“Yan’s momentum has been crushed, with over four hundred thousand elite troops lost and treasury completely exhausted. They’ll need at least ten years to lick their wounds. Besides, Wei has also suffered enormous losses in the war and urgently needs to recover domestically.”

In warfare, killing a thousand enemies usually costs eight hundred of your own—Wei, even as the victor, wasn’t faring much better.

Having said this, she changed the subject: “However, Xiao Yan isn’t me. He has ambitions to dominate the world. With Yan showing signs of decline, it’s an excellent opportunity to attack during their chaos. Considering that the Wei-Xia Agreement has less than ten years left, he will be even more eager to defeat Yan.”

New Xia was a rising power, while Wei and Yan had been greatly weakened by war. As one fell and the other rose, Xiao Yan had reason to be wary of New Xia, which made him want to completely resolve his entanglement with Yan.

With the Queen’s strategic abilities, New Xia would likely be at its peak by the time the Wei-Xia Agreement expired. Who knew what plans she might have then—continuing friendly relations with Wei or perhaps allying with Yan?

At present, the Queen of New Xia and Wei’s State Preceptor were on excellent terms, and relations between the two countries seemed to be developing positively. But Xiao Yan couldn’t place all his hopes on the relationship between Feng Miaojun and Yun Ya. A ruler’s strategy must prioritize national interests, especially since this woman was ruthlessly cold-hearted—he had personally experienced how she could completely disregard Yun Ya even when severely wounded and unconscious.

Therefore, Feng Miaojun made her prediction: “In my view, Xiao Yan will likely invade Yan, and his reasons would be both normal and sufficient.”

This war had been initiated by Yan first. If Xiao Yan wanted to invade Yan, he only needed to use revenge as his banner. Countless lives had been lost on both sides, creating an ocean of hatred.

Having a righteous cause meant having internal motivation.

After speaking, she glanced sideways at Chen Dachang: “Why do I feel there’s something else behind your words?” She could hear Chen Dachang’s heartbeat quickening. This man had been by her side for many years and had long become immune to her beauty. What was making him nervous now?

The Queen’s perceptiveness remained as sharp as ever. Chen Dachang knelt on one knee and said solemnly: “Your subject has a request.”

When he referred to himself as “subject,” Feng Miaojun knew his request must be significant, so she composed herself and said, “Speak.”

“Now that the northern conflict has subsided and Wuser is peaceful, with Your Majesty’s cultivation reaching perfection, your subject wishes… wishes to resign from the position of Imperial Censor.”

Feng Miaojun hadn’t expected him to suddenly make this request and was momentarily stunned into silence.

Chen Dachang waited quietly for quite some time, seeing her staring blankly at the lake water, he remained silent.

After an unknown period, Feng Miaojun came back to her senses and took a gentle breath: “Chen Dachang, how long have you been by my side?”

“Fifteen years.” He paused. “Fifteen years and… six months and seven days.”

Feng Miaojun murmured, “Has it been that long?” Since she had followed Mo Tizhun, leaving the countryside of Wei and heading to Star-Picking City, Chen Dachang had remained by her side, never wavering or retreating from difficulties.

“Yes.”

“If you’re not an official anymore, what will you do?”

Chen Dachang’s face finally showed a slight blush. He coughed lightly, “I, I want to propose marriage…”

“Propose marriage?” Feng Miaojun was somewhat surprised and interrupted him, “To the State Preceptor’s residence?”

Chen Dachang’s throat felt dry, and he found himself unable to speak, only managing to nod twice.

Feng Miaojun sighed: “No wonder you’re so eager to resign, you want to win the beauty’s hand as soon as possible.” She knew the relationship between Chen Dachang and Yu Haizhen had progressed rapidly over the past year. If these two wanted to be properly together, one of them would inevitably have to make an appropriate sacrifice.

Her tone was neither positive nor negative. Chen Dachang kept his head lowered: “Great-aunt is pressing urgently…”

The Queen’s beautiful eyes were filled with teasing: “Pressing for marriage, or pressing for children?”

Chen Dachang’s palms began to sweat. He barely managed to say the word “Both” before being unable to continue.

Matters of the heart cannot be hidden. When Chen Hongen learned he was with State Preceptor Yu, she was so delighted she couldn’t sleep for several nights. She constantly nagged him, sighing that she was getting old and wouldn’t live much longer and that her only wish in this life was to see the Chen family have descendants before she died without regrets, and so on.

Elders worldwide don’t differ much in how they pressure grandchildren.

Having lived so long, Chen Dachang finally experienced the loneliness of being solitary. Just thinking about being able to sleep embracing his beloved at night, and imagining a little one following behind him, calling him “Father” in a childish voice, made his heart warm instantly.

“Go ahead, pick an auspicious date, and I’ll officiate the wedding.” Feng Miaojun stood up and patted his shoulder. “Even if you’re not an official, you can continue to be my advisor. Let all the world know that you still have strong backing.” She knew this subordinate’s personality too well. If she didn’t support Chen Dachang, he would be completely dominated by Yu Haizhen.

Chen Dachang’s face flushed red as he thanked her and drained the fine wine on the table in one gulp.

Feng Miaojun sighed.

Even Chen Dachang, that block of wood, was getting married—what about herself?

“Do one last thing for me.” She unceremoniously assigned him a task. “Send a message to Peach Blossom Realm, asking my mother when she plans to depart.” Half a year ago, Lady Xu had successfully given birth to a son, but the baby was too young to withstand the rigors of travel. After nurturing him for a few months, Lady Xu also planned to return to New Xia with her husband and child to officiate at her daughter’s wedding.

Chen Dachang and State Preceptor Yu’s wedding was set for the third day of the third month, with a banquet by the water.

With the Queen of New Xia herself officiating and both land and water creatures coming to celebrate, the scene was so grand it caused a sensation throughout Wuser City.

The groom was magnificent, and the bride was incomparably radiant. Countless onlookers below were filled with melancholy, secretly lamenting their lost opportunities.

Later, when this news reached Wei, it was said that the King of Wei shut himself away and drank sullen wine all night.

Of course, this “it was said” came from Wei’s most gossipy State Preceptor.

Soon after, news came from the West:

Wei had mobilized its army southward to attack Yan!

The Queen of New Xia had predicted correctly.

After only a few months of recovery, Xiao Yan impatiently launched a war against Yan, publicly declaring revenge as his reason.

His justification was sound, with both national grievance and personal hatred to settle with the King of Yan.

His decision had been anticipated by Feng Miaojun. When Wei invited New Xia to join forces in attacking Yan, she refused without hesitation.

Xiao Yan had only made a tentative attempt and was neither surprised nor angry at New Xia’s rejection. He simply fell back to his second option, requesting to continue purchasing large quantities of military supplies from New Xia.

After more than four years of war, even if Wei had been thoroughly prepared initially, they now felt stretched thin. But the King of Wei was confident that Yan’s suffering must be far worse than Wei’s. As long as he persisted now and defeated Yan beyond recovery, he would become the true hegemon spanning both the northern and southern continents!

When Feng Miaojun received this request, she smiled and quickly agreed.