Two kezhong later.
Chen Mo turned his gaze to the slightly breathless Yue Ruyan beside him, and extended his hand: "Ru Yan, are you okay?"
"Don’t touch me."
Yue Ruyan ignored Chen Mo, instead turning her back to him and continually cursing him, calling him a beast.
"Ru Yan, I was wrong, isn’t it just because I like you too much?"
Chen Mo, thick-skinned, directly embraced her and started whispering sweet words.
"Enough, I don’t want this kind of affection." Yue Ruyan struggled a bit and only stopped when she confirmed Chen Mo was merely holding her.
Seeing this, Chen Mo chose to talk about other topics to distract her, shifting the conversation to Jin Xia.
Speaking of Jin Xia.
Yue Ruyan spoke seriously: "Now that the internal affairs of Great Wei are mostly settled, and the state treasury is relatively abundant, when do you plan to attack Jin Xia and expand our territory?"
"Not yet; let’s wait for one or two years until the court’s personnel arrangements are settled and the people’s lives have fully improved. Then, we will attack Jin Xia. This blood feud cannot go unavenged." Chen Mo had already planned it in his heart.
"But what if Jin Xia doesn’t wait and attacks us first? Didn’t the Inspectors report recently that Jin Xia’s internal conflicts have been resolved and Haiyan Pass has been reinforced?"
"Even though the issues are resolved, they need time to manage them. Two years ago, they suffered a defeat, causing a weariness towards war among their people. Also, Jin Xia’s resources are not as rich as Great Song’s, with most of its lands still in harsh regions. It would take longer for them to govern than it would for us in Great Wei. They need more time than we do.
Of course, if Jin Xia truly disregards everything to start a war with Great Wei, we are not afraid. If that time comes, I will not wait for one or two years either. If we win, we will directly invade and obliterate their nation."
...
According to the estimated timeline, Wu Yanqing, Nalan Yiren, and Diwu Fusheng should be able to return with the victorious army before mid-December.
However, since early December, it’s been snowing non-stop. The heavy snow blocked the roads, and the snow in Guangtian River City reached knee-height, not to mention outside the city.
By late December, the snow stopped, and the sun shone for several consecutive days. On the day before the new year, Wu Yanqing’s group returned to the capital with the vanguard, while the main army was still behind.
Wu Yanqing, Nalan Yiren, and Yang Qingqing returned with the vanguard troops.
Chen Mo hadn’t even had a chance to receive them, and Yang Qingqing entered the palace before Wu Yanqing and Nalan Yiren.
After Yang Qingqing entered the palace, she quickly refreshed her makeup and changed into a jacket and skirt, then had Jia Yin send a message requesting to see Chen Mo.
In the Imperial Study.
When he saw Yang Qingqing again, she was in a white jacket and skirt. Her hair was elegantly styled, her makeup slightly heavy, her demeanor cold and bright, but it was hard to conceal her fatigue and grief.
As soon as she saw Chen Mo, she knelt down with a thud and sobbed: "I beg Your Majesty to seek justice for me."
Chen Mo was startled and hurried forward to help her up, saying: "Princess Consort Zhao, what is this? What happened? Stand up and speak."
"I ask Your Majesty to promise to seek justice for me; otherwise, I will keep kneeling."
"Tell me what happened first, otherwise how can I seek justice for you?"
"I beg Your Majesty to sentence the Minister of War, Wu Yanqing, to death."
Yang Qingqing raised her eyes to look at Chen Mo, tears swelling with anger, and then began recounting the events, denouncing Wu Yanqing’s crimes, saying:
"Your Majesty, although I know my father is guilty, he has already met his deserved end. After the State Preceptor captured him, he abolished my father’s cultivation. At that point, my father was powerless, just waiting to be sent back to the capital to await Your Majesty’s judgment.
But... Wu Yanqing, without Your Majesty’s instructions, ordered his subordinates to poison my father and forged a story about him committing suicide in fear of his crimes. Your Majesty, you must bring justice for me! Wu Yanqing shows no regard for you, deceives above and below, and disrespects me. He deserves to be executed."
Yang Qingqing was in tears.
"Is there really such a thing?" Chen Mo frowned deeply.
"It’s absolutely true! I beg Your Majesty to bring justice to me." Yang Qingqing was teary-eyed.
"I will thoroughly investigate this matter and give you an explanation." Chen Mo helped Yang Qingqing up.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
As Yang Qingqing stood up to express her gratitude, Chen Mo interrupted her, saying: "But let me make it clear, even if Duke Wu is indeed culpable, it does not warrant death."
Yang Qingqing stared blankly at Chen Mo.
"Duke Wu has contributed to the nation, been beneficial to the state, and he is also the father of the Empress..."
"Then will my father die in vain?" Before Chen Mo could finish, Yang Qingqing couldn’t help but interrupt.
Chen Mo raised his eyebrows and continued: "Besides, what did I tell you before setting out the troops?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Qingqing was momentarily speechless.
At that time, His Majesty had said that if it could be avoided, if her father surrendered before the war began, his life could be spared.
Otherwise, there would be only one path of death awaiting him.
Yet her father not only refused her last persuasion but also didn’t surrender.
Yang Qingqing realized she was on shaky ground.
But, after all, that was her father.
Tears fell from the corners of her eyes, smudging her makeup. She looked up at Chen Mo, seemingly wanting to confirm something: "In my father’s death, did Your Majesty secretly instruct Wu Yanqing?"
"No." Chen Mo replied quickly.
Yang Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief, although she always felt that Chen Mo had secretly instructed Wu Yanqing. Otherwise, how would Wu Yanqing have had such courage? Yet she was Chen Mo’s woman. Even though she knew he was lying, hearing him deny it, subconsciously she could deceive herself that Chen Mo hadn’t tainted his hands with her father’s blood.
A form of self-deception.
Yang Qingqing, with tear-filled eyes gazing at the young man in the Emperor’s Robe, cried her heart out: "Your Majesty, my father died so tragically, vomiting black blood..."
As she cried, she collapsed again, sitting on the floor, holding Chen Mo’s leg, hoping to arouse his sympathy and heavily punish Wu Yanqing.
Chen Mo looked at the crying, tear-streaked Yang Qingqing and handed her a handkerchief, diverting the topic: "How are your brothers and aunts?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Qingqing paused her crying and immediately began pleading for her brothers, asserting they hadn’t participated in their father’s matters.
"Your Majesty, the Empress requests an audience."
At this moment, Jia Yin’s voice echoed outside the Imperial Study.
Yang Qingqing, seeing this, hurriedly accepted the handkerchief from Chen Mo and wiped the tears off her face, standing up, displaying a hint of panic.
Just moments ago, she wanted Wu Yanqing dead.
Now the other party’s daughter was coming, someone higher in status than her, making her quite apprehensive.
Chen Mo glanced at her in this state and said: "Princess Consort Zhao, you might leave now. I will handle this matter with discretion."
Yang Qingqing sought certainty, but clearly dissatisfied with Chen Mo’s promise to handle it with discretion. Yet with Wu Mi coming in, she dared not linger any further, nodded, and retreated.
As she passed by Wu Mi, Yang Qingqing didn’t greet her.
Wu Mi came to know that Yang Qingqing had sought His Majesty and to stand up for her father.
As one of the nation’s queens, Wu Mi did not start directly with the topic, instead putting down a food box she brought, claiming she personally made some snacks and delivered them to His Majesty.
Then gently said: "Just now, I ran into Princess Consort Zhao, little sister. She seemed flustered; I wonder what business she sought His Majesty for?"
Chen Mo briefed her on the matter but protected Yang Qingqing by altering her plea from requesting Wu Yanqing’s execution to assigning him a punishment.
Otherwise, the ensuing days for Yang Qingqing in the harem would be untenable.
Wu Mi raised her phoenix-like eyebrows slightly, contemplatively, then softly spoke: "How does His Majesty intend to punish my father?"
"This matter requires careful investigation before we can make a decision." Though Chen Mo already knew the events, formal procedures must be followed, saying: "Even if it turns out that Yang Xian committed suicide out of guilt, Duke Wu was negligent, so his merits from this campaign will be rescinded, and his salary will be docked for a year."