As the days passed, June swiftly arrived. The Imperial Eldest Grandson, Ping'an, was born, greatly delighting the Emperor, who personally bestowed the name Jun Chen, clearly showing his immense hopes for the little imperial grandson.
As the wedding date approached, Su Li was kept at home by Su Mu to begin preparations.
Su Mu bustled about daily, while Su Fu returned home later and later each day, always looking exhausted.
That day, Su Fu returned after moonrise once more. Just as he entered the residence, Su Li called out to him.
"Father, why are you so late?"
Su Fu, walking towards his study, said, "Li'er, hurry back to your room and sleep. I have official duties to attend to."
Along the way, Su Li instructed Si Qin to fetch food from the kitchen, while she herself followed Su Fu into the study.
"Father, you don't have to hide it from your daughter anymore. Is it the Southern Frontier, isn't it?"
Su Fu was startled, not expecting Prince Jing to have even divulged state secrets to his daughter. Su Fu sighed, saying, "Yes. Secret reports indicate that the Southern Frontier has been restless lately.
Their young emperor is missing, and the Southern Frontier is now controlled by the Fourth Prince, Liang Shao. This Liang Shao is ambitious; he has secretly amassed a large army and stationed them near our border cities, beginning small skirmishes as a probe."
"As the Minister of Revenue, I am in charge of Tianqi's finances, currently raising funds and preparing provisions. So, Li'er, hurry back. Your father still has many things to do. These days, please take good care of your mother. I'm leaving early and returning late; I simply can't split myself."
Su Li nodded, saying, "Father, please rest assured. Your daughter will take good care of the household."
Just then, Si Qin brought in a food box. Su Li took it and said, "Father, though state affairs are important, you must also mind your health. Please eat first."
Su Fu felt his stomach growl. Looking at his daughter's understanding demeanor, he nodded with relief.
"Your wedding date is approaching, yet we're encountering such a tumultuous period, truly..."
"Father, my personal matters are trivial. But the people in the border cities, what situation are they facing? Your daughter has heard that this Liang Shao is ruthless and cruel."
Su Fu ate as he spoke, "When two nations clash, it's the common folk who are most innocent. That's why all these years, I've been meticulous, saving expenses for Tianqi, even being called a 'stingy iron rooster' by my colleagues, all so that one day, should war be declared, we could immediately produce provisions!"
Su Li's heart slowly sank. With such a massive upheaval occurring in the Southern Frontier, she recalled the look Liang Xuanting had given her when he escaped.
Su Fu took a few more bites, then resumed his official duties.
"Li'er, it's late. Go back and rest."
Su Li nodded, saying, "Father, you must also take care of your health. Your daughter will take her leave."
Su Li returned to her room. After washing up, she lay on her bed, unable to sleep. With less than twenty days until her wedding, such a drastic change had occurred, and it was far more severe than she had realized.
Tianqi was wealthy, but its weapons and horses couldn't compare to the Southern Frontier's. If a real war broke out, the outcome was truly uncertain.
"What are you thinking about, Li'er? You're so lost in thought."
A voice startled Su Li, and she looked towards the person who had appeared in her room.
"Why are you climbing through the window again?" Su Li sighed helplessly.
"If I want to see you at night, entering through the main gate is certainly out of the question," Jun Mo said, sitting on the edge of the bed. He then added, "You still haven't answered, what were you thinking about?"
Su Li straightened up and said, "I was wondering, will His Majesty send troops?"
"Even if he does, it would be a month or two from now." It's just typical that the Southern Frontier chooses to cause trouble now, of all times, just when he's about to get married.
Su Li looked at Jun Mo and asked, "Then, will you be going to war?"
Jun Mo pondered for a moment, then spoke, "Crown Prince Imperial Brother is the future heir. Third Imperial Brother dislikes fighting. I am the most suitable candidate." Jun Mo pulled Su Li into his embrace, stroking her dark hair. "Leaving behind my newlywed wife, Li'er, please don't blame me."
Su Li leaned against him, "The common people need you; how could I blame you? Go, do what you must. I will take good care of the Prince's Residence and Consort De."
Jun Mo kissed the top of her head, sighing, "With such a wife, what more could a man ask for?"
Tianqi, Shuiyong City.
In recent days, the occasional probes by Southern Frontier soldiers had already terrified the people of Shuiyong City. Before nightfall, the streets were deserted, every household locked their doors, fearing to show their faces.
They had thought the soldiers would merely plunder some grain and livestock, little realizing that what awaited them was utter catastrophe.
Ten miles outside the city, before a grand tent, a man in armor stood facing Tianqi, his figure silhouetted against the wind. Beside him stood a man in white robes with a gentle countenance but eyes that gleamed with venom.
"Once darkness falls, Shuiyong City will be a dead city," Liang Xuanting said, his tone utterly calm.
The man in white did not speak, his expression unwavering.
Liang Xuanting turned to look at him and chuckled, "How cold-blooded. Those are Tianqi's citizens, after all."
"My Lord, you are the one who gave the order," the man in white said, looking at him with a faint voice.
"How composed you are. With our army pressing down, your Emperor can really sit still. Jun Mo still wants to get married? Dream on! After tonight, let's see if he can still remain composed!"
Jun Hui stared straight ahead, his eyes narrowed slightly.
The sky gradually darkened.
The people of Shuiyong City, as usual, were wearily keeping their doors shut and licking their wounds after the Southern Frontier soldiers' harassment.
This time, they did not await the dawn.
During the night, flames and cries filled the air.
When dawn broke again, the city had become a scorched earth, billowing black smoke. Countless vibrant lives were buried beneath this charred soil.
By the time the news reached Tianqi, five days had already passed.
Tianqi was thrown into an uproar, from top to bottom.
Fury! Boundless!
The Emperor was enraged; tens of thousands of lives were lost overnight! The ministers who usually advocated for peace instantly fell silent, while those who favored war rolled up their sleeves, cursing the Southern Frontier as inhuman monsters and vowing to avenge the people of Shuiyong City.
Minister Su, usually mild-mannered, stepped forward and loudly declared, "Your Majesty! Please dispatch troops immediately! Any delay, and Lan'an might be next! There's no need to worry about provisions; your subject has already prepared them!"
Lan'an bordered Shuiyong City; with Shuiyong City massacred, Lan'an was in grave danger!
Jun Mo stepped forward and said, "Your son requests to lead the troops!"
Jun Yi also stepped forward and said, "Your son requests to lead the troops!"
"Your subject, Wei Xiyong, requests to lead the troops!"
"Your subject, Ji Kui, requests to lead the troops!"
Seeing the ministers stepping forward one by one, the Emperor waved his hand grandly and declared, "Good! The Southern Frontier has massacred our people; our Tianqi shall surely avenge this!"
"Duke Wei, Marquis Wuyang, Prince Jing!"
"Your subject is here!"
"Your subject is here!"
"Your son is here!"
The Crown Prince immediately said, "Imperial Father, your son also requests permission to lead!"
The Emperor said, "You are the nation's Crown Prince. Moreover, you have just become a father; it is better for you to remain in the rear."
The Crown Prince glanced at Ji Huaiyan, who stood behind Ji Kui, and said, "Then let young Master Ji go. He is very skilled in troop deployment and battle formations."
The Emperor nodded and said, "Very well. Then, I command Duke Wei as Commander-in-Chief, Marquis Wuyang as Deputy Commander, and Prince Jing and Ji Huaiyan as the Left and Right Vanguards, to lead an army of three hundred thousand. Depart tomorrow for Shuiyong City to confront the Southern Frontier!"
"Your subject obeys the command!"
"Your son obeys the command!"
Su Li hadn't expected the army to depart so swiftly once the order was given. Upon hearing that the Southern Frontier had, against all reason, committed a city massacre, she understood why the urgency was so great. Even she, upon hearing the news, felt a towering rage within her, let alone the Emperor.
A city massacre; for any nation, this was an unforgivable, unending blood feud.
What she had been working on recently, she needed to accelerate. Although she couldn't personally fight on the battlefield, she still had to contribute her part.
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