsively. He had to be patient and wait for the right moment.

"Yan Dan, just wait for me!" Ying Yuan gritted his teeth and said, "I will definitely come back!"

After that, he turned and left.

"Hahaha..." Yan Dan looked at Ying Yuan's fleeing back and laughed out loud, "Ying Yuan, you are such a loser! Do you think you can still turn things around? You're dreaming!"

Ying Yuan ignored Yan Dan's ridicule. He quickly left the wilderness and walked towards the city.

He must find Meng Lie as soon as possible and then find a way to go to Yan State.

Ying Yuan walked into the city and found it prosperous, with people coming and going, and it was very lively.

He walked aimlessly on the street, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

He didn't know where to go or what to do.

He felt like a lone boat drifting in the vast ocean, not knowing where to go.

Just then, he suddenly heard a loud noise.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a group of people gathered together, seemingly watching something exciting. (End of this chapter)