The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1691: 824 Expedition! (Second Update)

Chapter 1691: 824 Expedition! (Second Update)

The two were talking when Shangguan Yun emerged from the Sleeping Palace.

Shangguan Yun’s eyebrows were tightly knitted, her thin lips pressed together.

Xiao Hen threw away the branch in his hand and, pulling Gu Jiao to stand up, asked Shangguan Yun, “What did the monarch say?”

Shangguan Yun frowned and said, “He told us to escape quickly.”

If he hadn’t said so, she would have already taken the children and fled.

But when he truly told her to flee, she no longer wished to.

Indeed, the human heart is the strangest thing in the world.

“There’s no escaping,” Xiao Hen said.

With the ambitions of Jin and Liang, not a single member of the Dayan royal family or Xuanyuan’s descendants can hope to escape. Once Dayan’s territories are trampled, there is only one outcome waiting for them.

Shangguan Yun nodded, “You should return to the Duke Residence first, I’ll gather the ministers to discuss court affairs.”

The monarch had a stroke, and the border pass was in chaos; indeed, misfortunes never come singly.

But no matter what, there is no retreat for them.

Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen took a carriage back to the Duke Residence of Anguo.

The news from the Court had already spread throughout the entire Residence. Manager Zheng cursed the Han Family and the Nangong Family, and then ranted about the various countries with ill intentions. Of course, he also didn’t forget to scold the monarch who acted on his own.

The room was full of people gathered in the Grand Hall.

The old wine master whispered to Empress Dowager Zhuang, “Why did our Emperor join this commotion? Isn’t he a benevolent ruler? From what I know of him, others would rarely provoke him, let alone him starting a war. He’s not that bold.”

The one being fought isn’t a minor country like Chen, it’s Yan Country, the strongest power among the three nations.

Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted coldly, “It’s obvious this wasn’t his idea; he must have been instigated by someone.”

The old wine master pondered, “Who instigated him?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang said flatly, “If it’s not Xuanping Marquis, it’s Tang Yueshan.” Tang Yueshan is more likely, he’s quite warlike.

The old wine master said in distress, “Ahen is the eldest grandson of the Dayan royal family, and Jiaojiao is the adopted son of the Duke Residence. If a fight really breaks out… it’s quite awkward.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang glared at him, as if to say this is hardly a matter of being awkward.

The old wine master coughed lightly, “So, um, what do you plan to do?”

What was she planning?

If she really had to plan, she would love to immediately take the children back to Zhan Country, far away from the disputes of Yan Country.

But that was impossible.

From the moment the children set foot in Yan Country, their fate was tied with that of Yan Country.

She only hoped that Jiaojiao would not have to go to battle again.

There are so many renowned generals in the aristocratic families of Dayan, there’s no need for a young girl to fight, is there?

However, the moment Gu Jiao entered the Courtyard looking for the Black Wind King, Empress Dowager Zhuang understood that she was going to the Battlefield again.

Empress Dowager Zhuang silently returned to her own room.

“Hey—Zhuang—” The old wine master glanced at Duke An of Anguo and Second Master Jing in wheelchairs across the room, smiled sheepishly, “Excuse me for a moment.”

He chased after Empress Dowager Zhuang’s place.

Empress Dowager Zhuang sat by the window, staring absentmindedly at the Begonia tree in the Courtyard.

The old wine master asked, “What are you doing? You just walked away without a word.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang remained silent.

The old wine master sighed, “Things haven’t reached that point yet, have they? Don’t—”

“She’s only sixteen.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang spoke.

The old wine master was taken aback.

Empress Dowager Zhuang lowered her gaze, taking out a new pouch from her wide sleeve, “It’s two more months before she turns seventeen. Her birthday last year was spent in war, and the same this year.”

At fifteen or sixteen, it’s the age of innocence, a time to stay in the boudoir under parental protection, yet she had already been battle-bound twice.

Her beloved Jiaojiao never had a proper day of rest.

She thought her own life had been hard enough, but seeing Jiaojiao, she felt she wasn’t hard enough.

If she endured a bit more, could she shoulder some more for Jiaojiao?

“Auntie.”

Gu Jiao’s voice came from the doorway, she knocked on the door, “May I come in?”

Empress Dowager Zhuang put away the pouch, casually replied, “Come in.”

Gu Jiao pushed the door open and entered, glancing at the old wine master, “Oh, Uncle is also here.”

The old wine master discreetly glanced at Zhuang Jinse, whose expression no longer showed any trace of melancholy, and smiled asking Gu Jiao, “Is there something you need?”

Gu Jiao said, “It’s nothing major, it’s just… the situation in Yan Country isn’t looking good. Ahen and I discussed and thought it best to have someone escort you back to Zhan Country first.”

Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently, “You didn’t say, but we also planned to leave, we’ve been here too long, getting tired of it.”

The betrayal of the Han Family and the Nangong Family disrupted their original plans completely. The top ten families and the Yan monarch were no longer the immediate enemies; it was the armies of five countries.