Chapter 173 She was already prepared to face it calmly…
The lights in the bedroom stayed on until late at night, suggesting that they were going to talk all night long.
Xiao Yujing has lived here for more than 20 years, most of which he has spent in military camps and on the battlefield.
If it weren't for the appearance of Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi, she would have almost forgotten that she was once a heavy user of mobile phones, computers and air conditioners, and would crave fried food from street corner carts on her way home from get off work late at night.
It's been so long, it really feels like a lifetime ago.
Finally, Xie Zhao coughed lightly and gave Xiao Yujing a wink, signaling her to look at Yan Yi.
She then noticed a hint of weariness on Yan Yi's face and tapped her head in annoyance.
"It's my fault. I forgot you're pregnant. Never mind, there are bedding in the side hall. You two can make do for the night. I'll have someone prepare a clean room for you tomorrow."
Shen Lingyue eagerly made a promise to her: "Your Majesty, let's continue our chat when you're not busy tomorrow."
Xiao Yujing pinched her little cheek and smiled, "No problem, I also want to know how far my great-great-granddaughter will go in the future."
She watched the two leave until their figures disappeared back into the darkness. Finally, she could no longer suppress her emotions and coughed softly, her fist pressed to her lips.
"Before leaving Beijing, my elder brother repeatedly told me to keep an eye on you and not let you stay up late or overwork yourself. But you, on the other hand, hit it off with that person the moment you met, and you just kept talking and talking."
Xie Zhao grumbled, but skillfully took out a porcelain bottle from the bedside drawer, poured two pills into warm water to dissolve, and had Xiao Yujing drink it from her hand.
Xiao Yujing quietly let her rant until Xie Zhao ran out of words, then smiled gently at her, "Don't you think this is an opportunity bestowed upon us by heaven?"
She really wanted to know more about the future of Da Ye more than a hundred years from now.
Xie Zhao hesitated for a moment, then his eyes suddenly reddened.
"Of course I want to know. I also want to ask how long you live, according to historical records, and whether my nephew will be the one to ascend the throne in the future..."
After more than a decade of fighting in the north and south, always leading from the front, even with the help of a system cheat, Xiao Yujing's body was inevitably worn down.
Xie Wuyai's secret departure from the capital this time was to seek out an old, reclusive physician in the deep mountains, asking him to come out of seclusion and treat Xiao Yujing's health.
Xie Zhao was truly terrified. She feared that Xiao Yujing's body wouldn't be able to hold on for long, and that once the secret they had been keeping was exposed, it would have a devastating impact on the newly established dynasty of Daye.
Too many people have already died in this chaotic world; this country cannot afford any more wars.
Xiao Yujing's smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression: "Zhaozhao, promise me you won't ask them about my lifespan, and you won't try to change the future."
She doesn't believe in any methods of immortality, nor will she become obsessed with cultivation and alchemy; she is already prepared to face her fate with equanimity.
“If we do nothing and the dynasty can continue for over 140 years, then we should do nothing.”
Aside from the "Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu," it seems I can start writing it ahead of time.
Hmm... It's not unreasonable for our ancestors to leave some diaries for their descendants, is it?
Recalling the conversation that evening, Xiao Yujing muttered to herself, "Those old fogies wouldn't allow me to bestow titles upon female marquises and generals. They argued about it in court for so many days, but in the end, didn't they still compromise?"
Her insistence is correct, and we absolutely cannot back down.
...
The side hall had been uninhabited for a long time. Although the bedding and utensils were complete, there was still a musty smell, as if it hadn't been exposed to the sun for a long time.
Shen Lingyue told Yan Yi to sit and wait for a while. She quickly spread out the bedding and vigorously pounded it with a feather duster for a long time until it was soft and clean before calling Yan Yi over to rest.
As they lay side by side on the bed, they realized how thrilling and agonizing the day had been.
Shen Lingyue murmured, "We just disappeared like that, what will happen to the two of them?"
If she were in Pei Jinghuai's shoes, she would be frantic with worry if he suddenly disappeared.
She rolled over and asked Yan Yi, "Check again, has the Goddess Xuan Nu finished recharging? When can she send us back?"
"...It can't be that fast." Yan Yi said, both amused and exasperated. "We've only been here for a few hours. Maybe it'll be fine in a few more days?"
That night, she tried several times to call out to the golden light in her heart, but received no response.
I didn't tell Xiaoyue because I was afraid she would overthink things.
"Well, I hope so."
Shen Lingyue sighed, but then perked up again in a second. "But this 'time travel' was really worth it. Who would have thought that the founding emperor and empress were actually sworn sisters!"
Moreover, Xie Zhao, a noblewoman from a prestigious family, is a pure ancient woman whose views on love are actually a hundred years ahead of hers. Respect!
“I think Xie Mingke might have inherited that from her great-great-aunt.” Shen Lingyue started to let her thoughts wander. “The girls in the Xie family are all quite unique, aren’t they?”
Yan Yi was amused by her and thought for a moment before saying, "I don't know why, but when I see Empress Xie, I can imagine what you will be like in twenty years."
Shen Lingyue placed her hands on her cheeks to make a flower shape, and blinked her eyes: "Of course, we E-people are happy little dogs even at forty!"
"Okay, go to sleep now, puppy."
Yan Yi patted her twice, her voice gradually lowering, "Tomorrow is another day, let's slowly think of a way back."
...
The next morning, the court officials, still half asleep, arrived at the main hall, only to be surprised to find that the glittering golden dragon throne above them was empty.
Next to it was a smaller chair, where Princess Tong'an sat calmly with her injured left hand in a sling.
The courtiers whispered among themselves, exchanging glances and asking each other questions, but none of them knew what had happened.
As soon as the court assembly began, Chief Eunuch Huang stepped forward and read out Emperor Qingxi's edict, causing an uproar among the crowd.
His Majesty left the palace to escape the summer heat, yet left the princess to oversee the country. What is the reason for this?
Princess Tong'an watched coldly, taking in the various expressions on everyone's faces, and only stood up slowly when the noisy discussions gradually subsided.
"I am the Emperor's daughter, and you are his subjects. It is our duty to share the burdens of our sovereign. Does anyone have any objections?"
The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
"Very well, then let's discuss the case of my assassination attempt and being surrounded yesterday."
Princess Tong'an's expression hardened, and she called out to the outside of the hall, "Bring the person up."
A moment later, Pei Jingyi and Lu Xilou escorted in a string of disheveled, unkempt prisoners who were still cursing.
Someone rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
How did the young master Pei of the Marquis of Changning's mansion end up with the young master Lu from the Embroidered Uniform Guard?
When they realized that the group behind the two were all members of the Xiao family clan, the entire audience was shocked.
"Xiao Zhi, Xiao Yi, Xiao Chuping..."
Every time Princess Tong'an uttered a name, everyone's heart skipped a beat.
"You conspired to assassinate me and murder the imperial heir. What is your punishment?!"
...
Today's court assembly was no less than a major earthquake; even after the assembly ended, the officials were still dizzy as they walked out of the imperial city.
With Prince Gong serving as a "tainted witness," Princess Tong'an acted swiftly and decisively stripped the members of the imperial clan involved in the assassination plot of their titles and removed them from the imperial clan. Based on the charges presented by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and according to the severity of their previous illegal acts, she beheaded some, flogged others, confiscated their property, and exiled yet another group.
Not only that, she also encouraged these members of the royal family to report on each other on the spot, and whoever could reveal evidence of crimes that she had not found could have their sentence reduced at her discretion.
All morning, the court officials did nothing but watch the infighting among the imperial clansmen; it was a chaotic and lively scene.
One person was exposed and then dragged out, until finally a large area of the main hall was empty.
An imperial censor, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward to remonstrate: "Your Highness, His Majesty has only granted you the power to oversee the country, not the power to wield a knife against your own clan!"
They're all from the same family surnamed Xiao. Isn't Princess Tong'an being too cruel by doing this?
In response, Princess Tong'an simply raised her bandaged arm and coldly said, "They were the ones who first drew their swords against me. Since Imperial Censor Kang is so magnanimous, why don't I cut you with my sword before we talk?"
Imperial Censor Kang: ...Your subject takes his leave.
After the court session ended, some nobles caught up with Pei Xian.
"Lord Pei, how did your son end up with the Embroidered Uniform Guard? That's not a good reputation for you."
The visitor was a generation older than Pei Xian and was a former colleague of the old Marquis Pei; the two families had a good relationship.
"Uncle, you may not know this, but when Princess Tong'an was assassinated, both of my sons were present. My second son was even injured while protecting the princess and remains unconscious to this day."
Pei Xian's dark circles under his eyes were not faked. He and Meng Wanyin took turns watching over Pei Jinghuai all night, changing the cold cloth to wipe his body every hour, until the fever subsided just before dawn, and only then did they feel relieved.
"So your family is also a victim."
The old Marquis across from him patted him on the shoulder sympathetically, then, remembering that the Changning Marquis's mansion had been thrown into turmoil by Prince Gong just a few days ago, he asked, "Have your two runaway daughters-in-law returned yet? Your husband is already so badly injured, it would be too much to be acting childish again."
Pei Xian opened his mouth, only to feel a bitter and numb sensation at the back of his tongue, and said with difficulty, "Of course, I've returned..."
He hastily ended the conversation, and as soon as he left the palace, he ordered the carriage to rush to the Marquis's residence at full speed. As soon as he saw Meng Wanyin, he asked, "Is Huaizhou feeling any better?"
Meng Wanyin nodded, her expression complicated. "The first thing he asked me when he opened his eyes was if Yue'er had returned. I said no... and then he stopped talking."
The couple looked at each other in silence, only able to sigh.
Pei Xian said in a deep voice, "Cen Ming led his men to search that hillside all night, not even leaving out the village three miles away, but they couldn't find any trace of the two daughters-in-law anywhere."
Where did they go?
As night fell, Pei Jingyi returned to the Marquis's residence, his body radiating a thick aura of blood. Wherever he went, even Meng Wanyin's cat was terrified, its tail bristling as it fled in all directions, meowing sharply.
He went straight to the front yard, to Pei Jinghuai's room where he was recuperating, and pushed open the door to enter.
Upon hearing the noise, Pei Jinghuai immediately opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
"Have you heard anything from them?"
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Author's note: It's almost the end of the month, everyone remember to use up your nutrient solution! [Please][Please] (Subtle hint)
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