Chapter 283 Wouldn't that mean we're from different generations?
"Your Majesty, I am filled with trepidation!"
Xiao Shu's voice trembled slightly, filled with fear and guilt after his secret was exposed.
"Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has worked diligently to govern the country, cleansing up both the court and the people, and wishing to restore a bright and just world to the land."
"Your Majesty, I am far away in Yuzhou. Although I cannot always be by Your Majesty's side to share your burdens, I am always concerned about the court and appreciate Your Majesty's hard work."
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has been training troops on your own, and has absolutely no intention of disloyalty!"
He suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with sincerity and earnestness, as if he wanted to lay his heart bare for the other person to see.
"This army was trained by my younger brother for Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, I think that if one day Your Majesty needs the sharpest knife, a knife that can clear away all obstacles and vanquish all villains..."
"Your Majesty, your humble brother and the tens of thousands of soldiers under your command are willing to die ten thousand deaths for Your Majesty!"
These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity, each word dripping with emotion.
His Majesty, seated on the throne, listened quietly, his face still bearing that enigmatic, half-smiling expression.
He didn't immediately tell him to get up, nor did he reprimand him.
He just stood there, looking down at him, scrutinizing him.
It was as if they were watching a wonderful play that had been rehearsed for a long time.
After a long time, so long that Xiao Shu's knees began to go numb, His Majesty finally chuckled softly.
The laughter was soft, but Xiao Shu's heartstrings tightened.
"I understand my brother's intentions."
He raised his hand, gesturing for him to stand up.
"Get up and talk, the ground is cold."
The tension in Xiao Shu's heart did not ease; instead, it tightened even more.
He slowly stood up, still with his head down, looking as if he was waiting for his fate.
His Majesty twirled the jade thumb ring on his thumb, gazing into the distance at the boundless expanse of snow outside the palace.
"Speaking of which, I have been troubled by something recently."
Xiao Shu's heart was in his throat.
"The border war is intense, and the Kingdom of Ule is stirring up trouble, repeatedly invading our Great Sheng territory."
"Although Duke Meng Yushan is stationed in the Northwest, his military strength is ultimately limited. The battle lines have been stretched too far, and he is already stretched thin."
"I am worried that there are no soldiers to mobilize and no generals to use."
As His Majesty spoke, he turned his gaze back to Xiao Shu, his eyes filled with a hint of approval and satisfaction.
"Your Majesty's willingness to share the burdens of the country has truly relieved my urgent crisis."
"I am very pleased."
Xiao Shu's lips twitched involuntarily.
In that instant, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave.
What talk of sharing the nation's burdens and addressing urgent needs are just empty words.
His Majesty is going to transfer all the troops he has painstakingly built up over the years to the Northwest to fill the bottomless hole in Mengyu Mountain!
The elite troops he painstakingly cultivated would ultimately become stepping stones for Meng Yushan's Northwest Army to achieve fame and success on that brutal battlefield!
What a brilliant move to strike at the heart of the problem!
His heart was bleeding, but he dared not show it on his face.
He had just confessed his loyalty, saying that those soldiers were trained for His Majesty.
Now that His Majesty truly intends to use him, if he dares to utter a single word of "no"...
That was Sima Zhao's intention, and everyone knew it.
Xiao Shu's mind raced as he weighed the pros and cons.
To advance is to suffer the pain of having one's heart ripped out.
To retreat means to be utterly destroyed.
He took a deep breath; his throat felt a little dry.
"It is my duty to share Your Majesty's burdens and to serve the Great Sheng with utmost loyalty, and it is also an honor for the soldiers under my command."
"only……"
He paused, a hint of embarrassment on his face.
"Your Majesty, I am completely ignorant of military affairs and I fear that I will fail to live up to Your Majesty's trust and ruin important military and national matters."
His Majesty on the throne raised an eyebrow slightly, as if waiting for him to continue.
Xiao Shu felt somewhat relieved and continued, "However, I do have a fierce general under my command, surnamed Yao."
"He was once the most capable deputy general under General Meng, the Duke of Zhenguo. He was deeply versed in General Meng's skills and had considerable experience in troop deployment and charging into battle."
"This man is brave and skilled in battle. If he leads the troops to the Northwest, he will surely be a great help to the Duke of Zhenguo and enhance the prestige of our Great Sheng Kingdom!"
After he finished speaking, he stood with his head bowed, awaiting the final verdict.
This was the only solution he could think of that satisfied both sides.
They both preserved their troops and gave His Majesty a way out.
His Majesty looked at him, and the smile in his eyes seemed to have faded a little.
"Approved."
Finally, he parted his thin lips and uttered those two words.
...
The next morning.
Inside the Prince Cheng's residence, all was quiet.
Xiao Shu had not slept all night and was now standing by the window, looking at the withered branches in the courtyard covered with white snow, his expression dark and unreadable.
Just then, a series of hurried and cheerful footsteps broke the silence of the courtyard as they approached.
"Third Brother! Third Brother! You're really back!"
The person arrived before the voice.
A young man dressed in a royal blue brocade robe with arrow-shaped sleeves rushed in like a gust of wind.
Upon seeing the newcomer, a faint, almost imperceptible warmth finally appeared in the unfathomable depths of Xiao Shu's eyes.
Xiao Lin had already rushed up to him, looking up at a face that bore a five or six-point resemblance to His Majesty, but was even more flamboyant and unrestrained, his eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement and admiration.
"There were rumors circulating in the palace yesterday, but I thought they were just talking nonsense. I never expected that you, Third Brother, would actually be back!"
In this cold imperial city, besides his mother who was far away in the palace, Xiao Lin missed his third brother the most.
After His Majesty ascended the throne, he moved out of the palace to live separately. At that time, he was only one year old and lived with his third brother.
During those years, he lived and ate with his third brother, who taught him to read and write.
Although he was an elder brother, he was like a father to him, giving him the warmest support.
Xiao Shu reached out and habitually patted Xiao Lin's head.
The hair that was once soft and delicate was now replaced by a meticulously bound hair crown.
"They've grown taller and bigger."
"Of course!"
Xiao Lin puffed out his chest proudly, "Third Brother, you have no idea how amazing I am now!"
He leaned closer mysteriously and lowered his voice.
"Third Brother, I've got something good to show you!"
As he spoke, he gestured for his servants to bring the box up.
Steward Qing, who was standing to the side, turned pale with fright.
"Oh dear, my little prince! You mustn't!"
Steward Qing said with a mournful face, "The black medicine is too dangerous. If we're not careful, this place could be turned into rubble. You absolutely must not play here!"
"nonsense!"
Xiao Lin struggled defiantly, "I've tried it several times already, it's not dangerous."
Xiao Shu's lips curled up slightly.
He had heard about his younger brother's "glorious deeds" even though he was far away in Yuzhou.
Xiao Shu stopped Xiao Lin's actions, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, my darling."
Xiao Lin reluctantly stopped, muttering to himself, "Third Brother, you have no idea, my new firecracker is louder than all the fireworks at Fu'er's birthday banquet!"
Xiao Shu's eyes flickered slightly.
"Fu'er? When did you become so familiar with this little girl?"
Xiao Lin: "Third Brother, have you forgotten? It was you who gave my permission to give her the jade tiger."
He suddenly remembered something and curiously moved closer to Xiao Shu.
"Wait a minute... That's not right..."
"Third Brother, you were far away in Yuzhou and only returned to the capital yesterday. How could you have known that yesterday was Fu'er's birthday?"
Looking into his clear, untainted eyes, Xiao Shu slowly curved his lips into a meaningful smile.
Then, he said calmly, "For the past three years, Meng Shilan and her two children have been living in my fiefdom, Ding County, which is under the jurisdiction of Yuzhou."
“I have already taken Fu’er as my goddaughter.”
"ah?"
Xiao Lin's mind completely went blank.
After a long while, he finally found his voice.
He scratched his head and muttered something under his breath.
"Then...then doesn't that mean we're from different generations?"
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