The emperor's eyes flashed with anger, like thunder gathering, and Chen Lu looked straight at him without flinching. The two men stood there for a long time, neither giving in to the other, before Yuan Qi finally spoke up: "This is a matter of state, you must not interfere."

  He had barely spoken when he felt it was too blunt, and just as he was about to apologize, Chen Lu smiled faintly and sighed softly: "Indeed, it can't be helped..."

  Yuanyu gazed at her smile, feeling as if a thousand flowers had burst forth in bloom, so beautiful and dazzling that he was stunned on the spot for a long time before coming back to his senses.

  He suppressed his smile, and also let out a sigh: "I am also helpless. The northwest 'gate' is wide open, half of the rivers and mountains are under the iron hooves, trampled at will. From now on, the capital city will be shrouded in the shadow of those barbarians----under the siege of strong enemies, the Central Plains will no longer have a peaceful day!"

  He gazed up at the vast blue sky, bathed in sunlight, and felt his blood boiling with excitement. He drew out his sword "Tai'a" and with a flash of its white blade, cut off the pine branches under the eaves, severing them cleanly.

  "Since ancient times, who has never died? I would rather die on the battlefield with my blood staining the sand than allow our descendants to live in fear of the barbarians' gaze!"

  He smiled, with a refreshing and heroic look on his face, no longer calm and taciturn as usual. He looked deeply at the morning dew, and said softly: "You don't have to worry!" Then he stepped inside, continuing their discussion.

  Morning 'dew' watched him leave, and turned back to look at the fallen pine branch, but didn't get angry, 'lips' slightly curled up, full of praise and satisfaction, the icy color in his eyes also faded a lot, but saw a gentle clarity.

  At noon, Yuan Qi returned to the Qianqing Palace. He was about to enter the imperial study when he saw three or four small eunuchs under Qin Xi's supervision doing needlework in the corridor.

  Yuan Qi looked at their clumsy hands and feet, very amused: "What are you doing?"

  Qin Xi looked up to see him. He quickly knelt down at his feet: "It was ordered by Lord Shang Yi, saying that the Emperor had a use for it." (Updated fastest, 16k) Yuan Qi took it and saw that it was pieces of rhino skin. They had already been finely ground, cut and sewn together. It vaguely resembled a suit of armor.

  Above, countless small holes were pierced with needles, he thought for a moment and understood that this was for heat dissipation, and his heart suddenly felt warm.

  That icy and snowy 'girl'. Who would have thought she had such delicate thoughts...

  He wandered into the study in a daze, only to see a beauty standing there waiting for him. "That leather armor... looks a bit too big..."

  Yuanyu looked up at her with clear and bright eyes, feeling a warmth in his heart. By some strange coincidence, he suddenly found a topic to talk about, but when he realized what he had said, he felt regretful again.

  Others show kindness with good intentions, but isn't it actually disdain?

  Who would have thought that Chen 'Lu' was not displeased and nodded in response: "Then let them make some minor changes!"

  Yuan Qi was somewhat astonished: "That needle and thread knot... wasn't it tied by you?"

  No sooner had he spoken than he regretted it.

  The young woman's eyes trembled with a faint light. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, as if she was enduring something: "I won't be doing any needlework!"

  He regretfully reflected on his words and expressions, realizing he had stirred up a hornet's nest. He rubbed his nose, not daring to speak again.

  After a long silence, Chen Lu broke the stillness: "If Your Majesty wants to take the imperial chariot and personally go on an expedition, you must prevent chaos in the capital. The most important thing is to quickly settle military affairs and return to the capital within ten or more days, without any hindrance."

  This was what the question implied, Yuan Qi knew there was more to it, so she listened carefully.

  "If you want to make Jing Wang a little more at ease, you can find two people to help."

  Somehow, the young woman's voice was full of mystery and intrigue.

  "Which two people?"

  The emperor's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. "One is Sun Ming, the imperial son-in-law, and the other..."

  The sound of the morning dew, subtly brought a few points of 'gloom': "However, it is the current Empress Dowager, your birth mother!" On the first day of the month, on Zhuque Avenue, yellow earth was laid down, clear water was sprinkled on the street, and bright yellow silk curtains surrounded both sides, making it impenetrable. Ten thousand imperial guards stood in neat formation, shouting "Long live" three times. At noon, the imperial carriage emerged from the palace.

  The emperor surprisingly did not ride in a sedan chair, but instead rode horseback like the other generals. He wore a narrow-sleeved arrow robe with a lightweight leather armor over it, which was tailored to perfection and had been recently altered. His spirit was high-flying and his heroic air was bursting forth, just like a brilliant sun in the sky. By his side were the handsome and talented young men of the military, including the Hanlin academicians responsible for writing documents, each one extraordinary talents, but compared to the emperor's usual plain attire, they fell short by a great margin.

  With three cannon shots, the Emperor downed a cup and bid farewell to the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Concubine who had come to see him off, and led his army on its journey.

  The emperor looked at the ten thousand elite imperial guards and twenty thousand capital camp soldiers behind him, without a hint of arrogance. He only brought these troops for a reason.

  This time, the matter arose hastily, and it was not a question of how many troops there were, but rather that King Xiang had no intention of obeying Zhou Jun. He harbored evil intentions and intentionally or unintentionally allowed his soldiers to disobey orders and pursue recklessly, causing the emperor's plans to fall through completely.

  This time before going, can let those two equally arrogant, one for being aloof and one for being malicious, generals, admire the scenery together?

  Yuan Qi was somewhat uncertain, but things in this world are like that, even if there is no guarantee, they must be done.

  A clear and crisp report sounded from behind ---

  "Your humble servant is here to attend Your Majesty!"

  Morning 'dew' wearing a man's suit, very free and easy, riding a horse, don't know if it's because of busyness or excitement, her crystal-like face, radiates a faint blush.

  Yuan Qi gazed at her intently and sighed: "You shouldn't have followed me!"

  Morning 'dew' did not respond, but gently stroked the mane of the fine steed under his command, re-experiencing this familiar yet long-lost sensation.

  They were all immersed in their own emotions, under the hustle and bustle of life, completely unaware of the two sharp gazes.

  The Empress Dowager, accompanied by the Queen and other concubines, wore phoenix coronets and ceremonial robes, with a row of screens to shield them. They stood on the city wall, seeing off the Emperor's carriage as it departed. The Queen stood behind the Empress Dowager, complaining somewhat sorrowfully: "In such haste, His Majesty decided to take personal command - isn't that too impulsive?"

  The empress dowager gazed out at the sea of people and said without turning her head, "All this is the result of your uncle's evil deeds!"

  The queen listened with discontent, secretly thinking that he was not her flesh and blood, but said ambiguously: "Although the uncle's handling was improper, the emperor didn't have to be so hasty...... No wonder, someone was instigating him on the side, he would do anything for a smile from his beloved!"

  Her voice grew sharper, recalling that day in the Qianqing Palace, when the little 'female' official appeared in front of the hall, and the Emperor ruthlessly pushed her away from his arms, filling her heart with resentment.

  "What?! Is this really happening?!"

  The empress raised an eyebrow, and between her eyebrows, her majesty was fully revealed.

  "Which concubine is so bold as to dare interfere with state affairs?!"

  She stood under the phoenix umbrella, amidst thunderous applause, her voice was not loud, but every word was clear and distinct.

  The queen let out a hint of schadenfreude-like mockery: "It's the Shang Yi you praised that day..."

  She gritted her teeth and sneered, "A slender little girl has actually enchanted the Emperor to the point of being unaware of the world, and yet he wants to take personal command?! This is no trivial matter!!"