The Northern Territory
“Your Highness, the rioters have reached the city gates. Shall we drive them out?”
The young man, snapping back from his book, stood up and said, “Take me to see.”
“Your Highness, please follow me,” the official said.
The young man stood on the city wall, looking down at the rioters, who were advancing one after another, their bodies barely covered by rags, their hair disheveled and faces dirty.
“Your Highness…” the official’s guards spoke.
The young man sighed, “They are merely homeless citizens. Is there still space in the city to accommodate them?”
The official shook his head, “Your Highness, the rioters you previously opened the gates to are already settled in the dilapidated temples on the outskirts. If this continues, the city’s grain will soon be depleted.”
“Is there any news from the imperial court?” the young man turned and asked.
The official shook his head, “None. If Your Highness continues like this, I fear the city’s citizens will not be able to sustain themselves.”
Upon hearing this, the young man sighed softly, “Hold on for a few more days, and I will submit another memorial.”
Returning to the princely estate, Wu Mei stepped forward and said, “Your Highness, the Empress wishes to see you.”
The young man was startled and said, “Lead the way.”
Arriving at Cuihe Garden, the young man walked in and saw a woman sitting there, fiddling with the jewelry in her box. Seeing him enter, she beckoned, “Zixuan, come here.”
The young man stepped forward, and the woman pushed the box towards him, saying, “Zixuan, take these ornaments and exchange them for money. Then buy some grain; it should be enough for the city’s citizens to last a month.”
“Mother Consort, this cannot be done. You have already given out so many of your ornaments. I cannot take them again…” The young man pushed the jewelry box back.
“Take them! As long as our mother and son are together, what use are these external possessions? Besides, you can buy more for Mother Consort later. For now, we must overcome this immediate difficulty,” the woman said.
The young man looked at the ornaments in the box, his expression filled with guilt, but he ultimately accepted them. “Mother Consort, please don’t worry. I will buy you many ornaments in the future.”
The woman smiled and beckoned. The young man stepped closer, and the woman took his hand, saying, “Mother Consort wishes you well. In a few years, find a princess for Mother Consort, and let me hold a chubby grandson, that would be enough.”
Hearing this, the young man’s face turned slightly red. “Mother Consort, you think too much.”
The woman smiled, “Hurry and get back to your duties!”
The young man nodded, “Please take care of yourself. I cannot visit you often.”
“Go on!” the woman waved her hand.
The young man walked out of Cuihe Garden, his smiling face darkening. He placed the jewelry box in the hands of the waiting official and said, “Go buy grain, then let people bring the citizens from outside the city in and arrange for them at Hulong Temple.”
“Your Highness, the abbot of Hulong Temple may not agree. They have a temple plaque bestowed by the late emperor,” the official said with difficulty.
Upon hearing this, the young man sneered, “Then tell the abbot that if they wish to reside in the Northern Territory managed by me, Xue Zixuan, they should be obedient. Otherwise, I am capable of leveling Hulong Temple to the ground.”
Hearing this, the official quickly said, “Your subordinate will attend to it immediately.”
The young man watched the official’s receding back, rubbed his forehead, and gazed into the distance, lost in thought for a long time.
“Your Highness, some citizens rescued a young girl from the river outside the city. The girl was holding a token.”
The official presented the token. The young man glanced at it, his face solemn. “Where is the person?”
“At a citizen’s home.”
“Quickly send the person to the princely estate and find a physician to treat her well.”
“Yes, your subordinate will attend to it immediately,” the official said.
Soon, the person was brought in. The young man saw the girl at a glance, his gaze pausing slightly, and he ordered, “She must be treated with all effort.”
The physician looked at the girl and said, “Your Highness, this young lady was shot in the chest, I’m afraid…”
Before the physician could finish his words, the young man said coldly, “If you cannot cure her, you will not see the sunrise tomorrow.”
The physician trembled all over and quickly said, “This humble one will do his best to treat her.”
After a day and a night of treatment, the physician finally breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up and found the young man standing beside him, causing his legs to go weak and him to collapse onto the ground.
The young man stepped forward and pulled him up, asking, “Is she alright?”
The physician nodded, “Yes, fortunately, this young lady’s heart is located differently than that of ordinary people, which is why she narrowly escaped.”
“Go and prepare the medicine,” the young man waved his hand, signaling the physician to withdraw.
The physician dared not delay and quickly pushed the door open. As he stepped out, his clothes were soaked through; he had narrowly escaped with his life.
The girl on the bed finally opened her eyes as the sun rose.
“Your Highness, Miss Xue has woken up,” Wu Mei, who had been guarding by the window, said excitedly.
Xue Zixuan woke from a light sleep, stood up, and quickly walked to the bedside, asking, “Sister Xue Yan, how do you feel?”
Xue Yan looked at the young man before her, startled. After a moment, she said, “You… are you the young prince?”
Xue Zixuan nodded, “It is I. Xue Yan, why are you so seriously injured?”
Upon hearing this, Xue Yan suddenly grabbed Xue Zixuan and said, “Your Highness, hurry and save His Majesty! His Majesty is in danger.”
Xue Zixuan’s gaze sharpened, and he quickly asked, “Sister… what exactly happened?”
Xue Yan recounted the key points.
Xue Zixuan was greatly shocked, “I never imagined so many things would happen after I left. Hua Yunjin actually betrayed His Majesty.”
How heartbroken must she be?
Yan Zhao is the Crown Prince of Xue Country. I never expected that the people around us were all important figures.
Only they were unaware.
“Young Prince, the capital is probably under the control of the fake empress now,” Xue Yan bit her lower lip, unsure of how His Majesty was.
“No wonder all the memorials I sent have disappeared without a trace.”
It was laughable that he was still waiting for news from the capital.
“Do you know His Majesty’s whereabouts now?” Xue Zixuan asked.
Xue Yan shook her head, but she said, “Although I don’t know His Majesty’s whereabouts, I can contact Feng Yin for news.”
If she could contact Feng Wu, perhaps he had already found His Majesty.
Xue Zixuan nodded, “Alright, you contact them!”
Xue Yan nodded.
The Han Country
“Your Majesty, good news!” Feng Wu looked at the message, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips.
“What news can make you so happy?” Xue Song, who had gradually emerged from his grief, could not change his mischievous mouth.
Feng Wu glanced at Xue Song, laughed heartily, and then said, “I believe in a moment, you will laugh even more foolishly than I do.”
Xue Song shook his head, “Impossible.”
Feng Wu handed him the note. Xue Song glanced at it and froze.
After a long while, Xue Song’s eyes were filled with tears, yet he was smiling.
Feng Wu patted Xue Song’s shoulder and smiled, “How is it? Didn’t I say it correctly?”
Xue Zining was also overjoyed to hear that Xue Yan was still alive.
“Your Majesty, after acquiring the gem from the Han Palace, what are your plans?” Feng Wu asked what had been on his mind for a long time.
Xue Zining’s gaze was filled with authority and coldness, “How can my imperial throne be coveted by others?”