I've been bullied and humiliated for thirteen years; when I wake up, I'll be bloodthirsty.

Chapter 871 Requesting an Imperial Decree for a Northern Expedition

"Report!"

"Urgent dispatch from the border!"

Before the cries of celebration for the reinstatement of the crown prince had even subsided, the urgent military report arrived.

The courtiers looked toward the door with trepidation.

"Report!" The messenger, his lips cracked and eyes bloodshot, knelt on one knee and held the secret letter high. "The Yan army has launched a surprise attack, and two cities have fallen in the north. General Cheng requests His Majesty to send troops to reinforce them!"

The secret letter was quickly presented to the emperor.

The courtiers grew increasingly alarmed, feeling as if one thing after another was happening all day.

The Yan army has been restless for a long time. Even before the marriage alliance two years ago, they had repeatedly invaded the border. After the marriage alliance, they were only quiet for less than two years before they came back again. Judging from their current posture, they seem to be heading south to repeat the Battle of Shunhe.

During the Battle of Shunhe, the Yan army almost crossed the Shunhe River. It was only when Crown Prince Chongwen went north as a hostage to seek peace that the war between the two countries was quelled.

Now, just over twenty years later, the other side has made a comeback once again.

After reading the secret letter, the emperor looked at the officials below him.

The court officials were also discussing it.

The emperor turned his head and glanced at Eunuch Feng.

Feng Dajian understood and quietly walked up to Rong Xin and Cheng Ruoxue, who had fallen behind the crowd, and whispered, "You two, this servant will escort you out."

Feng Dajian led the two away from Taiji Hall and said to Cheng Ruoxue, "Young Madam, this servant will have someone escort you out of the palace. If it is inconvenient for the Duke of Xiao's residence, you may return to the General's residence on your own. His Majesty has no intention of pursuing the matter."

Cheng Ruoxue bowed respectfully, "Thank you, Father-in-law."

Cheng Ruoxue glanced at Rong Xin, never expecting that besides her, the Rong family also had an aunt.

Back then, the entire Rong family was executed, and her aunt also committed suicide by burning herself in the palace. She thought that she was the only one left in the Rong family.

Cheng Ruoxue did not reveal her identity in court because she did not want to implicate the Cheng family. If it weren't for her aunt saving her, she would have died along with the Rong family in that disaster long ago. Her aunt secretly took her in when the Rong family was convicted, and if His Majesty were to investigate, it might bring trouble to the Cheng family.

She didn't want to cause trouble.

It would be even more inconvenient to acknowledge them now in front of Supervisor Feng, but there will be other opportunities in the future.

Cheng Ruoxue nodded slightly to Rong Xin, then turned and left with the palace servants assigned by Eunuch Feng.

After Cheng Ruoxue left, Eunuch Feng respectfully said to Rong Xin, "Your Majesty, His Majesty requests that you wait for him in the side hall for a moment. He has something to say to you."

Rong Xin looked at Eunuch Feng indifferently: "Go back and tell him that I have nothing more to say to him. Consort Rong Xin died in that fire back then. What has sustained me to this day is the injustice done to the Rong family. Now that the injustice has been cleared, there is no longer a Rong Xin in this world."

"If Zong Lin still cares about saving face, he should send me out of the palace!"

Having served the emperor for many years, Eunuch Feng was well aware of the grudges between the emperor and Consort Rong. Seeing Consort Rong's determination, he understood that given Rong Xin's personality, forcing her to stay would definitely not work.

He bowed slightly to Rong Xin, "This servant will have someone escort you out."

Rong Xin nodded slightly.

After seeing the two off, Eunuch Feng returned to the emperor's side.

The emperor did not look at Eunuch Feng, but instead asked the court officials who were engaged in a heated discussion.

"What are your thoughts on the Yan army's surprise attack?"

The court officials immediately stepped forward to express their opinions.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion, the Northern Yan are treacherous and ambitious, and we must not tolerate them!"

"Your Majesty, when two countries are at war, it is always the common people who suffer. Why not send an envoy to Northern Yan to negotiate peace? It has been almost eighteen years since General Rong's northern expedition, and both sides have been at peace. Peace talks are the best course of action!"

"Outrageous! Northern Yan is an ungrateful wolf. Peace talks? What a load of rubbish! In my opinion, we should use the full strength of the nation to fight against Northern Yan to the very end!"

"That's right, I believe that peace talks are absolutely out of the question!"

"If you don't negotiate, do you want another battle like the Battle of Chenzhou?"

"It was that traitor Xiao who colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, which led to the defeat in Chenzhou. Otherwise, we would have utterly thrashed Northern Yan eighteen years ago!"

"What's the use of talking about this now? The most urgent thing is to come up with a solution. Are we going to leave the people of the North homeless?"

"Only peace talks can save the people from the suffering of war!"

"What a joke! Both sides have been recuperating for almost twenty years. Do you think Northern Yan is playing around? They've been planning this day for a long time, to march south and unify the world! Still dreaming of peace talks!"

"What if? War is a waste of resources and manpower. If we can negotiate peace, it would be for the good of the people!"

"Peace talks!"

"fight!"

Almost naturally, the court officials split into two factions: one advocating war and the other advocating peace.

Historically, when two countries are at war and their strengths are evenly matched or vastly different, it is inevitable that the pro-war and pro-peace factions will clash, sometimes even arguing on the spot, completely forgetting their fatigue from today's court assembly.

The emperor, watching their heated argument, looked at Zong Que.

What is the Crown Prince's opinion?

Zong Que stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and knelt on one knee to pay his respects.

"Your subject requests permission to lead troops on a northern expedition."