The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 901 - 856: Lunatic (3rd Update)

Wen Wan thought about the scene when the two of them would meet again, and her face uncontrollably turned rosy. She bashfully said, "I went out during the day just to see him."

Seeing his daughter’s shy demeanor, Zhao Xunyin understood immediately and happily said, "What did I say before? The Third Son is just steady in nature, not stupid. If he could just watch you marry off to Bei Yan, he’d be giving up on you, and you’d be left crying!"

Wen Wan scoffed lightly, "He’s already refused me outright. I don’t want to marry that scoundrel!"

Zhao Xunyin raised an eyebrow, "So what did the two of you decide? If he doesn’t let you go, will you obediently stay in the Capital in the future?"

"I must go to Bei Yan," Wen Wan’s mood gradually calmed down, and she said seriously, "However, it won’t be in the form of a political marriage."

"Oh? Then how will you go?"

"I’ll keep it a secret for now," Wen Wan said. "I’ll enter the palace first thing tomorrow morning to discuss it with His Majesty. I’ll tell Mother once he agrees."

Zhao Xunyin was used to Wen Wan’s mysterious ways, so he didn’t ask further.

...

The next day, during the court session, Wen Wan proposed in the Political Discussion Hall that Chu Country should send an envoy to Bei Yan, which immediately met with opposition from many.

Duke Lu was the first to object, his old face darkened. "The Bei Yan delegation was assassinated on their first day in the Chu Capital, resulting in the death of two envoys and the serious injury of one attendant. At that time, Prince Liang entered the palace to find His Majesty, and whatever was said must have reached Bei Yan. Now, Emperor Yan is struggling to find a way to vent this anger. If Chu Country were to send an envoy to Bei Yan now, Bei Yan would certainly retaliate, harming our envoys. The two countries are already at war, with countless people at the Northern Border dying from the epidemic. There’s no need for diplomacy between the two countries, and sending an envoy would not bring any benefits."

Duke Lu said this while looking at Emperor Xuanjing, "Your Majesty, I believe this proposal is not feasible."

"I also think the Commandery Princess’s proposal is too frivolous," Minister Xue from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward. He was responsible for receiving the Bei Yan envoys and was more aware than anyone of Bei Yan’s attitude towards Chu Country after the assassination attack. Had their forces not been destroyed in Chu Capital, they would have already retaliated fiercely, instead of staying cooped up in the post house all day.

In light of this, sending Chu envoys to Bei Yan would be like sending sheep into a tiger’s mouth.

The Prime Minister, Zhang Sheng, did not quickly take sides but instead looked at Wen Wan, "I would like to know, what is the purpose of the Commandery Princess’s proposal to send an envoy to Bei Yan?"

Wen Wan curled her lips, "Naturally, it is to gather intelligence on the enemy."

Before Zhang Sheng could speak, she continued, "I’m sure you all know by now that the Northern Border epidemic was caused by Bei Yan, who was intimidated by the mechanical beast into spreading the plague. If not for the strict control in Liangzhou City, it might have spread to the Capital by now. Bei Yan even attempted to assassinate Master Yun en route to delivering medicine from the Yun Family, intending to destroy this batch midway. This national resentment must not go unavenged."

"This..."

The ministers began whispering among themselves.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Sheng made a decision, "While the Commandery Princess has Chu Country’s best interests at heart, we ministers believe that the envoy mission must be carefully considered and cannot be taken lightly."

Wen Wan said, "If it’s just a few random ministers being sent as envoys, they would certainly face a counterattack from Bei Yan. But if we send the Little Prince from Western Border, it will be different."

The Little Prince from Western Border? Amuer Lifang?

"Nonsense!" scolded an Imperial Censor, "The Little Prince from Western Border is only a child. How can he represent Chu Country in Bei Yan? I say, the Commandery Princess might not have Chu Country in mind but rather her personal desires in wanting to go to Bei Yan."

This remark was blunt and unpleasant, but as an Imperial Censor, his role was to speak out on unfair matters in court.

With this statement, the court officials immediately thought of Princess Yong’an’s recent scandal, and their gaze at Wen Wan carried more or less disdain and mockery.

Wen Wan ignored them directly, turning to Zhao Xi and said, "As everyone knows, the Little Prince from Western Border is the Imperial Concubine of Bei Yan’s biological nephew. Back in the day after the defeat of West Yue, the Imperial Concubine even sent people to find him. With this relationship, the Little Prince from Western Border is the best candidate to send to Bei Yan. At that time, whether the Imperial Concubine will persuade Emperor Yan to ceasefire for her nephew’s sake or disregard his safety and continue the attack on Chu Country, only attempting it will tell."

Zhang Sheng and several others frowned in thought.

This war between Bei Yan and Chu Country reportedly began because a few members of the Imperial Family fled to Bei Yan seeking help after the defeat of West Yue. To dare launch a war for her maternal family shows how important they are to the Bei Yan Imperial Concubine. If the Little Prince from Western Border, her biological nephew, is involved, perhaps it might stir the Imperial Concubine’s compassion and lead to a cessation of the war.

The Chu army is not afraid of battle; with the mechanical beast, the odds are clear. However, the epidemic this time is as terrifying as a flood or beasts, taking lives invisibly. The longer the Chu army remains on the Northern Border, the greater the risk of being decimated by the epidemic. Continuing the war is not a wise choice.

Currently, the only solution is a ceasefire; first halting the epidemic, allowing the army to rest and regain strength, strategizing later once they have recuperated. Otherwise, even if the Chu army is not infected by the epidemic after such a lengthy war, they would still be defeated by Bei Yan due to exhaustion.

Bei Yan employs a human wave strategy; the Chu army is outnumbered, and they are heavily reliant on the mechanical beast. A head-to-head confrontation is certainly unwise.

Reflecting on this, the Minister of War sighed softly, "If the Little Prince from Western Border can move the Imperial Concubine to persuade Emperor Yan to ceasefire, it might actually be a good opportunity for our soldiers to recuperate. This campaign has lasted too long; if it continues, not only will the army be overwhelmed, but even the logistics and supplies will soon be insufficient. We must find a way to stop the war so the army can rest and the National Treasury can recover."

Through consultations among the court officials, they finally agreed to Wen Wan’s proposal, sending the Little Prince from Western Border, Lifang, as an envoy to Bei Yan, escorted by Su Qing. As for the accompanying envoys, besides the ministers appointed by Emperor Xuanjing, there was also Princess Yong’an, Wen Wan.

...

After court was dismissed, Wen Wan was summoned alone to the Imperial Study Room.

Zhao Xi looked at her with a smile that was not quite a smile, "A few days ago, you were adamant about going for a political marriage. Now, all of a sudden, you’ve changed your mind. Did someone wise advise you?"

Wen Wan lowered her head, her voice muffled, "Since Your Majesty has already guessed, must you still use words to needle me?"

Zhao Xi indeed knew that Song Wei had come to find Wen Wan, as those Hidden Guards who escorted Wen Wan out of the city yesterday had reported it. However, as long as Song Wei did not enter the Capital and disturb the Imperial Censor, he could pretend nothing had happened.

After all, without Song Wei, his right-hand man, dealing with state affairs felt as if he were missing a guide, always feeling insecure.

With Song Wei around, he could be much more at ease about the trip to Bei Yan.

...

After the matter of sending an envoy to Bei Yan was decided, Emperor Xuanjing issued a decree.

Su Qing was ordered to return to the Western Border to bring Amuer to the Capital.

After bidding farewell to Wen Wan, Lin Xiaoyue took Ah Nuan and left for the Western Border with Su Qing.

When news reached the post house, Fu Zichuan was somewhat surprised, then sneered, "She initially agreed to a political marriage, yet now she flips and decides on an envoy mission. This woman is indeed fickle."

Li Yuan, sitting on the long couch drinking tea, merely curled her lips at this.

Initially, she had thought of capturing Wen Wan once she reached Bei Yan to threaten the Emperor Chu, but now that they were voluntarily bringing Amuer to Bei Yan, it saved her a lot of trouble.

Fu Zichuan consulted, "Empress, should we return in advance to make arrangements?"

"Let’s go with them," Li Yuan said. She wanted to see that child.

Fu Zichuan frowned, "When we entered the Capital, the Emperor Chu unceremoniously assassinated our envoys. Now that Chu Country is coming to us, Bei Yan must repay this act, won’t the Empress avenge that arrow wound?"

"These matters, His Majesty will arrange," Li Yuan, feeling tired, leaned on the large pillow, "Chu Country dares to send envoys to Bei Yan, which means they have thoroughly prepared. We’ve suffered heavy losses and should avoid direct confrontation with them."

...

Now, Su Qing returned to the Western Border with his family and informed the Great Clan Leader about the imperial decree to send the Little Prince to Bei Yan.

The white-haired Great Clan Leader’s face turned very unsightly after hearing this, and using less-than-fluent Chinese, he communicated with Su Qing, repeatedly saying, "He can’t go, the Little Prince cannot go to Bei Yan, Li Yuan is a madwoman, she is a lunatic!"

Su Qing and his wife exchanged a glance.

Since arriving in the Western Border, Lin Xiaoyue had heard the Great Clan Leader call the Bei Yan Imperial Concubine a madwoman more than once. She thought, perhaps it’s because the Great Clan Leader’s Chinese isn’t very good, so that’s the only insult he knows.

Thus, the couple tried to persuade him earnestly. The Great Clan Leader struggled to understand some, but he remained stubbornly unwilling to hand over Amuer, his pair of old eyes turning red with anger as he glared at Su Qing, "I’ve said that woman is mad, why don’t you believe it? Why do you want to take Amuer to see her?"

Su Qing was left with no choice but to produce Emperor Xuanjing’s decree, forcing the Great Clan Leader to hand over Amuer, and assured him that with Su Qing’s presence, no harm would come to Amuer.