"No, Jinghua, let me explain—"
"What are you explaining? This is between him and me." Qu Hua was unmoved. "Fine, get out then. Do you think I'm still attached to him? Are all my guards dead? Even if they are, there's still the Tiger and Leopard Battalion, isn't there?"
Qu Nian: "..."
Please, I'm begging you, don't just go after people right next to you, okay?
Your brother's face got slapped hard!
His brother-in-law is everywhere, doesn't he have any shame?
Besides, isn't Mu Ziyu doing just fine?
"Mu Ziyu's family situation is rather complicated, please listen to me."
Qu Nian obligated to do his best, and dared not fail to fulfill his duty.
Before leaving, Mu Ziyu told him that if Qu Hua didn't ask, then he should pretend that Qu Hua was dead; if he could come back in the future, the two of them could start over.
If Qu Hua asks, then tell her the truth and tell her to wait for him; of course, whether or not she waits is up to Qu Hua.
Qu Nian thought this prospective brother-in-law was quite manly, so she agreed to marry him.
However, Qu Hua a bit ungrateful and never came to ask.
I never expected it would finally happen today.
Qu Hua stood still.
Go ahead and speak, she's listening.
She didn't want to keep thinking about it in her mind; she wanted to understand it better and put an end to it.
The Tatars wanted to attack Jinzhou —how to put it? Strategically speaking, it wasn't very reasonable, so Liaodong certainly wouldn't be on guard.
Unfortunately, the source of this news was extremely credible to Mu Ziyu.
This came from his mother Xi Leyun, who had become a bandit.
Upon learning the news, Xi Leyun immediately sent someone to inform the Prince of Liaodong.
Although the two of them never spoke to each other again, Xi Leyun righteous in the face of national interests.
However, the Prince of Liaodong did not believe it and remained unmoved.
Xi Leyun became anxious and sent a message to Mu Ziyu.
"What use is he going back?" Qu Hua's expression softened slightly, but her words still carried a hint of defiance.
Qu Nian said seriously, "Jinghua, you can't say that. If he could just stand by and watch the Central Plains be slaughtered by the Tatars, would he even be considered a man?"
"The Prince of Liaodong treated him badly, and he had no military power..."
"Do as much as you can," Qu Nian said. "He is the Prince of Liaodong; he has no choice but to take on this responsibility."
Qu Hua bit her lip and didn't say anything more.
Having grown up in the family of one of the four kings, she understood the cruelty of war.
Especially with such an unprepared surprise attack, the chances of survival are slim.
She understood what Mu Ziyu meant.
If I live, I will return; if I die, I will... forever yearn for you.
She harbored resentment, but it paled in comparison to her worry for him.
Just like my elder brother said, what do these personal feelings matter when it comes to the nation and the world?
"I'm just angry," Qu Hua, her eyes slightly moist. "He's judging me based on a sliver of his eye, he's looking down on me."
Is she incapable of handling things?
"Jinghua— " Qu Nian sighed deeply, "My elder brother has suddenly changed his mind and doesn't want to marry you to him anymore."
"My sister-in-law's parents probably regretted it even earlier."
Qu Nian: "..."
"Alright, I know." Qu Hua sniffed, looking completely unconcerned again. "Go do what you need to do. It's my own business, none of your concern."
"You are not allowed to go to him!" Qu Nian said sternly.
"Go find him? Where am I supposed to look? The world is so vast, Liaodong so big, I must be out of my mind to go find him."
Qu Nian breathed a sigh of relief when she heard how serious the woman was.
"Jinghua, I've given him a Tiger and Leopard Battalion specifically to protect him, so you don't need to worry too much."
"Okay." Qu Hua removed his hand from her shoulder. "Brother, I'm leaving."
"Jinghua-- "
"Yanran is waiting for me outside! I'm going to go talk to her."
Qu Nian knew that she and Yanran had always been close, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief, saying, "Go ahead."
Yanran hearing Qu Hua's words, Yanran rubbed her hands together, eager for battle. "So, the Tatars are really going to attack Jinzhou?"
Her excitement was impossible to hide.
"Cui Xiaoqiu, is my brother in such a hurry to go to Liaodong because he found out about this?" she asked Cui Xiaoqiu, turning her head.
Cui Xiaoqiu replied, "No. It's just that we predicted the Tatars might make a move this winter."
"You have news too?"
Cui Xiaoqiu nodded.
"It's over, this is a perfect match," Qu Hua said. "Looks like a war is really brewing."
She still held a sliver of hope that Xi Leyun's information was wrong.
In hindsight, things weren't so lucky.
"Let's fight then," Yanran said. "If we don't fight this year, we'll have to fight next year; if we don't fight next year, we'll have to fight in the future. It would be great to send them back to their hometown as soon as possible, like in the Northwest."
"I don't think it's a good idea. Wouldn't it be better if it could be delayed until we're old and unable to go to the battlefield?"
Yanran's eyes widened. "Qu Hua!"
"Alright, I was just saying it offhand, no need to make it sound like we're cutting ties," Qu Hua said. "Are you going or not?"
Yanran: "Of course I'll go."
I'll go with you.
Cui Xiaoqiu: "..."
Just like that, I watched Yanran get dragged into the trap.
"Yanran, I'm afraid you can't do it. His Highness the Crown Prince has already sent people to keep an eye on you."
Qu Hua glanced at him. "If anyone finds out, it'll be because you snitched."
Yanran protected Cui Xiaoqiu: "Qu Hua, don't talk nonsense. Cui Xiaoqiu isn't that kind of person! We can't just leave like that; we need to plan this for a couple of days. You wait, I'll go back and plead with Father, and we'll go openly and honestly."
Going secretly is definitely not an option.
Qu Hua: "Then I'll wait for your news."
Cui Xiaoqiu spoke calmly, "Princess, please reconsider."
Why didn't you tell the princess to reconsider?
"Princess, you should consider why the Heir Apparent won't let you accompany him."
"Of course I know," Qu Hua said proudly.
Mu Ziyu is a man.
He didn't want to put himself in danger.
Others might find this reason pretentious, but Qu Hua, who has witnessed so much life and death on the battlefield, understands and appreciates it.
"Even if the princess went, it wouldn't be her turn to go to the battlefield; unless Liaodong falls, the princess won't be in danger, so the reason you're giving, even if it exists, is only a small part of the reason."
What do you think?
Yanran also looked at Cui Xiaoqiu with curiosity.
How does he know everything?!
"I think what the Crown Prince is most concerned about is his awkward position in the Prince's residence. What status will the Princess have when she goes there?"
We're already... engaged.
"In other words, the princess is already the prospective daughter-in-law of the Prince's mansion. How will the Princess Consort of Yan treat the princess?"
Qu Hua folded the golden whip in her hand, "I've wanted to teach that poisonous woman a lesson for a long time!"
She's never been afraid of any woman!
Yes, except for her mother.
"However, the Prince of Liaodong ultimately holds the advantage of seniority, which inevitably means the Princess will have to suffer. The Crown Prince, on the other hand, doesn't want the Princess to be wronged."
Yanran said, "That's easy. Quickly make the Prince of Liaodong come down! Let the young master be the Prince of Liaodong!"
Isn't her father, the emperor, a perfect example?
Qu Hua: "Yes!"
Cui Xiaoqiu: "It is precisely because the Emperor did this that he will not allow his subordinates to do so."
If this happens again and again, it undermines the very foundation of the father-son relationship.
At that time, the emperor will likely face opposition from the entire nation.