Chapter 443 The Imperial Edict Has Arrived
After thinking about it, Madam Min Qiao agreed and stopped dwelling on the matter.
That would be even better. Old Qiao didn't have many men under his command to begin with, and several more were lost during Da Xi's trip. Now, if you count them on your fingers, besides Old Qiao, there are only two people left who escorted the King of Chu back, and one who stayed in the capital to guard the escort agency and take care of Zhou's mother and daughter.
Madam Min then asked, "I wonder when Your Excellency plans to make your move? If it's too late, Ji Huailang will probably have to return to Xijing for the funeral."
The Earl of Enping shook his head calmly, "Ji Huailang will not leave the border for the time being."
"With the death of Marquis Pingyan, the Pingyan Marquis's mansion will rely on him to maintain its position."
"With an opportunity to make a name for himself right in front of him, he wouldn't let going to a funeral cause him to miss it."
"Make a name for yourself!?" Madam Min Qiao looked puzzled. "Didn't we say that the two countries had reached a consensus that there would be no war this time?"
The Earl of Enping hesitated for a moment before lowering his voice and cautiously saying, "Dayan will indeed not go to war with Daye. However, Dayan and Daye are preparing to join forces to destroy Shang'an."
Upon hearing this, Madam Min was immediately horrified.
Shang'an is a small country that borders both Dayan and Daxi, and it is one of the small countries that came to the border to observe the peace talks.
How did watching a play turn into witnessing the country's impending destruction?
Could it be that Shang'an Kingdom made some mistake during the peace talks, thus angering both of the two great powers?
That shouldn't be the case! Under the high-pressure policies of Dayan and the appeasement policies of Daxi, Shang'an Kingdom has always been a well-behaved and obedient country!
Thinking of this, Madam Min suddenly realized a possibility.
She looked at the Earl of Enping in astonishment and asked for confirmation, "Within the territory of Da'an, the third party that attacked and killed the Dayan marriage procession... could it be Shang'an?"
These two great powers are trying to make Shang'an Kingdom take the blame!
Da Yan plotted against Da Xi, and Da Xi was also plotting against Da Yan.
As a result, because of a double agent, Marquis Pingyan, no one knew what kind of scheme was hidden inside, and the war could not be fought.
In the end, to save face for both sides, the blame was actually placed on the small country of Shang'an!
Earl Enping nodded. "In the next few days, the two countries should jointly issue a letter of credence and launch a joint campaign against Shang'an."
Min Qiao's eyes lit up. "In that case, Ji Huailang will indeed not leave the border easily."
However, once Ji Huailang appears in Da Xi's expeditionary force, it would be incredibly easy to break his arms and legs!
Moreover, if someone gets into trouble on the battlefield, it won't arouse suspicion!
Two days later, the imperial decree arrived from the capital.
The imperial edict from Da Xi's side has also arrived.
On the same day, the two countries jointly issued a letter of credence, blaming Shang'an for the attack on their marriage alliance. They then declared with righteous indignation that their allied forces would immediately launch an expedition to conquer Shang'an.
The moment the official letter was issued, the envoy from Shang'an was killed on the spot by Da'e soldiers.
They had assumed that Da Xi's policies were appeasement and that their safety was guaranteed. Therefore, all the envoys from the small countries who came to observe stayed at Da Xi's residence.
But who would have thought that when Da Xi gets ruthless, he's no less ruthless than Da Yan?
Thus, after killing the envoy from Shang'an, Da'e's 50,000-strong army and Dayan's 30,000-strong army simultaneously set out and headed straight for the capital of Shang'an.
The commander on Da'e's side was a pro-war general who had been sidelined for a long time. He was only reinstated after the Crown Prince took over the reins of government. He was considered a confidant of Crown Prince Xia Linyuan.
On the surface, Ji Huailang was also Xia Linyuan's confidant, so he easily obtained a minor general position in the army.
The commander on the Dayan side was none other than Yan Jin, the Earl of Enping, who commanded 30,000 troops.
As for the Earl of Annam, he continued to garrison the West Gate.
As the army marched out, the people of the border town were both filled with anxiety and relieved.
At least, Da Yan and Da Xi didn't fight!
Compared to Da'an, which was on par with Dayan, everyone thought that the small country of Shang'an was easier to bully!
While the army was setting off, Lady Min Qiao was also packing her things, preparing to go to the capital with the imperial entourage that came to deliver the imperial decree.
Yes, along with the imperial decree to lead the expedition to Shang'an came an imperial edict summoning Lady Min Qiao to the capital, as well as an oral edict urging the Prince of Chu and his sister Li Sanqi to return to the capital as soon as possible to report back.
So, the day after the imperial edict was issued, Lady Min Qiao traveled to the capital to deliver the edict and also to pick up the person in the carriage.
Also traveling with them were Zhen Huan, Wen Xiu, and A Qi.
As for the seriously injured old woodcutter, Min Qiao originally intended to leave him in the border town to recuperate.
However, after Min Qiaoshi and Enping Bo reached an agreement on the deal to retaliate against Wang Shi, Lao Qiao asked Min Qiaoshi for permission to have his two brothers escort him to Huizhou City.
He was going to see his elder brother off on his final journey, and then accompany his mother and sister back to Beijing.
Madam Min had no reason to stop them, so she arranged for a vehicle to take them away two days earlier.
On the carriage returning to the capital, Huanzhen, Aqi, and Min Qiaoshi rode together.
Thinking of Wenxiu, who had gotten into the same car as Li Sanqi, Aqi asked, "Is Wenxiu not planning to come back to serve us?"
He actually glanced at Madam Min, but didn't say anything.
Madam Min smiled and said, "I'm afraid even if she wants to come back, the Seventh Princess won't let her go."
On the way to Daxi, especially during the period when the marriage procession was attacked and everyone scattered to escape, the Seventh Princess and Wenxiu spent every day together, sharing life and death. It's likely that she had already considered keeping Wenxiu with her.
Therefore, even though the Seventh Princess's former personal maids came to the border with the imperial eunuch, she did not let Wenxiu return.
However, she wasn't a stingy person. Although Wenxiu was very nice, if the Seventh Princess wanted it, she would give it to her.
Perhaps, following the Seventh Princess would be a better outcome for Wenxiu.
Seeing that Min Qiaoshi spoke so casually and didn't seem to mind at all, Aqi didn't say anything more.
However, she kept this matter in her heart.
I'll have to tell Sister Weijia later so she can talk to Wenxiu.
Aqi didn't speak again, but hesitated before finally saying, "Madam, after returning to the capital, I plan to go back to the Yongning Marquis's residence."
Upon hearing this, Madam Min was utterly astonished. But she quickly smiled with relief and said happily, "This is a good thing! It's kind of you to finally see the light."
"Now, Lady Yongning can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel."
"When you go back, be good to your mother. She hasn't had a easy life. Especially because of you, she's worried a lot!"
Min Qiao gave earnest instructions, her joy in simple and pure words.
He actually nodded and earnestly agreed, "I will."
It was this trip to Daxi that made her truly understand the importance of identity and status.
As for her status and position, since she was not capable of providing them herself, she could only rely on her family!
Before, all she wanted was freedom, to do whatever she wanted.
But now, she wants status and position, but even more so, she wants dignity that cannot be easily trampled upon.
Only in this way can she better protect the old lady!
only……
She said worriedly, "Madam, Ajiu is dead, and I have to go back to the Yongning Marquis's residence. If Wenxiu leaves with the Seventh Princess, then you will not have a maid who knows martial arts to protect you."
Aqi frowned with worry: "Madam, this won't do! How about we pick two more from those people from before?"
Zhen Huan and Wen Xiu were chosen from among those people after they returned from Jiangnan.
Madam Min smiled reassuringly at the two of them, "Don't worry about me, I know what I'm doing."
As she spoke, Madam Min looked at the two girls with amusement, "You're both just twelve or thirteen-year-old girls, why are you all acting like old women, worrying about so many things?"
He awkwardly twitched the corner of his mouth.
Aqi, however, didn't seem to care. As the head maidservant of the Lady of Enping, she was simply doing the work of a servant. Worrying about her mistress at all times had become a habit.
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