The next day, when Bai Chuxiao woke up, Chu Tianze was already dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed reading a book.
Bai Chuxiao murmured, "You're so energetic!" In her memory, Chu Tianze never seemed to need to sleep in. In his previous life, this kind of physique was best suited for studying and being a beast of burden...
Chu Tianze chuckled, "With Xiaoxiao by my side, I'm sleeping very well. Shall we get up and have breakfast?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "Okay."
Lanxiang and Lanxin carried in the food. Bai Chuxiao was about to get out of bed when Chu Tianze picked her up again.
Lanxiang and Lanxin couldn't help but chuckle to themselves, their heads bowed. The prince and princess seemed to have grown much closer these past two days…
Bai Chuxiao glanced at the expressions of the two girls and couldn't help but laugh helplessly, "What are you doing? I hurt my arm, not my leg. I can walk by myself."
Chu Tianze ignored her, and after placing her on the table and chair, he slowly said, "Let's eat."
He then expertly picked up some side dishes and fed them to her along with the congee.
Bai Chuxiao quickly replied, "I can do it myself."
Two little girls are watching her, and she needs to be fed. What will become of her reputation if word gets out! If she's kept like this for another two days, she'll be a cripple!
Chu Tianze ignored them, turning his head to give the two girls a cold stare, as if to say: You have no sense of propriety! Get out of here!
Lanxiang and Lanxin quickly bowed their heads, "Your Highness and Princess, please enjoy your meal. We will go and attend to the Dowager Consort."
After saying that, she fled in panic. The prince has changed, he's become so terrifying! He even tries to steal their work. From the moment their young lady woke up until now, they haven't even exchanged two words with her...
Chu Tianze said with a smile, "Eat up, no one's watching."
Bai Chuxiao rolled her eyes at him twice, but still didn't refuse his advances. So what if he's a cripple? Lying down is quite comfortable, isn't it?
After finishing breakfast, Bai Chuxiao asked leisurely, "When shall we set off?"
Chu Tianze said calmly, "Wait until you're healed before you leave."
Bai Chuxiao moved her arm. "That Gu Xiangjun's archery skills are truly impressive. I've been caught off guard and suffered a setback."
Chu Tianze said calmly, "He is the recognized archer of Xiyue."
Bai Chuxiao nodded, confirming her reputation was well-deserved. "Let's leave today. There's still fighting at the border, and my minor injury won't matter."
Chu Tianze lowered his eyes, "It's freezing outside, what if you get sick again? There's a truce at the border, and there won't be any fighting for almost half a month..."
Bai Chuxiao said irritably, "I grew up in the Northwest, and I'm much more used to this weather than you are. Have you gone to talk to your mother these past few days?"
Chu Tianze was taken aback. That night, Xiaoxiao fainted in his arms, and he had been feeling uneasy ever since. He wanted to stay by Xiaoxiao's side all the time, and he had indeed neglected his mother...
Bai Chuxiao concealed her expression and said softly, "Mother has suddenly left the palace and is now far away in the Northwest, where she is unfamiliar with the place. You should spend more time with her in the future."
Chu Tianze nodded, but he still felt there was something more to her words...
Bai Chuxiao smiled and said, "Let's go visit Mother. Let's pack up and set off. Staying at an inn isn't ideal..."
Chu Tianze said softly, "I actually think this inn is quite nice."
In the Imperial Study of the Palace, the Regent, the Prince of Yingchuan, and the Duke of Zhenguo were all gathered together. Chu Tianling, dressed in a dragon robe, was reading the Prince Ping's memorial of greeting.
Congratulations to my sixth brother on becoming the new emperor. Regarding the previous affairs in Yizhou, we were distracted by enjoying the snow and wine, which caused us to miss the appointed time. My subordinates were also inflexible and failed to adapt, thus delaying Your Majesty's important business. Please forgive me, Your Majesty…
After reading it, Chu Tianling couldn't help but snort coldly.
"What a fine Prince Ping! What a fine Third Brother!"
Zhang Yu, sitting to the left, said in a deep voice, "Prince Ping is not a concern. Prince Yan has brazenly led the Northwest Army to confront the garrison in Fuzhou, and has also secretly withdrawn the Xuanjia Army stationed at the southern passes back to Yongzhou. Right now, we can't capture the hostages. Let's think about how to deal with Prince Yan."
Chu Tianling glanced coldly at Chu Wenzheng, "If it weren't for the fact that Imperial Uncle was unwilling to lend a hand, Bai Chuxiao might have already been captured."
Chu Wenzheng lay lazily in his chair. "I've already sent out my hidden guards. What more does Your Majesty want?"
Chu Tianling's lips curled into a cold smile. Hidden guards? He probably wishes they were all dead, so he could eliminate any dissidents...
Wei Junyan said in a deep voice, "Xi Yue has sent another 200,000 troops. Previously, the Northwest had submitted a memorial requesting reinforcements."
Chu Tianling said coldly, "We absolutely cannot send troops to Seventh Brother and Murong Yuan again."
Zhang Yu slowly said, "With the new emperor's ascension to the throne, Your Majesty should immediately summon all the vassal kings to the capital to pay their respects, including the Prince of Yan. As for the northwest, Your Majesty should first send a new commander-in-chief to take over military power. If the Prince of Yan and Murong Yuan are unwilling to relinquish power, then no more reinforcements should be sent, and all imperial troops should be recalled."
Chu Wenzheng raised an eyebrow. "This move puts the Prince of Yan and Murong Yuan in a dilemma. My brother-in-law is indeed a man of great talent; I admire him."
With hundreds of thousands of troops from the Western Yue behind them and hundreds of thousands of troops from the imperial court in front, Prince Yan and Murong Yuan were indeed unable to move. Wei Junyan said in a deep voice, "The Prince's words are reasonable, but the selection of a new commander-in-chief..."
It must be said that there are indeed very few generals in the imperial court who are known by name these days.
Zhang Yu said in a deep voice, "I believe that Pang Kun, the general of the three prefectures of Jin, Fu, and Shuo, can be the commander-in-chief. If they are unwilling to relinquish their military power, Pang Kun can lead the troops of the three prefectures to besiege Zhenzhou, trapping them in the northwest... My son or the Crown Prince Wei can serve as the deputy commander-in-chief. What does Your Majesty think?"
Chu Tianling pondered for a moment, "The Grand Tutor's considerations are thorough, but Pang Kun's loyalty..."
Zhang Yu slowly said, "Pang Kun is a trustworthy person. Your Majesty should summon his daughter back to the palace and give her a high position. This is feasible..."
Chu Tianling lowered his eyes. Zhang Yu was indeed a great help, with remarkable insights into politics and military affairs. In that case, he didn't mind tolerating Zhang Miaoke, that fool, remaining in the position of Empress...
"Since that's the case, then let's do as the Grand Tutor says, and then choose the deputy commander..."
Wei Junyan's eyes flickered slightly. "Your Majesty, let Prince Zhang serve as the deputy commander."
Zhang Yu raised an eyebrow, still somewhat incredulous that he had voluntarily given up this opportunity, while Chu Wenzheng wore a half-smile, as if he had seen through everything...
Chu Tianling said in a deep voice, "Father-in-law, what is your opinion?"
Zhang Yu smiled, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
How could he have had such an opportunity when the late emperor was alive? Everyone only knew him as the emperor's son-in-law. Now everything is different. He is the only king of the Great Xia Dynasty who is not of the imperial family...
In the small town of Fuzhou, Bai Chuxiao, bundled up tightly, and Chu Tianze, wearing a blue cloak beside her, helped Consort Jing into the carriage.
It's freezing cold now, and she's injured, so naturally she can't ride a horse...
Consort Jing looked at the two beautiful women sitting on either side of her and smiled, "You two don't need to stay here with me."
The couple's relationship grew stronger, which made her very happy. The carriage was moving slowly, and it would take quite some time to get back to Dingzhou. If he stayed with her, they wouldn't be able to have any more private conversations...
Bai Chuxiao said helplessly, "Mother, what are you saying..."
Chu Tianze also said softly, "Mother, your son hasn't spent much time with you these past two days..."
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