Chapter 596 The War Subsides
Qiao Qinghe had a strong premonition that the border war would soon come to an end.
Sure enough, a month after the army set out, news of victories came frequently from the border.
Two months later, news of the great victory at the border and the cessation of hostilities reached the capital.
Upon hearing the news, Qiao Qinghe was both happy and surprised.
Just as she was about to send someone out to inquire about the news, Su Rongrong came happily to say goodbye, saying that she was going back to the Enping Earl's residence to pack up and prepare to welcome the Enping Earl back to the capital.
After the New Year, Su Rongrong braved the bloodshed and panic that filled the city and arrived at the Qiao residence with her luggage.
This stay lasted another three months.
Seeing that her husband, who had been away for more than half a year, was finally going to return to Beijing, she could no longer contain her excitement, packed her bags, and went back home.
The next day, just after Su Rongrong left, Li Sanqi arrived at the Qiao residence.
"Madam, have you heard? The army will soon be returning to the capital."
Li Sanqi's eyes were filled with joy. "Emperor Enping has made a great contribution this time. He might be promoted even further!"
Qiao Qinghe asked uncertainly, "Did the Earl of Enping perform a great service? Wasn't the Earl of Enping initially locked in a stalemate with the rebels?"
"Suppressing the rebellion later on, shouldn't the credit be greater to the Marquis of Yongchang and the Duke of Jin?"
Li Sanqi leaned closer and said mysteriously, "I thought so at first too. But today, my father told me that the reason why the Earl of Enping did not quickly quell the rebellion was because he ordered it."
"As for my uncle and the Duke of Jin leading troops into battle..."
Li Sanqi lowered his voice even further and said embarrassedly, "I just went there to earn military merits."
"To gain military merit?" Qiao Qinghe's mind raced and she suddenly realized.
After the Yongchang Marquis's family supported Emperor Xiaozhao's ascension to the throne, they gradually faded into obscurity.
Besides the fact that the Yongchang Marquis's family was pragmatic and knew when to advance and retreat, it was also because the old Yongchang Marquis, the pillar of the Yongchang Marquis's family at that time, had died.
The current Marquis of Yongchang is not yet worthy of the glory of the Marquisate. Therefore, he must act with humility.
Now that Wen Jue has emerged from the Yongchang Marquis's household, the Yongchang Marquis has also been thrown out by Emperor Xiaozhao to gain military merit.
The Marquis of Yongchang's mansion filled the vacancy in military officers in the Earl of Annan's mansion.
As for the Duke of Jin... well, the fact that the honest and upright Duke of Jin was allowed to come along to gain prestige was purely a cover for Emperor Xiaozhao, and also a way to help distribute military merits.
It is foreseeable that in the future, the Yongchang Marquis's Mansion, the Enping Earl's Mansion, and the Yongning Marquis's Mansion will stand as a three-way balance of power in the field of military merit.
As for the Duke of Jin's mansion, this military achievement only ensures that it will not decline further.
To truly establish oneself and secure a place among the nobility, it depends on whether a few capable individuals emerge from the younger generation.
Qiao Qinghe pulled her wandering thoughts back and focused her attention on the first half of Li Sanqi's words.
"His Majesty instructed the Earl of Enping to feign defeat and engage in a stalemate with the rebels, deliberately creating a crisis to give the Crown Prince the illusion that he had an opportunity to take action?" Qiao Qinghe looked at Li Sanqi with some disbelief.
Li Sanqi nodded, "Not only that. Even the dispatch of troops from Da'e was arranged by Father Emperor in advance."
Qiao Qinghe was shocked once again.
Seeing this, Li Sanqi said with a smile, "It is true that they sent troops, but they are not joining forces with the Earl of An'nan and the Feng Clan of Shang'an to attack Dayan."
"Instead, it was to block the border and prevent the remnants of the Annan Earl and the Shang'an Feng clan from escaping into the territory of Da'an."
Qiao Qinghe murmured in disbelief, "So that's how it is. Even the Emperor had arranged for Da'e to send troops beforehand!"
"But," she looked at Li Sanqi with a puzzled expression, "why would Da'er cooperate with the Emperor's actions?"
Two years ago, Da Xi and Da Yan almost came to blows!
How long has it been? How come they've already started collaborating?
Qiao Qinghe was greatly puzzled.
Li Sanqi explained with a smile, "It all comes down to the impact of that marriage alliance incident back then."
"At that time, both the Crown Prince and my father were deceived, and they tacitly stopped their actions."
"Afterwards, Emperor Da'e stepped forward, regained power, and abolished some of the excessive policies implemented by Crown Prince Da'e. He also made a point of establishing friendly relations with Dayan."
"My father has always been concerned that the founding of Dayan was illegitimate and that he intended to destroy Dayan and revise the history books."
"After the marriage alliance, Emperor Da'e took the initiative to write a letter to his father, acknowledging the equal status of Dayan. He also stated that as long as it brings peace to the world and allows the people to live in peace, both Da'e and Dayan deserve respect."
"This rebellion within Dayan is taking place on the border with Da'e. Therefore, the Da'e Emperor immediately asked my father if we needed any help."
"My father initially refused, but later, due to certain circumstances, he still asked Da'e to help block the rebels' escape route."
At this point, Li Sanqi raised an eyebrow at Qiao Qinghe, "Madam, guess what conditions Father Emperor agreed to for the Great Emperor?"
Qiao Qinghe was taken aback. "Wasn't it Emperor Dawei who offered to help?"
"It was indeed Da Ying's side that brought up the matter, but Father Emperor didn't want to owe Da Ying a favor, so..."
Li Sanqi kept everyone in suspense, "Guess?"
Looking at Li Sanqi's mysterious expression, Qiao Qinghe had a sudden inspiration and blurted out, "Could it be that Da'er is planning a marriage alliance with Dayan?"
Li Sanqi gave Qiao Qinghe an approving look and said with a smile, "You guessed right!"
"Da Xi is really going to form a marriage alliance with Dayan this time!"
"Father said that Crown Prince Da'an will return with the victorious army of Earl Enping and my uncle."
Qiao Qinghe looked at Li Sanqi with a strange expression, "Why are you so happy about this marriage between two countries?"
"Do you want to marry the Crown Prince Daqi?"
Li Sanqi curled her lip in disdain, "What are you saying, old man? I am a person with lofty aspirations, how could I possibly marry into the Da family?"
As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously searched the room for where Zhu Xi might be hiding.
Qiao Qinghe asked curiously, "You seem so happy. Has the marriage proposal been decided?"
Li Sanqi nodded. "Father wants Li Jingyue to go."
"Princess Liyang!?" Qiao Qinghe was surprised, but quickly calmed down.
That's right. Currently, the only unmarried princesses are Li Sanqi and Li Jingyue.
Li Sanqi had a failed experience with a marriage alliance before. Now that the two countries are sincerely looking forward to a marriage alliance, in order to avoid causing mutual resentment, Li Sanqi would never be the choice for the marriage alliance.
However, Li Jingyue...
His mother was involved in a treasonous plot and was sentenced to death. His maternal grandfather's family was implicated and exiled.
Her original fiancé, Lu Ming, was also sentenced to death for participating in the treason.
All that's left is Li Jingyue, who only has the title of princess and is all alone.
In fact, arranging a marriage for Li Jingyue to leave this painful place of Dayan seems like a good option.
However, Li Jingyue has a bad reputation, and it's uncertain whether Da'er will look down on her.
"This may not be a bad thing for the Sixth Princess. Leaving the capital, a place of sorrow, will allow her to start a new life."
Qiao Qinghe said with a slight worry, "I just don't know if Da'er will mind the Sixth Princess's birth mother and past."
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