I am a soldier in the border army

Chapter 648 Palace Scandal! Raising an Army to Avenge the Emperor!

"News has just arrived from the capital: your elder sister has married the new emperor and is now the empress..."

Faced with Han Shao's sudden remark, Shangguan Zhi, who was pruning the flower branches, paused noticeably, but she quickly recovered and responded calmly.

"What does my lord wish to say?"

Han Shao chuckled, looking at her expressionless face with interest, and said.

"Aren't you envious?"

"envious?"

Shangguan Zhi's usual cold face revealed a hint of sarcasm. "It's just a fancy tool, what's there to envy?"

If it were Shangguan Zhi, who had just left the Prime Minister's residence, upon hearing this, she might have been indignant for a while.

Why should she be treated like a lowly commodity, casually tossed to this desolate borderland, reduced to the lowly status of a concubine?

And she, Shangguan Yun, would be distinguished among men and become the empress of the world.

How can there be such favoritism regarding the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children?
However, after ten years of trials and tribulations, she was no longer the seemingly glamorous but actually ignorant noblewoman of the prime minister.

Living among the phoenixes in the manor for a long time, even if it was just through exposure, she gained a considerable understanding of world affairs and matters concerning children.

With this understanding as a foundation, although she could not be said to have seen through everything, it was enough for her to see through the essence of most things in this world.

Therefore, at this moment, Shangguan Zhi felt not envy towards her elder sister, but rather a sense of pity.

Both were treated as commodities by their father; his elder sister was simply more luxuriously packaged and placed on a more prominent shelf.

As for the final fate of the two sisters, who will be more favored by fate, others may not be able to guess.

But Shangguan Zhi already knew that she was far, far luckier than her elder sister.

Especially when Han Shao casually took the flower shears from her hand and with a few snips perfectly trimmed the flower branch that she couldn't get right no matter how she cut it, Shangguan Zhi's eyes immediately lit up with admiration.

"Don't belittle yourself. You are not a tool, at least I've never seen you that way..."

The gentle tone of her voice was like a feather brushing against her earlobe, causing Shangguan Zhi's still pink earlobes, which had remained pink despite the passage of time, to turn bright red, which then crept up to her cheeks.

In the garden full of flowers in late April, one is truly more beautiful than the flowers themselves.

Even though Han Shao was used to seeing the most beautiful women in the world, he couldn't help but feel a surge of passion in his eyes at this moment.

During the brief silence, Shangguan Zhi, who caught sight of his gaze, knew exactly what he was thinking and quickly resisted with a mixture of shyness and wariness.

"My lord, you can't..."

Perhaps because he has been in a high position for so long, Han Shao is now increasingly unable to accept rejection.

Just as he was about to frown to express his dissatisfaction, his gaze fell on Shangguan Zhi's increasingly bloated waist and abdomen.

Seeing her carefully protecting her waist, he could only sigh inwardly.

'Fine, I'll just have to bear with it for now.'

To be honest, it's hard to say whether it was the incredibly profound and exquisite secret technique of the sacred mountain brought by Karasuma and Ya, or simply that destiny had brought them together.

Over the past six months, the women in the mansion have actually conceived one after another.

It's understandable that Gongsun Xinyi and Jiang Wan, the two main characters, would get what they wanted through their hard work and diligence.

Even Shangguan Zhi, who had never been particularly demanding in this regard, was blessed by fate and showed signs of pregnancy.

In this way, they got what they wanted and were satisfied.

Han Shao, who was once highly sought after, is no longer as popular as they used to be.

The stark contrast in his feelings before and after left him feeling quite frustrated.

'They drink the water and forget the well-digger! These women are so pragmatic…'

Han Shao thought to himself, "This is what I'm complaining about."

For a moment, I felt a little disheartened.

However, he was not so depraved as to simply turn away when his desires were not satisfied. Instead, he continued to stroll with Shangguan Zhi in the inner garden.

He would occasionally crack a few jokes to ease her pregnancy-related emotions.

To prevent this seemingly cold but actually conflicted woman from feeling that she has wronged her and getting lost in her own thoughts.

And what he did had some effect.

Seeing that Shangguan Zhi, under his deliberate guidance, had a smile on her usually cold face, and even showed a beauty that she hadn't shown when they first met, Han Shao felt gratified.

After hesitating for a moment, he still said it.

"You said that if one day I had a disagreement with your father, or even..."

Upon hearing Han Shao's sudden words, Shangguan Zhi's smile faded, and she lowered her head in silence for a while before speaking.

"I have heard that there is a saying among the common people: a woman should follow her husband wherever he marries, whether he is a chicken or a dog."

"Now that I am a member of the Han family, I am a member of the Han family. My lord need not worry about me..."

As she spoke, she looked up at Han Shao with a gaze that lacked the feigned coldness of the past, instead revealing a touch of melancholy.

"If my lord is worried about me, he may give me a cup of poisoned wine. I only ask... I only ask that my lord allow me to bear your child before..."

"Furthermore... I implore you, sir, to consider the Han family bloodline of this child and not be too harsh on him in the future!"

Pregnant women are prone to mood swings and are extremely sensitive, and this was indeed the case.

Seeing that she was about to cry as she spoke, giving her last words, Han Shao could only smile bitterly.

He could only gently pull her into his arms and sigh.

Why utter such foolish words?

"Although our first meeting was not very pleasant, and we were not officially husband and wife."

"But how have I ever treated you poorly?"

He paused, then continued.

"But neither I nor your father are ordinary people."

"The affairs of the world today are in my hands and your father's hands, but in the future, they will be beyond your control."

"I fear that we may become enemies in the future, putting you in a difficult position. That's why I'm telling you this in advance so you won't overthink it."

It's better to be prepared than to have everything suddenly fall into place.

This was the best Han Shao could do, considering their more than ten years of sharing a bed and the child in her womb.

If she couldn't figure out the reasoning behind it, Han Shao could only apologize.

He, Han, rose from humble beginnings and has always been one to advance rather than retreat.

Over the years, even with countless corpses beneath my feet, it has remained the same.

Why would he back down even a step because of a woman?

Not to mention Shangguan Zhi, even Gongsun Xinyi and Jiang Wan wouldn't be able to do it!
Feeling the soft sobs in his arms, Han Shao originally intended to leave and let her have some peace and quiet to think things through.

But just as he slowly pushed away the delicate body in his arms, those soft, innocent, slender fingers suddenly grabbed his clothes.

"My lord, wait..."

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of infatuation.

Looking down into those reddish, misty eyes, Han Shao was puzzled when he heard the woman in his arms suddenly address the female servants around them in her usual cool tone.

"All of you turn around—"

Seeing the maids around her with their heads down, silent and with their backs turned, Shangguan Zhi bit her thin lips, as if she had made a decision.

Then she gracefully bent her knees and knelt down in front of Han Shao.

Why did it come to this?

Or was I not clear enough just now?

Upon seeing this, Han Shao frowned and was about to help her up, but the next moment his eyes suddenly turned strange.

Reaching out to grasp the delicate hand that was about to untie the jade belt around her waist, before Han Shao could say anything, he saw that Shangguan Zhi's expression was stubborn yet tinged with shyness.

"They...they said something was different in the garden..."

"My lord, wouldn't you... like to give it a try?"

At this moment, Shangguan Zhi's allure far surpassed that of Tu Shan Fei Xuan, the real fox spirit.

As a result, Han Shao's 'resistance' crumbled instantly.

……

After a long while, in the sea of ​​flowers in the inner garden.

After straightening his clothes, Han Shao let out a long breath and transformed back into a respectable Duke of Dayong Yan.

But as his gaze swept over the group of female servants around him, he couldn't help but blush.

He had just intended to dismiss the maids, but Shangguan Zhi disagreed.

In that situation, where did he get the confidence to argue with her?
The matter has come to this, and it is useless to say more.

He could only cough awkwardly and give the order.

"Come and help Madam Zhi wash her face..."

As the maids, blushing with embarrassment, cleaned Shangguan Zhi up a bit, Han Shao looked helpless.

From the first moment he met Shangguan Zhi, he saw through her seemingly cold and aloof demeanor and realized her naivety.

In the past, I didn't pay much attention to it and didn't even realize it, but as time went on, I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for it.

"I will send someone to find the hidden members of the Zheng family in Yuyang so that they can continue the Zheng family line."

"At that time, I will set up a cenotaph for your mother at the Zheng family ancestral graves, so that you can pay your respects when you have time." The Zheng family of Yuyang is Shangguan Zhi's maternal clan.

The long-standing story behind this needs no further explanation.

Furthermore, this matter can only be done quietly; it cannot be done in a high-profile manner.

Otherwise, wouldn't he be contradicting himself? Wouldn't that prove that he, Han, mistakenly killed the Zheng family of Yuyang back then?
Of course not!

A ruler is wise and without fault.

Right is right, and wrong is wrong; there is no room for doubt.

Seeing that Shangguan Zhi's eyes were brimming with tears as soon as he finished speaking, and she seemed to want to pounce on him and do what had just happened again, Han Shao quickly stopped her.

Some things are best experienced only once, so as not to leave a lewd and immoral impression on those around you, thus tarnishing your own greatness and glory.

Just as Han Shao was about to leave, unable to withstand the intense gazes from Shangguan Zhi and the maids around him, something Shangguan Zhi suddenly brought up made him stop in his tracks.

“My lord, my elder sister is quite different from me. She seems gentle, but in reality, she has a very fiery temper.”

One is cold on the outside but timid on the inside, the other is gentle on the outside but tough on the inside.

But it didn't bother Han Shao, who didn't pay any attention to it.

The key is the next sentence that Shangguan Zhi muttered under her breath.

"And...moreover...when my elder sister was still a young lady, she had...someone she admired. The two were deeply in love and had a very close relationship. Now, so many years have passed, and I don't know..."

Han Shao suddenly opened his eyes wide, and exclaimed inwardly.

'Good heavens—'

……

Unlike the shock felt by most people around the world today.

In fact, regarding the succession to the throne, Ji Jiu ultimately ascended to the throne and successfully took over the mess that was the Great Yong Dynasty.

Han Shao was both surprised and not surprised.

Not surprising, naturally because of his understanding of Ji Jiu, and the fact that he had been keeping an eye on Ji Jiu all these years.

Surprisingly, this fellow managed to deceive that old fox Shangguan Ding, to the point that Shangguan Ding actually regarded him as a pitiful wretch who could be manipulated at will.

Han Shao had a vague feeling about this.

Shangguan Ding, who now wields immense power across three dynasties, is likely to suffer a major setback, one that could be catastrophic and irreversible.

However, what puzzled Han Shao was whether Ji Jiu was a born cuckold.

As for Gongsun Xinyi, well, with Han around, some things can only be described as being out of fate.

How come they ended up taking on such a huge deal at the last minute?

Recalling a certain secret that Shangguan Zhi was somewhat ashamed to utter, Han Shao couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for Ji Jiu, his destined rival.

How could it have come to this? To suffer such a humiliating disgrace in one's lifetime?

If it were him, he wouldn't be able to stand it for even a moment.

Of course, it's also possible that the female cultivator Shangguan possessed a secret technique that allowed her to conceal her past so well that Ji Jiu remains completely unaware of it until now.

But wouldn't that make things even worse?
In the council hall of the Zhenliao Military Headquarters.

Han Shao couldn't help but chuckle, deducting countless merits.

Only after noticing the strange looks from everyone in the hall did Han Shao apologize.

"Excuse me, I just thought of something funny and lost my composure for a moment. Please continue—"

Upon hearing Han Shao's words, all the civil and military officials in the hall said they dared not.

Then, at Han Shao's signal, they continued to discuss various matters, and even began to argue in court.

During this period, Han Shao did not offer many opinions, only making a few comments when the final decision was made.

There were criticisms and encouragements, but I accepted them all, whether they were praise or criticism.

Li Wenjing, who had participated in several meetings, privately remarked to Gongsun Du about this scene.

"A born saintly king, nothing more."

Born a Saint King?

In the past, Gongsun Du would have curled his lip in disdain for Li Wenjing's comment.

But as Han Shao held power for a longer time, his achievements and prestige grew, and now Gongsun Du only had one thought in his mind.

"Could it be that I, an old man, can truly rise in status and elevate my entire family through my son?"

Li Wenjing had no objection to the second phrase, "chickens and dogs".

He only expressed disagreement with the previous sentence about "father and son".

"They are just father-in-law and son-in-law, but Mo Yan is like a father and son."

Claiming credit for the work of Heaven can easily backfire and lead to disaster.

Gongsun Du dismissed Li Wenjing's reminder as mere jealousy and scoffed in rebuttal.

"I only have one daughter, Mulan. A son-in-law is a son, so what's the difference?"

In response, Li Wenjing could only add one more point.

"The wrath of Heaven is unpredictable."

As for whether Gongsun Du would listen to him or not, he couldn't be bothered to care.

After all, Han Shao had always respected Gongsun Du, that old scoundrel, and that had never changed.

This also put Li Wenjing at ease.

At this moment, as all matters in the council hall were settled, the civil and military officials of Zhenliao, who were about to get up and take their leave, saw Han Shao suddenly speak.

"Sun Zhang, Chief of the Court of State Ceremonial—"

Now that the business has expanded, with Li Jing, Qi Shuo, and others being sent out to other places, Han Shao sees fewer and fewer of the familiar faces he once knew.

This, to some extent, achieved the replacement of the old with the new.

For example, Sun Zhang, the head of the Honglu Division, came into Han Shao's sight through his mission to the sacred mountain years ago.

Gradually, seating arrangements were established in the council hall.

"Your Majesty, your subject is here."

Han Shao glanced at him and nodded slightly.

His words were firm and resolute, neither humble nor arrogant.

His eyebrows and eyes were sharp, and his bones and muscles were as straight as a pine tree.

Even if such a person were to travel to the capital, the Golden Palace, he, Han, would not lose face.

"Have you returned the letter I gave you?"

Upon hearing this, Sun Zhang's expression froze.

"It was returned, yes, but those two traitors, Zhang Ji and Zhang Zong, said..."

Han Shao's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.

A hint of disappointment and regret still flashed in his eyes.

"Returning it is sufficient."

Having said that, he waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone in the hall, he slowly stood up and sighed.

“The author could not bear to see so many people suffer, which is why he gave them a chance.”

"But now it seems that they have chosen to betray my goodwill."

Based on the tacit understanding he had reached with Zhang Xian, Han Shao had originally planned to give Huang Tiandao a peaceful end.

Unfortunately, they ultimately chose to end their lives completely.

Han Shao had no choice but to grant their request.

He even tried to comfort himself with this thought.

Human beings are like grass and trees, their cycle of withering and flourishing endlessly.

Even though countless people have died or been injured this year, as long as the foundation remains intact, it will eventually 'grow' back after some time.

"In that case, convey my order—"

Upon hearing Han Shao's words, all the civil and military officials present immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.

"I will obey Your Majesty's decree!"

Han Shao nodded slightly, then waved the sleeve of his imperial robe.

"Let's raise an army."

"The traitor Zhang Xian has murdered the emperor and committed treason. I have long been grateful for the late emperor's favor!"

"This blood feud is one that no one else would willingly avenge, but I will!"

After saying that, Han Shao suddenly chuckled.

"Oh, and by the way, draft a memorial for me and send it to the capital, lest the new emperor and the prime minister think I'm a rebellious minister who disobeys the central government's orders..."

……

(End of this chapter)