The Virgin Mary in the Book: I Decide My Life with Two Swords

Cang Yue Kingdom - Capital - Imperial Palace

On the afternoon of May 11th, an urgent letter was delivered to Nangong Hanyi's imperial study from eight hundred miles across the border.

After reading it, Nangong Hanyi urgently summoned Leng Ruxue, Ye Tingxun, Nangong Xuan, Nangong Chen and the Minister of War to discuss state affairs.

After everyone arrived, Nangong Hanyi spoke, "Da'e has led an army of 200,000 and is marching straight to the border. It seems this battle is inevitable. What are your thoughts?"

Leng Ruxue sat down and saluted, "Your Majesty, since we know that we have to fight, no matter how much we discuss, it is unavoidable. We have nearly 300,000 troops on the border, so why should we be afraid of his mere 200,000 men?"

"Master Leng, this war is no joke. What if we lose?" Ye Tingxun was dissatisfied.

"How dare you!" Leng Ruxue said with a dark face, "The three armies haven't moved yet, and you dare to shake their morale? When Ye Ting was defending the border, he easily won with only 100,000 men against the 25-man army of Da'an. Your son now has an army of 300,000, and he is still afraid of an enemy of 200,000? From ancient times to the present, which emperor has not fought several battles? Our Majesty is wise, and our soldiers are brave. So far, they have never lost."

"I think what the Grand Tutor said makes sense. Since it is unavoidable, we have to fight well. 300,000 against 200,000, I think Ye Jingyun will be fine, right?" Nangong Hanyi also knew that this battle was unavoidable.

"If we really fight, my son won't lose," Ye Tingxun said confidently.

"That's good, it's worth it for me to give him the command of the border army."

"Yes, Your Majesty trusts me. I will never let Your Majesty down."

"In that case, Wen Changqing, you must make arrangements immediately."

"I am here," said Wen Changqing, the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, hurriedly bowing. "I will send an urgent message eight hundred miles away. Tell General Ye to win the battle and dampen the enemy's spirit."

"Then everyone leave. Chen'er, you stay," said Nangong Hanyi.

"Your son/your old minister/your humble servant takes his leave." Everyone left in unison.

Nangong Hanyi immediately turned into a loving father: "Your injury hasn't healed yet, and your mother is worried about you. Tonight, the three of us will have a family dinner."

"Your son obeys your order," Nangong Chen bowed.

"You child, you still talk to the emperor like this. You came back yesterday, but you didn't even come to the palace to let the emperor see you."

"Father, please forgive me. I wanted to go to the palace, but my fifth brother was so bumpy all the way that he couldn't even get out of bed. I was really worried."

"I heard about it, and I also sent supplements and rewards over. With the imperial physician here, nothing will happen." Nangong Hanyi demonstrated partiality to the fullest. In his heart, it didn't matter whether Nangong Che lived or died. This son was dispensable.

Nangong Chen had long been accustomed to it and knew his father's ruthlessness. He could only take care of Nangong Che himself and make his life more comfortable.

"Go to Dekang Palace and rest first."

"Yes." Nangong Chen bowed and left.

Dekang Palace was where Nangong Chen lived as a child. Everything here was familiar. He habitually sat in the courtyard basking in the sun. "Yingren, do you find it strange that my royal brother seemed to have wanted to ask me something all along the way?"

"That's true. Moreover, Xuan Lei said that more people have been watching you recently, including people from the Prince's Mansion and the Ye Mansion. They seem very nervous." Ying Ren didn't understand either.

"My royal brother has been keeping an eye on me for more than a day or two. It doesn't matter. It's just that his words on the road are so confusing and strange." Nangong Chen was puzzled.

At this moment, on the other side, the prince had a bad feeling after returning home: "Shen Can, do you think Ye Jingyun can win?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I think there's no problem," said Shen Can.

The prince rubbed his brows and said, "Father ignored me today. If another major incident happens, I will be in great danger."

"Your Highness, no matter how worried you are about this matter, you can't do anything about it. Ye Tingxun and Ye Ling are the trouble now," said Shen Can.

"You're right. Ye Tingxun has turned against me. He clearly didn't lose the letter, but he claimed to have, causing me to make a wasted trip to Nanlai. But no matter what, Ye Ling can't live. If he really gave that imperial edict to my seventh brother, it would be a disaster. As long as Ye Ling and Ye Tingxun are dead, even if my seventh brother produces the imperial edict, who can prove that it was me who did it?"

"Your Highness, don't worry. Nan Lai has left some people here, and there is also An Kui as an insider. Ye Ling probably won't live long." Shen Can was quite confident.

"You should also send someone to keep a close eye on Prince Beichen. I've tried to probe him repeatedly along the way, but he never mentioned Ye Ling or the imperial edict. This is not a good sign."

"We've already sent someone to keep an eye on it."

"Has that traitor been dealt with?"

"Don't worry, Your Highness. It has been handled. No one would have thought that Ye Tingxun bribed the eunuch Feng who was close to you."

"Tell Zhou Cunhao that I have buried him for ten years. His mission has begun. No matter what method is used, Ye Tingxun must be taken down."

"Yes, I will go tonight."

At the same time, Ye Tingxun also returned home, and his disciple Zhou Cunhao came forward to greet him: "Sir, something is not good!"

"what happened?"

"Students tried to contact Eunuch Feng today, but found he had disappeared."

Ye Tingxun was stunned for a moment before speaking, "It seems the Crown Prince wants to crush me to death. Eunuch Feng brought back the secret letter and saw with his own eyes that Ye Ling gave all the secret letters to the Crown Prince and the imperial edict to King Beichen. Now, if the Crown Prince wants to protect himself, he must silence me. If I die, and Ye Ling dies too, who in this world can testify that he was the author of that fake imperial edict?"

"Sir, what shall we do then?"

"I hope Jingyun can achieve a complete victory, so that I can take action. Recently, I have asked my subordinates to be more alert. This is an emergency, and we must be on guard against both the Crown Prince and King Beichen."

“Yes, students understand.”

On the other side, Wen Changqing, the Minister of War, returned to his mansion, took off his hat in the study, and prepared to rest.

"Is Lord Wen back?" A gentle voice sounded from behind the screen.

Wen Changqing was startled and quickly stood up and knelt in respect. "Why are you here in person? I am terrified."

"Master Wen, please stand up quickly. I came here just to confirm with you whether our matters have been arranged." The man's voice was pleasant, but a little short of breath, and he coughed slightly from time to time.

"Don't worry, everything is going according to plan. I won't let you down," Wen Changqing said as he stood up.

"Will it implicate you?"

"Absolutely not. Ye Jingyun was recommended by the Crown Prince, guaranteed by Ye Tingxun, and appointed by His Majesty himself. He was not sent by the Ministry of War. Therefore, even if we suffer a defeat, I will not be implicated."

"That's good. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince thinks you belong to him. My Lord, please keep it that way."

"Don't worry, I won't reveal anything."

"That's good," the person behind the screen stood up and said, "My Lord, you have been overworked recently. Use this little money to buy some supplements!"

"I dare not..." Wen Changqing didn't finish his words. The people behind the screen left. They slowly walked around the screen and saw a box of gold bars. They were ecstatic. Nine out of ten officials are corrupt, and he was no exception.

In the evening, Nangong Hanyi was about to go to the Queen's Palace for dinner with his family of three, when the chief eunuch Kang Hai hurried in: "Your Majesty, there is a secret letter from outside."

Nangong Hanyi took the secret letter, opened it and took a look, his expression immediately turned from sunny to cloudy: "This bunch of rubbish, they can't even do this."

"His Majesty…"

"Okay, let's go have dinner." Nangong Hanyi burned the secret letter before leaving.

At the same time, in the Royal Courtyard, Nangong Che was helped in from the gate of the courtyard. He was surprised to see the people in the courtyard: "Third brother, why are you back?"

"Where have you been? You're so sick, and you're still running around. Are you trying to kill yourself?" The third prince, Wu Wang Nangongzi, cursed and carried Nangong Che back to the room in a princess hug. "Don't run around anymore. Can you take your life seriously?"

“Third brother” Nangong Che had tears in his eyes: “From childhood to adulthood, only you and Seventh Brother treat me as a human being.”

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Nangong Zi angrily poured a glass of water: "Hurry up and drink a sip to moisten your throat."

"Don't be alarmed, Third Brother. I was just taking a walk in the garden to get some fresh air. But you, why are you back?"

"The emperor ordered me to be rotated back and rest for a month. When I returned to the palace, I learned that you were sent to Nanlai. It's a long and difficult place. What if something happens to you? The emperor is really something. He had to send you there. Doesn't he know your health condition? If he summons me back, can't I go and pick up my seventh brother?" Nangong Zi was a rough man with no thoughts in his mind. He became more and more angry as he spoke.

"Third brother, just be obedient and say these words to me. Fortunately, we, the seventh brother, are back safely. This time, father... forget it, I won't say anymore." Nangong Che shook his head slightly.

"I won't say anymore. I know it even if you don't say it. People outside say that father favors seventh brother. In fact, it's just the opposite. Father has always been on Nangong Xuan's side. Who says we brothers are the most like father and son? They are equally ruthless and ungrateful." Nangong Zi dared to say anything.

“Third brother, you can’t say that.” Nangong Che quickly signaled Xianghui to close the door.

"What's there to be said? You dare to do it but you don't dare let others say it? This time it's obvious that Nangong Xuan wants to kill Seventh Brother, but Father just gave him a light punishment and let it go. It's disheartening."

Nangong Che smiled bitterly: "Third brother, in fact, I just can't understand. My royal brother is already the crown prince, sitting firmly in the East Palace, why would he... kill his brothers? No matter what, my seventh brother is his brother from the same mother, closer than you and me, isn't he? How could he do that? "

"Power is supreme, what are family members? Fortunately, you are a sickly person, and I am just a warrior, otherwise he would have been unable to tolerate you. Just look at my seventh brother and you will know."

"Seventh brother is also not competitive! He just wants to be an idle prince. You don't know that all the way back, the emperor has been mocking and ridiculing seventh brother for redressing General Ye's grievances. Seventh brother and I can only keep quiet."

"You two are always like this. In my opinion, Nangong Xuan has something to hide, that's why he wants to kill my seventh brother. Now there is a war on the border, and thousands of soldiers are shedding blood and sweat. If Ye Tingzhan is still alive, would Da'e dare to use 200,000 people to challenge our 300,000 troops? I'm afraid he wouldn't dare to even fart. Now, Ye Jingyun is a waste, what can he do?" Nangong Zi simply felt sorry for the lives of the border soldiers.

"Third brother, you can still fight in battle, but I am just a useless person."

"Don't say that again. Your mission is to live well."

"Okay, listen to Third Brother"

"That's right! Take your medicine on time, stay out of the wind, and live a good life."

Nangong Che nodded slightly, smiling with tears in his eyes.