The child grumbled, "My sister is very nice, she would never bully me..."
"That's a distinguished person. Aren't you, child, a distinguished person too?"
"No, no, it's my sister, a sister who's even prettier than a fairy!"
Tongsu listened to the women and children arguing quietly in the crowd and couldn't help but smile.
Qinghe and her subordinates dispersed the crowd and led Tongsu across the rough stone path into Yuanrong Courtyard.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, Tong Su was taken aback, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.
The original greenery in the mansion consisted only of towering trees, but here it has all been replaced with exquisite flower beds. There are roses in spring, gardenias in summer, chrysanthemums in autumn, and wintersweet in winter, with flowers blooming every year and every month.
The Northwest is sunny and dry, so most of the buildings have flat roofs and look gray and unassuming. But at this moment, the houses in the courtyard are all decorated with flying eaves and brackets. Although they are not as exquisite as those in the palace, they are still the style of the capital that Tong Su is most familiar with!
The ground was paved with smooth, verdant bluestone slabs, without a speck of dust. It seemed that even if she wore a magnificent, floor-length palace gown, she wouldn't have to worry about getting the hem dirty while walking...
The room was decorated in a warm and luxurious style, almost like a replica of her palace in the capital!
Everything perfectly suited her tastes; they brought her almost all the best things from the General's Mansion. The servants who served her were all warm and friendly, making her feel even more comfortable than in the palace.
"This room is so luxurious, won't it make people feel uncomfortable?" Tong Su said cautiously. "Only when the soldiers are of one mind can the morale of the army be stabilized. If the soldiers find out that such an exquisite courtyard has been built here, they may feel resentful."
She had intended to say this to Qinghe, but a moment after she finished speaking, a smiling male voice rang out.
"The soldiers are of one mind, but they don't want His Majesty to share the hardships. If there is any hardship, just call me. This world belongs to His Majesty, and there is no reason for His Majesty to suffer."
Tong Su turned around in surprise: "General!"
Just three steps away from her, a man in a black robe, tall and elegant, with a gentle smile, was quietly watching her.
He extended his hand to her and chuckled softly.
"Running on the road is too tiring. Not long ago, someone discovered a hot spring in the mountains. The water temperature is just right and it can relieve fatigue. Why doesn't Your Majesty go and take a bath to relax?"
Tong Su's eyes shone.
"Furthermore, at the foot of the mountain, there is a horse breeding farm where the famous Ferghana horses with light golden coats are being bred. After Your Majesty rests, you may go to the horse farm to ride freely. I wonder if Your Majesty would be willing?"
Tong Su could no longer contain herself and said repeatedly, "I am very willing!"
With boundless grasslands, clear blue skies and white clouds, galloping steeds and valiant generals—what more could one ask for?
While the hooves of horses thundered in the northwest, the imperial palace in the capital remained deathly silent.
"Your Majesty, it hasn't been found yet?"
A shrill voice rang out from the empty hall.
The main hall was already deep and dark, and was further blocked by layers of curtains, so no sunlight could penetrate. It was gloomy and oppressive. The incense burner was filled with ambergris, but the strong fragrance did not bring any relief. Instead, it made people feel even more cramped and stuffy.
At the head of the table, the Ninth Prince sat alone, his loose robe trailing on the ground. Upon closer inspection, one could see that his robe was embroidered with a four-clawed dragon pattern that only princes and kings could embroider!
The hall echoed with sharp, feminine curses, the sounds reverberating in layers.
"For those who failed to perform their duties effectively, execute all those who returned empty-handed and hang their heads on the city gate as punishment!"
The palace maids knelt quietly in a row in the corner, trying hard to control their fear, but they were still so frightened that their faces turned pale. One of them could not bear the psychological pressure and suddenly fainted. The rest of the palace maids immediately showed despair on their faces.
"How did they all learn the rules, huh? Drag them all away, give them thirty strokes of the cane, and send those who survive back to learn the rules again. As for the dead ones, wrap them up in straw mats and throw them to the wolves!"
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