The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law-Chapter 1041 - 1035: Discussing Troop Deployment

"Ducal Lord, you are getting on in years, so I will be brief," the Emperor said. "You are aware that Jin Mocong of Xining is causing turmoil, and sooner or later he will rebel. The courtiers all feel that rather than waiting for him to turn against us, it would be better to strike first. Therefore, deploying troops to Xining is inevitable."

The Ducal Lord squinted his eyes, pretending not to understand, and said, "Who then does Your Majesty plan to send out? My son just recently sent a letter from home, mentioning that the border at Beiping has become somewhat unstable lately, and the military situation is pressing. If it really gets out of hand, I fear the Imperial Court will need to provide support. In the past, I wrote him a reply, telling him to stand firm against any adversity, as Your Majesty has been preoccupied with the disaster areas and the situation in Xining, with no time to concern yourself with him."

A smile appeared on the Empress’s face. She knew her grandfather was formidable. Beiping was already in such difficulty; surely they couldn’t expect her fourth uncle to abandon Beiping and go off to fight in Xining, could they?

They had long since agreed to firmly oppose sending troops. If the Emperor took this opportunity to weaken the power of the Ducal Residence, their fate would be the same as that of the Grand Master Residence of yore.

After the Xiao Family’s downfall, the fate of Xiao Qinqin still sent shivers down her spine just thinking about it. Even if she were posthumously crowned as Empress after her death, what use would it be? She did not care for such honors.

"Your Majesty," the Empress said, "my fourth uncle has already had a hard time. The barbarians of the north are formidable indeed, and the troops of Beiping absolutely must not be mobilized."

The Emperor’s icy gaze swept towards the Empress, and she immediately fell silent.

She thought to herself that this man truly had no heart. If it weren’t for the power of her family, the Ducal Residence, at this juncture she would have ended up just like Xiao Qinqin, returned to dust.

"Beiping must be defended, and Xining cannot be ignored," the Emperor stated indifferently. "In that case, what do you, Ducal Lord and Empress, suggest we do?"

The Emperor had directly passed the ball to them.

The Empress did not join in the discussion; as a woman, it was improper for her to participate in politics. She would speak when it was time to speak and otherwise remain silent.

Under such circumstances, of course, she would say no more.

"Your Majesty, as a woman, I do not understand these matters," she said.

The Emperor sneered. She understood very well when it suited her, but feigned ignorance otherwise.

This woman daringly played the role of the clever one; otherwise, all those women from the Crown Prince Residence back then wouldn’t have fallen at her hand.

Jin Yushu thought she had been flawless in her schemes, but the Emperor knew everything. He kept quiet and pretended not to notice, because those women had driven Qinqin to her death—they all deserved to die.

All the old maids who had forced Qinqin to leave the Crown Prince Residence that year were gone, save for the Empress alone.

Someday, she would be the same.

Reflecting on the past, the Emperor’s thoughts took many twists and turns, and a chill emanating from his very marrow almost froze the air around him. The Empress was suddenly startled, frightened by the Emperor’s current demeanor.

Was he not just unwilling to send troops? Why was he looking as if he wished to devour someone? freēwēbnovel.com

That invisible pressure bore down on the Empress, and her silence now was born of fear of the Emperor.

The Ducal Lord, who was old and his eyesight failing, could not see the Emperor’s expression clearly, so he did not perceive the subtle shifts in the atmosphere between the Emperor and the Empress.

"Let the Yue Family of Lingnan take charge," he suggested. "They have a large army, twenty thousand strong. Yue Tingfang is brave and adept in battle, and it is said that even the ladies of their family are capable of taking to the battlefield, quite imposing indeed. Nanzhao Country, on the border of Lingnan, is but a small nation and poses no significant threat. He is the best choice for the task."

The Emperor shifted his gaze to the Ducal Lord and spoke in a low voice, "I sent a secret edict to Yue Tingfang a few days ago; he claims he has been in declining health recently and fears he may never see battle again in this lifetime."