The meat-sharing incident completely disheartened the Chen family soldiers.

Coupled with the lack of food and clothing, everyone suffered from cold and hunger every day. Many soldiers fell ill, and some even despaired, leaving behind heartbreaking letters home and dying of depression.

A deep sadness permeated the military camp.

People privately say that the Duke of Chen and his son are cold-blooded and ungrateful, treating them like livestock.

Moreover, it's the kind of animal that "wants the horse to run but doesn't want it to eat grass."

Then look next door, at the soldiers under the Ninth Prince's command, they are all eating with their mouths full of oil and their bellies round.

The soldiers of the Chen family felt even worse.

The morale of the troops was completely shattered.

Duke Chen vomited blood, but he had no way to express his suffering.

Even if he told everyone that the meat was a gift from the bandit, the soldiers below wouldn't believe him.

Even if soldiers who witnessed Ji Chenhai's arrival at the gate that day tried to explain, they were considered by everyone to be loyal lackeys of the Duke of Chen, naturally speaking well of their master.

The reports, written with tears of blood, once again flew into Kyoto like snowflakes.

Shang Xiche was so tired of reading the endless stream of impeachment memorials that his eyes were practically calloused. He was also furious: "The Ninth Prince has fought on the frontier for many years and has never complained except for reports of victory. How come when the Chen family goes to war in the Northwest, there is not a single report of victory, but one memorial after another to complain. Does he think the frontier battlefield is his backyard where he quarrels and throws tantrums?!"

After yelling, Shang Xiche held his forehead, feeling his head hurt even more.

Eunuch De carefully stepped forward and advised, "Your Majesty, you must take care of your health."

Shang Xiche became even more agitated. He swept all the large stack of memorials presented by the Duke of Chen onto the ground and roared, "Burn them all! From now on, any memorials he submits criticizing the Marquis of Anping shall not be brought before me!"

Grandpa De: "..."

You are the emperor, you can be willful, but you are the only emperor who has ever burned memorials.

Qiwu Palace.

Chen Ziyun received news of the theft from the Crown Prince's treasury and the demoralization of the Chen family's troops at the border, which made her heart bleed with hatred.

She finally couldn't hold on any longer and took out the signal flare she had kept for a long time and lit it.

It wasn't until late at night that a woman wearing a black cloak appeared before Chen Ziyun.

"Miss Chen," she said calmly, without addressing Empress Chen Ziyun.

Chen Ziyun not only didn't mind her calling her that, but was actually quite happy: "We haven't been in touch for so many years, I thought you weren't in Kyoto anymore."

The woman in black asked coldly, sparing with her words, "What is it?"

Chen Ziyun's joy quickly faded, replaced by grief and indignation: "I thought I could attract the Ninth Prince's attention so that he would stop targeting my son Dongyang, but who knew that the Ninth Prince wouldn't fall for it at all. Not only did he empty Dongyang's savings of many years, severely damaging Dongyang's strength, but he was also able to spare the energy to control the border war."

This person is truly terrifying; I need an adult's help.

Otherwise, I fear that my and Dongyang's years of planning will ultimately fail, and it will also affect the adults' plans.

"Yes, I will relay it truthfully," the woman in black said coldly.

Having said that, she acted as she had when she arrived.

Silently, as if a ghost had appeared, they turned and left.

Chen Ziyun was already used to her like this and didn't mind.

Instead, her departure brought a hint of madness to her eyes: "Ninth Prince, you will regret for pressuring me like this! Once he makes his move, your good days will be over."

After saying that, Chen Ziyun's eyes revealed a hint of eagerness and girlish shyness: "I wonder... will he come? It's been more than twenty years since we last saw each other!"