"Hold on, don't rush. One at a time!"
Binghong hurriedly tried to calm them down.
"Miss Binghong, how can we not be anxious? This concerns the safety of the Western Regions!"
Cao Bin said in a deep voice.
Yet just after he finished speaking, Zhao Qingyu stepped out from behind them and said slowly, "I told you not to rush. What use is rushing?"
Hearing Zhao Qingyu's voice, everyone froze for a moment, then cupped their hands to greet her.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Zhao Qingyu was seventeen this year.
Having inherited her mother's beauty, she had now blossomed into a graceful young woman.
"What are you all making such a fuss about?"
Zhao Qingyu looked at the crowd, her brows knitting slightly.
Cao Bin and the others exchanged glances.
Zhao Qingyu said slowly, "My master and I intend to return to Bianjing. Before we return, do not acknowledge any orders from Bianjing telling you to withdraw your troops or call a truce here and now! Do not worry about the charge of defying an imperial decree."
"If Heaven falls, my master and I will hold it up."
"..."
Everyone fell silent.
After the silence, Yue Qiu was the first to reply, "Yes, Your Highness!"
"Wouldn't that be... rebellion?"
Cao Bin blinked, his voice somewhat low.
Zhao Qingyu looked at him and said gravely, "It is rebellion only if we fail! If we succeed, we will be great meritorious ministers who defended the Western Regions!"
"Let's do it, Your Highness!"
Wei Qingping said excitedly.
He had never felt much sense of belonging toward the Great Song court.
The people he trusted were Verdant Green Maiden and her group!
"All right, go back for now. Keep everything as it was."
Zhao Qingyu continued.
Everyone answered and departed.
On the way back, Cao