Chapter 58 Urgent Report from the Border

In the palace, Emperor Xiao Jing was also taking the Empress to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Zheng that day.

Even though she's not my biological mother, I still have to fulfill my filial duties.

Who told him to be put on the throne by Empress Dowager Zheng!

Because of the hot weather, Empress Dowager Zheng felt it was too stuffy in the main hall, so she met Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu in a pavilion in the garden.

Inside the octagonal pavilion, Empress Dowager Zheng leaned comfortably against a chaise lounge.

Several large, crimson-colored porcelain jars around me were filled with ice, and wisps of misty, cold air slowly emanated from them.

Thanks to the ice blocks, the small pavilion wasn't hot at all; instead, it had a slightly cool feel to it.

Consort Zheng sat next to Empress Dowager Zheng.

Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu sat on the other side next to Empress Dowager Zheng.

Not far away, a palace maid was playing the zither for Empress Dowager Zheng.

The palace maids and eunuchs who were serving them stood at varying distances, not daring to make a sound.

As she listened to the music playing in the distance, Empress Dowager Zheng tapped her fingers rhythmically on her lap.

"It's hot, it's kind of the Emperor and Empress to come and see me," Empress Dowager Zheng said calmly.

Emperor Xiao Jing smiled and quickly said, "Yesterday I heard from a eunuch that the Empress Dowager's appetite hasn't been very good lately."

I only had a bowl of mung bean sweet soup for dinner last night.

Your son was worried, so he came to check on you.

"Yes, Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Did the imperial physician take your pulse today?" Empress Xu asked with concern from the side.

Empress Dowager Zheng glanced at Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu, then continued listening to the music.

After a long while, he slowly began to speak.

"It's kind of you that you still think of this old woman."

I even know what I went into last night.

I know that you are all filial.

"It's alright, it's just that it's hot, so I ate a little less last night, and I ate quite well today."

Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu both smiled.

"It's good that Mother is alright; that puts my mind at ease," Emperor Xiao Jing said with a smile.

Empress Dowager Zheng smiled as well.

"Your Majesty, the rainfall has been good this year. I heard there's trouble in the south again?" Empress Dowager Zheng asked.

"It is more abundant than in previous years, but it's alright. We took precautions at the beginning of the year, and the Crown Prince is personally overseeing this matter!"

"The same thing that happened in previous years shouldn't happen again," Emperor Xiao Jing hurriedly said.

Empress Dowager Zheng then slowly sat up.

"Everyone says that thunder and rain are both acts of imperial favor."

Wind, rain, or snow are all blessings from heaven.

If you follow the will of Heaven, then the weather will be favorable and the harvest will be plentiful.

If you do something wrong, Heaven will punish you.

The Crown Prince has grown up and can now help the Emperor with some matters, which makes me very happy.

But I also know that Da Yu cannot rely on one person.

The Crown Prince is very capable, but we can't put all the work on him!

"I think that since the Emperor has so many sons, it would be good to give some more responsibilities to the other princes," Empress Dowager Zheng said calmly.

No one around dared to speak.

The eunuchs and palace maids wished they could plug their ears so they wouldn't hear anything.

Emperor Xiao Jing sneered inwardly.

The Empress Dowager meant that whenever there was a disaster, it was because the emperor had done something wrong and angered Heaven, which caused the calamity.

Also, how about giving the other princes some more responsibilities?

Isn't this blatantly saying that we're giving the King of Qin some real power?

There are many princes!

The eldest prince died young, and the crown prince was raised thanks to the close protection of the empress and Prime Minister Xu.

The fourth prince is practically invisible. He's so old, yet he hasn't even finished reading the Four Books and Five Classics!

What about the fifth and sixth princes?

Aren't they both inexplicably lame and needing to see imperial physicians year after year?

There was also the Seventh Prince, who was saved by Consort Xian at the cost of her life.

The Empress Dowager is truly shameless!

"Yes, Your Majesty, Ze'er is not young anymore, although he now attends court with Your Majesty to listen to government affairs."

But ultimately, he was still too young.

"However, everyone has been young once. When Your Majesty was Ze'er's age, didn't you also inspect the northern regions on behalf of the late Emperor?" Consort Zheng said from the side.

"Yes, Your Majesty, according to the past, you would inspect the northern regions once every three years."

The northern lands are bitterly cold, and this is the best time for inspection tours.

Whom does the emperor plan to send to inspect the northern regions this year?

Since the Crown Prince has already focused his attention on the floods in Jiangnan, then let Ze'er take on the task of inspecting the northern regions!

Ze'er was fond of martial arts and had always followed Duke Anguo, so he had a good understanding of military affairs.

"I think it's great that you're sending Ze'er to inspect the northern lands!" Empress Dowager Zheng said, looking at Emperor Xiao Jing.

Emperor Xiao Jing and Empress Xu both felt a little regretful.

I wish I hadn't come here today to perform the filial piety between mother and son.

Sending the King of Qin to inspect the northern regions? It would be more accurate to say sending the Duke of Anguo on an inspection tour.

Emperor Xiao Jing pondered what kind of excuse he could come up with to gloss over the matter.

"Hmm? Why isn't the Emperor saying anything? Does he think what I said is wrong?" Empress Dowager Zheng's tone immediately rose.

"Your Majesty, this matter will probably require the court officials to..." Empress Xu was trying to stall for time for Emperor Xiao Jing.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Urgent report from the North!"

"Urgent report from Weiyuan Army!" A young eunuch, covered in sweat, rushed over.

These two sentences alone made everyone in the pavilion stand up.

Urgent report from the North? What's going on?

Could it be an urgent military intelligence?

Or perhaps the Northern Hu invaded Dayu?

Emperor Xiao Jing was more anxious than anyone else.

Since the Duke of Dingguo was stationed in the north and killed 100,000 Northern Hu soldiers with 30,000 troops, the Northern Hu had been quiet for a long time.

For at least the past three years, Bei Hu has been very well-behaved and has not made any unusual moves.

"Where's the memorial?" Emperor Xiao Jing asked immediately, looking at the panting eunuch.

"No...no report."

"General Huangfu, the Marquis of Everlasting Victory, sent his deputy." The little eunuch knelt on the ground, panting, and said.

"Hurry up and issue the decree!" Emperor Xiao Jing paced back and forth in the pavilion in a hurry.

Please, please, let's hope that another large army doesn't invade!

This timing is wrong too. It's the height of summer now, the time when the grass and water are at their most lush. The northern Hu people should be busy herding livestock right now!

Furthermore, the Northern Hu people used to only attack Dayu during the winter when they had nothing to eat or drink.

Now......

Empress Dowager Zheng also felt that something was amiss. What urgent military situation could there be in the north at this time?

"You fool, quickly call the messenger in!"

The young eunuchs immediately ran out.

The people in the pavilion all looked anxious.

Beihu...

Those barbarians burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities wherever they went...

A group of uncivilized barbarians, utterly devoid of humanity. If those people were to attack...

Whether they were concubines, eunuchs, or palace maids, they all felt a chill run through their bodies.

This is why the people of Dayu worship the Duke of Dingguo.

In their eyes, only the Duke of Dingguo could stop the Northern Hu people.