“You’re right!” Liu Momo said, “But I’ve checked all of Gege’s belongings, and there’s nothing wrong with them.”
"Yes, Mumu has done her best, and Gege is very grateful. It's just good to be a little more careful," Xiao Mu said.
Liu Momo nodded, pondering Xueying's words.
However, even after considering every possible avenue, Liu Momo still couldn't find anything amiss.
Liu Momo planned to wait for the concubines to return and then ask them herself.
Meanwhile, the ceremony for the Golden Gift Festival inside the palace was almost over.
Hongli's two wives were resting in Changchun Palace.
Just as the Fourth Prince was leading his ministers and relatives in paying respects to their ancestors in the Fengxian Hall, a messenger arrived on horseback from the northwest.
A letter from the border, contained in a cylindrical container, was delivered to the Music Palace.
After receiving the message, Su Peisheng dared not go to the Fengxian Hall to disturb the Fourth Master's ancestral worship.
Only after Fourth Master led everyone to complete the ancestral worship ceremony did Su Peisheng go to Fourth Master to deliver a message.
After the Fourth Prince returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, everyone else left the palace and returned to their residences. Hongli, Hongzhou, and their mothers, who were still in the palace, naturally went to visit them.
After reading the letter from the northwest border in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the Fourth Prince frowned deeply.
"Su Peisheng, go and summon all those who haven't left the palace yet, and have them all go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony," the Fourth Prince said, slamming the letter in his hand onto the dragon desk.
Su Peisheng dared not delay and immediately went out to call for help. Hongli and Hongzhou had not yet arrived at their respective mothers' palaces when they were called back by the eunuch.
The Fourth Prince, dressed in a dragon robe, sat regally on the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Everyone found their places and stood quietly. They all wondered what had prompted the Emperor to summon them back.
After Su Peisheng reported to the Fourth Prince that everyone had arrived, the Fourth Prince then ordered Su Peisheng to read the battle report from the Northwest in court.
As everyone stood silently amidst the golden bricks and red pillars, Su Peisheng's traitorous voice sounded somewhat jarring.
But no one made a sound; they all listened quietly to every word that came out of his mouth.
Some people began to frown, while others clenched their fists.
Hongzhou and Hongli exchanged a glance. They saw hope in each other's eyes.
After Su Peisheng finished reading, the Fourth Prince said, "The Eight Banners of our Great Qing have never been afraid of powerful enemies. The humiliation we have suffered today will surely be repaid in the future."
"Your Majesty, I am willing to volunteer for the battle," Hongli said, stepping out from the ranks and bowing to the Fourth Prince.
A hint of relief flashed in Fourth Master's eyes, but there was also a trace of reluctance.
“Your Majesty, I also request to fight.” Hongzhou stepped forward.
At this point, some of the military officers began to waver, and two princes stepped forward, feeling even more obligated to help.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to volunteer for the battle," said the Seventeenth Prince.
He didn't step forward immediately because he's never been one to seek the limelight. If he had been the first to step forward, some might have thought he was trying to show off by using the emperor's ticket.
Seeing the two princes come out, the seventeenth prince did not hesitate any longer and also stepped forward.
The two princes are still young, and the emperor would absolutely not agree to let them go.
"Your Majesty, this humble general is willing to volunteer for battle." At this moment, a vigorous man stepped out from among the officials dressed in ceremonial robes and wearing red hats.
It turned out that he was Shen Binian, the Duke of Fu, a second-rank official. Several generations of the Shen family had produced great generals. Because of their outstanding military achievements, the title of Duke of Fu was hereditary, and Shen Binian was the third person to hold it.
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