Song Mansion.

As the Commander of the Imperial Guard, Song Feng was undoubtedly the busiest person during this imperial expedition.

After finishing his day's court assembly, Song Feng dragged his tired body home.

Where is Miss?

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Song Feng inquired about his beloved daughter.

The steward of the manor said with a smile, "According to the master, Miss is talking with Madam in the hall."

"Oh, let's go take a look."

With that, Song Feng walked straight towards the living room.

Inside the hall, Madam Song held Song Yue's small hand with a smile on her face.

"Ahem~!"

As he approached the living room, Song Feng paused and coughed softly.

Hearing the commotion, Madam Song and Song Yue quickly got up and looked outside.

Upon seeing Song Feng, Song Yue moved gracefully and then bowed slightly.

"Daughter greets Father."

"Alright, alright, no need for such formalities."

The moment Song Feng saw his daughter, all his fatigue vanished.

After taking his seat, Song Feng looked at his wife and said solemnly, "His Majesty is personally leading the expedition this time, and I will also be going with him. I will have to trouble you to take care of the affairs at home."

"Please rest assured, Master." Madam Song nodded with a smile.

Song Yue said with a concerned expression, "Father, the battlefield is dangerous, you must be extra careful, and... and you must..."

In the end, Song Yue blushed and stammered, unable to speak.

"Haha~, don't worry, your father will definitely protect His Majesty well."

Seeing his daughter like this, Song Feng knew exactly what she was thinking. While laughing, he couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. After raising his precious daughter for so many years, she ultimately belonged to someone else.

"Patriarch!!"

Just then, a shout, tinged with both urgency and joy, rang out.

The Song family's steward, with a smile on his face, jogged into the living room.

"Master, someone from the palace has arrived, saying they have an edict from the Empress Dowager."

"Quickly, open the middle gate to welcome them."

"promise!"

The butler agreed and then hurriedly turned and ran outside. Song Feng also led his wife and daughter out of the living room.

Upon exiting the living room, one sees a palace eunuch from Changle Palace carrying an imperial edict, walking towards them, followed by dozens of palace maids and eunuchs carrying various precious silks and objects.

Upon approaching, the eunuch looked at Song Feng and then raised the imperial edict in his hand.

"By order of the Empress Dowager, Commander Song Feng of the Imperial Guard received the imperial edict."

"Your Majesty Song Feng, I have received the imperial edict."

Song Feng, along with his wife, Song Yue, and the servants of the Song family, hurriedly bowed to the imperial edict.

The imperial edict was then unfurled and read aloud: "The Song family has a daughter named Yue, who is well-educated, courteous, dignified, and virtuous. I am delighted to hear of her and hereby summon her to the inner palace..."

"Your subject thanks Heaven for its grace!"

Song Feng respectfully extended both hands to receive the imperial edict, his face showing both joy and reluctance.

Song Yue, who was standing to the side with her head down, had mixed feelings after learning that she was really going to enter the palace and become the emperor's woman.

After Song Feng accepted the imperial edict, the palace attendant turned around and pointed to the silk and utensils behind him.

"Lieutenant Song, these rewards were specially ordered by His Majesty. Among all the families of women who have entered the palace, your family is the first to receive such a reward."

The eunuch's voice was loud and clearly heard by everyone present.

Not only Song Feng and Song Yue, but even the servants of the Song family around them understood that the Song family was about to produce an empress.

For a moment, everyone's face showed a hint of excitement.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to serve you."

After saying this, Song Feng, with a deeply moved expression, bowed three times towards the direction of the palace.

"Alright, Lieutenant Song, you and your wife and daughter should make your preparations. In two days, the Empress Dowager will send someone to fetch the daughter to the palace."

With everything settled, the eunuch didn't linger. After giving some instructions, he took his leave.

Soon, in addition to the Song family, more than a dozen other families, including the Dou, Yin, Ma, Wang, and Guo families, received the Empress Dowager's edict.

Two days later, more than a dozen young women, including Song Yue, were taken to the Yeting Palace.

With these women entering the palace, the court officials were finally relieved of a major concern.

Since the emperor had not yet come of age, the court officials were not in a hurry to discuss the matter of establishing an empress.

October 10th.

After a month of pre-battle preparations, all supplies have been delivered.

Led by Xu Rong as the vanguard, Ma Teng, Gongsun Zan, and Gongsun Du led 12,000 cavalrymen from four battalions—Huangfeng, Liehuo, Baima, and Heifeng—as the vanguard force and left Luoyang first.

Huangfu Song was appointed as the General Who Punishes the Rebels, and Zhu Jun as his deputy. They led Li Jue, Guo Si, Gao Shun and other border generals, along with 10,000 northern troops and 5,000 reserve soldiers as the central army, closely following behind.

Two days after the vanguard and central army left Luoyang, the 10,000 Imperial Guards, serving as the rear guard, also assembled at the drill ground north of Luoyang.

Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Jian, Yuan Shao, Dian Wei, Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Hua Xiong, and those Yulin Camp trainees who passed the graduation examination were also incorporated into the Yulin Army as the emperor's personal guard.

The area around the drill ground was also crowded with people who came to watch.

The weather was already slightly chilly, but the atmosphere was incredibly lively, with everyone's eyes fixed intently on the city gate.

Before long, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Liu Hong, dressed in military uniform, rode a chestnut horse out of the city gate and slowly walked towards the group of soldiers to the west.

Apart from older officials such as Hu Guang and Chen Fan, the other ministers also rode horses and followed behind Liu Hong to show the importance they attached to this expedition.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!