lcionline Chapter 283 While dealing with external enemies, they're still thinking about internal strife.
Chapter 283 While dealing with external enemies, they're still thinking about internal strife.
The guards outside were nominally sent by the Emperor to protect her, but Chu Ruohan knew in her heart that these people were probably more there to monitor her.
She simply cannot trust anyone.
Song Ruyan has now disappeared without a trace.
Song Ruyan, believing her to be dead, went on a journey across the world...
Meanwhile, the Shadow Guard also went to the Pingzhou battlefield with Gu Junze.
At this moment, she had no one by her side who could be of use.
This feeling of isolation and helplessness weighed heavily on her heart.
Chu Ruohan took a deep breath, suppressing the chaotic thoughts in her mind, and looked at Qin Fang, her eyes regaining clarity and decisiveness.
"Send someone to find out Song Ruyan's whereabouts carefully."
"In addition, you should secretly begin recruiting people and cultivating our own power. They must be loyal and reliable, skilled in combat, and quick-witted."
"Don't be stingy with money, just go for it."
A glint of light flashed in Qin Fang's eyes, and he immediately clasped his hands in response.
"Yes! I understand!"
Chu Ruohan nodded, got up and walked behind her desk, taking out a pre-written letter from the drawer.
There was no writing on the envelope.
She handed the letter to Qin Fang, her expression serious.
"You must find a way to personally deliver this letter to Pingzhou and make sure it reaches Gu Junze directly. It cannot pass through anyone else's hands."
Qin Fang solemnly accepted the letter and carefully put it away close to his body.
"Yes, young mistress, rest assured, I will deliver the letter safely to the young master!"
As soon as Qin Fang's figure disappeared outside the door, Chu Ruohan raised her hand and gently rubbed her throbbing temples.
Just then, Dr. Qian walked in with a steady gait, carrying a bowl of still-steaming medicine to help prevent miscarriage.
"I was just going to find you."
Chu Ruohan lowered her hand, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible weariness, and looked at Doctor Qian.
She recounted her conversation with Consort Jing in the palace to Doctor Qian, word for word.
Dr. Qian listened quietly, his expression gradually becoming serious.
His brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and his hand holding the medicine bowl tightened suddenly, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the excessive force.
He never imagined that the complex web of power struggles behind this would directly point to the Empress.
How much of Consort Jing's words were true, and how much were false?
This muddy water is bottomless.
"If what Consort Jing said is true..." Doctor Qian's voice was dry with disbelief, "Then what about the Crown Prince's background?"
He stopped abruptly, the words that followed burning his tongue like a hot iron, and dared not utter them easily.
That would be a matter of national importance, potentially shaking the very foundation of the country.
"The Wei family...do they really have that much guts?"
The slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin.
Chu Ruohan gently shook her head, her gaze falling on the slightly rippling tea, her eyes eerily calm.
"So many years have passed since this incident, it is by no means easy to unearth the buried truth again."
“Consort Jing’s purpose is very clear.” Her voice turned colder. “She wants to use us as a knife to break through that thin veil.”
Dr. Qian looked at her calm face, but deep worry and disapproval were surging in his eyes.
He remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed softly, as if trying to vent all the resentment in his heart.
“The Tian family has been wronged for so many years, so what’s there to fear… just wait a little longer.”
His gaze shifted to Chu Ruohan's still-flat stomach, and his tone softened.
"Now that the young master is far away in Pingzhou, the young mistress should still prioritize the health of the child in her womb."
Chu Ruohan nodded slightly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the warm, smooth surface of the cup.
"This is the truth."
Her voice was soft, yet carried a lingering heaviness.
"I'm afraid that life won't stay as peaceful as we wish."
"Consort Jing...I'm afraid she can't wait any longer."
In Chu Ruohan's mind, she clearly pictured Consort Jing's eyes, which seemed gentle but actually concealed a sharp edge.
She kept this shocking secret tightly under wraps for so many years, enduring and lying low in the deep palace for just as long.
What is the purpose?
What they've been waiting for is to seize the opportunity one day to completely bring down the high and mighty empress.
Will the powerful Wei family be uprooted completely?
Inside the Pingzhou camp, Gu Junze unfolded the letter he had just received; it bore Chu Ruohan's unique handwriting.
The paper still carried a faint trace of her body heat, as if her hand had just let go.
"Junze, I and the baby in my womb are both well, please don't worry. The Emperor has ordered me to move into a house called 'Jing'an Residence' to rest and prepare for childbirth, which is very close to the palace..."
Gu Junze's expression softened a bit, and the heavy weight in his heart finally lifted.
She is still alive and pregnant with their child.
This is the greatest blessing from heaven.
But as he read on, his brow furrowed again. His fingertips lightly traced the edge of the letter, his gaze fixed on the last sentence.
"His Majesty has already sent an envoy to Liang, but has also ordered you to hold Duan Qingye back in Pingzhou. I hope you will consider the purpose of this move."
He put down the letter, walked to the table inside the tent, and bent down to examine the map. Pingzhou, Liang, and Zheng were positioned like the three vertices of a triangle.
"What do you want to do?" Gu Junze muttered to himself, tapping the map lightly with his finger. "Do you want to follow the Princess's plan, bypass Liang and directly attack Zheng's rear?"
The eldest princess did indeed have such a strategy back then—to unite with the Liang Kingdom and outflank the Zheng Kingdom from the flank, making it unable to attend to both ends.
"Or have they already harbored the intention to annex the State of Zheng?"
More than a decade has passed.
The State of Zheng is growing stronger day by day, with ample military equipment and a powerful national strength. It is not so easy to deal with.
If a full-scale war is rashly provoked, a lose-lose situation will be difficult to avoid.
Now it seems that the Liang Kingdom is in a situation where the lips are gone and the teeth are cold!
But if the Liang Kingdom breaks its promise and waits for the right moment, how can we possibly retaliate?
Gu Junze carefully folded the letter and put it into his pocket.
He got up, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the tent.
"Yingqing".
Ying Qing, who was guarding outside the tent, immediately stepped forward, bowed, and greeted the young master.
"Prepare the horses, I'm going to Zheng's camp."
A hint of surprise flashed across Ying Qing's face, but she quickly regained her composure. "Yes."
A moment later, Gu Junze rode his warhorse, escorted by several trusted men, toward the Zheng army camp not far away.
Outside Zheng Jun's camp, sentries stood ready.
Upon seeing Gu Junze's banner, immediately report it.
The two armies were fighting without killing the envoy.
Before long, someone came to greet them and led them into the camp.
Duan Qingye's tent was much simpler than Gu Junze's.
The only difference was that there was a small table in the corner of the tent, on which were placed several exquisite items—an inkstone, a folding fan, and a sachet.
These items look old, but they are very well preserved and are clearly their owner's cherished possessions.