Early that morning, Shangguan Wanning was collecting dew in the garden with Lutong and several other maids to make tea, when she saw her father coming over with a heavy heart.
"Dad, you're walking with your head down, you're going to bump into the pillar."
Shangguan Wanning came forward and helped her father sit down at the stone table in the garden. She asked Lutong to brew a pot of good tea and brought a few plates of exquisite pastries.
"You just came out of the morning court, you must be hungry, eat something first."
Shangguan Yue felt much better when he looked at his considerate daughter. He took a sip of hot tea and let out a long sigh.
"What is Dad worried about?"
"The court has just received intelligence that a group of bandits has appeared in Yunshan County, a hundred miles away from the capital. They are numerous and have committed all kinds of crimes, such as burning, killing, looting, and causing great trouble to the local people. The emperor is looking for someone to lead the troops to eliminate them, but... looking around the court, no one is willing to take the initiative to go to war."
Shangguan Wanning paused for a moment, and an idea suddenly occurred to her mind.
She remembered that at this time in her previous life, there had indeed been such a rebellion. At that time, the emperor could not find a suitable candidate, so he had to let his uncle, who had just returned to Beijing, lead the troops to fight.
It's a waste of talent to ask a general who guards the border to do such a trivial task as suppressing bandits.
"It seems that only your uncle can take action." Shangguan Yue was extremely dissatisfied with the cowardly attitude shown by the generals in the court.
Shangguan Wan Ning stood up and walked behind her father, attentively holding his back.
"Dad, don't worry. With my uncle going to war, a few tens of thousands of bandits are nothing to worry about."
Shangguan Yue smiled and nodded, gently patted the back of his daughter's hand, feeling deeply relieved.
The next day, Shangguan Wanning went to the palace to pay her respects. She put on a delicate and elegant makeup and wandered in the imperial garden, waiting for Xiao Zhenting on the road he must take after the morning court.
Sure enough, when Xiao Zhenting saw Shangguan Wanning, he immediately took the initiative to walk over.
"I thought it was someone's daughter who made all the flowers in the garden lose their color. It turned out to be Ning'er?"
Xiao Zhenting smiled, stretched out his hand, and spread out his palm when he walked in front of Shangguan Wanning. A colorful butterfly flapped its wings and slowly flew to her eyebrows.
This scene made the already stunningly beautiful Shangguan Wanning even more delicate and charming, as if she was a fairy who had strayed into the mortal world.
Xiao Zhenting looked a little dazed.
"Second Prince, please don't make fun of me. I'm upset." Shangguan Wanning sighed deeply, turned around, picked a flower and played with it in her hand.
When Xiao Zhenting saw her coquettish look, his heart was moved for a moment.
How could he miss such a great opportunity to show his affection?
"Who made Ning'er angry? Tell me."
Shangguan Wanning looked back at Xiao Zhenting and sighed, "I heard from my father that the emperor is going to send my uncle to fight against the bandits. I have been closest to my uncle since I was a child, and he has to go to the battlefield again not long after he came back. I can't bear to let him go."
Xiao Zhenting was slightly stunned. He didn't want to interfere in this matter. What's more, important state affairs could not be changed because of his little daughter's likes and dislikes.
"Second Prince, I heard that the bandits are numerous and their leader is a master at using troops. On the battlefield, life and death are uncertain."
As Shangguan Wanning spoke, she secretly observed the changes in Xiao Zhenting's expression out of the corner of her eye.
"I don't know if my uncle offended someone in the court, so he had to go to the battlefield before he could even catch his breath. This method of dealing with political enemies is really clever. Killing without shedding blood."
Xiao Zhenting's body stiffened, and the look in his eyes when he looked at Shangguan Wanning changed a little.
"I'm sorry, Second Prince. Did Ning'er say something wrong?" Shangguan Wanning asked tentatively.
Xiao Zhenting came back to his senses, raised the corners of his mouth and smiled dotingly.
"Ning'er, don't worry too much. Let me think of a way to see if... I can get your uncle to stay with you."
"Thank you, Second Prince."
Shangguan Wanning bowed, lowered her eyes, and suppressed the smile at the corner of her mouth.
Sure enough, news came from the palace the next day that the Emperor ordered His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to lead the troops in person to boost morale.
Shangguan Wanning didn't know what method Xiao Zhenting used to make this happen, but her goal had been achieved.
This expedition is a good opportunity to improve Xiao Yujue's prestige among the people, and it will also allow Mu Jingrui to become famous earlier.
She believed that with Mu Jingrui's ability, it would not be difficult to win this battle, and she could also gain Xiao Yujue's trust.
It’s like killing three birds with one stone.
In the Prince's Mansion, there was a gloomy and depressing atmosphere.
Xiao Yujue kept pacing back and forth in the study. You Zhenzhen stood beside him, looking at him anxiously and resentfully, seeming to want to say something but stopping herself.
Xiao Yujue has been anxious ever since receiving the imperial edict.
He had lived a cautious life over the years and had been treading on thin ice in the court. Although he had studied military tactics, leading troops in battle was another matter altogether.
What's more, the deputy general assigned to him by the court was a newly minted martial arts champion who had no experience at all.
How are the two of them going to fight this battle together?
Xiao Yujue had a splitting headache.
"Your Highness, Mu Jingrui requests to see you." The guard outside the door came in to report.
Xiao Yujue frowned, and after a moment's hesitation, he said, "Send it."
Not long after, Mu Jingrui walked in under the guidance of the guards.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"What's the matter?" Xiao Yujue forced himself to calm down, opened his folding fan and waved it gently, looking at Mu Jingrui with indifferent eyes.
Mu Jingrui noticed Xiao Yujue's gaze and raised his head to look at Xiao Yujue.
"I want to follow His Royal Highness the Crown Prince into battle."
Xiao Yujue folded his fan and leaned forward.
In a hurry, I didn't remember that Mu Jingrui was a descendant of a general. His father was a person as famous as Zheng Binghong.
"You... can fight?" Xiao Yujue was a little worried.
Mu Jingrui said calmly: "I have been practicing martial arts since I was young. I followed my father to the border when I was nine years old, and I went into battle to kill the enemy when I was fourteen. I dare not say that I have achieved 100% of my father's fame, but I have learned some things and should be able to help His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Xiao Yujue stared at Mu Jingrui and fell into a long silence.
The last incident made him wary of Mu Jingrui and he couldn't trust him completely.
But in the current situation, he really can no longer find someone around him who is good at commanding troops and worthy of trust.
If he wants to plan for the long term, he needs a general who is good at fighting.
Xiao Yujue took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and made a decision.
"Okay, I'll make you my vanguard and follow me into battle." Xiao Yujue stood up and walked in front of Mu Jingrui, patted him on the shoulder, and promised, "If we can return victorious this time, we will be friends for life and death in the future."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Mu Jingrui still had no expression on his face, and a pair of clear and bright eyes appeared in his mind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
