Chapter 202: There Really Is a Way!

Cheng Old Madam ruffled the little one's hair.

"Your Zengwaizufù is worried about your uncle."

"By the way, how has Yu'an been staying at the Chen family these days?"

Speaking of this, the little one grinned, squinted her big eyes, and happily told her great-grandmother about the interesting things that had happened these days.

Her childish voice was full of delight.

"It's pretty good. Mr. Zhou gives us lessons, and I've made a new friend. We three study together, ride bikes together, and Little Zhou Brother studies really well..."

As the days passed, the Cheng Family Army marched northward, advancing with unstoppable momentum.

Along the way, many disaster victims and commoners spontaneously joined the ranks. Although the Cheng family did not want to drag civilians into it, those people insisted on following behind.

Thus, despite encountering several blocking armies and enduring a few major battles along the way, the Cheng Family Army's numbers did not decrease but increased.

As the distance to the Capital grew shorter, the army's fighting spirit became ever more fervent.

In contrast, the atmosphere inside the imperial palace was tense and lethal.

The Shunhe Emperor worried so much he could not sleep at night, and found it hard to eat or rest.

The result of poor sleep and appetite was that his health deteriorated further, and his temper grew day by day.

Even the slightest inconvenience would trigger a thunderous outburst.

This caused panic throughout the palace, both inside and out, and among officials high and low—people were anxious and felt endangered.

The daily state of all civil and military officials was:

They worried that the Cheng Family Army would break in, and also feared that a moment's carelessness would get them beheaded.

For a time, aside from those in high positions who had grudges against the Cheng family and were seeking ways to flee the Capital at any moment, constantly preparing to escape,

and also those high-ranking officials unwilling to relinquish power, glory, wealth, and honor, who desperately tried every day to save the perilous Shen Imperial Dynasty,

the remaining majority of officials began to give up.

After all, these people had no grudge or feud with the Cheng family, and no matter what they said or did now, the Emperor would not look favorably upon it.

Saying nothing and doing nothing would avoid mistakes—so why bother busying themselves uselessly?

Just give up!

At least they could still save their lives, right?

On this day's early court, upon hearing that the Cheng Family Army had advanced to within less than three hundred li of the Capital,

the Shunhe Emperor flew into a rage.

Not only him, but those officials who had been constantly preparing to flee also could not sit still.

"How could it be this fast?"

"The western border troops cannot move—hasn't the Muyuan Kingdom's forces not left yet? Could they not have been stopped either?"

Not mentioning this would have been fine, but upon hearing it, the Shunhe Emperor's face darkened until it seemed ink could drip from it.

That day after he woke up, he wrote a letter and sent it by express horse to Xiyue.

He hoped the new ruler of Xiyue could send troops to assist.

After all, having experienced the previous refusal when borrowing troops, he could see that Dongxun must have had other intentions, so the eastern border troops absolutely could not be moved!

But what he did not expect was that the Xiyue emperor, who had previously sent people to discuss peace, now refused him on the grounds that he had just endured a major war and still needed rest and recuperation!

What angered the Shunhe Emperor most was that Xiyue's refusal to lend troops was bad enough—

Fine!

Okay!

I wouldn't lend troops either!

Can't I just send the western border troops to suppress the rebels?

But what he did not expect was that, before the western border troops had even set out, Xiyue's side began transferring large numbers of troops to the border!

They even said, after all, having been frightened by Da Yin's previous attacks, seeing Da Yin's garrison troops move made them fear a sudden renewed war, so they had to prepare strictly to feel secure.

Heaven knows, when the Shunhe Emperor saw those few lines in Xiyue emperor's letter, he nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood.

They felt at ease, but he was nearly angered to death.

The Xiyue great army was stationed on the border, so the western border troops could not move under any circumstances.

Now, only the army at the foot of the Snow Mountain could be used.

Besides, continuing to borrow troops from Muyuan.

But...

The Shunhe Emperor glared at the Crown Prince standing below, obviously lost in thought.

It's all because of this unfilial son's terrible idea!

Now how can he even speak to borrow troops from Muyuan?

As the Crown Prince was daydreaming, his body suddenly shuddered, and he inexplicably felt a prickling sensation on his back, as if stared at.

He looked up and happened to meet the Shunhe Emperor's gaze, his face full of bewilderment.

Strange, why is Father Emperor glaring at me?

"Enough!"

The Shunhe Emperor shouted in a deep voice.

The noisy great hall fell silent instantly.

The Shunhe Emperor glanced over everyone.

"Everyone speak up—we've argued this long; have we come up with any countermeasures?"

The officials looked at each other; at such a time, no one dared to be the first to speak.

These useless idiots!

The usual flattery and horse-sucking talk came out of their mouths nonstop, but when the crucial moment arrived, they all started playing dumb.

The Shunhe Emperor pointed impatiently at one person.

"Wu Yong! You speak up."

He usually has the most ideas.

In the matter of the Pingnan Marquis Residence earlier, he also contributed quite a bit.

Being singled out, Wu Yong, Vice Minister of Revenue, felt his heart skip a beat.

Wu Yong nervously swallowed his saliva and stepped forward trembling.

"Your Majesty, I think it would be better to still borrow troops from Muyuan, and at the same time have General You Ke lead the northern border troops south to reinforce."

Nonsense!

Could I not have thought of that?

But he did give him a way out.

The Shunhe Emperor tapped the armrest of the Dragon Throne, pondered for a moment, and seized the opportunity to continue speaking.

"But we had already borrowed troops from Muyuan before, and to borrow again so soon, plus there were some unpleasantries before—this time I fear..."

Who is Wu Yong?

He's a seasoned old hand who's been marinating in the officialdom for decades!

Though he may not have many other talents, when it comes to gauging the emperor's mind and pleasing him, apart from Eunuch Chief Shi Gui, everyone else in his presence is just a junior.

With a shift of his sharp triangular eyes, he hurriedly said.

"I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens and personally go to Muyuan to ask the Muyuan National Lord for troops."

Aren't you embarrassed?

I'm willing to go!

Before his words had even settled, several other officials stood up, secretly glancing at Wu Yong with hostile looks.

Such a fine opportunity to leave Da Yin with a legitimate reason—this cannot be let you monopolize it alone!

Then these few began to volunteer themselves.

"I too am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens!"

"I request orders!"

"..."

Other low-ranking officials who likewise wanted to escape with their lives, seeing those few, were so angry their gums itched.

The Shunhe Emperor, seated high on the Dragon Throne, looked mockingly at those who volunteered, inwardly sneering.

Don't think I don't know your little schemes!

Want to seize the chance to flee far and wide?

Dream on!

"Though these beloved ministers are important officials of our Da Yin, facing the ruler of a state, they ultimately make our Da Yin appear lacking in sincerity."

The Shunhe Emperor first belittled them thoroughly.

He demoted these six to nothing.

Then, slowly, he put on a look of difficulty.

"Never mind, never mind."

"For Da Yin, for the people, what is it if I endure some injustice?"

"I will now personally write a letter to the Muyuan National Lord to apologize and again raise the matter of borrowing troops."

Wu Yong and the others: "..."

They were just furious.

But with a new emperor comes new ministers; being under the eaves, one must still bow and scrape!

Wu Yong bowed with clasped hands.

"Your Majesty's wisdom and virtue—having such a benevolent ruler as you is truly the blessing of our Da Yin's people."

The four behind him again began to secretly roll their eyes.

Damn it!

He stole the lead again!

The four also hastily bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty is wise."

The officials in the hall also chorused in agreement.

"Your Majesty is wise."

The Shunhe Emperor glanced sideways at Shi Gui beside him.

Shi Gui understood and shouted loudly:

"Retire from court—"

After leaving Taiji Hall, Wu Yong sighed as he walked toward the palace gate.

What is to be done?

Though he was reluctant to leave Da Yin's wealth and glory, compared to that, the lives of his entire family were surely more important.

His thoughts in turmoil, he didn't even notice the path under his feet.

Suddenly someone behind him called out.

"Lord Wu, please halt!"

A sudden shout startled Wu Yong, causing him to slip and nearly fall headfirst, almost rolling down the steps.

"Sir Wu, are you alright?"

The official who had just called out to him was from the Ministry of Personnel; seeing his state, he hurried forward to support him.

Wu Yong felt a wave of lingering fear.

"Sir Wang, you scared the living daylights out of me."

Wang Cai gave an embarrassed laugh.

"Sorry, sorry."

After apologizing, he wore a mournful expression, his head bowed in dejection.

"Ah! Given the current situation, Sir Wu, if you have any plans, don't forget about me, your brother."

Wu Yong gave a wry smile and shook his head.

"What else can I do?"

As the two conversed, they descended the long flight of steps.

Suddenly, Wu Yong's footsteps halted.

As he glanced toward a certain spot, images from several days ago suddenly flashed in his mind.

He suddenly widened his triangular eyes and exchanged a glance with Wang Cai beside him.

"It seems there really might be a way!"