Rebirth: Find a General as Your Backer

"Let her be." The Empress leaned lazily against the chaise longue, casually fiddling with her nail guards as she raised her delicate hand, letting out a long sigh. "Let her do whatever she wants; I don't have the time to deal with her. I've disliked her from the very beginning, and now seeing her so flustered and out of control is like watching a farce, quite amusing. The harem has never lacked stories; I'm afraid there are many more exciting dramas to come..."

The Empress had a faint smile on her lips, but her eyes were cold and distant, as if all the strife in the harem was just a play in her eyes.

At this point, the Empress seemed to suddenly remember something, raised her eyebrows slightly, and asked, "By the way, what is Consort Gui doing now?"

When Consort Gui was mentioned, a hint of pity flashed in the Empress's eyes. She knew that Consort Gui was sent to the palace by her father to help her consolidate her position in the harem. She was a woman with a tragic and regrettable fate.

Upon hearing this, the personal maidservant quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Consort is still the same as always, preferring to stay in her own palace all day and rarely going out." The maidservant's voice was soft and steady, slowly echoing in the quiet palace.

After hearing this, the Empress nodded gently, a look of concern on her face, and said softly, "Sigh, arrange for her to serve the Emperor more often. She is kind by nature and is all alone in this deep palace. If she could have a son or daughter, she would have someone to rely on and something to look forward to in the future. I would be happy for her."

In the treacherous and unpredictable imperial harem, the fact that the Empress could have such thoughts shows that she was indeed kind-hearted, quite different from the concubines who spent their days scheming against each other.

"Yes, this servant will arrange it immediately." The nanny accepted the order, gave a slight curtsy, and then quietly withdrew, leaving the Empress alone in the magnificent yet somewhat lonely palace, continuing to immerse herself in her own thoughts.

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As night fell over Mofang City, the cold wind howled like a ferocious beast, rampaging through the streets and alleys.

The caravan sent by the Third Prince was currently resting at a decent inn on the outskirts of the city. However, the inn was crowded, probably because people couldn't go out in this weather. The inn was filled with a mixture of smells of wine, meat, and sweat. The dim yellow light flickered in the cold wind, casting long and short shadows of everyone.

"This awful weather is unbearable! How are we supposed to get out and travel tomorrow?" A thin, somewhat haggard young man complained. His name was Lao San, and his voice was full of frustration and helplessness. In this icy, snow-covered desert city, every gust of wind felt like it would freeze a person's bones to pieces.

"Alright, third brother, stop grumbling. We can only wait. There's no use in this snowy weather." The speaker was a burly, imposing man, the leader of the caravan. His voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority. As he spoke, the leader stuffed a large piece of meat into his mouth, his hearty eating style seemingly defying the harsh weather.

Hearing his elder brother's words, the third brother, though dissatisfied, could only swallow his complaints and obediently shut his mouth. He picked up the wine jug on the table, took a big gulp, and the spicy liquid flowed down his throat, instantly warming his body.

"Drink and eat meat! Once we're full, we can continue our journey when the snow stops!" the eldest brother shouted again, his voice particularly loud in the noisy inn, attracting the attention of those around him.

Mofang City has indeed become somewhat more prosperous in recent years, with many more shops lining the streets and an increasing number of merchants coming and going. However, the frigid climate remains unchanged. Compared to the capital, the cold here is even more biting and piercing, the kind of cold that can penetrate straight to the bone. For newcomers, such cold is truly unbearable; even wrapped in thick cotton-padded clothes, one still feels a chill.

"Miss Li, judging from the weather, you probably won't be able to go back today. This snowstorm doesn't look like it'll stop anytime soon, and the road back is going to be difficult and dangerous," said the innkeeper, a kind and honest young man, with a concerned expression to a girl standing at the door looking out.

The girl sighed softly, her beautiful eyes gazing out the window at the world ravaged by the wind and snow. She replied softly, "Yes, the snowstorm is really heavy today, but we still have to go back." The girl's name was Li Yao. She had a graceful figure, delicate features, and a lively yet stubborn air about her.

Having lived in Mofang City for a long time, she was quite used to this kind of weather. She looked at the weather outside and thought that if she couldn't go back, she would go to General Chen's mansion to find Miss Chen.

Li Yao is the daughter of General Chen's distant cousin. Her family runs a fairly large horse farm, which is quite well-known in the area. Li Yao has been with horses since childhood and has a cheerful and lively personality. She was once one of Su Lianxue's playmates. Back in Mofang City, she often played with Su Lianxue, which can be considered an introduction by the two young ladies of the Chen family.

Today, Li Yao came to the tavern in the city to buy wine at her father's request. Her family's horse farm was located a few miles outside the city. She always liked to ride her own horse, speeding between the city and the horse farm, to buy daily necessities.

Just then, the third brother inadvertently caught sight of Li Yao and was instantly captivated by her beauty, a wicked thought rising in his mind. He stared at Li Yao lecherously, whistling lightly, the sound particularly jarring in the inn.

Hearing the whistle, Li Yao felt a surge of anger. She turned her head and glared fiercely at the third brother, her eyes filled with disgust and rage.

However, the third brother showed no restraint whatsoever; instead, he became even more brazen. He swayed as he stood up, still clutching the wine jug in his hand, and staggered toward Li Yao, muttering, "Beauty, with this heavy snow, you can't go back anyway. Why not have a drink with us and have some fun?"

Li Yao glared angrily, her fists clenched tightly, her anger burning fiercely. She gritted her teeth and said, "Show some respect! If you dare to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being impolite!" Although Li Yao was a woman, she had grown up in the horse farm since childhood and had a tough character. She would not be easily intimidated by such a rogue.

"Oh my, this young lady has quite the fiery temper, tsk tsk, I like this kind of thing!" The third brother had a greasy and lewd smile on his face, his yellowed teeth looking particularly glaring in the dim light. As he spoke, he reached out his dirty, alcohol-smelling hand and grabbed at Li Yao's shoulder, as if Li Yao was already his for the taking.

"You...you're being insolent!" Li Yao was both shocked and furious, her eyes wide with disbelief.