PFC Chapter 258 Departure
Chapter 258 Departure
On the second day, the gossip that General Weiyuan and King Xiaoping had a close personal relationship spread throughout the city.
Emperor Shengwu was already worried about this, and after hearing this, he had no choice but to send someone to investigate thoroughly.
If you don't check, you won't know. Once you check, Emperor Shengwu actually found out some things.
General Weiyuan had served as a personal soldier under the old King Ping for some time, and had received many favors from the old King Ping during that time. Later, due to family matters, he went to Beijing to take the examination for the top military scholar.
In this case, it is normal for General Weiyuan to take better care of King Xiaoping.
But the emperor has to think more after all. In the eyes of Emperor Shengwu, the relationship between General Weiyuan and Prince Ping's Mansion is actually not a problem.
But if you hide it and don't talk about it, that will be a big problem.
While Emperor Shengwu was tossing and turning over and over in thought, Ning Yunxiao appeared to be very calm. He attended court as usual and ate as usual every day. It seemed that he had lost interest in the expedition that he had once fought so hard for.
Ning Yunxiao's indifference gave Emperor Shengwu some subtle feelings in his heart.
I was afraid that the good impression I had worked so hard to gain from my son would be wiped out because of this rejection.
Emperor Shengwu tossed and turned for several days, and finally decided to compromise with Ning Yunxiao.
After all, Emperor Shengwu was always unsure about what General Weiyuan and Prince Xiaoping meant.
Rather than taking the risk of handing this task over to King Xiaoping, it would be better to follow Ning Yunxiao's wishes. At worst, we can just send more people to protect us.
When the imperial edict to go to war was issued, Ning Yunxiao was at Jiang Lige's Qingge Cottage. He calmly took the imperial edict and saw off Eunuch Lu who delivered the edict. Then he saw Jiang Lige hiding behind a pillar and winking at him.
"When did our Crown Prince learn to spread rumors?"
Ning Yunxiao wanted to tease her, so he smiled and said, "Of course it was after I met Princess Zhaohua."
Jiang Lige made a face at Ning Yunxiao in dissatisfaction, then put away his playful smile and spoke seriously.
"Yun Xiao, can you take me with you on this expedition?"
Ning Yunxiao wasn't actually surprised, but he still raised his eyebrows and asked.
"Why?"
"Since you intend to negotiate peace, then no one is more suitable than me."
Jiang Lige tried to reason with him, "Firstly, he is my father after all, so he wouldn't really embarrass me. Secondly, if you leave me alone in the capital, worried and frightened, it would be better for you to keep me by your side. I won't leave when you fight."
Ning Yunxiao remained unmoved.
Jiang Lige bit her lip and was about to appeal to her emotions when she heard Ning Yunxiao say lightly.
"Okay, let's go together."
Jiang Lige was subconsciously stunned before he could finish the words of persuasion he had prepared.
"Is that the decision?"
"Yes."
Ning Yunxiao scratched her nose in amusement, "If I don't agree, will you stay in the capital obediently? Instead of having you follow me in secret, it's better for you to come with me openly. I can take care of you along the way."
Jiang Lige quickly gave a thumbs up, "Yun Xiao is very far-sighted!"
Ning Yunxiao shook his head in amusement and said again.
"Don't rush to flatter me yet. Your top priority is to convince the Funing Palace."
When Jiang Lige heard this, his face fell again and he responded with a sullen "Oh".
Compared to Ning Yunxiao, the person Jiang Lige was actually less willing to persuade was Empress Dowager Jiang.
In fact, Jiang Lige and Queen Mother Jiang have been avoiding each other tacitly recently.
As princesses married into a foreign alliance, they actually didn't want to see war between the two countries more than anyone else.
They came for peace, but now they can only watch the war unfold, powerless to do anything.
The two countries have been marrying princesses for hundreds of years. Generation after generation of princesses have left their homes to exchange for peace. Now that the peace has been overturned, they seem even more pitiful and ridiculous.
Throughout their entire lives, they have never protected anything.
Therefore, the word "war" has become the deepest shackle in their hearts. They cannot be talked about or touched, but... they cannot be avoided.
While sighing, Jiang Lige had already arrived at Funing Palace.
Today's Funing Palace is not as lively as it used to be. The outbreak of a war has made the families of high-ranking officials who seek profit and avoid harm subconsciously stay away from Funing Palace, a place of trouble.
The huge palace was deserted.
Following the rules, Jiang Lige first asked the palace servant to inform him, and then waited in the main hall.
After waiting for about a cup of tea, Empress Dowager Jiang did not come out. She only sent her personal nanny to deliver a message.
"Princess Zhaohua, the Empress Dowager has caught a cold these past two days. I'm afraid I'll pass the illness on to you, so I won't see you. However, the Empress Dowager has asked me to bring you a letter."
After saying that, Madam Kong took out a letter from her pocket and handed it over.
Jiang Lige unfolded the letter and saw only one word written neatly on the fine gold-sprinkled rice paper.
"allow."
It seems that Empress Dowager Jiang knew why she came.
Thinking of this, Jiang Lige stood up and kowtowed respectfully in the direction of Empress Dowager Jiang's bedroom.
"Zhaohua thanks Grandaunt for her help. We do not wish for the war to ignite again. Zhaohua will do her utmost to prevent our father from repeating his mistakes. Grandaunt, please take care of yourself. We will meet again in a prosperous era!"
After saying this, Jiang Lige didn't stay any longer, got up and left Funing Palace.
Only after Jiang Lige left did a faint sigh come from behind the screen in the main hall.
"What a great saying! We meet again in this prosperous age. Zhaohua is doing better than I did."
Upon hearing this, Madam Kong hurried forward to support Empress Dowager Jiang.
"The Empress Dowager bided her time, and Princess Zhaohua was brave and fearless. Both are truly extraordinary women in this world."
Empress Dowager Jiang smiled self-deprecatingly and shook her head. "After all, I am still a little selfish, far less so than Zhao Hua. If I were in Zhao Hua's position today, I wouldn't have the courage to disobey my father's orders. What she protects is not just Nan Chu, but the prosperity and decline of the entire world."
Madam Kong nodded. "The Empress Dowager is right. Princess Zhaohua's choice is truly rare."
……
After getting the approval of Empress Dowager Jiang, Jiang Lige quickly went back to pack up his things. As soon as the army was ready to go, he set off for the border town with Ning Yunxiao.
On the day the army set out, the entire capital was blocked.
The shouts of "Welcome to the victory" resounded throughout the city, and each shout expressed people's desire for peace.
The heroic figures in the team are not only Sheng Ling's soldiers, but also the fathers of children, husbands of women, and the only sons of the elderly.
The caring reminders, mixed in with the shouts of "Welcome to your triumphant return", are inconspicuous but extremely touching.
The army marched away with people's earnest hopes and embarked on the road of defending the country.
When the army arrived at the border town, it was already early spring with lush grass and singing birds.
Spring should be a time when all things grow vigorously, but because of a war, the air is filled with the bloody smell of death, and all you see is desolation.