The war between the Northern Han Kingdom and the Southern Qiang lasted for several months and the people in the capital were in panic.
In the early morning, the palace was solemn and dignified. Officials, dressed in court robes, filed into the imperial hall. Imperial guards stood solemnly, weapons in hand, awe-inspiring. The emperor sat high atop the dragon throne, his crown obscuring his vision, a majestic presence even without anger.
A guard suddenly ran in, his expression serious, "Report~News from the border!"
The emperor had been irritated by the Southern Qiang incident recently and hurriedly said, "Present it quickly."
When he finished reading the letter, his face looked gloomy and ugly, and his cold eyes made people shudder.
"presumptuous!"
The ministers below looked at each other with different expressions.
Only Jiang Hao stepped forward. He was truly worried about the situation at the border. "Your Majesty, what does the letter say?"
The emperor was furious and gave the letter to Eunuch Li beside him.
Eunuch Li took it carefully, presented the letter and walked away.
Jiang Hao received the letter and couldn't wait to read it. After he finished reading it, he felt the same as the emperor.
The letter said that the Hanbei Kingdom was about to win, but a spy appeared in the military camp. He set fire to the food and grass while everyone was sleeping at night and then committed suicide. Now the food in the military camp is running low and the battle situation has become stalemate again.
Jiang Qiao wrote a special letter hoping that the court would provide support as soon as possible.
It would take at least several days for a fast horse from the border to deliver a letter to Beijing, which shows how urgent the situation at the border is now.
Jiang Hao's eyes turned red with anxiety. Such a rough man was about to cry in the court. He felt sorry for the soldiers and also for his daughter.
After something like this happened, Jiang Qiao, as the commander, didn't know how much pressure he had to bear.
Jiang Hao knelt down, his anger irritating the wound on his chest, but he felt obliged to do so. "Your Majesty, I am willing to go to the border to support General Ning Shuo."
The emperor was speechless when he saw Jiang Hao's expression. Just as he was about to nod in agreement, a man's clear voice appeared.
"Your Majesty, the border is bitterly cold. The general's old injuries haven't healed, and his family is pregnant. Leaving the capital would be a distraction, so I'm afraid it's not advisable to go. I'm willing to go to the border to provide support and relieve your worries."
The one who spoke was Shi Yechen. He seemed to be more calm, stoic and reserved, perhaps the confinement had taken effect.
Shi Chuan frowned when he heard this. In his opinion, this was just Shi Yechen's behavior of showing off.
He did not refute this time, because Shi Yechen was right. Ji Muhe was older now, and it was said that he almost had an accident a few days ago. Jiang Hao would inevitably be distracted on the battlefield, not to mention that Jiang Hao's old injury had not healed yet.
The emperor gave Shi Yechen an approving look, and the scale in his heart shifted slightly towards him.
Finally, it was decided that Shi Yechen would lead the team to support General Ning Shuo immediately.
After the morning court session.
Shi Yechen ran into Shi Chuan when he was leaving the palace. He chuckled, "Sixth brother, you weren't waiting for me on purpose, were you?"
Shi Chuan was indeed waiting for him, and the way he handled things was correct, but he always felt that something was wrong.
"Si Ge has earned the Emperor's favor, so of course I have to personally congratulate him."
The two seemed to be having a good conversation, but the energy in their bodies was inexplicably colliding.
The corners of Shi Yechen's eyes turned up, and he looked different from before. He used to hide his ambitions, but now he seemed to be really showing them off.
"Shi Chuan, your father has loved you the most since you were a child. He even named you "Chuan," which shows how much he hopes for you. I really don't understand. You're so smart, why do you keep making mistakes in front of your father? And you follow that idiot Shi Yubai around all day, giving him advice. Shi Chuan, tell me, don't you have any ambition at all?"
Shi Chuan chuckled when he heard this. The young man had a very outstanding facial expression, and his smile was like flying flowers and shattered jade, without any sincerity. "Being too ambitious is not necessarily a good thing."
Shi Yechen sneered, leaving only one last sentence, "Really? I don't think so, Shi Chuan, you're too foolish. It's useless to not fight or compete. Can someone as weak as Shi Yubai be a good emperor? The final winner will only be me. Let's wait and see."
Shi Chuan looked at his back, his eyes misty.
What exactly is wrong?
With Shi Yechen's personality, he wouldn't say anything so sure until he's sure. So what's his trump card?
Supporting Jiang Qiao would indeed win the emperor's favor, but the emperor wouldn't make him the crown prince just because of this...
Shi Chuan could never have imagined that Shi Yechen would be the traitor.
He was the one who had the drugs put in the horse farm, he was the one who arranged for Jiang Hao to be assassinated, and even the crisis at the border was caused by him.
Everyone thought that the Fourth Prince Shi Yechen was leading his troops to the border to provide support, but they never imagined that it would be the final blow to the decline of the Hanbei Kingdom.
With the recent constant fighting, there are few soldiers left in the capital. This time, Shi Yechen has diverted 50,000 reinforcements, leaving the capital's defenses weak. If the Southern Qiang suddenly change their route and strike a fatal blow to the Hanbei Kingdom, the consequences will be unimaginable...
Noon.
Shi Yechen led his troops and set off.
Shi Chuan stood on the city wall and looked at the leader, feeling inexplicably worried.
He went to find Fu Yanci.
Fu Yanci fell ill not long ago, and his illness was very serious. He leaned weakly on the bed, and his skin color became even paler because of his illness.
Shi Chuan recalled the rumor that the Imperial Master would not live past the age of thirty-five. He stood aside with a slight movement in his eyes. "Shi Yechen has gone to support Jiang Qiao."
Fu Yanci wanted to say something, but the next second he covered his chest and started coughing.
The bright red blood fell to the ground and condensed into enchanting flowers.
Fu Yanci's lips finally showed some color. He raised his hand and pointed to something not far away. "Help me get it, ahem..."
Shi Chuan looked over and saw the tortoise shells and copper coins that Fu Yanci often used for divination placed on the pear wood table.
Just as he was about to go over and take it, a little servant boy rushed in without regard for etiquette and took the tortoise shell and copper coins first.
"No, sir, you can't do divination anymore. Divination damages your lifeblood. Now your body... wuwuwu..."
The little servant boy actually started crying as he spoke.
These days, Fu Yanci would do divination every day. He hoped to find a way to remedy the situation and he hoped that Jiang Qiao could return safely.
But it's of no use, it seems there's no solution to this problem...
Shi Chuan's pupils trembled slightly, and he changed the subject, "This support should be no problem. Father attaches so much importance to this war, Shi Yechen is eager to perform well."
Fu Yanci nodded. He was so tired that he could even clearly feel the passage of his life.
Shi Chuan left without staying long.
The little book boy was still crying.
Fu Yanci didn't blame him, but simply said, "I heard that some time ago... ahem... the emperor found an apprentice for me. You can give him what you have in your hand... just consider it a meeting gift."
The lineage of the Imperial Master has a short life span, so we need to cultivate the next lineage as soon as possible while his life is still ahead.
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