The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

The two waited for a while before they saw Xu Shiyun, Qinglu and Lin Zhaoye coming back.

Seeing the three people's faces flushed, Zhao Qingbo asked curiously, "Did you also drink a few glasses with them?"

Xu Shiyun was still holding a brush in her hand, and she laughed when she heard it. "You're still blaming me? I saw they were silent, so I went out to look for them, but I couldn't find you two. I don't know where you went." After saying that, she walked over and picked up a pear blossom from Lu Ling's head. "There are still pear blossoms in this yard. Don't lead Sister Ling astray."

Zhao Qingbo smiled and walked forward, pretending to tickle her. "Well, I didn't know you were such a sharp-tongued person. I just asked a question, and you said so much."

Xu Shiyun hid behind Lin Zhaoye and quickly begged for mercy.

Lin Zhaoye could drink much better than Qinglu. She blinked her eyes and patiently let the two men treat her like a wooden stake.

After making a lot of noise for a while, everyone finally got tired and asked the maids to bring them tea and snacks. They talked while enjoying the breeze.

Seeing that Sister Lin was not as lively as before and seemed to be worried, Lu Ling picked up a piece of lotus cake from the plate and held it in front of her with a handkerchief. "Sister Lin, I think this lotus cake tastes good. You should try it." Lin Zhaoye took it, took a few bites and put it down.

Xu Shiyun had been secretly paying attention to Lin Zhaoye's actions. She walked past Zhao Qingbo and sat between the two of them. She took Lin Zhaoye in her arms and sighed, "His Majesty has ordered General Lin to guard the border. He will set off soon, and your sister Lin will go with him." Xu Shiyun's father worked in the Hanlin Academy, and she had heard about what was going on in the court.

Lin Zhaoye sat up from Sister Xu's arms, her eyes determined. "Father said that because there wasn't enough rain outside the Great Wall this spring, the barbarians are starting to stir up trouble again, looting several villages in succession." She looked at everyone and said, "Father wanted to leave me at home, but I insisted on going with you. Even though I'm a girl, I'm also passionate about it, and—" She didn't know what she was thinking, her eyes slightly reddened, and she wiped her face. "Mother is bedridden all year round. If anything happens to Father, as his daughter, I can serve him by making soup and bringing him medicine."

Xu Shiyun had a complicated expression and gently touched her hair. She was about the same age as Zhao Qingbo, and Lin Zhaoye was only two years younger than her.

At the same time, a fast horse galloped into the capital, and the riders on the horse kept shouting, "Eight hundred miles, hurry up, all the outsiders, please retreat!"

The soldiers guarding the city saw the yellow flag on the man on horseback from afar and hurriedly evacuated the crowd at the city gate to clear the way for him.

Inside the Purple Palace, Emperor Longqing sat at his desk, his face flushed and his rage surging. "How dare you, the barbarians, slaughter my people and steal my food!"

The ministers standing in the hall were divided into two rows, with Prime Minister Lu Dan and veteran general Lin Ze standing in the first row respectively.

General Lin stepped forward and spoke in a deep and loud voice, "Your Majesty, the ones who invaded our dynasty this time are the Hu people from the Cao State who were grazing near Xiaoguan. They gather at this time every year to harass and invade. Among them, the Kemuqigut tribe is the most brutal. Wherever they go, they will massacre all the men in the village and rape and torture the women to death. As a result, nine out of ten villages on our border are empty. Your Majesty, I believe we should fight!" Every word was powerful.

Prime Minister Lu, a man in his early fifties with fair skin and a long beard, stepped forward and disagreed, "Your Majesty, I think what General Lin said is inappropriate. The barbarians in the southwest are no match for the Tartars in the north. Last year, the Tartars repeatedly harassed the northern border. While there were no major battles, there were constant small ones. This spring alone, we've fought over twenty of them, resulting in heavy casualties. I believe we should prioritize the northern border and take our time with the barbarians."

"Your Majesty, when I was stationed in Xiaoguan a year ago, according to the statistics of spies, the Kemu Keqi tribe had no more than 3,000 people. Now, in just one year, it has expanded to 10,000 people, with more than a thousand horses. Their ambition is obvious. If we continue to sit idly by, they will become a serious threat to our dynasty. By then, we will be attacked from all sides and will be in danger." General Lin tried his best to persuade His Majesty to send troops.

As soon as the words fell, everyone held their own opinions and discussed them. Suddenly, someone shouted, "How could the Cao Kingdom sit idly by and watch the Kemu Keqi tribe become powerful? I believe our dynasty should join forces with the Cao Kingdom to destroy them." It turned out to be the Minister of Justice, Li Ming. As soon as this statement was made, many officials nodded in agreement.

General Lin also thought it made sense. He looked at His Majesty and said, "Our dynasty has severed diplomatic ties with the State of Cao for many years. This matter requires further consideration."

Emperor Longqing nodded and said, "General, you are right. Does Prime Minister Lu have any plan?"

Lu Dan stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being so bold. The previous dynasty sent ten princesses from the royal family to various countries to marry each other as a token of our sincerity in cultivating a century of friendship. Until the fall of the previous dynasty and the founding of the Taizu dynasty, there was no such thing as princesses marrying each other because of Taizu's opposition. The State of Cao and our dynasty gradually became estranged. I think..." Lu Dan glanced at Emperor Longqing's face before continuing, "You can choose a princess from the royal family to marry each other, reconcile the old friendship, sign an alliance, and work together with the State of Cao to destroy the Hu bandits."

As soon as these words were spoken, the ministers' noise became even louder.

No matter what the previous dynasty said, the Changchun Palace remained quiet and peaceful.

The Queen Mother had been pondering the words left by Taoist Qingxu for the past few days. Could it be that her great harvest would eventually leave her? Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a tightness in her chest and coughed softly a few times.

Nanny Guizhi brought a bowl of soup and said softly, "Your Majesty, this is the loquat and snow pear soup sent by His Majesty. It moisturizes the throat and reduces internal heat. Your Majesty, please have some."

The Empress Dowager drank a few sips from Nanny Guizhi's hand and then asked her to take it away. Perhaps because she had been busy and worried in recent days, she always felt weak and her heart was blocked.

"Empress Rong asks for an audience." Guizhi whispered in the Empress Dowager's ear.

The Queen Mother glanced outside and asked, "Why is she out today? Let her in."

"Yes." Guizhi bowed, turned around and led in a woman in a moon-white robe and palace dress.

The woman had an ordinary appearance but an elegant temperament. She lowered her head and knelt on the ground to kowtow to the Queen Mother. "Your Highness, I pay my respects to you."

"Get up. How come you have time to come to me today?" Rong Fei has been living in seclusion since her father was dismissed from his official position. The empress dowager was very puzzled.

Rong Fei did not stand up. She looked up at the Queen Mother with red eyes. "Your Majesty, I know that the harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs, but I am reluctant to let Yongle marry to Cao State. I beg Your Majesty to persuade Your Majesty to find someone else."

The Queen Mother was startled. She looked at Guizhi and said, "The Emperor wants to send Yongle to the Kingdom of Cao to marry. How come I have never heard you mention this?"

Nanny Guizhi knelt on the ground and said, "The Emperor is afraid that you will worry, so he has ordered that no one in Changchun Palace should discuss this matter."

"Ah, Your Majesty!" Rong Fei screamed in surprise. Guizhi looked up and saw that the Empress Dowager had fainted with her eyes closed.

"Go and get the imperial physician quickly." Nanny Guizhi was extremely panicked. The Empress Dowager was already sixty-three years old. If anything happened to her, their lives would be in danger.

Emperor Longqing and the imperial physician rushed to Changchun Palace, and soon after, Concubine Zhao also hurried over.

After Emperor Longqing understood the whole story, his face turned ashen. He walked over to Concubine Rong and slapped her in the face. "Bitch!"

Rong Fei fell to the ground, tears streaming down her face. "Changle is the eldest princess of the Qin Dynasty. I still remember the emperor's smile when he took her from my arms, praising her for her intelligence, benevolence, and gentlemanly manners. Now he wants to marry her off to that barbaric land with his own hands. I cannot bear it. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider."