The wintersweets in the back garden of Dieyi Palace are in bloom.
The wintersweet flowers on the trees are like clusters of flames. They bloom in the white snow and are extremely beautiful at first glance.
At dusk, Emperor Xuan and Empress Shang wandered among the flowers.
Queen Shang seemed to have returned to her girlhood. From time to time, she would climb down a plum branch and smell the flowers.
But Emperor Xuan did not seem to have much leisure time. His face was a bit like the gloomy lead-gray sky at this snowy evening.
"Official Fu went straight from Wofeng Road to Fenglin Mountain. There, he awarded the Divine Sword First Army a flag, composed a military song, appointed a group of generals, and even held a meeting..."
Emperor Xuan stopped and looked up at the low sky. "He is preparing to launch a war against the barbarians without my permission!"
"The thirty thousand Divine Sword Army has now all left Fenglin Mountain and headed for Pingling..."
Empress Shang let go of a plum blossom and turned to look at Emperor Xuan.
"Bai Yulian isn't in the army!... I told him long ago that next spring, I'd have Bai Yulian train a hundred thousand troops for me, but Bai Yulian isn't in the army!"
He repeated this sentence twice with a very serious tone, and Queen Shang felt a sinking feeling in her heart.
Emperor Xuan suddenly laughed, and he turned to look at Empress Shang. "Tell me, where is Bai Yulian now?"
"Didn't Dao'er come all the way back with him? Dao'er has already mastered the training methods of the Divine Sword Army. He can also train an army like that."
Emperor Xuan remained silent. "The barbarians have been experiencing heavy snowfall since the beginning of winter this year. This is bound to be a year of famine. If he provokes the barbarians at this time, they will inevitably move south, forcing the northern border troops to move, forcing me to mobilize a huge amount of food and fodder for them... What on earth is he thinking?"
Emperor Xuan frowned, his face serious. "He is my son-in-law. Why didn't he discuss such a big matter with me?"
When Queen Shang learned that the Divine Sword First Army was heading for Pingling Mountain, she knew that something bad was going to happen.
The bad thing is that Fu Xiaoguan didn’t tell Emperor Xuan!
This kid has always been cautious in his actions, why is he so reckless this time?
This was during the Yu Dynasty after all!
No matter what, you should give the emperor some face.
But he really did it, so it's no wonder that the emperor was displeased.
"I'm afraid... I thought he was worried that Your Majesty would not agree to send troops to replace him."
“…Maybe.”
Emperor Xuan did not argue with Empress Shang. Perhaps this sentence shocked Empress Shang.
"Your Majesty, do you think he will be detrimental to the Yu Dynasty?" Queen Shang asked cautiously.
"Look, this wintersweet chooses to bloom in this world of ice and snow to reveal its purity... Actually, at this time of year, there are no flowers for people to enjoy. If you remove the wintersweet from the garden, the white snow scene will be just as beautiful!"
Empress Shang remained silent for a long time. Emperor Xuan grinned and said, "Tomorrow, I don't want to see any wintersweet in this yard! Not a single one!"
He turned and left. Queen Shang looked at his back and stood in the wind and snow for a long time!
…
…
December 28, the tenth year of the Xuanli calendar.
Fu Xiaoguan and his party arrived in Jinling.
He waved goodbye to Yu Wendao, Yan Xiwen, and Zhuo Liuyun, and returned to the Ding'an Earl's Mansion with Ning Siyan and others.
The Ding'an Earl's Mansion suddenly became more lively at this moment. He teased his three children, sat by the fireplace with his wife and fiancées and said a few words, then saw Jia Nanxing walk in.
"Your Highness, the eldest princess is here."
Fu Xiaoguan was stunned for a moment, and had to leave the main house apologetically and come to Li Chenxuan.
"I thought you wouldn't see me."
Fu Xiaoguan was stunned. "Why do you say that, aunt?"
Yu Shurong's face turned cold. "Now that you don't even take the emperor seriously, shouldn't you, your aunt, take me even less seriously?"
Fu Xiaoguan looked at Yu Shurong carefully and understood the reason.
He smiled calmly. "Aunt, please sit down."
Yu Shurong sat down and said, "There's not even a single wintersweet left in the Queen's garden!"
Fu Xiaoguan made a pot of tea and asked without looking up, "Is the emperor unhappy?"
"You also know that the emperor doesn't like it!"
"I've said it before, I won't do anything that would harm the interests of the Yu Dynasty."
"Aunt believes it, the Queen believes it, but you have to make His Majesty believe it even more!..."
Yu Shurong took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "After all, he is the emperor of the Yu Dynasty! After all, you are his son-in-law!"
"I thought he would trust me because I was his son-in-law."
"So you're testing me?"
Fu Xiaoguan grinned, "Aunt is right."
Yu Shurong was shocked. She hadn't expected Fu Xiaoguan to admit it so frankly. "Do you have to use this method to test him? Aren't you afraid that he'll chop off your head regardless of the consequences?"
Yu Shurong sat up straight, her chest heaving. "If you die, even if the Yu Dynasty dies with you, you're already dead after all! Besides... will the Wu Dynasty really suffer the consequences of both sides' destruction just for you?"
Fu Xiaoguan didn't say anything. He was really brewing a pot of tea very seriously. After a moment of silence, he poured a cup of tea for the princess and then spoke:
"I just got back. I'm exhausted from the journey. I haven't showered yet, and I haven't even had a chance to talk to my wife and children..."
He looked up at Yu Shurong and said seriously, "I'm very busy, really busy! Please tell His Majesty that I will give him a large territory as a gift. Does he want it or not?"
Yu Shurong was startled. She stared at Fu Xiaoguan in amazement, "You...you want to annihilate the barbarians? Just relying on 30,000 Divine Sword Soldiers?"
"Of course, I need the cooperation of the northern border troops. I have already sent a letter to General Peng. So, if Your Majesty wishes, please have him give General Peng an order. As long as General Peng cooperates with me, that vast piece of land of the barbarians will be his!"
"Why didn't you tell His Majesty earlier?"
Fu Xiaoguan touched his nose and smiled brightly. "Just as Auntie said, I was just testing you. Now I roughly understand. Thank you, Auntie!"
Yu Shurong's heart skipped a beat. "Don't make wild guesses! He is your father-in-law after all!"
Fu Xiaoguan picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Look, I haven't even had time to drink a sip of water along the way... What a pity for the plum trees in the yard."
So... the rift between the father-in-law and son-in-law is irreparable?
Yu Shurong closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "...Yu Wendao is the next emperor of the Yu Dynasty!"
"I know, he is my uncle."
"I'm your aunt too!"
"My nephew will always remember my aunt... Everything I did was for Yu Chao... Of course, it was also for myself."
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