Chapter 68 Testing

Before her brother passed away, he held her hand and instructed her to protect the country for him. Prince Chang and she were of the same lineage. If she were to abandon the country and its people for this reason, how could she live up to the teachings of her brother and sister-in-law over the years?

If Prince Chang had been a virtuous ruler, things would have been fine. But he was cruel and tyrannical. His elder brother once said that the reason their father sent him to the vassal state was because he understood his nature.

①The way of a ruler is to first and foremost care for the people. How could someone like King Chang possibly do that?

Xiao Qinya lowered her eyes, then raised them again, revealing an unprecedented determination in her eyes. Her brother told her to safeguard the country, but he didn't say that the position had to be held by their lineage. After all, they were all of the same bloodline as the founding emperor, so the Xiao family's country hadn't really changed hands.

“Tell me where this person is quickly,” Xiao Qinya said.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs hesitated for a moment, his gaze falling on Song Yunzhou. After a moment, he said, "This man is none other than Xiao Yu, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Song."

"What?"

"The son-in-law of Prime Minister Song..."

"What happened?"

The courtiers were abuzz with discussion.

Grand Tutor Li quietly moved closer to Grand Secretary Zhang and lowered his voice, asking, "Is Lord Zhang aware of this matter?"

Grand Secretary Zhang glanced at him. How could he know? He hadn't expected that Prime Minister Song had kept the news so tightly under wraps. His longtime friend hadn't revealed a single word. If his son-in-law became emperor, wouldn't the Song family rise to a higher level?

However, he then shook his head. Prime Minister Song's character... aside from being concerned about the country and its people, there didn't seem to be much else.

Seeing that Grand Tutor Zhang remained silent, Li Taifu realized he had made a fool of himself and returned to his original position.

Xiao Qinya raised her eyes and scanned them one by one, her gaze not missing any of the ministers' expressions, finally landing on Song Yunzhou. Was this a coincidence or was this old fox deliberately arranging it?

Xiao Qinya's eyes were filled with complex emotions. After a long silence, she said in a deep voice, "Go and bring Xiao Yu here."

"Wait, I'll go myself. As for you all... step back." Her character still needs to be verified. Even if she's the only heir, if her virtue isn't up to par, no one can have her hands on that position.

After the officials left, Xiao Qinya slumped down, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples.

What a coincidence! Song Yunzhou wanted to depose the emperor, and a royal prince in the capital was murdered without cause. The only person left was Song Yunzhou's son-in-law.

Could the murderer be Song Yunzhou?

All the coincidences pointed to him.

If the murderer wasn't him, then the other person was Prince Chang. Xiao Qinya unconsciously drew circles on the table with her fingertips, and after a while, she summoned her trusted confidant.

On the other hand, Xiao Yu was also very worried when she learned about Xiao Chengze's rebellion. The original plot included a scene where the male lead rebelled. It was described that Xiao Chengze persuaded the Prince of Chang to raise an army in Qingzhou. With the military presence of Song Luoning, the army advanced rapidly and captured the capital in just half a month.

By this time, Xiao Chengze should have already raised his army for five days. If he didn't take action soon, according to the plot, the city gates would surely fall, and none of them would be able to escape.

She hadn't enjoyed anything since she transmigrated to ancient times, and she didn't want to die like this.

Xiao Yu sighed and listlessly lay back in the armchair.

Just then, Song Luoning came out of the house with Cuizhu. When Cuizhu saw her, she smiled and said, "What's wrong, young master? Why are you sighing in the courtyard? Are you still thinking about Miss Yuan?"

Xiao Yu immediately sat up straight, her face serious: "How could you talk such nonsense?" She couldn't help but glance at her wife, cleared her throat, and continued: "If my wife heard this, she would think I have other intentions."

After saying that, he glared at Cuizhu, stood up and walked to Song Luoning's side, took her hand, and said with a flattering look, "Wife, you can't listen to Cuizhu's nonsense. She's wronging me."

Song Luoning's face flushed slightly. She pressed down on her hand and pulled it away, glancing at her: "Who knows?"

"How can you be wronging me too?" Xiao Yu said with a bitter face, helping the young lady sit down on the armchair. He then knelt down and took Song Luoning's hand, his earlier displeasure gone, and said softly, "Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

Xiao Yu tilted her head back, her fair cheeks flushed pink, the color of peach blossoms in spring. Fine beads of sweat covered her forehead and the tip of her nose. Song Luo Ning looked at her and reached out to tidy her hair.

"Something on your mind?"

"I'm thinking about that dream."

"But what have you come up with?"

Xiao Yu nestled his face against her lap with longing, his breath carrying a faint fragrance, his voice listless, as if filled with unspeakable melancholy.

Cuizhu glanced at the two of them, smiled with satisfaction, and quietly retreated to the outside of the courtyard gate.

"My wife, in my dream, Xiao Chengze conquered the capital in just half a month. I'm worried it might actually happen."

Her dream was so bizarre. Song Luoning lowered her eyes and gently stroked her head, once or twice, her eyes filled with tenderness: "Do you remember how he broke through the city, my husband?"

Xiao Yu was taken aback, then looked up at her.

I almost overlooked something. In the original story, Xiao Chengze only took half a month from raising an army to breaking through the city because he had the female lead, a wise strategist, by his side, and because of General Li's cooperation. Now that he has neither the female lead nor General Li's support, does that mean the plot will change?

Surprise welled up in Xiao Yu's eyes. He leaned forward and hugged Song Luo Ning tightly, and the two of them fell down into the armchair together.

Startled by her sudden action, Song Luoning exclaimed, then placed her hands on her shoulders and gave her a reproachful look: "What are you doing again?"

Xiao Yu blinked: "My wife's words just reminded me that dreams are different from reality. Perhaps the ending can be changed."

Song Luoning was pinned down and unable to move. She tried to push her away, but the other woman pressed her even tighter. Helpless, she had no choice but to go along with her and put her arms around the other woman's shoulders. The temperature around them gradually rose.

"Miss, young master..." The courtyard gate was pushed open, and a young maid rushed in. Stunned by what she saw, she immediately covered her eyes and turned her back, saying, "I didn't see anything..."

The young lady and her husband couldn't have been more careful, especially in broad daylight. Poor little maid.

Song Luoning and Xiao Yu were also taken aback, not expecting the little maid to suddenly come in. Song Luoning was both embarrassed and annoyed. Her fair skin instantly turned red and lustrous, like a blooming rose. She scolded, "Get up now."

Even with her thick skin, Xiao Yu blushed when caught doing something like this. She stood up, propped herself up on the armchair, and cleared her throat, saying, "What a fuss."

How come I never noticed before that this maid was so clueless?

The maidservant said urgently, "Someone outside is looking for the young master." With that, she covered her eyes and ran out of the courtyard.

Xiao Yu: "..."

"My wife, I...I'll go take a look."

"Hmm," Song Luoning responded faintly.

Being caught in the act, both of them felt a little uncomfortable for a moment.

Xiao Yu hesitated for a moment, then subconsciously repeated, "My wife, I'll be right back."

"Um."

Xiao Yu looked at Song Luoning intently, her eyes filled with reluctance: "Then I'm leaving."

Only after Song Luoning nodded did Xiao Yu step into the front hall.

The person who arrived was none other than the Grand Princess Xiao Qinya. Xiao Yu was taken aback when he saw her.

A bad feeling crept into her heart, but she steadied herself and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Grand Princess."

Xiao Qinya waved her hand. She knew that the woman was the Prime Minister's son-in-law when they were at the mountain temple. She had also asked the secret guards about what happened that day, and it was indeed as the woman had said. As for her connection with the Prime Minister's family, she had also had someone investigate. The two families had indeed arranged the marriage eighteen years ago. No matter how cunning Song Yunzhou was, he couldn't have predicted that Xiao Yu might become the emperor eighteen years later.

It seems I was just overthinking things.

"Sit down," she said.

"Yes." Xiao Yu walked to the chair and sat down, his gaze fixed on the woman in the main seat.

Feeling uncertain, she realized she had stumbled upon her secret, and Xiao Chengze's fate was now laid bare before her. These past few days had passed, and she had thought Xiao Chengze had forgotten her, but unexpectedly, he had come knocking on her door today.

Xiao Qinya gave a signal, and instantly only the two of them remained in the hall.

"I have no ill intentions today. What is your opinion of Xiao Chengze?"

What is your opinion on Xiao Chengze?

The Grand Princess made a special trip just to ask me what I thought of Xiao Chengze? How could she not believe it?

However, it shouldn't be shown. Xiao Yu took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and carefully replied, "This person is deep in thought and ambitious."

"Oh?" Xiao Qinya tapped the coffee table. "Tell me, what are his ambitions?"

Having learned of her methods, Xiao Yu dared not conceal anything and recounted in detail everything that had happened during this period.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qinya's expression darkened. It seemed that this person had concealed a lot from her at the mountain temple last time.

If what the person in front of me is true, then the real culprit who killed the royal prince must be this Prince Chang. What a vicious method! If such a person cannot even treat his own family well, how can he treat the people of the world well?

If Bai Sheng's empire were to fall into the hands of such a person, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just thinking about it made Xiao Qinya feel a chill: "What are your views on the way of being a ruler?"

Xiao Yu paused for a moment, then said, "To worry about what the people worry about, and to relieve their suffering."

Xiao Qinya nodded. Although she didn't give a long speech or write a magnificent article on the spot, she summarized the way of being a ruler in just two sentences. Only when the people live in peace and contentment can we achieve a peaceful and prosperous world, right?

Why do so many people not understand such a simple principle?

Xiao Qinya's gaze fell on the young man below the hall, a hint of admiration in her eyes, and she smiled, "What do you think is the best way to resolve the predicament of the capital?"

She was referring to Xiao Chengze's uprising, wasn't she?

Xiao Yu pursed his lips and said, "There are 100,000 Imperial Guards available outside the city. Furthermore, the rebels came from Qingzhou. The fact that they were able to arrive in such a short time means that they are traveling light and they certainly didn't bring much food. As long as we can hold them off, their food supplies will run out and their morale will be low. At that time, the Imperial Guards can take the opportunity to defeat the rebels, which can greatly reduce the casualties of our troops."

“The Imperial Guards have always obeyed only the Emperor. To be frank, the Emperor wanted to open the city gates to let the rebels into the city today, but I have already captured them,” Xiao Qinya said.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu was taken aback.

Good heavens, they even dared to seize the emperor, yet Xiao Cheng'an actually welcomed the rebel army into the city. Isn't this just courting death?

They were born of the same father, so why are they so different? Xiao Chengze was ruthless, while the emperor was a complete fool.

Xiao Yu cleared his throat: "How can the imperial court raise soldiers to serve only one person? What is the duty of a soldier?"

Xiao Qinya frowned, then suddenly realized that 100,000 elite troops could not be used by one person. Bai Sheng's army was naturally meant to protect the country and its people.