Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

This trip to Mobei also made Qin Shuangyu suddenly realize that he also had a blood relationship with Chu Wei's children that was ignored in his daily life.

Even though Qin Tao and Qin Zhen have grown up, they are still the people he cares about and wants to protect. At least... he is absolutely unwilling to drag them into an abyss of no return because of his own mistakes.

Ambition and the faces of loved ones collided violently in my mind.

In the end, that delicate little face took an overwhelming position.

Qin Shuangyu suddenly raised his head, the confusion and struggle in his eyes completely faded, leaving only a rock-hard determination. Every word he said was sonorous: "Of course, protecting the loved ones around you is the most important thing!"

Behind the gap in the curtain, Liu Rusi's tense heartstrings relaxed quietly, and a complex and indescribable bitterness surged into her heart - the Qin family's almost obsessive cherishment of kinship always touched the soft corner of her heart inadvertently.

Chu Shiyu nodded imperceptibly, as if he had anticipated this answer. His tone slowed slightly, yet with undeniable determination, "Since that's the case, General Qin, please remember your true intentions and put aside all those secondary, utilitarian thoughts!"

He emphasized the situation, saying, "From now on, no matter how the Emperor deals with the Qin Army—whether he orders you to transfer power to Qin Tao, splits up its organization, or even significantly reduces its size... you must accept it calmly. You must not obstruct it secretly, or even resist it!"

Chu Shiyu took a half step forward, the light from the bonfire dancing in his eyes. He warned with an almost cold tone, "Don't dream of being able to manipulate the situation in Father's hands. What I can see, Father can see too! I didn't move before because you have the ability to protect the country and you are still very useful!"

"The situation in the Northern Tribe has changed. The border defenses will be restructured within a few years! If you hesitate to make a decision, you will suffer the consequences! Sometimes, it is wise to cut off one's own arm to protect yourself!"

Qin Shuangyu's burly frame seemed to have lost some of its strength, yet at the same time, it straightened even more, like an old pine tree unyielding in the wind and snow. He clutched his grandson's letter tightly, his knuckles white from the strain. The thin paper now bore a tremendous weight—the end of his ambition, the very thing he so willingly longed for for the rest of his life.

His throat rolled, and he finally replied heavily, "...General, I understand."

He clasped his fists again, with an indescribable bitterness in his voice, his movements slower and more solemn than before. He nodded deeply and expressed his sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness, Prince Duan... for your advice."

Chu Shiyu just nodded lightly and said no more. His eyes were cast towards the jumping bonfire and the darkening night.

Qin Shuangyu said nothing more, turned around, and walked away with heavy steps. The firelight cast his departing figure in darkness. His imposing presence, as unshakable as a mountain, now revealed a hint of desolation, but also seemed to reveal the relief of being relieved of the burden of years.

Just as Qin Shuangyu's figure was about to disappear into the darkness, the curtain of the main tent was slowly lifted.

Liu Rusi strolled out. She didn't look at the direction Qin Shuangyu left, but walked straight to Chu Shiyu. She looked up at the eyes that were always full of affection for him and said sincerely, "Thank you."

Chu Shiyu could have just stood by and watched Qin Shuangyu's dangerous situation. She knew very well that Chu Shiyu had taken the trouble to persuade her tonight just to eliminate the possible trouble Qin Shuangyu might bring in the future, so as not to implicate Qin Hao and affect her.

"Why are you thanking me..." Chu Shiyu was dissatisfied with her awkwardness, but at the same time delighted by her sincere gratitude. He hummed twice, took her hand and walked back into the tent, then comforted her: "My people are looking after the Dongshan Village in the southwest, so it would be difficult for the emperor to investigate in detail."

"As for the relationship between Qin Hao and Qin Shuangyu..." He changed the subject, stating the cold reality, "As long as there is still a connection between them, it's only a matter of time before the emperor finds out."

Liu Rusi couldn't help but frown. How could she not know this? Even if she had planned to win over Princess Chu Wei to her side before leaving the capital, this guarantee was still meager. How could she safely let her son get involved in such danger? Even if there was only the slightest possibility...

Chu Shiyu reached out and forcefully brushed her cheek, forcing her to look directly at him. He soothed her gently, "Sometimes, showing someone's weakness isn't a bad thing. It just proves that this person... is 'controllable.' As long as Qin Shuangyu can maintain his integrity and take the initiative to remove that awe-inspiring aura, Father won't have to waste his energy dealing with someone who's already harmless."

Ruifeng's eyes shone deeply, as if he wanted to see into her heart. "This principle applies to you, to Qin Hao, and even... to me. We are each other's weaknesses, each other's ties. Perhaps... in this destined unstoppable stream, we can swim more steadily."

Liu Rusi nodded slowly, understanding his intention. However, a deeper meaning also surfaced in her mind.

Previously, when Wu Qiri held her hostage with a knife, she feared Chu Shiyu would compromise because of her, so she fought a desperate battle, breaking the situation with a silver hairpin and killing Wu Qiri... Later, Chu Shiyu was nearly out of control due to the nightmare of his past life's secret love tragedy. She struggled to calm him down, and solemnly declared: "I can't be your weak spot..."

And now, he was also responding and telling her——

"You already are."

"And I'm happy with it."

……

The capital city was bustling with activity, and lights and decorations were everywhere. The good news of the great victory in the north had spread from the court to the streets. The people were celebrating, and the streets were filled with the joy of victory.

However, the palace remained as solemn as usual.

In the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated the pile of memorials on the desk as usual. Emperor Chu Tianming reviewed the memorials with a calm expression.

Li Yinglian, a recently promoted eunuch of about twenty, stood by with bated breath. After the emperor finished reviewing a memorial and rested his pen, he spoke in a clear but not clamorous voice, "Your Majesty, the spies sent to Dongshan Village, southwest of Jinyan City, reported that they were intercepted by forces who revealed they were the servants of His Royal Highness Prince Duan."

"They issued a stern warning, stating that the village was under strict control and that any further intrusion would be tantamount to an offense against their superior—His Royal Highness Prince Duan. Therefore... so far, we've only ascertained that this village only emerged 20 or 30 years after the founding of our Great Xia. Most of the villagers are the descendants of refugees who fled disaster in earlier years. Their ancestors went into seclusion during the early years of our dynasty, and their origins are probably..."

"You are making unauthorized assumptions and will be punished!" the emperor said coldly. The servant couldn't look directly at the emperor's face, unable to see his calm expression.

After Emperor Chu Tianming discovered that his trusted advisor Xu Jin, who was previously in charge of intelligence, was connected to Prince Duan Chu Shiyu, he began training new personnel to handle intelligence. However, it was clear that training a suitable servant was not an overnight task.

Li Yinglian knelt with a pale face and kowtowed deeply. The punishment was only half an hour's kneeling, not too severe... But considering that her predecessor, Wang Hailin, had been executed just a few days after taking office, if she didn't win the emperor's favor, who knew when she would die?

The tiny, auspicious eyes looked down from above, taking in the servant's fear, yet seeing nothing but dust. Being the supreme ruler was naturally intimidating, but a servant's fear helped him to do his job better. With a slight raise of his hand, the always-prepared tea was placed at his fingertips.

The emperor opened his thin lips slightly, his tone indifferent: "Go on and report. Tell me everything you have learned, exactly and concisely."

"Yes, I obey." Li Yinglian's voice trembled slightly, not daring to leave out a single detail. "I've learned that there is indeed a family surnamed Qin in Dongshan Village. The head of the household, Qin Lie, is a hunter. He is married to a woman originally named Liu Cui, who later changed her name to Liu Rusi. Her father, Qin Zhong, was drafted into the military when Qin Lie was six years old. Since then, there has been no news of him. Everyone in the village, and even the Qin family, believed he had died in a foreign land."

"As for Qin Lie's grandparents... the villagers all said that this family was isolated and rarely interacted with the villagers. Only a few people remembered his grandfather, who was tall and strong, and his appearance was also very different from that of the local people..."

"These were initially gathered from the villagers we encountered while traveling. Later, they were discovered by His Highness Prince Duan's servants, and we were unable to go any further. Furthermore, the men employed by Prince Duan often wore the attire of post messengers, but in reality, they were escorts from the civilian 'Hetong Escort Agency,' operating in partnership with the local post station to share the burden of delivering parcels and letters for the common people..."

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind instantly sorting out the information and weighing it. He raised his eyes calmly and said, "Since Shi Yu is keeping an eye on them, I don't think it will harm the country. Pass the order down. There's no need to conflict with their forces. However, we can't completely ignore them either. Just have someone monitor the general movements of the Qin and Liu families in the village."

"As you command!" Li Yinglian bowed her head in acceptance, then added, "I have another matter to report. Previously, in accordance with your order, the Dark Emperor Palace intended to execute Tianqing, a descendant of the last crown prince of the previous dynasty, who resided in the Baitian Temple in the desolate mountains of the southwest. However, the night raid was discovered, and Yisan, a former close guard of Prince Duan's residence, led his men to stop them. This man was a master of martial arts. The Dark Emperor Palace, mindful of Your Majesty's instructions to 'not incite public outrage,' had to abandon the attempt. Later, they attempted to poison him, but Yisan's wife, Du Ruo, a former concubine of Prince Duan's residence, personally took care of the Taoist boy's household affairs and meticulously took care of his food and daily life, preventing the poison from entering his body..."

"Tsk..." The emperor snorted impatiently. Chu Shiyu's grip was a bit too lenient and too strict... However, a prince who was expected to inherit the throne and rule the world should have the courage to control the overall situation.

Although the Last Crown Prince's cow, after being taken back by Prince Duan's mansion, had inexplicably reappeared thousands of miles southwest, it was ultimately... just a cow. And while the Last Crown Prince's ability to divine the mysteries of the universe was formidable, wasn't this trip to Mobei completely at his mercy? And even... it had unexpectedly gone smoothly for his plans.

"Forget it." The emperor said in a cold tone, "Let's put off the punishment for now. Keep a close watch on Baitian Temple. That Taoist boy... maybe he'll be useful in the future."

"I will obey your majesty's order!"

Having obtained the crucial information he desired, the Emperor indifferently ordered, "In future, reports of news will be divided into two categories. First, give me a concise summary of the cause of the matter in a few sentences. If I desire further details, then, as you did just now, give me a complete account of the whole story."

"I will remember your Majesty's teachings!" Li Yinglian kowtowed humbly and then tactfully withdrew. The emperor was too busy to pay attention to the servant's polite request to leave...

Silence returned to the Imperial Study, as if the intelligence report just now had been a mere distraction from the Emperor's hectic schedule. He bowed his head once more, his red pen moving across the mountain of memorials, reviewing the complexities of state affairs.

But this brief peace did not last long.

A moment later, a personal eunuch hurried in and reported in a low but urgent voice, "Your Majesty! The Minister of War has urgently requested an audience outside the palace. He claims to have urgent military information and requires Your Majesty's immediate judgment!"

"Announce." The emperor did not even raise his head.

The Minister of War trotted in, barely catching his breath as he clutched a letter in his hands, speaking rapidly: "Your Majesty! Urgent news from the southwestern border! Myanmar's neighboring nation of Tatai has suddenly mobilized a massive army and brazenly invaded Myanmar! However, the southern barbarians' troops have shown poor discipline, and some have even invaded our border villages, looting and killing civilians. The situation is critical!"

After a pause, the Minister of War lowered his voice, filled with resentment, "And this secret letter clearly states that this rebellion is not without cause. It's likely that certain... wealthy families in the south are secretly colluding with Tatai to deliberately stir up trouble in the southwest!"

The emperor listened to the minister's urgent report, his eyes scanning the secret letter like a hawk. The minister's words were euphemistic, but the letter was a stark accusation! The spearhead was directed at the southern nobles who were deeply intertwined with Prime Minister Zhou's family!

He even foresaw the conspiracy behind it—the Eighth Prince, Chu Shiqi, was nearing the end of his one-year "training" period at the southwestern border! Wasn't this rebellion a godsend? It was the perfect excuse for that scoundrel to "accept the mission in a time of crisis," establish himself in the southwestern army, and perhaps even seize military power! The Zhou family's move was perfectly timed...

But! Can this situation really go as they wish?!

A cold glint suddenly gathered in the emperor's eyes! The war in Mobei had just ended! A hundred thousand troops were mobilized, costing thousands of gold a day! Daxia had invested a million men to quell the northern threat in one fell swoop! Even now, there were still a hundred thousand elite soldiers in armor, and two or three hundred thousand logistics personnel were still operating to consolidate the victory! Daxia needed to recuperate. How could it continue to wage wars on all sides?

The emperor's brow furrowed, a few cold lines carved into his face as he made his decision: "Immediately issue a command to the southwestern border troops: All troops are under martial law and must strictly guard the border! Anyone who trespasses into the Great Xia territory will be killed without mercy!"

"As for the dispute between Myanmar and Tatai..." The emperor paused for a moment, tapping his fingertips on the cold imperial desk. "I will not intervene for now. The subsequent handling will be decided at court tomorrow!"

"I obey your order!" The Minister of War did not dare to say much. He bowed his head and hurriedly retreated.

In the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated the emperor's ever-changing face.

The emperor did not put down the secret letter. He stroked the rough letter paper with his fingertips and was still thinking deeply... This letter came from the general of the southwestern border army. The warrior did not know how to beat around the bush and was not lacking in courage, so he dared to use such uncompromising words.

However, being able to so accurately discern the Zhou family's intentions was something no ordinary general could do. Who else but Chu Shiyu could be the manipulator behind the scenes? This was indeed his son's usual style: tough and direct, tearing away all pretense.

But... the emperor's thoughts suddenly turned. Chu Shiyu's actions in the Mobei war... especially the series of strategies against the Wala, were not like Chu Shiyu's tough and ruthless style.

At first, Chu Shiyu actually proposed to Wala a "loss-making deal" of exchanging 8,000 prisoners of war for the son of a mere county official... At that time, he just thought it was a delaying tactic and did not think deeply about it.

But every step that followed was strange!

The Oirat foolishly betrayed their alliance and launched a surprise attack on New Year's Eve, only to be captured by Chu Shiyu for another 12,000 men. The prisoner exchange, a "disadvantageous" one, became a piece of fat meat that the Oirat regretted and was reluctant to part with... Then, Chu Shiyu proposed a shocking new prisoner exchange strategy: the Oirat would offer their Khan in exchange for the captured warriors!

What's even more heartbreaking is that they compare the Oirat Khan with the county magistrate's son! Each in exchange for 8,000!

He then ordered his men to publicize this "huge bargain" to all the tribes of the Oirat—sixteen thousand warriors, only two needed! The overwhelming public opinion and the enormous temptation forced the Oirat leaders to endure the humiliation.

However, the Wala never anticipated that Chu Shiyu had already screened and detained the truly valuable prisoners of war. Many of the 16,000 he redeemed were publicly incited to rebellion by accusing them of "Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers truly of any race?" Upon their return to the Wala, these individuals were like cold water in hot oil, precipitating internal strife within the Wala...

After the "Prince Yuan" returned to his clan, even the 4,000 captives who had been selected were instigated. The delegation sent by the Oirat to negotiate a prisoner exchange was simply left aside, and Chu Shiyu even sent the son of the county magistrate who had been exchanged to "kill the people and destroy their hearts."

The latest battle report has arrived, and Wala has fallen apart and is no longer able to unite!

Thinking carefully at this moment, this set of interconnected, thorny, and heart-wrenching schemes... is not very similar to Chu Shiyu's usual tough, ruthless, and straightforward style.

And the beginning of this change... The emperor's eyes suddenly became sharp - it was exactly after Liu appeared in the Mobei war zone!