My Sister Was Racking Up Kills in the Capital While the Beauties in My Manor Pressed Me for an Heir
Looking at the madman in front of him, whose eyes were burning with fervor and who was spouting nonsense but stubbornly clinging to him, the taut string in Zhaxi Dawa's mind finally snapped completely.
He had spent half his life fighting on the battlefield, crushing the skulls of countless tribes, but he had never encountered such a monster who used nausea as a weapon and scoundrels as armor.
"Insane... Absolutely insane!"
Zhaxi Dawa kicked Chen Qing hard into the snowdrift, staggered back several steps, slashed at the wooden fence with his backhand, and roared hysterically at the guards around him.
"Gag him with dry grass!"
Anyone who dares to let him out and shout again will be court-martialed!
The Tubo general's hasty retreat was a picture of utter disarray.
Chen Qing lay prone in the snowdrift, coughing up the mud and snow from his mouth, while propping himself up and waving his frozen arms vigorously toward the direction of the main tent, shouting passionately in his hoarse voice.
"General, slow down! The road is slippery! I'm waiting for your arrival by the ice hole!"
At the entrance to the secret passage in Wild Wolf Valley behind the Tubo camp, the Tubo army was in disarray and their checks were lax.
The convoy of 300 carts carrying raw medicinal herbs, dispatched by Gu Moran, was taking advantage of the thick snow and wind to pass through this originally deadly defensive line and head straight for the camp in the Northern Territory of Dali.
Prince's Mansion.
A light rain was falling outside the waterside pavilion, and the rainwater flowed into the pond along the eaves. Inside the warm pavilion, the blue-and-white porcelain charcoal brazier was burning brightly.
As soon as Gu Moran stretched his hand out from under the thin blanket, he smelled the damp, grassy scent emanating from Liu Ruyan's cloak.
"News has arrived from the capital?"
He looked at the envelope first, but didn't rush to open it.
The fact that Liu Ruyan and Xie Wanqing could sit side by side on the bed suggests that this letter is likely meant to find him something to do.
Liu Ruyan took off her light blue cloak and handed it to a maid to dry. She then placed another folded secret report on top of the letter.
"The Empress has been deposed, and the Sixth Prince has been imprisoned."
Gu Moran's hand, which was picking at tea stems, paused at the rim of the cup.
The message Gu Moli sent earlier left room for interpretation, but now even the decree to depose the empress has been stamped. The struggle in the capital is ending faster than expected.
He unfolded the secret report, read it word by word to the end, and only after confirming that there was no news of Gu Moli being in danger did he fold the paper back up and feel relieved.
My sister is terrifyingly strong.
So, how many did she take down by herself?
How come he always manages to escape unscathed?
Isn't she the ultimate villain?
Gu Moran smiled.
"Father has actually decided to depose the Empress this time?"
Liu Ruyan pushed the footstool, which was heated by the charcoal brazier, closer to him.
"The medicine cups have all been smashed. I heard the Empress's forehead is badly injured. From now on, the people coming and going in the capital will probably have to be replaced again."
"Those who should be evacuated should be evacuated, and those who should stay should stay. Don't let our people rush to watch the spectacle."
Gu Moran handed the secret report back and picked up the hot tea. "However, I've always trusted my mother. That empty seat might not be comfortable to sit in."
Xie Wanqing waited until he finished drinking before pushing the booklet forward. Her dark gold embroidered skirt draped over the side of the chair as she calmly turned the pages.
"The location in the capital will naturally attract competition."
However, we can't leave these places in our mansion empty forever.
Gu Moran hadn't even swallowed the tea she'd just taken a sip when she heard those words. She first glanced at the page the woman was pressing down on, which listed the household's expenses for rice, flour, cloth, and charcoal. She was somewhat confused.
Which seat is empty?
If the accounting office is short-staffed, we'll hire someone; if the workshop is short-staffed, we'll have the Zhen family's maids hire them.
If the kitchen lacks someone to taste the dishes, there's always one sitting by the wall.
Yun Shuyue was eating melon seeds when she heard that her job had been assigned, so she quickly looked up.
"Want to try some dishes? Which one? The crispy pork isn't ready yet."
Meng Jiuning pressed her raised hand back onto the edge of the table and then moved the dish of melon seeds further inside.
"Shh, don't talk nonsense."
Xie Wanqing's fingertip remained pressed on the paper.
"Your Highness, I was referring to the principal wife and the eldest son. Too many people are watching this matter."
"From now on, Your Highness, please stop your reckless actions and try to get Sister Su pregnant as soon as possible."
"After all..."
Xie Wanqing glanced at Su Yao, whose face was flushed with embarrassment, and ultimately didn't dare to say anything more.
Liu Ruyan spoke calmly from the side.
"Your Highness, the people can't take your wrath anymore."
Most importantly, the mouth cannot get pregnant.
As soon as he said that...
Startled, Gu Moran put the teacup back on the small table, the bottom of the cup hitting the wooden surface with a very soft sound.
The warm room that had been so comfortable just moments before suddenly made him uncomfortable, even the cushions made him feel uneasy.
Did these women discover his little scheme?
this...
It's not that he has any special hobbies.
However, as a modern person...
He wasn't interested in children.
The eldest son, the child, cries at night and fusses during the day; we still need to hire a tutor, choose a wet nurse, and teach him to recognize people.
Once she can run, she might be even more agile than Yun Shuyue, and even more cunning than Zhen Meili.
Just thinking about all the troubles after having a baby is enough to give me a headache.
He pulled the thin blanket up to his knees.
"What's the rush? Isn't the manor lively enough right now?"
"As lively as it was, the list of gifts handed over by the officials even included the unborn young master."
Xie Wanqing pulled out a gift list from the ledger and showed him the three words "longevity lock" on it.
Gu Moran took it and looked at it, then couldn't help but tap the signature with his finger.
"This man has time to make gold locks, why doesn't he settle the outstanding payment to the workshop first? My child isn't even here yet, and he's already sending gifts."
Su Yao, who was sitting to the side counting the copper coins, reached out and took the gift list upon hearing this.
"I'll follow up on the final payment, and the gold lock should be put into storage first; let's not delay either thing."
Gu Moran watched as she tucked the gift list into her own booklet. The path she had originally planned to take by using the debt as a pretext was now blocked by her abacus.
Liu Ruyan carefully put away the secret reports she had on hand, keeping only the one from Anyang.
" The Prince An has already caused trouble at the camp gate, and the situation in the capital has just changed. Those people in the southwest who have joined the Prince's household must be figuring out who they can rely on from now on."
"Isn't it enough that they're relying on me right now?"
Gu Moran raised his hand and pointed to himself. A thin blanket covered his legs, and a teacup was placed beside him. This appearance, intended to intimidate the troops, did indeed lack persuasiveness.
Xie Wanqing looked at him for a while, then reached out to straighten the pillow that had slipped down to his waist.
"Since Your Highness is willing to sit up and say these words, I may offer a few more words of advice on your behalf."
Gu Moran had no choice but to sit up straight. As soon as his back left the soft pillow, Murong Xue next to him burst out laughing. Even Lin Qingdai, who was leaning against the doorpost wiping her sword sheath, turned her face towards the courtyard.
"You all take my salary and still complain that I'm not lying properly enough?"
Liu Ruyan, however, refused to let him use his witty remarks to escape the situation.
"The reports from Dali have arrived. The medicine trucks have passed the dangerous road, Dali can catch up. There will only be more people willing to help."
Gu Moran knew she was referring to the batch of raw herbs. He had personally opened the previous few reports, and there were marks on his desk indicating where the escorts had gone and which checkpoints had been cleared.
"Therefore, we should prioritize ensuring the supply of military rations, medicine, and wages."
He took over the conversation, trying to steer the discussion back on track.
"The child can neither escort the carriage for me nor collect debts for Su Yao."
"But it can put your mind at ease, Your Highness."
Xie Wanqing closed the ledger, saving herself the trouble of pretending to check the accounts this time.
"The soldiers have families, the merchants have businesses, and the former officials all over the country still have their possessions tied to them. When they look at the Prince's Palace, they naturally look to the back."
"Without an heir, how can I be a ruler? Does my husband not understand this principle?"