Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 203: Qingchen Starts Trouble

Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Qingchen Starts Trouble

"Don’t move, you’re injured." Gu Qingli pressed down on Xiao Yunjing, who was trying to sit up.

"I won’t get up. Li’er, are you alright?" Xiao Yunjing lay back down, his gaze anxiously sweeping over her.

"What could happen to me? I’m perfectly fine. You, on the other hand, are badly injured and didn’t even say a word." Gu Qingli shot him a reproachful glance and brought him his meal.

Xiao Yunjing finally relaxed and asked, "What about Yun No. 8 and the others?"

"They’re all fine, just need a few more days to recover. Now, come and eat." Gu Qingli scooped up some food and brought it to Xiao Yunjing’s lips, effectively silencing any further questions.

Xiao Yunjing had no choice but to open his mouth and eat.

This unexpected disaster had befallen them all, and they had spent five or six days recuperating in the Space.

It takes a hundred days for broken bones and torn muscles to heal, Xiao Yunjing thought, worried sick about when he would be able to leave. His injuries were lighter than those of the Secret Sect members; he wanted to leave first. Young Master Qingchen is planning to start a war on the Lantern Festival. We have relatives still in the Capital City, and we must warn them before he makes his move so they can evacuate as soon as possible. With Chu Xiong’s strength, fighting Qingchen would be like an egg hitting a stone—no chance of victory. If Qingchen discovers our connection to him, he will definitely not spare them.

What Xiao Yunjing didn’t know was that, at this very moment, Jiang Zhongcai was rushing back to the Capital City.

It was the sixth day of the new year. The imperial court had not yet convened, and the members of the Jiang Family were all at home. When Old Master Jiang saw his third son returning alone, he knew something was amiss and immediately summoned his three sons to the study.

"Third, has there been a change in the situation?" Old Master Jiang asked directly.

Jiang Zhongcai nodded and recounted Young Master Qingchen’s plan to initiate hostilities on the Lantern Festival, also providing an update on Xiao Yunjing’s current circumstances.

The Jiang father and his other two sons listened with trepidation. How could this Qingchen suddenly appear and stage a rebellion? Just how much was Chu Xiong disliked by people?

After a long silence, Old Master Jiang finally spoke, "Eldest, Second, Third, regardless of whether this news is true or not, we cannot remain in the Capital City. You three brothers must arrange for the family to leave tonight."

"Father, where are we going?" Jiang Zhongcai asked.

"To an estate outside the Capital City. It’s backed by mountains. Here’s what you do..."

Old Master Jiang laid out his arrangements, and by the afternoon, members of the Jiang Family began to leave the city in succession.

His meticulous planning indeed allowed them to escape disaster. The day after their departure, a group of unidentified individuals broke into the Jiang Mansion at night, only to find servants left to mind the estate. These servants had been newly purchased from a pawnshop by the Jiang family’s steward after the family had left. They knew nothing about who their masters were or where they had gone.

Infuriated, the intruders killed the servants on the spot before swaggering off.

Young Master Qingchen received the news the following day, his face grim. He didn’t believe it was such a coincidence; someone must have leaked the information. He had gone to great lengths to find Old Master Jiang’s family, only to arrive at an empty place. Enraged, he decided to act ahead of schedule, directly capturing three counties and advancing towards the Capital City.

Of the remaining seven counties, one was Beijing County, which Xiao Yunjing had captured. That county is so barren even birds don’t go there; I wouldn’t want it even if it were gifted to me. Qiyang County and Yanshan Pass also belonged to Xiao Yunjing. At this time, I won’t waste troops attacking them; it’s not worth the cost. Once I reconquer Daqian, I will turn back and deal with Xiao Yunjing.

On the tenth day of the new year, as the Daqian Kingdom had just convened its court, an urgent dispatch, carried over eight hundred miles, arrived in the Capital City. It was delivered directly to the imperial court, throwing the entire assembly into an uproar.

"Your Majesty, I request permission to deploy troops and eliminate these traitors!" General Jiang Huaiyuan, filled with righteous indignation, immediately knelt to submit his plea.

Emperor Chu gritted his teeth. Which bastard dares to call himself the legitimate successor of Daqian? Back then, my great-grandfather was indeed a collateral branch of the Daqian Imperial Family, and his fief was none other than that desolate Beijing County. In such a place, it wasn’t just difficult to find enough food and clothing; even survival was a challenge. Later, my great-grandfather, the founding emperor, in a fit of rage, led troops to rebel against Daqian, storming their capital and wiping out the Daqian Imperial Family. How could someone suddenly emerge now, claiming to be the rightful heir? Legitimate or not, whoever dares to overthrow my dynasty, I will fight them to the death!

"No, General Jiang will remain to guard the Capital City. Where is the Minister of War?"

The Minister of War, Feng Yuancheng, was taken aback for a moment. He thought the Emperor would approve Jiang Huaiyuan’s request and wouldn’t ask someone like him, who only knew warfare from books, to lead troops into battle.

He stepped forward from the ranks. "Your minister is here!"

Emperor Chu declared, "I appoint you as Grand General, with Vice Minister of War Wang Chongyang as Adjutant General, and Liu Desheng as Army Supervisor. You are to lead one hundred thousand troops immediately to capture the traitor Qingchen."

Wang Chongyang, having been named, promptly stepped forward to accept the decree. Liu Desheng glanced at Emperor Chu and also stepped down to receive his orders.

"Your Majesty, this arrangement is inappropriate!" Gu Xicheng immediately stepped forward to object.

"Lord Gu, what leads you to say such a thing?" Grand Tutor Xu stepped out to question Gu Xicheng.

Grand Tutor Xu, being the Emperor’s teacher, knew his personality best. The Emperor isn’t sending Jiang Huaiyuan to prevent an attack on the Capital City that could plunge it into a desperate situation. Jiang Huaiyuan is arguably the Emperor’s talisman. Hasn’t everyone seen that the Emperor never deploys Jiang Huaiyuan, no matter where troops are needed?

Gu Xicheng glanced at Grand Tutor Xu. "Grand Tutor Xu questions my words before I’ve even fully spoken. Does Grand Tutor Xu refuse to listen to what your colleagues in this court have to say?" This old fool, always using his status as Imperial Tutor, jumps out to defend the Emperor whenever anyone expresses a dissenting opinion. And the Emperor just loves people who flatter him. This Grand Tutor Xu is exactly such a sycophantic, unprincipled villain, skilled at flattery but lacking real substance. He has even taught the Emperor to be like this.

"Indeed, Lord Xu, why not hear what Lord Gu has to say? On a matter of such importance, it is better to listen to the opinions of all the lords," Cao Yushi also stepped forward to speak.

Grand Tutor Xu was seething. It’s always these two who oppose me, and yet I can do absolutely nothing about them.

Emperor Chu, seated on the emperor’s throne, saw that the three were about to start bickering again. He waved his hand impatiently at them. "All of my beloved officials, step back! Follow my decree; no one is to disobey! Furthermore, the Ministry of War is to immediately arrange for a nationwide conscription and dispatch the official documents as soon as possible."

"Your Majesty’s command is our will!" The assembled officials had no choice but to comply.

Grand Tutor Xu snorted at Gu Xicheng. Let’s see you show off this time.

Gu Xicheng sighed softly. My original intention was to suggest withdrawing troops from Yanshan Pass to block Qingchen’s retreat from the rear. If Jiang Huaiyuan were dispatched from here, we could launch a pincer attack. I doubt Qingchen’s forces could withstand that. Failing that, some troops from the south could also be redeployed to trap them like a turtle in a jar.

Gu Xicheng understood the Emperor’s intentions. He won’t concern himself with other regions; as long as the Capital City is protected, his throne is secure. The Emperor hasn’t even considered what would happen if Minister Feng from the Ministry of War were defeated and Qingchen’s forces marched directly on the Capital City. Could the several hundred thousand troops in the capital truly repel them?

Gu Xicheng sighed again and walked out of the imperial court with the other officials. Walking alone on the road, he looked up at the sky, wondering how much longer he could walk this path.