Did the eldest daughter ascend the throne today?

In the imperial study, the chief minister, the second chief minister, and the six ministers of the six ministries were all present, and the atmosphere was weird.

On the table, a human head pickled in lime looks lifelike, eerie and terrifying, making people shudder.

The emperor looked at it for a long while, his expression was very complicated, "Is this the head of Prince Igil?"

"Yes." Rong Jing bowed slightly without saying another word.

The emperor waved his hand, and the eunuch took the head away. Everyone then breathed a sigh of relief and looked secretly at Marquis Dingyuan in the corner.

Marquis Dingyuan was not calm in his heart, but he remained expressionless.

The emperor picked up the case record and flipped through it page by page. When he saw a certain line, his pupils suddenly dilated. After a long silence, he showed the record to all the important ministers.

Everyone took turns reading it and were secretly shocked. Even the prince was dragged into this. The Ning family's matter was getting bigger and bigger. They really didn't know how it would end.

The emperor stared at their faces, but unfortunately, they were all old foxes and none of them were guilty or afraid.

"She said that the military token was not in her hands?"

The military talisman is also called the tiger talisman. It is used to mobilize troops and is a very important token. During a war, soldiers only recognize the tiger talisman and not the person.

So, if it is lost or stolen, it will be a big trouble.

Unfortunately, the Ning family army's military token disappeared with the death of the Ning family, which made everyone in the court uneasy.

"Yes."

The emperor threw the record on the table and rubbed his brows. "My dear ministers, what do you think?"

The important officials looked at each other, and the Prime Minister was the first to step forward and said, "Your Majesty, Ning Zhiwei is a woman, and it is impossible for her to have access to the military token. The point is, it would be useless even if she had it. Who would listen to the orders of a woman?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry. This military token is important and unimportant." The Minister of War said this, but he was also anxious in his heart and had ordered people to conduct a secret carpet search.

"The military token is used to mobilize troops, but ordinary people cannot command the Ning family army with it. Only the Ning family can do it."

Whether to recognize the military token and not the person depends on the situation. For two hundred years, the Ning family army has only been under the control of the Ning family, and only the Ning family has this appeal.

The problem was that all the adult males of the Ning family had died on the battlefield, and there were only two underage boys. The oldest was only five years old, and it would take more than ten years for him to grow up.

It is hard to say whether they can grow up safely. Even if they do, a dozen years is enough for earth-shaking changes to occur.

As for the men missing on the battlefield, if they don't show up now, there is almost no chance of them surviving.

This created a power vacuum.

There are 100,000 Ning family soldiers guarding the northwest. Who wouldn’t want to take such a big piece of fat meat?

The deputy assistant cupped his hands and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the Ning family army is now leaderless. We must appoint a commander as soon as possible to calm the army and regain the lost territory."

The emperor picked up the fragrant tea and took a sip. His face was blurred in the smoke.

"My dear ministers, do you have any recommendations?"

Everyone immediately jumped up and said, "I recommend General Ma Meng. He has served under General Ning for many years and is a brave warrior. He is a rare and powerful general."

This is royalism.

"I recommend General Han Qu. He is a master in commanding troops and has some of the demeanor of General Ning when he was young." This is the eldest prince's faction.

"I recommend General Jiang. He loves his soldiers like his own sons and has great prestige among them." This is the Prince's faction.

In order to fight for the territory and the powerful Ning family army, everyone put all their efforts into it, clamoring and almost starting a fight, completely losing the demeanor of high-ranking officials in the court.

The emperor looked at the scene with great interest, his mind racing.

After an unknown amount of time, the emperor looked at the darkening sky and said calmly, "Everyone go, Marquis Dingyuan stay."

When the important ministers retreated, they all looked at Marquis Dingyuan meaningfully, and Marquis Dingyuan felt nervous and uneasy.

While he was daydreaming, an indifferent voice sounded above his head, "She didn't recognize you?"

Dingyuan Hou thought of the girl who seemed dignified and decent but actually had a very bad temper, and a surge of anger surged in his heart, "She treated me like a stranger."

He could give up that daughter, but she could not be unfilial and could not deny her.

She actually tried to scare him on purpose. She is not worthy of being a daughter.

The emperor glanced at him indifferently. Ning Zhiwei looked more like the former wife of Marquis Dingyuan. Her temperament was similar as well. They were both strong-willed and stubborn, and would rather die in glory than live in disgrace.

"After all, they are blood relatives. Just coax them. There is no overnight hatred between father and daughter."

Dingyuan Hou's mind moved, "You are right."

The emperor's hands tapped the table lightly, "tat, tat," which made Marquis Dingyuan flustered.

"I have a mission for you. Find the military token within a month."

Marquis Dingyuan suddenly realized that the emperor still suspected that the military token fell into Ning Zhiwei's hands.

For a moment, I couldn't describe the feeling in my heart.

"I am afraid it is difficult for you to..."

He would rather keep himself out of trouble than get involved in this mess.

The emperor raised his hand and interrupted him, "Let Jingshu come to the palace to accompany the imperial concubine. The imperial concubine misses her very much."

Lin Jingshu, the most beloved daughter of Marquis Dingyuan, is beautiful and the most beautiful woman in the capital. She is also very talented and her door is almost broken down by matchmakers.

The Dingyuan Marquisate had high hopes for her, hoping that she would ascend to the throne and lead the family to the pinnacle of power.

Dingyuan Hou thought of his expectations for his daughter, and his heart was burning with enthusiasm. "Yes, I will do my best."

If he wants to save face, he can send his most valued daughter first.

He believed that Jingshu was willing to share her father's worries and had the ability to do so.

With Jingshu's means, she could take down that dead girl with just a little trick.

How could a little girl who grew up at the border, with limited knowledge and vision, be a match for the noble lady who was carefully trained by a marquis's family?

Besides, people who value feelings will be moved by emotions.

The sun is scorching, the cicadas are chirping, making people feel restless and irritable.

Outside the General's Mansion, the Embroidered Uniform Guards were flushed with heat under the scorching sun, and they raised their hands from time to time to wipe the sweat from their foreheads.

This damn weather is too hot, when will it end?

A carriage came slowly over, made of the most precious golden nanmu wood, the body of the carriage was inlaid with gorgeous gems, the curtains were made of tribute snow satin, the patterns embroidered with gold thread were exquisite, and the mark of Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was hung in the most conspicuous place, shining brightly in the sun.

The Royal Guard stopped the carriage and said, "The Emperor has ordered that no one may enter or leave without his order."

The curtain was lifted, and a stunning beauty appeared in front of everyone. She was dressed in an elaborate palace dress, which made her look noble and dignified. Her inky black hair was adorned with a phoenix-shaped gold hairpin with ruby ​​beads. Her skin was as white as cream, even whiter than snow, her red lips were more beautiful than cherries, and her eyes were charming and captivating.

The Jinyiwei gasped and stared with their eyes wide open.

A maid smiled and said, "This is the eldest daughter of Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion. She is here to visit the Ning family. Please make way for her."

The Royal Guard asked in a trembling voice, "Is it Miss Lin Jingshu who wrote the quatrain "The plum is three points less white than the snow, but the snow is less fragrant than the plum?" Note (1)