Wan Jinlan had seen almost every face in the study room before her, including Xia Feng and Wan Zhijing, General Ji, Wei Xian, and six former Liangzhou generals. Three of them were former confidants of the old master, and had met Wan Jinlan privately to inquire about her grandfather's health.
Anyone who can sit in Xiao Feng's study is naturally someone who has temporarily gained his trust.
After reading the secret letter, Xiao Feng handed it to Xia Feng, who then told everyone the contents of the letter.
Xia Feng glanced at Wan Jinlan and said with a guilty conscience, "If the prince accepts Fan Du's marriage proposal, this battle will be won, and Yongzhou can be taken without any effort."
Wan Jinlan instantly understood what they were discussing in the study before her coming.
Therefore, Fan Du has already expressed his intention of marriage to Xiao Feng.
Xia Feng didn't dare to look up at Wan Jinlan, because they had a friendship. Before the beheading banquet, Wan Jinlan reminded him to leave the Li Mansion. He couldn't ignore the fact that she cared about his life.
But if you look at it from a man's perspective, it's just taking a concubine. If you can get Yongzhou for free, why not do it?
Although he thought so in his heart, Xia Feng did not dare to look at Wan Jinlan.
Wan Jinlan looked around and she dared to say that except for her brother, no one present disagreed.
She knew this situation would happen today.
At this moment, she smiled dignifiedly and said, "If this concubine is worth it, I have no objection."
Gu Changlin laughed heartily and said admiringly, "The princess is very broad-minded. The Duke has taught her well."
Gu Changlin had served under the old Duke for many years. When they met at the gate of the mansion the day before yesterday, he treated Wan Jinlan like an uncle with whom he had a good relationship. Now he sincerely felt that she was sensible.
Damn his broad mind!
The smile on Wan Jinlan's face did not reach his eyes.
"I will not agree to Fan Du's proposal, and you do not need to mention it again in the future."
Everyone had been trying to persuade him, but Xiao Feng disagreed. Everyone thought he was worried about Wan Jinlan, until Wan Jinlan came in and said she had no objection. Everyone thought it should be safe, but they didn't expect that he still disagreed.
"Your Majesty, if Fan Du and Jiang Shan attack with 150,000 troops, Liangzhou will be in danger!"
Xiao Feng was as steady as a rock. "You all only want me to marry the daughter of the Fan family, but you haven't considered why Fan Du wants to marry me."
He stood up and walked to the front of the map, pointing his finger at the border between Sizhou and Yongzhou, and then to Beiyuan, the angle formed between Bingzhou, Liangzhou and Yongzhou.
"Fan Du is surrounded by Prince Su on two sides, borders Liang Province on one side, borders Southwest on the south, and faces Kyoto on the southeast. Why do you think he would form an alliance with this prince?"
General Ji stroked his beard and said, "Fan Du and Prince Su have a personal grudge. Fan Du's eldest son died in Beiyuan, and it is suspected that it was related to Prince Su's mansion. If Prince Su wants to expand his territory, it will be almost impossible for the two to reconcile. It will be a fight to the death."
"Fan Du's move is also to seek an alliance. The marriage is just to make the relationship more stable and provide an additional layer of security."
"As long as Fan Du's courage is frightened, he will naturally surrender to me. Before Jiang Shan comes from the southwest, we must take the initiative and solve the problem of Yongzhou first." Xiao Feng sat back at the desk, his eyes intimidating, his body sharp and powerful, making it difficult for everyone to say anything to persuade him.
It’s not that Xia Feng didn’t see what Xiao Feng just said, but he felt that since marriage could solve the problem most perfectly, why should he go through the trouble of a big war?
Seeing his resolute attitude, what else could everyone say?
Next, everyone discussed where to break through and how to capture Yongzhou before Jiang Shan arrived.
The generals had dinner at the mansion before returning and seeing the people off. The expression on Wan Jinlan's face became even more indifferent.
Wan Zhijing followed his sister and said, "He firmly disagreed before you entered the study."
Wan Jinlan nodded listlessly, "What about Anyang? We can't let her marry into the Northern Rong clan."
The marriage with the Zhou family was clearly arranged, but Emperor Jian'an still went back on his word.
"Brother, can you take Anyang back?" Wan Jinlan's eyes lit up.
A map of the Great Wei territory appeared in her mind.
"Anyang can only get married from Kyoto through Yongzhou and then pass through the border of Beiyuan. If she leaves Yongzhou, she will be not far from Liangzhou. We have a chance to get her back."
Wan Zhijing thought about it and realized that the imperial court's plan to marry Anyang would inevitably avoid the territory of Prince Su. Leaving Yongzhou, if they wanted to avoid Beiyuan, that was indeed the only way to go. The prerequisite was that Anyang could leave Yongzhou safely.
I don’t know when Anyang will get married, but Yongzhou is the only way to get there and must be taken.
A baby's cry came from the next yard, and Wan Zhijing said, "I'll go back and take a look."
Wan Zhijing left in a hurry, while Wan Jinlan sat at the stone table in the corridor and casually grabbed a handful of fish food and threw it into the pool.
There were many lanterns hanging in the yard, and the swimming fish broke the red shadows reflected in the water into floating pieces.
Steady and powerful footsteps sounded behind her, and Wan Jinlan knew who it was without having to look back.
"Are you angry?"
To Wan Jinlan's surprise, he picked her up from the stone bench, sat down, and held her on his lap.
"Do you think I should be happy? I held a banquet the day before yesterday. Do you know how many young and beautiful ladies the ladies of various families brought with them? The Fan Du incident is definitely not an isolated case. You will eventually have to compromise one day in the future."
Wan Jinlan felt really uncomfortable.
He refused this time, but what about the future?
Just thinking about it makes me irritated. He had said that she was the only one for him, but even if he broke his promise, the worst that could happen would be that she'd leave with the divorce papers, leaving her with nothing.
Xiao Feng lowered his head and kissed her furrowed brows. "Jin Lan, have you forgotten my illness? Apart from you, I can't get close to other women. Why don't you try to trust me?"
The soft light from the lantern fell on his profile, making his facial features look deeper and more three-dimensional, and his dark eyebrows and eyes were filled with calmness and determination.
Wan Jinlan turned his eyes away, curling his lips slightly, "But I just won't be happy."
Xiao Feng lowered his head, resting his forehead against hers, their noses touching, and the cool fragrance of his body filled her breath.
After whispering in each other's ears for a while, he picked her up and walked to the corridor. After a while, he put her on the horse and then climbed on it.
The horse galloped out of the city, the wind blowing on her face. Because of the horse's running, their bodies rose and fell. Wan Jinlan nestled in his arms, and her previous irritability gradually disappeared.
"Where are you going?"
"We'll be there soon."
The hems of their clothes fluttered on their horses in the wind. Perhaps it was because the night wind was too gentle and the moonlight was as bright as water. Wan Jinlan didn't know how long the horses had been galloping, but at this moment she hoped that this road would have no end.
Tonight's moon is bright and round, but the fireflies in the valley are even brighter. During the day, the valley is covered in lush green trees, while at night, a thin mist floats through the trees, and the light from the fireflies makes the place look like a dream.
The horse was tied to a tree. Xiao Feng carried her off the horse. Wan Jinlan was led by him, looking at the scene in front of her in amazement.
"Where does this fog come from?"
Xiao Feng led her, stepping on the green grass under their feet, through a forest, and the fog in front of them became thicker.
There turned out to be a hot spring here, gurgling.
"How do you know there is a hot spring here?" Wan Jinlan squatted down and splashed the warm water, eager to go in and take a bath.
"I passed by this valley last night and saw a large number of fireflies. I came in to take a look and stumbled upon a hot spring here. I was thinking of bringing you here."
"Doctor Li said that soaking in hot springs is good for your health. Go down and soak in it. I'll watch over you."
"But I didn't bring any extra underwear." Sitting on the ground in the open air, he would feel very uncomfortable standing guard nearby.
Xiao Feng raised his eyebrows slightly and said regretfully, "Then I'll have to come again next time I have the chance."
Xiao Feng will take the initiative to attack Yongzhou and will start preparing for war tomorrow. It is really unknown when there will be an opportunity in the future.
Wan Jinlan simply took off her outer garment and said as she did so, "Carry this way."
Xiao Feng chuckled and turned away.
Wan Jinlan quickly entered the hot spring and found a comfortable spot to soak.
The hot spring water is a little hot, but very comfortable. It doesn't get cold like in a bathtub.
The water was so comfortable that she even dived into it and started swimming. As she swam, she had a bad idea and held her breath in the water.
Xiao Feng, who was sitting on the grass, hadn't heard from her for a long time. He called out but no one answered. He hurriedly turned around and looked at the water.
"Jinlan"!
There was anxiety in his tone.
"Wow," a handful of water was splashed towards him, and Wan Jinlan's head emerged from under the water with a smile of successful teasing on his face.
Xiao Feng shook his robe and looked at her helplessly.
"Is that a snake? It's right behind you."
Wan Jinlan panicked and subconsciously turned around to look. Where was the snake? How could there be a snake in the hot spring?
When I turned around, I saw Xiao Feng with a smile on his face. He was standing on the shore, with a tall figure and the moonlight as frosty as frost. He looked very much like he used to, but without the awe-inspiring and inviolable deterrent power. His temperament was clear and he looked like a gentleman.
Wan Jinlan's eyes suddenly felt sore.
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