Xie Yuan looked at the invitation again, her slender, fair fingers gently tracing the few black dots.
This is not a period.
Because periods are hollow, while these are solid black dots.
This is Morse code.
Nanling was a mathematical genius, and Xie Yuan discovered her talent and nurtured it to the fullest extent.
When playing with some mathematical formulas from later generations with Nanling, Xie Yuan would also think of things related to numbers or logic.
For example, passwords!
Morse code is probably the easiest to master, especially since it appears most frequently in spy dramas.
In later years, when Xie Yuan was still a content creator, he made a Morse code episode.
She couldn't grasp anything too complicated, but she managed to remember a few of the simpler letters.
Morse code is composed of dots and dashes, with different combinations of dots and dashes corresponding to specific letters.
Three black dots represent the letter 's'.
Three short lines represent 'o'.
Three more black dots, still an S.
When combined, it becomes SOS.
Of course, Nanling wasn't actually asking for help when she sent her that signal.
It's more of a reminder.
Because what was sent by the Prince of Ruyang's residence was not an ordinary letter, but an invitation.
The invitation was simple: it invited Empress Xie Yuan to attend the birthday banquet of the Princess of Ruyang.
Xie Yuan was indeed the most honored woman in the Great Zhou Dynasty, but the Princess Consort of Ruyang was twice as senior as Xie Yuan.
She is the emperor's aunt.
Moreover, for the past few decades, the three generations of Prince Ruyang have always been the emperor's most loyal subjects and partners.
The first Prince of Ruyang was the younger brother of Emperor Sheng and Emperor Zu. Together, the two brothers seized the throne from the Yuwen clan.
Therefore, he was granted the title of a first-rank prince and retained command of 20,000 troops.
The eastern camp of the Ruyang Prince's Mansion was the last line of defense for the Helian royal family.
Throughout history, the Princes of Ruyang have never betrayed the emperor's trust.
No matter how many changes occurred, or how many ambitious people were eager to make their move, the Prince of Ruyang's Mansion remained loyal to the emperor.
At least, on the surface, that seems to be the case.
In ancient times, people valued the harmony between father and son, and the loyalty between ruler and subject.
With such loyal subjects, the emperor cannot fail to repay their loyalty.
This year also happens to be the 40th birthday of Princess Ruyang, so it's a full birthday celebration.
The Prince of Ruyang's residence wanted to hold a grand event, and as the Empress, she should give the residence the respect due to her position.
Not to mention, there's also the influence of Nanling involved.
Nanling is the daughter-in-law of the Princess Consort of Ruyang, a dignified Crown Prince's wife.
Nanling personally wrote the invitation, so Xie Yuan had even less reason to refuse.
However, it was on this very invitation that Xie Yuan taught Nanling Morse code.
SOS, this isn't a cry for help, it's clearly a warning!
"Nanling, how could you be so foolish?"
"If you wanted to warn others, you could have come secretly. Why expose yourself?"
Xie Yuan gripped the invitation tightly and closed his eyes forcefully.
Although she thought this way, she also understood why Nanling did this—she wanted to use herself as bait to infiltrate the enemy's den and investigate the conspiracy.
After all, there's a difference between knowing that the Prince of Ruyang's mansion has ulterior motives and knowing their specific plans.
The former is too general, while the latter is more targeted.
Nanling even considered infiltrating the enemy camp and launching a coordinated attack from within.
"Too risky! She... sigh—"
Xie Yuan couldn't help but feel heartache whenever he thought of that pure girl.
As for the possibility that Nanling was deceiving him and that she had actually betrayed Empress Xie Yuan, Xie Yuan never even considered that.
Because it's impossible!
Outsiders may not understand the relationship between Xie Yuan and Nanling, but as the parties involved, they are both very clear about it.
They were not, as they appeared, ruler and subject or superior and subordinate.
Xie Yuan was Nanling's mentor, the benefactor who transformed her from a timid and depressed young woman into a confident and radiant female leader of the court!
To put it more poetically, Xie Yuan was a ray of light in the darkness of life in Nanling.
It was she who made Nanling realize that she was not a useless person, but a dazzling pearl.
It was Xie Yuan who revitalized Nanling, giving it a true sense of self, dreams, and a career.
It is no exaggeration to say that Xie Yuan is Nanling's idol and her faith.
Now, her husband, her maternal grandmother, actually wants to harm Xie Yuan. Nanling will absolutely not allow it.
Furthermore, the Crown Prince of Ruyang and the Empress Dowager's conspiracy has been brewing for quite some time.
Nanling isn't stupid, really. As a mathematical genius, she possesses extraordinary rationality and logic.
She hadn't doubted them before, but she had been blinded by appearances.
Once she discovers the problem, she can glimpse the truth through careful reflection.
"Perhaps, my wonderful marriage is all part of someone's scheme."
"The so-called affection between grandparents and grandchildren may exist, but it is certainly not much."
"There is also the so-called deep affection between husband and wife, which may exist, but it is mostly hypocrisy."
"They were using me from the very beginning—"
It should be noted that as the time of the sage's ascension to the throne progressed and his imperial prestige grew stronger, the sage essentially took back the military power of the Great Zhou.
Ironically, in the capital, the most important Eastern Camp was controlled by a prince of the imperial family.
Even if the Princes of Ruyang throughout the ages had always appeared loyal and virtuous, the emperor, being naturally suspicious, would still have been wary of them.
Several years ago, when the Emperor reassigned Mu Jialan from the Western Camp, there was speculation in the court that the next one would probably be the Eastern Camp.
The emperor and empress have no shortage of men; their own gates should be commanded by their most trusted generals.
Not to mention the Eastern Camp, even Dugu Xiong of the Northwest Army was sent back to the capital to retire.
The commander of the Northwest Army was also replaced by Zheng Cheng, a confidant of Helian Jue and the elder brother of Zheng Yurong, the Empress's lady-in-waiting!
The Prince of Ruyang's residence was the only exception!
Was it because the sage truly trusted the Prince of Ruyang?
no!
It was because the emperor loved his wife so much that he extended his affections to her, and his beloved wife, Xie Yuan's, little admirer, Nanling, married into the Ruyang Prince's mansion!
"It was me! If it weren't for me, His Majesty and the Empress might have already taken back the Eastern Camp!"
"The Prince of Ruyang's mansion used me to gain the Emperor and Empress's trust, and now they're using me to try and murder the Empress!"
How could Nanling tolerate this?
In this world, besides her mother, she only has the Empress!
Everyone else can be discarded!
Not to mention, these people were the ones who made the mistake in the first place.
Why can't we just live a peaceful life? Why do we have to rebel?
While feigning compliance with Helian Qi, Nanling secretly gathered information about the plan.
Perhaps it was Nanling's good acting skills, or perhaps it was the prejudice of the world—that once a woman gets married, she will take her husband as her everything.
Besides, if this great undertaking succeeds, she will be the esteemed Empress.
What woman in the world could resist this temptation?
Nanling: ...Hmph, you people have never experienced true friendship. You just don't know that there is a relationship called the best of friends!
She would never betray the Empress.
Nanling even learned that, in addition to the ambush at the birthday banquet, those people also wanted to poison the Empress and the young prince!
Xie Yuan: ...Oh wow, it seems like it's my turn this time!
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