Cui Ying used to be lazy and loved to shirk responsibility because things didn't concern her, so she could just ignore them.

  But this time, she was clearly aware that the order of Empress Jiang was an "irresistible force" for her.

  She couldn't shirk it and couldn't pretend to be ill again, which would implicate her family.

  So in the next few days, she actively devoted herself to the preparation work of going to the northwest.

  First is to exercise more diligently.

  Every morning before dawn, a frail yet resilient woman can be seen in the Shangwu Hall, practicing horse-riding stance, fist exercises, running and spearplay.

  Choi Yeong thought so.

  Now in the cold winter, Shengjing is still so cold, the distant and vast northwest border wind must be like a sharp ice knife, which can cut open a mouth on people's skin.

  All the way west, the climate and environment must be getting worse and worse.

  If she is delicate and weak, I'm afraid she won't even make it to the northwest before falling ill.

  Cui Ling knew that if she really fell ill on the road, even if Shi Xiuren kept his promise to Old Lady and the Yuan family to get her medical treatment, he had an imperial mission and a heavy responsibility, and it was impossible for him to stop his journey for his own sake.

  It's also something that can't be helped.

  Empress Jiang rewarded the hardworking soldiers with cotton-padded jackets and fur coats.

  It's already early December now.

  It will take at least ten more days to gather all these supplies.

  Then set off in the middle of the month.

  From Shengjing City to Xibei Muzhou Prefecture, riding a fast horse and whipping it, takes fifteen days.

  A convoy carrying supplies cannot travel as fast as a lone rider, even if they rush day and night, it will still take about twenty days to arrive.

  It was already after Chinese New Year then.

  This is the most ideal situation.

  If something goes wrong on the road and delays our journey, by the time this batch of cotton-padded clothes and fur coats arrives at Muzhou Prefecture, I'm afraid the weather will have warmed up already.

  What's the point of sending these warm clothes over now?

  Shi Xiu's trip seems simple, but it is actually Empress Jiang showing kindness to her juniors by giving him a merit.

  But this is based on the premise that he can reach Muzhou smoothly without any obstacles.

  If he delayed, the northwest soldiers would suffer from cold and hunger. He and the group of people who escorted him would be punished.

  So Cui Ying knew she absolutely could not get sick on the road.

  Otherwise, even if Shi Xiuren had a good heart, it would be impossible for him to slow down the car and stop in his tracks, waiting for her to recover before continuing on their journey.

  Time does not permit.

  The medical level of Sheng Dynasty was well-known in her heart.

  A common cold and fever can be fatal.

  If it were in a prosperous city like Shengjing, where many skilled doctors gather, or even a big town, it might be better. But she had seen that most of the places they passed by on the way were small towns. There was even a long stretch of wilderness.

  That place is short of doctors and medicine, can't even find a decent hospital.

  If her body didn't cooperate, Shi Xiujin would have only two options.

  Drag her along the way. Or have her stored locally.

  Both options pose a mortal danger for a patient.

  Choi Yong does not want to take such a risk.

  So she worked even harder to exercise her body and had to make herself strong.

  The second thing she did was to ask Yuan Dalang for directions on the route they must take, apart from the official road, she also wanted to know which small paths could be taken as shortcuts.

  Yuan Dalang did not experience the battlefield himself, but he maintained correspondence with his father and younger brothers.

  He also went to the Ministry of War every day to report and carefully studied the official reports coming from the northwest.

  So, although others are not in the northwest, they are quite familiar with the place.

  Yuan Da Lang also disagreed with Empress Jiang's decision and was even somewhat angry.

  He didn't know about the old palace affairs like Lao Tai Jun, and thought that Empress Jiang's actions were instructed by the Emperor, aiming to strike down the flourishing General Town.

  The Yuan family has been in power with a strong military since the founding of the prosperous dynasty, and has never suffered a defeat.

  He had great prestige both in the imperial court and among the people.

  The soldiers only knew that there was a General of the Guards, and they went to war for the country more out of admiration for the Yuan family army and General of the Guards Yuan Shitao than for the prosperity of the imperial court or out of reverence for the emperor.

  This point is deeply resented by His Majesty.

  The Emperor has long wanted to take back military power.

  They have never stopped suppressing and warning Yuan's family.

  Yuan Dalang thought that his daughter, Yuan Yue'er, was the victim of the emperor's suspicion. In her prime years, she couldn't serve the emperor and was locked in the deep palace accompanying a willful and arrogant princess, unable to even return home.

  And now it's the turn of the new fifth brother and sister?

  Thinking of his five younger siblings who were as bright and cheerful as Yuan Yue'er, Yuan Dalang felt suffocated.

  He had always felt that this marriage was unfair to his younger sister.

  After all, she was also a thousand gold from the Bo Mansion. However, because her fifth younger brother and sister were getting married, the whole wedding process, from engagement to completion, took only one month.

  Many courtesies that should have been there were directly omitted due to the hasty time.

  The second day after she married in, her fifth younger brother went on an expedition.

  Since then three months have passed and except for exchanging two letters there has been nothing else.

  If it were another woman, she would be heartbroken and resentful, blaming herself and others, unable to escape the gloom of sorrow that surrounds her.

  But my younger siblings have never made a sour face for family members to see and feel uncomfortable.

  This girl, who is about the same age as his daughter, always smiles no matter how much grievance she suffers.

  She is filial to her grandmother, respectful to her brother and sister-in-law, and affectionate to her nephews and nieces.

  In order to blend in with this family and gain the favor of her fifth brother, she not only learned martial arts but also went to school.

  Not to mention these, just thinking of the irresistible boiled fish and spicy pig's trotters makes Yuan Dalang reluctant to let his fifth brother and sister go to the northwest.

  He felt stifled in his heart and thought that the emperor was really too much this time, forcing the Yuan family too tightly.

  Actually, General Town had long thought of making a swift withdrawal.

  These years have slowly returned part of the military power to the imperial court.

  The problem is, those generals who conquered the west, Wuwei General, Wuning General and so on, cannot be used!

  The Rouran invaded the border and started several battles, and the soldiers of the prosperous dynasty retreated one after another.

  The Yuan family also had no choice but to take over!

  Five years ago, in order to protect his family and country, the Yuan family had already lost their most precious second son.

  Could it be that Your Majesty really thinks... the Yuan family is willing to let their children and grandchildren take risks and sacrifice themselves to fight against the enemy?

  But it's just that I couldn't bear to see Your Majesty in difficulty, and I couldn't bear the suffering of the people under heaven due to war, so I reluctantly accepted the appointment.

  What a pity. The Emperor wants to use him, yet he also suspects him...

  But you want me to die, I have no choice but to die.

  Yuan Dalang's anger only dared to shout in his heart, he had no way to protest, and didn't even dare to complain out loud.

  He thought, this is the last time!

  After this time repelled the Rouran, the Yuan family returned home to farm.

  If Your Majesty still has a generous heart, then you can continue living in Shengjing under the nominal title of Duke of Jingguo.

  If His Majesty cannot tolerate it, then take your whole family to Xiling City.

  That is grandmother's hometown.

  Relying on the prestige accumulated over generations, the harmonious and loving family style, the well-educated children and nephews, as well as the countless gold, silver, and treasures in the treasury, he did not believe that the Yuan family could surpass the current prosperity of the Su family in Longzhong.

  But this idea still needs time to be carefully planned out.

  At present, the matter of my five younger brothers and sisters going to the northwest is most pressing.

  Yuan Dalang wanted to be absolutely sure, so he invited Shi Xiu-jian over to discuss it together.

  Shek Sau-kin arrived soon after.

  His sister Dan Jie also came along with him.

  The main hall of the Tai'an Temple. The old lady had a brief conversation with the brother and sister, then pretended to be unwell in spirit, took Dan Jie'er with her and went into the inner room to rest.

  Some things are better left unsaid when there are many people around.

  Besides, she's here. And these children of her son's generation aren't easy to talk to either.

  She believed that Yuan Dalang could arrange it well, so she took the initiative to leave some space for them.

  Chui Rong also wanted to follow Old Lady into the inner house.

  Shi Xiujin was a relative, but after all, she was a new daughter-in-law and didn't have the right to discuss matters with her uncle's son and cousin like Shi Xiangyun did.

  Although it was a matter closely related to her, she believed that after Yuan Dalang and Shi Xiuren had discussed it, they would definitely inform her of the things she needed to pay attention to.

  She trusted Yuan Da Lang very much.

  Yuan Dalang never paid attention to these things.

  He called out to Cui Ying, "Fifth brother and sister, you also stay behind and discuss it together."

  Shi Xiuzhen heard this and lifted her head, seeing a stunningly beautiful face.

  He was somewhat astonished in his heart, feeling that this face was quite familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.

  He couldn't quite put his finger on where he had seen it before.

  But he was soon replaced by a sense of pride and honor.

  He was delighted for Yuan Wulang.

  He had previously heard that Yuan Wulang was getting married on the eve of battle, and it was none other than the ninth young lady from the Anning Bo Fu who had never appeared in public before, so he couldn't help but worry for his good brother.

  He had also heard the rumors circulating among the people and deeply believed them.

  If she weren't born ugly or foolish and stupid, whose daughter wouldn't want to go out when she reaches marriageable age?

  There are many flower festivals, but it's rare for a noble daughter to have the opportunity to go out and play, which is something that ordinary girls cherish very much.

  He was afraid that Yuan Wulang would marry a wife who did not meet his expectations.

  If it were someone else's family, that would be fine, but the Yuan family has a rule that at 40 years old and still childless, one can take a concubine, which he is aware of.

  If Yuan Wulang marries the wrong wife, his happiness for this lifetime will be ruined.

  Later, after hearing Dan Jie say that Yuan Wu was a stunning beauty, Shi Xiu Jian still didn't believe it.

  If she's really a beauty, why haven't I heard any rumors about her in the entire capital city?

  He didn't ask for Yuan Wushuang to be born so beautiful, he just hoped she wasn't a foolish and stupid person.

  Today, seeing Yuan Wushuang's demeanor was proper, her entrance and exit were measured, and her words were concise and directly to the point, completely unlike the rumored appearance, he felt at ease.

  What's more, she was indeed born with great beauty, and together with Yuan Wuge, they were a perfect match of golden boy and jade girl.

  Shi Xiu Jin was secretly looking at Cui Ying, and Cui Ying was also secretly sizing him up.

  She had always heard of Shi Xiuren's name, but it was still her first time seeing him.

  Shi Xiu Jian was tall and slender, with a gentle and refined appearance, not looking like the kind of person who could beat up Cui family's fifth brother until he looked like a pig head.

  It's impossible to tell from his appearance that he has such a violent temper.

  Cui Ying thought that her safety would be entrusted to this person next, and she couldn't help but hesitate.

  She thought for a moment and decided to test him out.

  ps：

  Sorry, it's late again! These two days are Qingming Festival holiday, and I also went back to my grandmother's house in the countryside. Because we need to sweep the tomb and many relatives also take this opportunity to reunite, so there are many people at home, and it's very noisy, making it impossible for me to write. Under the circumstances, I had no choice but to hold my computer and go to a nearby library to barely finish writing this chapter. Seeing that some classmates said the book I recommended is good, um, what I want to say is that Xiaowu's book is not only good-looking, but also updates very strongly!!! Since everyone is so book-hungry, let me recommend another one! Has anyone heard of Huajuanzi Dashen? She is also an author who writes particularly well and is very diligent in updating her work. Every day I see her say how many words she has written in the group chat, and I feel ashamed, with no way to catch up, my typing speed is too slow. Here, I recommend her new book "He Huan", which can be easily found on the PK chart, 20 chapters are stored! Feel free to get into the pit!