Isolated town in northern border region

The two weeks following the wedding were the quietest period Xiao Lie had experienced since his transmigration.

The backyard of the Youzhou City government office had been converted into a new house. Newly planted vines climbed all over the walls, and several clumps of bamboo were planted in the corners, making a rustling sound when the wind blew, like someone was talking softly.

Jiang Min gets up a little later than Xiao Lie every morning. After getting up, she moves the flowerpots on the windowsill outside to dry in the sun, and then sits on the veranda to read.

Xiao Lie would sometimes practice his sword in the courtyard, and Jiang Min wouldn't mind his noise. She would hold a book and brew tea beside him, and every now and then she would pick up a brush and paint a picture.

One evening, Xiao Lie was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, wiping his knife, when he suddenly spoke.

"Won't it be a waste for such a talented woman like you to stay here in the northern frontier with me from now on?"

Jiang Min was flipping through an old book she had brought from Jing Kingdom. Upon hearing this, she closed the book without giving a direct answer.

"With a talented woman like me by your side, isn't Your Highness happy?"

"Or perhaps, Your Highness harbors great ambitions and is unwilling to remain idle?"

Xiao Lie remained silent for a while.

"I am unlucky to have been born into the royal family..."

"If I were just a country bumpkin or a traveling doctor like Xu De, my life would be truly carefree and happy."

Jiang Min rolled her eyes at Xiao Lie upon hearing this.

"A rustic villager and a traveling physician cannot possess most of the Chu Kingdom."

"Since ancient times, no great man has ever desired to wield power over the world while awake, and to rest his head on the lap of a beautiful woman while drunk. Why should Your Highness belittle yourself?"

Xiao Lie gave a wry smile, nodded, and got up to practice his swordsmanship.

A few days later, the congratulatory gift-giving procession from the capital of Great Chu arrived.

The arrival was made by a royal eunuch, followed by more than thirty eunuchs carrying boxes. The boxes were decorated with large red "囍" (double happiness) characters, and when the lids were opened slightly, gold ingots and silk were revealed.

The eunuch entered the government office and first gave a grand salute, then presented a letter wrapped in bright yellow silk to Xiao Lie with both hands.

"Your Highness, the King of the Northern Frontier, His Majesty has sent a personal letter to congratulate you on your marriage."

Xiao Lie took the letter and unfolded it. Inside, the Chu Emperor's handwriting was neat but slightly trembling, as if he had made a great decision before writing it.

"I am very pleased with Lie'er's wedding."

"However, it is against etiquette for princes of the imperial clan to not offer incense at the Imperial Ancestral Temple when they get married."

"And since my nephew's birthday is approaching, I wish to invite him and his princess to the capital to celebrate this joyous occasion together."

"Back then, before the spirit of the late Emperor, I made a promise that when my nephew came of age, I would return power to him."

"Now that my nephew is an adult, and I am getting old, it is time to fulfill my promise."

"I hope my nephew will prioritize the ancestral temple and the nation, and depart for the capital immediately."

After reading the letter, Xiao Lie chuckled and casually tossed it onto the table.

"Return and inform His Majesty that my duty to guard the northern border concerns the safety of the Great Chu, and therefore I must not act rashly."

"Let's forget about passing the throne."

Xiao Lie turned and left, completely disregarding the Chu Emperor's promise.

What a joke! If the Chu Emperor were truly willing to relinquish power, why would Xiao Lie have come to the northern frontier to build such a large empire?

As soon as Xiao Lie took a step forward, the eunuch stepped forward, took out a bright yellow imperial edict from his robes, unfolded it, cleared his throat, and read aloud.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Since my ascension to the throne, I have deeply felt my lack of virtue and talent. In order not to bring shame to the ancestral temple, I wish to abdicate and pass the throne to the late Emperor's eldest son, the Prince of the Northern Frontier, Xiao Lie."

"From this day forward, we hereby announce to the world that the abdication ceremony will be held at the Imperial Ancestral Temple on the seventh day of next month."

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he closed it and respectfully presented it to Xiao Lie with both hands.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has already read the imperial edict to the court officials. Once Your Highness arrives in the capital, the edict will be announced to the world, inviting envoys from all countries to attend the ceremony."

Xiao Lie took the imperial edict, read it again, and then placed it on the table.

What tricks is Emperor Xiao Mu of Chu up to now?

"You may go and rest for a few days. I will consider this matter."

The eunuch bowed and withdrew.

That night, Xiao Lie summoned Jiang Min, Zhou Xun, Xiao Xiong, Shen Chongyuan, Luo Daniu, Chen Hu and others to the main hall of the government office.

He placed the imperial edict and the Chu Emperor's personal letter on the table, and only spoke after everyone had finished reading them.

What do you think?

Zhou Xun was the first to speak.

"trap."

"His Highness has entered the capital, and the Chu Emperor is ready to wage war!"

Xiao Xiong is the second.

"This humble general secondes it!"

"Your Highness must not go alone now. Even if you must go, you must take all my troops from the Northern Frontier with you!"

Shen Chongyuan nodded.

"If Your Highness enters the capital, it will be like stepping into a trap!"

"If Your Majesty truly wished to abdicate, why wait until now?"

Luo Daniu scratched his head.

"I think... if Your Highness wants to go, then go. I'll bring some men to accompany you."

"If that damned emperor resorts to underhanded tricks, I'll chop him up with one stroke!"

Xiao Lie glanced at Luo Daniu and kicked him.

"Can't you speak properly? He's a dog emperor; I'm a generation below him!"

Jiang Min sat beside Xiao Lie without saying a word until everyone had finished speaking.

"Your Highness should go!"

She paused.

"Because His Highness still has accounts to settle with Emperor Chu."

Xiao Lie nodded and smiled.

"The one who truly understands me is the Queen!"

"I do have a score to settle with him!"

"The debts of the people of Qingzhou have been paid off, but I'm still settling my own debts!"

"I must find out the truth about Father's poisoning and my brother's life in person."

Jiang Min did not refute.

"Then let's go! But we can't go empty-handed."

She stood up, walked to the map, and pointed to the location of Yongzhou.

"The northern frontier army has entered Yongzhou and set up artillery on the Yongzhou plain."

"Chen Hu, go and do it."

As soon as Jiang Min finished speaking, Chen Hu looked at Xiao Lie, unsure of what to do.

Xiao Lie paid no attention to Jiang Min's overstepping of authority.

"Do as the princess says."

"But remember this!"

"We must never resort to force!"

"Unless I personally issue the order or I see my Northern Frontier Tiger Tally!"

Chen Hu clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"This subordinate obeys."

At this moment, Jiang Min also realized something was wrong and quickly bowed to Xiao Lie to apologize.

Xiao Lie waved his hand and reached out to help Jiang Min up.

"My beloved concubine is only concerned about my safety, it's nothing."

Then, he looked at Zhou Xun.

"I'm entrusting the administration of the northern frontier to you. It must be hard work. After some time, I will open an academy. Once all the students have graduated, you'll be able to relax a bit."

"If I go to the capital and there is no news for a month, you know what to do."

Zhou Xun nodded.

"Understood!"

"If Your Highness does not receive any news within a month, the Northern Frontier Army will travel to the capital to bring Your Highness back to the Northern Frontier."

Xiao Lie nodded, then turned to Jiang Min.

"There's one more thing..."

"The northern frontier lacks an intelligence network."

Jiang Min looked up at him.

"You want me to set up a stage in northern Xinjiang according to the standards of the Cultural Relics Bureau?"

Xiao Lie nodded.

"It doesn't need to be too big, just big enough."

"I need a pair of eyes to keep track of news about Emperor Jing, Emperor Chu, the court's movements, and the slightest disturbances in the various provinces."

Jiang Min did not refuse.

"This matter cannot be rushed. The trip to Kyoto will be a good opportunity to scout things out."

The next day, Xiao Lie sent a message to the eunuch.

"Your Majesty, I will arrive in the capital on time."

The eunuch was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly.

"This servant will go back and report immediately."

Xiao Lie added, "Go back and tell His Majesty... I will go with the Princess."

The eunuch's smile grew even brighter.

"His Majesty will surely be pleased!"

Three days later, Xiao Lie left Youzhou City with Jiang Min, Bi Su, and Xu De, accompanied only by one hundred elite soldiers from the Trapped Camp.

Luo Daniu insisted on staying by Xiao Lie's side no matter what, and in the end Xiao Lie had to ask Tieshan to come out and calm the stubborn guy down.

"Luo Da Niu!"

"I'm only going there to get an explanation; I have no interest in the throne!"

"Besides, the northern army set off yesterday. If the Chu Emperor wants to play dirty tricks, he won't survive!"

"Rest assured, if anything happens, I will certainly send you a message!"

Luo Daniu stiffened his neck, looking unhappy.

"I was even thinking of going to the capital with the prince to see the sights!"

"Who would have thought that the prince would bring along a doctor who gets tied up as soon as he steps out the door, without even taking me with him!"

Xiao Lie had just thought Luo Daniu was worried about him, but now he realized that the bastard was only thinking about his work-related travel!

"Luo Daniu! Before I returned, you were guarding this city gate every day!"

On the way south, Xu De kept looking at the scenery through the car window.

Xiao Lie asked him what he was looking at, and he replied with a single sentence.

"I'm seeing how far this road can go, so I can find my way and escape if something happens."

Xiao Lie ignored him, but Jiang Min laughed instead.

"If Dr. Xu runs away, remember to take me with you."

Xu De nodded solemnly.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I have always been a man of great loyalty."