The wives of the concubines are empresses

Shangguan Wanjun, feeling tired, waved her hand to signal everyone to leave.

"I'll take my leave."

Everyone left the Dragon Bedchamber one after another. When they walked out of the palace door, they looked at each other, and they were all a little confused about the emperor's actions.

Concubine De Mu Wennian was still thinking about the task assigned to her by the emperor.

Concubine Hui murmured to herself in confusion, "What does the emperor mean?"

After listening to their discussion for a long time, Concubine Lu Liu Haiming agreed, "Perhaps the emperor is exploring our potential and using it for his own benefit."

Defei Mu Wennian thought about what Lufei said and felt that it made a lot of sense.

"Brother Liu is absolutely right. You guys should work hard. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

The concubines looked at his departing back and were all thinking about what the emperor had said to them.

Shangguan Wanjun, who was in the main hall of the Dragon's Bedroom, felt a headache and rubbed her forehead as she looked at the records on the rice paper.

"It's really not easy. I have said so much. Aunt, go ask the imperial kitchen to make me a bowl of mung bean soup."

It's so taxing, I don't know how many of her brain cells have died.

The chief steward of the Imperial Household Department has also registered the palaces of each concubine and is now respectfully presenting them to the emperor for review.

"Thank you, General Manager Yuan. Please send someone to the five temples and four officials to inform them that the concubine will enter the palace on the seventh day."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Has the palace been repaired and furnished?"

"Everything has been arranged. We are just waiting for you to check in."

Shangguan Wanjun nodded and waved for him to leave.

A young palace maid saw the emperor supporting his head with his hands, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead. An idea came to her mind, and she mustered up her courage and took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, may I ask your servant to rub it for you?"

Shangguan Wanjun opened her eyes and looked at the person who was speaking. She was a pretty lady.

"Okay, come and try."

The little palace maid was delighted and walked forward respectfully to the right side of the dragon and phoenix chair, a little behind Shangguan Wanjun, and stretched out her little hand to start kneading.

Shangguan Wanjun suddenly felt comfortable and closed her eyes to enjoy it.

"Learned it?"

"Your Majesty, I have not done so."

Seeing that the emperor didn't say anything, the little palace maid felt a little frightened.

Is the emperor angry?

When she began to think wildly, Shangguan Wanjun suddenly spoke again, "What's your name?"

"Your servant is leisurely."

"You look almost like me."

"The maid is indeed 14 years old."

Shangguan Wanjun lamented that the women in the palace were either too young or too old.

After about a quarter of an hour, Shangguan Wanjun raised her hand to stop him.

"Okay, let's take a break. I don't want to tire out such a beautiful lady."

Although she is a woman, she is also kind and gentle to women.

Youyou was terrified. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."

Thinking of the concubines who left the palace, Shangguan Wanjun had an idea.

"What do you think of my concubines?"

Youyou was shocked: Why would the emperor ask this question?

"I don't know, I didn't see the appearance of the side masters clearly."

As a maid, you are not allowed to look at your masters' faces at will.

She has this rule deeply engraved in her mind.

Seeing her trembling, Shangguan Wanjun shook her head and said, "I am not a cannibal. I just asked a few questions. Look how scared you are. Forget it. You are just a maid. I will not embarrass you. Just wait aside."

Youyou bowed and stood aside.

Thinking of the soldiers at the border, he wondered whether the food and fodder he sent by his guards had been delivered.

Half a month ago

Border Yunzhou

A general in armor stood on the border city wall.

"General, dozens of our men have died. What should we do if this continues?"

Seeing his brothers die one after another, he felt extremely sad.

"Is there any news about the people we sent out?"

The deputy general shook his head.

"Report, three kilometers ahead, someone claims to be requesting to see the general."

The two people on the city wall looked at each other in surprise.

The two men rode their war horses quickly and arrived at their destination.

"Who are you, and what do you want to see this general for?"

Looking at the thirty or so people and a dozen carts loaded with worthless coarse cloth, Nan Shaoan frowned slightly.

The man in charge of transportation knelt on one knee and bowed, "General, I am a guard of Princess Zhaolan. I am here to transport coarse cloth, grain, and seeds on the princess' orders."

When General Nan Shaoan heard this, his pupils dilated instantly.

"Food and seeds?"

This is what the army lacks most at the moment.

He winked at the deputy general and asked someone to check.

Half a minute later, several people knelt on one knee.

"General, it is indeed coarse cloth, grain, and seeds."

General Nan Shaoan was puzzled and ordered everyone, food and other supplies to be taken back to the barracks.

Inside the tent, General Nan Shaoan stood strong, looking directly at the person in front of him.

"You said you were Princess Zhaolan's guard?"

"Yes."

"Why did the princess send you to risk your life to deliver the princess? But something happened in the capital?"

The guard sighed, "General, the princess ascended the throne half a month ago."

General Nan Shaoan's pupils dilated instantly. "What did you say?"

Something really happened in the capital.

"Quick, explain the whole story quickly."

The guard sorted out his thoughts, "The late emperor passed away suddenly, and the princess was pushed to the throne by half of the ministers. However, the queen, now the Empress Dowager of the Eastern Palace, produced the late emperor's will, and also allowed the princess to ascend the throne.

The princess knew that the treasury was empty, so she asked her subordinates to do their best to prepare some food, coarse cloth, and seeds in private and have them transported here."

Thinking of something, he reached into his pocket and took out a letter.

"By the way, General, here is a letter written by the princess herself. I will hand it to you personally."

Nan Shaoan quickly took it, opened it, and read it carefully.

"General, I have already ascended the throne for various reasons. I do not know your name and do not have time to find out.

The national treasury is empty, so I have no choice but to ask my guards to secretly prepare some supplies, hoping that you soldiers can hold out for a while.

I will try my best to find ways to prepare supplies, whether for the court or privately, so please be patient.

I hope the general and his soldiers will cherish their lives. I will host a banquet for you when you return to the capital."

Nan Shaoan put pen to paper and looked at the beautiful handwriting, his heart unable to calm down for a long time.

Outside in the camp, smoke from cooking fires began to rise.

In three quarters of an hour, the porridge was ready and the white flour buns were steamed.

"General, it's time for lunch."

Nan Shaoan looked at the guards and said, "Let's go together."

"I obey my orders."

A wooden board served as a table. The guard felt sad when he saw such a simple place.

General Nan Shaoan saw everything he did and said, "Sit down. We are all hungry. Let's eat."

While eating the white steamed buns, the guard, a good man, couldn't help but shed tears.

The generals looked puzzled, and General Nan Shaoan frowned.

"What do you mean, brother?"

The guard wiped his tears and said, "It's alright, I just remembered the princess' instructions before leaving."

The generals were also confused as to what the princess's order was that made him cry on the spot.

General Nan Shaoan was also puzzled. "Can I tell?"

"The princess said, 'We all cherish our lives. As long as we don't betray our country, we should prioritize self-preservation when necessary. If we stay alive, we can do more.'"

The princess also said that when we return, she will find a way to feed us delicious food that we have never tasted before, and let us eat until we vomit.

The generals felt very uncomfortable when they heard this, and they could feel the princess's care and concern for her subordinates.

Thinking of the princess' words, his tears flowed even more violently and his voice was choked with sobs.

"The princess is a woman, and she's been pampered since she was little. I wonder if she can handle those wolves, tigers, and leopards. It's all our fault for being so ignorant before. When it needed to, we couldn't help the princess, leaving her to face those people alone."

Nan Shaoan also felt uncomfortable. When he thought about the owner of the beautiful handwriting, who was a teenage girl, he could feel a deep helplessness.