Seeing Him Off
"Don't worry, Mother. I will take good care of myself. Nothing will happen. Please don't worry."
Noble Consort Cen's eyes immediately reddened. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, shook her head, and said nothing more.
Of the three masters in the room, not to mention Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi, even Noble Consort Cen was a politically astute person. She knew that this must be because the Crown Prince and the Third and Fourth Prince saw that their original plan had failed and they could not use this opportunity to get rid of Xiao Lingpu and the Fu Family father and son. Zhang Changshen would also find out the truth once he went to the border. Therefore, they simply used public opinion to force Xiao Lingpu to go to the border, thereby stirring up trouble.
If Xiao Lingpu gets into trouble, the border will naturally be in chaos. Not only can we take this opportunity to wipe out the Fu Family father and son, or pin the blame for failing to protect them and harming the prince on them, but we can also distract Zhang Changshen from investigating the matter, thus getting away with it.
As Fu Yunkai's good brother and the prince most skilled in leading troops, Xiao Lingpu had no choice but to stand up and beg the emperor to allow him to go to the border whenever someone brought up this matter.
Once Xiao Lingpu leaves the capital, he will inevitably face numerous dangers, and his chances of survival are extremely slim. Even Noble Consort Cen and Xiao Lingyan stay in the capital, it is not necessarily safe for them.
To break this plan, Xiao Lingyan had to volunteer to make the trip in his brother's place.
If Xiao Lingpu lives in the capital, it becomes meaningless for the other princes to harm Xiao Lingyan, since it is Xiao Lingpu, not Xiao Lingyan, who is vying for the throne with them. Taking such a great risk to kill Xiao Lingyan would not only expose them but also incur the emperor's wrath, leading to a fierce counterattack from Xiao Lingpu and the Cen Family, making it a completely unprofitable endeavor.
Noble Consort Cen understood all of this clearly. However, considering that Xiao Lingyan was young and had not suffered much hardship, suddenly going to the border in the dead of winter, even if others harmed him, he might not receive timely treatment if he caught a cold and never returned.
The tears she had been holding back finally streamed down her face.
Zhao Ruxi and Xiao Lingyan exchanged a glance, and Zhao Ruxi advised Noble Consort Cen, "Your Highness, since the situation cannot be changed and time is of the essence, why don't you send someone to find two trustworthy and highly skilled physicians to accompany you, and also prepare some good medicine just in case? In addition, prepare some warm clothing and supplies, and if you have any good guards, also send them along for the Fifth Highness."
At this time, the imperial physicians in the palace could not be trusted. However, the physicians employed by the Cen Family were reliable. The Cen Family was powerful, and the guards they employed were likely no less capable than the Imperial Guards in the palace. Having a few more by his side would provide Xiao Lingyan with greater security.
The Cen Family wants their grandson to contend for power; if they don't step in now, when will they?
"Yes, yes, yes." Noble Consort Cen was completely disoriented. Only after Zhao Ruxi's reminder did she realize that she couldn't sit there crying, much less complain about her son. She still had many things to do and many things to prepare.
She said apologetically to Zhao Ruxi, "Yan-ge'er is leaving the capital, and I have many things to attend to, so I don't have time to entertain Miss Zhao."
"It's alright. His Majesty has finished court, so I should be able to leave the palace now," Zhao Ruxi waved her hand and smiled. "I'll go to the side hall and wait for His Majesty to summon me."
She had barely finished speaking when a eunuch came to report that the Second Prince had arrived.
Zhao Ruxi quickly took her leave and went to the side hall.
Back in her bedroom in the side hall, Zhao Ruxi's heart was still pounding, and she felt extremely uneasy.
Although she had arrived in the Great Jin and saw that the people here were all living, breathing people, she could no longer treat them as mere paper figures as she had when reading novels. Serving the soldiers on the border was her duty, but she felt that deep down she was still selfish and cold-hearted.
She didn't want to get involved in this fierce power struggle for the throne, so she wanted to take her family to Jiangnan; naturally, she also didn't want Xiao Lingyan to personally go to the border and take great risks.
"System, are Xiao Ke and I already dead in the modern world? If we die here, can we return to the modern world?" she asked expectantly.
"This system has not been upgraded and is unaware of the situation in the modern dimension. This system is unable to answer your question."
Zhao Ruxi: "Speak properly."
The system, its previous serious tone vanished, replaced by a pitiful one. "Really, I really don't know. Host, you won't let me level up." So pathetic.
Zhao Ruxi had no interest in arguing with it.
She glanced at Zhixue standing at the door, then secretly opened the light screen. Seeing that it had just reached 40,000 points, she bought both the Agility Pill and the Great Strength Pill without hesitation.
Fortunately, it's easy for her to earn points now, which is how she managed to accumulate 40,000.
She wrapped the two pills in a handkerchief, turned to Zhixue and said, "When I was calculating the data last night, I discovered a problem that might be helpful to the Fifth Highness. Could you call him over so I can speak to him alone?"
Zhixue is already twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. She was sold into the palace as a maid when she was just over ten years old. She followed Noble Consort Cen step by step and rose to the position of head maid. Both Xiao Lingyan and his brother called her and Zhiyun "aunt". They watched Xiao Lingyan grow up.
She had long since given up the idea of leaving the palace to marry, and devoted herself to serving Noble Consort Cen. After Noble Consort Cen passed away, Xiao Lingpu and Xiao Lingyan would take them out to care for her. They all hoped that Noble Consort Cen and the two princes would be well.
Upon hearing Zhao Ruxi's words, how could they not agree? They quickly ran over to relay the message.
Xiao Lingyan was just about to find an opportunity to say goodbye to Zhao Ruxi.
Suddenly given the order, he had much to prepare and much to do.
Although he and Zhao Ruxi had only recently confessed their feelings, their love was unparalleled, and Zhao Ruxi was not someone anyone could be attracted to. He was absolutely certain that unless he died, Zhao Ruxi would be waiting for his return. His most important task now was to return safely from the border. This was not the time for sentimentality.
He believed that Zhao Ruxi understood this just like him.
Therefore, if he didn't have time, he wouldn't make a special trip to the Earl of Suiping's Residence to meet Zhao Ruxi. At this time, he also couldn't send a message to Zhao Ruxi, lest Zhao Ruxi be targeted and put in danger. The best way to meet was to take advantage of Zhao Ruxi here and meet with her.
This place is full of Noble Consort Cen's people. Noble Consort Cen has been operating in the palace for many years and is in charge of the Empress's palace, so her palace is extremely safe.
Upon hearing Aunt Zhixue's words, he was overjoyed and quickly walked over, bowing to Zhao Ruxi and saying, "Greetings, Miss Zhao. May I ask what brings you here, Miss Zhao?"
Zhao Ruxi glanced at Zhixue, Qingfeng, and the others, and they quickly left.
Without saying a word, Zhao Ruxi stuffed the pill into Xiao Lingyan's mouth.
However, worried about the effects, she didn't dare to stuff them all in at once, but instead stuffed one in at a time.
Fortunately, the pill melts in the mouth, so there's no need to worry about Xiao Lingyan choking on it.
Xiao Lingyan was stunned for a moment, but he quickly realized what was happening and obediently swallowed the pill.