A few days later, Prime Minister Su was caught in the act of visiting a courtesan house by Madame Su. The two had a very embarrassing argument, providing quite a spectacle for everyone.
For a long time afterward, whenever Prime Minister Su attended the morning court, he would be teased by his colleagues, leaving him filled with shame and indignation.
At that time, it was considered a sign of not being upright and honest for an official to openly associate with prostitutes, especially for someone of his high rank and power who was expected to set a good example.
In short, Prime Minister Su had lost all face!
While Qiao Ci was training the hidden guards, unrest was brewing on the frontier. Those Southern barbarians, who had been coveting the Kingdom of Yao, began to extend their probing claws.
Discovering that Da Yao either ignored the situation or that their intervention made no difference, the Southern barbarians invaded like locusts, burning, killing, and plundering. They killed children as young as a few years old with impunity, treated men like dogs, and women like floating duckweed.
The border residents, who already lived difficult lives and had to contend with harsh weather, were now plunged into dire straits daily, where human lives were worth less than grass.
Officials, cowed by the might of the Southern barbarians, dared not report the atrocities. The area had effectively become their domain.
As the Southern barbarians' ambition grew, the city on the frontier no longer sufficed, and they began to target surrounding cities.
This caused immense suffering for the people in the surrounding cities, and eventually, the matter reached the Emperor.
Normally, Qiao Ci's bullying of him was one thing; after all, none could defeat her. As long as he remained on the throne, enduring it was not an issue.
However, for those lowly frontier barbarians to dare provoke him on his territory, this was an insult he absolutely could not tolerate!
In the imperial court, Xiao Ren instinctively called out Qiao Liang's name. Realizing that he had already resigned and returned home, he awkwardly changed his address, asking those present who would be willing to drive out the barbarians and uphold the majesty of Yao.
The court, which had moments before been filled with righteous indignation and arguments, immediately fell silent. Not a single person voluntarily stepped forward.
In the past, there was a great general who fought for them all over the land, ensuring peace in the four directions. The officials in the court had grown accustomed to a life of comfort and luxury; who among them was willing to endure hardship?
They heard that the Southern barbarians were all formidable warriors, and a misstep could cost them their lives.
Xiao Ren reprimanded them loudly, but they pushed responsibility onto each other, and in the end, no resolution was reached. The morning court adjourned in disagreement.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuyang saw an opportunity and volunteered.
Xiao Ren gladly agreed, and Chen Xuyang was eventually appointed General for Pacifying the Barbarians and ordered to depart for the frontier immediately.
The Prime Minister's Mansion.
"I heard you were beaten by your father a few days ago? You are truly becoming more accomplished, aren't you? The Prime Minister's Mansion can no longer contain you; you're planning to develop your career in the palace, haha."
Su Yu held a half-finished garment, clearly a woman's dress, that he had snatched from Su Mo, his face filled with disdain.
"What, have you taken up needlework? Do you have a woman you fancy in your heart? Heh heh, which woman could possibly take a liking to you? Don't tell me you're planning to wear it yourself?"
Seeing Su Yu approach, Su Mo instinctively cowered.
When he saw Su Yu reaching for the dress, he panicked and, without thinking, tried to snatch it back.
"Don't you dare touch it!!"
*Rrrrrip*
Su Yu gave him no chance, forcefully tearing the dress to shreds with both hands. Then, he stared menacingly at Su Mo: "Don't dare? Are you ordering me, Su Mo? Heh heh, you've grown, haven't you? You dare to resist now!"
"You know the consequences of resisting me!!!"
As he spoke, he extended his long leg, intending to kick Su Mo in the waist.
However, he didn't even touch Su Mo before being sent flying backward by a force.
"Who!" Without even wiping the blood from his lips, Su Yu looked around in terror but received no answer.
Su Mo was also bewildered. The anticipated pain didn't materialize. When he opened his eyes, he saw Su Yu lying on the ground.
Could this be what the Empress referred to as staging an accident?
Later, Su Yu tried to retaliate a few more times but returned defeated each time.
Moreover, every time he tried to trouble Su Mo, various unfortunate things would happen to him, such as tripping on flat ground while walking or finding his quilt soaked in his sleep at night...
Feeling that it was uncanny, Su Yu no longer dared to bother Su Mo.
Apart from delivering daily meals, the people in the mansion dared not go too close to Su Mo's courtyard. If they stayed far away and spoke ill of him, it was fine. But if they got close and uttered even slightly harsh words, they would be plagued by malevolent spirits and inexplicably fall victim to misfortune.
Su Mo transformed from an eccentric person into an ominous one.
These were all Su Mo's own decisions after he learned of the hidden guards' existence. He disliked dealing with such people and found it convenient to have peace and quiet, waiting calmly for his birthday.
This hidden guard was very capable and interesting, often chatting with him to relieve boredom and frequently bringing him many delicious foods and fun toys.
This hidden guard was good in every way, except for one thing: they never revealed anything related to Qiao Ci.
...
Without General Qiao Liang's summarized military strategies, Chen Xuyang suffered repeated defeats in the southern barbarian campaign, nearly being captured alive by the enemy several times.
Not only did he fail to drive out the Southern barbarians, but he also lost three cities, earning him the nickname "General of Three Miles" from the Southern Barbarian King.
Chen Xuyang was terrified. He felt that if he continued to lose, he would not only become a laughingstock but also a historical sinner. Thus, he scrambled back to the capital of the Kingdom of Yao.
Xiao Ren forcefully dispatched several military officials, but all were ineffective. He wanted to find Qiao Liang but couldn't bring himself to speak, nor did he want to raise a tiger only to have it turn on him later.
The war situation deteriorated. For the sake of long-term development, Xiao Ren decided to seek peaceful coexistence with those barbarians!!!
Not only were the three cities they had occupied ceded to them as territory, but they also had to provide annual financial support to the Southern barbarians.
There was just one matter that caused Xiao Ren considerable difficulty: the Southern barbarians demanded the most beautiful princess of the Kingdom of Yao for a political marriage with the Southern Barbarian King.
He had only recently ascended the throne and had no children, let alone a princess to offer for a political marriage.
His sisters were all married off.
After much deliberation, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors and select a young lady from a high-ranking official's family, bestowing upon her the title of Princess, to be married to the Southern barbarians.
The officials with daughters of marriageable age in court lived in constant fear, refusing to subject their carefully raised daughters to such humiliation.
One refused, another was unwilling, and Xiao Ren became exasperated with the daily court sessions.
The people in the three cities ceded to the Southern barbarians suffered even more, living in constant misery.
"Your Majesty, your humble concubine has an idea, I wonder if I should speak it..." That day, Wei Zhu, after massaging Xiao Ren's shoulders, spoke hesitantly.
"My dear concubine, speak freely!" Xiao Ren was already overwhelmed. Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up.
"Those barbarians want our most beautiful princess, don't they? In terms of beauty, who can compare to your sister's celestial grace? If your sister were willing to sacrifice herself, she would surely satisfy those barbarians..." Seeing Xiao Ren about to become angry, Wei Zhu quickly continued,
"Your concubine knows Your Majesty cherishes the marital bond, but my sister is truly unappreciative. These past few days, she has been relying on your magnanimity and leniency, causing chaos in the palace. Those who know say you are the Emperor, but those who don't would think she rules this palace. Why not send her away? Firstly, the palace would be peaceful, and secondly, with my sister's beauty and martial prowess, she could surely make those barbarians completely submit to our Kingdom of Yao."
Xiao Ren was tempted. However, who could possibly command Qiao Ci, who would resort to violence at the slightest disagreement?
Sending her for a political marriage – was she seeking a beating or tired of living?
"Can you persuade her?" Xiao Ren rolled his eyes, then fixed his gaze on Wei Zhu.
"Your Majesty, my sister, as the daughter of the Great General and later honored as Empress, has enjoyed all the glory and wealth. Now, the common people are suffering in dire straits... As long as we appeal to her emotions and reason, if my sister does not wish to become a sinner for all time, she will surely be willing to sacrifice herself to save the people."
"Your concubine is not talented but is willing to persuade my sister for the sake of the people," Wei Zhu said confidently. General Qiao dedicated his life to the country and its people. If he had a daughter who was greedy for pleasure and indifferent to the suffering of the people...
Heh heh, for the sake of her father's reputation, Qiao Ci would have to go for the political marriage.