Chapter 266

Yuan Lang's position is illegitimate.

The puppet dynasty calls itself the child emperor and is despised by all under heaven.

Therefore, the puppet dynasty's investitures are actually not that effective.

Nevertheless, there is still some justification for the path of investiture.

The world cannot tolerate the puppet dynasty, yet it longs for the Yin Dynasty as it was under Taizong.

Yuan Lang wants to secure his legitimacy; he must demonstrate his magnanimous benevolence.

To demonstrate his magnanimous benevolence, he must have substantive enfeoffments and rewards......

Even enfeoffing the nobles and aristocrats of the former Yin Dynasty.

For example, the Deposed Crown Prince Huan...... and also his household.

The Deposed Crown Prince Huan is actually Taizong's own elder brother; compared to some villain who sprang from nowhere to seize the throne, people naturally acknowledge him more.

And if the Deposed Crown Prince Huan's household also receives recognition from the puppet dynasty and is granted a fief, what would that be called?

That would be like a fish getting water, like a tiger gaining wings, like......

Forget it.

In short, it's about occupying both legitimacy and moral high ground; whether one later seeks to settle in a corner or prepares to garrison troops for self-defense, one will have ample room to maneuver.

One day, if the puppet dynasty falls into chaos, with heroes contending and warlords carving out domains, who would step forward and shout, and be effective in the people's hearts?

That would certainly be the side that occupies the moral high ground!

Don't underestimate these three words 'occupying moral high ground'; from ancient times to now, they are indeed very important!

In historical records, the most legitimate punitive expedition requires a declaration of war.

Among wars with a declaration of war, those that are justified, where a superior attacks an inferior or the righteous attack the unrighteous, are commonly called zheng and tao.

Among declared wars, regardless of morality, when two states big or small openly go to war, it is commonly called fa.

And wars without declaration, where troops are dispatched arbitrarily, even covert sneak attacks, if one side loses morality, are called invasion, raid, punitive raid, or secret troop dispatch.

And further down, these are the neutral terms commonly known:

launch, attack, dispatch, rise, undertake, start, go out.

These actually refer solely to mobilizing troops, a pure military action, without distinction of superiority or inferiority, right or wrong.

Initially, the Northern Dynasty's attack on the Southern Dynasty was defined as a raid.

Therefore, as soon as foreign peoples enter the border, they provoke the world's hatred.

Even though Yuan Lang has now submitted to the Northern Dynasty's Ashina Khan, once anyone in the populace speaks of attacking the Northern Dynasty, the followers remain endless—this is precisely the reason.

Morality is not unimportant; rather, sometimes it is overly important, important to the point of becoming a standard, so many people fail to notice.

And now, this legitimacy and moral high ground are directly delivered into Du Shanü's hands......

How could this not make people delighted?

Du Shanü's smile grew at the corners of her lips, but she had not yet lost her reason entirely; after a moment's thought, she asked again:

Has the Deposed Crown Prince Huan still not awakened to this day?

Did he mention who that edict is intended for?

Chen Weifang shook her head slightly, obviously unaware, but she didn't mind much:

Although the Deposed Crown Prince had long retreated into seclusion, he is still a member of the imperial clan, and his ancestral home is not far from Yuan Lang's; it's uncertain whether he has always maintained some subtle connection with Yuan Lang.

Now that he is willing to brave thorns and hardships all the way for the Young Emperor, overcoming difficulties and obstacles to come, obtaining another edict for the Young Emperor is no problem.

As for not mentioning a name, that is even easier to explain.

Two years ago, the Young Emperor fell into the Huai River, and everyone thought he had died, giving Yuan Lang the opportunity to usurp the throne.

Since the Deposed Crown Prince Huan must protect the Young Emperor, he could not possibly tell Yuan Lang that the Young Emperor is still alive; moreover, it is obvious he is seeking a fief for the Young Emperor to settle and reside.

Perhaps he is preparing to wait until he finds the Young Emperor, inquire about the situation, and then write down the Young Emperor's hidden name after assuming an alias......

Chen Weifang's following remarks were not taken to heart; she just chatted on, then shifted her attention and asked:

...... Yesterday I went to settle matters concerning the Deposed Crown Prince Huan; when the doctor came, he missed your pulse check—did the doctor mention when the child would be born?

Du Shanü, squinting her eyes while pondering the Deposed Crown Prince Huan's affairs, upon hearing this slightly lost her train of thought, suppressing a laugh:

He's just a doctor, not a Buddha—how could he know exactly when the child will be born?

But I calculated the days; it should fall around October.

The estimated birth date is in October......

That would be a child born around the New Year period.

With such careful calculation, the child should now be over one month old, but less than two months.

Chen Weifang carefully noted it down; Du Shanü saw her own Afang picking up the pen to record in detail, and felt somewhat uneasy all over:

...... Why are you recording this?

Surely you're not trying to back-calculate that drunken spring night, are you?

Although her skin is really thick, she can't stand her own Afang pulling this stunt!

Chen Weifang heard this, didn't lift her head, and replied irritably:

What else can I do? Naturally, I'm writing a letter to Saner!

The Young Emperor has no idea, constantly telling me to 'take the blame' and bring the child, but I can't be clueless; I still need to write a letter to inform this father, Saner.

That day when the Young Emperor returned, I did send someone to pass a verbal message to Saner, but it was rushed and I don't know if it got through; still I need to send a family letter, lest Saner worry.

Those away from home worry most about their families.

At the very least, Saner should know that everything at home is fine, how the child was diagnosed, what the doctor said, how many months old, whether healthy......

Chen Weifang wrote carefully, and Du Shanü was deeply moved on the spot:

Afang, you're so thoughtful! o(╥﹏╥)o

If you were thirty years younger, and if this pregnancy of mine were a daughter, I would surely marry my child to you!

Upon hearing this, Chen Weifang's finger jerked; she almost couldn't restrain herself from flinging the entire pen away.

"... My lord, please stop talking nonsense."

What? Marrying off a child to him—how could that possibly make sense?!

He merely wanted to take a small advantage from Saner and the Wise Lord, acting once as an elder to the child.

And now the Wise Lord actually wants him to become his son‑in‑law?!

Chen Weifang steadied her mind and continued to write.

Never mind that I can't become thirty years younger; even if I could, how does the Wise Lord know this pregnancy will definitely be a girl?

If it were a boy, that would be disastrous!

He's already provoked this 'calamity' of Spring Day See; he can't afford to provoke another!

Du Shanü heard this and laughed.

Do I even need to answer? I much prefer baby girls; if I somehow gave birth to a world‑shaking demon king—hiss!

A sudden twitch in her belly made Du Shanü involuntarily suck in a breath of cold air.

Seeing this, Chen Weifang immediately rose to her feet and asked with concern.

What's wrong?

Du Shanü had already pressed her belly tight because of that instant twitch, but once the tension in her heart passed, she realized it had merely been a light spasm—and it didn't even hurt...

It seemed, it seemed as if her words had displeased it, and it was throwing a tantrum.

Impossible, absolutely impossible.

How old is this child now?

How could that be possible!

It must be the lingering aftereffects of the earlier jolts that haven't faded yet!

Du Shanü comforted herself, lifted her head, and continued.

It's fine, it's fine—I'm just wondering how things are over at Chinu's place.

After thinking it over, I still feel we're seriously short‑handed. If we truly capture Zhoufu this time and we don't relocate, Zhoufu will lack our people and surely won't hold out long. But if we move to Zhoufu, I don't know who would be left in charge of Dun Cheng...

All things considered, we're still lacking people, money, grain, and iron.....

Alright, then there's nothing we aren't lacking. (╯▽╰)

Du Shanü wore a worried expression, but Chen Weifang, now that she learned the Wise Lord was pregnant, actually took on a somewhat kindly elder's air and smiled.

"When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will go straight."

"I was about to bring up something to the Wise Lord that could help ease his urgent need...... Speaking of which, does the Wise Lord know about the marriage alliance?"

Yuanlong, a product that from birth can only be coaxed by stroking its fur, is a tsundere.