Жениться на государственном служащем династии Северная Сун

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The New Year atmosphere is getting stronger and stronger. Although the winter in Beijing is cold and windy, the trees are still green, the plum blossoms are fragrant, and the crowds are bustling.

Under the cover of night, a fast horseman rode straight to the Prime Minister's residence. Upon arriving at the gate, he immediately dismounted. The guards at the gate opened the gate as soon as they saw that it was Zhu Sihuai.

Prime Minister Zhu sat on a grand chair covered with a whole tiger skin and asked, "Sihuai, is there any new situation?"

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, I am late. That disciple of the Kongtong Sect died three months ago."

How could he have died?

"His family said he died of illness."

Prime Minister Zhu frowned: "So, there's no one left who knows Lan Xisi's whereabouts?"

"That remote southwestern town was originally unknown. Based on the information I got last time, I inquired in several surrounding towns, but I didn't find any clues. Because those towns were sparsely populated and the population was scattered, and Lancisi had lived there under an assumed name. In addition, both she and her husband had passed away many years ago, and there were no maps to identify them. Not to mention finding out where her daughter was, we couldn't even be sure if the suspicious woman was Lancisi herself."

Prime Minister Zhu asked, "What's the situation in the Western Regions?"

"Still no news. According to our people, 'Bokdo' has gone into seclusion, and before that, there was never anything suspicious about him. Presumably, the court's investigation is true. However, this time, I received news from the Lahan sect that the Buddha's tooth they were searching for was destroyed by 'Bokdo.' When Junyu was injured in Sichuan, it was 'Bokdo' who saved him..."

Prime Minister Zhu, who had been sitting motionless in his chair, suddenly perked up and slowly stood up.

At the door, the old servant suddenly announced, "Master, the second young master has returned."

Prime Minister Zhu immediately got up and went outside, only to see Zhu Yu walking outside. He immediately called out loudly, "Yu'er!"

Zhu Yu stopped, but didn't turn around: "What is it?"

"Come to the study."

Zhu Yu stood there silently for a moment, then followed her father to the study.

Are you getting ready to go out again?

"The capital city government still has many important matters to attend to."

Prime Minister Zhu looked at his son: "It's good that you're diligent in your duties, but you should also spend more time with the Princess, lest you have trouble explaining yourself when the Prince of Heyang asks. Tell me yourself, how long has it been since you've stayed at home?"

Zhu Yu laughed: "Women are like clothes, isn't that what you want me to do? You know, your son has never had a crush on a girl before?"

"Yu'er, it's quite common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. If you find a woman you like outside, feel free to marry her. However, you still need to explain things to the princess."

Zhu Yu gave a cold laugh and remained silent.

"The victory at Yushu Town has just been a great one. Although the imperial court's commendation order has not yet been issued, Junyu has accumulated military merits along the way. She is already so powerful now. If she were to add more outstanding military achievements, I'm afraid..."

Zhu Yu interrupted her father: "She is used to fair and square confrontations, and is even willing to retreat to the barren and cold northwest for this reason. No matter how outstanding her military achievements are, it is unlikely that she will interfere with the scheming in the court. You don't need to be so wary of her."

"It seems you know Junyu quite well."

Zhu Yu remained silent.

"Originally, the Northwest Army was mostly staffed by my own men. However, after Junyu left, she immediately promoted Zhou Yida and some lower-ranking officers. Lin Baoshan is now alone and helpless; this incompetent fool can't even pull off a sneak attack. Junyu has always been good at winning people's hearts. The Northwest Army has always been harsh and its food is coarse. It is said that after she took command of the Northwest Army, her daily life and diet were no different from those of ordinary soldiers. With such a commander-in-chief, the officers and soldiers are naturally willing to serve her. Lin Baoshan and other warlords who only know how to indulge in pleasure and debauchery have never won the hearts of the army. If this continues, I'm afraid that the power of my own men in the Northwest Army will completely fall into the hands of others..."

Zhu Yu stared at his father: "I have already married as you commanded, and I have begun to form cliques and scheme against powerful officials in order to consolidate the Zhu family's position. What else do you want?"

"What do you think I want?" Prime Minister Zhu said sternly. "These past few days, you have repeatedly instructed people to praise the Northwest Army and secure supplies in court. Do you think I don't know that?"

Zhu Yu almost shouted, "So what if she is? I hope she wins soon and leaves that bitter, cold place as soon as possible."

Prime Minister Zhu stared at his son: "Even today, you still haven't given up?"

Zhu Yu suddenly laughed and said, "I've already come this far, what else can I do but keep trying? Tell me, what hope do I still have?"

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Chapter 92: Mysterious Treasure and Plague

When Prime Minister Zhu saw his son smile like that for the first time, he suddenly remembered the sorrowful and desperate look in his eldest son's eyes before his death, and his heart sank.

He even forgot to scold his son, and after a long pause, he said, "Now, the Shi sisters are showered with favor, and Meng Yuanjing has made great military achievements in Fujian. With these two connections, his meteoric rise to power is just around the corner. This man has always been ambitious, and he comes from a government career. I'm afraid that after he returns to the capital, he will become a major threat to me..."

“I don’t care who else you’re going to deal with, and I don’t care about other people’s lives or deaths, but Junyu, she is not your political enemy.”

Prime Minister Zhu angrily said, "You are so concerned for her, but do you know that even if she were a woman, she would never care about you?"

Zhu Yu remained silent.

"Let me ask you, was Junyu truly saved by that 'Bokdo' in Shu?"

So what?

Prime Minister Zhu laughed loudly, "No wonder the tyrant sent experts from the 'Thousand Machines Sect' but couldn't find out anything. One is some extremely sacred 'Bokdo,' and the other is the renowned 'Phoenix City Flying General.' Once it's confirmed that Jun Yu is indeed a woman—you can wait and see how these two are ruined, hahaha."

"You underestimate Junyu too much." Zhu Yu sneered, and without saying goodbye to his father, strode out.

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With the year-end approaching, and given the temporary pacification of the Northwest, in accordance with imperial custom, generals of all ranks were granted two months of leave to return home and visit their families. Generals such as Lin Baoshan and Zhou Yida had already returned home from nearby areas.

Junyu had nowhere to return home, and Phoenix Village was thousands of miles away, making repatriation difficult. So he spent the New Year with a group of soldiers who remained in the barracks.

That day, Junyu took Lu Ling, Zhang Yuan, and others out to inspect the terrain in the northwest.

Ice and snow have temporarily frozen the rolling yellow sands of the Northwest. Occasionally, a few marmots dart by, leaving only a vast expanse of freezing cold all around.

As evening approached, a biting north wind swept through the area. After walking for a while longer, they came to see a massive temple spire in the distance—the famous Iron Horse Temple. Junyu suddenly stopped, and at that moment, Lu Ling, Zhang Yuan, and the others also stopped, for they had all heard the sounds of fierce fighting.

Tiema Temple is one of the three holy temples of that Western Region sect, because a very famous holy monk of their sect was born under a sandalwood tree here. Since then, this sandalwood tree has become a sacred object that all believers and devout men and women must worship.

At this moment, with the New Year approaching, there are such intense sounds of fighting coming from inside the temple.

Junyu led a few people and immediately rushed over.

As they rushed to the entrance, a thick plume of smoke suddenly billowed from a corner of the temple. The temple gate was wide open, and the sounds of battle were deafening. The believers were engaged in a fierce fight with a group of strangely dressed martial arts practitioners.

One of the monks, dragging a long iron rod and covered in blood, was none other than Xia Ao, the disciplined monk with the iron rod from the Holy Palace.

Among them, an old man wearing a tall black hat and holding a sharp axe went straight for the famous sandalwood tree and started chopping it down.

The monks were both angry and afraid, and they couldn't get away to stop him. The old man in the black hat was very pleased with himself. He chuckled wildly and raised his axe to swing it a second time, but suddenly felt a great force, and the axe in his hand flew out immediately.

He turned around in horror, only to find that several of his own experts had already dropped their weapons in a flash.

The strangely dressed attackers were alarmed when they suddenly saw several strong reinforcements arrive from the enemy. Their own forces had suffered heavy losses, and they knew they were in for a bad time. Meanwhile, the monks from the Western Regions fought with increasing ferocity. A few of them seized the opportunity to escape, and the others, seeing this, lost their will to fight and fled in droves.

The monks were at a loss when they saw these suddenly appearing strangers and powerful reinforcements. Xia Ao dragged over his iron rod, bowed deeply, and said happily, "We have received the Marshal's help again. It is truly the Buddha who has protected Tiema Temple from this great calamity."

Junyu returned the greeting, and Xia Ao introduced him to the abbot of Tiema Temple who had arrived: "This is the commander-in-chief of the Northwest Army."

The abbot, who had been looking very anxious, suddenly showed a hint of joy and quickly invited everyone to the reception area for guests.

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Chapter 93: The Preaching at Tiema Temple and the Mysterious Treasure (1)

Junyu knew that their sect had many rules and secrets that outsiders shouldn't inquire about, so he didn't ask about today's events.

Xia Ao glanced at the abbot, who nodded. Xia Ao then said, “Not long ago, our southern border was frequently attacked by the Red Gold Clan's army, who plundered livestock and sheep. Fortunately, the Marshal defeated Zhenmutier, and now that things have finally stabilized, we have received news that the Lahan Sect has allied with the Red Gold Clan and is provoking our sect, attempting to seize control. Recently, some of our monasteries have been attacked one after another, and even the people near the monasteries have suffered heavy casualties. Currently, ‘Bokdo’ is still in seclusion, and external affairs are being handled entirely by Master Chiba. We rushed here immediately after receiving news that Tiema Temple was about to be attacked. However, the enemy's forces are too powerful. If it weren't for the Marshal's timely assistance, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

Junyu was not very familiar with the affairs here and asked in confusion, "How dare the Lahan Sect openly provoke the Holy Palace?"

Xia Ao said in a deep voice, "In recent years, Zang Khan's power has greatly increased, and he has also been in contact with Zhenmutier. He is determined to support his own power to replace 'Bogdo'. The monks who besieged me last time were followers of the Red Sect. Last year's betrayal was also instigated by Lha Khan. He actually sent an undercover agent to fabricate and destroy the reputation of my 'Bogdo' and demand that the court 'depose and install' him. Fortunately, this matter was thoroughly investigated and the storm was quelled."

Xia Ao Lama continued, “The Marshal and ‘Bokdo’ are old acquaintances, and he saved my life, so he has some connection with our sect. Now that the Lahan sect has colluded with the Red Gold tribe’s army, a great calamity for our sect is probably inevitable. Fortunately, the Marshal has troops stationed in Yushu, so I humbly request the Marshal’s assistance.”

For various reasons, their internal affairs are usually resolved through their own negotiations, and outsiders are not allowed to interfere. If they were to act rashly, it would only cause an imbalance among the various forces here, making them more vulnerable to the covetous Crimson Gold Clan and causing unforeseen changes. Jun Yu pondered for a moment and said, "No matter what the circumstances, if your sect is in trouble, I, Jun, will do my utmost."

The abbot looked at Xia Ao with some disappointment, but Xia Ao nodded happily. He had heard that although Jun Yu had not explicitly stated that he would send troops, he had already done his best to fulfill his promise. He had been rescued by Jun Yu twice and knew Jun Yu's abilities well. Since he had promised to do his best, he would not lie.

On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Junyu led Lu Ling and several others from Xining Prefecture to inspect Yushu Town.

Thanks to the large amount of wild game hunted by the army, coupled with the spoils seized from the Red Gold Clan army a few days ago, the dinner, though not lavish, was quite plentiful.

The soldiers were drinking heartily when Junyu got up and checked the surrounding defenses. Looking down from the high wall of the city gate, Junyu noticed that the sentries in the hidden defenses were not relaxed at all. This special deployment method was devised by Young Master Nongying. It ensured that if one sentry post was attacked, the other sentry posts would immediately receive the alarm.

Looking up at the sky, the lonely moon hangs forlornly, and on the distant mountains, a thin layer of snow covers the sand, making the original withered yellow color almost visible.

Junyu suddenly heard a bell ringing. The bell wasn't deafening, but it was extremely sharp, like a copper needle piercing her ear, causing her eardrums to ache terribly. At the same time, it also vibrated her brain, producing a feeling of inexplicable terror. Her vision went black, the world spun around, and she couldn't help but scream.

She turned her head and saw that Lu Ling and the others beside her looked normal, as if they hadn't noticed anything at all.

She couldn't help but ask, "Did you hear anything?"

Lu Ling found it strange, listened carefully, and said, "There's no sound at all."

Junyu suddenly remembered that last night was the day Tuosang left the pass. For some reason, she had a sudden thought and immediately instructed Lu Ling and the others to be on guard. She then took Xiao Shuai's hand and quietly left the city.

The horse had been galloping for nearly three hours. Ahead lay a vast valley, the moon cast no shadow overhead, and the pre-dawn east was shrouded in darkness, as if concealing countless demons of the night. Instinctively, the direction from which the copper bell rang suddenly became unrecognizable.

Junyu reined in her horse and looked around. After a long while, she heard that extremely sharp bell sound again. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately ran to the left side of the valley.

The sand was as white as snow, and the north wind concealed countless battles and howls.

Nearly a thousand strong men are besieging several monks from the Holy Palace and a group of fierce lions.

At this moment, many corpses lay scattered on the sand, including the remains of many monks and numerous chrysanthemum-like creatures.

Each time the leader shook the copper bell in his hand, the hundreds of monstrous beasts would launch an even more ferocious attack. Although the attackers outnumbered the besieged by hundreds of times, they could not get close to the monks for a while.

Junyu looked at the person leading the bell. Although his cassock had been torn in the fierce battle, he still looked solemn and dignified, without any sign of panic.

It was indeed Tuosang.

Tuosang had cultivated in the deep palace since childhood and had never experienced any war. Although he commanded a group of Junni to fight a bloody battle, he couldn't grasp the key points. These Junni were incredibly brave, but they always attacked haphazardly. Faced with the ironclad battle formation of nearly a thousand elite soldiers with sharp blades, they couldn't break through and instead suffered increasingly heavy casualties.

Junyu took out the ring beside him and put it on his left thumb. He quietly aimed it at the group of cunni. The group of green-green creatures suddenly shifted their gaze. Junyu chanted a few incantations, and immediately, thirty or forty cunni quickly retreated in a different direction.

The two sides, who were engaged in fierce fighting, suddenly realized that a man and a horse had appeared on the battlefield at some point. However, it was too late. The dozens of cunning lions had already swiftly plunged down from the right side. The once impregnable battle formation let out a scream, and men and horses fell to the ground, tearing open a gap.

Jun Yu flew past on horseback, his ring aimed at another group of cunning beasts. He immediately commanded dozens more to attack from the left. Seeing the opening on either side, the remaining beasts roared and charged forward from the center. The attackers, who had initially held a decisive advantage, were suddenly caught off guard by the cunning beasts' skillful formation. In the ensuing chaos, the scattered and isolated group was no match for these ferocious beasts. A deafening scream echoed through the valley, piercing the howling north wind and mingling with the outside chilling atmosphere.

Tuosang rushed forward, holding a copper bell, and exclaimed, "Junyu!"

Junyu responded, but had no time to look at anything else. He took a few steps back because the smaller group of Cunni on the left was under fierce attack. The leader of the group seemed to have noticed something and was about to lead his group to break through from here.

As the ring's light reflected off the ground, the already disordered cunni once again regrouped and pounced.