Changning was even more worried: "Who will go this time? Breaking through this encirclement is no joke. My father is old, but he's still quite skilled and can barely manage to break through. Is there anyone capable of taking on this important task now? Besides, what's going on in Ujumqin... we can't let others know..."
Yinzhen did not speak. Su Peisheng crouched down and entered from outside: "Your Majesty, the Emperor summons you."
Changning worriedly grabbed his hand, and Yinzhen tucked the blanket around her: "Don't think too much and upset yourself. I told the children not to come and disturb your rest. They're worried too. Why don't you let Hutuli come and keep you company?"
As soon as Yinzhen finished speaking, Hongyan and Hongzhao rushed into the Hutu. Hongyan was the first to rush in: "Father! I'm willing to go! I'm small, and I can sneak out under the cover of night without many people noticing!"
Yinzhen frowned, and Changning exclaimed in surprise, "Hongyan! Don't talk nonsense! How could it be your turn?"
Hongzhao and Hutuli also volunteered, using the same excuse, even citing their own killing of several rebels the day before as a reason for their ability.
Changning, for the first time, angrily rebuked, "This is a matter of great military importance! It's not child's play for you. Don't think it's so simple that you can just use brute force! If the military situation is delayed, tens of thousands of troops will be lost! You are in the royal family and know a lot about these things, so why are you still so reckless!"
Seeing that Changning was so angry, the children dared not make a fuss anymore. Yinzhen was afraid that she would get sick from anger, especially since she was pregnant!
"Have them bring you a bowl of chicken soup. You haven't eaten all day, so you need to replenish your energy. The children are all grown up, so don't scold them. I'm going to see Father Emperor first, and we'll talk about it when I get back."
Before leaving, Yinzhen patted the children on the head, telling them not to be so dejected.
When Hutu saw Changning struggling to breathe, she knew her mother was worried about her and wasn't feeling well, so she quickly handed her mother a cushion to lean on: "Mother, we were wrong, please don't be angry."
Changning sighed, had the children sit beside her, and earnestly advised them, "Mother knows you want to share your father's burdens and the country's burdens. But this matter is not so simple. Putting aside how dangerous the sword fights are, just consider the consequences if we can't find outside help in time and the palace is breached by the rebels?"
The three children looked at each other in bewilderment.
Ignoring the children's thoughts, Changning went straight to the worst possible outcome: "If the rebels break through, we will all die. The Emperor will be deposed, the entire Fucha clan will be executed, Mother and my brothers will be victims of their blades, and thousands of palace maids, eunuchs, and soldiers will be buried here. The change of dynasties always involves rivers of blood. Can you really shoulder this responsibility?"
In fact, Changning knew very well that Meng Guqing's faked death and subsequent rise to become the leader of the Ujumqin must not be known to anyone with ill intentions. Sending someone else would always be risky.
However, they had very few trustworthy people at their disposal. Not to mention that ordinary soldiers were not qualified to go and request reinforcements; they needed someone of high status.
Otherwise, why would Fucha Boder, at the age of sixty, personally lead the expedition?
Hong Yan is skilled in martial arts, has a respectable status, and is not as conspicuous as an adult, not to mention that Meng Guqing is acquainted with him. Sending him would be the most suitable choice at present.
However, Changning had to make it clear to him how serious this matter was, as it concerned the fate of the Qing Dynasty and the lives of countless people, and it was absolutely not something to be taken lightly!
Meanwhile, a heated argument was taking place on the other side.
Fourteen was the most impulsive and hot-blooded. He was about to charge out the door almost immediately, wearing his armor, but Thirteen held him back so that he wouldn't lose his mind.
"Father, I request to fight!" Seeing the Fourteenth Prince's imposing and fearless appearance, Kangxi remained silent.
His body was growing weaker and weaker, but his eyes were now terrifyingly bright.
"Has this matter been thoroughly investigated? Is it truly unrelated to the Crown Prince?"
Upon hearing the Emperor's question, the Third Prince stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, I have visited the Crown Prince, but he does not acknowledge him."
A strange expression appeared on Kangxi's face: "Can you find out if the Eighth Prince contacted him when he ran away?"
None of the princes accompanying the emperor dared to speak.
The indignant Fourteenth Prince fell silent. Even with his simple mind, he could tell something was amiss.
It was clearly the Eighth Prince and Suo'etu who rebelled, so why is Father Emperor always fixated on the Crown Prince?
Just because Songgotu was the crown prince's maternal uncle?
Yinzhen felt a tightness in his chest. Why did his father always target the Crown Prince? The key now should be how to break this deadlock!
He stepped forward, his voice firm and resolute: "Father, if we want to break this predicament, the garrisons at Karahetun and Gu'an are still some distance away. Even if Lord Fucha is appointed to this critical mission, he may not have enough confidence. Your subject has an idea."
"Speak." Kangxi leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.
“The Mongol tribes have already retreated a few days ago, and now we are isolated and helpless. However, the Mulan hunting grounds are vast, and if any brave and skilled cavalry from nearby tribes could come, we would have a better chance of success.”
Thirteenth Prince, already aware of Yinzhen's plan, stepped forward to go with the flow and wanted to help him succeed: "Father, I think Fourth Brother's words make sense."
Now, of the princes who came with him, the Eighth Prince had already run away, and the Crown Prince had been imprisoned by Kangxi when the fire broke out. Only the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Princes, a total of five princes, are here.
Although the Third Prince and Yinzhen had never gotten along, he didn't utter a word of rebuttal at this moment. The Fifth Prince had a complicated expression. Outside, the Eighth Prince was rebelling, but the Ninth Prince always followed him around and wouldn't listen to any advice. Now, he was even more speechless.
After a moment's thought, Kangxi asked, "Which Mongol tribe do you wish to visit?"
Yinzhen bowed and cupped his hands: "If we consider the strength of the nearby troops, I believe we should go to Ujumchin."
Kangxi did not answer immediately, but instead looked at his son, who was already quite shrewd, with a completely new perspective.
Yinzhen lowered his head, his heart pounding. His father was no longer a figure to be judged by ordinary standards at this point, and he truly didn't know if things could succeed.
Fortunately, Kangxi didn't keep him waiting too long: "Go and do it."
"Your subject obeys the decree."
Yinzhen breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, his father had agreed.
After his sons had all left, Liang Jiugong helped Kangxi slowly sit back on the bed and extinguished half of the candles. Kangxi's eyesight was getting worse and he was more accustomed to dim lighting.
"Nine Merits, does the Crown Prince still refuse to admit to treason?"
Even though Liang Jiugong had served the emperor for many years, his knees buckled and he knelt down to kowtow: "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has not given his consent."
"Um."
Kangxi lay down, and in the dim candlelight, he thought of his dream, the dream that had always lingered in his mind and could not be dispelled.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
