Marrying a Disabled General and be His Wife

Tan Chuyan was momentarily stunned by the glare. Regaining his composure, he called out directly to the closed palace doors, “Qi Kingdom envoy Tan Chuyan and Jing Kingdom envoy Feng Chilie seek an audience with the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager be safe!”

Before long, the doors of Mingguang Hall swung open from within, revealing the scene inside.

Baili Chengzhi knelt in the center, looking as forlorn as the five-clawed golden dragon pinned beneath him.

Feng Mingyuan sat upon a raised platform, observing everyone. Slowly lifting her gaze, she fixed her eyes on Tan Chuyan. “Enter, all of you.”

Her tone was neither hurried nor leisurely, but it carried an unspoken weight, instilling a sense of unease.

This was the demeanor of a true ruler, impossible to decipher her emotions.

Under the watchful eyes of the imperial guards, Tan Chuyan and Feng Chilie stepped into Mingguang Hall, the doors closing behind them.

It was the first time they had laid eyes on Feng Mingyuan since arriving at the Dayong Palace.

Impeccably groomed, she exuded an aura of authority, her true age impossible to discern despite the sharpness in her eyes.

With a smile on her face, Feng Mingyuan sat upright. “No wonder the emperor managed to conceal you both so effectively. Turns out, you’re disguised as his guards.”

Jinyi Guards, directly under Baili Chengzhi’s command, allowed for easy access in and out of the palace without arousing Feng Mingyuan’s suspicions. Thus, they had posed as Jinyi Guards since entering the Dayong Palace.

“It’s regrettable,” Tan Chuyan bowed, “Please show mercy, Empress Dowager.”

“What a regrettable situation,” Feng Mingyuan lightly applauded. “If Cui Yuanqing hadn’t captured the Jing Kingdom and secured Xibo’s allegiance, would you and the emperor still attempt to deceive and conspire against me?”

Feng Mingyuan’s words were like pearls, and Tan Chuyan glanced at Baili Chengzhi, who was kneeling on the ground, carefully considering his response: “Her Majesty is aware that the emperor and I harbor no such intention.”

“No? Then why didn’t you and the emperor seek cooperation with me earlier, but only now that this opportunity has arisen?” Feng Mingyuan’s eyes flashed. “Don’t think that I am unaware of your intentions. Aren’t you just seeking me to leverage Cui Yuanqing’s power? Aren’t you using him to weaken my authority and solidify your own power?”

Tan Chuyan’s eyes flickered, and just as he was about to speak, Feng Mingyuan cut him off.

“If I seek to retain power, why would I willingly relinquish it?” Feng Mingyuan shifted her gaze to Baili Chengzhi and sighed. “Your Majesty, you have truly disappointed me.”

Upon hearing Feng Mingyuan’s words, Tan Chuyan vaguely discerned Baili Chengzhi’s and Feng Mingyuan’s conversation. It amounted to a deliberate betrayal, conveying to Feng Mingyuan that he had sheltered them to consolidate his own power.

Despite this, Tan Chuyan refrained from speaking, waiting for Baili Chengzhi’s response.

In such a situation, Baili Chengzhi couldn’t remain silent.

He knelt there, looking up at Feng Mingyuan. “Mother, your son has been unfilial. Please punish me.”

“Punishment?” Feng Mingyuan fixed her gaze on Baili Chengzhi. “Tell me, how should I punish you? You are the sole bloodline of Dayong Dynasty. If punishment were meted out, how would you have me answer to your father?”

“My son…”

Feng Mingyuan interrupted him. “Rise. Don’t kneel here. Instead of courting trouble with me, it’s better to focus on dealing with Cui Yuanqing first.”

Feng Mingyuan relented.

Baili Chengzhi’s face brightened with relief. With Ji Ruhai’s assistance, he stood up and took a seat nearby.

.

“Tell me,” Feng Mingyuan inquired, “how do you intend to deal with Cui Yuanqing?”

Tan Chuyan spoke up, “Answering the Empress Dowager, if we wish to confront Cui Yuanqing, we must first reclaim the Jing Kingdom and establish a stronghold in the north.”

“Given the current circumstances, Cui Yuanqing undoubtedly intends to march northward. In such a scenario, he must first cross the Lingjiang River. However, the troops under his command consist of infantry and cavalry, with no naval force,” Tan Chuyan continued. “We may opt to take preemptive action by destroying the bridges across the Lingjiang River, hindering their northern advance temporarily. We can exploit this window of opportunity to swiftly dispatch our forces across the river and recapture the Jing Kingdom.”

It was a sound strategy, but one concern required careful consideration.

“The north is home to many Shaolin warriors. Both their cavalry and infantry excel in archery, and they possess a greater quantity of arrows than Dayong Dynasty,” Tan Chuyan pointed out.

Feng Mingyuan remarked, “It’s a good idea, but if they use arrows to impede us, how can we safely cross the river?”

Tan Chuyan didn’t directly express his thoughts but instead inquired, “Empress Dowager, do you still have the rice pole from last year’s harvest?”

“Of course, we do,” Feng Mingyuan confirmed. “The rice pole needs to be returned to the fields after threshing, and the farmers have kept it.”

“That’s convenient,” Tan Chuyan remarked. “May I borrow it from Her Majesty? I have three ships. In five days, I will dispatch an elite force from the north to swiftly recapture King Jing’s capital.”

“If you fail to deliver,” Feng Mingyuan stood up and approached Tan Chuyan, “how should I punish you?”

“It’s impossible to fail,” Tan Chuyan smiled confidently. “I never undertake ventures that result in losses.”

“Very well,” Feng Mingyuan tossed the token symbolizing her authority onto the table before him. “You may outfit the boats as you see fit, but if King Jing’s capital isn’t reclaimed within five days, I will hold you accountable.”

Upon hearing this, Feng Chilie nearly lost his composure, prompting Tan Chuyan to discreetly nudge him. Tan Chuyan then bent down to retrieve the token, stashing it away, before saluting Feng Mingyuan. “Please await the good news patiently.”

Feng Mingyuan casted one last glance at him before departing.

.

As she left, Baili Chengzhi inquired, “What are you planning?”

Tan Chuyan smirked mysteriously. “It’s a concoction of elixirs and secret remedies that will undoubtedly aid His Majesty in addressing his urgent concerns.”

Baili Chengzhi surveyed the unfamiliar faces around him and gestured. “That will be all. We await the good news. You may depart.”

“Thank you for your understanding,” Tan Chuyan bowed respectfully and exited.