Ying Yuan's heart moved, maybe Ruyan could really help him. He pondered for a moment and said, "Then do you have any good ideas?"

Ruyan walked to the map beside her, pointed to a location on the map, and said, "Your Majesty, the Xiongnu's target for this invasion should be Yanmen Pass. Yanmen Pass is strategically located and easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is an important gateway to resist the Xiongnu's invasion. I suggest that Your Majesty send a large number of troops to guard Yanmen Pass, and at the same time send an elite force to bypass the Xiongnu's rear and cut off their food and supplies. In this way, the Xiongnu will surely collapse without a fight."

Ying Yuan looked at the map and thought carefully about Ruyan's strategy. He had to admit that Ruyan's strategy was indeed feasible.

"Your Majesty," Ruyan walked to Ying Yuan and gently hugged his shoulders, "I believe that as long as Your Majesty adopts my strategy, you will be able to repel the Huns and defend the Qin Empire!"

Ying Yuan looked at Ruyan, with a complex emotion in his eyes. Did this woman really want to help him, or did she have other intentions? He couldn't tell for a moment.

At this moment, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the door. A eunuch ran in in a panic and knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty! It's bad! Yanmen Pass...Yanmen Pass has been lost!"

Ying Yuan's face changed drastically. He stood up suddenly and pushed Ruyan away. "What did you say? Yanmen Pass was lost?!"

"Yes... yes, Your Majesty!" The eunuch was trembling with fear, "The Xiongnu... the Xiongnu army has already breached the Yanmen Pass and is heading towards the heart of our Great Qin!"

Ying Yuan felt his eyes go dark and he almost fainted. He never thought that Yanmen Pass would be lost so quickly!
"Your Majesty!" Ruyan hurriedly supported Ying Yuan, "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!"

Ying Yuan grabbed Ruyan's hand, his eyes filled with anger and despair, "It's all your fault! It's all your bad idea! I...I'm going to kill you!"

Ruyan's face turned pale, and a trace of fear flashed in her eyes. She never thought that things would turn out like this.

At this moment, a cold voice sounded in the hall, "Your Majesty, calm down. This matter has nothing to do with Miss Ruyan."

Ying Yuan and Ruyan turned their heads at the same time, and saw a mysterious man in a black cloak and a hat who had appeared in the hall at some point.

"Who are you?" Ying Yuan asked vigilantly.

The mysterious man slowly took off his bamboo hat, revealing a handsome face. He looked at Ying Yuan, with a wicked smile on his face, "I am Guigu Zongheng, Gai Nie."

Ying Yuan's eyes widened with anger, and he grabbed Ruyan by the collar, almost lifting her off the ground. "Bitch! What are you thinking?!" He gritted his teeth, his knuckles turned white, and he almost crushed Ruyan's bones.

Ruyan's face was pale, and she kicked her legs wildly, but she was powerless to break free. She looked at the furious Ying Yuan in horror, tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn't dare to make a sound, for fear of angering him and bringing about her own death.

"Your Majesty, calm down. This matter has nothing to do with Miss Ruyan." Gai Nie's voice sounded again, like a basin of cold water poured on Ying Yuan's head. He slowly let go of Ruyan, letting her collapse to the ground, coughing violently.

Ying Yuan turned around and stared at Gai Nie with a sharp gaze, "Who are you? Why are you speaking for this bitch?"

Gai Nie still maintained his calm expression and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the loss of Yanmen Pass was not Miss Ruyan's fault. The Xiongnu came south this time with preparations and had already secretly bribed the commander of Yanmen Pass."

"What nonsense!" Ying Yuan shouted angrily, "If I hadn't listened to this bitch's bad advice, I wouldn't be so passive!"

"Your Majesty, there is nothing wrong with Miss Ruyan's plan, it's just that the timing is wrong." Gai Nie explained slowly, "The Xiongnu had planned it long ago. Even if Your Majesty did not send troops to circumvent them, Yanmen Pass would have been lost sooner or later."

Ying Yuan took a deep breath and tried to suppress the anger in his heart. Although Gai Nie's words were unpleasant to hear, they were not without reason. He sat back on the dragon chair dejectedly, rubbing his swollen and aching temples, feeling exhausted. "Then according to your opinion, what should we do now?" Ying Yuan said with a hint of weakness in his tone.

Gai Nie took a step forward, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, the only solution now is to mobilize the army as soon as possible to fight the Xiongnu. I am willing to serve Your Majesty at the cost of my life, lead the troops to fight and repel the Xiongnu!"

Ying Yuan's eyes lit up, as if he had grasped a life-saving straw. "Are you serious, sir?"

Gai Nie said firmly: "My words are as good as gold, and I will never break them!"

Ying Yuan was overjoyed and immediately issued an order to appoint Gai Nie as the general, commanding the entire country's troops to go out and fight the Huns.

Ruyan watched this scene from the side, feeling mixed emotions. She originally thought she was doomed, but unexpectedly she was saved by Gai Nie. She looked at Gai Nie gratefully, but found that Gai Nie's eyes did not stay on her, but looked into the distance, as if thinking about something.

The next day, Gai Nie led his army to the front. Ying Yuan personally saw Gai Nie off and told him to be careful.

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I will live up to my mission!" Gai Nie bowed and turned to leave.

Watching Gai Nie's receding back, Ying Yuan's heart was filled with hope. He believed that with Gai Nie around, the Qin Empire would surely be able to defeat the Xiongnu and defend its country!

However, the development of the matter was beyond everyone's expectations. After Gai Nie led his troops to the battle, the news of victory came one after another, and the Xiongnu was defeated step by step. Just when they were about to drive the Xiongnu out of the Qin territory, they suddenly received news that Gai Nie's army was ambushed by the Xiongnu at night, suffering heavy losses, and Gai Nie himself was missing.

This news was like a bolt from the blue, sending Ying Yuan from the peak of hope into the abyss of despair. He couldn't believe that Gai Nie would actually lose, and lose so thoroughly!

In the court, the ministers discussed the matter. Some believed that Gai Nie had fallen into the Xiongnu's trap, while others believed that Gai Nie had deliberately surrendered to the enemy. For a time, the court was in a panic and rumors were everywhere.

Ying Yuan was in a state of confusion, he didn't know who to trust, nor what to do. At this moment, Ruyan appeared in front of him again.

"Your Majesty," Ruyan said softly, "I know a secret that may help Your Majesty."

Ying Yuan looked at Ruyan, his eyes full of suspicion, "What secret?"

Ruyan leaned close to Ying Yuan's ear and whispered, "I know where Gai Nie is..."

Ying Yuan stood up suddenly and grabbed Ruyan's hand, "What did you say? Do you know where Gai Nie is?"

Ruyan smiled slightly, with a sly light in her eyes, "Yes, Your Majesty. I know where Gai Nie is, and I also know why he lost..."

Ying Yuan couldn't wait to ask: "Tell me! Where is Gai Nie?"

Ruyan did not answer, but slowly reached out and untied her belt...

In the hall, the candlelight flickered, reflecting Ruyan's graceful figure. Ying Yuan's eyes were attracted by Ruyan's actions, and his breathing became rapid. (End of this chapter)