Chapter 65
Yuli’s movements stopped.
She heard the sound of footsteps entering the hall, dense and neat. Yuli couldn’t help but put down her pastry, and her breathing also lightened.
Outside the screen, the four ministers bowed. Xie Yao called for them to rise.
The Minister of War was the first to step forward, took a breath, and said, “This subject has something to report.”
Xie Yao hummed faintly in agreement. “Speak.”
The Minister of War took a step forward. The other three all looked at him with heavy faces. “This is an urgent military report from the northern border that arrived yesterday evening. Please have a look, Your Highness.”
A servant took the military report and presented it before the imperial desk. Xie Yao opened it and glanced at it. It was not much different from what Cui Chengbi had said yesterday.
The Shenwu Army led by Du Ling had disappeared in the grassland. The Rouran had launched a large-scale invasion of the border, had taken two passes, and were now heading south, intending to attack the important northern border city of Huilong City.
Xie Yao put down the memorial and had it passed to the other ministers to read.
After the few of them had finished reading, they were greatly alarmed. The Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Chen Xiang, who was of equal rank, immediately bowed and cupped his hands. “This subject has heard that Grand General Cui fell from his horse last night and was seriously injured. I’m afraid he can no longer go on an expedition. This subject requests that Your Highness immediately lead the expedition in person.”
“We request Your Highness to lead the expedition in person,” the other three echoed in a low voice.
Behind the screen, Yuli did not know the details, but hearing their voices, they should be old ministers over fifty, who were urgently pleading with him to lead an expedition in person.
It seemed that it had already developed to the point where he had to go on an expedition.
Yuli knew that there was such a thing in the original novel and was not very surprised. He would surely return in triumph, so there was no need to worry.
But the old ministers in the hall had lost their usual composure. Seeing that the person at the head of the table had not expressed his opinion, they stated one by one the necessity of him leading an expedition in person.
The Minister of War: “Huilong City is easy to defend and difficult to attack, but if we do not send reinforcements as soon as possible, I’m afraid it will not be able to hold on for many days. The military situation is urgent. I implore Your Highness to lead the expedition in person on the same day.”
The Vice Minister of Personnel also changed his previous calm and frowned. “Previously, we had hoped for Grand General Cui, but today I heard that he cannot get on his horse. I’m afraid it really requires Your Highness to lead the expedition in person to quell this battle.”
The Minister of Revenue agreed.
The four of them looked eagerly at the young regent at the head of the table. The hall was quiet for a moment.
Behind the screen, Yuli also held her breath.
After a moment, Xie Yao said calmly, “I know. Is there anything else to report?”
The person at the head of the table had not expressed his opinion. The four of them had grave expressions, but they did not dare to persuade him anymore.
To them, this matter was already a matter of great urgency. They had thought that they would be discussing the personal expedition for half a day today, but they had not expected it to be taken lightly, as if it were not a big deal.
The regent had always been deep and inscrutable, and everyone knew that he was of military background and was a fearsome existence to the Rouran clan. Since he was holding it back, he must have a plan in his heart.
The four of them began to talk about other important matters in the court.
The atmosphere in the hall returned to its usual calm.
They discussed important matters such as the conscription of money and grain, and the revision of the official decrees.
Yuli was getting sleepy and took another pastry to eat.
After a few bites, she picked up a teacup to drink. When she put the teacup down, the voices in the hall happened to fall silent, and the teacup made a light sound, which was a little abrupt in the hall.
Yuli wished she could shrink back. Fortunately, it was only quiet for a moment, and then the sound of conversation started again.
The Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs mentioned the court situation.
“A country cannot have two masters. Now, all the political affairs of the court are handled by Your Highness, but His Majesty is still in his position. Although the hearts of the court are set, besides the new ministers promoted by Your Highness, most of the mediocre ones are loyal to Your Highness because of the military power of the Shenwu Army. If this battle cannot be won quickly and the Shenwu Army is dragged into a quagmire, I’m afraid the people’s hearts will be unstable, and the state will not be stable.”
The moment the Right Vice Director said this, the hall instantly fell silent.
Behind the screen, Yuli seemed to have understood a little. He meant that Xie Yao had won people over with military power. If the myth of his military power were to be broken, he would probably be backlashed.
But what he said was that the country would be in chaos. He did not say that he would be betrayed and overthrown.
Yuli guessed the deep meaning, and her heart suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
She heard Xie Yao chuckle. “Minister Chen has the world in his heart and dares to speak frankly. But, I have a question. I ask Minister Chen to answer truthfully.”
The Right Vice Director bowed in response. “This subject is terrified.”
Xie Yao: “A country cannot have two masters. If there is only one master, will you follow me, or someone else?”
This was so direct that even Yuli understood. She felt her scalp tingle for that Minister Chen.
To choose him, the regent with superior military power and the power of life and death, or to choose the legitimate young emperor. This was simply a life-threatening question.
After a long moment, among the others in the hall, some were sweating on behalf of Minister Chen, while others were calm and composed, as if they already had an answer.
Minister Chen stood up a little straighter and, neither servile nor overbearing, said to the person at the head of the table, “This subject has gone through three dynasties, with ups and downs. I have always recognized only one principle: the people are precious, and the ruler is light. If the ruler is not virtuous, the people will have no peace. This subject is only loyal to a virtuous ruler.”
Then in his eyes, was Xie Yao virtuous or not?
Yuli wanted to hear Xie Yao ask further, but he did not press the issue.
“With Minister Chen’s words, I am also at ease.”
How could he be at ease? Yuli didn’t understand. Did he think he was a virtuous ruler?
It seemed so and yet not so. Yuli’s mind could barely keep up.
Xie Yao took in the reactions of everyone in the hall but did not express his opinion on whether to lead the expedition in person.
“I will decide on this matter. You may withdraw for now.”
Hearing the sound of footsteps again, everyone had left, and the palace door had also been closed. Yuli let out a heavy breath and picked up a teacup to drink.
Xie Yao walked to the side of the screen and looked at her. “According to your thoughts, should I lead the expedition in person?” he asked directly, as if he were sure that Yuli understood the seemingly profound words just now.
Yuli swallowed the water. He was leaning against the screen, looking calm and at ease, as if everything were under his control. The brain-burning conversation just now was just a daily routine, and he knew those old ministers like the back of his hand.
No wonder even the Crown Prince and some other prince could not beat him.
In Yuli’s daze, Xie Yao had already walked up to her.
He raised his finger and touched her forehead. “Speak.”
Yuli thought for a moment. “Anyway, you will surely win. Go.”
Xie Yao’s expression was complex. “This trip will probably take more than a month.”
“Is that fast or slow?”
Seeing that she had no reluctance at all, Xie Yao was a little resentful. He pulled her up, sat down, and placed her on his lap.
Yuli tilted her neck to look around. There was no one in the hall, so she relaxed.
In a strange place, Yuli was still a little uncomfortable. She let him hold her but did not hold him back. She smiled. “They all want you to go. That Minister Chen even said that if you don’t go, you are not a virtuous ruler.”
Xie Yao laughed, out loud.
Yuli didn’t understand.
“What are you laughing at—”
Before she could finish, he had sealed her lips.
He pressed against her lips and said, “My judgment is indeed excellent.”
Yuli quickly pushed him. Just now, he had been so deep and inscrutable, making his ministers terrified. Now he was holding her and kissing her here. She really couldn’t get used to it.
But how could she push him away?
She was kissed until her whole body went limp, and she fell limp in his arms.
At the end, Yuli also smiled. “I was good to begin with.”
“Yes, you are a priceless treasure, my treasure.”
Yuli was so embarrassed she didn’t dare to look at him, but she couldn’t suppress the corners of her mouth.
“My Yuli understands everything, even better than a man who has been in the officialdom for many years.”
Yuli pursed her lips but was not modest. Of course, she had studied hard for sixteen years after all. Although she was not good at literature, she had a much wider range of knowledge than them. She knew a little about everything. How could she not be better than an ordinary man?
It was just that she couldn’t beat him.
Yuli’s confidence suddenly soared.
Seeing Yuli’s lips curl into a smile, and her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, Xie Yao couldn’t help but lower his head and kiss her again.
It seemed that bringing her here today had a good effect. He was submitted to by tens of thousands of people. Even if she did not respect him, she would admire him even more.
*
Xie Yao was handling political affairs in Zichen Hall. Yuli had originally wanted him to send her back to the Xie Residence, but thinking that he would probably be going on an expedition soon, she decided to accompany him.
In the afternoon, Xie Yao was still handling political affairs in the hall. Yuli had fallen asleep on a soft couch behind the screen.
A book was covering her face.
Not long after, she was woken up by the voices outside.
It was the voice of a child.
“I have heard that the war in the northern border is getting more and more intense, and the Shenwu Army has been temporarily defeated. I have come to implore my Second Father to lead a northern expedition to save the people of my dynasty from the fire and water.”
Yuli was taken aback for a moment. After a moment, a neat and loud mountain of voices shouted, “We implore the Regent to go on an expedition!”
Yuli was so startled that her body trembled, and the book on her face slid off. In the afterglow of the crowd’s shouts, it fell with a thud, extremely loud.
Yuli held her breath and didn’t dare to move.
Outside the screen, Xie Yao glanced at the screen.
He said to the young emperor, “Your Majesty, please rise. Since I have been entrusted by heaven, it is my duty to protect the people of my dynasty. It is my duty to lead the troops on an expedition.”
The young emperor stood up, and the crowd of ministers behind him also stood up. The Grand Tutor was at the head and said a lot of flattering words to Xie Yao.
Behind the screen, Yuli resumed her breathing. She suddenly heard Xie Yao say, “The northern expedition should be sooner rather than later. I will set out tonight. You can all rest assured.”
So soon. Yuli’s heart suddenly felt a little empty.
The people in the hall were cleared out again. Yuli looked at the sky. The sun was already setting in the west.
Xie Yao did not walk in again. She stood up, calmed down a little, and walked out with a normal smile.
Xie Yao was in a hurry to deal with political affairs and seemed not to have noticed her.
Yuli walked to his side. Only then did he stop his brush and look. Yuli sat down beside him and held his waist from the side.
Xie Yao’s figure stiffened for a moment.
Yuli smiled. “You will surely return in triumph.”
Xie Yao held her in his arms. “You have such confidence in me?”
“Of course,” because she knew the plot, but she changed her words. “My husband is the most amazing man in the world.”
Xie Yao paused, sighed softly, and said in a muffled voice, “I wish I could take you with me.”
“Then take me with you,” Yuli said, looking at him, her expression serious, not like a joke.
Xie Yao pinched her cheek. “I’m afraid it will scare you and give you nightmares every night.”
Yuli pursed her lips, looked up, and kissed him. “I will wait for you to come back.”
Xie Yao held her tightly in his arms. “When I’m not here, stay in Mingyue Residence and don’t take a single step out of the second gate.”
“Mm.”
“No matter what happens outside, don’t listen, don’t believe.”
“Mm.”
“Wait for me to come back obediently.”
Yuli: “Mm, I will wait for your triumphant return.”
*
Xie Yao had been on an expedition for nearly ten days. Yuli stayed in the Xie Residence and was very obedient to him, not taking a single step out of the second gate of the Xie Residence.
Every day, she would study some delicious food and research new velvet flower styles. Time passed quickly.
The original novel did not say how long he had been on the expedition, but the original heroine seemed to have run quite far, so it should have been a not-so-short time.
On the night he left, Yuli faced an empty bed and was sleepless all night.
For the next two days, she did not sleep well. Perhaps it was because she was used to his company, and because he was in a high position, and his life was already full of dangers. Now that he was on the battlefield, she always felt that she would not be at ease if she could not see him.
Fortunately, Xiyun and Jingyu were by her side, playing and making a fuss, which also diluted the feeling of not being used to it.
Just as she was getting used to the free days without him, on this evening, Zhile suddenly returned.
These days, no one was allowed to enter or leave the Xie Residence. Zhile had often been in and out of the residence before, and the shadow guards all knew her. Hearing Xie Yao’s instructions before he left, they did not let her in.
A maid who knew her saw her and came to report to Jingyu. Jingyu thought for a moment. Zhile must have something important to say. She wanted to have the shadow guards let her in, but the shadow guards actually refused.
Jingyu went to have a look. Zhile’s face was full of anxiety. Seeing her come, she quickly waved at her.
Jingyu had to tell Yuli.
Yuli went to the second gate in person. After the shadow guards had thought about it, they let Zhile into the residence, but they closed the gate, locked it, and no longer let them see the situation outside the residence.
After Zhile entered the residence and saw Yuli and the others, her panicked heart gradually calmed down.
She held Xiyun. “You scared me to death. I thought I would never see you again.”
Xiyun patted her back and quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Zhile: “I heard that the Shenwu Army was defeated in Huilong City, and the regent has disappeared. Now the capital is in chaos!”