Chapter 304 Agreement

Huo Yuan suddenly looked up, his expression practically screaming "opposition!"

He even forgot to maintain his usual rigid etiquette, and his voice suddenly rose.

"Nonsense, absolutely not!"

"Your Highness, do you know what you're saying? The northern border is currently engulfed in war and fraught with danger. It's not a place to set foot in easily. Moreover, swords and spears have no eyes on the battlefield. If anything were to happen to you, how would we explain it to the Emperor!"

"Moreover, leaving the inner palace without permission is tantamount to disregarding palace rules! I cannot allow it!"

They're all lunatics!

The emperor is going to lead the army in person, and the concubines are going to join the battle.

What's wrong with your thought processes, you two?!

Moreover, if Huo Lin were to see Jiang Huan in the Northern Territory, wouldn't he be furious and order their immediate execution?

In contrast, Xu Xiuyuan's reaction was much calmer, but his face was also full of worry.

He knew his sister's personality; she was definitely not the type to talk nonsense or be presumptuous.

"Huan'er, the young master's words may be rough, but they make sense. You have never traveled far from home and do not understand the dangers of the battlefield. Can you tell your elder brother why you suddenly want to go to the Northern Border?"

Jiang Huan had anticipated their reaction, and she clenched her hands.

Especially at times like these, it's crucial to maintain composure; she must persuade them with clear and compelling reasons.

She looked up, meeting their gazes, her tone resolute.

"I know it's dangerous, and I know it's against the rules, but I have to go!"

“The North has now developed a new machine. With His Majesty waging war in the North, the battles will inevitably be fierce and casualties will be unavoidable. Although I cannot fight on the front lines, I still have my uses.”

She looked at the two of them with a determined look in her eyes: "Your Highness, my elder brother, as you know, I was the one who drafted the crossbow design a while ago. If I go to the Northern Border, I might be able to figure out the new machine developed by the Northern Di people and find a way to deal with it. Moreover, I can also prepare special medicinal meals and dry rations that can quickly restore the soldiers' physical strength and boost their morale."

"I know my own limitations. I won't go to the front lines, but I can provide support from the rear. Getting even one more soldier back to full strength might change the outcome of a small-scale battle. Little by little, it adds up, and..."

At this point, Jiang Huan's voice finally trembled slightly as she spoke.

She closed her eyes briefly before forcing herself to continue: "I've had the same dream for several nights in a row. I dreamt that the Emperor was surrounded and on the verge of death. The dream was so real that I couldn't stand by and watch."

"What if this is a warning from heaven? If I do nothing out of fear of danger and just watch the worst happen, I will never forgive myself for the rest of my life."

When Huo Yuan heard Jiang Huan mention the dream, the slight relaxation that had just appeared on his face vanished instantly, replaced by annoyance at being fooled.

"A dream?" He scoffed. "Your Highness, are you really going to disregard palace rules and trespass into the Northern Frontier battlefield just because of a vague and unreliable dream? This is utterly childish!"

He stepped forward, his gaze sharp: "What you think about during the day, you dream about at night. The dream you're talking about is just what you've been worrying about. How can it be used as a basis for action? If everyone in the harem acts on their own because of nightmares, wouldn't that lead to chaos in the world!"

This is getting more and more outrageous; they actually want to go to the battlefield because of a dream.

Do you think war is child's play, and stabbing someone is done in slow motion?

Xu Xiuyuan agreed with Huo Yuan this time, sighed, and comforted him.

“Huan’er, dreams are just dreams and can’t be taken seriously. The Emperor is the Son of Heaven and has elite troops protecting him. He will surely turn misfortune into good fortune. Your staying in the palace is the greatest support you can give the Emperor. If you go, it will only distract him and cause him more trouble.”

He stepped forward, intending to pat her head to comfort her as he did when they were children, but found his sister's eyes to be surprisingly stubborn.

"Was the dream an illusion? What worries have you had?"

Jiang Huan's tears fell silently, but her gaze remained fixed on them.

The despair in those eyes sent a chill down the spines of Xu Xiuyuan and Huo Yuan, who were used to weathering many storms.

"I hope it's fake, I hope it's just a ridiculous dream more than anyone else!"

She abruptly raised her hand to wipe away her tears, her voice choked with emotion.

“I know you don’t believe me, fine, even if I’m just imagining things, then let me ask you,” she suddenly raised her voice and questioned, “what if the worst news comes from the North instead of good news!”

"If he really dies on the battlefield, may he be wrapped in a horse's hide!" She said these words with extreme difficulty, as if she had used up all her strength, and every word was filled with blood and tears.

"Tell me!" She stared intently at Huo Yuan, then turned to Xu Xiuyuan, "What am I supposed to do then? Tell me, am I supposed to stay here in these palaces, waiting for that obituary, and then what? What am I supposed to do?"

"Wearing mourning clothes, weeping and observing mourning? And then continuing to live? For the family? For so-called propriety? Or for a future unseen within these cold palace walls?"

She shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face, her tone resolute.

"I can't do it!"

She stepped forward, closing in on the two of them, her gaze piercing.

"I, Jiang Huan, will make my words clear right here and now—"

“If he returns victorious, I will stand here and wait for his return; if he dies in battle,” she paused, took a breath, and her voice softened, “then I will go to the North and personally collect his body.”

"The road to the underworld is long and desolate; I cannot let him walk it alone."

A deathly silence fell over the hall.

Huo Yuan was speechless. His mouth was open, but all his advice about etiquette and rules was stuck in his throat.

Those grand principles suddenly seem so pale and powerless, even somewhat cold, in the face of such heavy and pure emotions.

He may be old-fashioned, but he is not cold-blooded.

Xu Xiuyuan was also completely stunned. He knew Jiang Huan well. She was usually lively and playful, seemingly carefree, but deep down she was incredibly stubborn.

Rather than letting her run away in despair and face even greater danger, it's better to...

He stepped forward and gently pressed down on Jiang Huan's shoulder: "Don't say anything, I'll help you."

Jiang Huan looked up abruptly, unable to hide her surprise: "Brother?"

Xu Xiuyuan nodded emphatically, reaffirming Jiang Huan's promise: "I will definitely find a way to get you to see the Emperor."

After saying that, he turned to Huo Yuan, who was still in shock.

“Your Highness, you heard it all. My sister’s mind is made up, and we can’t stop her. Rather than let her face danger alone, we would like to pave a way for her. Please do us a favor.”

Huo Yuan looked at Xu Xiuyuan and then at Jiang Huan, his Adam's apple bobbing violently a few times.

He flicked his sleeve, his voice hard and strained, carrying a hint of resignation and hoarseness.

"I understand, I'll help."