Inside the Imperial Study.
The general surnamed Pei blushed instantly after being ridiculed by the old man. He quickly defended himself, "Your Majesty, I'm not recommending myself to go on the expedition! If Your Majesty doesn't want me to go, I can recommend someone else!"
"Whom do you want to recommend?" The old man stroked his graying beard.
"General Li Lian! This man is brave and good at fighting. He will surely return in victory!" General Pei perked up and spoke with full vigor.
"Hahaha, isn't he your confidant!" The old man directly mocked, showing no regard.
"You!" General Pei was so angry that his beard fluttered and his eyes bulged.
Seeing that the two were about to quarrel, Grand Tutor Lin couldn't help but speak up, "Your Majesty, regarding your trip to the Northern Cold Region before, we old ministers advised you that it would be best not to go. But Your Majesty insisted on going, and there was nothing we could do. Now thinking about it, Your Majesty probably wanted to take the Queen out of the Cold Palace by the invitation of the Northern Cold Region. We old ministers can understand this. But the Northern Cold Region is really full of ill - intentions. They even have their eyes on the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun. If it weren't for the Queen sacrificing herself to save Your Majesty, we don't know what would have happened to the fate of our Great Yong! However, with such a noble act of the Queen, Your Majesty hesitates to avenge her. Where will the prestige of our Great Yong be? Your Majesty has always protected the Queen in the palace before. But now that the Queen has died, Your Majesty hesitates. This really puzzles us old ministers. Even if the Queen was disrespectful before, she has made up for it with this great deed. Your Majesty should calm the public outrage for this matter. Otherwise, losing the hearts of the people will do no good to the country and the society!"
The Emperor glanced at Lin Chujie but said nothing. Then he turned to Grand Tutor Zhang on the other side and asked, "What's your opinion, Lord Zhang?"
At this time, Grand Tutor Zhang, who had been silent all along, spoke up. His rigid figure standing in the hall immediately silenced the chattering crowd. "Your Majesty, I think it's meaningless for the two countries to go to war. Firstly, neither country's national strength has recovered. War will exhaust the people and waste money. Secondly, since Your Majesty has just returned from outside the palace, the court situation is still unstable. I'm afraid that once the war starts, some people with ulterior motives will take advantage of the situation to cause trouble in the capital."
As soon as he said this, there was a dead silence. It took a while for someone to come to their senses and shout, "Grand Tutor Zhang, what do you mean? Are you the only one in the whole court who is concerned about Your Majesty? Do the others all want to harm Your Majesty?"
"That's right. We just want to maintain the prestige of Great Yong. Otherwise, who wants to go to war?"
"Yeah. It's the Northern Cold Region that is too bullying. Our Great Yong, a great country, will not be afraid of them!"
"The Queen sacrificed herself for righteousness, but the Emperor is afraid of death. If this gets out, people will only think that the Emperor is heartless, which will chill the hearts of the people in the world!"
The noisy discussions filled the room. Finally, Yong Yaxuan couldn't bear it anymore and whispered angrily, "That's enough!"
Everyone fell silent because of this word. Yong Yaxuan glared at them and said, "I'm here to discuss state affairs with you, not to listen to your quarrels! I'll make my own judgment on the importance of this matter. If you have nothing else to say, you may leave."
There was a low - level murmur in the Imperial Study. Yong Yaxuan looked at them tiredly and then got up and left through the back door. Seeing this, all the court officials sighed helplessly and gradually left through the front door.
Ji Feiyu was standing there with her head respectfully lowered when she saw the door of the Imperial Study being opened. To her surprise, only a group of court officials came out, and Yong Yaxuan was nowhere to be seen. After everyone had left, she pretended to close the door and took a look inside. She found that the Imperial Study was empty. Just as she was curious, she saw Eunuch Li coming around from the other side.
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but ask curiously, "Where is His Majesty?"
Eunuch Li smiled obsequiously, "His Majesty has returned to Zixiang Palace through the back door. He said he wanted to be alone for a while and didn't let this old servant follow. Does Your Highness want to go and have a look?"
"Okay." Ji Feiyu nodded and chased after Yong Yaxuan towards Zixiang Palace. Yong Yaxuan never used to go through the back door. But today... sigh...
At this time, the situation in the court was obviously not good. Whether it was the war - advocating faction or the peace - advocating faction, Ji Feiyu smelled a hint of conspiracy. If they went to war, the common people would suffer; if they made peace, the prestige of the court would be damaged.
This matter further confirmed that someone deliberately spread rumors to cause trouble, then used the imperial edict to increase Ji Feiyu's prestige among the people, and then forced Yong Yaxuan into a corner in Ji Feiyu's name.
Just wondering what their expressions would be if they knew that Ji Feiyu wasn't dead and the brocade bag she gave to Yong Yaxuan before still sealed the agreement for eternal peace between the two dynasties.
Thinking of this, Ji Feiyu suddenly became curious when the Second Prince of the Northern Cold Region would give her a surprise and take control of the government. Only when he held the power in the Northern Cold Region could the agreement truly come into effect.
...
Since the meeting in the Imperial Study ended rather late, when Ji Feiyu arrived at Zixiang Palace, it was already getting dark. The whole hall was empty, giving an indescribable sense of desolation.
Ji Feiyu looked around to make sure there was really no one, and then stepped in. It seemed that the people in the palace were either dismissed by Yong Yaxuan or asked to avoid by Eunuch Li.
Standing in the huge palace, Ji Feiyu felt that it was both familiar and strange. She couldn't help but sigh that after not seeing it for a few months, the palace had become even more desolate and cold. She walked inside at a leisurely pace, wondering where Yong Yaxuan might be. But after searching the whole inner hall, she didn't find him. So she thought that he was most likely in the back yard.
There was a natural pool in the back yard. It was said that the water in the pool was connected to the outside world. One side of the pool was connected to the palace, while the other side led to a small forest. There was a zigzagging corridor built above the pool to connect the two banks, and there was a water pavilion in the middle of the corridor.
At this time, it was getting even darker.
Yong Yaxuan was sitting alone in the water pavilion, drinking clear wine silently.
After Ji Feiyu found Yong Yaxuan, she subconsciously hid behind a red - painted palace pillar and stole glances at him from time to time. She was a little afraid to get closer. Strangely enough, she came back this time to help him solve problems, but when she was really in front of him, she felt a little timid.
"How long can one drink away sorrow with wine? Yu'er, are you doing well outside? You should really be free now." He looked at the wine cup and smiled sadly, then drank it in one gulp.
Ji Feiyu was startled when she heard the voice. She thought he had seen her and quickly pulled her head back, hiding behind the pillar. But it turned out that he was just talking to himself. For some reason, with her head against the palace pillar, she felt a slight sourness in her heart when she heard what he said.
"... As long as you're happy, that's good." After he finished speaking, he let out a soft sigh, then raised his head and drank another cup. Then he began to speak slowly, "... Now in the court, there are turbulent undercurrents. Everyone wants me to avenge you, which shows that the common people really like you." He took a deep breath and continued, "Yes, you're so good. Who wouldn't like you?"
Ji Feiyu stood behind the palace pillar, her eyes flickering. A late - autumn wind blew, stirring up ripples in the pool and also in her heart.
It's getting cold. It's late autumn. We've met again, but why do I dare not get closer when I see you?
You've always been so gentle and powerful in front of me, but are you so desolate in private? A sense of melancholy suddenly escaped from the cold wind and twined around her heart.