The Tale of the Imprisoned Consort - Chapter 135, The Expedition (Part 1)

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A wind began to pick up outside, and Mingruo wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt tiny snowflakes hitting her face, stinging painfully. Xu Lidi held her close, shielding her from most of the wind and snow. He could have ordered someone to hold an umbrella, but he insisted on leading her by the hand.
The journey from Zhuohua Palace to Panlong Palace was quite long, and Mingruo felt uneasy from the bottom of her heart, though she couldn't quite put her finger on why. After witnessing Zitan's beauty for the first time, her mind seemed to have become a blur, and she had no idea what she was thinking, let alone how to fathom Emperor Xuli's thoughts.
Fortunately, the snow had just fallen, and only a thin layer had accumulated on the ground, making a slight sound when stepped on. Mingruo recalled how, when she lived in Zhuohua Palace, she would often sneak out to play in the snow when Granny Duan wasn't looking. Her hands and cheeks would turn red from the cold, but she would feel genuinely happy.
That joy is now far removed from her.
Maybe we'll never be able to come back.
After they returned to their palace, Mingruo thought Emperor Xuli was going to torment her again, but to her surprise, he did nothing. He simply pulled her into bed, took off her outer garments and shoes, tucked her into the covers, and then remained silent. She had a vague feeling that something might be about to happen, but if Emperor Xuli didn't want her to know, even if she had extraordinary abilities, it would be useless.
"Sleep." He kissed her forehead, then pulled her closer to him, a hint of weariness in his handsome features. Mingruo could tell he was tired, so she didn't say anything more and obediently closed her eyes. Seeing her obedient nature, Emperor Xuli kissed her again.
She slept until the sun was high in the sky. In the following days, Mingruo felt that Emperor Xuli was always in a hurry. He spent significantly more time in the Imperial Study. Sometimes, she would fall asleep shortly after being brought there, but when she woke up, Emperor Xuli would still be sitting at the table looking at something. Mingruo rubbed her eyes. The brazier in the Imperial Study was burning brightly, so it wasn't cold. Even though she was only wearing palace attire, she felt like she was about to sweat.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Emperor Xu Li turned around: "Awake?"
“…Hmm.” She rubbed her eyes again, feeling as if her eyelids were about to fight. When she got closer, she found that he was looking at a map. Her pink lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to speak but didn’t. She placed her small hand on Xu Lidi’s outstretched hand and was pulled into his arms by him.
Like feeding a cat, Emperor Xuli moved the fruit platter and pastries from the small table next to him, and while looking at the map, he stuffed an apricot into Mingruo's lips. It was winter, not the season for these fruits to grow, but no one knew where Emperor Xuli got them from. In short, as long as Mingruo liked them, regardless of whether it was reasonable or possible, the palace had no shortage of them.
She took a bite from his large hand, and then Mingruo looked at the map, which was covered with dense place names and all sorts of symbols—she couldn't understand any of them.
"Father... what is this?"
“Strategic map,” Emperor Xuli replied calmly, holding apricots in one hand and pointing at the map with the other.
"This is the territory where we fought with the Jiang Kingdom."
Mingruo stared at that tiny dot, next to which was marked "100,000." Did it mean an army of 100,000? "...Is another war really about to break out?"
"Not bad." His expression was indifferent, as usual, showing no particular emotion.
"Duanmu Yun has already led his troops out."
Upon hearing this, Mingruo was startled and immediately looked at Emperor Xuli. He also happened to be looking over, as if he wanted to see her reaction. Only after confirming that there was no concern or worry for Duanmu Yun in her eyes did he slowly turn his gaze back to the map.
"Your eldest brother is also traveling with you, so don't worry about him getting into trouble."
“…I’m not worried.” Mingruo retorted, blinking slightly and looking away from Emperor Xuli, as if afraid he would expose her guilty conscience. But she still cared about his words, “My eldest brother is going too, but he doesn’t know anything.”
"Eat," he first ordered her to continue eating the apricots, and then said.
"No one is born knowing how to fight. What's the point of just talking about war on paper without actual drills?"
"So, Your Majesty is going to study?" Mingruo asked, tilting her head.
"Xiang Yun—General Duanmu?"
“You could say that,” Emperor Xuli responded, but his eyes were strangely unpredictable, and even Mingruo couldn’t immediately discern the fleeting glint in them. Emperor Xuli seemed to realize this as well, and he quickly composed himself, a smile playing on his thin lips. He put down the apricot she had almost finished eating and replaced it with a piece of plum blossom cake.
What else could Mingruo do but eat? She continued to eat pastries from Emperor Xuli's hand, her eyes fixed intently on the map in his hand. Occasionally, she would see him pick up a cinnabar brush and draw circles on it, but her mind was far away. She didn't understand. Before, Qian Muyun had said that her father could have nipped Jiang Kingdom's ambitions in the bud, so why didn't he? Instead, he watched Jiang Kingdom recruit soldiers and grow stronger day by day? Was it all to provoke a war?
Impossible. Although the Da'an Dynasty has absolute strength, it is always the common people who suffer in war. Soldiers bleed and die on the battlefield, and the people are displaced during the war. Why not cut off the Jiang Kingdom's idea from the very beginning? Wouldn't that have solved the problem once and for all?
She couldn't understand Emperor Xuli's thoughts, but she knew that his ultimate goal was definitely not for the sake of the world or the common people. Emperor Xuli was not a benevolent emperor who loved his people like his own children. He was powerful, calm, and wise, but also absolutely cold-blooded.
So... what is his purpose?
Didn't they fight a few days ago, and Jiang Kingdom signed a surrender document? They not only returned the small border towns they had seized from the Da'an Dynasty, but also ceded several cities. Why are they suddenly provoking again? Has Jiang Kingdom recovered enough in less than a year? Are their soldiers well-fed and clothed?
With these jumbled questions swirling in her mind, Mingruo felt like she was going crazy. These difficult and profound things were definitely not for her; medical books and the like were much simpler. She hastily finished the pastry in Emperor Xuli's hand, then grabbed his hand as he reached for more, asking urgently, "Father, how long will this war last?"
“With the two countries at war, and it being winter, conditions are much harsher, so it will naturally take longer.” Emperor Xuli put down his pen and gracefully closed the map. “What, are you in such a hurry to see Duanmu Yun?”
Although his words were devoid of emotion and his face appeared nonchalant, Mingruo knew perfectly well what was hidden behind that mask. If she dared to admit it, he might just storm off on the spot.
"No, I was just... just thinking..."
"What are you thinking about?" he asked calmly, waiting for her to give him a reason.
Yeah, what are you thinking?!
Mingruo realized she couldn't explain herself, but God is my witness, she really didn't want to see Duanmu Yun, not even a little bit! Okay... a little bit, but only a little bit.
Seeing the conflicted look on her face, Emperor Xuli actually let her off the hook: "Alright, I won't force you. Judging by their speed... they probably won't be back until spring."
...Spring is here?!

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The Tale of the Imprisoned Consort - Chapter 135, The Expedition (Part 1)

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