Plan A
Guiding Stars 14
Gift
“Well…”
Yue Xingyao came over, originally wanting to clarify some matters. However, she discovered those matters not only weren’t clarified, but on the contrary, became increasingly muddled in her mind. Now, she had suddenly learned of such a major event.
“The border region is so dangerous, you, a perfectly good imperial princess, why must you absolutely go?”
“Don’t you feel that staying here is too boring? It’s simply like wasting time. There’s nothing I can rely on, so I want to carve out a world of my own. I also want to defend my home and country. This is every woman’s dream, isn’t it?”
Spoken so righteously and awe-inspiringly, in reality, it was merely because the mountains are high and the emperor is far away [山高皇帝遠 | shāngāo huángdì yuǎn | idiom; a place far from the central government’s control], and furthermore, military power, this kind of thing, is simply too wonderful.
Speaking of the border region, it’s imperative to mention the original host’s father’s mother.
The original host’s father was originally a child of a military family, but what could be done? The General’s wife, while pregnant with the child, blocked a poisoned arrow for the General. Therefore, when the child was born, his body was exceptionally weak, and the General’s wife’s body could no longer bear children.
The General’s wife, after giving birth to the child, passed away within two years. The General was the only seedling for generations, so she should have taken several more husbands and then given birth to daughters, to continue the family line for their family. However, it’s unknown why, but those men simply did not get pregnant. Therefore, the General only had this one son.
This single seedling entered the palace, gave birth to a child, a girl. The old General was overjoyed. Even if it was a granddaughter, at least it was a blood relative! However, she wasn’t happy for long before she heard the news of her son also passing away. It seems the men of their family were particularly lacking in fortune.
The old General wanted to stay in the capital city to watch over her granddaughter. However, at this time, there was warfare at the border. As a General, she had no choice but to step forward, rush to the front lines to command, but died on the battlefield.
The old General didn’t have any siblings. The only seedling had died, leaving only a granddaughter. The old General also passed away, so the original host was left all alone.
Su Xin felt that although in this place, the capital city, the things left behind by the old General had long been completely cleared out, at the border region, that place extremely far from the capital, far from the center of power, the old General’s prestige still remained. Many of the generals at the border were once subordinates of the old General.
Hopefully, when she goes to request it, the Emperor won’t think of this point. But even if she does, so what? The Emperor currently shouldn’t have a list of successors in her heart, and even if she wants her, deceiving her wouldn’t be difficult.
“Then, Da Huangjie, have you spoken to Mother Emperor about this?”
“Not yet, I plan to go speak to her in a bit.”
“So, am I the first person to know this news?”
Yue Xingyao revealed a sweet smile. Su Xin neither nodded nor shook her head, simply lowering her head to continue eating.
Actually, the first person to know wasn’t Yue Xingyao, but Pei Yu. However, Su Xin certainly wouldn’t say that, but neither did she want to deceive the child like this, so she simply maintained her silence, using her meal to block her mouth.
However, Yue Xingyao clearly took Su Xin’s silence as tacit agreement, pinching her own sleeve, becoming somewhat shy.
So, in fact, Da Huangjie still cared a lot about her, right? Otherwise, why would she tell her the news first?
One can only say, filling in details with one’s imagination is a disease, it needs treatment.
“Da Huangjie, when do you plan to leave?”
“In a few days.”
“Then I’ll leave first. When we part again, I want to give you a surprise.”
“Good.”
As long as it’s not an unpleasant surpise.
The Emperor watched her docile daughter standing below, somewhat surprised by her words.
“Are you saying, you are voluntarily requesting to go to the border region?”
She’s still only a 12-year-old child, yet she has such a sense of responsibility.
“Yes.”
“Tell Zhen [朕 | zhèn | archaic, imperial “I/me”; used by emperors] the reason.”
The Emperor saw the child’s embarrassed expression, glanced at her, then furrowed her brow and lowered her head.
“Mother Emperor… Er Chen’s days can’t be said to be bad, but within these walls, it is ultimately somewhat oppressive. Father Consort… he… he… doesn’t pay much attention to Er Chen. I rarely see him. Er Chen being alone within these walls is also boring, and coupled with the matter that Er Meimei caused not long ago… therefore… therefore… Er Chen requests to go to the border region, to leave this place.”
Su Xin clenched her fists, her eyes slightly moist, as if she had mustered immense courage to speak these words.
“A daughter should aspire to all directions [女兒家應志在四方 | nǚ’ér jiā yīng zhì zài sìfāng | idiom; women should be ambitious and not confined by traditional roles]. Er Chen believes that practicing martial arts is also very interesting. But since I have cultivated these martial skills, they should be used in useful places. Therefore, Er Chen wants to serve the country, to protect the territory for our Da Yue.”
“Well said! Worthy of being Zhen’s daughter, possessing such outstanding ambition. Zhen remembers, your father was indeed a child of a military family, right? Your grandmother also made exceptionally outstanding contributions. Good, good, good, truly a ‘no dogs or girls’ from a military family [将門無犬女 | jiāngmén wú quǎn nǚ | idiom; those from military families are all capable]. Chen’er, you having these thoughts, Zhen is extremely gratified.”
“So, Mother Emperor agrees to Er Chen’s request?”
“Naturally. However, Chen’er, after you go there, there aren’t any high-ranking official positions for you to hold.”
“Er Chen naturally understands. Er Chen is willing to start from the lowest rank of soldier.”
“No, Zhen doesn’t mean that. Observation and study is enough. Train together and also attend classes, but Zhen is not letting you go to the battlefield to be cannon fodder [炮灰 | pàohuī | cannon fodder; expendable]. If something goes wrong, how will Zhen explain it to your father?”
The Emperor put on the appearance of a good mother.
“Yes, when Er Chen’s strength is insufficient, I definitely will not rashly go to the battlefield.”
“Good. When do you plan to depart?”
“At Mother Emperor’s discretion.”
“Then let it be three days from now.”
“Yes.”
Smooth as expected. If this Emperor wasn’t so easy to talk to, wasn’t so easy to bully, perhaps she wouldn’t need to undertake this mission.
Pei Yu came to the imperial palace to see Su Xin. She was still Su Xin’s fuzi [夫子 | fūzǐ | teacher; tutor], possessing the authority to enter and exit Su Xin’s palace.
“Your Highness, how did it go? Did Her Majesty agree?”
“Naturally. How could she not agree? We depart in three days.”
Pei Yu had become increasingly calm and steady over these years. Her two personalities showed a tendency to merge. Although she still appeared to be a bookworm on the surface, inwardly she had become capable of maturely considering many matters, and knew how to utilize other, better methods to accomplish things.
“Fuzi, with me gone this time, the matters of the court will have to be entrusted to you.”
“Your Highness, please rest assured. These two years’ time, we haven’t wasted in vain. The plans made earlier are sufficient to support your return. Aside from the Second Princess’s thinking gradually becoming more active, there haven’t been any other unusual movements.”
“Then I’ll leave with peace of mind. If there’s any news, be sure to relay it to me. But don’t worry, I’ve planted spies here. I can receive news there using special methods. You needn’t be too nervous.”
“Having entered the court for two years, I still find it hard to change this habit.”
Pei Yu pressed her hand against her heart, which was beating a little too fast. Only after the Eldest Princess left could it be considered to have just begun. When the Eldest Princess returns, that’s when the bloody storm will truly arrive.
Pei Yu left. Su Xin stood at the doorway, watching the dusk, then went to her small courtyard, looking at the flowers and plants.
Those two birds had already reached the end of their lifespans last year. There were no longer bird calls in the small courtyard.
Over these two years, these potted plants had gradually decreased.
Some flowers bloomed, then withered. Some flowers were raised to death. In short, they were decreasing, and Su Xin hadn’t cultivated new ones.
“Jinxiu, come here.”
Su Xin called Jinxiu into the room.
“Master, what is the matter? What are your instructions?”
“Three days from now, I will be departing for the border region.”
“The border region! Is it the border region this servant is thinking of?”
Jinxiu hadn’t made any mental preparations and was greatly startled by this news, his voice trembling slightly.
He was, after all, a palace servant who had never seen blood, had never even seen violence. Mentioning the blood-soaked border region of swords and blades to him, he was inevitably quite frightened.
“Of course it’s that border region. How many others are there? This Palace voluntarily requested it from Mother Emperor. You, help this Palace pack the luggage, and by the way, also pack your own. The two of us will go together. Leaving you alone here, this Palace is not at ease. If those people want to take revenge on this Palace, for example, the Virtuous Consort and the others, seeing this Palace absent, they might take it out on you.”
Jinxiu was originally someone easily moved and sentimental. Of course, this only applied to his master. Hearing his master’s considerate words, Jinxiu’s eyes immediately reddened.
“Master, the border region is so dangerous, why are you going to such a faraway place to suffer?”
“This Palace has her own reasons. If you don’t want to follow this Palace, then this Palace can settle you in another place. When this Palace returns, you can rejoin this Palace. After all, the journey there is long and arduous, and the conditions are extremely harsh. It’s also a group of tough women, and you are, after all, a delicate man…”
“This servant is willing! Regardless of life or death, this servant is willing to follow by Your Highness’s side, never to be separated. Please, Your Highness, absolutely do not abandon this servant!”
Jinxiu hastily shook his head, expressing his willingness to follow through life and death.
This loyalty was truly as clear as the sun and moon. Within the original host’s memories, Jinxiu was indeed such a presence.
The original host later took Jinxiu into her chambers. No matter how many the original host married, Jinxiu remained the same as before, not vying or fighting, obediently raising the children. If the original host went to find him, he would be happy, asking for nothing.
Su Xin felt that, in the future, she should arrange a good home for Jinxiu.
Such a good man, it would still be better for a good woman to keep.
“Good, then you go and pack first. No need to bring too much luggage. Just bring a few sets of changeable clothes and easily hidden money. It won’t be too heavy.”
“Yes.”
Two days later, Yue Xingyao hurried over, seeing that Su Xin hadn’t left, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Da Huangjie, this is a gift for you.”
It was a small, finely carved wooden bead, also emitting a warm aura, with a faint fragrance, smelling very comfortable.
Carved on it were two names, Su Xin’s and Yue Xingyao’s, respectively.
“I wish you a safe journey.”
Yue Xingyao’s hands had many small cuts, her face also appearing tired, but her eyes were startlingly bright.
“Thank you.”
Su Xin’s heart was somewhat complicated. She untied the jade bead she was wearing, put Yue Xingyao’s wooden bead around her neck, and handed her own jade bead to Yue Xingyao.
“Take care.”
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