The abandoned concubine who transmigrated woke up shouting "Long live the widow!"

It wasn't just Gao Pengju who had ulterior motives; Minister of Personnel Wang Hansheng had long been unable to contain himself, as he couldn't stand that Jingxue was also allowed to participate in the peace talks.

When the Cangbei delegation came, they were there to discuss trade. But the Nanzhao delegation came to discuss war and request aid. The emperor is really treating the Princess Consort of War too lightly.

Seeing that no one spoke up, Wang Hansheng said, "Those foreign muskets are no match for our Bei Ye's highly skilled and meritorious War King. Now we also have the War King's Consort. With their combined swords, they can definitely defeat the foreigners. Don't you all agree?"

Hu Yucheng immediately chimed in, "That's right! Our War King's fame is widespread."

Lan Yuan had remained silent until she heard someone say that. She knew that the Prince Consort and his wife had enemies. Every country's court was divided into factions and cliques, and Bei Ye was no exception.

She spoke slowly, "Does this gentleman mean that your country has agreed to provide us with aid?"

All eyes turned to Wang Hansheng, who stammered, "I think the War King and his wife will definitely lend a hand, right? After all, the War King's reputation resounds throughout Beiye."

Just as Ye Muchen was about to speak, Jingxue stopped him. He looked at the little hand on the back of his hand and forgot everything.

“Are you sure? What makes you so sure? If you’re so sure, then go! Husband, we’re not going!” Jingxue said.

Ye Muchen said gently, "I will do as Your Highness says."

"You have disgraced the Northern Night Kingdom!" Wang Han said angrily.

Jingxue scoffed, "We're losing face? Then go and show me Bei Ye how much face you can make, and also Minister Hu."

Prince Jin, fearing that the group would start arguing, tried to smooth things over, saying, "It's too early to say whether or not to send troops. If we do send troops, we must have weapons to defend against those muskets; otherwise, wouldn't we be sending them to their deaths?"

Everyone present could tell that Wang Hansheng wanted the War King and his wife to go and die.

Ye Muchen composed himself and said, "The Princess Consort of Zhan has developed a shield. I wonder if it can withstand the bullets from the fire musket."

"Really? Where is it? Can we go see it?" asked Yihan Aru.

"It's in the side hall. I'll have someone bring it in right away," Gao Pengju said, then beckoned to the guards standing in the side hall.

A short while later, a soldier came in carrying a shield in both hands. It was the first time Jingxue had ever seen the shield she had designed.

Just as Ye Muchen had said, the soldier's blacksmith father had forged the shield until it gleamed.

Yihan Aru immediately got up to check and even reached out to lift it.

"It's a bit heavy!"

Ye Muchen said, "It's heavy because it's thick enough; otherwise, how could it stop bullets?"

“That’s true!” Yihan Aru nodded.

Prince Jin said, "If strong soldiers were to take it, they could barely hold out for a while, but it doesn't seem to solve the problem completely."

In the following days, although some suggestions were made, they were all rejected by Yihan Aru and Prince Jin. So in the end, no effective solution was found.

It was past lunchtime, and further discussion would yield no results, so Prince Jin, who was presiding over the talks, announced that the day was over and that he still had to report to the Emperor.

Jingxue and Lanyuan returned to the East Palace together, chatting as they walked.

"Princess Consort Zhan, is there really no way to repel the barbarian tribes?" Lan Yuan asked tentatively, though she herself was beginning to feel anxious.

Jingxue glanced at Lan Yuan and said with a smile, "Your Highness, there's no need to be too anxious. We'll find a way by pooling our wisdom. It's only the first day, so don't rush!"

Lan Yuan said, "It's impossible not to be in a hurry. I brought a lot of carrier pigeons with me this time. I'll leave you some before I leave. You might need them if there's a real emergency."

Jingxue wondered, "Won't this be accused of being a traitor to foreign countries?"

"Your Highness, are you worried that if Nanzhao falls, what will happen to the two children...?"

Lan Yuan nodded, "If that day ever comes, I hope Princess Zhan will take them in."

Emma! Entrusting the child to someone!

“You’re being a bit too pessimistic! By the way, Your Highness, I’d like to ask, since Nanzhao is rich in medicinal herbs, is its pharmaceutical industry developed?” Jingxue asked.

Lan Yuan asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

"If you could produce that potent poison, what if we scattered it into the enemy camps of those foreign lands? Wouldn't the enemy perish without a fight?"

“We do have the medicine, and we can produce more of it, but how can we distribute it into the enemy camp?” Lan Yuan asked.

Jingxue smiled slightly, "You don't need to worry about that. As long as you have the medicine, that's fine. As for how to administer it, leave it to me."

Lan Yuan Monty grabbed Jing Xue's hand. "Really?"

The little green snake on her wrist suddenly raised its head because of her movement, and Lan Yuan let out a whistle. The snake then coiled back onto her wrist.

"real!"

"Excellent! I'll go back and discuss it with the Grand Wizard and the others. We must use the most poisonous medicine to wipe out the entire barbarian army." Lan Yuan's face was filled with excitement, but her voice was not loud.

"So, don't rush. It's not time for me to take action yet. I need our Emperor to give me an explanation."

Lan Yuan had already witnessed someone targeting Jing Xue today, and she said with a smile, "I know! By the way, An'an and Yingying don't know you're here for the peace talks yet; they said they wanted to come and play with you!"

As Gao Pengju exited the palace gates and was about to board his carriage, Prime Minister Zou's attendant stepped forward and said, "Lord Gao, our Prime Minister invites you to a teahouse for a chat."

Gao Pengju hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, and was about to agree when he saw Ye Musi and Ye Muchen walking over.

Ever since Prince Rui married his daughter, he would only visit her residence for a cup of tea on the three-day homecoming day, and then leave saying that he had business to attend to at the Ministry of Justice.

His wife prepared a table full of fine wine and food, but no one ate it. In private, he also asked his daughter how Prince Rui treated her.

The daughter said that Prince Rui was extremely polite to her, but there was no passion between husband and wife whatsoever.

He knew exactly what was going on, so he absolutely couldn't let Prince Rui know that he intended to side with Prime Minister Zou. Besides, he no longer thought that way.

So he said to the attendant, "Please tell the Prime Minister that I am busy with official business and will invite you for tea another day. I also have to go to the Ministry of War."

The attendant left, but Gao Pengju still felt Ye Musi's gaze was on him, so he quickly got into the carriage.

Ye Musi certainly recognized whose attendant it was, and so did Ye Muchen.

Seeing his fourth brother's slightly furrowed brows, Ye Muchen didn't know how to comfort him, so he said, "I still need to go to the military village to take a look. What about you?"

"I'm going back to the Ministry of Justice!"

"Mu Si, you... never mind!" Ye Muchen wanted to tell his fourth brother not to follow in his footsteps, because it was really too difficult for him to win Jing Xue's heart now.

However, he didn't know what Gao Pengju was thinking. If he really sided with Prime Minister Zou's faction, he would become his opponent, and the fourth brother would be caught in the middle.

My fourth brother is an introverted person who keeps everything to himself, so let him handle it himself!