Upon hearing Bai Chuxiao's request to join the battle, both the Crown Prince and Prince Qi wore expressions that were quite different. The seventh prince came from a humble background, and at first they hadn't taken him seriously, but now he had slowly become their formidable foe. Not only was he a skilled warrior, but he also had a valiant and formidable princess consort. How could they let this go on...?
Chu Tianling glanced at Bai Chuxiao and slowly said, "Father, I am also willing to go. There is no need for my younger brother and sister-in-law to go. If a mere woman goes to the battlefield, others will think that our Great Xia has no one to rely on."
Bai Chuxiao didn't care. It was strange that Chu Tianling wasn't targeting her. "Since Father has bestowed upon me the title of Princess, I should naturally serve the Great Xia. Please allow me to accompany the Prince."
Emperor Wenxuan narrowed his eyes. He hadn't summoned Bai Chuxiao today to send her to the battlefield. "Gu Songyue is not easy to deal with. Seventh Prince, go. Seventh Prince, I'll give you another 150,000 troops. Are you confident in this battle?"
This battle was no small matter; one wrong move could cost him his life. He didn't trust his other sons with the task and had no intention of letting them seek further military merit.
Chu Tianze said in a deep voice, "Your subject obeys the order. Your subject is about to embark on a campaign, and I beg Your Majesty to allow the Princess Consort to return to Yongzhou."
Emperor Wenxuan's eyes flickered slightly. "Alright, this battle won't be over anytime soon. Seventh Prince's wife, you stay in the capital and wait for Seventh Prince and your maternal grandfather to return victorious. You can also come to the palace to keep me company."
Bai Chuxiao lowered her eyes. No wonder she was summoned to the palace. With Chu Tianze and the Murong family suddenly controlling so many troops, Emperor Wenxuan was clearly worried and wanted to keep her in the capital as a hostage.
"Yes, Father."
Chu Tianyou and Chu Tianling finally breathed a sigh of relief. If their seventh brother and the others had all gone to the Northwest, they really wouldn't be able to sleep at night. Now that it seemed their father didn't completely trust them, they were at ease.
The others in the hall naturally had no objections. Five hundred thousand against six hundred thousand—they themselves wouldn't have much confidence in that amount. Only the Prince of Yan dared to take on this task. With the Princess of Yan staying in the capital, they weren't afraid of the Prince of Yan and the Murong family causing any trouble…
Emperor Wenxuan spoke again in a deep voice, "In that case, in this war against Xiyue, the army will be fully commanded by the Prince of Yan as the commander-in-chief, with the Marquis of Xibo as the deputy commander-in-chief. Seventh Prince, let's set off first thing tomorrow morning."
Chu Tianze concealed his expression and said calmly, "Yes."
The Prince of Yan's residence was brightly lit. Chu Tianze held Bai Chuxiao close and whispered, "Xiaoxiao, you must take good care of yourself while you're alone in the capital."
Bai Chuxiao smiled faintly, "Don't worry, His Majesty won't do anything to me while you're fighting. But you must be careful; the battlefield has no eyes. It's a pity I can't fight alongside you and my grandfather this time."
Becoming a princess actually makes her less free in such important matters; everything she does is being watched, and she can no longer just go to the battlefield whenever she wants.
Chu Tianze frowned slightly. He was more at ease knowing that Xiaoxiao could go to the battlefield with him, but now that she was left alone in the capital, how could he feel at ease? Who knew if the Crown Prince and Prince Qi would take the opportunity to cause trouble? "This time, I'm not bringing your second brother Yu Fengyang with me. I feel more at ease with them in the capital. If anything happens, you'll have someone to discuss it with."
Bai Chuxiao looked up and said with a smile, "Take it with you. This matter concerns the Murong family, and Second Brother will definitely want to do his part."
Chu Tianze frowned. "Keep Yu Fengyang. Although he's unreliable most of the time, he can still offer advice on important matters."
This time, Bai Chuxiao didn't refuse, and slowly said, "Okay."
However, both of them still felt a strange unease, as if something big was about to happen after this separation.
Chu Tianze stared intently at her and said softly, "Xiaoxiao, your life is the most important thing no matter what. You are free to command the Xuanjia Army."
Bai Chuxiao quickly tapped his lips lightly, then smiled and said, "You too, I'll be waiting for you to come back."
A dark glint flashed in Chu Tianze's eyes as he lowered his head and kissed her delicate lips. Ever since meeting this woman, he had another person to worry about besides his mother... If he could, he wouldn't want to be separated from the woman before him, not even for a single day...
Inside the room at Qichi Courtyard, the gauze curtains were half-drawn, and two figures were passionately entwined, both feeling a pang of reluctance at the impending separation...
The next morning, Bai Chuxiao, half-asleep, instinctively reached out her hand to the side, but the familiar embrace was gone. She jolted open her eyes; the familiar man was nowhere to be seen. The other side of the bed was cold; clearly, Chu Tianze had been gone for a long time.
Bai Chuxiao sat up, sighed helplessly, and said loudly, "Lanxiang."
Lanxiang pushed open the door and came in. "Why did Your Highness wake up so early?"
Bai Chuxiao slowly asked, "When did the Prince leave?"
"The prince left at dawn, specifically instructing us not to wake the princess."
Bai Chuxiao nodded slightly, "Okay, help me wash up."
After breakfast, seeing Bai Chuxiao's absent-minded look, Lanxiang, Qingshuang, and the others exchanged glances.
Qingzhu couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, are you thinking of the Prince?"
Bai Chuxiao paused, perhaps. But she couldn't continue like this. The capital was indeed fraught with danger, and the matter in Yunzhou was still unresolved.
Although Chu Tianze took Mo Yan and Mo Wen away, there were still many capable people in the Prince's Mansion. Zhan Chi, Xia Fan, and Cui Hao, who was outside the city, were already waiting in the study.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Bai Chuxiao nodded slightly and asked in a low voice, "Is there any news from Lin Huai?"
Xia Fan quickly stepped forward and handed over the note, "Just received it."
Bai Chuxiao took it, but her expression grew increasingly grim.
Cui Hao quickly asked, "Your Highness, what happened in Yunzhou?"
Bai Chuxiao crumpled the note in her hand into a ball and said in a deep voice, "The people who disappeared in that small town in Yunzhou were captured by Prince An to mine iron ore."
A slight surprise appeared on everyone's faces; the importance of the iron ore was self-evident... What was Prince An doing...?
Bai Chuxiao then instructed, "Go and summon Yu Fengyang."
A moment later, Yu Fengyang strode in with an air of elegance. He had originally intended to make a few teasing remarks, but seeing everyone's expressions, he swallowed his words.
Bai Chuxiao didn't waste any words and quickly explained the situation.
Yu Fengyang's expression changed drastically. "Is Prince An planning a rebellion?"
Bai Chuxiao sneered, "What else could it be? He's wasting so much effort just to make weapons."
Yu Fengyang's expression turned slightly serious. "The Provincial Governor of Yunzhou was completely unaware?"
Bai Chuxiao took a map, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Yunzhou is probably already under Prince An's absolute control, and it's not just the Yunzhou Provincial Governor who's in charge. Look at the location of that small town."
The crowd gathered around and looked in the direction she was pointing.
Yu Fengyang was slightly surprised, "It actually borders Yingzhou!"
Bai Chuxiao's expression was grave. "Who wouldn't praise Zhang Jinlun, the husband of Princess Zhaoyang, for his great talent? The iron mine is located so close by; do you think Zhang Jinlun knew about it?"
Cui Hao's expression hardened slightly. "His Majesty treats Princess Zhaoyang very well."
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