Princess Jinling's name had long been known throughout Jiankang and Yandu. Everyone wanted to see her and wonder what kind of woman she was that could make the emperor set up six palaces for her and stand against the powerful families of the previous dynasty.
Early in the morning, all the princesses and ladies were already waiting in the palace.
Chu Changning didn't like these things, but there was nothing she could do. Being in a position, she had to do her job. So she dressed neatly and went to the main hall.
The sun was high in the sky, and a large crowd of people stood in the palace. She spotted Sima Yao dressed in gorgeous attire at a glance. All the ladies in the hall were dressed in auspicious robes, but she was the only one in a bright red brocade dress adorned with peonies, looking beautiful and charming.
His Highness had many ladies from prominent families in Yandu, and the wives of members of the Yan clan were also present. Upon seeing the person emerge from the inner palace, they all bowed respectfully.
"Get up."
The rumored Princess Jinling was arrogant and seductive, but today she appeared dignified and generous, and spoke with a gentle and pleasant tone. Naturally, the ladies wanted to make a good impression on the Empress, so they all chatted and laughed with her, not daring to overstep their bounds in the slightest.
Sima Yao stared at the person in the main seat, her teeth almost grinding to powder. She had clearly died in the northern frontier, so why did she return unharmed? What merit did she have to deserve the Emperor setting up a palace for her? It was utterly absurd.
Chu Changning naturally noticed her intense gaze, but she couldn't be bothered to pay it any mind. She gave her a perfunctory look in return.
Sima Yao showed no fear and looked at her coldly.
"I heard that Prince Qinghe was injured on the battlefield recently. Is he feeling better?"
A soft voice came from above. Upon hearing this, Sima Yao's eyes flashed with melancholy.
"Your Highness, the Empress is asking you a question."
A fawning voice rang out, and the look directed at her carried a hint of displeasure.
Sima Yao snapped out of her daze, glanced at the person who had spoken, and turned her face away with a stern expression.
After her father died, her second brother ascended the throne, and the first branch of the family was almost completely wiped out. She had long been accustomed to the coldness of human relationships, and apart from her husband who always had a good temper, no one respected her.
If she hadn't married Cui Xun, she probably would have been killed too.
"I'm much better now, thank you for your concern, Empress."
Chu Changning calmly put down the teacup in his hand, "Husband and wife are one, Your Highness will understand."
Sima Yao's expression froze. She looked up at her, saw her chatting with the other ladies, and looked away. A familiar face flashed through her mind, and she became absent-minded.
Several wives of the Yan family clan had previously disliked Jinling, resenting her for being a princess of a fallen kingdom and questioning her qualifications to be the matriarch of their Yan family.
Despite all the commotion over the years and the previous dynasty's pleas, the poisonous woman who attempted to murder the emperor was still welcomed back to the palace and made empress.
They had given up on that idea. In this chaotic world, the current emperor held military power and had cultivated a group of wolves in the court to hinder the powerful families from gaining control. The emperor's thoughts were unpredictable, and who knew how long the empress would remain in favor?
Chu Changning had nothing to say to these ladies. He gave them a stern warning and some gifts, and that was it.
Now that the small northern kingdoms have been largely destroyed, the world is divided into three, with the Great Qi vying for control of the nine provinces from its northern capital to the western regions, all wanting to become the ruler of this chaotic world.
The Western Regions took the lead in launching a southward offensive, the war in the north was deadlocked, Jiaozhou won several battles in a row, and the war in the northwest had been going on for several months.
However, Helian Ye, the young master of the Western Regions, was skilled in cunning and scheming. After several months of fighting with the army of the Great Qi, several cities in the Northwest were captured.
After Wang Hezhan went to the Northwest, he fought overnight and recovered lost territory. However, the Northern Yan was in chaos and the regime was divided. One branch of the Eastern Army colluded with the Western Regions, and other members of the royal family defected to the Northern Capital.
He fought a three-month-long battle in southern Qin to defend against the westward advance of the Northern Yan.
Helian Ye led his Western Region cavalry south, with the Northern Yan army leading the charge, and they fought fiercely against the Northern Capital at Quhe.
However, since Northern Yan was captured by Shen Yan and most of its people defected to Beidu, Helian Ye wanted to join forces with Shen Yan to divide the Central Plains.
However, Shen Yan did not collude with him. Instead, he personally led the expedition and turned around to attack the Western Regions.
Helian Ye naturally wouldn't give in and started fighting him directly. He also sent a general to deal with the generals of Daqi. In the twelfth year of Jianyuan, hundreds of thousands of soldiers crossed the endless sea and attacked Qin Nan.
Although Wang Hezhan was from a prominent family, he had fought many battles in his early years, and the Western Regions remained unconquered for a long time.
In order to take Qin Nan as soon as possible, Helian Ye put aside his current military affairs and went to Qin Nan personally.
Wang Hezhan led his troops in a fierce attack, fighting several battles with Helian Ye on the Qin Nan River. On the fifteenth of the month, he was unfortunately assassinated by a Western Region archer, and his fate was unknown. When the news reached Jiankang, the Langya Wang clan was in an uproar in the court.
The world is now divided into three parts. The Great Qi and the Northern Capital are locked in fierce fighting. The Western Regions have taken over the Northern Yan regime and are interfering in the politics of the Central Plains. The whole world is in deep turmoil.
Emperor Shen Yan of the Northern Kingdom personally went to the battlefield and clashed with Helian Ye, the young master of the Western Regions, at the Si River. The Great Qi Kingdom watched the situation from the sidelines, hoping to reap the benefits quietly.
However, with the north in chaos, the Emperor of Qi ordered the Ministry of War to prepare provisions and personally lead an expedition to the north.
The Great Qi Emperor was once a powerful warlord who fought for supremacy in the north. Amidst the chaos of the eight princes and the warring states of the north, he did not rely on any powerful families. He led the north to conquer Beiyou on his own and seized the throne in the midst of the chaos.
He wanted to personally lead a northern expedition, and no one in the previous dynasty dared to stop him, hoping that this expedition could end the separatism in the north and unify the world.
When Chu Changning heard the news of his plan to launch a northern expedition, he was having a meal in Xuanming Hall with his son in his arms.
"Your Majesty, the kitchen just prepared some chicken soup. Please have some."
Seeing that she was in a daze, Taozhi served her food.
Chu Changning snapped out of her daze, glanced at her son who was eating obediently, and pursed her lips slightly.
Ayu is only two years old, and neither Chen Yan nor Helian Ye are pushovers.
"Father---"
Her son's cries brought her back to reality.
As soon as Chu Changning turned his head, he was embraced tightly by the person who came.
What are you thinking about?
Upon seeing this, the palace maids serving inside bowed and withdrew.
Yan Beimo lifted her up, held her on his lap, and looked down at her.
Caught off guard by his sudden manipulation, Chu Changning angrily punched him, whispering in his ear, "Our son is still here."
"how?"
"---"
She ignored him and struggled to get off him.
Yan Beimo glanced at his son, then let go of his hand and let her sit down beside him.
After Chu Changning sat down, he added soup to Ayu's bowl and asked him, "Are you going to Qin Nan?"
"Um."
"How long will it take?"
Yan Beimo slowly and deliberately served her food, speaking gently, "It could take a few months, or at most a few years."
Chu Changning frowned and remained silent for a moment.
"What, are you worried about me?"
She turned around, gave him a reproachful look, and remained silent.
Yan Beimo wrapped his arms around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Do you want to go?"
Her going to the battlefield would only distract him, and besides, he wouldn't feel at ease leaving A-Yu alone.
"Why are you looking at him? Look at me."
Chu Changning's cheeks were forcefully gripped by him, and he looked directly at her, rolling his eyes speechlessly.
Yan Beimo, "---
"You only have eyes for that brat."
A resentful voice sounded softly in her ear. Chu Changning removed his hand and scolded him, "I'm going to take Ayu to the Wenhua Hall for her apprenticeship later. You can go to the Council Hall by yourself."
Yan Beimo got angry, picked her up in one swift motion, and was about to walk into the palace.
Chu Changning was shocked and angrily pinched him, "What are you doing in broad daylight? I still have to take my son to school."
Ayu was already used to it and said lazily, "Mother, I'll go by myself."
"---"
Chu Changning was furious. Seeing through the beaded curtain that her son had really left, she kicked her leg, ready to kick him.
Yan Beimo held her back, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't you want a daughter? Here you go."
"---"
"I'm not having any more children, you can have them yourself."
That crazy bastard, he always does those nasty things to her, preventing her from having sex.
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