Chapter 478 The Truth
"Has His Majesty gone mad?"
Upon hearing Eunuch Hong announce the imperial decree, Qin Ye immediately snatched it away.
The handwriting on it was so messy it looked like a dog's scratch, yet it was actually written by the emperor himself.
Eunuch Hong coughed lightly and stepped forward. "Marshal, the princess can be saved!"
Qin Ye was taken aback. "What?"
Eunuch Hong immediately said, "The antidote the princess needs, the orchid grass, for the strange poison she suffers from! I've got it!"
Qin Jinzhi's face turned cold after hearing what Eunuch Hong said.
"Huangfu Nanfeng wants to exchange the Orchid Grass for the Wind Prison Pass?"
Eunuch Hong was somewhat surprised and quickly said, "Your Highness is so clever! That man from Chu said he has the Orchid Grass and can have His Majesty send someone to verify its authenticity. As long as Fenglao Pass is given to him and the troops retreat thirty miles, he will hand over the Orchid Grass to His Majesty! Your Highness, you are saved!"
Qin Jinzhi glanced at Qin Ye and immediately shouted to the soldiers outside the tent: "Eunuch Hong has suddenly fallen ill and is unable to speak since arriving at the camp. Send someone to send Eunuch Hong back to the capital immediately!"
The soldiers outside the tent were shocked when they heard Eunuch Hong's decree.
Hearing Qin Jinzhi's words, his eyes widened even more.
The vanguard actually defied the imperial decree!
But obeying orders is a soldier's duty.
They immediately opened the tent flap and headed towards Eunuch Hong.
Upon seeing this, Eunuch Hong immediately ran behind Qin Ye and snatched another imperial edict.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Empress decrees: Marshal Qin Ye shall immediately cease hostilities, Fenglao Pass shall be returned to the State of Chu, and the border army shall retreat thirty li. This is the imperial decree!"
Eunuch Hong, hiding behind Qin Ye, said, "Princess, this is also Her Majesty's wish."
Qin Jinzhi was taken aback, and she turned her back to her.
"This is a battlefield, the place where countless soldiers have died on the battlefield. Right outside the camp, there are still soldiers' bodies that are not yet cold. Does Your Majesty and the Empress want me to ignore these lives that sacrificed their lives for the Jin Kingdom and live on in vain?"
Eunuch Hong quickly said, "Princess! This is absolutely not a private affair between His Majesty and the Empress. This matter was decided after discussions between His Majesty, the Empress, and the officials! Princess, the officials in the court all agree with this matter!"
Qin Jinzhi simply said, "Eunuch Hong, I appreciate the sentiments of the officials in the court, but they can make such a decision so easily because all they see are reports of victory after victory. Casualties are just numbers. Do you know how many soldiers sacrificed their lives to advance thirty miles to the border? No one will accept this decree. I'll pretend I didn't hear it. You should return to the capital."
Seeing this, Eunuch Hong quickly grabbed Qin Ye, "Marshal! This decree is for you, you cannot disobey it, Marshal! Marshal! The princess doesn't have time! This is the only way to save her!"
Qin Ye looked at Eunuch Hong.
Eunuch Hong thought Qin Ye had taken his words to heart, and hurriedly said with delight, "Marshal!"
"If I were to exchange my life for that orchid, I would do it without hesitation. But my soldiers are also my children. I will not exchange their lives for Jinzhi's life. Otherwise, where would their heroic souls rest in peace?"
How could Qin Ye not be overjoyed when he heard that Qin Jinzhi could be saved?
But he can't do that.
Eunuch Hong quickly said, "Princess, His Majesty and the Empress had already guessed that you would do this. The imperial edict has already been issued to the army. You can't pretend you didn't receive it!"
Qin Ye said to his subordinates in a heavy tone, "Didn't you hear what the vanguard said? Send them back to the capital."
The soldiers stared at Qin Ye in disbelief.
They heard it all clearly. If there is no antidote, their young master would be dead!
Seeing the crowd still standing there in a daze, Qin Ye immediately said, "What are you all standing there for!"
The soldiers immediately stepped forward and dragged away the people who were delivering the imperial edict.
Upon opening the tent flap, a large number of military generals were seen outside.
They had just received the imperial decree and all wanted to come to Qin Ye to get some answers.
However, outside the tent, they overheard a conversation between several people.
General Chen immediately said, "Marshal, is what this eunuch said true? If the young master doesn't have the antidote, does that mean he doesn't have much time left?"
General Yu pressed on, "Marshal, please say something! Why was the young master poisoned? What exactly happened?"
Qin Jinzhi stepped out from behind Qin Ye and said, “Uncles, now that things have come to this, I also have something to say to the soldiers. Have everyone come to the reviewing stand, and I will explain the whole story to you.”
The group glanced at Qin Jinzhi, then at Qin Ye, and immediately turned to lead their troops to the reviewing stand.
Eunuch Hong was overjoyed; now the princess could no longer pretend she didn't know.
At the military review site, the crowd was still arguing about the Emperor and Empress's decree.
Qin Jinzhi came to the crowd and stood on a high place.
Upon seeing Qin Jinzhi, everyone fell silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you should have heard His Majesty's and Empress's decrees. There are many questions you may have, and I will explain them to you."
"As you all know, I am Qin Ye's granddaughter, Qin Ziyi's daughter, and the only descendant of the Qin family."
His Majesty and His Majesty, moved by the loyalty and bravery of the Qin family, raised me as their own flesh and blood.
There have long been rumors in the capital that I am poisoned by a strange poison.
Now I can tell you all that this rumor is true.
If I can't find an antidote, I only have two more years to live.
Qin Jinzhi's words immediately caused a huge uproar.
The soldiers in the army had followed Qin Ye and Qin Ziyi for many years. Although many soldiers were not so close to Qin Jinzhi, she was the heir apparent's bloodline.
Not to mention Qin Jinzhi's outstanding military capabilities now make them feel as if they are seeing the majestic appearance of the crown prince back then.
Confusion, anger, and questions filled the air.
Qin Jinzhi waved her hand, and everyone fell silent again.
"I am poisoned by the Azure Sky Poison. The only antidote that can save me is the secret medicine of the Chu Kingdom, the Orchid Grass."
Huangfu Nanfeng was severely wounded by my night attack on Fenglao Pass, and the Chu Kingdom is in decline.
Therefore, they used the orchid to coerce His Majesty and the Empress into withdrawing their troops.
Upon hearing this, the military parade ground fell silent.
If this is the reason, they couldn't even find a way to refute it.
Everyone in Jin knew that the Marshal and His Majesty and Empress had fought for the world at the beginning of the dynasty.
The friendship is profound.
Qin Jinzhi was raised by them for many years.
They grew up being cherished and protected like precious jewels.
After the founding of the state, all members of the Qin family, except for the grandfather and grandson, died on the battlefield for the sake of the Jin state.
Both the Emperor and Empress would want to save Qin Jinzhi's life, both for their own sake and for the public good.
Even the soldiers on the battlefield were wavering at this moment.
That's the Crown Prince's only child!
Looking at everyone's expressions, Qin Jinzhi said, "Are you all thinking that if retreating could save Qin Ziyi's daughter, it might not be a bad idea?"
One of the generals spoke up: "Vanguard, if that orchid grass can save your life, we can take back Fenglao Pass."
Many people also began to echo this sentiment.
Qin Jinzhi looked at him and asked, "Can you guarantee that no more soldiers will die when we retake the pass?"
On the battlefield, the most unpredictable thing is life and death.
Moreover, this Fenglao Pass is a crucial location, and retaking it will inevitably result in casualties.
Upon hearing Qin Jinzhi's words, Eunuch Hong immediately sensed something was wrong!
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