Qin Su thought that Yu Shuo would have some free time after being busy for a while, and that the end of the year would be approaching in a month or so. This would be the first New Year they had spent together.

At least Qin Su was looking forward to it.

She was even thinking about how to decorate the palace and whether she should return to the manor early.

It is said that people go out for a walk on the first day of the Lunar New Year and visit their parents-in-law on the second day.

Qin Su thought that Chu Yi could go together.

However, this plan was shattered in mid-October when Yu Shuo was sent to the border, leaving without even a chance to say goodbye.

Qin Su hurriedly entered the palace; nowadays, she could enter the palace even without being summoned.

"Why is Princess Consort of Prince Chen here?" Deng Quan saw Qin Su getting off the carriage at the palace gate from afar and hurriedly ran over to help her.

She was almost full-term and her body was very heavy, so she tried to be careful in everything she did.

"Thank you, Eunuch Deng, I'm fine. I came to ask about His Highness. Why did His Majesty suddenly send him to the border? Is it to Shacheng?"

Deng Quan could guess what she had come for and understood her feelings at that moment, but this matter needed to be handled by someone.

"It's from Shacheng, but this matter is complicated, and I don't know the specifics. Please watch your step."

If it was just an invasion from the Yuehai Kingdom, Deng Quan wouldn't be so silent. What exactly happened?

Qin Su became increasingly anxious as she thought about it. She desperately wanted to see Emperor Mingyang, hoping he could answer her questions.

The ministers in the warm pavilion were still the same as before, all familiar faces. They even noticed that Qin Su hadn't changed much, probably because they knew she would be coming today.

Qin Su slowly bowed to Emperor Mingyang.

Seeing her struggling, Emperor Mingyang said, "There's no need for formalities; you're not feeling well either. Deng Quan, bring a chair for Princess Chen."

Qin Su didn't intend to linger there any longer and stopped Deng Quan's actions, saying, "Your Majesty, I have come to ask about my prince."

Emperor Mingyang naturally knew this, and said, "This matter is of great importance. If you really want to know, come and ask again this afternoon. For now, go and sit with the Empress Dowager."

His words made Qin Su even more uncertain.

In his previous life, Yu Shuo was always on the border and never heard anything important come back to him.

It seems to have no reference value now.

Since Emperor Mingyang had said so, Qin Su could no longer linger here.

She went to the Empress Dowager's palace with a heavy heart.

As the weather grew colder, the Empress Dowager was almost entirely curled up in her blankets.

Cheng An teased her from the side, saying that the two of them didn't look like mother and daughter, but more like sisters.

"Why are you here, sister-in-law?" Cheng An rarely called Qin Su "sister-in-law," usually just calling her "Qin Su, Qin Su."

There are quite a few rules today.

The Empress Dowager wrapped the quilt tighter around herself and said, "It's for Ziyu's sake."

Seeing the couple so loving made her feel gratified, but how could they transfer someone away so soon after getting married? It was really heartless.

And if she wasn't mistaken, Qin Su was almost full-term. Although pregnancy is supposed to last ten months, almost no one goes to full term; they usually give birth ten days to two weeks early. Calculating the days, she would probably give birth around mid-November.

Is it possible for Tzuyu to make it back in a month?

She really doesn't know much about national affairs, so it's not appropriate for her to interfere.

"Does Mother know?" Qin Su sat down on Cheng An's arm, and someone immediately massaged her legs, feet, shoulders, and neck.

These people had all learned their skills at the Imperial Hospital, and they would serve Qin Su whenever she came.

The Empress Dowager shook her head. "I don't know. The Emperor kept this matter very well hidden. He didn't tell me."

Cheng An also shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

Qin Su had no choice but to suppress her temper.

People feel that time is longest when they are waiting, and they are distracted when doing anything.

Even though she was exhausted after lunch, she waited for Emperor Mingyang to come.

Fortunately, Emperor Mingyang was a man of his word, and he came whenever he said he would.

After he arrived, he instructed Deng Quan to escort Cheng An out of the palace. His wary demeanor only fueled Qin Su's curiosity.

What exactly is it that makes Emperor Mingyang so cautious?

He had just sat down when he asked Qin Su, "Did you send someone to check on Ping's pulse?"

Qin Su nodded; she cared about the child's affairs more than anyone else.

"I can only tell you..." He had just opened his mouth when he noticed the Empress Dowager sitting beside him wrapped in a quilt, her eyes sparkling.

Faced with such a mother, Emperor Mingyang could only smile wryly, unsure how to express his inner thoughts.

Before my father passed away, he said we should be more tolerant of my mother in the future. Indeed, most people couldn't stand her temperament. Perhaps they felt that she was too old for such a timid and unreliable person?

Qin Su was almost urging Emperor Mingyang to hurry up, but why was he dawdling halfway through his sentence?

"There is indeed some activity from the Yuehai Kingdom, but this matter is also related to Quegu."

Qin Su was taken aback. "Quegu? How could this be? Hasn't Quegu always been a friendly ally of our country? How could it be involved with Yuehai Kingdom?"

Qin Su recalled Quegu in her previous life. The only interaction between Quegu and Da'an seemed to be sending a princess over, and it was not until next year. How could it be so sudden?

"Qiegu and Yuehai Kingdom have joined forces?"

Qin Su shook her head, thinking it was unlikely.

There's no reason for Quegu to join forces with Yuehai Kingdom. Although Quegu is composed of nomadic peoples, they border Da'an, and the people of Da'an are not fond of war, so the two sides have close trade relations.

In order to gradually encroach on the land of Da'an, did they join forces with Yuehai Kingdom?

impossible.

Da'an is located between Yuehai Kingdom and Quegu, completely in the south and north.

If Quegu really has such a plan, Qin Su can only say that those in power have something wrong with their brains.

“You’re right. Even if Quegu joins forces with other countries, it will not choose Yuehai Kingdom.”

"So why is that?"

Qin Su couldn't figure out the reason.

"I have received news that a prince has gone missing in Quegu, and I saw him in Shacheng."

Qin Su instantly understood.

"Is this prince very favored?"

Emperor Mingyang did not give a yes or no answer. He said, "Regardless of whether this prince is favored or not, the royal family must not be allowed to have any trouble on our borders."

This would seriously affect relations between the two countries, and if it were exploited by other countries, it could potentially ignite a war.

If the Yuehai Kingdom knew about this prince's affair, they would surely kidnap him, or even more cruelly, kill him and dump his body within the territory of Da'an. The outcome is predictable.

Therefore, this matter was a secret within a secret, and even the Empress Dowager and Emperor Mingyang did not mention it.

Qin Su pursed her lips, her heart settling back down.

She wondered when Yu Shuo would return, and whether there would be any danger along the way.

The more she thought about it, the more worried she became. Hesitantly, she asked Emperor Mingyang, "Has Your Majesty arranged for anyone to go and provide support?"

Even knowing that Yu Shuo was very talented in military affairs, Qin Su did not dare to take the risk.

"Should we send my dad to help?"

Although her father was a bit impulsive, he was obedient and protective of his family.

Qin Su was very relieved.

Emperor Mingyang shook his head. "The fewer people who know about this, the better."

It's not that I don't trust the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, but I'm worried about causing further complications.