The news of Xirong’s entry into the Pass was sent to the palace in the early morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Late at night, around midnight, the soothing incense handmade by Gu Hong was lit in the bedroom, and Jing Ye fell asleep soundly.

Ye Mao walked into the hall quickly and carefully lifted the curtain. Lu Baizang opened his eyes on the bed and waved to him.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Gu Hong also opened his eyes, put on his clothes, stood up, and followed Ye Mao out of the bedroom to the front hall. In the palace stood the messenger who was led in by the palace servants.

The messenger knelt down on one knee, his temples and shoulders covered with snow, and said in a hoarse voice: “Bixue Pass urgent report! Xirong’s 60,000 enemy troops invaded Nanyang City ten days ago…” In his hands was the written battle report.

Gu Hong took it and glanced at it hastily, then ordered the palace servants to take the messenger to rest, and he took the battle report back to the bedroom.

Jing Ye had already woken up and was talking to Lu Baizang while leaning on the jade pillow. When he heard the sound, he turned around and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Hong sat on the bed, pressed the quilt for him, and said, “Xirong entered the Bixue Pass.”

Jing Ye was surprised: “When?”

Gu Hong said: “Ten days ago.”

Jing Ye frowned, took the memorial from Gu Hong and read it.

The report was very short, only some simple casualty statistics and the time of the enemy’s surprise attack.

It was too sudden.

Currently, the imperial court and Xirong were like a sick middle aged man and a young man who had not yet grown mature. It was unclear who had the advantage. When Jing Ye’s father was on the throne, he sent an eldest princess for a peace marriage in exchange for a ten-year truce between the two sides.

Unfortunately, the princess passed away from a serious illness half a year ago, and chaos also cropped up within Xirong. Unexpectedly, Xirong sent troops to occupy Bixue Pass in just half a year.

After Jing Ye read the last word, he raised his head and said, “Ye Mao?”

“Your Majesty.” Ye Gonggong was waiting outside the curtain, knowing that he would not be able to sleep tonight, “Does Your Majesty want to change clothes?”

Jing Ye said: “Zhen will go to Taihe Hall. Pass on the order, today’s morning assembly will be an hour earlier.”

“Yes.”

Ye Mao bowed and stepped back.

It was around 4am, and the lights were brightly lit in the Taihe Hall. Jing Ye sat on the dragon throne and rubbed his temples, watching the ministers discussing in low voices below.

“Your Majesty.” The Minister of Revenue took a step forward and bowed, “Chen believes that peace talks should be the main focus.”

There was a commotion among the ministers, and the Minister of Revenue continued: “The imperial court has just spent disaster relief funds not long ago, the national treasury is running low, and the common people are already overwhelmed. If we rush to fight now, chen is afraid that the rear will be vacant, and money, food and grass would be a big problem.”

Jing Ye frowned in thought.

The Minister of War came out and said: “Chen thinks otherwise. Xirong’s entry this time has made it clear that they want to invade our land in the Central Plains. If we only pander to the enemy, chen is afraid we will have to surrender territory under humiliating terms without knowing it. The only way is to fight to enhance the country’s prestige.”

The military generals all echoed agreement, and many officials also agreed as well.

However, the Minister of Revenue was determined not to start a war, clearly having suffered a huge loss in lack of money and food. As a result, the ministers launched into heated argument again. The two prime ministers, Lord Gu and Lord Qin, stood aside, one smiling and the other squinting, seemingly deep in thought, but actually not fully awake.

Jing Ye listened to this and that, and finally said: “Everyone, be quiet for a moment.”

The ministers fell silent.

Jing Ye looked at Prime Minister Gu: “There are different opinions, what does Prime Minister Gu think?”

Old Prime Minister Gu held the jade tablet in both hands and slowly stepped forward. His voice was old and powerful: “The current situation is not as good as described, but it is not as bad as we think either.”

He turned around and looked at the ministers: “Everyone, do you still remember the situation when Xirong knocked on our Bixue Pass eleven years ago?”

All the ministers were silent, and the Minister of Revenue was speechless as well.

Prime Minister Gu sighed, turned around, saluted Jing Ye, and said, “Your Majesty, we must fight.”

“I don’t agree.” Lu Baizang said with a serious face.

“The ministers have agreed to set off in four days,” Jing Ye said.

Lu Baizang’s face turned darker: “Do you know how far it is from here to Bixue Pass?”

Jing Ye said: “I’m afraid this battle will be difficult. I want to give it my best.”

Lu Baizang looked at him, turned his back to him, and said nothing.

Jing Ye looked at the gauze curtains above him, thought for a while, then moved over to hug him, and said softly: “I’m tired, go to sleep.”

There was no conversation for a long time. Jing Ye was a little sleepy and couldn’t help but slowly close his eyes.

In the haziness, it seemed as if someone’s hand was holding his, their fingers intertwining with his own.

Yang Manor, in Madam Yang‘s room, Gu Mei was clumsily embroidering mandarin ducks with needle and thread. The maid next to her raised her head and took a look, and laughed with a “pfft”.

Gu Mei was embarrassed, and whispered: “Why are you laughing?”

Just when the maid was about to respond, she saw the maid who served Madam Yang gesture at her and hurriedly kept silent.

Gu Mei embroidered for a while, and finally couldn’t sit still. She put down the embroidery cloth, tiptoed to Yang Yuying, who was wrapping thread with the maids, and said softly: “Let’s go out and get some fresh air.”

Yang Yuying nodded, put down the thread, and walked out slowly with her.

The two of them were walking in the corridor outside the house.

Gu Mei said: “I heard from Ling’er that Aunt intends to prepare for your marriage?”

Yang Yuying nodded and sighed: “Based on her words over the past few days, I’m afraid it is so.”

“The Feng family…?”

“Yes.”

Gu Mei considered herself to be a person who took pleasure in the moment, but at this moment, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly: “I still remember how we swore when we were young, saying that we would be female heroes, but now we can’t avoid the words “the grown girl must get married.”

Yang Yuying thought of the Feng Ling she saw in Feng Manor. He was handsome and a gentleman, and the Feng family had a good reputation for generations. Normally speaking, all daughters in the capital would want nothing more than to get such a marriage match, but…

The two sisters were silent for a while, but when they saw Yang Ziran in official uniform walking towards them, Yang Yuying smiled and said, “Second Brother.”

Yang Ziran stopped and said with a smile: “Oh, the eldest lady of the Gu family, what are you doing here.”

Gu Mei glared, and Yang Yuying smiled and said, “Brother, morning assembly ended early today.”

Yang Ziran said: “There was an urgent report from the border. His Majesty summoned all the ministers to enter the palace an hour early. it ended only just now.”

Yang Yuying said: “Border pass?”

“Yes.” Yang Ziran rubbed the tassel of the jade pendant at his waist and frowned, “There’s going to be a war.”

Gu Yun returned to the manor with old Prime Minister Gu, and first went to the small courtyard where Qi Lan and Bai shi were accommodated.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw Bai shi standing aside, smiling bitterly and crying, while Qi Lan was still sitting there, playing intermittent music on the qin.

Gu Yun looked at him, walked over slowly and said, “Ah Lan.”

Qi Lan looked up at him, pressed the strings and smiled: “Did you hear it? This song…”

His gaze became hazy again, “Yu’er likes it very much…”

Bai shi burst into tears.

Gu Yun sighed softly, leaned down, pointed at Bai shi and said to Qi Lan: “Ah Lan, look, who is that?”

Qi Lan glanced at her confusedly, turned around and lowered his head, “I don’t know her.”

Bai Yu looked pale and walked forward a few steps: “Brother Lan, look at me.”

Qi Lan raised his head and looked at her steadily: “You…I…” Suddenly his pupils dilated, he held his head and trembled.

Gu Yun hurriedly held his shoulders and said, “It’s okay, don’t be anxious, think slowly.”

“Yu’er, Yu’er…” Qi Lan was shaking and crying, “I’m incompetent… I’m incompetent…”

Bai Yu looked at him, took a few steps back, and said, “Brother Lan, Bai Yu is waiting for you.” She wiped her tears, turned around and left step by step.

Qi Lan looked at her back, tears streaming down his face, but unable to say a word.

Gu Yun sighed, leaned over and gently hugged his shoulders.

Four days later.

In the bedroom, Lu Baizang held Jing Ye’s hand and rubbed his fingers one by one.

Jing Ye was a bit spooked by him and he asked, “What are you doing?”

Lu Baizang smiled with unclear meaning: “When the time comes and you miss me in the military camp, just use it…” He leaned close to Jing Ye’s ear.

After hearing what he said, Jing Ye turned red from his ears to his cheeks. He pulled his hand fiercely and said, “Get out!”

Lu Baizang looked at him quietly, his eyes gentle and deep.

Jing Ye looked back at him, sighed softly, and tilted his head.

After a long kiss.

Jing Ye said: “Wait for me to come back.”

Two hours later, the army outside the city gate was ready to go. Jing Ye got on his horse and looked up at the city wall. Gu Hong was looking at him with his head lowered.

You c an fi nd t he la te st cha pte rs at ( th e bl mu se . c o m )

Li Tingqiu urged his horse forward and said, “Your Majesty, the time has come.”

Jing Ye withdrew his gaze, pulled at the reins and turned to the front, saying, “Let’s go.”

The army began to move at the order, kicking up billowing dust as they headed southwest.

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