After the rebirth, the queen took the Meiqiang tragedy script

Upon hearing this, Lu Yanchen looked up at Ye Qinghuai, his eyes filled with astonishment.

He had prepared a speech to persuade the emperor, but he did not expect the emperor to agree to his request so readily.

Not only did they agree to his request, they also promoted him to a higher official rank, elevating him from a third-rank commander to a first-rank official, on par with the military governor.

In terms of actual power, he was even one level higher than the military governor, since he had the authority to mobilize all the troops of the prefectures and counties according to imperial edicts.

Ye Qinghuai practically wrote the word "favor" directly on the imperial edict.

If a commander who joined the rebels and openly confronted the provincial governor is promoted instead of demoted, and is even strongly supported, the court officials will surely think the emperor has gone mad, and the cabinet will do everything in its power to stop the emperor's absurd behavior.

Lu Yanchen could imagine how difficult Ye Qinghuai's situation must be in the capital.

He was moved, yet worried about her, and for a moment he didn't know what to say, so he stood there stunned.

"I have granted your request, sir. Please rise." Ye Qinghuai smiled gently at him.

Lu Yanchen hesitated for a moment, then stood up, his gaze never leaving Ye Qinghuai's face.

"Does Your Majesty have anyone to rely on in the court now?" Lu Yanchen asked.

Ye Qinghuai suppressed his smile: "Sir, I intend to hand over the entire mining and operation of the Shuimogou coal mine to Grand Secretary Chen. I will discuss this matter with him after returning to the capital. Grand Secretary Chen will never give up this lucrative opportunity. As long as he sets his sights on Shuimogou, he will help me mediate in the court."

“Your Majesty, coal is a resource that affects the very foundation of the nation, and I believe it should be kept firmly in our own hands,” Lu Yanchen said.

“I am doing this not only for your sake and for the western expedition. Since the Empress entered the palace, Grand Secretary Chen and I have become estranged. I also want to take this opportunity to reconcile with Grand Secretary Chen.”

Lu Yanchen frowned. In his opinion, Ye Qinghuai and Chen Yuansi did not seem to have a relationship without any barriers.

Ye Qinghuai noticed his confusion. She looked at Lu Yanchen with a serious expression and said, "Sir, judging from the Empress's pulse, this pregnancy is very likely to be a boy. According to the imperial decree I previously issued, this child will be the Crown Prince of Dajing. As long as there is a Crown Prince, the Gu faction will have the confidence to oppose me. To them, a babbling toddler is much better than me, the Emperor. I have no choice but to win over Grand Secretary Chen. On the matter of the Crown Prince, Grand Secretary Chen can only stand on the same side as me."

Her tone was calm, but her words revealed a turbulent and perilous political situation and future.

There was a moment of silence in the room. Ye Qinghuai knew that with Lu Yanchen's clear sense of right and wrong, he would not easily accept a strategy of dealing with a tiger for its skin.

After thinking it over, she finally decided to tell Lu Yanchen everything.

"Sir, the reason I gave you only six months to conquer the Western Rong was because the Empress is due to give birth in five months. I have an idea: if the situation in the west is stable by then, and you have gained sufficient influence in the army, I will appoint the Crown Prince when the child is one month old. Then, I will find a way to force Gu Shihai to rebel and wipe out his influence in the army and the court. At that time, you will be my most important asset in the army."

As she finished speaking, Ye Qinghuai's eyes turned cold, reflecting a sharp, piercing light. In her eyes lay a resolute determination and hatred that had been dormant for many years.

Lu Yanchen looked surprised. This matter was terrifying to hear, but he knew that Ye Qinghuai was not just talking casually.

After a long silence, he said, "Your Majesty intends to strike at the root of the problem."

“For me, this is the best-case scenario, which can solve the problem once and for all and eradicate the Gu faction. Of course,” Ye Qinghuai changed the subject, his expression softening, and said, “if the situation in the west is not as smooth as expected, I have other plans. You don’t need to worry, sir. When marching, be sure to proceed steadily and surely, and do not rush for quick results.”

Lu Yanchen knelt down and said, "This humble general promises Your Majesty that I will do my utmost to conquer the Western Rong within six months and stabilize the situation in the west." As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Qinghuai finally felt relieved, and her brows and eyes relaxed.

She traveled a long way to be here just to hear Lu Yanchen say those words.

Ye Qinghuai stepped forward to help Lu Yanchen up, his eyes shining brightly, and said, "Sir, if you need anything, whether it's manpower or money, just let me know."

When Lu Yanchen met her bright eyes, he seemed to be burned. He looked away for a moment and subconsciously shifted his gaze to the jade seal on the table behind Ye Qinghuai.

"Your Majesty...aren't you afraid?" Lu Yanchen stared at the jade seal, lost in thought, and suddenly asked.

"What are you afraid of?"

"This is a rebel camp."

Ye Qinghuai immediately understood what he was talking about.

The emperor, carrying the imperial seal and a blank edict, ventured alone into this unknown place, two thousand miles from the capital. If Lu Yanchen harbored rebellious intentions, the Great Jing Dynasty could very well be overthrown in a single day.

Ye Qinghuai looked at Lu Yanchen, her gaze as firm as a rock: "I trust you, sir. I bet you won't betray my trust. And you haven't let me lose that bet, have you?"

Ye Qinghuai's words were like a pebble thrown into Lu Yanchen's usually calm and unwavering eyes.

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

In an instant, his expression changed, and his eyes even seemed to redden.

He looked at Ye Qinghuai, his eyes filled with unbelievable emotion and deep heartache.

He slowly uttered a single, heavy word from his Adam's apple: "...Yes."

Ye Qinghuai was not surprised.

The moment she saw Lu Yanchen after he took off his hood, she knew she had won her gamble.

She patted Lu Yanchen's arm lightly, smiled at him, and then got back to business: "After all, this is a rebellion in Qing County. I will issue an edict to punish those involved with corvée labor, which will actually be sent to your army. After you join the army, you can handle things on your own."

"On behalf of the people of Qing County, I thank Your Majesty for your great kindness. However, I fear that such a decision may cause dissent in the court. Is Your Majesty now quite adept at handling affairs in the court? Do you have any trusted advisors to consult with on matters?"

Ye Qinghuai shook his head with a wry smile: "I wouldn't call it being adept, but there are a few people in the court who speak up for me now. As long as Grand Secretary Chen gives his approval this time, the matter of Qing County won't be a big deal. As for my own people, Lin Yuxiu and Zhao Yin are reliable in the capital, so I have someone to discuss matters of state with. If all else fails, I can write to you, sir, and consult with you."

The young emperor glanced up and secretly observed the former tutor's expression, which then revealed the obedient and respectful demeanor she had when she was a student. Lu Yanchen was amused by her appearance and relaxed his tense nerves. He smiled helplessly and nodded.

“Sigh, speaking of Lin Yuxiu, I misunderstood you back then. You told me that I should always remember my initial intention in valuing him, and I was annoyed, thinking that you didn't trust me and that I was a ruthless person. Now I understand. I didn't understand him well enough back then, which is why I misunderstood your meaning, sir.” Ye Qinghuai frowned and couldn't help but complain to Lu Yanchen, “Sir is right, his mouth is really infuriating. I consider myself to be a person with a good temper and who listens to advice, but sometimes I get so angry with him that I want to curse him.”

Seeing her annoyed expression, Lu Yanchen couldn't help but smile, as if the scene of Lin Yuxiu bluntly confronting Ye Qinghuai had already flashed through his mind. (End of this chapter)