The Third Assistant Minister stared at him viciously without saying a word.
His resentment towards Xiao Qingwu intensified.
He didn't respond. For a moment, only his colleague's laughter filled the room, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. After waiting for a while, a voice suddenly rang out from the corner: "Speaking of which, the Fifth Prince will be back soon."
Everyone looked at him in unison, and the man was also surprised. "Why, don't you know? The Fifth Prince only took a month to break into the interior of the Oirat. As of now, I'm afraid he has already captured the Oirat King alive and is on his way back in triumph."
After he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to the Third Assistant Minister again.
But this time, it was a look of sympathy.
Everyone has heard about the deep love between Xiao Siyuan and Xiao Qingwu. The emperor took advantage of Xiao Siyuan leading the troops to promise Xiao Qingwu to the third assistant minister, and she was treated so harshly. It is conceivable that the first thing Xiao Siyuan would do after returning would be to make trouble for the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works and his family.
The Third Assistant Minister's hand holding the wine glass began to tremble imperceptibly. Even if he was very drunk, he was sobered by the sudden news.
He pushed away the two women who were still clinging to his arms, put down his wine glass, and took a few sips of cold tea.
Now no one laughed at him. They were all frantically reflecting in their minds whether their ridicule of them had reached Xiao Qingwu's ears.
No one was in the mood to drink and have fun. After one person asked to leave, in a few breaths, the Third Assistant Minister was the only one left in the room.
He sat there for a while, and when the alcohol had almost worn off, he supported himself on the table, stood up tremblingly, and walked out of Zuiyuelong.
…
After returning to the Minister's Mansion, the Third Minister licked his dry lips and entered Xiao Qingwu's room.
More than ten days had passed since their wedding, and during these ten days, they had not even had sex.
Xiao Qingwu raised his eyes to look at the Third Assistant Minister, his eyes alert and his voice cold: "What are you doing here?"
The Third Assistant Minister looked at her and said softly, "I was wrong to have assaulted you earlier. I have come here today to apologize to the princess."
Apologize?
Xiao Qingwu sneered, not knowing what was wrong with him.
"Since you are apologizing, you should act in an apologetic manner!" Xiao Qingwu did not hide the malice in her eyes. "This princess once read the story of someone apologizing by carrying a thorn stick on his back in an ancient book. Why don't you follow suit? Once this princess is satisfied, she will naturally forgive you."
She had no interest in why the Third Assistant Minister suddenly came to apologize. She thought that perhaps the Queen Mother knew about this and put pressure on him.
As for the emperor and the prince, Xiao Qingwu had lost hope in them since the maid returned empty-handed.
"What does it mean to ask for forgiveness by carrying a thorn stick on one's back?"
"Take off your upper body robes and tie your body with tendons. You can't get up until I tell you to."
Xiao Qingwu pointed outside the yard and looked at him with raised eyebrows.
The Third Assistant Minister narrowed his eyes slightly, the drunkenness still not dissipating. Provoked by Xiao Qingwu, his chest heaved and he clenched his fists.
Mistakenly thinking that the Queen Mother was putting pressure on him, Xiao Qingwu looked at him like this without any panic in his heart. He just stood there and looked at him steadily: "If you dare to make a move again, I will tell the Empress Dowager."
The Third Assistant Minister's eyes were like those of a poisonous snake, cold and slippery, making one's hair stand on end.
Xiao Qingwu was stared at like this and began to avoid the gaze.
After a few breaths, the Third Assistant Minister finally shifted his gaze and walked out of the courtyard.
After leaving the yard, he was called by the maid of the minister's wife and went to the front hall.
The Minister of Works and his wife looked at him in silence.
After a while, the Minister of Works said, "I know you're unhappy with this marriage, but she's a princess after all. If it happens once or twice, His Majesty might think you're just arguing with each other. But if it happens too often, even if it's not to protect Xiao Qingwu, His Majesty will definitely intervene."
From what he said, it was obvious that he thought I was going to beat Xiao Qingwu again.
The Third Assistant Minister nodded and said, "You know, I came back this time to apologize to the princess."
Seeing that it wasn't what he thought, the Minister of Works breathed a sigh of relief: "Well, has the princess forgiven you?"
The third assistant minister relayed to them Xiao Qingwu's remarks about carrying a thorny branch to apologize.
The Minister of Works frowned upon hearing this: "She's really pushing the envelope! Ignore her and let her figure it out."
The Third Assistant Minister shook his head: "No." He looked up at the Assistant Minister of Works: "The Fifth Prince is coming back."
The Minister of Works was stunned.
He had heard some rumors, but he hadn't heard them all.
"The Fifth Prince has made great military achievements this time. When he returns, His Majesty will satisfy any request he makes. Moreover, he and the princess have a deep brotherly bond. If he knew that the princess was not living well at home, I'm afraid he would not take it kindly."
The Minister of Works swallowed hard and said, "You are right. The most urgent thing is to please the princess first. When the fifth prince returns, we can use the princess to get close to the fifth prince. That is the real thing."
The Third Assistant Minister sighed softly, "Send someone to get some brambles."
…
Inside Xu's house, Jiang Wenjing was discussing this matter with Jiang Kang'an, while Jiang Zhiyu was gnawing on a chicken leg and listening quietly.
[Why are you panicking? If Xiao Siyuan can really penetrate the inner reaches of the Wala in a month, I'll tear my head off and use it as a ball for him.]
Jiang Kangan: “…”
Jiang Wenjing: "..."
That’s true, but it’s not that serious.
"The Wala no longer has anyone available, and their formations are enough to hold out for a while. Furthermore, the Junggars and Heshuo won't sit idly by so easily. They're also looking to get a piece of the action."
Jiang Kangan tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, and his cold voice soothed Jiang Wenjing's emotions.
"Big Brother only fought for three years as a behind-the-scenes advisor. If he had led the troops himself, it would have been even faster."
[Forget about Xiao Siyuan. Even if he were to lead the troops personally, it would probably take at least six years.]
Jiang Wenjing's eyes suddenly lit up.
Big brother has been fighting for such a long time, Xiao Siyuan is afraid that he has fallen into a trap, and there must be a bigger one waiting for him later.
After knowing the truth, Jiang Wenjing was not happy. It would be fine if only Xiao Siyuan fell into the trap, but now the whole army was involved.
Just because of Xiao Siyuan, so many people lost their lives in vain. This kind of unnecessary sacrifice should be avoided.
As if knowing his thoughts, Jiang Zhiyu's next thought was:
[This time, there won't be many casualties, and Xiao Siyuan will be back before the New Year.]
【But it’s not a triumph.】
Knowing that there wouldn't be many casualties, Jiang Wenjing and Jiang Kang'an both breathed a sigh of relief.
but--
Xiao Siyuan is the leader of the army. He comes back at the end of the year, but what about the soldiers?
If it wasn't a triumph, why weren't there many casualties?
Jiang Wenjing's eyes were full of doubts. He glanced at Jiang Zhiyu cautiously, hoping that she would raise her voice like she did just now.
But maybe the telepathy card had expired, Jiang Zhiyu did not feel Jiang Wenjing's desire this time.
Just as Jiang Wenjing was looking at her eagerly, a notification came.
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