Accidentally dressed as an empress

After the Ghost Festival, Yunxiu could not stay in Jinghe Hall for too long, so she asked for her leave to her mother, the queen. Her mother did not say anything and let her go directly.

Yunxiu and Zhong Yi got on the carriage that was leaving the palace. The carriage's wheels rumbled through Lingyun City and stopped in front of a house in the city center.

This five-story house was her new residence, complete with a carp pond, courtyard, pavilions, and towers, offering a breathtaking view at every step. However, it hadn't yet been decorated with a plaque, as her mother hadn't bestowed a title upon her.

Yunxiu spent a day in seclusion in her study, tinkering with a sandbox, which was essentially just a pile of sand on a square table. Su Qing was puzzled when she heard she wanted river sand, wondering how he could get it for her.

Yunxiu is no longer a young lady, so what else can she do? She can only lie dormant, in other words, lie down for a while.

But Yunxiu was not really lying down. She was not idle either. She was reviewing the battle in which Yun Kingdom almost fell in front of the sand table.

The valley between the two high mountains, a line of sky, was replaced by a depression between two sand dunes. She marked the line of sky and the surrounding hills with red flags.

Yun Xiu propped up her chin with one hand and muttered to herself, "The Thin Line of Sky is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If we hold this place, we'll have secured the North Gate. Stationing a heavy troop here will secure the victory once and for all. I really can't understand how this place, where one man can hold ten thousand men back, could be lost?"

"The Yun Kingdom is surrounded by mountains, and there is a pass like this in the east, south, west and north." Yun Xiu planted three more small red flags.

"But being surrounded by mountains on all sides has also invisibly blocked Yun Kingdom's trade with other countries. The kings of Yun Kingdom in all dynasties believed that Yun Kingdom had developed agriculture and rich resources, including salt, iron, gold, silver and copper mines, and was completely self-sufficient." Yun Xiu planted small red flags at several mineral deposits.

These are all key geographical locations. Yunxiu pondered that such terrain naturally favors the formation of large settlements, which then evolve into states. However, if external factors arise, a self-sufficient system can easily collapse.

For example, if a strong man breaks through the natural barrier and breaks in, there will be a flat land after passing the barrier, and it will be like entering an uninhabited area.

Zhong Yi was also reading in his study. Rows of bookshelves were stacked with bamboo scrolls that she had spent a fortune buying for him. The moment Zhong Yi entered the study, he felt completely unable to move. He had been accompanying her during her two days of retreat, sending lunch and dinner to her study by a servant. He even read while eating.

At this time, he was wearing a snow-white soft silk long dress, and his hair was simply tied up with a silver hairpin. He was reading a book in a trance and didn't pay any attention to what Yunxiu was doing.

Yunxiu put down the small flag and asked the person reading by the bookshelf, "Cousin Yi, why do you think Zhong Luan lost?"

Zhong Yi closed the bamboo book with one hand and gathered his wide, snow-white sleeves. The white color set him off beautifully, like a light cloud covering the moon. His expression was indifferent, and without looking up, he held the book in his hand and answered, "Your Highness, are you testing me?"

Yunxiu said, "It's not a test, but a request for advice. You are a soldier, and no one knows the battle situation better than you."

Zhong Yi's mood was low, his voice low. "We received the intelligence at the time, but Zhong Luan ignored it, delaying military operations. Yan's 30,000-strong army assembled and launched a surprise attack. The enemy and our forces were vastly outnumbered. Zhong Luan, realizing he couldn't hold the pass, abandoned it and fled."

"General Lin arrived just in time and threw rocks from the top of the mountain, cutting off the Yan army's advance. However, General Lin, despite the natural barrier, fought hard for two days and two nights before repelling the Yan army. The root cause was that the cloud-covered terrain was blocked, the weapons were inferior, and the horses were weak."

Zhong Yi was a little worried. "Our weapons forging technology has not improved at all in the past thirty years. I heard that the State of Yan already has crossbows. We must be on guard."

Yun Xiu sighed and said, "A country that is rich but has a weak military will ultimately be unable to survive."

Zhong Yi nodded and said, "I heard that the ironware of Heng State is rare among ten thousand."

Yunxiu thought for a moment and said, "It is better to learn Hengguo's technology than to buy Hengguo's ironware."

Zhong Yi shook his head. "Heng State is very xenophobic. Skilled craftsmen won't easily pass on their skills to outsiders."

There was a knock on the study door, and Su Qing said, "I have something important to report to the master."

Yunxiu said directly, "Come in."

Su Qing entered the study and half-knelt, saying, "Your Highness, the assassin has confessed."

Seeing this, Zhong Yi rolled up the bamboo book and stood up to leave. Yun Xiu quickly stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve, "It's okay, let's listen together."

"The Third Princess sent someone to Lingyun City to hire a killer, and the assassin accepted the mission."

Yunxiu frowned. When she saw the Third Princess in the palace, she thought she was tall and always looked high and free, but she never thought that she would secretly hire someone to kill someone.

Yunxiu said coldly, "How did the assassin get into the palace?"

Su Qing clasped his fists and said, "His Royal Highness is in poor health. Noble Servant Zhang is now in charge of all palace affairs. Noble Servant Zhang is highly suspicious."

Zhang Guishi was the father of the Fifth Prince and the adoptive father of the Third Princess. Yunxiu was curious, who was the Third Princess's biological father?

The system said, "The Third Princess's father was of low status, a foreign captive. He was spotted by His Majesty in disguise at the slave market and brought into the palace. It's said that he was restless and seduced the former garrison commander and Prime Minister, so His Majesty killed him. The Third Princess was taken in and raised by Noble Servant Zhang."

The Third Princess, Yun Ji, followed her father, who was always successful among men. The Third Princess was also a playboy, fond of flirting with men, and would be inappropriate with any man she saw. The original owner had actually lost to such an opponent.

Seeing Yunxiu remained silent for a long time, Su Qing said, "Master, do you want to retaliate? Su Qing is willing to take the lead and make her pay with blood."

Yunxiu replied, "Su Qing, fighting and killing is the worst option."

Yunxiu looked at Zhong Yi, wanting to hear his opinion. "Cousin Yi is very resourceful. I'm in a difficult situation right now. Is there anything you can do?"

Zhong Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness can hold a banquet at home and invite the Third Princess. Have the servants spread the word in advance that those retainers are being expelled. They will undoubtedly try to get on the Third Princess's good side. Regardless of whether the Third Princess listens to the scholar's advice or not, His Majesty, a military general, dislikes empty talkers. The mere fact that she, an underage princess, keeps retainers is enough to displease His Majesty."

Yunxiu nodded in agreement, "Good, let's do as Cousin Yi wishes from now on."

Zhong Yi's plan was a gentleman's overt scheme. She could use both the overt and the treacherous schemes; she had no moral baggage. She even thought the gentle approach was too gentle against those who wanted to kill her.

Yun Ji had Noble Lady Zhang to protect her. She did whatever she wanted in the palace and did a lot of immoral things. She beat and scolded the servants and killed many lives. It was all because of Noble Lady Zhang that she cleaned up the mess for her.

There are many princesses in the palace, including the Sixth Princess and the Seventh Princess. Although they are younger, they should be easier to control for Zhang Guishi than a cruel princess who is constantly causing trouble.

Yunxiu already had a plan in mind, and said to Su Qing, "Come closer and listen."