Chapter 106 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
Just as Zhang Xiaojia said, she has always been behind the scenes. She is not the manager of Dazhou Women's College, someone else is the manager of Jiashan Hall, and even the Dazhou Wool Textile Bureau is not her.
She would not show up, and could not show up. This was the tacit understanding between her and the emperor.
He Fei has been fighting outside for eight years. It is said that in the past two years, he has had a female general by his side. Zhang Xiaojia also needs someone on his side. The news has spread like wildfire in Kyoto.
The rumors of He Fei and the female general were rampant in Kyoto, with people everywhere talking about it. Some said that the female general was valiant and had fought alongside He Fei, and their friendship was deep; others speculated that He Fei was often away from home and inevitably felt lonely, and that the appearance of the female general filled the void in his heart.
Though Zhang Xiaojia was behind the scenes, she was well-informed. She heard the news without a ripple of emotion. The relationship between her and He Fei had long transcended ordinary romantic feelings. Their tacit understanding was driven by the ever-changing state of affairs at court and the weight of family, country, and the world. She knew that He Fei's heart was always with the Great Zhou, and that the female general was merely his right-hand man on the battlefield.
However, rumors were just rumors, and Zhang Xiaojia had no intention of refuting them. She knew the more she explained, the more guilty she would appear. She continued to handle the affairs of Dazhou Women's College and Jiashan Hall as usual, as if the outside world's turmoil had nothing to do with her.
If Zhang Xiaojia hadn't heard He Fei's inner thoughts, he would have rushed over long ago.
Sometimes the 0003 system would come into her mind to convey messages to He Fei.
He Lin has been by her side for eight years. His master said that he should go out to gain experience, but she was reluctant to let him go. When he came to her side, he was only at her chest, and now he is a head taller than her.
Tomorrow, Lin'er will go to the frontier battlefield, and Zhang Xiaojia is reluctant to prepare medicinal herbs for him.
Zhang Xiaojia took out the prosthetic hand device she made.
Zhang Xiaojia gently stroked the prosthetic hand in her hand, a look of reluctance and determination in her eyes. She had spent months painstakingly designing this device, which looked like a real hand on the outside, yet held a hidden secret. Its ingenious mechanism could conceal life-saving herbs and, in moments of crisis, deploy hidden weapons for self-defense. While she didn't want Lin'er to risk his life, she didn't want him to be alone on the battlefield, even more so.
"Lin'er, come here." She called softly, with a hint of trembling in her voice.
He Lin strode forward, his figure erect and straight. He was no longer the young boy who had barely reached his mother's chest. He had a heroic look in his eyes and a faint smile on his lips, as if he had no fear of the upcoming journey to the border.
"Mom, are you looking for me?" His voice was clear and carried some youthful vigor.
Zhang Xiaojia handed him the prosthetic hand device, her tone gentle but unquestionable: "This is what Mom made for you. Wear it. Although you may not need it, it may save your life in a critical moment."
He Lin took the device and examined it carefully, a flicker of surprise and emotion in his eyes. He looked up at his mother and smiled, "Mom's craftsmanship is truly amazing. This prosthetic hand looks exactly like the real thing."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled slightly, reached out to straighten his collar, and whispered, "The border is bitterly cold, and the war is dangerous. You must be careful. Mother...can't bear to leave you."
He Lin held his mother's hand, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes: "Mom, don't worry, I will take good care of myself. But..." He paused, his tone suddenly became mischievous, "Mom, since you are so worried about me, why don't you come with me to the border? Dad is there anyway, wouldn't it be better for our family to be reunited?"
Zhang Xiaojia was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and laughed, "What nonsense are you talking about, kid? I still have Da Zhou Women's College and Jiashan Hall to take care of. How can I just leave like that?"
He Lin refused to give in, shaking her hand. "Mom, didn't you always say that the affairs of the academy and Jiashan Hall could be handed over to others? Besides, Dad has been on the frontier for so many years, don't you want to see him? And the rumors about that female general... don't you want to go and see it with your own eyes?"
Zhang Xiaojia's expression froze for a moment, a complex expression flashing across her eyes. She didn't want to see He Fei either, but the tacit understanding between her and He Fei had long surpassed ordinary romantic feelings. She believed that He Fei's heart was always with her, and that the female general was merely his right-hand man on the battlefield.
However, He Lin's words were like a fine needle, gently piercing her heart. She lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, finally sighing softly: "Lin'er, it's not that I don't want to go, but...I can't leave easily because of the matters at court."
He Lin saw this, a sly look flashed in his eyes, and he leaned in and whispered, "Mother, if you're worried about the court affairs, why don't you let Wei Jingxuan help you handle it?"
Zhang Xiaojia couldn't help laughing when he heard that. He reached out and tapped his forehead: "You kid, you really know how to make plans."
He Lin felt relieved when he saw his mother smile, and continued to persuade her, "Mom, please come with me. Although life on the frontier is hard, with you around, Dad and I will feel much more at ease."
Zhang Xiaojia was moved by his words. After a moment's hesitation, she finally nodded and said, "Okay, Mom will go with you. However, there are some things that Mom needs to arrange first."
He Lin was overjoyed when he heard this and hugged his mother: "Mom, you are so kind!"
Zhang Xiaojia was a little breathless in his embrace, and patted his back with a smile: "Okay, let go quickly, Mom still has to go prepare some herbs and luggage."
He Lin let go of her hand, his eyes full of anticipation: "Mom, when are we leaving?"
Zhang Xiaojia thought for a moment and said, "Let's do it tomorrow morning. You go and rest first. Mother still has some things to take care of."
He Lin nodded in agreement and turned to leave with brisk steps, as if he had already seen the vast world of the frontier.
After He Lin left, Zhang Xiaojia also rode his horse to the imperial city. Looking at the night sky in the distance, his mind was full of thoughts.
She and He Fei had been separated for many years. Although they had a mutual understanding, it was ultimately no match for seeing each other in person.
She gently stroked her chest and whispered, "He Fei, wait for me."
Meanwhile, He Fei, far away in the frontier, was standing on the city wall, gazing at the enemy camp in the distance, his brow furrowed. Beside him stood a heroic female general, the one in the rumors.
"General He, the enemy has been moving frequently in recent days. I'm afraid they will launch an attack soon." The female general said in a deep voice.
He Fei nodded, his eyes deep: "Pass the order down, the entire army is on alert, and there must not be any slackness."
The female general left in response, but He Fei remained standing, looking towards Kyoto, silently saying in his heart: "Xiao Jia, are you okay?"
What he didn't know was that at this moment, Zhang Xiaojia was taking their son on the journey to the border.
————
The emperor was having sex with Zhaoyi in his bedroom when he heard Eunuch Mai say that Zhang Xiaojia wanted to see him. The veins on his forehead bulged.
"Tell her to wait for me."
Zhang Xiaojia was sitting in the main courtyard drinking tea.
Hmmmm~
She seems a little too impulsive. Her brother wouldn't be in bed with a beautiful woman, would he?
"Eunuch Mai, I'm hungry. Go cook me something to eat." Zhang Xiaojia shouted.
After she finished her meal and drank a pot of tea, she waited for an hour before her brother finally arrived.
The emperor came out in casual clothes and said, "Tell me, give me a reason why you came to my bedroom in the middle of the night."
Zhang Xiaojia blinked and said cutely, "Brother, I'm going to the border to see He Fei tomorrow."
The emperor became even more annoyed when he heard this: "Don't you go there every month or two? You never reported it? Did you do it on a whim this time?"
Zhang Xiaojia took out some account books and matters.
"Brother, I'll be gone for a longer time this time, probably three months, and Lin'er will go too."
"I understand."
"You hire someone to help me manage these shops. This is my money." Zhang Xiaojia bit my two words tightly.
The emperor wanted to kill his unfortunate sister, so he came to him in the middle of the night just to ask him to manage the shop.
The emperor casually flipped through the account book and when he saw the accounts on the imperial farm, he glared at the little bastard.
In the first two years, they even dared to cook the books for him.
There was no war in the first two years, so she indulged in greed without any fear. In the past eight years, the war had used up all her private treasury. Now she relied on the relief of her mother, the empress dowager, and robbing the emperor's private treasury for her luxurious life.
The emperor thought of the rumors in the capital: "Jingwen was not even half a meter away from that female general. According to what that bastard said, he is a man of integrity."
Zhang Xiaojia curled her lips and said, "I just miss He Fei. If he dares to do me wrong, I will kick him out. Brother, you are not allowed to be partial to him. You have to help me and not want this brother. I tell my mother not to have this son."
The emperor nodded happily. This little ancestor could make a fuss about He Fei's matter for the whole night.
"Brother, give me 100 of your Dragon Guards and 10,000 of your cavalry. This is for Lin'er. It won't look good if he goes out as a bald prince." Zhang Xiaojia said coquettishly.
The emperor did not speak, but tapped the table with his hands. This was exactly the purpose of this little ancestor coming here. The Dragon Guard only protected the emperor.
"The Dragon Guards are loaned to you for your protection only. Ten thousand cavalry, you can do whatever you want."
Zhang Xiaojia actually came here with a try-it attitude, and she didn't expect that she could get 10,000 cavalrymen for her son, cavalrymen, the elite among the elites.
"Thank you, brother."
The emperor waved his hand and said, "Get out of here and come back soon, or your mother will be worried."
Zhang Xiaojia nodded happily.
On the way back to the imperial farm, she would take a hundred Dragon Guards with her, and ten thousand cavalrymen would be waiting for her halfway at the border.
———
When He Lin woke up, the morning light had already filled the room.
He rubbed his eyes and saw his mother, Zhang Xiaojia, standing there, with the Dragon Guards lined up neatly behind her. The one hundred Dragon Guards, dressed in light black armor with golden dragon patterns embroidered on their chests, looked solemn and majestic, like an insurmountable city wall.
He Lin was shocked. He knew that the Dragon Guards were the emperor's personal guards. Their combat effectiveness was ten times that of a man, making them the elite among the elite.
"Mom, this is..." He Lin was a little surprised, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Zhang Xiaojia turned around, a smug smile on her face. "Son, we're traveling light. Mother even got you 10,000 cavalry. We need to ride as fast as we can. We'll reach the front in two days."
A hint of excitement flashed in He Lin's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
Zhang Xiaojia, He Lin and the Long Weijun rode at full speed to the front line.
Halfway along the way, the cavalrymen were ready to go, their horses neighing and their armor flashing a cold light in the sun.
Zhang Xiaojia jumped on the horse and waved his hand to signal He Lin to take command.
He Lin shouted: "Let's go!"
Ten thousand cavalrymen poured out of the camp like a torrent, the clatter of their hooves shaking the earth and sending clouds of dust flying. He Lin sat on his horse, feeling the wind whistling past his ears, his heart filled with lofty ambitions.
He knew that this battle was not only for the Great Zhou, but also to prove his own worth.
However, just as they were galloping along and about to reach the front line, Zhang Xiaojia whispered, "Lin'er, all the troops, stop and rest on the spot!"
He Lin was stunned: "Mom, why did you stop? The battle on the front line is urgent, shouldn't we get there as soon as possible?"
Zhang Xiaojia smiled faintly, his eyes deep. "Lin'er, the battlefield is no joke. We can't go to see your father and the army in disgrace. You are a prince, representing the majesty of the royal family. You can't let anyone look down on you."
He Lin suddenly understood and nodded.
He understood his mother's intention. The first impression on the battlefield was crucial. They couldn't appear exhausted in front of everyone, as that would not only weaken morale but also make them look down upon.
"Pass the order down, the entire army will rest for three hours, tidy up their appearance, check their equipment! Rest." He Lin gave the order loudly, with unquestionable majesty in his voice.
The cavalry quickly dismounted and began to adjust their armor and polish their weapons. He Lin, accompanied by several personal guards, came to a stream and carefully washed the dust from his face. He removed his armor and donned a brand new battle robe, his sword at his waist, looking remarkably heroic.
He Lin ran to Zhang Xiaojia with water in his hand and said, "Mom, please wipe your face."
Zhang Xiaojia smiled as she accepted the child's filial piety and wiped her face. "Lin'er, from today on, this is your battlefield. Mother is right behind you. As long as you need to find me, I'll be there. You have to take me with you on the road ahead."
He Lin said confidently, "Okay, Mom, I'll go ahead and clear the way. I'll make sure the road is smooth so you can pass."
Zhang Xiaojia stood aside, looking at her son with satisfaction. She knew that He Lin was no longer the child who needed her protection, but a general who could stand on his own.
Three hours later, the cavalry regrouped, their horses in high spirits, their armor gleaming. He Lin sat on his horse, his gaze determined, like a sword unsheathed, its edge exposed.
"Let's go!" He Lin waved his hand and gave the order in a loud and powerful voice.
The cavalrymen set out again, this time with a more orderly pace and a more imposing manner. He Lin rode at the front, his heart brimming with confidence.
He knew that in this battle, he would appear in front of his father and the soldiers in the most perfect posture to prove his strength and value.
When they arrived at the front line, the setting sun was shining brightly on the earth, and the golden light reflected on the cavalrymen's armor, as if covering them with a layer of sacred glory. He Fei stood at the camp gate, gazing at this imposing cavalry from afar, a trace of relief flashed in his eyes.
"Here it comes." He Fei said softly, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
He Lin rode up to his father, dismounted, and knelt on one knee: "Father, I lead 10,000 cavalrymen to support you!"
He Fei nodded and reached out to help his son up: "Okay, you came at the right time."
Zhang Xiaojia also walked forward and looked at the father and son with a smile.
This battle was not only a victory for the Great Zhou, but also a battle for He Lin's growth.
As night fell, the tents were brightly lit. He Lin stood before a map, discussing tactics with his father and the generals. His voice was firm and forceful, and his suggestions were clear and logical, earning their approval.
Zhang Xiaojia took a look, turned around and walked out of the tent.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
