Chapter 74 Good News
The good news from Jingxiang was like a long-awaited rain, instantly dispelling the gloom in the court.
Duke Yunfeng of Yun was a master of military strategy, and together with the newly appointed Minister of War Bai Qi, who was a civil official but well versed in strategy and was also proficient in the allocation of funds and grain, the two of them worked together seamlessly and put down a rebellion that could have been costly and laborious, but they fought cleanly and efficiently, and the cost was 30% less than the budget!
The good news reached Yanying Palace. Xiao Jin, who had been reviewing memorials for days with a frown on his face, finally couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips.
"Great! What a great Duke Yun! What a great Bai Qi!"
Xiao Jin clapped his hands, and the depression he had been feeling for days was swept away.
His eyes fell on the thin piece of paper that came with the victory report, and his tone was so light that he didn't even notice it: "Zhang Fuan, are you still standing there? Duke Yun brought a letter from home, why don't you go and call her over!"
Zhang Fuan saw that His Majesty was in a rare good mood and left with a brisk pace.
But in a moment, the palace door was pushed open with a "bang" and Yun Zhao almost rushed in.
She gave a hasty bow, her eyes shining like stars on a summer night, staring intently at the letter on Xiao Jin's desk: "Your Majesty! Is this a letter from my father? How is my father? In Jingxiang..." Before she finished her words, she had already reached out and snatched the letter into her arms. Only then did she add belatedly, "...uh, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
Xiao Jin's fingers tapped lightly on the rosewood table in a brisk rhythm.
Looking at Yun Zhao's almost rude eagerness, he was not displeased at all. Instead, a hint of indulgence, so faint that he himself did not even notice it, flashed across the depths of his eyes.
For the first time ever, he didn't scold her, but just looked at her quietly.
[Look at the dog emperor, his mouth is almost stretched to the back of his ears. My father must have won a great victory! Humph, don't you see whose father is! In the field of military operations and fighting, my father is second to none. Who dares to claim first place?]
Yun Zhao was unconcealedly proud, like a little fox with its tail raised.
She couldn't wait to tear open the envelope, her eyes greedily scanning the familiar handwriting. The letter was short, simply an announcement of safety, a reminder that she must serve His Majesty with all her heart, and that everything at home was fine and not to worry. Every word was a typical family letter.
But as he looked, the bright light in Yun Zhao's eyes dimmed little by little, the tip of his nose felt slightly sore, and a thin layer of mist quickly covered his eyes.
Xiao Jin, who had been observing her silently, frowned slightly.
You were like a happy little bird just now, why are you crying after reading the letter?
He had never experienced such pure, unconditional fatherly love before. He spoke subconsciously, his voice slightly softer than usual: "What's wrong? Did Duke Yun scold you in the letter?"
Yun Zhao blinked quickly, pushing back the moisture that was welling up in his eyes. His voice was muffled, carrying a subtle sense of grievance: "No, my father said everything is fine, and asked me to take good care of Your Majesty and not to worry about anything."
As she spoke, she carefully folded the letter and put it back into the envelope, her fingertips turning slightly white.
Xiao Jin looked at her trying to hold back her emotions, and felt inexplicably blocked in his heart.
How much hardship and bloody battles are behind the words "everything is fine"?
This girl, is she worried about her father only reporting good news and not bad news? He opened his mouth, and the words "When I was in the cold palace..." almost burst out, but he swallowed them back, turning them into a slightly stiff cough: "...Ahem, since there is nothing else, you can leave."
Yun Zhao bowed as he was told, turned around and walked out of the hall, his steps a little heavy.
[Victory is in the air, but what about those refugees? Father didn't mention it in his letter, so it must be a difficult situation. If we leave it alone, there will be more unrest, and if we suppress it forcefully, it will harm the world... I'm afraid Father won't be able to get away for a while.]
Her worried voice reached Xiao Jin's ears clearly.
Yun Zhao had just reached the door when he heard Xiao Jin's cold voice behind him: "Yun Zhao, come back."
"My old duck soup!" Yun Zhao wailed inwardly, "It's been simmering on low heat for almost two hours. If I continue, the meat will melt! Don't waste this pressed duck I brought back from Nanjing!"
With a bitter face, she turned around reluctantly and walked back to the hall and stood still.
Xiao Jin heard her "duck soup anxiety" carefully, and the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
He suppressed his inexplicable smile, set his face sternly, and fixed his gaze on her, asking, "I was just wondering how to properly resettle the refugees from Jingxiang. Do you have any ideas?"
[I know a little, but the first bird to stick its head out gets shot! If I say something wrong, the dog emperor will turn against me faster than turning the pages of a book!]
Yun Zhao's mind was racing with calculations, but his expression remained respectful. "Your Majesty, matters of public concern like these should be addressed to the Lord Minister. He knows astronomy and geography, and is experienced. He will surely have a good plan."
"I'm asking you!" Xiao Jin's voice deepened, carrying an unquestionable force. "Do you think that just because you're a high-ranking official, you can ignore everything? As a minister, you should share the emperor's worries, think carefully about everything, and cooperate. Or is it..." He changed the subject, his tone taking on a sour tone that he himself didn't even realize, "In your heart, my kingdom and my people are not as important as the pot of duck soup you've got simmering on the stove?"
[!!!] Yun Zhao suddenly looked up, his eyes wide open. [He, he, he... How did he know I made duck soup? He sent someone to watch my small kitchen?! Is the dog emperor so idle?!] Shocked thoughts exploded in Xiao Jin's mind.
Seeing Yun Zhao's expression of "seeing a ghost", Xiao Jin's mood inexplicably improved a bit, and even his tone slowed down a bit, with a hint of persuasion: "Just say it. What I want is to gather the wisdom of all. If everything depends on the elder alone, do you think... is it appropriate?"
[Of course not! Lord Yu is skilled at dealing with those old foxes in the court, but when it comes to military logistics and the resettlement of civilians, he's still a bit lacking in experience. My father always said that wars are fought for food and people's hearts. If the refugees aren't properly resettled, it will sow the seeds of new trouble.]
Yun Zhao calculated rapidly in his mind, weighing the pros and cons.
She took a deep breath, as if she had made some kind of resolution. She looked up at Xiao Jin with clear eyes and said, "Since Your Majesty has said so, I will speak without hesitation. If there is anything inappropriate, Your Majesty, please feel free to correct me and interrupt me."
She cleared her throat and began to articulate her ideas. Xiao Jin leaned back in his chair, his knuckles tapping unconsciously on the armrests, his gaze fixed on her focused yet slightly anxious face. As he listened to her suggestions, which were not just theoretical but rather practical, the subtle displeasure he'd felt at her "duck soup" had long since been quietly replaced by a more complex emotion of appreciation and inquiry.
"But you can say it!"
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