It's really bold
Prince Yong's Mansion.
The candlelight cast flickering shadows on the cold wall, and the strong scent of sandalwood intertwined with a spreading smell of ambition, permeating the people in the room.
"Your Highness," a trusted advisor lowered his head and spoke in a very low voice, "the medicine has been used over there. It seems that the Crown Prince is getting anxious."
Prince Yong, fiddling with the mutton-fat jade ring on his thumb, scoffed at the words, "Anxious? Of course he's anxious. He's afraid his father will depose him once he regains health."
"So, he told his father to rest in peace so that he could continue to be the benevolent and virtuous Crown Prince Regent until he could rightfully sit on the throne."
"This is the legitimate son that my father has high hopes for. This is the crown prince of my Great Southern Dynasty. He is so kind that he can even kill his own father." Prince Yong sneered.
"Your Highness, please understand." Another more composed counselor interjected, his tone cautious and tentative, "While the Crown Prince's actions are indeed treasonous, Your Majesty, despite his ailing health, does not seem to have any intention of changing the crown prince?"
"Change the crown prince?" Prince Yong scoffed, as if he had heard a huge joke. The laughter was particularly harsh in the quiet study. "Father? Has he ever thought of handing over the throne to someone else? In his heart and eyes, there will always be only that legitimate son from the Pepper Palace."
"It's a pity that the prince has lost his composure, but this gives us an opportunity." Several people in the study smiled at each other.
"The Crown Prince is too kind but lacks decisiveness. Even if he gave you medicine, it would only delay your Majesty's recovery and make him stay in bed for a while longer. Your Highness, can you try harder?" the counselor suggested.
"If we let Father go now, it would be too easy for him. How can he easily escape the charge of patricide? What I want is for Father to stay awake and watch soberly how his most beloved son gradually turns into a father-eating jackal! It would be interesting to let them, father and son, tear each other apart in suspicion, fear and resentment." Prince Yong raised his hand, and everyone agreed.
It was a quiet night, and the flickering candlelight illuminated the hatred surging in Prince Yong's eyes. The image of his mother sitting alone in the desolate palace when he was a child seemed to reappear before his eyes.
The emperor's eyes always follow the orthodox child born in the Pepper Room and the darling daughter born in Concubine Yu's lap, while they, mother and son, are just embellishments in this deep palace, shadows that can be abandoned at any time.
When his mother died of depression, his good father just hurried over, squeezed out two tears, turned around and hugged his legitimate son, praising him for his academic progress.
In such a vast palace, he was the only one who still remembered his mother.
He was the only one left.
Was it for the throne? It wasn't just the throne; he wanted this majestic imperial power, this supreme authority that had crushed his mother and son into dust. He wanted to be the ultimate controller of this deadly chess game, letting everyone's fate dance to his will.
Whether it is the prince or the emperor.
"How is Beishuo?" he asked.
"Your Highness," the subordinate immediately reported.
"I just received a secret report that several of Tuoba Hong's brothers are dead or injured, and the internal strife in the royal court is nearing its end. If nothing unexpected happens, he will ascend to the Khan throne in the next few days."
"Very good." A gleam flashed in Prince Yong's eyes. "The time has come. Immediately send someone to deliver a letter to our new Khan of Beishuo through the most secret channels."
"When I ascend the throne, I will offer the three towns of Heshuo to you as a token of my gratitude for your generous support. Furthermore, the Southern Dynasty is willing to assist Beishuo in its westward expansion, sharing the Qiang territory with you. All I ask is that you dispatch five thousand cavalry to the northern border when I launch my rebellion!"
After writing, he blew the ink dry, sealed the letter into a special copper tube, and handed it to his confidant.
The staff member who had been listening silently could not help but frown and said worriedly: "Your Highness, ceding the three towns of Heshuo is a vital part of our country. I am afraid it will bring disaster upon us and cause endless disasters!"
Prince Yong glanced at him coldly, his eyes filled with condescending contempt: "Leaving disaster behind? Burning yourself?"
He sneered, as if he had just heard a huge joke. "When did I ever say I would fulfill my promise to the Wolf King of Beishuo? Heshuo? Qiang land? Humph! When I sit firmly on the throne, who will Tuoba Hong be? A mere barbarian leader, is he worthy enough to lay hands on my fertile land of the Central Plains? He is now just a piece on my chessboard, a knife that helps me accomplish my goal. After the success..."
He slowly brought his five fingers together and made a crushing motion. "This knife must be broken, lest it bite back at its owner."
After hearing this, everyone bowed and agreed.
This world really needs a strong leader, and King Yong may be the one.
*
The barbarian leader mentioned by King Yong is now on the grassland.
The sky is high, the land is vast, the grass is green and the wind blows across the fields, carrying the rough scent of grass and soil.
Tuoba Hong was wearing a brand new Khan costume, with a black base and a soaring eagle embroidered with gold thread. The wide sleeves of the robe rustled in the wind, making him look tall and imposing.
He was holding a huge ox horn bow, his eyes scanning the rolling grass hills in the distance. He was surrounded by the elite Canglang Guards, and everyone was holding their breath and concentrating.
"call out!"
The bowstring vibrated, and a pitch-black wolf-tooth arrow tore through the air, accurately piercing a fleeing snow-white figure hundreds of steps away. It was an extremely rare adult snow fox, its fur shining silver in the sun.
"Good!" Deafening cheers erupted from all around. "Khan's sharpshooter!"
Tuoba Hong put down his bow, his face not showing much joy, his eyes fell on the corpse of the snow fox that was brought to him by the guards. The fur was pure and flawless, like flowing moonlight in the sunlight.
"After the nitrate is prepared, the fur must be intact." He ordered in a deep voice.
"Send it to the Southern Dynasty and give it to Princess Mingzhu." This rare item was worthy of the phoenix he was about to marry. Ning Lingyi's cold and stubborn eyebrows flashed through his mind, and a very faint smile passed across the corners of his tightly pursed lips.
At this moment, a fast horse came galloping from the direction of the royal court.
The knight dismounted, knelt on one knee, and presented a letter with a special wax seal in both hands: "Khan, a secret letter from the Southern Dynasty, urgent from Prince Yong."
Tuoba Hong took the letter, without even looking at it, and threw it to Altan beside him.
He was more concerned about another matter: "Over in the Southern Dynasty, how is Princess Mingzhu doing?"
"Report to the Khan," another guard in charge of Southern Dynasty intelligence immediately stepped forward, "We've just received news that Princess Mingzhu has been released from house arrest and can freely enter and leave Xuehan Palace. Discussions regarding the marriage date have already begun in the court."
Tuoba Hong raised his eyebrows slightly as he gazed at the distant southern skyline, as if he could penetrate thousands of mountains and rivers to see the magnificent palace and the little phoenix that was trapped and then released.
"Little Phoenix," he whispered to himself with a hint of amusement, "You've been released from confinement, so what? The court is discussing the wedding date. It seems you've almost run out of tricks, haven't you?"
He remembered the appointment at the end of the year clearly. He, the eagle soaring over the grassland, would eventually bring the proud phoenix back to his dome.
Tuoba Hong was not the only one who was concerned about Ning Lingyi's release from confinement.
*
Capital city, the general’s mansion.
The heavy nanmu table was slammed with a loud bang, causing the teacups to jump around.
"Rebellious son, you dare to go look for her again!" Duke Dingguo Pan Wei's hair and beard stood on end as he glared at his son Pan Hao who was about to go out.
Pan Hao stiffened his neck, his handsome young face full of stubbornness: "Father, Lingyi has just been released from house arrest, why can't I go see her?"
"Why?" Pan Wei's chest heaved with anger. "Don't you understand? The court has already started discussing her wedding date! Beishuo's new Khan, Tuoba Hong, is about to ascend the throne, and her marriage to Beishuo is a foregone conclusion! If you approach her now, are you trying to drag the entire Pan family into this mess?"
"I don't care about the mess!" Pan Hao said stubbornly, "I just know she's suffered! I just want to see if she's okay..."
"Shut up!" Pan Wei interrupted harshly, a trace of pain flashing in his eyes.
"This is a different time! She is a princess, about to become the Que of Beishuo. Her path has long been determined! Your path is to inherit the Pan family army and protect the Southern Dynasty. Don't indulge in romantic relationships and ruin your future. Go back!"
Pan Hao gritted his teeth and looked at his father's unquestionable majestic face. A huge surge of grief and unwillingness surged in his heart. He turned around abruptly, stopped arguing, rushed out of the main hall and ran towards the stable.
"Stop him!" Pan Wei roared.
However, Pan Hao was very agile and none of the servants in the mansion dared to stop him. He jumped on his horse and kicked it hard. The horse neighed loudly and rushed out of the general's mansion.
As his horse galloped along the bluestone street, he had only one thought in his mind: Lingyi, I want to see you!
At the Royal West Garden Horse Farm, Ning Lingyi knew nothing about this.
The long-lost breath of freedom came to his face. Ning Lingyi rode his horse and galloped freely on the open grassland. The jade lion seemed to feel the joy of its master, and spread its four hooves, passing through the grass like a white lightning.
The wind whistled past her ears, blowing away the pent-up depression in the palace. She tilted her head back slightly, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. How long had it been? How long had it been since she had galloped so freely?
At this moment, a guard rode up on horseback. When Ning Lingyi reined in his horse, he respectfully presented a letter to him: "Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Lord Shen of Mingzhou."
Ning Lingyi took the letter and opened it. Shen Qingyan's handwriting was still clear and neat. He first reported that the spring plowing in Mingzhou was going smoothly and the people were gradually getting well. Then he changed the subject:
"Your Highness, please note: The three thousand fine horses gifted to you by the Prince of Beishuo, now the Khan of Beishuo, Tuoba Hong, have all been placed at the newly built horse ranch west of Mingzhou. These are all strong warhorses from the north, well-trained. I have boldly selected three thousand horsemen and archers from the imperial guards and the warriors of Mingzhou to care for and train them, practicing riding techniques and formations day and night. They are all grateful for your kindness and have pledged their lives to follow you."
"This move is to ensure that these fine horses can fully develop their potential and avoid being wasted. Secondly, they can also serve as ceremonial guards when Your Highness visits Beishuo in the future, to enhance their appearance and protect Your Highness in a foreign land. I, Qingyan, bow my head again."
Ning Lingyi held the letter paper, her fingertips slightly tightened.
Shen Qingyan had quietly arranged Tuoba Hong's three thousand horses, and even trained a guard team for her that was skilled in riding and shooting.
Shen Qingyan, you are very bold.
Do you want to be executed along with your entire clan for training troops privately?
But after thinking about it again and again, Ning Lingyi had to admit that this was a very good idea.
For the first time, she had something other than love. At the moment, she didn't know what this thing was, but she seemed to understand that she had a little power to control her destiny.
She looked up at the sky in the north, where was Tuoba Hong's grassland. The wind of freedom was still lingering around her, but the web of fate seemed to be quietly tightening from all directions.
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