“Your Majesty, the Empress… she’s also quite good to His Majesty,” Lingjiao said.
"Not bad? Perhaps it is not bad." Consort Xiangxian scoffed, "But if their love were truly as deep as she claims, how could Consort Mei have given birth to three princes?"
“But… if His Majesty likes it, and she tries to stop him, then… after all, the Empress is a smart woman,” Lingjiao said.
“Yes, she’s a smart woman. His Majesty likes her. He thinks the Empress is good, so she is good. No one can say anything about it.” Consort Xiang shook her head.
"It's just my bad luck that I met such a person." After saying this, Consort Xiangxian stopped talking.
She had considered asking the Eighth Prince to go with her, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to do it.
Since they weren't born of me, their departure suggests they might have been instigated by someone with ulterior motives.
I'm afraid they'll become even more distant from me.
When the Seventh Princess and her entourage arrived in Bailu Prefecture, it was already the end of the month.
There had been prior warning that local officials were not allowed to come and pick them up, as it would cause too much of a stir.
So only Yan Nanji came. After all, he was not only an official, but also a relative.
After exchanging greetings, the seventh princess, without any shyness, called him "uncle."
"Second Uncle, Sister Xue is with Mother. She originally came from here, so there's no need for her to come back. That's why I didn't bring her. Next time I go back, I'll bring her back with me so you can meet her."
"Very well, with Your Majesty looking after me, I have no worries. Princess, you must be tired. Please come in."
Yuanhua also smiled and came to serve the Seventh Princess.
The Seventh Princess was also very happy to see the Daphne genkwa.
They settled in quickly.
Three days later, they began their studies.
Bailu Academy also has different levels, partly based on what students learn upon entering.
So they need to make a simple test paper.
Let the teachers see for themselves what they've actually learned.
The teachers were all happy to teach, though they were also somewhat apprehensive. But what kind of reputation would it be to teach the royal children?
As for the fear, just be careful.
This time, there were four girls: two princesses and two study companions, and the two boys were the Fifth Prince and Wei Huan.
The fifth prince's studies weren't as advanced as the princess's, so they were basically at the same level.
If you have a study buddy, even if you study deeply, you still have to study with them.
Both princesses were more learned than the fifth prince.
The teachers weren't stupid either; although normally, people these days still value boys.
But everyone knows that the Seventh Princess is His Majesty's true darling.
Then what's there to say? We'll just put her first!
With the students' cooperation and the teachers' dedication, the group quickly got on track.
At the end of March, Yuanhua reluctantly set off.
After all, they had watched this child grow up, and even those who served the Empress couldn't bear to part with him.
After seeing Yuanhua off, the Seventh Princess began living independently.
She wasn't quite used to it, but there was also a sense of novelty. At first, the other students didn't dare approach her, greeting her from afar and then avoiding her.
Gradually, as they grew bolder and spoke up a few words, they discovered that the Seventh Princess was actually quite easy to talk to.
Only then did I dare to speak to her.
She also decreed that no grand gestures were allowed within the academy. Greetings were proper greetings, but kneeling was strictly forbidden.
Otherwise, if she were a princess, not only would the students have to kneel down, but even the teachers would have to kneel down. How could they learn then?
As a result, everyone got along more harmoniously.
The first letter that Yuanhua brought back was read by Yan Nangui, who then personally took it to His Majesty.
His Majesty was pleased to see this: "This child has adapted much faster than I expected."
“It’s easy to fit in if you want to. She’s always been smart,” Yan Nangui said.
"That's good, that's good." Shu Chengfeng put away the letter and told Yun Ji to put it away properly.
Nothing major happened that year, except for the investiture ceremonies for a few concubines.
This is not difficult; with the help of the Imperial Household Department, the Empress doesn't need to worry too much.
Shu Chengfeng was the same; it was rare that nothing major happened this year, and the weather was favorable everywhere.
However, with the onset of winter, snow disasters occurred in the north, forcing us to get busy.
However, the Great Yan is prosperous, so even if there are occasional disasters, it is not a big deal.
The eldest, second, and third princes were sent along, but not to oversee disaster relief; they were there for training. They weren't even there to supervise.
The three of them knew that this was a trial.
The fourth prince was extremely disappointed that he couldn't go with them, but Shu Chengfeng still cared about him and told him personally that it was because he was still in mourning and that people in mourning cannot travel far.
This was in the sixteenth year of the Dayan Jingjing era.
Starting from that year, the weather changed.
It's not that intense, it's just that it's not that hot in the summer, but it's very cold in the winter.
Heavy snow is frequent.
Dayan is alright; although it borders both the north and south, it is still a vast area.
Winters in the north are more difficult, especially in Meng Haijiang and the cities near Tuotuo.
But for Tuotuo, a place that is already cold, heavy snow falls in winter, which is unbearable for them.
Many cattle and sheep died.
In the winter of the nineteenth year of the Jingjing reign, Tuotuo had a new king.
That was the Third Prince who came that year. Yes, the Second Prince ultimately died by his blade.
But after Tuotuo got a new king, it started to become unruly.
Border relations suddenly became tense.
Yan Lingyuntuo must patrol Daiyang Pass.
This year is destined to be a bad one.
Originally, the Seventh Princess and her companions were supposed to return around the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, but starting from the fifth day, heavy snow began to fall continuously.
Shu Chengfeng sent several thousand people to pick them up, and finally brought the children back on the 21st.
On the very last day of the year, the battle report was delivered to the palace.
Unexpectedly, Meng Haijiang panicked first.
The prince who presented the gift back then has rebelled.
That is, Xiao's biological father who died back then.
I'm getting on in years, and I can't stand being alone.
Soon, Meng Haijiang's former princes, or their descendants, responded one after another.
Wei Xiao was stationed at the border between Meng Haijiang and Dayan, so he naturally reacted immediately, but he still muttered to himself about this rebellion.
Meng Haijiang people actually joined forces with the Tuotuo people.
Winter is not a good time for fighting, but if we don't fight, I'm afraid the Tuotuo people and those people in the far north of Menghaijiang won't make it through this year.
A major battle is imminent.
The New Year celebrations in the capital city had to be skipped.
At Daiyang Pass, there was the Yan family father and son, but Meng Haijiang wanted to send another person, Xie Yuan, who had been enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuying by the late emperor during the conquest of the southern frontier.
He is also in his prime, which is perfect for him.
An additional 100,000 troops were dispatched to aid Bangladesh's coastal border.
The entire north was engulfed in turmoil and war.
Shu Chengfeng reigned for nineteen years, and adding the last year of the previous emperor's reign, that makes twenty years.
The very first battle broke out so fiercely.
The year was spent almost every day in discussions.
The fighting in the north is fierce now, and the Tuotuo people have mobilized almost their entire force, so they are fighting desperately.
Our soldiers dared not slacken their efforts even slightly, and fought desperately to hold their ground. Fortunately, these twenty years of peace and prosperity had provided them with ample food and supplies.
And military pay will not be short.
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