"But what?" Ji Wushang asked immediately, then, after thinking for a moment, his eyes widened in surprise. "Is it... is it my father? Has something happened to my father?"
"No, how could your father have gotten into an accident?"
“That’s my older brother and Wu Zi!” Ji Wushang became nervous and looked at Nan Xuzong.
"You must have faith in them!" Nan Xuzong said. "It was the Second Prince and Empress Yao who secretly suggested to Father that your father lead the troops to pursue the enemy and destroy Bohai!"
"What?" Ji Wushang immediately stood up from her seat, looking at him. "Absolutely not! Although we have won the battle, it is a victory built on many days of defeat! The Bohai army has occupied our territory for so long, and it is already quite an achievement to have recovered our land in one fell swoop. Our soldiers are exhausted. If we venture deeper into their territory, our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty soldiers will certainly not understand the weather in Bohai, and nine out of ten will suffer from frostbite! If that happens, we will suffer another defeat! At that time, I'm afraid even the cities outside the pass will be captured!"
Nan Xuzong looked at her intently, sitting up straight. He had never known that she possessed such amazing military leadership skills!
Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong and asked, "Did I...did I say something wrong?"
"No, you're absolutely right. If they could all analyze things like you, our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty could probably take over the world without firing a single shot!"
"No, the most important thing right now is to stop our troops from entering Bohai territory, otherwise, my father and the soldiers of the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty will really die on the battlefield!" Ji Wushang said, feeling a chill run from his feet all the way up his body!
Nan Xuzong nodded, "When we go to court tomorrow, my second brother will definitely bring it up, and I will definitely stop him!"
Ji Wushang sat down and said, "I am a woman and should not be involved in politics, but if my father really leads troops to pursue and break through the Bohai army, then I have no choice but to..."
Nan Xuzong stood up, embraced her in his arms, and said with great affection, "Wu Shang, don't worry, as long as I'm here, I will never let your father go north to chase after the Bohai Army."
"Cong, please let my father come back, okay? Let him come back and take care of my mother and sister-in-law. The family can't be without a man to support it!" Ji Dingbei, Ji Tiankui, and Ji Wusi are all on the frontier now. Just think, Ji Dingbei is already in his forties or fifties and is getting old, while Ji Wusi is only eight or nine years old. They are fighting for the Great Xia Zhou Dynasty. Isn't that enough?
“I understand what you mean.” Nan Xuzong nodded.
Ji Wushang's bright eyes flickered. She truly hoped that Ji Dingbei could return and take good care of Madam Qin, Mo Qiqi, and the Elder Madam. Life is short; things left undone should be done quickly. And the most important thing is undoubtedly spending time with family.
Call it selfish if you want!
The night was still and quiet. Inside a grand courtyard, in a brightly lit palace...
Huangfu Xuan opened the letter and read it carefully, while Ma Ruyi was sleeping peacefully inside the beaded curtain.
Huangfu Xuan examined the letter carefully, his gaze darkening. He put the letter away and placed it in his bosom.
Holding the wolf-hair brush in his hand, he was at a loss for what to do.
Ma Ruyi turned around vaguely, opened her blurry eyes and saw Huangfu Xuan still sitting there, seemingly lost in thought. She then softly called out, "Xuan."
"Hmm." Huangfu Xuan immediately put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand, then looked at Ma Ruyi and simply went over and sat down beside her on the couch. "Did I wake you up?"
Ma Ruyi shook her head. "What happened? What's troubling you? Why don't you tell me?"
Huangfu Xuan lowered his eyes, thought for a while, and then took out the letter to show Ma Ruyi.
Ma Ruyi sat up straight and then read the letter. “Black Corpse? Black Corpse from the Western Regions? I’ve heard of it. It’s very powerful, but there are ways to break it.”
"Really?" Huangfu Xuan's eyes widened immediately. "What I'm really worried about is that if one day our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty goes to war with the Western Regions, and they are all Black Corpse Legions, then our soldiers are only flesh and blood, how can they resist? Alas!"
“Don’t be afraid!” Ma Ruyi said at this moment, “We in Fusang started imitating the Western Regions Black Corpse half a year ago, hoping to use the spiritual techniques of our native Fusang to control the Black Corpse, but we were not very successful. However, we did discover a way to destroy the Black Corpse!” Ma Ruyi smiled and whispered a few words in his ear.
Huangfu Xuan's lips curled up. It seemed that marrying Ma Ruyi had truly struck gold! Ma Ruyi's martial arts were slightly inferior to his own, but she could definitely help him achieve great things! Now that she had helped him solve this problem, it seemed that his path to becoming emperor would be much smoother!
"If one day I, Huangfu Xuan, ascend the throne, you will be my empress!" He said, his thin lips moving slightly as he looked at Ma Ruyi with a tender gaze.
Ma Ruyi looked at him with bright eyes, "I will help you fulfill your wish."
A smile curved his lips.
The next day, before dawn, Nan Xuzong got up and immediately went to find Gong Shu.
"Give this letter to him, and make sure he accepts it!" Nan Xuzong's eyes narrowed. "Give him my greetings."
"Yes!" Gong Shu immediately vanished.
Nan Xuzong turned around and pushed open the door, only to see Ji Wushang standing there. He smiled and said, "Up so early?"
"Who is this 'him' you're talking about?" Ji Wushang stepped forward and asked.
...
☆、284 Everything unknown is about to happen! (Updated! Refreshed!)
“It’s my third brother.” Nan Xuzong smiled and explained, “I didn’t finish telling him everything last night, so I’m informing him this morning. I’ll be going to court soon, so you can stay at the residence. Don’t go out; it’s safe here for now, so don’t worry.” As he spoke, Nan Xuzong stepped forward, placing his large hand on Ji Wushang’s shoulder, and then helped her sit down in front of the dressing table. “Come, let me do your hair and makeup, shall I?”
"Alright!" Ji Wushang felt there were some questions in her mind, but he changed too quickly, so quickly that she couldn't understand him. Just as Ji Wushang was about to ask, Nan Xuzong had already climbed up the wall and gently stroked her black hair. "When I saw you before, you wore a Lingyun bun. Come, let me help you."
Ji Wushang nodded and let him do as he pleased. After he finished combing her hair, Nan Xuzong looked at the beauty in the mirror and smiled. He took out the phoenix jade hairpin from his bosom. "I cleaned this hairpin after you fell asleep last night. There is no poison on it now. It will definitely look beautiful in your hair."
"Hmm." Ji Wushang nodded, his eyes also glancing at Nan Xuzong, who also had the same phoenix jade hairpin in his hair.
Smiling inwardly, Ji Wushang lowered his head shyly.
Nan Xuzong looked at the shy beauty in the mirror and smiled to himself.
Meanwhile, deep in a bamboo forest, in the courtyard of a simple thatched hut, a man dressed in blue and wearing a butterfly mask took the letter from his hand and waved for someone to stand aside and wait for orders.
After opening and glancing at the contents, the man's thin lips curled into a smile. "Tell the Fourth Prince that I will be keeping a close eye on things, and everything will proceed according to his plan. If necessary, I will definitely appear!"
"Yes," the messenger immediately bowed and replied.
The man looked at the person who had already left, his eyes darkening. He took out the letter he had just put in his pocket and looked at the words on it.
"...I hope you can protect her for me at any time!"
He put the envelope away and tucked it into his pocket, muttering to himself, "Nan Xuzong, you're always thinking about her safety. Hah, don't you feel like you're shirking your responsibility? If you can't protect her and love her, why do you monopolize her all by yourself!"
"Heh!" The man chuckled. "The situation hasn't even reached that tense point yet, and you're already thinking about your escape route. Nan Xuzong, Nan Xuzong, sigh! What can I say about you? As a man, I'm even a little jealous of her, heh!" The man smiled, his lips curving upwards. "But, I really do want to go see her... I, still, thank you for giving me this opportunity!" He smiled, but it was hard to tell what he meant.
At this time, Nan Xuzong had already changed into his court robes and gone to court.
In court, Huangfu Ting recounted the events surrounding the handling of the deposed Crown Prince Huangfu Yun, stating that he had already "verified Huangfu Yun's identity" and had him executed by dismemberment at the Imperial City's training grounds. Everyone present was ashamed upon hearing this, yet remained silent.
Yet they became even more apprehensive. If the Zhou emperor could even tear his own son apart with five horses, what else couldn't he kill or depose?
Everyone was aware of Huangfu Ting's methods. Anyone with discerning eyes could immediately guess that the killing of the crown prince was the beginning of a power struggle for the throne.
Nan Xuzong, Huangfu Xuan, and Huangfu Yu did not say anything; they simply continued to listen.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Zhou showed little sadness and remained calm. "If there is anything you need to say, then speak up. Otherwise, the court is adjourned!"
"Your Majesty, I have heard that the Zhou Dynasty army of our Great Xia has achieved a great victory on the border. I believe that it would be better to order General Ji to continue leading the troops, together with the Prince of Zhenbei, to pursue the victory and attack the Bohai Dynasty! We will surely be able to capture Bohai City and return!"
"Father, I believe we should first conserve our strength. Although the soldiers of our Great Xia Zhou Dynasty are brave, they are still flesh and blood and need proper rest. Moreover, if we enter Bohai City now, the soldiers will surely be exhausted. The soldiers of Bohai are not to be underestimated. I think that if we want to take Bohai City, we must plan carefully and have them infiltrate from within while launching a surprise attack from the outside." Nan Xuzong stepped forward and said.
"Fourth brother is right. I believe that launching an attack at this time is short-sighted and opportunistic! What the soldiers want is not temporary victory, but lasting peace and security! Protecting the country is the duty of the soldiers. If second brother hopes to send General Ji and Prince Zhenbei to attack Bohai at this time, it would be tantamount to driving General Ji and Prince Zhenbei and the other soldiers to their doom! Is second brother planning to wait until they are dead before requesting to fight on the frontier?" Huangfu Xuan stepped forward and spoke sharply, revealing Huangfu Ting's true intentions without leaving him any room for maneuver.
Huangfu Ting looked embarrassed as he listened, and none of the ministers in the court dared to say a word!
It's now very clear that their bickering is a power struggle for the throne!
Huangfu Ting looked at Huangfu Yu, who seemed completely oblivious to the situation and remained as nonchalant as ever.
Huangfu Ting's eyes darkened. He stepped forward, knelt down, and said, "Father, this is not what my third brother meant. This is what I believe..."
"Enough!" Emperor Zhou stood up, looking down at Huangfu Ting and the others. "There's no need to say more! I have already sent General Ji and the Prince of Zhenbei to guard the border, ready to defend against any enemy! Court adjourned!"
"Long live the Emperor!" The courtiers immediately knelt down.
Huangfu Ting stared angrily at Emperor Zhou as he walked behind the screen, his gaze turning deep before slowly shifting to Huangfu Xuan and Nan Xu Cong.
At this moment, the hall was bustling with activity, and people had already left the main hall.
Nan Xuzong and Huangfu Xuan also walked out together.
Huangfu Ting glanced at Huangfu Yu, "Sixth Imperial Brother."
"Second brother, I heard that a new group of actors has arrived in the city. Would you like to come with me to take a look?" Huangfuyu immediately asked.
"Go see for yourself!" Huangfu Ting looked very displeased and immediately walked out with a flick of his sleeve!
Huangfu Yu's smile was still frozen on his face. After watching Huangfu Ting and everyone else leave, he shrugged and said, "I'm not going to see it, I'll go!" Huangfu Yu smiled and walked out of the palace gate.
Nan Xuzong emerged from a dark corner, his eyes flickering as he looked at Huangfuyu's retreating figure.
"What's wrong?" Huangfu Xuan's eyes were cold.
"It's nothing." Nan Xuzong's lips curled into a smile. "Let's go!"
Nan Xuzong discussed matters at Huangfu Xuan's residence for a long time before returning to the Prince Zong's residence.
Before leaving, Huangfu Xuan handed a piece of paper to Nan Xuzong, saying, "The secret to deciphering the black corpse lies here!"
Nan Xuzong was taken aback, looking at him in disbelief. Huangfu Xuan smiled and said, "This was personally taught by my beloved concubine!"
"Very good!" Nan Xuzong nodded, clutching the paper and putting it into his pocket. "Thank you!"
Huangfu Xuan smiled and nodded.
For him, defeating the Black Corpse would make defeating the Western Region King much easier! The Western Region King is Nan Xu Cong's most formidable opponent!
Nan Xuzong was overjoyed. After returning to his residence, he immediately went into the Moxuan Garden and exclaimed, "Wu Shang!"
But when they entered the inner room, it was quiet and deserted.
Nan Xuzong was startled. "Someone come here!"
"Cong, I'm here." At this moment, Ji Wushang walked out from behind the screen, his hair still covered in dust.
Nan Xuzong strode forward, and a guard came from outside, "Fourth Prince!"
"It's alright, you can leave now!" Nan Xuzong waved his hand, and the palm wind immediately closed the door.
Ji Wushang beckoned Nan Xuzong over and then said, "I dropped a jade bead on the ground, and when I went to look for it, I found a hole there, so I wanted to see what it was."
“It’s too dangerous. You must wait for me to come back from now on! How do we know what that cave is?” Nan Xuzong frowned and stepped forward to gently brush the dust off Ji Wushang’s head. “See, you can have Hongfei and Cuiwu come.”
"I don't know what it is either, I'm just curious, so I wanted to go and see!" Ji Wushang smiled. "It's alright."
"Okay, you wait here for me, I'll go take a look." Nan Xuzong said, and immediately bent down and went forward.
Because of his martial arts training, Nan Xuzong possessed extremely profound internal strength. Even in the darkness, he could see everything clearly inside the cave. His eyes flashed, and he reached in and took out two scrolls.
"What is this?" Ji Wushang asked in surprise. "How come it's a book? I thought it was something else! I couldn't touch it, how did you manage to?"
"Well, I guess my arms are too long, and the book was placed too deep," Nan Xuzong explained, smiling at Ji Wushang. As he turned to the side, he flipped through both books, but when he saw the images inside, he was so shocked that he couldn't speak!
“Cong, I’d like to see what books were in those books?” Ji Wushang rubbed his hands together and then smiled, “Come on up.”
"It's a martial arts manual." Nan Xuzong snapped back to reality and reacted immediately, taking the book in his hand and then starting to gesture with his other hand. "This is a superior martial arts manual, which is suitable for me to practice. Wushang, it seems you have found a good martial arts manual for your husband!" He laughed as he spoke, continuing to gesture with his right hand while holding the book high with his left.
Ji Wushang watched him purse his lips. Seeing how enthusiastic he was about practicing, and knowing that it was a superior martial arts manual, he felt relieved. "Alright, you keep practicing. I'm going to take a shower; I'm really dirty!"