A moment later, when Peony came out, the courtyard was already empty.
The journey to the palace was clearly not going to be easy, but fortunately Qin Qing wasn't stupid; he had someone announce his arrival as soon as he reached the palace gate.
"Qin Qing of the Qin family has urgent business to discuss with His Majesty. Please report this immediately!"
However, the guards at the gate only glanced at her with disdain and ignored her completely, clearly thinking she was crazy.
Upon seeing this, Qin Qing realized that she had always entered the palace by carriage the previous times, and the guards at the gate didn't recognize her at all...
This realization left her feeling completely overwhelmed. Just as she was considering whether to rush in, Deputy General Zhang finally arrived!
"Madam Qin, please wait..."
Qin Qing turned around and saw the two people who had dismounted!
The guards were about to salute when Deputy General Zhang and Huang Zhong simply waved their hands and pulled Qin Qing aside, their expressions very solemn.
"Are you crazy?! This is the palace! And His Majesty won't even see you, he's currently..."
His words abruptly stopped, and Deputy General Zhang's face stiffened. Realizing he had almost let something slip, he quickly changed the subject.
"I know you are a royal merchant, but His Majesty has the authority to make decisions on military matters. As his subjects, we must do our duty!"
Qin Qing shook his head, his face full of anxiety.
“A few days before I arrived, there were already refugees in Liuyun City. Now, a month has passed, and it’s still uncertain whether they can hold on! You want me to do my duty? What is duty? He risked his life for the entire Tianlong Kingdom. His father and brothers died on the battlefield, and now he is the only heir of the Wang family. Any emperor with a conscience should know that Wang Yan cannot die! Otherwise, how can he face his ancestors!”
Deputy General Zhang was taken aback. Looking at Qin Qing's firm and excited eyes, he remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Alright... I'll help you get in, but you should know that His Majesty hasn't been attending court recently and is resting in the main hall right now. He can't be disturbed, so... be careful!"
Huang Zhong, who was standing to the side, had just finished hinting that no one should know that someone was going to see His Majesty today when he turned around and heard that Vice General Zhang was going to bring Qin Qing into the palace. He couldn't help but be shocked.
"Are you crazy? She's crazy, and so are you? You know His Majesty's current situation; what if she goes in and..."
Qin Qing finally couldn't hold back any longer and threw a punch, knocking Huang Zhong unconscious...
The guards at the door noticed her movement and immediately went on alert. Deputy General Zhang swiftly grabbed Huang Zhong, who was about to fall, his shock no less than that of the guards…
He had heard about Qin's changes, but he hadn't expected them to be so drastic. This was Huang Zhong! His muscular physique was no joke; he could kill someone in a second, yet Qin Qing knocked him unconscious with a single punch…
Let alone him, even a general might not be able to knock him out with a single punch... This shows how terrifying Qin Qing's strength was just now!
The commotion behind him brought him back to his senses. He quickly helped Huang Zhong up, pretending that Huang Zhong had drunk too much and passed out.
"I told you to drink less every day, and now look what's happened! It's such a hassle!"
After saying that, he called someone to see Huang Zhong off, and then showed his waist token.
"This man has a confidential report to present to His Majesty. Please inform him immediately!"
With the help of Deputy General Zhang, the guards at the door had no choice but to comply, even if they had doubts.
Soon, the guard ran back and invited them in. They arrived silently at the door of the bedchamber, where Eunuch Hai's pale face appeared before them. Qin Qing couldn't help but step forward and say something.
"Eunuch Hai, I have urgent business to discuss with His Majesty! Please..."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Hai quickly covered her mouth, carefully looked inside, and said with a face full of speechlessness and worry.
"My goodness, please keep your voice down! His Majesty has just finished eating and is resting... Don't make a sound, come with me."
Qin Qing nodded, suppressing his anxiety for the time being, while Deputy General Zhang was ordered to wait outside.
A moment later, Qin Qing followed Eunuch Hai into the bedroom, but the magnificent decorations and grand architecture around her failed to arouse her interest in the slightest.
After finally arriving at a room, Eunuch Hai whispered into the tent directly in front of him.
"Your Majesty, they've arrived! You guessed right, it's Lady Qin."
The old emperor inside opened his eyes upon hearing the sound. He was about to say something, but all he could do was cough uncontrollably. Hai Gonggong was so anxious that he hurriedly went to call the imperial physician.
The old emperor got out of bed and waved for him to leave.
Qin Qing could only kneel on the ground, motionless upon hearing the sound, but she was extremely shocked! It had only been half a year since she last saw the old emperor, and he was already in a terminally ill state. What had happened?
At this moment, the old emperor finally sat up, drank some water, and then slowly spoke, his voice hoarse.
"Qin, half a year has passed since we last met. I thought you wouldn't come back... cough cough!"
Qin Qing raised his head slightly, his expression solemn.
"Your Majesty is too kind. My grandchildren are all here, so of course I had to come back! To be honest, the main reason I returned this time is..."
She was anxious to bring up the matter of sending troops, but the old emperor interrupted her!
"I heard that you and Wang Yan went to the northwest. I heard that the winters there are very cold. Are you able to adapt?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Qing clenched his fists instantly, inwardly cursing the old emperor's endless nonsense, but could only respond.
"It's alright, but the refugees in Liuyun City started appearing a month ago. If Your Majesty doesn't send troops soon, Liuyun City might..."
This time, she didn't give the old emperor a chance to interrupt, blurting out most of what she had to say, but the weary old emperor was caught off guard! Seemingly quite dissatisfied with what she was concerned about, the old emperor's tone instantly became harsher!
"Qin Shi! You must know... national affairs are none of your concern! I know you are worried about Wang Yan, but the Ice Mountain Grassland Tribe is well prepared this time, while the Tianlong Kingdom's treasury is empty. Even if we send troops now, Liuyun City will hardly be able to hold out for two months! Cough cough!"
It seemed the old emperor had spoken too forcefully, for he immediately began coughing violently after finishing his sentence…
Qin Qing fell silent as well. How could she not know? But leaving earlier would mean arriving earlier, and what if it was just a matter of three days? Thinking this, she clenched her fists tightly.
After a long while, he raised his head, the anxiety on his face had subsided.
"Your Majesty, you say the national treasury is empty... but have you ever considered why it is empty? Although I am not knowledgeable about state affairs, I am aware that officials in the court borrow money from the national treasury. Since the Ice Mountain Grassland tribe is so ambitious this time, they obviously know Your Majesty's situation. In that case... why don't you order all officials to repay the loans to the national treasury? To be honest, I have been in the capital for over a year. There are many corrupt officials and treacherous merchants in the capital... If Your Majesty is so inclined, why not take from the people and use it for the people?"
The old emperor: "..."
I have to say, this is actually a good idea! I never thought of it before!
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