At the city gate.
Tian An was dressed in red, and wore only the pearl flower on her head that Zhao Yiming had given her when he passed the imperial examination.
"You must come back safely. My children and I are waiting for you!" Tian An hugged Zhao Yiming, who was wearing armor, tightly.
"Wait for me." Zhao Yiming responded in a low voice and let go of her reluctantly.
After saying goodbye to Zhao Yiming, Tian An walked towards Tian Mingwu again, "Dad, come back early, don't keep Mom waiting for too long."
Tian Mingwu nodded, "Don't worry! Dad was able to deal with those bastards from Western Liao back then, and now with the secret weapon you gave me, I will definitely be victorious and return soon."
Western Liao is the largest of the four kingdoms and also has the most borders with Tianling. Although Zhao Yiming and Tian Mingwu went to Western Liao together this time, the places they went to were actually far apart. Tian An did not ask them to take care of each other, but only hoped that they would be safe.
"It's time to set off. An An, take your mother and your siblings back home quickly! It's cold, don't stay here." Tian Mingwu looked at the sky and urged.
Zhao Yiming also gathered Tian An's cloak and said, "Go back quickly! The children are still young, don't let them get frozen."
Tian An shook his head stubbornly, "There's floor heating in the carriage, so they won't get cold. I'll stay here and watch you go before I go back."
An Wan, Xiaokang, Xiaoqi and the others over there also refused to leave and insisted on waiting for them to leave first.
Zhao Yiming and Tian Mingwu had no choice but to climb onto their horses and wave at the others from their horses, "Go back! We'll be back soon!"
A group of people looked at the team that was getting farther and farther away with concern. Tian An was even more reluctant and subconsciously chased after them. She only stopped slowly when the team's speed became faster and faster and the distance between them became farther and farther.
"Zhao Yiming, you can't go back on your word!"
Today is New Year's Day, but it is also the day of separation. It was already noon when Tian An returned to the Duke's Mansion, and the sound of firecrackers could be heard from time to time around.
Seeing everyone's worried eyes, Tian An exhaled a breath of turbid air and forced himself to cheer up, "Okay, let's get ready to start the New Year!"
At Tian An's command, everyone in the mansion began to get busy.
Jiang gave her four children a look, and Zhao Qinhua and Zhao Ranhua hurried forward to hold Tian An, "Sister-in-law, we have just learned a new song, but no matter how we talk about it, it feels like something is missing. Why don't you help us take a look?"
After Tian An finished commenting on the songs of Zhao Qinhua and Zhao Ranhua, the two brothers Zhao Shengyong and Zhao Shengze ran to Nanchen and Xiyue and kept making funny moves to tease them. The two children laughed so hard that Tian An couldn't help laughing too.
As the atmosphere became cheerful, Tian An gradually forgot the melancholy in his heart, and the New Year's Eve dinner officially began.
Everyone stayed with Tian An in Tongxin Courtyard until late at night to celebrate the New Year. It was not until the children could no longer hold on that Tian An let everyone go back to sleep.
On the soft big bed, Tian An hugged his two children, and the emptiness in his heart was filled. Even though he was still thinking about Zhao Yiming, he finally fell asleep slowly.
In the palace, even during the New Year, the emperor only gave his ministers half a day off, allowing them to have a New Year's Eve dinner with their families, and then resumed the morning court session on the first day of the New Year.
It was just a good time to celebrate the New Year, but early in the morning there were some ignorant people who came to bring bad luck upon themselves.
"Your Majesty, the military officers in the court are dying or being injured, and the four countries are biting us tightly. If this continues, we will be unable to cope with it!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Casualties continue to rise on the front lines, and money is being spent like water. If this continues, even with a lucrative business like Liuli, the national treasury won't be able to hold on!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
The emperor suppressed his anger and looked coldly at the officials kneeling below him. "Then, my dear ministers, what do I think I should do?"
"This..." Several people looked at each other, and one official said stubbornly, "A gentleman's revenge is never too late. Why don't we take the initiative to cease fire, send the princess to marry, and rest and recuperate for a while. When we have stronger troops and horses, we can properly deal with the four countries."
"Bullshit!" Before the emperor could even speak, the generals couldn't sit still.
Tan Qihui stepped out of the line, walked up to the group, pointed at them, and yelled, "You're stopping the fight halfway through, do you think we're just kids playing house?
"Letting the princess marry is a disguised surrender. Where do you place the dignity of our great country, Tianling? Where do you place the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country? Did they sacrifice their lives in vain?"
The kneeling official refused to accept the defeat and retorted, "A true man can bend and stretch. I have only yielded temporarily. If we continue to fight, more people will be killed or injured."
Tan Qihui sneered, "Are you just too stupid? Or do you think the four nations are fools? The war is now in their favor, so why should they let you call a halt? Besides, have you forgotten about that person?"
After his reminder, everyone remembered the instigator of this war.
Yes! This war was originally instigated by Xiao Qingyan, so how could he let them stop it?
Ignoring them, Tan Qihui turned and knelt, "Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, will go to the border. I will not return until the enemy retreats. I swear to fight them to the death."
As soon as he knelt, all the generals came out and loudly agreed: "Your humble servant is willing to go to the border. I will not retreat until the enemy retreats."
"I will not retreat until the enemy retreats."
"I will not retreat until the enemy retreats..."
The resolute and resonant voice resounded throughout the court hall, making people's blood boil.
But even so, it still failed to suppress all the voices calling for an end to the war.
"Foolish! You're just some greenhorns who've never even been on a battlefield. Not letting you go is for your own good. You're really ungrateful."
"Who are you calling a dog? You look down on me, do you want me to teach you a lesson?"
"A bunch of reckless men..."
For a time, the pro-war faction and the anti-war faction quarreled fiercely.
In the harem, upon learning that the marriage was brought up again, Concubine Jia and Concubine Hui became worried again.
Concubine Jia immediately sent someone to call Mu Chenke over for questioning.
"You said you'd give me some time. Now that this year has passed, are you ready?"
Mu Chenke shook his head. "The rest is fine, but the border war is at a stalemate right now. Asking His Majesty for a marriage at this critical juncture will only cause His Majesty's impatience and may even backfire."
Hearing this, Concubine Jia became even more annoyed, "Then what do you say we should do?"
Mu Chenke clenched her fists in her sleeves and said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, His Majesty will not allow the princess to marry."
"Now the calls for a marriage alliance are growing day by day. How can you make me feel at ease?" Concubine Jia looked worried.
Coming out of Concubine Jia's palace, Mu Chenke saw Yongjia waiting outside. Thinking she was worried about the marriage, he assured her, "Princess, please rest assured. I will definitely not let you go on the marriage."
Yongjia was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "This princess believes you."
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