Something's not right!
Something's definitely not right!
Alarm bells immediately went off in Qin Yu's mind.
He knew very well that Sima Xiongba was a useless fool, and that he would never dare to take the initiative to fight the Xiongnu.
If that's the case, then what is Sima Lie trying to do by bringing this up now?
Qin Yu quickly went through Sima Lie's words several times in his mind, while matching each place name Sima Lie mentioned with his own.
But no matter how he looked at it, he still couldn't figure out Sima Lie's intention in making such a arrangement.
The places he mentioned were indeed important passes, but they were all positions on the front lines in confrontation with the Xiongnu. Even if people from the Sima family were stationed there, it wouldn't affect the overall situation.
Even after taking these positions, he still couldn't touch the Zhao family.
Unless he was planning to give all these places to the Xiongnu.
But this clearly did not align with Sima Lie's interests.
"His Majesty?"
Seeing that Qin Yu did not respond, Sima Lie cleared his throat and asked.
Qin Yu then realized what was happening and immediately broke into a broad smile.
"Prime Minister, you're not lying to me, are you? General Tianbao is so valiant, how could he have defeated the Xiongnu so quickly?"
Qin Yu stood up happily, looking at Sima Lie with a smug expression and asked.
Sima Lie nodded.
"How could this old minister dare to deceive Your Majesty with such a matter? Your Majesty, in order to avoid missing the opportunity for battle, please give the order!"
Seeing Sima Lie's anxious appearance, his lackeys knew that the prime minister must be planning something big, so they all stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, this is an opportunity that must not be missed, for it will not come again. Your subject begs to grant General Tianbao's request!"
"I second that proposal!"
"Your Majesty, we humbly request that you grant General Tianbao's request."
"..."
Hearing the unanimous voices of the ministers below, Qin Yu laughed heartily twice.
"I knew it! General Tianbao is incredibly brave and fierce. No wonder he dared to send General Gaochao to assassinate that damned Xiongnu prince after he learned that the Xiongnu prince had insulted me in court. Hahaha, I must reward General Tianbao handsomely!"
After Qin Yu finished speaking, he looked at An Fu.
"Anfu, draft the imperial edict!"
"General Tianbao has made outstanding contributions and defeated the Xiongnu barbarians. He is hereby awarded a yellow riding jacket, 20,000 bonds from two countries, and is further enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yan."
Upon hearing that Sima Xiong Ba had been granted the title of Marquis of Yan so quickly, Sima Lie couldn't help but feel a little smug.
But he quickly realized that although Qin Yu's rewards seemed generous, none of them were of any real value.
Now that Prime Minister Sima's family holds absolute power, and even the emperor has become his puppet, what use is that yellow jacket?
As for government bonds, that's utter nonsense!
Next is the title of Marquis of Yan. Now that the Yan region has fallen entirely into the hands of the Xiongnu, Sima Xiongba, the Marquis of Yan, doesn't even have a fiefdom. He is just a figurehead.
"That tyrant is so stingy!"
Sima Lie couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
But he doesn't care about any of that now.
“Your Majesty, it is only right and proper for my son Xiong Ba to fight for Your Majesty, and there is no need for reward. However, the situation at the front is constantly changing, so please issue an order as I just said.”
Sima Lie spoke directly.
His words were incredibly audacious.
To directly order the emperor to do as one says—such an audacious minister would have been executed along with his entire family during the reign of the late emperor.
However, Qin Yu nodded repeatedly, with a smile on his face.
Qin Yu's behavior, so unlike that of a ruler, made the ministers shake their heads repeatedly.
How could their Great Xia Dynasty have ended up with such an emperor!
Sima Lie was also delighted.
"Alright, do as the Prime Minister says. Also, Anfu, issue another decree ordering all prefectures and counties to send troops to help General Tianbao guard those passes."
Qin Yu waved his hand and agreed to all of Sima Lie's requests.
Seeing how obedient he was, Sima Lie nodded.
It turns out that keeping this incompetent ruler around was actually quite useful.
As for Qin Yu's order to send reinforcements to other places, he had no doubts whatsoever.
As long as the Sima family's troops can occupy those places, nothing else matters.
After Anfu finished drafting the imperial edict, Qin Yu excitedly left the court and went straight to his bedchamber.
Upon hearing that Ruyan had already returned, Qin Yu was immediately filled with disappointment.
He really wanted to continue his relationship with Ruyan.
Meanwhile, Ruyan, whom Qin Yu had been longing for, was kneeling in the Begonia Palace.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me... I was forced to do this last night!"
Ruyan looked pitifully at Sima Jing, who was sitting in front of her, and said aggrievedly.
Sima Jing glanced at her, a cold smile playing on her lips, yet also a strange sense of satisfaction.
Her revenge this time was incredibly successful.
With the added boost of that potent drug last night, Ruyan must be quite proactive.
Seeing that her legs were almost unable to close, Sima Jing could already imagine what a passionate and intense scene must have been like last night.
Despite feeling delighted, Sima Jing showed no sign of it on her face.
"You lowly servant, it seems you really want to replace me!"
Sima Jing's expression was gloomy.
Seeing her gloomy expression, Ruyan was so frightened that she collapsed to the ground.
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I truly did not mean it. My loyalty to Your Majesty is as clear as day, and I would never dare to have any improper thoughts!"
Ruyan kowtowed repeatedly, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Although she knew she was a stand-in for Sima Jing, trained by the Prime Minister and his associates, and that she could replace Sima Jing once the opportunity arose.
But as long as Sima Jing doesn't die, she, as his substitute, will forever remain just a servant.
Therefore, she was terrified that Sima Jing would kill her.
Seeing Ruyan completely terrified and at a loss, Sima Jing finally revealed a satisfied smile.
"Ruyan, you've followed me for so many years. Actually, I don't mind if you want to replace me, nor do I mind if you have something going on with the tyrant, but..."
Hearing Sima Jing's voice suddenly soften, Ru Yan looked up at her with some surprise.
The Empress is so magnanimous!
But soon, Sima Jing's words made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.
"I don't mind, but you lost your virginity to the tyrannical emperor yesterday. If the Prime Minister and Mr. Qiu find out about this, do you know what will happen to you?"
Upon hearing Sima Jing's words, Ru Yan's mind went completely blank.
Yes, she lost her virginity to the tyrannical emperor yesterday!
Once the body is lost, the Soul-Sealing Powder loses its effect.
This has a significant impact on the Prime Minister's grand plans.
Thinking of this, Ruyan couldn't help but recall the scene when Sima Jing was tormented by the Thousand Insect Pill.
If the Prime Minister and the others found out that she was no longer a virgin, would she suffer the same fate as Sima Jing, or even worse?
Thinking of this, Ruyan dared not imagine anything further.
She immediately crawled toward Sima Jing, her body trembling.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please save me! I don't want to die!"
Ruyan clung to Sima Jing's leg, looking at her with terrified eyes and pleading.
Seeing her terrified expression, Sima Jing's lips curled into a beautiful smile.
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