When Wang Yuanguang hurriedly entered the palace with his envoy, Xue Shen was having lunch with Shen Youying at his residence.
Although Shen Youying always said she was fine and that he should worry, her appetite had clearly decreased in the past few days, and she was also sleeping poorly at night, waking up frequently. If Xue Shen were around, he could coax her back to sleep. But the situation was too critical these days, and Xue Shen was often in the palace discussing matters. Even when he wasn't in the palace, after coaxing Shen Youying to sleep, he would quietly get up and go to his study to handle affairs.
Shen Youying managed to eat a bowl of chicken porridge, but then she couldn't eat anymore. Her pregnancy was progressing, her lower abdomen was swelling like a balloon, and she was finding it increasingly difficult to move around. Coupled with the current turbulent times, her appetite was indeed not as good as before.
But fearing that Xue Shen would worry, she forced herself to drink half a bowl of chicken soup before putting down her chopsticks and looking at Xue Shen, hesitant to speak.
Xue Shen noticed her gaze and looked at her face, which was slightly thinner than before. He touched it tenderly and said, "Zhao Zhao, just say what you want to say."
Shen Youying pursed her lips and said softly, "I heard... the Emperor wants you to go to the Northern Rong as a hostage."
Although she knew Xue Shen had his own plans, she had no choice but to obey the emperor's command. After hearing the news, Shen Youying was deeply distressed.
Xue Shen nodded: "He does have this idea, but the conditions of the Northern Rong people are not so easy to agree to."
He guessed that if Wang Yuanguang went to negotiate again, Bei Rong's price would definitely jump up again.
Shen Youying grasped his hand, her fingers unconsciously clenching tightly, and said, "The situation is turbulent now, and there's not much I can do to help. But... if anything happens, I'll be wherever Your Highness is."
As a woman, she had no influence in the power struggles of the court, and Xue Shen's many plans were of great importance, which she had no intention of interfering in. All she could do now was take care of herself and try to minimize Xue Shen's worries about the household.
If something were to happen, she wouldn't be afraid of anything, but she was worried that Xue Shen would risk his life alone to protect her and the child.
Xue Shen met her earnest gaze, the corners of his lips twitching slightly, but he couldn't bring himself to laugh, letting out a heavy sigh: "I know what you're worried about." He pulled her into his arms, his lips brushing against her forehead: "I promise you, no matter how it ends, our family will never be separated, okay?"
Shen Youying hugged him back, buried her face in his chest, deeply inhaling his breath, and softly responded.
Xue Shen held her for a while, checked the time, and said softly, "Want to take a nap? The doctor will be coming to check your pulse later, right?"
"Mmm." Shen Youying closed her eyes and curled up in his arms, reluctant to part with him.
Seeing this, Xue Shen simply picked him up and carried him into the inner room. Just as he was about to say, "I'll sleep with you for a while," Wang Deshun's voice came from outside: "Your Highness, the Emperor urgently summons you."
Shen Youying opened her eyes. Xue Shen sighed, placed her on the couch, and kissed her eyes: "Zhaozhao, sleep by yourself?"
Shen Youying nodded: "Go quickly."
Xue Shen thought for a moment, then whispered in her ear, "Don't worry about the Northern Rong as hostages. The Northern Rong are asking for a high price. If the Emperor agrees, there will definitely be a lot of complaints. This is my chance."
Shen Youying's eyelashes fluttered, and she stared at him intently.
Xue Shen kissed her on the lips, then turned and strode away.
*
After Xue Shen left, Shen Youying did not continue her afternoon nap. She propped herself up on her arms, thought for a while, and then called Danzhu in: "Help me with my dressing and make sure someone prepares an inconspicuous carriage. I'm going out for a while."
Danzhu exclaimed in surprise, "The city is not peaceful at this time of year, why would you suddenly..."
Shen Youying did not explain. After changing her clothes and dressing, she got into the carriage and instructed, "Go to the Xie residence first."
The guard acknowledged and drove the carriage toward the Xie residence.
Shen Youying pondered her father's instructions. The last time he delivered a letter home, he had his trusted messenger relay a message to her—
Her father told her that if there was any major upheaval in the capital, she could go to Xie Lianhong and Zhang Ganzhi.
Shen Youying was not surprised that her father had a close relationship with Xie Lianhong, but what surprised her was that Zhang Ganzhi was the person her father had entrusted to her.
As the Deputy Privy Councilor, Zhang Ganzhi had been at odds with his father, the Privy Councilor, for many years, and the two of them never gave each other a second glance in public.
Shen Youying went to the Xie family first. The palace urgently summoned her. At this time, Xie Lianhong was naturally not at home. But Shen Youying did not come to see him. Instead, she asked to see Old Madam Xie.
When Madam Xie saw that she had come at this time, her expression subtly changed. She dismissed the servants and said gently, "Zhaozhao, are you here to see your uncle?"
Shen Youying had no idea what agreement had been made between her father and Xie Lianhong, so she could only say, "I am following my father's instructions and have come to give my uncle something." As she spoke, she handed an old, yellowed horse tooth to Madam Xie.
Madam Xie clearly knew something, and her expression showed slight surprise when she saw the horse tooth.
After taking it, he asked with a sigh, "Zhaozhao, do you know what this horse tooth represents?"
Shen Youying shook her head: "Father has never told me."
Madam Xie's face lit up with reminiscence as she slowly said, "Back then, when the world was not at peace, your Uncle Xie was ordered to go to the border to serve as a local official, and your father happened to be the garrison commander there. At that time, the Great Wei was beset by internal and external troubles, and even military supplies and provisions had to be prepared by the generals themselves. At that time, the Northern Rong attacked the city, and the city's food supplies ran out. Your father, your Uncle Xie, led the soldiers and civilians to hold on for more than half a month. In the end, they even had to kill their warhorses to share the food."
For military generals, warhorses are not just mounts, but also comrades-in-arms.
"This horse tooth was left by your father's warhorse."
"Later, when reinforcements arrived, your father led his men to repel the Northern Rong. He buried the bones of the warhorse under the city wall and left the horse teeth as a memento. Your Uncle Xie and your Uncle Zhang each asked for one of the horse teeth as a token, promising to wipe out the Northern Rong in the future and bring peace and prosperity to the people of Wei."
Shen Youying was moved, but still had some doubts: "My father and Vice Envoy Zhang have always been at odds..."
Madam Xie laughed heartily: "You silly girl, your father was the Privy Councilor at the time. It was one thing for him to be on good terms with the Vice Chancellor, but if he also had a close relationship with the Vice Chancellor, wouldn't the Privy Council become his personal fiefdom? The charge of forming cliques and engaging in corruption would be enough to punish your father."
"Moreover, your Uncle Zhang and your father do have some conflicts. Their arguments are not just for show. You'll understand once you meet him."
Shen Youying bowed slightly to express her gratitude, then hesitated and said, "What about the matter my father promised..."
Madam Xie said, "You may go now. I will speak with your uncle when he returns."
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