Chapter 111 The Madness of the Night Before the Expedition
On the night the urgent report was sent to the capital, the lights in the Regent's Palace remained on all night.
That battle report, stained with the blood of the border, shattered the peace that the capital had just maintained, like a boulder.
Two hundred thousand iron cavalry from the Northern Rong were pressing in, and Yanmen Pass was in imminent danger. Half of the Great Sheng Dynasty's territory was teetering on the brink of collapse.
The atmosphere in the study was so heavy it was suffocating.
Pei Yunjing was dressed in military uniform, and although he wasn't wearing armor yet, the long-lost aura of iron-blooded killing had returned to him.
He stood before the enormous map, his gaze fixed on the long defensive line in the north.
Behind him knelt a row of anxious-looking staff members and military officers.
"Your Highness!"
An elderly staff member with white hair and beard risked his life, crawling forward two steps on his knees, his forehead slamming heavily against the ground:
"This northern expedition is a long and arduous journey, and the northern border is bitterly cold and the battles are extremely dangerous. You...you really want to take the Queen with you?"
The room fell silent instantly upon hearing this, and everyone held their breath.
Although everyone knows that the prince dotes on his wife, this is a war, not a sightseeing trip!
Bringing a delicate woman to the military is not only a major taboo, but also a burden!
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Another straightforward deputy general couldn't help but speak up and offer advice:
“Military camps are restricted areas, and women are not allowed to enter without permission. Besides, the Princess Consort is frail and cannot withstand such wind and snow. If she falls ill on the road, we will have to divide our attention to take care of her… This is not good for the morale of the army! It would be better to leave the Princess Consort in the capital…”
"Keep?"
Pei Yunjing didn't turn around, but coldly uttered a single word.
He pressed his finger heavily on the map, then slowly turned around.
Those phoenix eyes were now bloodshot from working through the night to deploy military affairs, revealing a chilling restlessness and obsession.
"Stay in the capital?"
Pei Yunjing looked at the deputy general with the same gaze he would give a dead man:
"Leave her here, and let me go mad on the battlefield?"
The generals were speechless.
They then remembered that although their commander was a war god who was a master strategist, he was also a "madman" who could be overwhelmed by his five senses and unable to distinguish friend from foe at any time.
"Do you think I brought her along because of romantic feelings?"
Pei Yunjing walked up to the deputy general, looked down at him, and spoke in a chilling voice, revealing the selfish, ruthless, yet undeniably realistic reason:
"She is my medicine."
"In this world, only when she is within three feet of me can I hold my sword firmly and distinguish who the enemy is."
He surveyed the room, his tone leaving no room for negotiation, only domineering and autocratic authority:
"As long as the medicine is here, the person is here."
"The medicine dies, the person dies."
"Anyone who dares to utter another word is trying to force me to my death. Don't blame me for chopping off their head as a sacrifice to the flag!"
Everyone was stunned by these shocking remarks.
Did they take the princess with them as a "life-extending medicine"?
This is simply unheard of!
But looking into Pei Yunjing's bloodshot eyes, everyone knew he was serious.
If the princess hadn't been brought along, the commander-in-chief would have gone mad before the battle even began, and then the Great Sheng Dynasty would truly be finished.
"Your humble servant... obeys!"
The generals had no choice but to agree reluctantly, but in their hearts they were all secretly praying that the delicate princess wouldn't wet her pants in fear when she got to the pile of corpses.
...
Meanwhile, in the backyard of the Prince's Mansion.
Unlike the somber and oppressive atmosphere in the front yard, this place was bustling with activity and chaos.
"Quickly! Get that rosewood chaise lounge onto the cart!"
"And this! This is the new silver frost charcoal I just bought, the best kind, smokeless and warm, ten boxes! It's freezing up north, if I get sick from the cold, can you afford to compensate me?"
Tang Li directed dozens of servants to frantically stuff things into the specially made oversized carriage at the gate of the mansion, just like a house mover.
She was dressed in a smart riding outfit and held the newly acquired warehouse key in her hand, looking as if she wanted to pack up the entire Regent's Palace and take it with her.
"princess……"
Uncle Zhao, sweating profusely as he watched, wiped his brow and advised:
"This...this is going to war, not a picnic. Bringing so much stuff, won't it be too conspicuous? It will also affect the marching speed..."
"Uncle Zhao, you don't understand."
While directing the maids to stuff soft pillows and furs into the carriage, Tangli earnestly lectured them:
"The prince said I am his medicine. Think about it, if the medicine bottle breaks or the medicine freezes, wouldn't the prince be finished?"
Zhao Bo paused for a moment: "That... is true."
So that's why!
Tang Li patted the entire carriage full of expensive supplies with a self-righteous air:
"I'm protecting our army's 'core strategic materials'! Making sure I'm comfortable is the greatest contribution I can make to the Great Sheng Dynasty!"
Although she spoke eloquently, she had already cursed Pei Yunjing a hundred times in her heart.
That madman!
They insisted on dragging her to that godforsaken, freezing place to suffer!
Since I can't resist (mainly because I'm afraid he'll go crazy), I can only try to be kinder to myself within the limited circumstances.
"And that one too!"
Tang Li pointed to a pile of precious medicinal herbs in the storeroom:
"Thousand-year-old ginseng, snow lotus from Tianshan, and hemostatic and detoxifying medicines... bring them all! And a cook! Squeeze that fat cook who makes the best braised pork into the team too!"
The carriage was covered with three layers of thick polar bear skin carpet, which was both shockproof and warm.
Thick windproof felt was hung on the side of the carriage, and a specially made copper stove was placed in the middle, which could be used to warm wine and brew tea at any time.
Even the toilet was fitted with a gold trim.
"call……"
With everything prepared, Tang Li looked at the luxurious carriage filled with "hope for survival" and finally nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright."
She clapped her hands, watching the sky gradually lighten with the first hint of dawn. The playful smile in her eyes faded, replaced by a serious expression.
She touched the tiger bone whistle in her arms and glanced at the palace she hadn't lived in for long.
"Let's go."
Tang Li took a deep breath, turned to Uncle Zhao and said:
"Keep an eye on the house. We'll be back."
"Oh, right, remember to have Big White and Lightning come along too. This time... we might need them."
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