Chapter 141: Chapter 141 Trapped in a City of Worries
If my previous speculation is correct, Yu Wenye’s last marriage proposal was made to Princess Xinyue, the Empress’s legitimate eldest daughter, so now, in the eyes of this Empress——am I not the sinner who destroyed her daughter’s happiness?
Moreover, there was the Emperor carrying me back to the government office.
Yet, she clearly showed not the slightest anger.
If she truly wasn’t angry, then why bring up Yu Wenye at this time?
Shang Ruyi’s mind was in a tangle of confusion. After hesitating for a long time, she cautiously spoke, "In matters of marriage, sometimes things might not go as expected..."
This time, Empress Jiang covered her mouth and laughed lightly.
She said, "Indeed, conversing with you is quite an interesting affair."
Shang Ruyi lowered her head and said softly, "Being able to ease Her Majesty’s mind at such a time is indeed an honor for this humble wife."
The Empress said, "If this matter is indeed resolved——then I would like to get closer to Young Madam Yu Wen."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi’s mood immediately became tense again.
She cautiously asked, "May I dare to ask the Empress, how is the war outside? Has any reinforcements arrived?"
Speaking of this, Empress Jiang’s eyes instantly dimmed.
She seemed unwilling to mention these things, but she was still willing to respond to Shang Ruyi’s words and sighed, "No reinforcements have arrived yet."
"Then are we now——"
"Besieged in a sorrowful city."
The words ’besieged in a sorrowful city’ made Shang Ruyi’s heart feel as though it had fallen into an icy cavern.
She thought for a moment and then asked, "Then, do the generals around His Majesty have any solutions?"
Empress Jiang raised her eyebrows slightly, her gaze toward Shang Ruyi carrying a hint of scrutiny and playfulness, "I only saw Young Madam Yu Wen bravely shooting at the Turkic soldiers outside the city, yet I did not know you also have a passion for the affairs at the front lines."
Shang Ruyi strained to accompany her laughter, "With life and death at stake, even this humble wife wants to ease the burdens of the Emperor and the Empress."
Empress Jiang smiled and then said, "This, perhaps you should not be asking me."
"..."
"I came here to avoid hearing them talk about all those battles and killings and to have a look at you."
"...Oh."
"However,"
Empress Jiang said, "Before I left, it seemed I heard General Wang advising the Emperor."
Shang Ruyi immediately looked up at her——Wang Shaoji?
This person is known only for corruption and wrongdoing, what good strategy could he propose at a time like this?
Only to hear Empress Jiang say, "From what I understand, the provisions inside Yanmen City are already scarce, and the people His Majesty brought are numerous. It will only take a few days to deplete all the food supplies, and by then, we would truly be besieged to death here."
"..."
"Therefore, he wants to take advantage of the moment while there are still provisions and strong horses, looking for a chance to open the city gate, and having the Imperial Guard select the elite to protect His Majesty in breaking through the encirclement. As long as they can breach the many layers of the Turkic soldiers surrounding Yanmen City, then——"
"What?!"
Upon hearing these words, Shang Ruyi almost bounced from the bed, but the pain on her back halted her movements. Still, she hurriedly said, "This is absolutely impossible!"
Even the Empress was surprised by her reaction, looking at her somewhat baffled, "What’s the matter?"
Shang Ruyi also realized she was too agitated, so she calmed herself and replied in as gentle a tone as possible, "In reply to the Empress, in my humble opinion, General Wang’s plan should not be executed."
"Oh?"
Empress Jiang asked, "Why?"
Shang Ruyi thought again about her wording, then cautiously began to speak, "Although we are stuck in Yanmen City, although the provisions in the city are few and won’t last many days, our Da Ye Dynasty soldiers are best at defensive battles."
Empress Jiang said, "Really?"
Shang Ruyi awkwardly replied, "Actually, it’s not just our Da Ye Dynasty. Throughout history, whenever the Central Plains Dynasty faced the Northern Barbarians, they mostly took a defensive stance. We have the Great Wall, we have fortresses, even, as long as there’s a wall, we can fend off grassland cavalry invasions."
Empress Jiang thought for a moment and said, "It seems logical."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "If we follow General Wang’s strategy, we would be abandoning our strengths."
"However, General Wang also said that remaining here is just sitting around waiting for death, so why not take a gamble?"
"A gamble must have a winning chance before risking it; General Wang’s proposal to have the Imperial Guard escort the Emperor in breaking through the siege, without at least a seventy-percent chance of success, it’s unwise to risk the Emperor’s life."
"..."
"Moreover, I just mentioned, our advantage is defense, and the Turkic soldiers, their strength lies in cavalry charges."
"..."
"Giving up our strengths and taking on their strengths, the result is self-evident."
Empress Jiang looked at her, more surprise in her eyes, said, "Young Madam Yu Wen’s words coincide with the advice given to His Majesty by the commander defending Yanmen City."
"Really? Will His Majesty heed it?"
"Young Madam,"
Empress Jiang smiled faintly, "Whether the Emperor heeds advice is the Emperor’s own affair; as ministers, one should not pry into the Emperor’s thoughts."
Shang Ruyi was startled, realizing she spoke too boldly in her urgency, quickly said, "This humble wife overstepped, please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Empress Jiang said, "Actually, it seems everyone makes their own arguments——but, the thing is, His Majesty usually doesn’t like listening to what people say, and even if he listens, he doesn’t take it in."
"..."
"Therefore, the key is, who can make His Majesty listen."
Shang Ruyi’s expression slightly froze.
The Empress’s words had an underlying implication.
She cautiously looked up again at the other party, but saw Empress Jiang give a faint smile, then stood up, gently said, "Take good care of your injuries, I shall leave first."
Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Respectfully seeing Her Majesty off."
Watching as she reached the door, Shang Ruyi couldn’t relax yet, then suddenly Empress Jiang stopped, turned back with a serene smile and looked at her, "Young Madam Yu Wen, since you asked about the reinforcements, why don’t you ask if that troop at the back has arrived?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi’s breathing tightened.
Meeting that pair of bright eyes even as they softly gazed at her, within the kindness, there seemed to be a discerning hint.
Shang Ruyi instinctively held her breath.
Weighing her thoughts, carefully organizing her words, she then wore a smile and softly said, "If that troop can arrive, it would certainly be a boost, but he——they also have to protect the Princess. The battle is treacherous, blades blind, the Princess is of noble blood and must not be harmed."
"..."
"So it is best not for them to come."