My daughter was sold, I want to divorce her and go back to my parents' home to escape the famin

In the magnificent and solemn imperial study of the palace, the scent of sandalwood curls up, filling the air with a faint fragrance.

The emperor was sitting at his desk, concentrating on reviewing a pile of memorials, his brows sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed.

Just then, a slight sound of footsteps was heard, breaking the silence in the room. It turned out that Gu Jinxuan walked in.

The emperor heard the noise, looked up, and saw Gu Jinxuan coming to him at this time, and a feeling of curiosity surged in his heart.

The emperor slowly put down the red pen in his hand, then raised his eyes and looked at Gu Jinxuan calmly, but his deep gaze revealed a hint of exploration.

Seeing this, Gu Jinxuan hurriedly took a step forward, bowed respectfully, and then stood up.

With a faint smile on his lips, he said softly, "Uncle Emperor, Jinxuan is taking the liberty to come and disturb you at this time today because I really want to ask you something."

After he finished speaking, Gu Jinxuan knelt down in front of the emperor without hesitation, his bright eyes staring straight at the emperor, his face showing an earnest pleading look.

The emperor was stunned at first, then slowly leaned back in his chair, a half-smile on his face. He spoke slowly, "Oh? I'm a little curious. What could have made you so anxious? Could it be... it's about the fourth daughter of the Lin family?"

When Gu Jinxuan heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He obviously didn't expect that the emperor could guess his purpose so easily.

But he quickly regained his composure, and after a slight hesitation, he answered truthfully, "Uncle Emperor is truly wise. What Jinxuan is seeking is indeed related to the fourth young lady of the Lin Mansion."

The emperor chuckled. "My spies are all over the capital. How could I not know that you've been frequenting the Lin family these past few days? Tell me, what's so special about this girl from the Lin family that she caught your eye?"

After a pause, the emperor said, "During the snowstorm, the Lin family set up four places to distribute porridge. They are considered to be good people. Is this not the reason why you came to ask me for a marriage?"

Gu Jinxuan's eyes softened. "Uncle Emperor, Qingxue is gentle, kind, and intelligent. I've been with her for so long that I can't help but fall in love with her. I sincerely want to marry her. Furthermore, I was once saved by the Lin family when I was dealing with refugees and bandits on the road. The image of Qingxue risking her life to save her family and clansmen has been deeply engraved in my mind. I hope that Uncle Emperor will grant my wish."

The emperor stared at him deeply for a moment, then slowly said, "Although the Lin family is not a wealthy one, I have heard that this girl has a good reputation. However, your status is special, so this marriage must be carefully considered to avoid any hidden dangers in the future."

Gu Jinxuan nodded slightly, his expression firm as he spoke, "Jinxuan understands your majesty's concerns, but please rest assured. Qingxue will only be a constant source of motivation for me, and will definitely not become my fatal weakness. Furthermore, from what I know, the Lin family is no ordinary person either; each one is a true leader! Especially the fifth son of the Lin family, who has shown an astonishing talent for studying since childhood. Given time, he will surely pass the imperial examinations. The eldest, second, and third sons of the Lin family also have their own strengths in business, and the businesses they run are thriving and making a fortune. As for the fourth generation of the Lin family, whether it's studying, practicing martial arts, or cultivating spiritual willpower, they all have their own strengths. It seems that the rise of the Lin family is only a matter of time."

Hearing this, the emperor's lips curled up slightly, a subtle arc in his eyes, a flicker of admiration in his eyes: "Good boy, you are not only thoughtful and calculating, but also have a unique vision in choosing a wife for yourself! In this case, how about I help you today and write the imperial decree to grant you two a marriage?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinxuan's face lit up with an irrepressible joy. He quickly knelt on both knees and kowtowed respectfully in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Emperor, for your help. Jinxuan will live up to the emperor's grace and spend his life with Qingxue."

"Okay, you..." The emperor was interrupted by hurried footsteps before he could finish his words.

His personal eunuch, Eunuch Li, hurried in with an anxious look on his face. Without even bothering to greet him, he shouted, "Your Majesty, urgent news from South City!"

The emperor was originally planning to write an imperial decree to grant Gu Jinxuan marriage immediately, but this sudden change forced him to stop what he was doing.

The fact that Eunuch Li, who was always known for his composure, was so panicked made both Gu Jinxuan and the emperor himself present feel a pang of fear in their hearts - they clearly realized that something extremely serious must have happened in South City.

And its severity is definitely beyond imagination. It is probably the kind of earth-shattering event that is enough to change the color of the sky and the earth and cause the mountains and rivers to collapse.

"Announce!" The emperor frowned and gave the order without hesitation.

He quickly put down the brush in his hand that was about to write an important decree, then turned around abruptly, staring intently at the spy who was gradually approaching outside the door with his sharp eyes.

The entire palace was instantly filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere, as if even the air had frozen. Everyone held their breath, quietly waiting for the news brought by the spy.

"Nan Ling, the spy from Xuannan City, is here to see you—" Along with the harsh and sharp shout of Eunuch Li, an extremely tall and burly man with a full beard walked into the hall in a hurry, looking exhausted.

The big man's name was Nan Ling. He walked quickly into the imperial study, and then knelt on his knees without hesitation, his whole body trembling slightly with excitement.

He raised his head, looking at the emperor with a look of fear and anxiety, then opened his cracked lips and reported loudly in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! Just seven days ago, the team I am with accidentally discovered an astonishing situation on the vast grassland. A large group of herdsmen had secretly gathered together, and their number was estimated to be about 5,000! These villains were so audacious that they dared to act recklessly outside the South City. They launched an inhumane act of burning, killing, and looting in the nearby villages! At that time, our city lord... Upon learning of this, the messenger immediately decided to dispatch troops to General Luo, who was guarding the border town, to request assistance. However, to their surprise, when the messenger arrived, they were horrified to discover that General Luo had already secretly colluded with the leader of the herdsmen group! Now, South City has fallen into an extremely critical juncture. The Lord of the City has no choice but to dispatch this humble official to rush to the Imperial City to beg Your Majesty for reinforcements! The Lord of the City also specifically instructed that, based on the current situation, South City could only hold out for ten more days at most, but now three full days have already passed!

After a pause, the man named Nan Ling slowly raised his head, with a hint of timidity and uneasiness in his eyes. He cautiously glanced at the emperor who was sitting on the dragon throne, his face as gloomy as if a storm was about to come.

He secretly groaned in his heart, but when he thought of the brothers who had been through life and death with him but suffered misfortune, he gritted his teeth, as if he had made some kind of determination.

He continued, "Your Majesty, the team I led originally consisted of more than twenty people. Along the way, we dared not delay even a moment and galloped here at full speed. However, the journey was fraught with danger and hardship, and we encountered no less than ten brutal pursuits..."

At this point, Nan Ling's voice trembled slightly, and it was obvious that he was still frightened when he recalled the scene at that time.

"In the end, it was thanks to my brothers' desperate efforts that I was able to survive. I am the only one of this group to reach the capital alive. I implore the Emperor to make a decision for me and those brothers who sacrificed their lives so bravely!"

After saying that, Nan Ling fell to his knees with a thud, and his forehead hit the cold and hard ground heavily, making a crisp and loud sound.

The emperor's face, which was originally rosy, instantly turned as pale as paper after hearing the news.

His hands, which were usually steady and strong, were now clenched into fists. He was using so much force that one could even see the bulging veins on the back of his hands.

There was a loud "bang" and the emperor's fist slammed heavily on the extremely hard sandalwood table in front of him, as if to vent all the anger in his heart.

Accompanied by this loud bang, the emperor roared in rage, "How outrageous! This is simply lawlessness! These good-for-nothings are a bunch of useless bastards! What's the point of keeping you around? I will chop off their heads today to uphold justice!"

The emperor's sudden wrath startled everyone present. They looked at each other, no one daring to utter a single sound.

Then, as if driven by some tacit understanding, everyone knelt on the ground and shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, please calm down! Please take care of yourself!"

Although they knew in their hearts that the emperor's anger was not directed at them directly, who would dare to be negligent in the face of such a furious emperor?

After all, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. If you are not careful, you may be killed.

At this moment, Gu Jinxuan, who had been sitting beside him, slowly stood up. His handsome face looked particularly solemn at this moment, and his deep eyes stared at the emperor.

He said in a deep voice, "Uncle, the situation is urgent now. Getting angry won't solve the problem. The most urgent task is to immediately organize manpower and troops to rush to Nancheng for support. According to Jinxuan, we should act quickly and seize every minute. In addition, considering the urgency of time, in order to reach the destination as soon as possible, I suggest that the rescue team move forward quickly. What do you think, uncle?"

After saying that, Gu Jinxuan bowed slightly, waiting for the emperor's reply. After hearing this, the emperor calmed down a little, turned to look at Gu Jinxuan, with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.

He nodded, signaling Gu Jinxuan to continue. After receiving the emperor's approval, Gu Jinxuan continued, "General Nan Ling, what is the status of the food and fodder reserves outside Nancheng? Are they sufficient to sustain the army for a long period of time? Also, what is the safety of the people outside the city? Have they been properly accommodated?"

Nan Ling, who was called out, quickly turned around and bowed respectfully to Gu Jinxuan.

Then he straightened up and replied with a serious face, "My Lord, according to my previous inventory and statistics, the food and fodder outside of South City can probably last for about two months if we save some food. As for the civilians outside the city... I have already sent people to evacuate and relocate them, but the specific situation requires further investigation. Because I didn't have time before, many things happened after I left, so I don't have a clear understanding."

The emperor took a deep breath, suppressed his anger and anxiety, and nodded slightly, saying, "Jinxuan, can you go and help me with this matter? Don't worry, I will immediately issue an order to the Lin family to grant the marriage."

"Sharing His Majesty's worries is a subject's unshirkable responsibility and obligation. Uncle, please allow Jinxuan to lead the troops to the South City!"

Gu Jinxuan strode up to the emperor without hesitation, then knelt on his knees. His resolute and handsome face was full of sincerity, and his eyes were fixed and blazing as he looked directly at the emperor.

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at the loyal and brave young man in front of him. He couldn't help feeling relieved. This young man was not only his most beloved and valued junior, but also the eldest son of his dearest sister who was born of the same mother.

After a moment, he slowly spoke, "Excellent! In that case, I will immediately issue an imperial decree appointing you as the Imperial Commissioner to lead an army of 5,000 elite soldiers to the South City. This mission is arduous, but I have high hopes for you. You must completely quell this turmoil and resolve it satisfactorily. In the event of an emergency, I will grant you the right to act first and report later. You need not worry. When you return triumphantly, I will issue the imperial decree granting marriage along with the imperial edict bestowing upon Lin Qingxue."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jinxuan was overjoyed and kowtowed in gratitude: "Thank you, Uncle Emperor, for your grace! Jinxuan will definitely live up to the mission and do his best to complete this important task."

He knew very well what these two imperial edicts meant. With the imperial decree granted by the emperor himself, Lin Qingxue would have a more noble identity and status, and the Lin family would naturally be at ease to marry her into the Gu family.

Thinking of this, Gu Jinxuan became more and more excited. He wished he could set off for Nancheng immediately, put down the rebellion as soon as possible, and return to the capital with glory to marry his beautiful wife.

"Go ahead! Time is of the essence." The emperor nodded slightly, looking at the man in front of him with a determined gaze. He slowly said, "I believe that with your ability, you will be able to fulfill your mission."

After saying this, the emperor's tense expression relaxed a little. Gu Jinxuan bowed and said respectfully, "Jinxuan will do his best to live up to your majesty's trust."

After he finished speaking, he straightened his body, turned around and left resolutely. However, at this moment, he couldn't help but think in his heart - this mission is urgent, and he might not be able to keep the three-day appointment with Lin Qingxue on time.

But now that things have come to this, they can only complete this important mission first and then make plans. Just like that, Gu Jinxuan didn't even have time to explain to Lin Qingxue in person, and hurriedly took Wen Da and Wen Su out of the imperial study.

They walked hurriedly, as if every step carried heavy responsibilities and expectations. After leaving the palace, the three of them jumped on their horses, waved their whips, and the horses under their crotch galloped away like arrows.