Shen Youying ordered a guard to leave the capital and go to the Shen family to deliver a message to her father, but before the guard could set off, news came from the palace that the emperor urgently summoned Shen Mingjiang to the palace.
Upon hearing the news, Shen Youying felt no joy at the prospect of the Shen family's revival; instead, her worries intensified.
Even though the New Year was approaching and the mansion was already decorated with colorful ribbons and red lanterns, the sudden bad news had completely extinguished any festive atmosphere.
The servants lost their will to work, their expressions filled with fear, and they were all quietly discussing the war.
Shen Youying stood under the eaves, holding a hand warmer, and said to Danzhu, "This won't do. There's still no definite news about the war, and the capital is still peaceful. We can't let things get chaotic in the mansion first."
"Go and fetch Wang Deshun. I have some things to discuss with him."
While Danzhu went to look for someone, she asked Bailuo to summon Consort Xiao, and then went to the small study herself.
This small study is where she usually manages and reviews accounts. Accounts sent from various estates that require her verification are all kept here. With the New Year approaching, this year's harvest and accounts have already been reconciled and sealed away.
Shen Youying found the sealed mahogany box and took out the accounts again.
Before long, Wang Deshun and Consort Xiao also arrived.
Shen Youying said to the two of them, "This winter is unusually cold, and grain prices have risen a bit. Most of the grain collected from the estates below has been sold. I'm worried that if war really breaks out, the grain stored in the manor won't be enough."
In times of chaos, food is expensive, and this winter has come early, resulting in a harvest that is significantly less than in previous years.
If there's no war, things will be fine. But once war breaks out, grain merchants will hoard and speculate, and there might not be enough rice.
Consort Xiao did not entirely agree with this suggestion: "Although we sold a lot of grain this year, it was enough to last through the winter. Now that news of war has spread, grain prices will surely skyrocket. It would be too uneconomical to buy rice at this time."
Shen Youying shook her head, feeling that Consort Xiao's idea was too optimistic.
Today, she witnessed the scout's horse die in the street, and upon returning, she learned that Xue Shen had hurriedly left the city. Then, the Emperor summoned her father to the palace. These events, one after another, made her vaguely feel that this war was not so simple.
It won't be as easy as it used to be.
She said softly, "What you're describing is a situation where the war ends before spring. But what if... it doesn't end?"
Consort Xiao was surprised and shook her head, saying, "There has never been such a long war before."
Seeing that she couldn't reason with her, Shen Youying simply stopped talking and instructed Wang Deshun, "Draw on the available funds in the accounts and send someone on horseback to the south to purchase rice and grain, just in case."
Wang Deshun accepted the order, but Consort Xiao still objected, saying, "Even if we want to buy it, why go to the south? It's freezing cold today, the journey is long, and the travel expenses will be much more expensive."
Shen Youying said, "These are turbulent times. If we buy large quantities of rice in Tokyo, it will surely cause panic among the people and lead to rice hoarding, which will only bring unnecessary trouble. Moreover, the price of grain in the southern rice-producing region is lower than in the north. Although the journey is long, news of the war should not have reached there yet. As long as our people go there quickly to buy grain and then transport it back, the cost will not be more expensive than buying it in Tokyo."
Consort Xiao wanted to say something more, but then she heard a cold voice coming from behind: "The princess is right, do as the princess says."
Consort Xiao turned around and saw Xue Shen, covered in snow, being pushed in by guards.
She dared not argue any further, and could only bite her lip in resentment, looking at Xue Shen and curtsying. But the man who returned in the wind and snow did not give her a second glance. He wheeled his wheelchair past her and walked to Shen Youying, saying gently, "It seems that Zhao Zhao will have to suffer from now on."
Shen Youying shook her head. She asked, "Are they really going to fight?"
Xue Shen nodded and said, "The Northern Rong people are coming with great force, and the situation is not optimistic."
He was about to say something more when he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Xiao Xueying was still standing there without moving, so he frowned and said, "You can leave now."
Consort Xiao's shoulders trembled, and she didn't even dare to look up at him before hurriedly bowing and retreating.
Xue Shen dismissed the servants, closed the study door, and then got up to take off his snow-covered cloak. He warmed his hands by the brazier before pulling Shen Youying to sit down beside him. He said thoughtfully, "In the future... I'm afraid the Qin Prince's mansion will never have such peaceful days again. Will Zhaozhao be afraid?"
Shen Youying asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Xue Shen tapped his fingers on his knees and said slowly, "Now that the Crown Prince has been deposed, neither Prince Chen nor Prince Shou can hold up the situation. Moreover, the military generals in the court have been suppressed for a long time, and there is a lack of capable successors. Only my father-in-law is still capable of fighting... This is a good opportunity for me to make a comeback."
As he spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly, his expression calm, with a calm and confident air that suggested he had been planning this for a long time.
Shen Youying's eyes widened slightly. Although she was surprised, she wasn't particularly astonished. After all, Xue Shen had never hidden his purpose and ambition from her.
She grasped Xue Shen's hand with some worry: "I know Your Highness's ambitions, but this path is fraught with thorns and dangers. Once you embark on it, it's either life or death..."
Even though she didn't participate in court affairs, she knew that all the Emperor's favor towards the Prince of Qin was based on the fact that he was a cripple who couldn't walk properly. Once Xue Shen was able to stand on the stage with both legs intact, even the most benevolent monarch would probably no longer tolerate Xue Shen, who was once the Crown Prince and whose succession was more legitimate than hers.
Throughout history, the struggle for succession has always been a matter of life and death.
Xue Shen held her cold hand and asked, "Zhao Zhao, are you scared?"
Shen Youying pursed her lips and nodded.
It would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid. The Crown Princess and her two unborn children died in the struggle for the throne. To this day, she can still recall their pale face.
Xue Shen smiled, tucked her hair behind her ear, and said gently, "I used to be fearless, but now that I have Zhaozhao, I've started to think things through."
He gazed tenderly at Shen Youying and said slowly, "The Emperor has summoned your father-in-law to the palace, so the Shen family will likely be reinstated soon. If you are afraid, I can send you back to the Shen family, and we will have no further relationship on the surface. If I succeed in the future, I will bring you back. If I... you may remarry and do not need to worry about me."
The man's slightly rough fingertips slowly caressed Shen Youying's cheek, as if waiting for her answer.
Shen Youying's nose tingled, tears welled up in her eyes, and she suddenly threw herself into his arms. She hugged his waist tightly, choking back sobs as she accused him, "You just told me a few days ago that you wanted to grow old with me."
She raised her face, her beautiful face streaked with tears, filled with worry and fear, but her eyes were resolute: "Since I made a promise, I will not abandon you out of fear of death."
Xue Shen laughed, his fingertips tracing her eyebrows and eyes, then he leaned down and kissed her fiercely.
Shen Youying clung to his neck, standing on tiptoe to try her best to respond.
After a long while, Xue Shen released her, lifted her up by her hips, and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, "Don't worry, I still want to grow old with Zhao Zhao, I can't bear to die."
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