Chapter Thirteen: A Heart of Ice
As dusk settled, the candlelight cast long shadows of two figures in the study of Guanghe Hall. Huairou had finished meticulously analyzing the well-thought-out "policy for trade," the ink still damp on the Xuan paper on the table, every word and sentence a testament to its profound meaning.
Yunji stood quietly by the window, gazing at the deep night outside, remaining silent for a long time. Huairou did not urge him, but waited patiently. Finally, he turned around, his young face no longer displaying the usual resigned indifference, but rather surging with unprecedented waves, containing both the ambition stirred by the grand plan and a deep fear of the unknown future.
“Appeasement,” his voice was slightly hoarse, “This strategy… is excellent. However, why me? Would Father and the court officials allow a powerless prince to take charge of such a matter concerning the fate of the nation?” He spread out his long but slightly thin palms, his tone revealing a hint of helplessness, “I… fear I will fail in this great responsibility.”
Huairou gazed at him, her eyes clear and resolute, like stars reflected in icy water. "Your Highness," she said, her voice low but each word distinct, "staying in the Brocade Palace, your best outcome would be a wealthy and leisurely prince, though perhaps precarious. But the Northern Frontier is different. There lies a vast land, people in dire need of education, and a powerful army to rely on. This journey is not exile, but expansion. You will build your own achievements and prestige, something that will ensure no one, including His Majesty, can ever underestimate you again. This is something you can never obtain confined within the palace walls."
She took a small step forward, her tone softening but gaining strength: "Your Highness, you are skilled in riding and archery, well-versed in poetry and literature, and have a kind heart. What you lack is only an opportunity, and the courage to seize it. Young eagles, once their wings are fully grown, must leave the nest to soar through the sky."
Yunji shuddered. The words "a fledgling eagle leaving the nest" seemed like a ray of light, piercing into his long-dormant heart. He looked out the window again, his gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls, seeing the imagined sky where he could soar freely. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. The youthful passion and resentment that had been suppressed beneath his calm exterior were finally ignited.
“I… understand.” When he turned around again, the confusion in his eyes had faded, replaced by a resolute determination. “Please, young lady, teach me what to do.”
A hint of relief flashed in Huairou's eyes. She knew that the first step had been successful.
The following day, the candlelight in Guo's study burned late into the night.
Huairou presented a more detailed "Outline of Trade in the Northern Border" to her father, Guo Shichang, with both hands. "Father," she said solemnly, "this policy is beneficial to the country, to the border defense, and can also relieve the national treasury's financial difficulties. I implore you to second this policy during the court assembly and, with the help of the Ministry of War, to explain the military support so that you gentlemen have no worries about the rear."
Guo Shichang frowned deeply as he flipped through the thick stack of plans, growing increasingly alarmed with each page. The plans meticulously detailed resource allocation, the establishment of post roads, the rules for dealing with various Xiongnu tribes, and even potential contingencies and their countermeasures—a level of thoughtful consideration far exceeding his expectations. This was something no ordinary young woman could accomplish.
He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as he looked at his daughter: "Huairou, tell your father the truth, is this plan truly for the sake of the country? Or is it merely for that Seventh Prince?"
Huairou met her father's gaze and said frankly, "From a public perspective, this is for the benefit of the country; from a private perspective, I do want to help the Seventh Prince out of his predicament. But Father, you should know that precisely because I want to help His Highness, this plan must be made even more perfect and flawless, and can withstand the scrutiny of the world. Only if it benefits the country will the Seventh Prince's trip be worthwhile, and only then will the support of the Guo family be legitimate. This is a matter that benefits both the public and the private."
Guo Shichang remained silent for a long time, his gaze sweeping across his daughter's clear eyes before finally settling on the impeccable "Summary". Having spent his life on the battlefield, he knew all too well that opportunity and risk went hand in hand. If this plan succeeded, it would not only benefit the country but also allow the Guo family's influence to extend into the northern border with the prince—truly a brilliant move. He slowly nodded and said in a deep voice, "My son... has grown up. I will carefully consider this plan and know how to handle it appropriately in court."
Huairou felt a huge weight lifted from her heart; she knew she had passed her father's test. Immediately afterward, she wrote a letter and sent it to her brother Qi Yu's army with a trusted confidant. The letter contained only a few words, yet it was filled with sincere emotion: "The northern border may be in turmoil, and your safety, brother, also rests on Your Highness's shoulders. I hope you will prepare early and offer your full support."
A few days later, Huairou held a tea ceremony at the waterside pavilion in the mansion and invited Binghui alone.
“Binghui Jun,” she poured him a cup of tea with a gentle smile, “I have invited you here today because I have a favor to ask of you.”
Binghui looked at her, his eyes filled with understanding, but also with a complex inquiry: "Huairou, why are we being so polite? I heard my uncle mention the trade policy for the northern border. Was it your idea?"
Huairou didn't answer directly, but smiled and said, "This plan is beneficial to the country, and also to my father and brothers. I know that Uncle Lu, as the prime minister, bears the heavy responsibility of the nation. Only with Uncle Lu's recommendation can it be legitimate. I would like to ask Binghui to go back and inform his uncle that if this plan is implemented, success will be meritorious, and failure will be without fault. My father and brothers will also be grateful to Uncle Lu." Her words were brief and to the point, like a dragonfly skimming the water, without mentioning the recommendation of the seventh prince, but she had already grasped the issue that Binghui cared about.
Binghui gazed at her. The girl before him was no longer the companion in the academy who only knew how to read books and discuss poetry. Though confined to her chambers, she could already wield the silk thread and subtly influence the political landscape. He felt both admiration and a touch of indescribable loss. He vaguely sensed that this matter was not merely a matter of state or family, but might also be related to the Seventh Prince.
However, he would definitely help Huairou, as this young woman rarely spoke up. "I understand." He finally nodded, finished his tea, and amidst the fragrant steam, his voice was gentle yet firm. "I will speak to Father. Huairou, you... always manage to do amazing things."
That night, Huairou stood once again under the moonlight in the Guo family garden. The night breeze was cool, but it couldn't dispel the warmth in her heart. She knew that in just a few days, the court assembly would be a stage for great events. She had done everything in her power to pave the first path for her "fledglings" to soar into the vast world.
She raised her head and looked at the night sky divided by the palace walls. She could almost see that young man in that solemn palace, perhaps just like her, looking at the same moon, his heart filled with tension and anticipation for the unknown tomorrow.
“Yunji,” she said silently in her heart, “Mother has paved the way for you. Whether you can soar to great heights depends on yourself.”
The soft moonlight gently enveloped the countless buildings of the imperial capital, and also the nine-tiered palace that was about to stir up trouble. A game of chess that began with a young girl's scheming had now been quietly set in motion.
Several days later, the memorial requesting permission to travel to the northern border was quietly presented to the emperor. Inside the imperial study, the golden dragon incense burned, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The emperor remained silent, gently setting down the memorial and lightly tapping the rosewood tabletop with his fingertips. His gaze was inscrutable. After a moment, he summoned only General Guo, and the two talked until late into the night, awaiting the next day's court session.
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