Expedition
After the investiture ceremony, Gu Youan went to Chengqian Hall to visit Emperor Huaming.
Her belly was slightly protruding beneath her loose-fitting clothes.
"Greetings, Father Emperor!" Gu Youan bowed gracefully.
Emperor Huaming sat upright in the main hall, looking at Gu Youan who had descended the steps, and asked, "What is it, Crown Princess?"
Gu Youan looked up and said, "Father, I would like to ask you for something?"
Emperor Hua Ming squinted and asked, "What does the Crown Princess wish for?"
Gu Youan said, "I want to go to the battlefield with him."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Huaming paused for a moment and said, "The battlefield is dangerous. Does the Crown Princess know what she is saying?"
Gu Youan chuckled and said, "I'm going to the battlefield. The Xie family is the commander-in-chief in this war, and only I can quell this conflict."
Emperor Huaming glanced at her disdainfully and said, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, do you think too highly of yourself?"
Gu Youan shook his head and said, "Sheng Kingdom is powerless to stop Dayong's attack. Why don't I give it a try?"
Emperor Hua Ming looked up at her and said softly, "What do you want?"
Gu Youan touched her belly and said, "Whether it's a boy or a girl, she will be the next emperor of Sheng Kingdom."
"Insolence!" Emperor Huaming knew that the child in her womb was not of royal blood.
Suddenly, Gu Youan flew up and struck Hua Mingdi on the shoulder with a palm. He then stuffed a pill into Hua Mingdi's mouth with his right hand, grabbed his chin, and forced it in.
Emperor Huaming opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. He glared fiercely at Gu Youan.
Gu Youan remained silent, only gently channeling his inner energy into his body, and said, "Father, how many people have died on my Emperor's Throne? Does Father really think that my Emperor's Throne is without anyone left?"
Emperor Huaming looked at Gu Youan in horror. There was no one else in the hall. He got up and tried to leave, but Gu Youan pressed him back down on the couch and said, "Father, you should abdicate. The Emperor is a man of great talent and should succeed to the throne."
Emperor Huaming pointed at Gu Youan, speechless for a long time.
Gu Youan smiled slightly and said, "Don't struggle, Father. They are all my people, inside and out."
She gently approached with the silver needle, and just as it touched his temple, Emperor Huaming slapped it away.
Gu Youan staggered back two steps, then smiled and approached Emperor Huaming, saying, "It's too late. The war in the western border is critical, and Your Majesty has suffered a stroke and is in a coma."
Emperor Hua Ming stared fiercely at Gu You'an, but Gu You'an remained unfazed. She said, "Your Majesty has killed so many people from the Imperial Palace. Did you not think of this day? The Fifth Princess was killed by Your Majesty, Consort Lin was killed by Your Majesty, and even the Empress's madness was caused by Your Majesty. Does Your Majesty feel no remorse whatsoever?"
Emperor Huaming had a drool at the corner of his mouth. He leaned against the bed with his head tilted to the side, staring straight at Gu Youan without saying a word.
Xiao Junqi stepped out from behind him, spread the imperial edict in front of him, and said, "Father, you are getting old."
Emperor Huaming stared in astonishment at his own son, tears streaming down his face.
Gu Youan said, "We can't be soft-hearted at this time."
Xiao Junqi nodded, and Gu Youan handed him a pen, saying, "Sign here."
Emperor Huaming shook his head, sobbing. Gu Youan gently pressed down on his shoulders and said, "Your Majesty, do not struggle. The poison of this datura flower will slowly gnaw at Your Majesty's heart. We have a long time ahead of us."
Xiao Junqi and Gu Youan exchanged a glance. He handed the brush to Emperor Huaming and gently wrote while holding the emperor's hand.
As the pen glided across the paper, Gu Youan gently released his grip. He reached for the imperial edict on the table and smiled, "Your Majesty has suffered a stroke, and the Crown Prince is overseeing the country. Your Majesty can now enjoy your remaining years in peace."
Too many people have died at the hands of Emperor Huaming. If Emperor Huaming held real power, who knows how many more people would have died. Xiao Junqi had no choice but to do this for Sheng Jingche's sake.
Gu Youan sighed, then turned and left. She gently wiped the blood from her hands, looked into Xiao Junqi's eyes, and said, "Have you softened your heart?"
Xiao Junqi shook his head and said, "Only when Father abdicates can there be peace in the rear."
She turned and left, her voice echoing in the empty hall: "This war can only be won, not lost."
She knew that Xiao Junqi couldn't bear to harm Emperor Huaming; if Emperor Huaming didn't die, no one would be safe.
The Emperor's Office has been established for a century, responsible for maintaining the stability of the world. So what if someone commits regicide? One person's death can save the world. Emperor Huaming deserved to die, but so did Emperor Zhaoyuan. Ordinary people just want to live peacefully, but the powerful and wealthy disregard the lives of ordinary people for their own interests. When the Emperor was angry, General Ye died in the Western Border, and the Ye family became criminals. Ye Qingchen should have been a free and unrestrained young general on the battlefield, but he was trapped in the Princess's mansion for many years and became a person who only knew how to please his master and had no integrity.
Gu Youan vaguely sensed the presence of the Emperor's Ship on the battlefield. These people had been used, and they shouldn't have to pay the price for someone else's decision.
Xiao Junqi supported Hua Mingdi's swaying body. She looked up at Gu Youan and paused, a hint of respect flashing in her eyes. Gu Youan radiated light.
He suddenly understood why Sheng Jingche valued Gu Youan. This person, who had entered the Emperor's Ship at a young age and had undergone countless training sessions, was determined and could overcome all difficulties.
She stood facing the wind at the bottom of the steps, armored and ready for battle. Xiao Junqi was stunned for a moment, then handed the Azure Moon Sword to Gu Youan and said, "I thought you would be my strategist."
Gu Youan smiled slightly and said, "Jiannan was my support before, and now you are my support too. I am a disciple of the Emperor, and I have experienced countless battles and emerged from countless bloodshed. How can I be someone who easily gives up?"
The army stood outside the city walls. Gu Youan raised his arm and said, "Soldiers, follow me into battle."
She can be a young lady confined to her chambers, or a strategist; when crisis strikes, she must lead everyone to conquer all directions.
No one can start a war under the nose of the Emperor.
She turned to look at Xiao Junqi and said, "I'm not doing this for your position as crown prince, nor for Sheng Jingche, but for the ordinary people."
Xiao Junqi nodded and said, "Once the war is over, you will be free to roam the entire territory of Sheng Kingdom."
Gu Youan turned her head slightly, the wind swept across her eyes, and tears flowed down her cheeks. She gently wiped away her tears and said, "I want my child to live in a world of peace and harmony. I hope he can be free and unrestrained. After this matter is over, there can be no more wars between Dayong and Shengguo for a hundred years."
She mounted her horse, and the army set off, with Xiao Junqi following closely behind. The war was an attempt to end the war with war. No one in this war was innocent; since they had participated in it, they had to pay the price.
The shadows of the trees swayed, and they walked for a very long time, from day to night. Anxia City had long been without water and food.
On the first day of his arrival in Anxia City, Gu Youan ordered his subordinates to evacuate the crowd.
The dim candlelight illuminated her face as Gu Youan silently gazed at the city defense map.
Xiao Junqi lifted the curtain and walked in, saying, "Someone wants to see you."
Gu Youan looked at him with tired eyes. She hadn't slept for days and nights. She propped her head up and looked at him, asking, "Has Sheng Jingche woken up?"
Xiao Junqi seemed to have something difficult to say. He moved his feet, and a person appeared behind him. Xie Daoqing stepped out from behind Xiao Junqi.
Gu Youan looked closely and said, "Why are you here?"
Xiao Junqi stepped forward and said, "The battlefield is dangerous; this is not a place to stay for long."
Gu Youan chuckled and said, "If you can appear on the battlefield, why can't I? The Emperor's Sect exists for the sake of peace and stability in the world. Now that war has broken out, why can't I be here?"
"You'an, this is a battlefield, not a game. You should leave here immediately."
Gu Youan chuckled and said, "You started the war between the two countries, but now you want to persuade me to leave the battlefield. Xie Daoqing, don't you think you're being hypocritical?"
Xie Daoqing cupped her face and said, "Gu Youan, there is already a war between Dayong and Shengguo, why do you want to stop it?"
Gu Youan snorted coldly and said, "This is the Emperor's business, and it's also my business. If I can stop this war, I can kill you too."
Xie Daoqing gave Gu Youan a complicated look. She gently reached out her hand and then lowered it, her eyes filled with heartache. She whispered, "Do you really want to be my enemy?"
Gu Youan smiled without saying a word, only looking at him desolately and saying, "It's not that I'm your enemy, it's that you started this war, it's that you want to put the people of both countries in danger, Xie Daoqing, if you insist on staying here, I will definitely cut off your head."
Xie Daoqing placed his hand on her face and said, "If you want my head, you can take it anytime."
Gu Youan withdrew his hand and said, "General Xie, you've come here so late at night, you must not be here to reminisce with me. You have many things to attend to, I hope you won't stay any longer, or I really will kill you."
Xie Daoqing laughed and said, "If you want to kill me, I am willing to do so."
Gu Youan chuckled and said, "You'd rather die than retreat. What benefits did Emperor Zhaoyuan give you to make you serve him so diligently? Have you forgotten Xie Wanqing's death in Dayong?"
Xie Daoqing shook his head and said, "I haven't forgotten, Gu Youan. You've gone mad. You went to war for the sake of the Sheng Kingdom, and you even drew your sword against me for the sake of the Emperor's title."
Gu Youan took a half step back, staring blankly at Xie Daoqing and said, "I will take responsibility for my own actions, Xie Daoqing. I will not back down unless you withdraw your troops."
She turned to Xiao Junqi and said, "General Xie shouldn't be here. Let's see him off."
Gu Youan turned around and said, "As long as you don't leave the battlefield in the Western Frontier, I won't leave here. I just want to protect my homeland."
“Okay.” He answered softly. She placed a jade pendant on the table and said, “Keep this jade pendant for the child. It’s a family heirloom from my grandmother Xie family. You keep it.”
Gu Youan listened quietly to him speak, and Xiao Junqi lifted the curtain and gestured for him to enter.
Amidst a sky full of stars, he looked up at the starry sky, speechless and choked with emotion.
Turning to face the wind, he looked at Gu Youan inside the tent and said, "If I weren't here today, it would have been someone else. Only with me here can you survive."
Gu Youan chuckled and said, "Then let's give it a try."
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