Too high to reach

Chapter 374 What do you want to do?
After the Lunar New Year, a large number of messages will be coming in every day.

With such a commotion, the Emperor naturally had ways to learn of it, and as he watched the battle situation unfold day by day, both openly and secretly, he frowned deeply.

Is this a bandit suppression operation? How come the area is so large, the number of people involved is so high, and the battle is so brutal?
Why can't I understand?
Immediately, he summoned his trusted ministers to discuss the matter.

Previously, everyone treated this matter as a bandit suppression operation and did not pay much attention to it.

After reading these messages, they looked at each other in bewilderment: the bandit suppression had turned into a chaotic battle involving hundreds of thousands of people.

Where did all these people come from?
What are you doing now?
"Your Majesty..." said one of the emperor's trusted ministers, "Look at these places..." He pointed to the map, "The previous reports were all small-scale skirmishes, a mix of truth and falsehood, their purpose being to converge on this area and seize advantageous positions. Once everyone is in position, they will join forces to form an encirclement of this region."

The Emperor said impatiently, "I see it! But where did these people come from? And what are they surrounding?"

"Your Majesty, the reason why Prince Qi is able to command so smoothly is that he mainly relies on the Zhao family army, with the local troops as his support."

"But the Zhao family army's base is probably over a thousand miles away from here, right? It would take at least half a month to get there, so why is there no movement..."

The emperor felt a chill in his heart.

With so many troops transferred there, how could I not have received any news? Putting aside the Zhao family army, are all the prefectures and garrisons along the way dead?
Could it be that there was prior collusion...?

Li Jing, what do you want to do?
The Emperor swayed slightly... This is my empire! Such a momentous event has occurred, and I didn't even know?!
Heh, one day he'll have even reached the outskirts of the capital... I wouldn't even know...

He closed his eyes and fainted.

There were no heartfelt calls from the trusted ministers, and then there was a chaotic commotion as they frantically called for the imperial physician...

The battle reports in the Crown Prince's hands were all freshly produced, after all, General Niu was now one of his men!
It feels so good.

However… General Niu expressed his doubts about the current battle situation in his letter. He didn't know where the opposing sides had come from, certainly not from under his nose. But he stated: "Regardless, I am prepared. After they finish fighting, I will come to clean up the battlefield…"

Ah! The prince sighed deeply, his emotions a mixture of excitement, nervousness, joy, and fear.

Everything is going in the direction I hoped for...

General Niu also said that the current battle situation is beyond expectations, so he probably won't be able to make it to the capital to get married as planned.

The crown prince laughed even harder after reading it: If you don't have time, then don't come at all.

My main task here is to deal with Li Jing, and secondarily to seize the Niu family's assets...

As for marrying Yu'an, all I want is for it to be done in a proper and legitimate way.

Hey, you didn't expect this, did you? In the end, I'm the one who laughs last.

I have thoroughly learned from my mother's handiwork!

“Your Highness the Crown Prince…” His advisors, after reading all the news and looking at their master’s expression, held back for a long time, not wanting to pour cold water on him.

But in the end, he couldn't hold back any longer. "Your Highness, something's not right. Who came from? And who did they beat up? We haven't figured it out yet!"

The Crown Prince smiled calmly, "Undoubtedly, Li Jing has definitely sent the Zhao family army over. As for who they're going to fight... it could really be the fat bandits. But this is just a pretext; he's just aiming to seize territory."

One of the advisors pondered, "Your Highness, look, Prince Qi's actions are somewhat similar to ours last time, except..."

He swallowed his words, knowing His Highness wouldn't like to hear them: "It's just... a much larger undertaking, with more people involved, and more meticulous planning."

Another person said, "Yes, Your Highness, could it be that, like last time, those who ran away from us have escaped to the other side?"

"Furthermore, His Highness Prince Qi's Zhao family army is marching over a thousand miles. With so many troops, not a single word has come from along the way. Could it be that they have already traversed this route? Your Highness, this is a very frightening matter."

"Your Highness just said you were going there to seize territory, and I wholeheartedly agree. There are quite a few private mines over there. Although the imperial court strictly controls them, the emperor is far away, how can he possibly oversee them all? Aren't they all the territory of those powerful and wealthy families? Otherwise, what makes General Niu so arrogant?"

After listening to their explanation, the Crown Prince remained calm and smiling, saying, "What does it matter? The important thing is that Li Jing is being worn down! These casualties are real. Once he finishes his work... we'll know what it is."

……

While he was happy, Prince Yong'an was completely disheartened.

His elite henchmen were no pushovers; they came close to Li Jing several times, even injuring him. However, they ultimately couldn't stop his advance and deployment. After several tough battles, his own men… although their training was stricter than the regular army's, and their equipment was comparable, they weren't officially part of the regular army, lacking formal organization. These men had concerns about their future. Even the best-performing soldiers in peacetime could easily scatter in direct combat…

He rubbed his face vigorously with both hands. What should he do now?
……

The Emperor is ill, but the extent of his illness remains a mystery. He is staying in the front study and does not return to the inner palace.

Empress Jiang and the Crown Prince came to attend to the sick, but they could not go in directly; they had to wait for the Emperor's approval.

The mother and son looked at each other, sensing that something was amiss.

The Empress, seeing the Crown Prince who seemed somewhat arrogant and eager to assume the role of regent, whispered to him, "Keep a low profile. These days, don't get too involved in court affairs, and absolutely don't let him become suspicious. If he asks you about matters of state, just stall... don't make any decisions. If there's nothing else, just stand guard outside the hospital room... and say some useless nonsense."

The crown prince then became more alert. "Yes. Your son will obey you."

That day, just after discussing the patient's condition with the imperial physician, news arrived from the Eastern Palace: "Your Highness, the Crown Princess is about to give birth!"

The Empress was overjoyed upon hearing this: "You must go back and see for yourself!"

When the Crown Prince arrived at the mansion, his concubines and mistresses, numbering more than twenty, were guarding the main courtyard gate!

Mo Yuan was also in the crowd, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. She hadn't even gone back to her parents' home for the Lunar New Year…

I heard that the Crown Princess had started labor. Before she came, she even drew dark circles under her eyes with an eyebrow pencil.

Chunhua grinned, "Your Majesty, this looks awful!"

"Hey, you don't understand. I have a brilliant plan!"

At this moment, she stood in the crowd, not moving closer to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince came over, but it was just a symbolic show of concern; he asked about various aspects.

It was still early, so the Crown Princess had someone come out and tell the Crown Prince, "Her Majesty says everything is fine and the arrangements are all in order. Please rest assured, Your Highness. You are busy with official duties, so please continue with your work. We will report back to Your Highness when we have any news."

The Crown Prince nodded, instructed everyone to take good care of him, and then turned to walk towards the front study. He now had a convenient excuse not to attend to the sick for the next couple of days.

I still have a lot to do! I wonder what good news will come today...

I spotted Mo Yuan right away...

“Come here…” he beckoned.

Mo Yuan sighed inwardly at her bad luck. How could they see me like this? Looks like I really am naturally beautiful; I can't help but be...

"Why are you standing so far away? And looking like that?" the Crown Prince asked her, frowning.

"Your Highness, I have been staying with Her Highness these past few days. I haven't been sleeping or eating well, and I even have a slight fever, so I can only stand at a distance and watch, and I dare not approach Her Highness."

The crown prince looked at her and strode forward. He didn't say anything, so Mo Yuan had no choice but to follow.

"Your Highness, it's still early. Go back and rest! We'll have the doctor examine you in a bit."

"No need to look! After Your Highness gives birth to a healthy baby boy for His Highness, I'll just have a bowl of hot milk and a long nap. Your Highness, I haven't seen you lately, you must be very busy."

"Hmm. Busy... lots of things to do, not enough sleep!" Hmph, the old man is quite a handful. "Have you visited your sister recently? Any news about your prince brother-in-law?" The Crown Prince smiled, his eyes crinkling as he looked at Mo Yuan.

Mo Yuan wondered to herself, "What happened that he's smiling so slyly?"

"I didn't go. Your Majesty has been unwell lately, so I have to go and keep you company every day. I didn't even go home for the New Year."

"Ha, what a flatterer you are. No wonder, of all my concubines, your empress likes you the most!"

"That's right! Your Highness also likes Yuanyuan, doesn't he?"

The crown prince chuckled, but before he could speak, Xiao Shuanzi ran over and lifted the curtain of the small study...

Just then, a person rushed out of the small study, "Your Highness! General Niu has sent an urgent message saying that the one... was surrounded and had nowhere to escape. He jumped into the Luobai River and has disappeared!"