Chapter 84 The Northern Kingdom's Thieves' Hearts Remain Undiminished
He glanced at Li Dehai waiting outside and whispered, "Return to Sizheng Hall."
Li Dehai bowed immediately: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Yuwen Che continued walking and asked again, "Where is Pei Xuan?"
Li Dehai quickly grabbed a nearby eunuch and asked, then hurried to reply, "Your Majesty, General Pei has already left the palace and returned to the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence."
"Summon Pei Xuan to the palace," Yuwen Che said succinctly. "Have him come to the Sizheng Hall to see me."
"This old servant will send someone to convey the message immediately." Li Dehai dared not delay and immediately beckoned to the eunuch below, whispering a few words of instruction.
Yuwen Che returned to the Sizheng Hall. He stood with his hands behind his back by the window, gazing at the deep night outside, lost in thought.
Before an incense stick had burned, footsteps could be heard outside the hall.
"Your Majesty, General Pei has arrived," Li Dehai announced from outside the door.
"Let him in."
Pei Xuan, dressed in casual clothes, walked in, bringing with him the chill of the outside air. He clasped his hands in a respectful greeting: "Your Majesty."
Yuwen Che turned around, his gaze sharp: "Get up. The letter from the Northern Border, did it really not mention anything?"
Pei Xuan straightened up, his expression solemn: "The letter is here; Your Majesty may read it personally." As he spoke, he took out a secret letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands. "In the letter, my father only used coded language, mentioning that the north wind was getting stronger and that foxes and rats were lurking, reminding the capital to strengthen its defenses. He did not explicitly mention the envoy's affairs, which suggests that he was unable to grasp the exact situation."
Yuwen Che took the letter, glanced at it quickly, and snorted coldly: "Helian Bobo is still not giving up. On the surface, he sends a new envoy to show goodwill, but secretly... humph."
He looked at Pei Xuan: "What do you think?"
Pei Xuan pondered for a moment: "Your Majesty, the arrival of the new envoy from the Northern Kingdom is suspicious. I suspect that this move is intended to confuse the public, or perhaps... there is another purpose."
"What's the point?" Yuwen Che pressed, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.
Pei Xuan looked up, met the Emperor's gaze, and uttered two words: "Empress."
The air inside the hall suddenly turned cold.
Just then, a dark figure appeared silently in the corner of the hall like a ghost, kneeling on one knee: "Master."
It was none other than Han Ying, the head of the Shadow Pavilion.
Yuwen Che didn't turn around, and asked directly, "Have you found out?"
Han Ying's voice was flat and even: "Yes. Three sorcerers have infiltrated the new delegation from the Northern Kingdom. They are skilled in using poison and creating accidents. Their target is indeed the dragon fetus in the Empress's womb. Helian Bobo intends to disturb the pregnancy. If the Empress could be involved... it would be even better."
"Fine, fine, Helian Bobo!" Yuwen Che laughed in fury, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "I haven't even had a chance to settle accounts with him yet, and he keeps provoking me!"
He suddenly turned to Pei Xuan: "The defenses of the capital region, especially the palace guards, must be screened again! Any suspicious persons should be dealt with more severely than let go!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!" Pei Xuan clasped his hands in a fist salute, his expression solemn.
Yuwen Che then looked at Han Ying: "Those three 'ghost witches,' I want their heads delivered to Wuzhu's bedside on the day the new delegation arrives in the capital."
"Yes." Han Ying accepted the order, and with a flicker, disappeared into the darkness as if he had never been there.
Yuwen Che took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger, and said to Pei Xuan, "In the northern border, have your father intensify preparations for war. I will order the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works to prioritize the supply of provisions and weapons. Tell the Marquis of Zhenbei that I want to see his report of victory after the spring."
A glint of fervor flashed in Pei Xuan's eyes: "Your Majesty, rest assured! Father has been itching for action for a long time, just waiting for Your Majesty's command!"
"Very good." Yuwen Che walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. "You are the person I trust most. I entrust the safety of the capital to you."
"Your subject would gladly die a thousand deaths!"
After Pei Xuan left, Yuwen Che paced alone in the hall.
Li Dehai quietly served ginseng tea: "Your Majesty, it's late. Please take care of your health."
Yuwen Che took the teacup but didn't drink it. He suddenly asked, "Li Dehai, tell me, have I been too lenient with the Northern Kingdom?"
Li Dehai bowed: "This old servant dares not presume to discuss state affairs. However... they want to disrupt Your Majesty's harem, and even... attempt to harm the Empress's unborn child. They deserve to die a thousand deaths."
Yuwen Che's eyes were icy: "Yes, they deserve to die."
He put down his teacup, his voice resolute: "Issue an imperial decree that, effective immediately, the Imperial Guards at the Honglu Guest House shall be tripled. No one shall enter or leave without my written order. The expenses required by the Northern Kingdom delegation shall be halved."
"yes."
"Furthermore," Yuwen Che added, "tell the Imperial Hospital that I will personally review the Empress's daily medication for preventing miscarriage. You will personally lead a team to inspect all the medicinal materials."
"This old servant understands."
After arranging everything, Yuwen Che finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He walked to the window and looked in the direction of Guanju Palace, his cold and hard eyebrows gradually softening.
"Xue'er, I will never let anyone harm you and the child," he murmured to himself. "Any potential danger, I will personally eliminate for you."
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