"It would be better to move these surrendered soldiers to Qizhou in batches, and let them go out to sea on their own initiative to redeem themselves from their crimes and attack the pirates," Tao Anran advised.
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingchi and Duke Ningguo looked at each other and smiled.
"That's a really good idea," Duke Ning nodded in approval. "Pirates have been harassing Daye for decades, constantly bothering us. This time, why not let them experience the pain of being robbed as well?"
Fu Mingchi immediately thought of someone in his mind.
I heard that Ji Yunze led the Qizhou Army into Lin'an and made considerable contributions. If he had any ill intentions towards Wan'er again, I really wouldn't be able to deal with it at the moment.
"Shopkeeper Tao is indeed someone the Crown Princess values."
Fu Mingchi immediately wrote a memorial and handed it to Tao Anran: "Sima Ji's contribution to suppressing the rebellion in Lin'an is invaluable. I intend to recommend him as the General of Pingnan, ordering him to lead the troops to sea to suppress the pirates and raise food and money for our Daye Army's Northern Expedition."
"Ah?" Tao Anran was stunned. "Your Highness, isn't this mission too difficult? Leading 400,000 people to sea is already difficult, and we also have to raise food and money. I'm afraid Sima Ji will find it difficult to handle it."
Fu Mingchi sighed deliberately: "Manager Tao came to Jiayuguan and saw the difficulties that this palace and the soldiers are facing. Pirates have always been wealthy. As long as he can find the pirates' lair, feeding hundreds of thousands of people will not be a problem."
Seeing that the prince was deliberately trying to embarrass Ji Yunze, Tao Anran could only obey and agree: "I will report the truth when I return."
Afterwards, he truthfully recounted to Fu Mingchi what had happened in Lin'an recently.
Upon learning that Wan'er was pregnant, Fu Mingchi wanted to rush back to Lin'an immediately.
"Grandpa, my grandson is going to be a father." Fu Mingchi looked at Duke Ningguo with excitement.
Duke Ningguo was so happy that tears welled up in his eyes: "The Yongning Palace finally has an heir."
Thinking that his daughter was the only one left in Lin'an City to deal with the situation alone, Duke Ningguo immediately said, "Anran, go back and tell someone to bring the old lady to Lin'an to help take care of the Crown Princess."
"Yes, I've made note of it," Tao Anran replied respectfully.
Duke Ningguo and his wife have been worrying about their grandson's marriage and the continuation of their family line for years. Now that their grandson's wife is finally pregnant, he is both happy and anxious, fearing that his daughter will not be able to take care of him and something might go wrong.
Looking at Tao Anran, he urged urgently, "Anran, I won't keep you any longer. Hurry back and bring the old lady to Lin'an as soon as possible. The wet nurses and nannies in our Duke's Mansion are experienced in taking care of pregnant women. With them around, this old grandson can rest assured."
Tao Anran responded again and was about to leave when Fu Mingchi suddenly called him.
"Wait."
Fu Mingchi walked slowly up to him and asked with a half-smile, "Shopkeeper Tao, did Wan'er ask you to convey any message?"
Tao Anran didn't know why he suddenly asked this, and hesitantly shook his head: "Your Highness, my young master asked me to transport the grain and fodder to Jiayu Pass as soon as possible. Apart from that, I have no other request."
Upon hearing this, Fu Mingchi's face suddenly darkened, and he was obviously a little unhappy.
"Yan Jin, you must hurry back to Lin'an at an expedited rate of eight hundred miles. Have Ji Sima come to Jiayuguan immediately to begin the resettlement of the prisoners of war."
Fu Mingchi solemnly warned, "If he dares to stay in Lin'an any longer, you will report to His Majesty on my behalf and impeach him for his previous crimes, and have him executed on the spot."
Tao Anran was stunned when he heard this.
Your Highness asked about the young master, why is he suddenly holding Master Ji accountable?
Just when they were at a loss, Fu Mingchi walked out of the tent with a dark face.
Yan Jin didn't dare to stay any longer and hurried out to do some business.
Duke Ningguo looked at Tao Anran's bewildered expression and, knowing full well what his grandson was thinking, smiled calmly at him, "Anran, wait a moment. I have something for you to take back and give to my grandson's wife."
After saying this, he quickly walked out of the tent and came back soon with a box in his arms.
"Give this to Wanwan."
Duke Ningguo did not specify what was in the box, but stuffed the box into Tao Anran's hands with a mysterious look on his face.
After saying goodbye to Duke Ningguo, Tao Anran chased Yan Jin back to Lin'an.
......
With the destruction of Helian Jiu and Daqiu Cavalry, Lin'an City returned to peace.
Emperor Zhaolie ordered the East Palace to be redecorated, but Ye Wanshu and Concubine Zhang were unwilling to live in it.
After leaving the Ji family for many years, Ye Wanshu finally resolved the rift with her sisters in the mansion. While Fu Mingchi had not yet returned, she wanted to stay in the mansion for a few more days and take care of little Chulin for a while.
But now her belly is beginning to show, and Emperor Zhaolie and Concubine Zhang do not allow her to move around. The only space she has for daily activities is the entire Ji family.
The child in her womb had long been the focus of attention from all parties. Concubine Zhang, the palace maid chosen by the emperor, was worried, and personally sent many elderly people from Yuezhou over. She even brought Fu Yunni with her to stay at Ji's house almost every day, almost following her every step of the way.
Although it was a pampering, Ye Wanshu also felt a heavy pressure.
Fortunately, Chu Yin is by her side, and she will think of ways to enlighten her every day.
"In fact, His Majesty and the Concubine Dowager only want to see the royal family give birth to a new bloodline as soon as possible. They don't really care whether the baby in your belly is a boy or a girl."
In the finally quiet Mu Cangzhai, Chu Yin hugged Qi Shuangshuang and said seriously, "If it's a little princess, His Majesty and the Concubine Dowager will also hold her in their hands."
Ye Wanshu naturally believed this, but seeing how eagerly Emperor Zhaolie looked all day long, she still hoped to give birth to a baby boy so that he could live out his days in peace.
After all, the old emperor's life was not easy. He experienced so many twists and turns. His only wish was to see the recovery of the northern border and to see the emergence of future monarchs.
In her new life, she went from being an adopted princess to being crowned a princess, and then to fighting side by side with the old emperor. It was indeed a deep connection between them. He treated her as his daughter, and she also treated him as the most respected elder.
Therefore, the wishes of the elderly should never be let down.
Pinching Qi Shuangshuang's little face, Ye Wanshu asked with a smile, "Shuangshuang, do you want your aunt to give you a brother or a sister?"
Qi Shuangshuang thought for a moment and said, "Shuangshuang wants them all."
Qi Shuangshuang stretched out her chubby little hand and gently stroked her belly. "A-niang said that when she was pregnant with Shuangshuang, her belly didn't show until she was almost five months pregnant. Auntie's baby was only over three months pregnant, but it was already very big. Shuangshuang thinks Auntie will definitely give birth to a brother and a sister for me at the same time."
Hearing this, Ye Wanshu and Chu Yin smiled at each other.
Looking at Ye Wanshu's bulging belly, Chu Yin couldn't help but exclaim, "Wanwan, you know what Shuangshuang said, it really makes sense."
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