Chapter 204 Return to Beijing
After Gu Huan drank the pregnancy-preserving medicine, she called Min Dongsheng over to chat for half an hour, and the two of them decided on a strategy to return to Beijing.
After Min Dongsheng left, he asked Zhou Zhilan to call Chi Yan and Deputy General Qi for a meeting.
After everyone else left, only three people were left in the room.
Gu Huan asked softly, "You two know about the Duke's situation, right?"
The two nodded: "Yes."
Gu Huan breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to ask any other questions. She believed that Mu Junyan would tell her what he wanted her to know.
"That's good. I just want to ask, where is the Duke now? What does Prince Duan of Dali plan to do? What should I do next? I should bring the Duke's coffin back to the capital."
Chi Yan and Deputy General Qi looked at each other.
Deputy General Qi spoke first: "Madam, the commander has always given one-way orders. I only know what I have to do and don't know anything else. I will be responsible for guarding the southern border and temporarily cease fire with the Dali Kingdom.
As to whether to negotiate or Dali Kingdom to surrender, and whether Prince Duan should be released, all decisions have to be made by the commander-in-chief. Based on my understanding of the Dali Kingdom over the years, it will take them five or six years to recover this time, so they can't fight even if they want to. ”
Gu Huan nodded, which meant that there would be no war for at least five or six years.
She looked at Chi Yan, who said hurriedly, "My dear, I am in charge of the scout camp and also responsible for the investigation of Bianjing. I have to escort you and the princess back to the capital. There are no instructions for what to do next."
Gu Huan knew what was going on.
"I came here to talk to you two about something."
They both said in unison, "Madam, please give your orders."
"Jiang Duo has not achieved his goal this time. I am worried that something bad will happen to the princess and me on the way back to the city. You two are experienced in many battles. I would like to ask if there is any reliable solution?"
What Gu Huan was worried about was Princess Shuhe.
The Jiang family behind Jiang Duo has suffered a series of setbacks and huge losses. How could they let her go easily?
If the princess returns to the capital with her, she might be implicated, but she must escort the princess back to the capital in person. At the same time, it is equivalent to the princess escorting Mu Junyan's coffin into the capital, which makes those who are interested less suspicious.
Gu Huan tried her best to make friends with Princess Shuhe in order to open up another path for Mu Junyan.
She didn't want to be a canary anymore. It was better to stand on her own feet than to rely on a man.
She wanted to break into the court through Princess Shuhe, and the power of powerful women should not be underestimated.
Princess Shuhe held on to this big tree tightly, which was equivalent to getting the support of the Queen and the Sixth Prince.
Chi Yan: "Madam, please rest assured. Five hundred elite Black Armor Guards will escort you and the princess all the way back to the capital."
Deputy General Qi then said, "I have also selected a thousand elite cavalrymen, either disguised as merchant caravans or civilians, to secretly follow Madam back to the capital."
Chi Yan was afraid that she would be worried, so he added: "There are nearly 2,000 scouts under my command, distributed in various prefectures in Daliang. They will keep in touch with each other along the way. If something unexpected happens, they will be able to rush to reinforce in the shortest possible time."
After hearing this, Gu Huan finally felt relieved.
"Chi Yan, do you know if there are any officials available in the peace negotiation delegation?"
Chi Yan nodded: "Lord Cui, the Privy Councilor, is a relative of Duke Jingguo. The Grandson of Duke Jingguo is on good terms with the Lord, so he can be used."
"The Fifth Rank Privy Councilor is here to serve as your envoy. Very good."
Gu Huan was finally relieved. As long as there was someone to serve the delegation, that was good.
"When they came here for the peace talks, in order not to alert Mu Junyan and prevent us from getting the news in advance, they brought a lot of Tianwu troops, but most of them were in disguise and came in a low profile. But on the way back, I plan to ask the princess to return to the capital with a full imperial carriage, plus my entourage of at least a hundred people. Only by returning to the capital in a grand manner can we deter those who have ulterior motives along the way. If someone is not afraid of death and dares to openly harm us, they have to think twice. Once one person is caught, it will be confirmed that he is guilty of the death penalty for assassinating the royal princess.
Furthermore, the fact that Jiang Duo returned to Beijing with our large group also proved that he knew and agreed that there was no need to negotiate peace and that the princess could be allowed to return to Beijing. ”
"Madam is so tall!" Deputy General Qi grinned and gave a thumbs up.
A hint of admiration also showed on Chi Yan's serious face.
The lady has changed a lot.
She changed from a timid little girl who only depended on men to a courageous and resourceful woman.
No wonder the master is attracted to her.
Gu Huan personally saw the two of them out, and before leaving, she called out to Deputy General Qi.
"General Qi, may I ask you a personal question?"
Deputy General Qi's name is Qi Jun, a fifth-rank guerrilla general, and one of the best young generals trained by Mu Junyan himself.
Qi Jun bowed respectfully: "Madam, you may ask as much as you like."
Gu Huan lowered her voice and asked, "May I ask if the general has a wife or children at home?"
Qi Jun didn't expect her to ask this. His bronze skin suddenly turned red, and his usually loud voice became much lower in tone.
"Madam, I am not married yet."
Gu Huan was overjoyed: "May I ask where the general is from?"
"Madam, my ancestors are from Juzhou."
Gu Huan exclaimed, feeling a little regretful. If the princess wanted to marry a prince consort, at least he had to be from a prominent family.
What's more, his home is in southern Xinjiang, far away from the capital.
I'm afraid the princess's first love has been shattered.
Qi Jun and Chi Yan walked out of the official residence with bewildered faces. Qi Jun couldn't help but touch Chi Yan's arm and asked in a low voice: "Why do you think Madam is asking me these questions?"
Chi Yan always had a blank expression on his face: "I don't know."
Qi Jun touched his chin and said, "Could it be that Madam has a younger sister who wants to propose marriage to me? I am also a handsome man, right? This possibility is very high."
Chi Yan glared at him and didn't respond.
Qi Jun punched him on the arm: "What's that look? I'm also 22 years old. I've never married in order to defend Southern Xinjiang. My family is urging me to marry. If the lady really likes me, I have to take the initiative to propose marriage to show my sincerity."
Chi Yan said calmly: "Madam does have two younger sisters, one is thirteen and the other is nine years old."
Qi Jun: “…”
It seems too small, right?
But, Madam, if you ask this, you must be looking for a matchmaker, otherwise why not ask Chi Yan?
He was about to continue asking, but Chi Yan's feet moved quickly, as if he was afraid of being annoyed by him. He ran out of the gate of the official residence, mounted his horse, and rode away.
Qi Jun: “……!”
The next day.
When Gu Huan met Zhao Luoxuan, she told him her plan. Zhao Luoxuan naturally did not say anything. Now she trusted Gu Huan completely.
Gu Huan explained everything in detail, and Zhao Luoxuan called Jiang Duo over.
"Master Jiang, get ready. We will set off back to Beijing tomorrow."
Jiang Duo was shocked: "No, Princess, it's the Emperor's order..."
Zhao Luoxuan interrupted him: "Father's order is for peace between the two countries. Does Dali still dare to fight? Can they afford it? I must return to the palace as soon as possible to inform Father of the true situation here, so that Father can make the right judgment and avoid being blinded by some people with ulterior motives."
Zhao Luoxuan was hinting at something, Jiang Duo had a gloomy face but didn't dare to object.
"Yes, I will prepare it right away."
"When I came here, Lord Jiang said that I should keep a low profile to avoid causing panic among all parties. Now that our dynasty has won a great victory, I will return to the capital in glory. Lord Jiang, please arrange for me to return to the capital with my full carriage the next day."
Jiang Duo's eyes widened: "No, Princess, that's too ostentatious..."
Zhao Luoxuan's face darkened. "Lord Jiang, are you unwilling to let the people of Daliang know about the great victory in Southern Xinjiang and make everyone happy? You are really strange. You are trying to stop me in various ways. Do I have to listen to you? If Lord Jiang is unwilling to listen to me, then I will go back to Beijing on my own and you will stay here alone."
Jiang Duo's face turned pale: "That's not what I meant."
"What else can you mean? You are just trying to be mean and have ulterior motives."
Zhao Luoxuan was filled with anger and only stopped when Gu Huan secretly pulled her sleeve.
She and Gu Huan exchanged a glance and snorted coldly, "Aunt Mo, summon the Privy Councilor Cui."
Lord Cui, who had been waiting outside, came in.
"Your humble servant greets Her Royal Highness the Princess."
"Lord Cui, Lord Jiang is unwilling to follow my wishes and escort me back to the capital. I will leave the arrangements for my return to the capital to you. You must use the full imperial carriage of a first-rank princess for the return trip."
The Privy Councilor Cui said, "Yes. Please rest assured, Princess. I will do it right away."
"Master Jiang, go and have a rest. There is nothing for you to do now."
Jiang Duo: “……!”
How come he has nothing to do with it?
Jiang Duo's anger surged, and his tone was cold: "Princess, I am the imperial envoy appointed by the emperor himself for peace talks, and the second-rank co-director of the Privy Council!"
Zhao Luoxuan raised her eyebrows and shouted, "I am my father's biological daughter, and I am the Princess Shuhe of the First Rank conferred by my father!"
Jiang Duo: “……!”
Gu Huan secretly gave Zhao Luoxuan a thumbs up.
The emperor specially conferred the title of first-rank princess on Zhao Luoxuan in order to appease her and the queen.
Although the peace talks failed, the title of first-rank princess remains.
A higher-ranking official can crush a person to death, not to mention that she is the emperor's biological daughter.
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