General Tian looked at Tian Minglei and said, "Father has made up his mind. Father is prepared to cooperate with the Yun family."
"The Yun family?!" Tian Minglei was very surprised.
“Yes. Father has always wondered why Old Master Yun insisted on going against the late Emperor. Now it seems that Old Master Yun must have realized long ago that neither the First Prince nor the Seventh Prince was fit to be emperor and could not hold onto the throne.”
"That's why they deliberately provoked the late emperor to exile their entire family to the border."
"Then, when the world is in chaos, we will join forces with the border generals to defend one or two cities. In this way, no matter who wins the world, the Yun family will have made contributions, receive a title, and enjoy wealth and honor for generations to come."
Tian Minglei thought his father was overthinking things. "Father, I've played with Sun Xingyao before. Sun Xingyao said his maternal grandfather was the most pedantic person in the world. He said that every time his grandfather saw them, he would test their knowledge, and every time he tested them, he would ask them what loyalty to the emperor meant?"
General Tian felt he had discovered the truth. "Loyalty to the emperor on the lips may not be true loyalty. If the Yun family were truly loyal to the eldest prince, why didn't they stand up to support him when he became emperor?"
The eldest prince's ascension to the throne was illegitimate, and he was assassinated after only a few years on the throne. Therefore, many people do not recognize the eldest prince as the emperor.
"This...didn't Old Master Yun become mentally impaired after the fall?"
"Is Old Master Yun still stupid?"
Tian Minglei was stumped by the question.
General Tian glanced at Tian Minglei smugly. "Silly boy, you're still a long way from being as green as Old Master Yun."
The simple-minded boy scratched his head. "Father, I still think you're overthinking it."
"When you reach your father's age, you'll know whether your father is overthinking things or not. Go tell your mother that your father is planning to learn from Old Master Yun. Your father will ask the people in the city if they are willing to go to the border with us. If they are willing, we will take them with us; if they are not, then they can fend for themselves."
Madam Tian was making shoes with the maids and servants when Tian Minglei arrived. "Mother, has Father decided who to partner with?"
Mrs. Tian didn't know whether to be happy or worried. "Have you thought it through?"
"Yes. My father is planning to partner with the Yun family."
"The Yun family? Which Yun family?" Are there any people with the surname Yun among those vying for power?
“Sun Xingyao’s maternal grandparents’ family.”
"Whose house is this?" Madam Tian's eyes widened immediately.
“Sun Xingyao’s maternal grandparents’ family.”
“Weren’t all the members of Sun Xingyao’s maternal grandfather’s family scholars?” So, scholars are now vying for power too.
"That's no longer the case. Several of Sun Xingyao's uncles are now serving under General Niu. Ningyuan City was reclaimed by Sun Xingyao's uncles together with General Niu."
Madam Tian blinked. "Several of Sun Xingyao's uncles have become military generals?"
"Yes. It's said that Ningyuan City is currently being managed by Sun Xingyao's uncles. Oh, and there's something else."
"What's up?"
Tian Minglei glanced at the maids and servants in the room, and they quickly grabbed their sewing baskets and left.
"Speak."
Tian Minglei was a little embarrassed. "My father wants to arrange a marriage with the Yun family and asked me which girl from the Yun family I liked. But I'm not familiar with any of the girls from the Yun family."
"Your father wants to form a marriage alliance with the Yun family? The Yun family is..."
Before she could finish speaking, Madam Tian realized what was happening. With the Jin Dynasty on the verge of collapse, it didn't matter whether the Yun family were exiled or not.
Why did your father want to form a marriage alliance with the Yun family?
"Let's guard the border together." Guarding the border is no easy task.
Madam Tian was startled again. "Guarding the border? Your father is going to the border?"
"Yes." Tian Minglei relayed General Tian's words to Madam Tian.
After listening, Madam Tian was speechless. "Old Master Yun is really cunning!" "This is also a path. It's hard to say who will win or lose in the struggle for power. If you choose the right path, all will be well. If you choose the wrong path, your whole family will die. Even if you don't die, you won't have a good life."
"I remember, Grandpa Yun's eldest granddaughter is about your age. I wonder if she's engaged yet? If not, the two of you would be a good match."
Tian Minglei thought for a moment but still couldn't remember what Sisi's eldest cousin looked like. "Mother, is she pretty?"
Madam Tian does remember what Sisi's eldest cousin looks like? "She's alright. A wife should be chosen for her virtue."
"...Her personality is different from Sun Xingyao's mother's, isn't it?"
Mrs. Tian didn't know. "They should be different, right?"
"Should we marry my sister to Yun Ruibo? Although Yun Ruibo is a bit old-fashioned, the Yun family does not allow concubines. Moreover, Yun Ruibo is the eldest great-grandson of Old Master Yun. If the Yun family can earn a title, it will be inherited by him."
Madam Tian thought for a moment. "That's true. The Yun family's rule against their children and grandchildren taking concubines is quite appealing."
After General Tian returned, Madam Tian suggested to him that they marry their daughter into the Yun family.
General Tian thought for a moment. “Let’s still marry one. With Old Master Yun’s shrewdness, he’ll probably wait until the country is at peace before deciding on his great-grandsons’ marriages. Besides, we can take the initiative to marry off a wife, but we can’t do that with our daughters. We have to wait for others to come to us to ask for a wife.”
Lady Tian thought about it and agreed. "Then let's marry him. By the way, are the people willing to come with us to the border?"
Some are willing, some are not.
"I see. When do we set off?"
"Three days later. Where is Minglei?"
"Going to pack her things."
"Call him over."
"good."
A moment later, Tian Minglei arrived. "Father, you wanted to see me?"
"Hmm. Isn't that relative of the Yun family going to Ningyuan City? Take a group of people, catch up with them, and escort them to Ningyuan City first. Then see if General Niu is in Ningyuan City. If he is, tell General Niu and Yun Yuxuan that I want to guard the border with them. If he isn't, have Yun Yuxuan take you to find General Niu. Do you understand what I mean?"
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