The Emperor Guangwu's face was not only sallow but also haggard, looking preoccupied.
Indeed, he had been troubled by the news that came back in the middle of the night last night and lost his composure.
The secret agents of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the regions of Qin and Jin sent back news that the Prince of Qin and the Prince of Jin had privately hoarded troops, stored a large amount of grain and forage, and privately cast ironware in their respective regions.
The Emperor Guangwu immediately felt dizzy.
The regions of Qin and Jin boasted two crucial military strongholds, Tongguan and Yanmen Pass, making them among the most important fiefdoms of the Great Ye Kingdom.
Back then, he had enfeoffed these two regions to his fifth and seventh sons at the strong recommendation of the Crown Prince.
It could be said that the Prince of Qin and the Prince of Jin were in the same camp as Song Chengyuan.
But now, they were actually plotting a rebellion!
What about Song Chengyuan? Did he know about it?
Was he stabbed in the back by his brothers, or was he coveting the throne with them?
The Emperor Guangwu's heart sank.
He wasn't even dead yet, but his sons were already eager for him to abdicate!
The Emperor Guangwu couldn't sleep all night because of this. Who would have thought that another piece of bad news came this morning. The troops he had sent to chase after the Eastern Depot sent a message back to the capital by carrier pigeon, saying that they couldn't catch up with the people from the Eastern Depot!
It seemed that the Lan family in Hainan was doomed!
The Emperor Guangwu was struck like a thunderbolt.
Since Lan Jinxiang entered the capital, the Tartar envoy had secretly sent a message, demanding the release of the Lan family. Otherwise, the peace negotiation would be called off.
He immediately sent Lord Lu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard to ride his horse at full speed to recall the troops of the Eastern Depot that had been sent to Hainan to assassinate the Lan family.
However, he didn't expect that the people from the Eastern Depot, under the instruction of Song Chengyuan, had traveled day and night and were already more than three hundred li away on the same day.
Even if Lord Lu had set off the next day, it would have been too late to catch up with them.
The Emperor Guangwu looked at Lan Jinxiang's cold face and felt a headache.
If Lan Jinxiang found out that her family had been killed, a war between the Tartars and the Great Ye Kingdom would be inevitable!
If the regions of Qin and Jin rebelled at this time and secretly opened the passes to let the Tartars in.
With internal strife and external threats, the Great Ye Kingdom would be in great danger!
At this moment, Lan Jinxiang's arrogance was nothing. The Emperor Guangwu didn't even want to bother about it.
The Emperor Guangwu forced a smile and said, "The Khatun is our honored guest. After a long and tiring journey, it's normal to wake up late. I understand... Let's start the martial arts competition!"
The first match today was a so - called friendly martial arts competition, but in fact, it was a test of the military strength between the two countries.
The Tartars were tall and strong, having an advantage in physical strength.
However, the soldiers of the Great Ye Kingdom were flexible in movement and had profound internal energy.
In the first match, Ji Qian, an experienced officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, easily threw the Tartar brute out of the circle using the technique of "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds".
In the second match, Lan Jinxiang sent a woman. Everyone was shocked.
The Emperor Guangwu frowned and asked, "What does the Khatun mean? Why did you send a woman?"
Lan Jinxiang replied, "Is there a problem with sending a woman? Does Your Majesty and all the ministers look down on women? In the Tartar tribe, we respect women very much. Women and men support the family together, give birth to children, and raise cattle and sheep. What makes women inferior to men?"
"Even on the drill ground and on the battlefield, there are many female generals in the Tartar tribe... Hmm? You all look skeptical?"
Lan Jinxiang sneered and said, "Look at me. I'm an example. I can represent the Tartar tribe to visit your country alone. What else is there to doubt?"
Lan Jinxiang's words left everyone speechless.
"Let's start the match!" Lan Jinxiang taunted, "Is there no woman in the Great Ye Kingdom? Can't you even find a woman who can hold her own?"
"Are you all not born of women? Did you all pop out of a rock?"
Xu Buyue stood up abruptly. Her heroic eyes were full of pride. "I'll do it!"
Lan Jinxiang clapped her hands and said, "That's right! I'm looking forward to it."
She turned to Caiyu and said, "Third sister, look. Isn't the Tartar tribe a good place for you? I know you've liked playing with swords and riding horses since you were a child. Look, here with me, you can live freely! Think about it carefully."
"Yuer!" Song Yinghuai's face turned pale. He spoke up before Lan Jinxiang. "The Tartar tribe is the enemy of the Great Ye Kingdom. It's very dangerous there. Your second sister may not be able to protect you!"
"What do you like? Riding horses and wielding swords? I can give you that too. Don't act on impulse."
Although Lan Jinxiang seemed to be very impressive here, only Song Yinghuai knew how dangerous her situation was in the Tartar tribe.
One wrong move, and she could face rebellion and assassination.
Sending Caiyu out of the pass would be like sending a lamb to the tiger's mouth.
He had to stop her at all costs.
He was just afraid that Caiyu would really run away with Lan Jinxiang out of disappointment in him.
After Lan Jinxiang spoke, Caiyu's eyes flickered constantly.
She was really yearning for what Lan Jinxiang had described.
Her natural dream of freedom made her eager to try.
Song Yinghuai naturally saw the obvious longing on her face. He was extremely anxious and quickly said, "I'm serious. The Tartar tribe is not as good as you think. It's not like Yanjing..."
"My lord." Caiyu interrupted him. "I didn't say I would go with my second sister. Even though I yearn for freedom, I still don't want to leave my homeland. Don't worry."
Song Yinghuai was stunned for a moment. Looking at her indifferent expression, he always felt uneasy.
He wanted to tell her that after they returned to Yanjing, she could do whatever she wanted.
He would no longer stop her.
But this was not the right place to confess his feelings!
The cheers in the drill ground were getting louder and louder. Xu Buyue had already used her silver spear to knock the Tartar female general out of the circle, winning thunderous applause from the subjects of the Great Ye Kingdom.
Having lost two matches in a row, the Tartar envoy group looked extremely embarrassed.
Lan Jinxiang raised her eyebrows and suddenly stood up. She asked someone to take off her gorgeous outer robe, revealing the tight - fitting clothes inside. She said,
"I haven't been back for a few years, and the people in my homeland have improved a lot... It seems that if I don't step in myself, you'll all think that there's no one in the Tartar tribe!"
The Khatun of the Tartar tribe was going to participate in the match herself!
This was going to be exciting!
Who would dare to fight her?
The Princess of Nan'an had just finished a match. If she fought again, Lan Jinxiang would laugh at the Great Ye Kingdom for not having any other women.
But the Great Ye Kingdom had a patriarchal tradition, and there really wasn't a second Xu Buyue.
It wasn't appropriate to send a man to fight the Queen Mother of the Tartar tribe, either.
Winning would be inappropriate, and losing would be a disgrace!
Just as the monarch and his ministers of the Great Ye Kingdom were worrying about who should accept the challenge, Lan Jinxiang had already walked to the middle of the drill ground. She pointed at Song Yinghuai and said, "Prince of Yan, you've been fighting against the Tartar tribe for many years. How about having a match with me here today!"
Everyone was so shocked that their jaws dropped.
Why did she choose the Prince of Yan?
He was the most powerful warrior in the Great Ye Kingdom!
Was the Khatun of the Tartar tribe going to lose all three matches?
Or did she think that because she was a guest and the second sister of Miss Lan San, the Prince of Yan would show mercy?
Even Xu Ziyi and Xiao Rencheng were stunned. They didn't know what Lan Jinxiang was up to.
Caiyu looked at Lan Jinxiang in surprise. "Second sister..."
Lan Jinxiang gave her a charming smile and said, "Good sister, whether I can win today depends on you."
Caiyu had a headache. "Second sister, this is a matter of national dignity. I can't ask the prince to show mercy just because you're my second sister. Father has always said that we should put national affairs first."
Lan Jinxiang laughed and said, "You've really taken the family motto of the Lan family to heart. Well, it's enough for there to be only one traitor like me in the Lan family. I won't ask you to plead for me."
She raised her chin at Song Yinghuai and said, "Prince of Yan, dare you come down and have a match?"
Suddenly, all eyes were on Song Yinghuai.
The man's face was calm, and his expression was composed. No one could tell what he was thinking.
Only he himself was smiling bitterly inside.
Miss Lan Er was going to use this match to avenge Caiyu today!
She had the same personality as Caiyu, hating evil like poison and always seeking revenge.
When she saw the bruise on Caiyu's wrist yesterday, how could she ignore it?
Sure enough, here was the opportunity.
And it was during a time when national prestige was being demonstrated.
If he lost, he would not only lose his own face but also disgrace the country!
Song Yinghuai took a deep breath and forced a smile. He jumped down from the stand and said,
"The Khatun has personally invited me. How could I dare to decline?"