Xiao Yunxi, as a Jiangnan woman, exudes the elegance of a classical beauty, and her noble birth and marriage create an aura of majesty that sets her apart from ordinary people.

The privileged life she leads allows her to maintain a flawless figure even in her thirties, after having children, with not a single mark of time visible on her face.

Her skin is as delicate as a baby's, her figure as supple as a willow, her curves graceful. Even when holding a child and bowing, she retains her elegance, like a beautiful painting:

"Prince, what are you saying? The Prince, worrying about the affairs of the country and laboring for His Majesty, is a great hero in my heart."

"Zheng'Er, quickly call your father king." Saying this, Xiao Yunxi glanced at the awakened baby in the swaddle, smilingly handing the child to Prince Huai.

As soon as Prince Huai held the child, the response was the baby's loud cries, and no matter how Prince Huai soothed, it was of no use until Xiao Yunxi took the child back, and the baby stopped crying.

Seeing this scene, Prince Huai felt even more guilty towards Xiao Yunxi.

Due to the cultivation technique, Xiao Yunxi had been cold and afraid of the cold since she was young. Even after marrying Prince Huai for over ten years, she had not borne any children.

It wasn't until the year before last that a method was found. Xiao Yunxi stopped cultivating, has been taking medicine and recuperating, and only at the beginning of last year did she finally conceive after a hard time. During childbirth, Xiao Yunxi had a brush with death, then came Prince Huai's alliance to support the king.

In short, in the past two years, Xiao Yunxi suffered a lot, so she especially loved the baby in the swaddle.

Prince Huai was the same. He had many sons, but they were all born of concubines and were not qualified to be Crown Princes. Only this child, less than a year old, had that qualification.

"Sister." Prince Huai's three consorts came up to greet Xiao Yunxi. Although the three women's faces were smiling, their jealousy was extreme as they looked at the child in Xiao Yunxi's arms.

If it weren't for this child named Chu Zheng, the position of Crown Prince would certainly be selected from among the children under them. But with this child, everything was beyond doubt.

"Ma'am, can I hold my little brother?" At this time, a light, sweet voice sounded.

A tall, slender girl in a blue palace dress, with a pretty face, appeared.

The girl, feeling hot, wore thin clothes. A flush appeared on her snow-white, jade-like face; her features were innocent and serene, with a glint of cleverness in her eyes.

The girl was the second daughter of Hui Madame, Prince Huai's first consort, named Chu Juan. Because of her natural intelligence, she was quite favored in Prince Huai's mansion.

"Juan'Er..." Hui Madame lightly rebuked the girl.

"Sister, it's alright." Xiao Yunxi handed the child to Chu Juan to hold.

"Hee hee, Father King, Ma'am, my brother is so well-behaved..." Chu Juan teased the baby for a while, then laughed.

Hmm, when Chu Juan held him, the baby didn't cry either.

Seeing this, Prince Huai was eager to try again. But as soon as he took the child from Chu Juan, the formerly quiet Chu Zheng started crying loudly again.

After Xiao Yunxi took the child back, he stopped crying.

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became awkward.

Hui Madame quickly spoke: "It's said that those who have been on the battlefield carry a faint trace of evil Qi, while newly born babies carry the purest innate spiritual Qi; these two types of Qi will clash and frighten the child.

Moreover, the Prince has been away from the child for many days, and it's normal for the child to be unfamiliar. Spending more time together will help."

"Sister Hui is right." The consorts on the side also chimed in.

Prince Huai was a wise man, immediately declaring, "It's all because of those Celestial Master's rebel scoundrels. One day, I will wipe them out."

After soothing the child, Xiao Yunxi said, "Prince, let's not stand here, let's go inside."

...

The group returned to the rear courtyard hall.

Xiao Yunxi cherished this child greatly. Although Prince Huai wanted Xiao Yunxi to free her hands for a while and let the servants take care of the child, Xiao Yunxi refused, fearing the servants wouldn't be careful enough, insisting on doing everything herself.

After some brief chatter, Hui Madame said, "Prince, Rong'Er told me he wants to lighten your burdens by seeking a position in the Dragon Strategy Army."

The Dragon Strategy Army was the name of Prince Huai's troops.

And Rong'Er referred to Hui Madame's eldest son, also Prince Huai's eldest son, who had already come of age and set up his own mansion outside.

Hui Madame was unwilling for Prince Huai's mansion to fall into the hands of this swaddled baby in the future and still wanted to fight for it.

Prince Huai wasn't foolish; he understood the little schemes in Hui Madame's heart.

Chu Rong, as his eldest son, had been neglected since last year. It wasn't because Prince Huai was heartless, but the title passed to the legitimate heir, not the eldest. To prevent future infighting within the Prince's mansion and to ensure the Xiao family's support,

Chu Rong could only be marginalized.

"Rong'Er is doing a good job as an aide, why must he join the military? At Lu Fang, he can also help relieve my burdens." Prince Huai gently declined.

Madam Hui detected the meaning but still wanted to advocate, saying, "Rong'Er yearns for the military. For this aide position, let the literati handle it; he says he is unsuitable."

"In my view, he's just idle. He can't even perform adequately in his role as an aide, yet wants to seek a position in the military. Let him practice more first," Prince Huai said.

Madam Hui wanted to speak further, but Prince Huai raised a hand, signaling the matter should be dropped.

Just then, a man resembling a steward arrived outside the hall, not entering. He bowed his head, presenting a letter, softly saying, "Your Highness, urgent news from the front."

A specific servant from the hall approached, took the letter from the steward's hands, and handed it to Prince Huai.

After reading it, Prince Huai's brow furrowed immediately. Without saying a word to Xiao Yunxi and the others, he got up and walked out of the hall, instructing the steward, "Have everyone meet in my study for a discussion."

Prince Huai's Mansion was vast, and Prince Huai valued talent greatly. His staff officers all resided in Prince Huai's Mansion, so it wasn't long before they all gathered in his study.

Prince Huai scanned his strategists and military generals, saying, "The Celestial Master Thief Chen Mo's forces launched a surprise attack on Linzhou on the fifteenth of August. The Prefect of Linzhou surrendered the city on the twenty-fifth, and Linzhou has now fallen into the hands of the Rebel Army."

Pointing to the map on the desk, Prince Huai continued, "Linzhou and Huai State are separated only by the Huai River. The Rebel Army, instead of advancing westwards to attack Longyou and threaten West River, unexpectedly conquered Linzhou. The Celestial Master's main force is gathering in Jing County; they are likely targeting Huai State. These thieves are still restless and covet my Huai State."

Prince Huai's expression was rather grim.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the study was taken aback.

The Rebel Army in Yu State seized Linzhou?

To them, it seemed the forces in Yu State were assembling at Shuofei County, had moved supplies and provisions, and even issued a formal war proclamation against bandits, indicating an imminent attack on Longyou.

But now you tell me they launched a surprise attack on Linzhou and have captured it.

This sounds, aside from shocking, somewhat farcical.

After all, declaring war isn't something done casually.

Historically, forces issuing such proclamations act in accordance with them, whether successful or not; it's an unspoken rule observed by all.

But now you're playing this game?

"Indeed, this is precisely the style of the Rebel Army," said Chu Ce, Prince Huai's Grand General.

"The Prince is right. Since the Chen Thief didn't move toward Longyou but instead took Linzhou, it indicates the Celestial Master's real target is Huai State, not the Western River Land," said a staff officer.

Huai State and Linzhou are separated by just a river, and the maneuvers of the Chen Army make it hard to think otherwise.

"If that's the case, then we must prepare early and must reinforce Kai County and other areas nearby," another staff member suggested, pointing at the counties closest to the Huai River.

Just when everyone was convinced Chen Mo was headed for Huai State, a somewhat disheveled young man, in contrast to the other staff officers, exclaimed, "Not so, not so."

All eyes turned to him, though most furrowed their brows, covering their noses and moving slightly away due to the strong smell of alcohol emanating from his words.

"Fusheng, what brilliant plan do you have?" Prince Huai's eyes slightly brightened, showing considerable regard for the young man.

The youth's ancestor, Diwu Xiaoxian, was a great minister who aided the Grand Ancestor Emperor in founding the Great Song and was known as the Divine Calculator, elevating the Fifth Family to the pinnacle among the Noble Families of the time.

However, the Fifth Family suffers from a hereditary strange ailment, and each generation dies young before forty, leaving few descendants. Various factors have caused the Fifth Family to decline, no longer resembling a prestigious Noble Family.

But the saying goes, "Dragons give birth to dragons, and phoenixes to phoenixes." Those in power believe that such a prodigious ancestor's descendants must possess some of their talents.

The youth, Diwu Fusheng, holding a wine gourd, took a swig before stepping forward, pointing to the map in the book. As he spoke, a belch escaped, prompting Prince Huai to instinctively cover his nose.

"Forgive me, Your Highness," Diwu Fusheng said, bowing to Prince Huai before continuing, "Through your previous investigation of Chen Mo, my analysis finds him different from other Celestial Master's Rebel Armies.

This person aligns with the populace and maintains strict military discipline, adept at management. The counties of Qingzhou's Qingtian and Pingting are vibrant thanks to him, providing at least five hundred thousand stones of grain annually. Controlling Qing and Yu States, and now Linzhou, with three states in hand and a population of nearly two million, he can sustain a foothold and wait for the right moment in the changing political landscape to vie for supremacy in the country."

"Ha," came the immediate scoff from a staff officer.

Prince Huai's staff had many members eager to prove their worth and gain Prince Huai's attention, leading to a competitive environment, and Diwu Fusheng's solitary nature only added to the disfavor.

"So, does this young thief intend to declare himself a ruler?"

"Occupying a region with his army and a population of nearly two million, and with no shortage of resources, why shouldn't he?" Diwu Fusheng retorted.

"Ridiculous, a mere few thousand troops, still a rabble like the Celestial Master's Rebel Army, and a young upstart like him thinks he can become independent? If we don't take action, Luo Guang will handle him," the staff officer said.

"Short-sighted," Diwu Fusheng softly exclaimed, "In the current situation, can't you see what's happening?"

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