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Jiang Xi couldn't help but nudge closer to Fong Yang and asked, "What happened to those two people in the dungeon?"
Fong Yang picked up a piece of food and fed it to Jiang Xi, saying, "Huo Xingwen is still alive. I have my reasons for keeping him."
Jiang Xi frowned slightly and replied, "What use is keeping a fly like him? He's both frightening and disgusting."
Fong Yang smiled kindly and said, "In six days, it will be the Empress Dowager's birthday. Huo Xingwen will be a gift from me to her. Presenting such a grand gift at the Empress Dowager's lively and festive Birthday Banquet will surely leave a lasting impression that she will never forget."
Jiang Xi looked at Fong Yang with a smile and said, "My husband is indeed decisive; if he strikes, it will be a lethal blow."
Fong Yang gazed at Jiang Xi's sincere smile, continually lost in its charm.
Fong Yang and Jiang Xi were enjoying the peaceful warmth of their married life in the pavilion when an urgent report shattered the tranquility.
Qin Lin presented an urgent letter from the front lines, saying, "The Mian Kingdom's army is pressing down on us, with an additional fifty thousand elite troops at the Northern Frontier. Prince Shu Yan of the Mian Nation entered Great Zhou territory four days ago with his sister Shu Qingcheng, and they will reach the imperial capital in three days."
Fong Yang took the intelligence report and after reading it, looked up and asked, "Has this information been delivered to the palace?"
Qin Lin nodded and replied, "It has already been reported to His Majesty."
After a brief acknowledgment, Fong Yang instructed Qin Lin, "Gather the troops quickly and prepare for deployment."
Qin Lin hesitated slightly and said, "Your Highness has just gotten married; it's still your honeymoon..."
Understanding Qin Lin's concern, Fong Yang calmly responded, "This is merely preparation; whether we go to war is still uncertain. According to previous intelligence, the Mian Kingdom's aim seems to be a marriage alliance. Their military presence is just a means of intimidation. Lin Fan should return in three to five days; he can assist you then."
Knowing that nothing could deter his lord, Qin Lin replied confidently, "I will carry out your orders."
Fong Yang turned to Jiang Xi and said, "I need to visit the study for a while. I'll head to the palace later. If you're bored, let Han Yue and Han Shuang take you out for a stroll."
Jiang Xi smiled lightly and said, "No need; I was exhausted from yesterday's activities. My little body is still sore. I'll rest here in the manor until you return."
Fong Yang embraced Jiang Xi gently and kissed her, saying, "I'll come back early to keep you company."
Jiang Xi gently reminded, "The war is urgent, but there's no need to rush. As usual, once we enter the palace, don't let anything pass your lips."
Fong Yang couldn't help but kiss her again, saying, "I will obey my beloved consort's orders."
A deeper smile appeared at the corners of Jiang Xi's lips. "Go now!"
In the distance, Yin Ye quietly commented, "With the prince's cold and indifferent nature, who would have thought he could show such tenderness?"
Han Yue giggled and said, "Even a tough man has that one person in this world who can make him willingly turn soft."
Fong Yang entered the study, where Yun Ting stepped forward to pay his respects. "I pay my respects to the Guild Master."
After Fong Yang sat down, he asked Yun Ting, "Is there any new information from Mian Kingdom?"
Yun Ting handed over a secret letter and replied, "A spy from Sky Pavilion intercepted some intelligence on the ninth of April. It’s a letter from Dazhou Ning Wang to the Mian Kingdom Emperor. This is a transcribed copy; to avoid alerting the enemy, the original has already reached the Mian Kingdom Emperor."
Fong Yang unfolded the intelligence and examined it. His brows gradually furrowed in coldness as he said, "Ning Wang would stamp his seal on a letter to an enemy nation? How foolish can someone be to frame themselves?"
Yun Ting chuckled and said, "As expected of my master; you are indeed sharp. I believe this letter is part of the emperor's scheme to frame Ning Wang. Should I investigate further?"
Feeling disgusted by the emperor's brainless plots that occasionally aimed to annoy Fong Yang, Yun Ting was reluctant to go easy on him. However, Fong Yang replied, "No need for an investigation. You stay in the capital; consider it your vacation. What secrets does the princess sent by Mian Kingdom hold?"
Yun Ting guessed his meaning and responded, "This paid leave decision is likely for the princess. My master truly treasures her."
He continued, "The Princess of Mian Kingdom, Shu Qingcheng, is extremely beautiful and skilled in soul-capturing techniques; she is an irresistible beauty."
Fong Yang acknowledged with a sound and said, "I understand. I will visit the palace shortly; you must ensure the princess's safety while I am away."
Yun Ting quickly clasped his hands in acknowledgment. "Rest assured, my master; I will protect her with my life."
With Mian Kingdom's army pressing forward, it was already part of a conspiracy between the emperor and the enemy nation. At this moment, he pretended to gather several princes and ministers for discussion.
At that moment, the eunuch pushed open the door to the imperial study and respectfully reported, "The Regent has arrived."
The atmosphere in the imperial study fell silent as Fong Yang, cold and aloof, entered alongside Yin Ye, exuding an aura of noble authority that commanded respect. Several princes and ministers stood up and bowed in deference.
Fong Gaoyun observed the growing reverence towards Fong Yang among the crowd, a flicker of dark light passing through his eyes before he concealed it with a faint smile. He said, "Congratulations to Uncle Emperor on your joyous marriage. I have bestowed a gift upon Imperial Aunt, which Chancellor Jiang has already taken back. In three days, when you return home, Uncle Emperor can take Imperial Aunt to Feng Yang to collect those gifts."
Yin Ye furrowed his brow slightly, pondering: The emperor actually spoke of bestowing gifts in front of his master. Not to mention that his master stood on equal footing with him, how inappropriate was this term "bestow"?
The princess had not even left the Prime Minister's Residence upon her marriage; clearly, their relationship had soured. What did he mean by sending gifts there?
Fong Yang did not nitpick over words with the emperor, but since it was meant for his Xi'er, he intended to retrieve it.
He calmly instructed Yin Ye, "You and Chen Fu go to the Prime Minister's Residence and check the gifts thoroughly before bringing them back to the manor."
The people in the imperial study held their breath; this command from the Regent was a slap in the emperor's face, showing no regard for his dignity at all.
Chen Fu understood the implications and instinctively glanced at the emperor. Fong Gaoyun once again felt the sting of having shot himself in the foot, anger boiling within him.
He lacked the courage to confront the Regent directly and could only force a smile as he scolded, "Chen Fu, if Uncle Emperor asks you to go, then go! What are you standing around for?"
The unfortunate Chen Fu broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly bowed before exiting.
The others sighed inwardly; indeed, he was a man who could bend and endure.
Fong Gaoyun suppressed his fury and forced a smile as he said, "This time it was my oversight; I hope Uncle Emperor will not take it to heart. I just cannot bear to see the Chancellor at odds with Imperial Aunt; after all, they are father and daughter—how can there be lingering resentment?"
Fong Yang replied indifferently, "It's fine. Let's set this matter aside for now and discuss Mian Kingdom."
Fong Gaoyun seized the opportunity to mask his nearly uncontrollable emotions with a sip of tea before steadying himself. He continued, "I believe Mian Kingdom is showing signs of military provocation, so I would like Uncle Emperor to lead troops immediately to the border to suppress Mian Kingdom's forces. What do you think, Uncle Emperor?"
The cabinet ministers were slightly angered. Mian Kingdom had barely escaped last year after being routed by the Regent's Xuanjia Army and losing three cities; they still had not learned their lesson.
Fong Yang remained indifferent and said, "The Prince of Mian Nation and the princess are already on their way to the capital. Their intention should be to form an alliance rather than to wage war. Even if they do decide to mobilize troops, I have candidates to lead the army. The Emperor need not worry about this."
Fong Gaoyun's expression stiffened; it was hard for him not to worry. His plan was to have Fong Yang removed from the capital to seize power, so he asked, "Is Uncle Emperor planning to appoint another commander?"
Fong Yang nodded slightly and replied, "Indeed. Both of my generals are valiant and skilled in battle. With them leading the troops, they will surely protect the Northern Frontier for me."
Fong Gaoyun felt a surge of anger. This scheme was not meant for your generals to steal the spotlight; how could I feel at ease if you don't leave the capital? However, he refrained from expressing his thoughts, wary of revealing his intentions, and subtly signaled King Qin.
King Qin, oblivious to being used, genuinely believed the Emperor considered him an ally and began to flatter Fong Yang: "Uncle Emperor is the Guardian Deity of the Nation for Da Zhou. Gao Rui believes that only with Uncle Emperor personally leading the troops can the Emperor feel at ease."
Fong Yang coldly interrupted King Qin's flattery: "This matter is for me to decide; you need not concern yourselves."
His harsh attitude led everyone to speculate whether the Regent had been unsatisfied on his wedding night.
Seeing Fong Yang so cold and unfeeling made everyone uneasy, and they dared not provoke him further. Fong Gaoyun also refrained from confronting Fong Yang directly and sought a way out: "In that case, I will not interfere with the expedition. After all, leading troops in battle is something Uncle Emperor is more adept at than I am. I trust Uncle Emperor's judgment."
As soon as he finished speaking, King Qin and the others sighed in relief and bowed in unison, praising him: "Your Majesty is wise."
Hearing this, Fong Gaoyun felt a surge of frustration; they were all just speaking nonsense with their eyes wide open.
Looking at the entire history of Da Zhou, which emperor could possibly feel more constrained than I do?
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