Chapter 121 Difficult

Emperor Xiao Xuan, along with the Crown Prince and his entourage, personally escorted Xiao Huaijin out of the capital.

Two days later, the people of the capital once again kowtowed to see Emperor Xiao Xuan off as he left the capital.

After these two groups left the capital, the city seemed to suddenly become quiet.

Whether in teahouses or restaurants, everyone was talking about where the imperial procession was and how many more days it would take to reach the north.

I estimate how long I'll have to stay in the North before I can come back.

Everyone was looking forward to Emperor Xiao Xuan's early return to the capital.

In their view, as long as the imperial family returned, it meant that the cities of the North had been reclaimed.

The northern lands will once again return to the prosperous state they were during the reign of the late emperor.

After listening to Xiao Huaijin's words, Song Zhimian went to serve the Crown Princess after Xiao Jingjue left with Xiao Huaijin.

However, the Crown Princess had enough servants around her, so Song Zhimian only needed to show up briefly before leaving each time she went.

The Crown Princess also told Song Zhimian to get some rest during this time.

"Don't worry! Prince Qi has said everything he needed to say. I will definitely let you know if anything happens on my end." The Crown Princess smiled as she bestowed many gifts upon Song Zhimin.

And so, Song Zhimian was officially on vacation.

...

Song Zhimian spent almost all her time in Zixiao Pavilion.

Although Emperor Xiao Xuan granted her a token that allowed her to travel freely, Song Zhimian never used it.

There are some places she should probably avoid!

Staying in Zixiao Pavilion is quite nice; at least it's safe here.

Song Zhimian and the remaining eunuchs kept Zixiao Pavilion spotless every day.

When she had free time, she would look at the map in Zixiao Pavilion and wonder where the two groups of people had gone.

Did Lianqiao suffer any hardship or eat well while traveling with the imperial entourage?

Has anything happened to Xiao Jingjue? Does he carry his medicine kit with him every day?

Has Xiao Huaijin taken good care of Xiao Jingjue?

Another question is, what exactly was Xiao Huaijin's mission when he went to the southwest this time...?

After only a couple of days of free time, Princess Yongxin brought Xiao Ruanruan to see Song Zhimian.

"You haven't had anything to do lately, have you?"

We're the same!

I'm so bored I just want to find someone to play cards with!

Song Zhimian quickly served tea and snacks to both of them.

"Playing cards? You mustn't play here at Zixiao Pavilion. The Crown Princess doesn't allow playing cards in the East Palace!"

Let's talk!

"You should all try this. It's new tea sent from the Imperial Household Department, from Lingnan. I think it's quite good!"

Song Zhimian placed tea in front of both of them.

Xiao Ruanruan and Princess Yongxin also politely picked up their teacups and took a sip, then casually complimented how fragrant the tea was.

"If you want to play leaf cards, you can go to Spring Never Ends!"

Even if you can't gather enough people, the owner of Chunbuwan will arrange for a tea master or tea lady to accompany you while you drink," Song Zhimian suggested with a smile.

Princess Yongxin and Xiao Ruanruan immediately waved their hands.

"Neither of us wants to go on the Spring Festival Gala now!"

Why?!

"Spring is not late... Where did I offend you?" Song Zhimian asked curiously.

"It's not that Spring Festival Gala offended us! It's just that recently, everyone's been discussing military affairs in the North during Spring Festival Gala."

There are still quite a few people discussing how to fight this war.

Each of them thought of themselves as the War God of the North.

Alas, it seems to them that as long as they bombard the northern lands with firearms from Dayu, they can restore the north to normal.

We didn't want to listen to the people there bragging!

"After hearing this so much, I feel like my brain is going to explode!" Princess Yongxin said, shaking her head.

Xiao Ruanruan nodded in agreement.

"Exactly! All of you are pointing fingers and making comments. If you're so capable, why don't you do it yourselves!"

Okay, even if they're not physically strong enough to go to the battlefield or wield a spear, they should donate more when they were collecting provisions for the northern lands recently!

I didn't see them donate much money.

Offering money or effort is useless; all they can do is talk!

I don't want to listen to their empty talk!

Song Zhimian understood somewhat.

They both have access to some information, so they're bound to be speechless when they hear laymen bragging.

"Since Chunbuwan is so popular, its business must be booming lately!" Song Zhimian joked with a smile.

Xiao Ruanruan and Princess Yongxin both nodded.

"you do not say!

In the past, a pot of tea at Chunbuwan Restaurant only cost two taels of silver.

Now... just sitting down costs three taels of silver.

Even so, it's always packed with people, it's so lively!

However, those people only drank tea and didn't eat any snacks. They would brew a pot of tea until it was just plain water and had no flavor at all before they were willing to leave.

"Sigh, I bet Wei Yanli, who's heading southwest, must be having a bit of a headache right now!" Princess Yongxin said with a sigh.

Song Zhimian chuckled twice in agreement.

She was about to say that everyone has their own difficulties, and that ordinary people always like to join in the fun.

Ultimately, everyone hopes that Dayu can win the battle as soon as possible and return in triumph.

"I never expected that Lianqiao would also go to the North this time."

"The north is bitterly cold, Lianqiao must take good care of herself!" Princess Yongxin muttered a couple more times.

Song Zhimian felt a little worried when she thought of Lian Qiao, who had left with the main group.

After thinking for a moment, she finally asked the question that had been bothering her.

“Princess, I’ve always been a little curious. The Great Yu Kingdom is so powerful that the foreign tribes have never dared to wage war against it head-on.”

The Zhou king's rebellion resulted in the loss of two cities.

Given the strength of Dayu, retaking the two cities shouldn't be too difficult.

"How come... it's been over twenty years, and you still haven't taken action against those two cities?" Song Zhimian asked in confusion.

Upon hearing Song Zhimian's question, Xiao Ruanruan and Princess Yongxin exchanged glances and then both sighed.

"Actually... after the two cities were lost, and after His Majesty dealt with the Prince of Zhou, he considered immediately taking back the two cities."

The Weiyuan Army is also ready!

That year, the Weiyuan Army was ready to capture the city.

"But just as they were preparing to capture the cities, the Weiyuan army realized that those two cities were not so easy to take back," Princess Yongxin asked softly.

"Why? The artillery of Dayu is very powerful!" Song Zhimian was even more puzzled.

"You're right, the artillery of Dayu is powerful, but it's precisely because of its powerful artillery that the Weiyuan Army is somewhat hesitant."

Song Zhimian, do you know that?

"What did the barbarians do when the Weiyuan Army was about to attack the city?" Princess Yongxin asked Song Zhimian.

"What did you do?"

"They occupied those two cities, but did not kill all the people of Dayu in the cities."

Instead, they arrested them.

When the Weiyuan Army was about to attack the city, they tied up some of the people and forced them onto the city wall.

Furthermore, many of the people in those two cities were the families, wives, and children of the Weiyuan Army.

"Do you think the Weiyuan Army's artillery could possibly bombard those people?" Princess Yongxin's expression also darkened as she spoke of this.

Song Zhimian...