After all, she was someone accustomed to kindness. The many favors she had shown Shen Guiyan before—surely she still remembered them all, which was why she didn’t suspect today was intentional. Xu Mengdie breathed a sigh of relief and smiled gently. All these years of groundwork had not been in vain.
With the foreign nation’s brazen assassination attempt on the Emperor exposed, as a mighty celestial empire, there was naturally no need to endure it further. His Majesty immediately decided to have Gu Chaonan lead an expedition, commanding the army to attack the foreign nation.
“The foreign nation is a small country—no need to be overly tense.” Gu Chaobei looked at Gu Chaonan and said: “Take a hundred thousand soldiers. Guard the border regions and investigate the situation. I will personally bring reinforcements to Ye City for support. When the time comes, if Minister Gu is victorious, I will receive you in triumph. If defeated, I will provide you backup.”
Yuwen Changqing looked at the Emperor with confusion. Life in the capital was so peaceful—why personally lead the campaign? Letting him or Shen Guiwu lead people would be fine. If the Emperor left, what about the capital?
Shen Guiwu had the same question in his heart, but looking up at the Emperor’s resolute face, both planned to ask privately later.
Gu Chaonan was naturally willing. With Mengdie by his side, he was basically invincible in battle. The foreign nation was a small country with weak military forces—the Emperor was just giving him an opportunity to achieve more military merits.
“This subject obeys the decree.” Gu Chaonan accepted.
Prime Minister Gu stood to the side. Although he felt that such great merit might overshadow the sovereign and was somewhat improper, he was still happy that his son could be accomplished. Now the Gu family had both civil and military talents, matching the Shen family evenly, which was also a form of balance. As long as everyone stayed in their proper positions, creating a golden age shouldn’t be difficult.
Xu Mengdie sat beside Shen Guiyan, holding a teacup and saying: “Given the foreign nation’s actions today, Your Majesty will surely dispatch troops.”
Shen Guiyan nodded: “If troops are dispatched, I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble General Gu again.”
The smile at the corner of Xu Mengdie’s mouth stiffened somewhat, her mind going blank for an instant.
Her ability to know the future had already disappeared. Life had progressed to when she died in her previous life, which meant that from now on, she could no longer help her husband predict anything. If they went to war, it would all depend on Gu Chaonan himself.
The foreign nation… This time the Emperor hadn’t died, so the foreign nation became the passive party. The agreement she had reached with them would likely change. If Gu Chaonan campaigned against the foreign nation, perhaps there would still be a chance to turn things around.
“Your Majesty, the Imperial Study has adjourned. Does Lady Gu want to go over first?” Baoshan came in to report.
Both Shen Guiyan and Xu Mengdie rose. Xu Mengdie bowed and said: “Then this subject’s wife will go over first.”
“Mm.” Shen Guiyan nodded, watching Xu Mengdie walk far away before instructing Baoshan: “Prepare some soup. I will send it to the Imperial Study shortly.”
“Yes.”
Gu Chaonan always brought Xu Mengdie to the battlefield. The couple had deep affection, and Gu Chaonan hadn’t taken any other concubines—from beginning to end, there was only Xu Mengdie. Even Teacher Zhou couldn’t help but praise them, saying: “To share life and death under swords and blades like this—that’s true affection.”
Shen Guiyan was also somewhat envious.
When she brought soup to the Imperial Study, Gu Chaobei was propping his chin up, his finger tapping the map on the table as he stared into space.
“This subject’s consort has already sent people to deliver calming soup to Mother Empress. The palace repair work has also been arranged. This portion is for Your Majesty.”
Reaching out to place the soup on the table, Gu Chaobei finally came back to himself, looking at her with a smile: “Yan’er, there will be war again.”
“Mm.” It was an expected matter. The Celestial Dynasty was like an adult who had dominated this region for so many years. Now a little brat came and kicked him—not going out to catch the person and give them a beating would be abnormal.
“I have already made arrangements. When General Gu’s hundred thousand troops reach the border, I will personally go to Ye City to serve as reinforcements.” The Emperor said softly.
Ye City? Shen Guiyan froze, looking in the direction his finger pointed. Ye City was to the west of the Celestial Dynasty. The round trip from the capital, plus marching time, would probably take half a year.
“Why must Your Majesty go personally?” Shen Guiyan frowned: “What about the capital?”
“The capital has Mother Empress, Prime Minister Gu, General Yuwen, and your second brother.” Gu Chaobei smiled: “I have already planned it. Governing court affairs will be entrusted to Prime Minister Gu, assistance to Mother Empress, and guarding the capital to General Yuwen and your second brother. With them there, even if I leave the capital for a year, there won’t be problems.”
But… Shen Guiyan was about to object when she suddenly froze.
The Emperor hadn’t included her in his calculations. What was she supposed to do?
“The Empress should accompany me on this imperial campaign.” The Emperor drew her over, embracing her gently: “Going to Ye City, we’ll pass right by the Western Mountains you mentioned, so we can personally seek a physician for our son and fulfill your wish. It’s also perfect—we can tour the mountains and rivers of this realm together.”
So he wasn’t going out to fight, but to travel? Shen Guiyan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Although it sounded very appealing, she couldn’t help worrying—would such arrangements really be fine?
The hundred thousand troops were divided into nine routes, expected to take half a year to reach the border. The border garrison had already declared war on the foreign nation first. No foreign nationals were allowed to cross the border by even one step, and any foreign nationals seen within the territory were all arrested and imprisoned.
The yellow-haired ambassador was executed on charges of attempted regicide. When beheaded, his mouth was gagged. He wanted to shout something, but no one could understand. After blood splattered three feet on white canvas, the army set out.
Shen Guiyan went to see them off in place of the Emperor. As the phoenix carriage traveled on the road, she inadvertently saw Xu Zhuangzhou on the distant roadside buying sugar figurines for a group of young children.
Since following Teacher Zhou to persuade the various princes and returning, Shen Guiyan felt Xu Zhuangzhou had merit and planned to arrange an official position for him. Who knew this person had no interest in officialdom and just continued helping at the capital’s school.
“Stop the carriage.” Shen Guiyan called out.
Where the phoenix carriage passed, the common people moved aside. Xu Zhuangzhou saw them from afar and wanted to turn and lead the children away. Who knew the Empress’s chief maid Baoshan would come over and say: “Young Master Xu, Her Majesty the Empress requests your presence.”
Xu Zhuangzhou was somewhat stunned. Scratching his head, he had the oldest child lead the others back to the school, then followed Baoshan to the front of the phoenix carriage.
“This commoner pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Rise.” Shen Guiyan lifted one side of the curtain, looking at him: “Today General Gu departs on campaign, and your sister will also accompany him. Won’t you go see them?”
Xu Zhuangzhou touched his nose somewhat embarrassedly and honestly said: “There’s nothing much to see—just saying a few morale-boosting words according to protocol. I’ve seen it many times, it’s not interesting. Many new children have come to the school. Grand Tutor Zhou isn’t here, so this commoner should go help.”
Shen Guiyan didn’t quite understand. People of this era all pursued fame, fortune, and official positions. Xu Zhuangzhou was Xu Mengdie’s own younger brother—given the relationship, rising rapidly through the ranks wouldn’t be difficult, yet he had no such intentions.
She still remembered long ago, it was Xu Zhuangzhou who rescued her from the eastern courtyard of the Gu residence. When she woke up, she had even violently headbutted him.
Now she was already the honored Empress, Xu Mengdie had also transformed from a Gu residence concubine to the lofty Marshal’s wife, and even Teacher Zhou had the nominal title of Grand Tutor.
Only Xu Zhuangzhou remained the same as before, unchanged in the slightest, in plain clothes with clear, bright features.
Shen Guiyan suddenly sighed and said: “If only people could always maintain their former hearts.”
Xu Zhuangzhou looked at her strangely: “As people grow with time, naturally they can’t remain forever unchanged. Holding fast to one’s original convictions is already rare. Things that never change at all won’t keep people’s affection for long either.”
Shen Guiyan froze, raising her eyebrows at him.
Xu Zhuangzhou clasped his hands: “Your Majesty should proceed. The hour is getting late.”
Having said this, he lowered his head in a bow, then turned to chase after the children’s direction.
“He really is different.” Shen Guiyan looked at his retreating figure, shaking her head with a smile as she lowered the curtain and had the phoenix carriage continue.
Born from the same womb—why was Xu Zhuangzhou so carefree while Mengdie seemed to have taken a wrong turn but stubbornly refused to turn back?
The army departed. Xu Mengdie wore white soft armor, riding on horseback behind Gu Chaonan. Gu Chaonan wore full general’s armor, imposing and majestic. After drinking the farewell wine and reciting the oath of loyalty to the sovereign, he led the soldiers on campaign. Shen Guiyan stood on the city tower as palace attendants brought something up to her.
“Lady Gu, hearing that Her Majesty the Empress will journey west, specially sent this route map of the Western Mountains.” The palace attendant said respectfully.
Shen Guiyan took it to look. First was a letter from Xu Mengdie explaining that the divine physician of the Western Mountains was touring the south, so she specially sent the route map. If Your Majesty had the opportunity to go, she could bring the Imperial Prince to visit the divine physician’s residence.
The map was drawn very carefully, and the letter’s words were sincere. Shen Guiyan smiled and put it away: “I will certainly go.”
On the way back to the palace, having just left Zhengde Street and heading toward the Imperial City, the carriage stopped halfway. Baoshan hurried over anxiously: “Your Majesty, let’s take a different route!”
“Why?” Shen Guiyan was curious—was there actually someone in the capital who dared to block the phoenix carriage?
“Up ahead there’s reportedly been a murder case. To avoid offense, we should take a detour.” Baoshan frowned.
A murder case? Shen Guiyan frowned: “What happened?”
Knowing her mistress would meddle in such matters, Baoshan sighed helplessly: “Up ahead, someone’s horse went mad and trampled a child to death. They’re making a commotion now.”
As she spoke, the commotion ahead carried over from afar: “So what if I trampled him to death? Open your dog eyes and look clearly—this is an imperially bestowed precious horse. I haven’t even made you compensate me for frightening my horse yet.”
“Is a horse more precious than a person?” The surrounding commoners formed a circle, with no intention of letting the person leave, all condemning: “A life for a life—you still want to run?”
That person’s voice lowered somewhat, probably aware of the severity of the new policies, yet still said unwillingly: “I’m from the Shen residence, a trusted aide of the Marquis of Loyal Service. Even His Majesty has to call the Marquis of Loyal Service father-in-law. What are you lot? If you have the guts, go sue me at the magistrate’s office!”
Such arrogance—even Shen Guiyan snorted coldly upon hearing it.
She descended from the phoenix carriage. The Imperial Guards ahead cleared the way. Shen Guiyan, in her phoenix robe trailing on the ground, walked directly into the middle of the commotion.
The tiny child was mangled and bloody. The precious horse with blood on its hooves stood imposingly.