Extra 2
In the third year of Zhao Youyi's reign, she began to arrange for Zhao Zhile and Chu Muqing to learn how to be qualified monarchs. As for which of the two children would become emperor in the future, Zhao Youyi believed that the most capable should be chosen.
Zhao Youyi didn't want to delve too deeply into Zhao Zhile's background. After things calmed down, Liang Jingyun left Shenjing and disappeared without a trace. Perhaps only Princess Yulang knew about her.
Since the Jing Kingdom had only recently been established, it was not advisable to launch another war. The Southern Barbarians and the Jing Kingdom had been in a state of superficial peace but deep discord. The Jing Kingdom and the Liang Kingdom, however, had signed an agreement—that they would not invade each other for ten years.
Zhao Youyi's health was not good, and she did not intend to stay on the throne for life. She only wanted to fulfill her brother's last wish and protect this land and its people. As for what would happen ten years later, that was not something she should worry about.
However, Princess Yulang's life in the Southern Barbarian Kingdom was ultimately unfair to her. After all, she had sacrificed herself for the Jin Kingdom, and now that the Jin Kingdom had been destroyed, her life in the Southern Barbarian palace would probably be even more difficult.
“Awan, I will go to fight the Southern Barbarians.” Chu Chanyin gently put the hairpin on her head, looking at the two of them in the bronze mirror. His tone was gentle but not resolute: “The court needs you. Your leadership can certainly boost morale, but the country cannot be without a ruler for a day.”
Zhao Youyi lowered her eyes upon hearing this, "Then I can't live without you either."
Chu Chanyin gently pinched her nose: "I will return after I bring my master's wife back. It won't be long."
“But you’ve never fought against the Southern Barbarians, what if…” Zhao Youyi frowned, his expression showing strong disapproval.
Chu Chanyin reached out and smoothed her furrowed brows, his tone gentle: "I will definitely return safely, believe me, okay?"
When he said the last word, his tone rose slightly, like a cunning little fox teasing one's heartstrings. Zhao Youyi was seduced by his words and kissed his lips with a restless heart.
Chu Chanyin didn't dodge, letting her kiss him. He knew she needed something to comfort her. After all, they had been together for so many years, from a childhood friendship that was stronger than family, to mutual appreciation after their reunion, and then to mutual love. They hadn't been apart much since Zhao Youyi ascended the throne, so it was normal for Zhao Youyi to feel reluctant to part with him.
After the kiss ended, Chu Chanyin reached out and flicked her tear-dampened eyelashes with his finger: "Alright, I'll be back in less than three months."
However, things did not develop as smoothly as Chu Chanyin had anticipated.
On the city wall, Zhao Youyi looked at Chu Chanyin's back again and sighed softly.
Zhou Yaqing comforted her, saying, "Your Majesty, Her Highness the Empress will return safely."
Chu Muqing has now grown into a handsome young man. Zhao Youyi seems to see Chu Chanyin in his youth through him. However, Chu Muqing is more like his mother, with a more upright demeanor, unlike her little vixen who is so alluring.
“Auntie,” Zhao Zhile tugged at Zhao Youyi’s sleeve, “Brother Mumu is asking you a question!”
Zhao Youyi squatted down and gently pinched the little girl's nose. "You're such a heartless little brat, always protecting your Mumu brother."
Zhao Zhile is five years younger than Chu Muqing, and is now at the age where she is very clever and mischievous. Over the years they have lived together, she has grown to like this handsome young man more and more. If it weren't for the large age gap between them, Zhao Youyi and Chu Chanyin would have arranged a marriage between them since they were children.
However, Zhao Youyi had been betrothed to her child before, and she felt it was better to respect the children's wishes. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and she didn't need to worry about it in advance.
"Mumu, what's wrong?" Zhao Youyi turned to ask him.
Chu Muqing is already a little adult; the baby fat on her face has faded considerably, and she looks much more mature: "Your Majesty need not worry. My uncle is invincible and will surely bring the Princess back."
Zhao Youyi patted his head and realized that he had grown quite a bit taller: "Mumu, just call me Aunt as before. We are family, there's no need to stand on ceremony."
Over the years, Chu Muqing has come to understand the meaning behind the courses Zhao Youyi arranged for him and Zhao Zhile. However, he does not believe he has the ability to do so, and it is clear that Zhile's succession to the throne is more legitimate.
Chu Muqing had already made up his mind. Once Zhao Zhile was a little older, he would go on a study tour. Firstly, he felt he should see the outside world, and secondly, he didn't want to put Chu Chanyin and Zhao Youyi in a difficult position. After all, they had worked hard to build the empire, and the throne would have to be inherited by either him or Zhao Zhile. No matter who was chosen, the other's position would be awkward.
He didn't want Zhao Zhile to experience such embarrassment. His little girl just needed to live a healthy and happy life in a sweet pot. After all, she called him "brother," and he would protect her for the rest of his life.
Zhao Youyi had no idea that Chu Muqing, that clever little devil, had thought so much. If she did, she would definitely think that the Chu royal family was born to bring misfortune to the Zhao family, producing only bewitching vixens, and that the uncle and nephew were both incredibly pitiful.
Chu Chanyin led his army south to the border region. After three years of hardship, the border region had undergone a dramatic transformation under Zhao Youyi's rule. The social atmosphere had become more open, and the status of men and women had become more equal. Women could also attend school, take the imperial examinations, or join the army. With the improvement of women's status, the economy developed rapidly. Looking at all this, Chu Chanyin felt that it was all worthwhile.
“Your Highness,” Yin Jiu still addressed him in that way, “our people have learned that the Princess and the Southern Barbarian King have been on good terms for years but are not on good terms at heart. The Southern Barbarian King seems to resemble General Xie in appearance.”
"What?" Chu Chan frowned, his expression not very pleasant. Wouldn't his master's wife be sad every night, facing a face that looked so much like his master?
"Why didn't these messages come over sooner?" Chu Chanyin dismounted and headed straight for the post station.
Yin Jiu quickly followed up: "Not many people had met General Xie in the early years. It was only when Ying Wu accidentally saw General Xie's portrait that we realized it."
"Then we must rescue Master's wife as soon as possible." Chu Chanyin felt inexplicably uneasy, sensing that what was about to happen was not simple. "Alright, send a message to His Majesty to inform her of this matter."
Chu Chanyin entered the post station, when a strange noise suddenly made everyone alert, and they all gripped their sword hilts and looked around warily.
The air fell silent, the moonlight was like water, and suddenly a group of men in black flew over. Chu Chanyin drew his sword and quickly scanned the men in black.
Chu Chanyin's bodyguards drew their swords and stabbed at the men in black around him. The men in black were well-trained and skilled in martial arts, and the two sides became entangled in a fierce battle.
Chu Chanyin swiftly and decisively slit the neck of the man in black before him with a single sword stroke. "Leave him alive."
Upon hearing this, everyone perked up and focused intently on the battle.
In the Southern Barbarian Palace, the stench of blood permeated the entire palace. Princess Yulang and the Southern Barbarian King faced off with knives, both covered in blood.
“Your Highness,” the Southern Barbarian King suddenly called out to her, “why must you fight me to the death? The Jin Kingdom has already been destroyed. Do you really think that Empress would send someone to take you, a princess of the former dynasty? Why not stay and become my queen?”
Looking at the face that bore a striking resemblance to Xie Bizheng, Princess Yulang felt utterly disgusted. "You don't need to pretend. You know I want your life."
The Southern Barbarian King reached out and gently touched the blade of her sword, blood dripping down. "I resemble your late husband, don't I? Why don't you stay and treat me as him?"
His words were hardly those of a monarch, but Princess Yulang had heard them countless times over the years.
Princess Yulang was not well received when she first arrived in the Southern Barbarian lands. She was nearly ten years older than the Southern Barbarian King, and the palace servants did not think she could win his favor. Unexpectedly, one day when she was painting a portrait of Xie Lang in the palace, the Southern Barbarian King suddenly burst in. After seeing the portrait, he became interested in her, the widowed princess who had remarried for a political marriage.
Princess Yulang didn't think that the Southern Barbarian King and Xie Lang looked that much alike. It was just a coincidence that their eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar. Over the years, she had seen many men who looked like Xie Bizheng. After all, she was the eldest princess and could have any man she wanted. But the more similar their appearances were, the more it reminded her of the fact that Xie Bizheng was dead.
She began to loathe people who looked like him but weren't him.
She didn't consider herself that noble enough to live her whole life clinging to memories, but she wasn't so promiscuous either. She couldn't bear to use someone else's face to reminisce about Xie Bizheng; that would be an insult to their pure and beautiful love. She couldn't do that, especially not when facing this Southern Barbarian King with whom she shared a deep-seated hatred for her country and family.
She feigned friendship with him, gained his trust, and slowly poisoned him. Although she couldn't kill him immediately, she could use him to throw the southern barbarians into chaos.
In each fight, her sword concealed a colorless and odorless poison, which would be undetectable even by the most skilled physicians given enough time.
I believe it won't be long before the Southern Barbarian King succumbs to the poison and dies, at which point the Southern Barbarians will descend into chaos...
"You're not even worth a hair on his head." Princess Yulang sheathed her sword and left without looking back.
The guards rushed to support the battered and bruised King of the Southern Barbarians. "Your Majesty, why are you doing this? Since the Consort is unwilling, then find someone who is. We have so many beautiful and young girls in the Southern Barbarians. Why force yourself on her?"
The Southern Barbarian King wiped the blood from his lips, and before he could say anything, he couldn't help but cough. Blood rushed to his mouth and nose, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood. A guard beside him saw this and shouted, "Your Majesty!"
"Quickly, summon the imperial physician!" someone shouted.
The image of Princess Yulang's back flashed through the Southern Barbarian King's mind. That woman... she was indeed ruthless. Four years had passed, and she still showed him no true feelings whatsoever. She even poisoned him without hesitation.
"It must be that princess from Jin!" the guard said viciously. "Guards! Tie that woman up and bring her before the king to atone for her sins!"
"No!" The Southern Barbarian King hurriedly stopped his guards, then suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood: "You mustn't make things difficult for her! This is my order!"
"Your Majesty!" The guard looked at the young Nanman king in disbelief. Could it be that His Majesty had really fallen in love with this foreign princess who was ten years older than him and had cruelly poisoned him?
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