Chapter 87
"The Xili are skilled warriors. The 100,000 troops stationed on the border are certainly not here for show. Have you thought about how to deal with this?" Xie Chengnan asked.
Gu Shuan unconsciously stroked a wooden plaque in his hand. Xie Chengnan felt that it looked familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen it before. It must have been a brief encounter many years ago.
"This battle is inevitable. We have already lost half of our initial advantage. The remaining half depends on the morale of the troops."
Xie Chengnan immediately understood his implication and asked in surprise, "You want to personally lead the army?"
"I do have this intention, but things are not entirely peaceful in Mingzhou City."
"Indeed, your position is the easiest to be envied and coveted. The moment you leave, the position of Crown Prince might change hands. Princess Changning doesn't even know that I've sided with you; she's practically scheming in my face."
Gu Shuan'an's brow furrowed slightly: "She contacted you."
"Not yet, but my wife is invited out for tea every few days."
Gu Shu paused for a moment, then said, "She may not be unaware of our cooperation. You should speak to Madam Qiu properly and tell her not to fall into her trap."
Xie Chengnan was somewhat surprised. This was the first time Gu Shuan had addressed Qiu Qingye as "Madam Qiu" in front of him. Previously, he would never have bothered to mention it, and if necessary, he would address her by her full name with extreme disgust or make sarcastic remarks. His change in attitude was due to two reasons: firstly, his collusion with Xie Chengnan, and secondly, his shift in attitude towards Qiu Qingye.
This change made Xie Chengnan feel a little uneasy. It was like he had obtained a treasure that others didn't want. He was happy at the same time, but one day, the person who used to scoff at the treasure suddenly stopped disliking it.
But then he thought, wasn't this new form of address also an acknowledgment of their relationship? In Gu Shu'an's eyes, he and Qiu Qing were already bound together. As long as Qiu Qing didn't have any further contact with her, his former lover, he wouldn't pursue the past any further.
According to the original plot, Lin Yi was supposed to collude with the Xili envoy and frame Zhan Xian, making her the target of public criticism—in order to escape this predicament, the female protagonist urgently needed to prove herself, and the exoneration of the Zhan family was naturally put on the agenda. However, Lin Yi's arrival changed some things. Although it didn't have a significant impact on the main plot, it was like a butterfly gently flapping its wings. But that slight tremor was like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating a predetermined trajectory in the unseen world.
[Due to the host's arrival, some plot points have changed. To ensure the smooth progress of the main storyline, the host needs to go to the battlefield to advance the original plot. Furthermore, Qiu Qing's original fate—"being discovered for colluding with envoys to frame Zhan Xian, ultimately suffering retribution from the male lead and dying tragically in prison"—will be postponed until the end of the war. The host needs to collude with Princess Changning to create trouble for the male lead, and be discovered and punished by her.]
"Wait, wait, wait, you want me to go to the battlefield? And collude with Changning?" Lin Yi wondered if he hadn't woken up properly in the morning and was still in a daze, otherwise how could he have heard such shocking news!
She—a transmigrated female physician—is going to a desolate, smoke-filled battlefield with the Crown Prince who dislikes her and Princess Changning, who clearly has ulterior motives. Will she be toyed with to death by these two or blasted to death by artillery fire? That's not the worst part. Even if she survives the battlefield by the skin of her teeth, she will still be punished by Gu Shu'an and will still face an inevitable death!
[Those once mocking and indifferent lips moved unconsciously, fear and despair creeping onto her pale and dirty face. In the twenty years of Qiu Qingye's unbridled arrogance, she could never have imagined that she would have such a miserable end...]
The description of Qiu Qingye's ending in the original book struck Lin Yi like a thunderclap.
[Host, have you forgotten that once you successfully accumulate 500 Goodness Points, you can control any plot point outside of the main storyline?]
"You make it sound so easy. All those stats I worked so hard to accumulate have almost been deducted away by you in various ways."
The system's mechanical voice remained unchanged, but Lin Yi felt that if it had an expression, it would be trying its best to maintain a smile at this moment. [This is also why the host absolutely must go. There are many dead and wounded on the battlefield. The host can freely heal the wounded and save lives, and the probability of reaching the required goodwill value will increase accordingly. Please do your best, host.]
Lin Yi had already considered this immediately, which was why she didn't show any particular resistance. But...
"How can I collude with Changning?"
Cooperating with that woman is tantamount to seeking help from a tiger; Lin Yi felt his scalp tingle just thinking about her confident demeanor.
This is a problem the host needs to consider.
Lin Yi curled his lip. This damn system is utterly useless; all it does is issue tasks to itself.
[...]
Lin Yi's luck wasn't always bad; at least before she was too worried about contacting Princess Changning, Changning invited her to the palace again.
Changning seemed even colder today than last time. If last time, when Lin Yi first entered Ning'an Palace, Changning still intended to display her princessly authority, this time she seemed to have no patience to deal with her, as if she had already grasped Lin Yi's weakness and everything was under her control.
"What's your decision?"
Lin Yi was taken aback for a moment, not remembering that he had promised her to consider anything. However, Lin Yi's mind worked quickly. Since the system had already issued the task, whether it was sincere or not, the cooperation was a done deal in the short term.
She smiled faintly: "I haven't had a chance to thank Your Highness yet. The school is running very smoothly, thanks to Your Highness's illustrious reputation and great favor."
Changning neither said yes nor no, tacitly accepting the credit that had inexplicably fallen on her head.
"So you've decided to cooperate with me?"
"I haven't fully thought it through yet." Lin Yi spoke frankly. "I am but a commoner. Your Highness might as well offer me some more incentives to entice me with benefits. Only then can this alliance last."
Princess Changning raised her narrow phoenix eyes and glanced at her: "You are a smart person, so I will be frank. I know what you care about, which is nothing more than not wanting Young Marquis Xie to get involved in the troubles of the court. Although I do not agree with this feeling, I can understand it."
Lin Yi outwardly appeared to be listening attentively, but inwardly he was somewhat disdainful.
The more she tried to distance herself from Xie Chengnan in front of the court, the more it showed how much she cared. It wasn't surprising that Changning could see this; she was just too impatient. And when the most shrewd and power-hungry person tells you, "I understand your desire to live a carefree life," it sounds like a fantasy, but it's hard to believe.
“Gu Shuan will not only fail to help him stay away from the court, but will drag him deeper into it, but I can. I will help Marquis Yong'an to live a peaceful life in this court. Or, if you don’t believe me, you can use me to do it yourself.”
"Huh?" Lin Yi didn't quite understand.
Princess Changning patiently explained, "It's not just Gu Shu'an; there are many factions in the court, but they all share one thing in common: they are all wary of me. As long as Marquis Yong'an has even the slightest interaction with me, others will not give him important positions. And I don't need him to actually stand on my side. As long as he doesn't do anything outrageous or involve the interests of others, no one will make things difficult for him. In the end, he can be a marquis in name only, which is exactly what you want, isn't it?"
It sounded like she was genuinely thinking of Lin Yi's best interests; she was truly teaching others how to exploit themselves. Lin Yi mentally gave her a thumbs up. As expected of Chang Ning, she was ruthless enough.
"In exchange, you need to help me transfer the Crown Prince away from Mingzhou. Anguo and Xili will soon go to war, and Gu Shuan has long had the idea of personally leading the army. The Marquis of Yong'an has been getting close to him recently, and they have a good relationship. Gu Shuan should listen to his suggestion. You just need to whisper in the young marquis's ear from time to time, and this deal will be very worthwhile."
Lin Yi desperately wanted to grab Princess Changning's shoulders and shake her, questioning how she could tell the two had such a good relationship, but due to Princess Changning's imposing presence, the thought only flashed through her mind before she gave up. "Just this?" Lin Yi didn't need to persuade her; even if she did nothing, according to the original plot, Gu Shu'an would still personally lead the expedition.
Princess Changning changed the subject, "Of course, Madam Qiu's medical skills are being wasted in Mingzhou. If you could personally go to the border to treat the millions of soldiers of my Great An and also convey the Crown Prince's movements to me, that would be even better."
They're sending her to the battlefield again. And she really has no choice but to go.
However, Lin Yi did not agree immediately, but hesitated and said, "Swords have no eyes, how can Your Highness guarantee that I will come back alive? Besides, even if I really want to go, would Your Highness agree to take such a burden as me?"
“The battlefield is ever-changing, and I cannot guarantee your safe return, but you should trust the men of Anguo. They are fighting valiantly on the front lines, facing difficulties without retreating. The border is your last line of defense,” Princess Changning said.
"As for the second point, Madam Qiu, please do not underestimate yourself. If you agree, I will submit a letter immediately."
"If Your Highness were to intervene and persuade me, wouldn't that confirm my connection to you? How could I then pass on your messages?" Lin Yi asked doubtfully.
"I have my own way of handling this. Just tell me whether you want to go or not."
Lin Yi bit her lip lightly, feigning reluctance, until her lips began to turn pale. Finally, she loosened her teeth and said, "Okay, I'll go."
Princess Changning's smile finally faded, seemingly quite satisfied with the outcome: "If I'm not mistaken, Marquis Yong'an will also be going to attack Li this time, so you two won't have to be separated."
"..."
"Besides helping Xie Chengnan return to a life of leisure, I have another condition," Lin Yi said, his voice neither humble nor arrogant.
Princess Changning was in a genuinely good mood. In the past, if anyone dared to presume to negotiate with her, she would have ordered them dragged out and severely punished as a warning to others. But now, she merely raised her chin slightly, gesturing for Lin Yi to speak quickly.
"During my absence from Mingzhou, I humbly request Your Highness to take good care of my family."
Gu Shu'an's personal campaign created an opportunity for Changning to keep the Crown Prince away from the capital, rendering him powerless to intervene in any events that might occur at court. Lin Yi was similarly powerless. She knew very well that if she went to the front lines, Changning or someone else might use the Qiu family as leverage to better control her. Although the Qiu family's backer, the Imperial Concubine Shu, was still in the palace, there was a fear that she herself might be in danger. Therefore, it was better for Lin Yi to take the initiative and also remind Changning to be wary of others targeting the Qiu family. As long as they maintained contact, Lin Yi could guarantee that Changning wouldn't act before she and Gu Shu'an returned to the capital.
"Of course, you can rest assured."
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