Gao Jinya and Wang Wei exchanged glances, then said: “Your Majesty, the Turkic people are rampant. They ambushed Your Majesty at Yanmen Pass, not only frightening you but also causing our Great Sui to lose face. Why not… let Li Yuan strike back at the Turkic people? On one hand, it would avenge the battle of Yanmen; on the other, it could weaken both sides’ strength. Regardless of whether the Turkic people win or lose this battle, it would be beneficial and harmless to Your Majesty.”

Wang Wei took over: “Besides this, the deputy governors Your Majesty sends can also divide part of Li Yuan’s military authority, preventing him from posing any threat to Your Majesty.”

It must be said that the plan proposed by Wang and Gao was extremely thorough. Yang Guang was greatly moved upon hearing it, but he didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he said: “Then tell me, who should serve as deputy governor?”

Wang Wei’s eyes darted around several times before he knelt down: “If Your Majesty trusts me, I am willing to take this position!”

Yang Guang lowered his head with a half-smile: “I’m afraid this is what you intended from the beginning, isn’t it?”

Wang Wei knew this emperor was an extremely clever person and dared not conceal anything, saying with an ingratiating smile: “To be honest with Your Majesty, I did have this thought. However, everything I do is for Your Majesty’s sake. Li Yuan is like a double-edged sword—if left unchecked, he will eventually harm Your Majesty.”

Yang Guang chuckled lightly: “For me? Not for yourselves?”

Upon hearing this, Gao Jinya also knelt down, bowing his head: “What happened back then was indeed wrong of us two. Your Majesty’s punishment was deserved, and we have never been dissatisfied. But forgive me for speaking frankly—that incident was probably a trap set by Li Yuan to drive a wedge between us and Your Majesty. Otherwise, how could the message have been sent to Your Majesty before the person even arrived? Forgive my directness, but this man’s scheming runs deep and is hard to fathom. Your Majesty must not be careless.”

Yang Guang said nothing, walking barefoot through the vast palace. Wang Wei and the other dared not breathe heavily, kneeling quietly on the ground. After a long time, Yang Guang’s voice rang out in this palace even more magnificent than those in Luoyang: “Decree Li Yuan as Governor of Taiyuan, Tiger Guard General Wang Wei and Tiger Guard General Gao Jinya as Deputy Governors of Taiyuan, to lead Taiyuan troops and join with Mayi Prefect Wang Rengong in striking back at the Turkic people!”

Hearing this, the two were overjoyed—not only had they achieved their wish but had also been promoted. “We respectfully obey Your Majesty’s sacred will!”

The next day, Wang Wei and Gao Jinya set off for Hedong with the imperial decree. At the same time, Yang Guang’s edict also reached Yunyi’s ears, causing her to furrow her brows tightly.

Ruyi brought a cup of freshly brewed tea to Yunyi, saying: “Princess, you’ve been frowning since just now. What is troubling you?”

Yunyi held the tea to warm her cold hands, saying softly: “Have you heard about father emperor’s decree?”

Ruyi thought for a moment: “Do you mean His Majesty promoting Lord Li to Governor of Taiyuan?” When Yunyi nodded, she said: “This servant knows. I heard that Lord Wang and the others set off for Hedong with the decree today.”

“Wang Wei, Gao Jinya…” Yunyi sighed: “I truly don’t understand. Father emperor clearly knows they are petty men—why does he still employ them? And sending them to Taiyuan, given their grudge against Li Yuan, they certainly won’t have good intentions.”

Jixiang interjected: “I heard that when they were demoted by His Majesty, it was related to Lord Li. Actually, this servant thinks that since the Turkic people haven’t invaded our borders now, why attack them? With such military strength, it would be better to properly pacify the rebellions everywhere.”

“Exactly! Fighting here, fighting there—continuing like this, we’ll be the ones suffering losses in the end. His Majesty’s thoughts are truly incomprehensible.” Faced with Ruyi’s words, Yunyi sighed and then said: “It’s about time. Go fetch the rock sugar and pear soup from the small kitchen.”

After Ruyi left as instructed, Jixiang smiled: “Since drinking the rock sugar and pear soup the princess personally stewed, Her Majesty the Empress’s cough has improved day by day. It should be completely better soon.” On the journey to Jiangdu, Xiao Shi had been coughing incessantly due to the bumpy travel and cold weather. The imperial physicians had examined her several times without improvement. Later, Yunyi remembered that once when she had a cough in Honghua Prefecture, Wu Laosan had stewed rock sugar and pear soup for her to drink, which was quite effective. She followed the same method to stew it for Xiao Shi.

As they spoke, Ruyi had already brought in the stewed rock sugar and pear soup. After placing it in a food box, Yunyi personally delivered it to the palace where Xiao Shi resided. Before entering the hall, she heard coughing from inside and quickly quickened her pace. Indeed, she found Xiao Shi leaning against the bed, coughing continuously. Yunyi walked over, rubbing Xiao Shi’s back while scolding the nearby palace servants: “When I came yesterday, mother empress’s cough had improved greatly. How is it so severe again today? How have you been attending to her?”

Xiao Shi waved her hand: “Don’t blame them. I was careless myself. I sat outside too long last night and worsened my condition.”

Yunyi said with concern: “Mother empress, you really are something. Knowing you’re ill, you still sat outside so long. Have you summoned the imperial physician? What did he say?”

“I didn’t summon him.” Xiao Shi smiled: “I feel that no medicine is as effective as your rock sugar and pear soup. Did you remember to stew it today?”

“Of course I did.” Yunyi took out the stewing pot while saying: “But mother empress must also promise me not to expose yourself to wind again before recovering.”

“You child, now you’re managing mother empress.” Xiao Shi scolded lightly while drinking the rock sugar and pear soup from Yunyi’s hands. After finishing the last sip, she said: “I forgot to ask you—where did you learn this folk remedy?”

Yunyi smiled: “My father taught me when I was in Honghua Prefecture. Though he was a farmer, he seemed to know everything, even how to cure bacon.”

In front of Xiao Shi, she still habitually called Wu Laosan “father.”

“Bacon?” Xiao Shi asked puzzledly: “What is that?”

Yunyi was startled, then laughed: “I forgot—the palace never makes bacon.” She continued: “Bacon is when common people slaughter pigs raised at home but can’t finish eating all the meat at once and fear it will spoil. So they use salt, cloves, bay leaves, fennel, and other things to cure it, then air-dry it. This way, if properly preserved, it won’t spoil even after half a year, and it tastes very good. But bacon must be made in autumn and winter. In spring and summer, it’s either humid or hot, and the meat spoils before it can dry.”

Xiao Shi listened carefully and said: “Hearing you describe it, I’ve developed quite an appetite and would love to try this bacon.”

Yunyi thought for a moment: “Father did teach me how to make it, and it happens to be autumn-winter now. Why don’t I make some for mother empress to try? But I’ve never made it before—if it doesn’t turn out well, mother empress mustn’t blame me.”

As Xiao Shi was about to speak, a voice came from outside the hall: “Oh? Who is seventh sister calling father?”

With these words, a short, plump figure appeared in Yunyi and the others’ sight—it was Princess Wenyu. As usual, her face was covered with various expensive cosmetics. When coming to Jiangdu, Jixiang had heard that her cosmetics alone filled an entire cart.