Chapter 64: The Northern Rong's Ambitions Are Clearly Revealed
Seventeen had just finished getting ready and stepped out when she bumped into Yuanfu, who was about to come in.
"Oh, Seventeenth Guardian, you're awake! His Majesty is looking for you."
"good."
Seventeen followed Yuanfu to the palace, where Long Langyue had already tidied up, and Chen Jing was talking to him.
Upon seeing Seventeen enter, Long Langyue waved her hand slightly, and Chen Jing stopped talking and stepped aside.
"How is the injury?"
Seventeen stepped forward and stood on the other side, replying, "It doesn't hurt anymore."
"Okay, Yuanfu will take you to see the imperial physician to change your dressing later."
Upon hearing that it was his business, Yuanfu immediately stepped forward and said cheerfully, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Seventeen blinked, then looked at Long Langyue, who was getting up to leave with Chen Jing, and asked, "Is Your Majesty going to interrogate those rebels today?"
"Um."
Long Langyue turned her head to look at him. The meaning in Seventeen's eyes was very clear: Why didn't you take him with you?
But Long Langyue had ulterior motives this time. In his dream, the injury on Seventeen's hand felt like a sword piercing his heart, and he needed to vent.
Even though she knew that Seventeen wouldn't be afraid of those bloody and cruel scenes, Long Langyue still didn't want him to see this other side of her.
"The matter of the rebels has been settled. Seventeen, you should get some rest. You've had a tough time these past few days."
This means he won't take her along.
Seventeen was somewhat disappointed, but quickly cheered up again: "Alright, Your Majesty, please take care."
Yuan Fu chuckled, hands tucked into his pockets, watching the two men with a smile but saying nothing.
After Long Langyue and Chen Jing left, Yuan Fu approached and said with a smile, "Seventeenth Guard, shall we go?"
At seventeen o'clock, he nodded and followed Yuanfu to the Imperial Hospital to change his dressing.
Although the wound on his hand was quite deep, it did not damage his tendons or veins. It would heal in a few days after resting. The imperial physician specially gave him a medicated ointment to apply every day.
The Zhou and Xie families only realized at the last moment that they had been manipulated by this emperor all along, and their so-called strategic planning was nothing more than ants crawling.
By the time the execution results for all those involved were announced, it was already midsummer.
As the weather got hotter, Seventeen lay down next to the ice basin and fanned himself.
After the Zhou and Xie families were investigated, there were fewer people in the court. However, Emperor Jing swiftly promoted many county officials who had previously served under him, and the situation in the Great Jing Dynasty was completely reshuffled.
From then on, the Great Jing Dynasty no longer had any aristocratic families, only officials who devoted themselves to the country and its people.
The capable will be given important positions, while the incapable will be eliminated.
Although many older, powerful officials were not involved in the rebellion, and Emperor Jing "greatly showed mercy" by not holding those uninvolved accountable, the court was filled with increasing fear, and many retired to their hometowns.
Apart from a few veterans who have risen through the ranks based on their merits, the rest are all new faces.
The Dark Guard Camp was also disbanded by Emperor Jing. Instructor Li and Zero Two returned to the North, and on their way, they also took Sugan with them to Jiangnan.
The boy was left in Jiangnan, and he didn't waste his time practicing every day. Seeing that he did have some ability, Long Zhaoming spoke with his elder brother and then had him taken away as well.
As for Long Zhaoming, he never appeared from beginning to end. After all, his role was limited, so it was better for him to stay in the palace and deal with the Zhou family.
Fortunately, the Zhou family was already in dire straits due to the Xie family's pressure and couldn't afford to bother with him, a carefree prince.
Once everything settled down, the plot to rebel seemed to have vanished into the long river of time, and the people paid no attention to it, as it didn't affect their lives at all.
Long Langyue sat behind his desk, suddenly feeling a little lost. Since his ascension to the throne, he had sensed that someone was plotting something. Four years had passed, and he had finally dragged out all the treacherous people hiding in the shadows.
But when it was finally over, he felt somewhat lost.
It's like having a goal all along, and now that you've achieved it, you don't know what your next goal will be.
In fact, Long Langyue was well aware that he still had a lot of things to do, but he suddenly didn't want to look at these reports anymore.
"His Majesty?"
Seventeen was lying by the ice basin when she heard footsteps outside. She looked up and saw Long Langyue.
"It's this hot?"
Long Langyue stepped forward and frowned slightly as she looked at Seventeen's eagerness to cool off.
Excessive exposure to cold is not good for your health.
"It's too hot, Your Majesty. Do you have any orders?"
Seventeen stood up, straightened her clothes, and asked, but Long Langyue paused and said, "Would you like to go out of the palace to play?"
"ah?"
Seventeen was stunned. Why did he suddenly want to go out of the palace to play? But since it was His Majesty's invitation, he naturally agreed.
"Oh, Your Majesty, we've finally found you."
Yuanfu's voice came from outside, accompanied by footsteps. Long Langyue frowned and asked, "What is it?"
"The Long Summer Festival is just around the corner, and the Minister of Rites has come to ask His Majesty whether he will hold the same ceremony as in previous years?"
The Minister of Rites was a newly promoted official, with a handsome appearance and fair skin. As soon as he appeared, he attracted many officials to propose marriage.
After thinking for a moment, Long Langyue said, "Let's do it the same as in previous years."
After saying this, he looked at Seventeen, his eyes filled with apology: "Seventeen, I..."
Seventeen smiled and didn't care: "Your Majesty, please go about your business. When can't you leave the palace?"
After Long Langyue and Yuanfu left, Seventeen looked thoughtful.
It wasn't his imagination.
Before he went to Jiangnan, His Majesty's attitude towards him was very official, that is, a relatively close relationship between ruler and subject.
However, after returning from Jiangnan, His Majesty's attitude towards him changed significantly. It was only because Eunuch Yuanfu had gotten used to it that he was surprised. If an outsider saw this, they would probably be shocked and would accuse him of disrespect.
Thinking about this, Seventeen felt that the answer in her heart didn't seem important anymore.
＊
About two months later, the notice board was covered with dense text again.
Although the common people knew that there had been unrest some time ago, they were not very clear about it. The officials, on the other hand, knew very well and naturally did not speak out of turn.
Therefore, the moment this notice was displayed, it caused a huge uproar.
The people were focused on their own lives and never imagined that danger was so close to them.
A rebellion planned for many years has come to an end.
Soon, the news reached the north.
Long Xiaoyun was deeply moved upon receiving the news. He knew that his second elder brother was intelligent and resourceful, but when this shocking secret was laid bare before him, he was still impressed.
Mother's initial assessment was correct. With his and Long Zhenyun's intelligence, they couldn't outwit their second brother. It was better for them to stay obediently in the north and guard this border.
However... he stared at one line of text on the paper with a furrowed brow for a long time, so long that he didn't even come to his senses when someone came looking for him.
"Deputy General Long? What's wrong?"
Xie Qingyan's voice was very soft. Because he had been taking medicine for a long time, his health had improved a lot. Although he couldn't compare to the soldiers in the north, he felt free now compared to his previous dark and hopeless life.
He may have done many wrong things for the Xie family in the past, but now that His Majesty is willing to give him another chance, he will naturally do his utmost.
Long Xiaoyun looked at Xie Qingyan with a somewhat complicated expression. After a long while, he waved his hand and asked, "Did you take your medicine today?"
"I just ate. Doctor Shen asked me to give these medicines to Deputy General Long."
Xie Qingyan pointed to a bowl of dark medicine on the side table. Long Xiaoyun followed his gaze and frowned instantly.
If others saw Long Xiaoyun like this, they would be terrified, but Xie Qingyan knew very well that he simply didn't want to take his medicine.
He thought for a moment, and was about to say a few words of advice, when he saw Long Xiaoyun pick up the bowl and drink it all in one gulp. After finishing, he put the bowl back in Xie Qingyan's hand and said, "Thank you for your trouble. Please take it back to him."
Xie Qingyan nodded blankly, wondering why Vice General Long was being so easy to talk to today, but it would be best if he didn't have to waste his breath.
After Xie Qingyan left with the bowl, Long Xiaoyun looked at his departing figure with some emotion.
The emperor wrote Xie Qingyan's background in the letter, and then treated him with extra courtesy no matter what. As for whether or not to tell him the truth, it was entirely up to him.
Long Xiaoyun hesitated for only a moment before deciding to keep it a secret.
Xie Qingyan's appearance when she first came to the North was completely different from her current appearance, and Long Xiaoyun was unwilling to let her bear any inexplicable burdens.
With the Emperor now in charge of the Great Jing Dynasty, and the Northern Lands under his protection, the other brothers and sisters have all settled down. If they were to learn the truth, Xie Qingyan, whose health was already severely depleted, would probably collapse on the spot.
Who would have thought that he should have been born into nobility, but because of his mother's "well-intentioned but misguided" actions, he was forced to wander to another place and suffer inhuman torment for more than 20 years.
Long Xiaoyun thought that if it were him, he would have been so angry that he would have exploded and died when he learned the truth.
Well then, Xie Qingyan is quick-witted. Although he is not in good health, he can occasionally help this group of rough men in the north with some letters and items. Let bygones be bygones.
Why add to your troubles?
"Report—The Northern Rong have launched a surprise attack—"
With a "snap," the objects on the rosewood table wobbled slightly, demonstrating the immense strength of the person who used it.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
The row of people in front of the table knelt down and shouted. Yuanfu crawled forward a few steps while kneeling on the ground, anxiously trying to comfort him: "Your Majesty, please calm down. Deputy General Long is a lucky man and will certainly not perish in that desolate place. Your Majesty, please don't get angry and ruin your health."
Long Langyue clenched his fist, his brows furrowed tightly. Ever since he led his troops to defeat the Northern Rong, they had been very well-behaved, occasionally launching surprise attacks, which the Northern Army had long been accustomed to.
This time, Long Xiaoyun went missing during the Northern Rong's surprise attack, throwing the Northern army into chaos! The battle report was also quickly sent back to Yejing.
Seventeen squatted on the roof beam, thinking, "The North, a place that is both familiar and strange."
Long Langyue waved wearily, and Yuanfu gave a wink to the people kneeling below, who then stood up, bowed, and took their leave.
"Cao Huai'an, stay."
Cao Huai'an, the Minister of Rites whose name was called, paused, then obediently stood guard at the table.
"How is the Long Summer Festival going?"
"Your Majesty, all the necessities for the festival have been prepared, and we are only waiting for an auspicious day."
This was Cao Huai'an's first time taking on such a job, and he was putting in his best effort to do his best. But given the current situation... it seems the festival will have to be postponed for the time being.
As expected, Emperor Jing pondered for a moment and then said, "Let's put this matter aside for now. You can handle it later."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cao Huai'an left with his head bowed and eyes downcast, and Eunuch Yuanfu also got up from the ground and stood aside with his head down.
Long Langyue's expression wasn't good, and Yuanfu knew she was angry.
If the Northern Rong had remained peaceful, the two countries could have lived in harmony for a long time. But they were persistent and unwilling to give up, and this time they even went so far as to plot against the deputy general of the Northern Lands...
The ambitions of the Northern Rong are obvious.
But Long Langyue immediately thought of another aspect.
The Northern Rong have been well-behaved for so long, they wouldn't suddenly be so bold as to plot against them.
But what if...the Zhou family's rebellion succeeds? Or what if the Xie family's rebellion succeeds?
Long Langyue was very confident that no one except her confidants knew about her plans. So, did Bei Rong hear something about it?
If he hadn't sent a message to the North, Long Xiaoyun probably wouldn't have known about the rebellion... What about the Northern Rong?
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