The news of Zhang Chaozong's victory in eliminating the last resistance force of the Southern Xiongnu at Mucang River reached the Ministry of War, which then relayed the news to the palace. The Empress was overjoyed upon learning of it.
"Qin Chuan, call him Qin Chuan..."
The Empress instinctively opened her mouth, wanting to summon Qin Chuan, but then she changed her mind, "I'm still angry with him, no, I can't see him yet..."
After frowning for a moment, he looked at the bewildered eunuch and changed his words, saying, "Go and call Xiao Yue here."
After a while, Xiao Yue arrived at the Imperial Study in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The Empress shared the good news with her. This was the most glorious and great victory that Da Gan had achieved in foreign wars since the founding of the country. However, after completely wiping out the Southern Xiongnu, what should be done next?
After all, since the time of Emperor Taizu Gao, no great campaign had ever achieved such a record, so there was no precedent to follow...
Regarding this issue, Xiao Yue suggested that they should talk to the Prince of Yan, since everything was achieved through his efforts, and he must already have a plan in mind.
"No," the Empress said, rubbing her forehead and biting her lip. "I don't want to see him. Just seeing him makes me feel upset..."
Xiao Yue, with an air of amusement, asked, "Royal sister, did you two have another argument?"
The Empress, displeased, replied, "Do you also think I'm being unreasonable?"
Xiao Yue hurriedly waved her hands, saying repeatedly, "Royal sister, I didn't say that! What's wrong between you two?"
The Empress sighed gently, bit her lip, and decided to tell her younger sister the whole truth.
To everyone's surprise, Xiao Yue said, "He's quite affectionate; he's a good man."
Upon hearing this, the Empress glared at her fiercely with her phoenix eyes. "Xiao Yue, I ask you, if you were Qin Chuan, would you choose me or Su Ruyan?"
Without hesitation, Xiao Yue said, "If it were me, of course I wouldn't betray my wife. You're using threats and inducements..."
The Empress frowned, opened her mouth, and looked at me with disbelief in her beautiful eyes: "You mean, I've made a mistake again?"
"Sister, I didn't say that. That's not what I meant."
"So what do you mean? Do you mean I shouldn't like him?"
"No, Your Highness, actually, apart from being a bit lecherous, his literary talent and wisdom are extraordinary. He is one in a million, a dragon among men. It has to be said that there are very few people in the world who can match him."
"I like to hear that," the Empress said with a smile, pursing her lips.
"But, elder sister, this is a really difficult problem... He has a wife, and you still want to marry him. If he didn't have a family, how perfect that would be. It's a pity, it's really a difficult situation..."
Upon hearing Xiao Yue's words, the Empress immediately abandoned her imperial demeanor, took Xiao Yue's arm, and pleaded like an ordinary woman, "Royal sister, please help me think of a solution, I'm so worried..."
Xiao Yue shrugged, her brows furrowing. "Royal sister, I have no choice!"
"oops--!"
"I'm so angry!"
The Empress slapped the table with her jade palm, splashing the tea from the jade bowl.
The palace maids immediately came over to clean up.
After a while, the Empress caught her breath and patted Xiao Yue's shoulder: "Royal sister, go to the Prince of Yan's residence and check on how he's been these past few days..."
"You want me to run errands again?"
Xiao Yue frowned and pointed to her nose.
Thinking to myself, "Are you two ever going to stop? You're always making me run errands..."
Seeing Xiao Yue's displeasure, the Empress grabbed her hand and pleaded, "Oh, please, just run the errand for me. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you, okay?"
At this moment, she no longer possessed the noble bearing of an empress; instead, she resembled a young girl in love...
Xiao Yue pouted and reluctantly agreed.
"Go, go, my dear imperial sister..."
The Empress patted Xiao Yue's shoulder with a smile and said.
After leaving the imperial study, Xiao Yue gritted her teeth and stomped her black leather boots, muttering to herself, "I'm really fed up with you two. When are you going to stop this...?"
...
After arriving at the Prince of Yan's residence, Xiao Yue was led by Steward Zhou to the third courtyard.
At this moment, Qin Chuan sat on the swing, staring blankly into the distance. Even when Xiao Yue walked right in front of him, he seemed not to notice her at all...
The swing swayed gently, and Xiao Yue stepped forward to take a look, immediately exclaiming in surprise.
It was as if I had suddenly seen a ghost!
She noticed two strands of white hair growing at Qin Chuan's temples. Although they were only about an inch wide, these two strands of white hair, paired with his sorrowful face, gave him a sense of vicissitude...
It's as if I've aged twenty years in an instant!
"Qin Chuan, what... what happened?"
She could hardly believe that Qin Chuan had grown so many gray hairs in just two days...
He's only in his early twenties, so why does he have so much gray hair?
"Oh, so it's Your Highness the Princess."
When Qin Chuan saw Xiao Yue, he smiled with a weary expression.
He knew she would definitely send Xiao Yue; she wouldn't come in person...
She thought to herself, "Luckily, I dyed my hair at the temples beforehand. If I can put on this act of feigning injury well, maybe she'll relent and agree to become the powerful one, while Ruyan becomes the subordinate. Besides, I'll still be in control of the empire..."
Why not?
They insist on squeezing out Ruyan, which puts him in a very difficult position...
Thinking of this, Qin Chuan pretended to be weak and stood up to bow to Xiao Yue.
Xiao Yue subconsciously took a step back, her heart filled with doubt and inexplicable heartache. "Qin Chuan, what's wrong with you? Why are you like this all of a sudden?"
As she spoke, her eyes inexplicably reddened.
The moment she saw through Qin Chuan's true nature—that he was actually a lovesick fool—she still admired him immensely. Although she called him a jerk, her heart still occasionally recalled all the good things about him.
I never expected him to change like this all of a sudden...
He was so devoted to his wife...
My dear elder sister, look what you've done!
"What's wrong?"
Qin Chuan blinked, pretending he knew nothing.
Why is your hair all white?
Xiao Yue did not retreat, but stepped forward and pointed to Qin Chuan's sideburns.
Qin Chuan said casually, "I haven't slept for two days and two nights. Maybe staying up all night has made me look paler..."
It wasn't entirely because I hadn't slept for two days and two nights; I was just so worried that I couldn't sleep at night, but I still felt sleepy during the day and would occasionally take a nap...
Xiao Yue's eyes reddened again, and she murmured, "Royal sister, look what you've done to him..."
"Princess, is there something you need for this sudden visit?" Qin Chuan asked, still maintaining a calm expression.
Xiao Yue sniffed and said, "The Ministry of War has sent a battle report. General Zhang Chaozong has wiped out the last resistance force of the Southern Xiongnu. What should we do next?"
Qin Chuan pointed to the swing next to him, and after she sat down, he said slowly, "This is what your royal sister asked you to ask, right? The following arrangements should be made, please take note of them."
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