On May 20, Gong Dongning and Ouyang Ming joined forces; on May 22, Gong Dongning officially took over Ouyang Ming's seal, and Ouyang Ming led 10,000 troops and retreated to Datong Guard Station not far from Yanjing; on May 25, Gong Dongning reorganized his troops and led 120,000 troops to surround Xuantong City; on May 27, Gong Dongning began to order an attack on the city; on May 28, Xuantong City was captured, more than 30,000 Tatars were captured, more than 9,000 enemies were killed, and more than 3,000 horses were seized. However, the Tatar leader Duoyan fled to the northwest under the escort of 1,000 cavalry. Despite this, when the news came, the court and the public cheered, and the ministers submitted petitions to promote Gong Dongning to an official position and let Gong Dongning present the captives at the Meridian Gate to show the power of the Zhou Dynasty.

"So the war is basically over!" Eleventh Lady put down her needlework and looked at Xu Lingyi with a smile, "Jin'er will be able to return to the capital soon."

"If the emperor approves Gong Dongning's surrender at the Meridian Gate, Jing'er will definitely follow him back. As for whether he will be stationed outside the city or follow Gong Dongning into the city, that's hard to say. But no matter what, there's no problem in seeing each other secretly." Xu Lingyi was in a good mood. As he spoke, he sat down next to Shiyi Niang, glanced at the white silk stretched on the embroidery frame, and said, "This calligraphy screen has been embroidered for many years, why hasn't it been finished yet?"

"I only embroider a few stitches when I have time!" Eleventh Lady smiled.

Xu Lingyi just felt that he looked familiar, but didn't take it seriously. He picked up the half-empty teacup of Shiyi Niang and took a sip, saying, "I used to think that Gong Dongning was brave and good at fighting, but I didn't expect that this guy is quite smart." He felt quite emotional.

Knowing that her son was safe and sound, and Gong Dongning was her son's immediate superior, Shiyi Niang was naturally very interested in his affairs: "What do you mean?"

Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "Duoyan fled to the northwest, and Gong Dongning did not order a pursuit. There were 50,000 troops from the Sichuan Dusi stationed in Ganzhou, and Gong Dongning did not order a siege, clearly leaving it to Ouyang Ming to clean up the mess. It can be seen that he did a good job in guessing the intentions of his superiors. I was worried that he would not adapt to Yanjing, but now it seems that I was worrying too much." As he spoke, he thought of Prince Yong... They had a silver mine together, and Gong Dongning would take good care of him when he entered the capital! And the selection of the Guizhou general, Prince Yong will definitely intervene!

"Gong Dongning is a late bloomer, right?" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "It shows that opportunities are also very important."

Xu Lingyi nodded and was about to tell her some examples from the military when a servant ran in: "My Lord, send an urgent message from Xuantong Prefecture, eight hundred miles away."

Everyone in the outer courtyard knew that Jing'er was now following Gong Dongning, and as they were rushing 800 miles to Xuantong Prefecture, they naturally did not dare to delay for a moment.

Xu Lingyi was also paying close attention to Xuan Tong's battle. Upon hearing this, he immediately said, "Bring it here." He sat there and started watching.

Eleventh Lady came over.

But after a quick glance, her face changed drastically and she asked in a lost voice: "What does this mean?"

The smile disappeared from Xu Lingyi's face, and his expression became solemn.

The servant saw that something was not right and hurriedly retreated on tiptoe. Leng Xiang and the others watched and made eye contact with each other before retreating as well.

The room became quiet.

"It seems that the emperor wants Jing'er to use this opportunity to accumulate some military merits," Xu Lingyi's sigh was clearly audible, "but this is too big a deal, I'm afraid Jing'er can't handle it."

In the letter, Gong Dongning said that the eunuch who supervised the army had received a secret order from the emperor, asking him to appoint Jing'er as co-magistrate to work with Ouyang Ming who was stationed in Datong Guard to encircle and suppress Duoyan who fled to the west.

The overall situation has been decided. To the west, there are the troops of Sichuan Governor's Office and Ganzhou Guard. Duoyan has only 1,000 troops, while Ouyang Ming has 10,000 troops. Moreover, Duoyan is the leader of the Tartars. Whether he is killed or captured, it is of great significance and can be regarded as the first merit. Ouyang Ming is not bad. After all, he has been a general in the Western Expedition. Jing Ge'er, let alone leading troops, has not even been on the battlefield since the war began. He is just a clerk beside Gong Dongning. No matter his experience or qualifications, he is not enough to be Ouyang Ming's deputy.

This is simply a naked act of stealing credit!

Even people who didn't know much about marching and deploying troops would know what was going on after listening to it, let alone those battle-hardened generals in the Five Military Commandery and those shrewd and powerful officials in the court!

Those censors are not vegetarians!

If he had tried to steal military merits from the beginning, it would certainly have displeased the soldiers who fought so hard, but at least it was despicable and sincere. Unlike now, it is despicable and hypocritical, which is even more disgusting.

Once his character was questioned, how could Jinger survive in the military camp? Even if he became a general, how could he lead his soldiers?

"Is the emperor trying to promote Jin Ge'er? Or is he trying to harm Jin Ge'er?" Eleventh Lady smiled bitterly. "Since it's a secret decree, can you pretend you don't know? Isn't it said that when a general is away from home, the emperor's orders are not granted."

"Unlikely." Xu Lingyi shook his head. "Gong Dongning is about to go to the capital. He will not upset the emperor at this critical moment. He wrote to me just to let me know the reason so that he can give me an explanation!"

"In other words, Gong Dongning also thinks that this is inappropriate?" Eleventh Lady said in a deep voice.

Xu Lingyi said nothing.

Eleventh Lady suddenly became annoyed: "Is there no other way? We can't just watch Jing'er follow Ouyang Ming to the northwest, right?"

Xu Lingyi thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you go to Princess Dujiang's mansion? Talk to the princess and see if she can persuade the emperor. Since it's a secret decree, it makes sense to assign someone else later." He added, "I'll write a letter to Gong Dongning and ask him to delay for two days."

Eleventh Lady also thought it was a good idea, and even thought that if she couldn't convince the princess, she would go to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager for help. In short, she couldn't let Jin Ge'er go with her.

Unexpectedly, when she saw the princess, she smiled and said, "I knew my aunt would come to see me!" There was a little pride in her smile.

Eleventh Lady was stunned: "Could it be the princess..."

"My third brother said that my uncle is thinking about his eternal reputation and doesn't care about Jing'er, so we will take care of it." The princess nodded, her eyes smiling into crescent moons, "When my third brother told the emperor, the emperor still didn't agree to let Jing'er be a Tongzhi, saying that he was young and only wanted him to be a hundred households. It was only after I went to the palace to ask my mother, and my mother personally told the emperor that the emperor agreed." As she spoke, she supported Eleventh Lady's arm, "Aunt came at the right time. The war was not going well a few days ago, and the palace was trembling with fear. Now that the big things have been decided, my mother and the queen mother are relieved and summoned me and the third sister-in-law to the palace to talk. We go to the palace together, so that my aunt can greet my mother and the queen mother, and we can also meet the third sister-in-law. Speaking of which, it was the third sister-in-law who helped me go to the palace to ask my mother to ask the emperor! Otherwise, how would we know all this."

Knowing that it was not the emperor's intention, Eleventh Lady felt relieved. But looking at Princess Jiangdu's excited face, she knew that she could not say anything at this time - whether it was Prince Yong, Princess Jiangdu, or even Princess Yong, they were all kind-hearted. The last time they refused to let Jing'er return to Yanjing, they had already poured a bucket of cold water on Prince Yong and Princess Jiangdu. If they refused again, it would inevitably make them feel disappointed.

"Fortunately, I am dressed neatly today." Eleventh Lady smiled, thanked Princess Jiangdu, and entered the palace with her.

The Queen Mother did not mention speaking up for Jing'er, but instead asked about his marriage: "...He is not young anymore, why haven't you made any moves? Last time when I was discussing a marriage for the Seventh Prince, I thought the daughter of Kong Wenjie, a lecturer in the Imperial Academy, was good, and she was about the same age as Jing'er. I will invite her to the palace someday, and you can come and see her!"

"I wonder how old Miss Kong is this year?" Eleventh Lady said with a smile, "We have read the marriage prospect for Jin'er, and they said that a difference of three or four years in age is best!"

In this way, Jing'er can get married a few years later.

"Is that so?" The Queen Mother was a little disappointed, "Miss Kong and Brother Jin are the same age!"

Queen Fang Jie'er was also present. She smiled and glanced at Eleventh Lady, saying, "Mother, if that's the case, marry Miss Kong to the Eighth Prince! After all, the Eighth Prince is also of marriageable age."

The Queen Mother nodded slightly and told Huang Xianying: "Invite Concubine Song tomorrow to see what she thinks."

Huang Xianying replied respectfully, "Yes," and also glanced at Shiyi Niang.

Eleventh Lady couldn't help feeling uneasy.

Could it be that everyone thinks this girl is good, but I am stubborn and end up losing a good marriage?

She thanked the Empress Dowager with some uneasiness.

"Jin'er is my family member." The Queen Mother smiled indifferently, "I will naturally take his affairs to heart." Then she asked about the health of the lady.

Everyone talked about some family matters. Seeing that it was getting late, Eleventh Lady stood up and said goodbye.

Princess Jiangdu is also going back home.

The Empress Dowager and the Empress personally escorted them out of the warm room, while Huang Xianying accompanied them all the way to the palace gate.

Eleventh Lady first respectfully saw Princess Jiangdu off, then said goodbye to Huang Xianying and asked about Miss Kong in a subtle way: "...Did I do something inappropriate?"

"The Queen Mother wants to be a matchmaker for Jin'er!" Huang Xianying said with a smile, "She thinks Miss Kong is good, and she is going to leave her to the Sixth Young Master on the pretext that Miss Kong is young." She said with a chuckle, "However, since the wife of the Marquis of Yongping said that the Sixth Young Master would be best to find someone three or four years younger than him, the Queen Mother has an idea in mind, and will definitely find someone that will satisfy the wife of the Marquis of Yongping."

Eleventh Lady was ashamed.

"Aunt, please explain a few words in front of the Queen Mother." She bowed to Huang Xianying.

"Madam Yongping, don't worry about it." Huang Xianying said with a smile, "The Queen Mother loves the Sixth Young Master to her bones."

After all, the palace gate was not a place to talk, so Eleventh Lady said a few humble words and returned to the lotus garden.

"Not to mention Princess Jiangdu, even the Queen Mother won't approve it."

She told Xu Lingyi about her entry into the palace.

"The Emperor is very filial to the Empress Dowager." Xu Lingyi thought for a while and said, "I will go see Elder Chen tomorrow to see if there is any chance of a turnaround!"

"That's the only way!"

Both husband and wife were preoccupied and did not fall asleep until the second half of the night.

※

"The Strategies of a Concubine" is almost finished, and I have created a post in the comments section for the new book. Interested sisters can go there to sign up. However, there is a small request - because the new book is written in ancient Chinese, please try not to use names that are too modern, otherwise it will seem too abrupt.

If you want to play a male role as a guest, it would be best if you could give the male character a name or a number.

In addition: I cannot guarantee that the roles played by the sisters in their guest roles will meet their expectations. If the sisters suddenly become little white flowers, please calm down... O(∩_∩)O~