Farewell Flower Festival

Chapter 145

When Chaoyan was leaving with Feicui, Amber and Qiaoer, they happened to meet Mu Tianqi who was coming out of the study on the way.

After Chaoyan bowed and prepared to leave, Mu Tianqi mentioned the war in the north. He observed Chaoyan's expression and saw that she seemed unaware. He said that Mu Tianling must have not told her because he was afraid that she would worry.

Chaoyan asked what happened, and Mu Tianqi said that he heard that her brother led his troops to pursue the enemy and was accidentally ambushed by the enemy.

Chaoyan's expression tensed when he heard this, and he asked about Shen Cheng's safety. Mu Tianqi said he didn't know the details, but only heard that someone seemed to be injured. Chaoyan hurriedly said goodbye with Jadeite and Amber.

Mu Tianqi glanced at her hurriedly leaving back and asked Qiao'er about Han Min's appetite this morning. Qiao'er remembered every bite of Han Min's food and reported it to Mu Tianqi. He nodded and took Qiao'er to Han Min's place.

When Mu Tianqi came in, Han Min was folding the small clothes she had just sewn. He walked over and looked at the small clothes, his expression slightly changed, and told her not to be too tired.

Han Min unfolded the folded clothes and showed them to him, saying that the material was very soft. Mu Tianqi reached out and touched the small cuffs, and something in his eyes seemed to melt a little. He praised that the clothes were beautifully made and the colors were well chosen, and that they could be worn by boys and girls. Han Min also thought that the color of the material was good, and that it would look good on both boys and girls, and the two of them thought alike.

After Mu Tianqi sat down on the couch, he casually asked what Chao Yan came to see her for. Han Min said that she asked Qiao'er to invite Chao Yan over to talk.

Rumors have been everywhere these days. Chao Yan went to the palace to visit the Queen Mother yesterday. The Queen Mother should be fine, but she is still in a bad mood because of the rumors.

Mu Tianqi mentioned that the emperor was furious again at the court this morning. The water bandits in the Jiangzhou area were spreading rumors and gathering bandits, and they were afraid that they would take advantage of the chaos to rebel.

Chaoyan hurried back and asked Feicui to find Eunuch Wu to ask if there was another war in the north. Eunuch Wu knew that Chaoyan must have heard something in Prince Rui's mansion, so he advised her not to worry too much.

Chaoyan anxiously asked Shen Cheng if he was injured in an enemy ambush. Eunuch Wu said that he had sent someone to inquire and would report back as soon as there was any news.

It was already evening when Mu Tianling returned from the Jiuxing Division.

Governor Yuan arrested a bunch of people who spread rumors and caused trouble and invited him to interrogate them together. Mu Tianling has been interrogating them until now.

Eunuch Wu told Mu Tianling that Chaoyan already knew about her brother's affairs, and must have heard about it at Prince Rui's Mansion.

When Mu Tianling returned to his residence, Chao Yan turned her head away from him and asked him why he had hidden it from her. Mu Tianling walked over and sat down beside her. She moved to the side and he moved over. She moved to the side again and he moved over again. She wanted to move to the side again, but he put his arm around her and said that if she moved any further she would fall.

Chaoyan had already moved to the side, still turning her face away from him. She was not angry or annoyed with him, but she blamed him for hiding it from her. Mu Tianling first admitted his fault to her, saying that it was wrong for him to hide it from her, and then coaxed her to stop being angry, and be careful not to get sick from it.

When Chaoyan asked about her father and brother, Mu Tianling said that he had sent someone to find out the news, and that news would be reported back the day after tomorrow at the latest. He comforted her that they would be fine. Her father was a veteran and was both brave and resourceful. Her brother had been on the battlefield at the age of fifteen and would never fall into the enemy's trap easily. It might be a strategy to lure the enemy.

After hearing what he said, Chaoyan felt relieved.

Mu Tianling asked Chaoyan who told her about this, and Chaoyan said that it was Mu Tianqi who told her. Mu Tianling asked if Mu Tianqi had told her anything else, Chaoyan shook her head, and asked him if he was hiding something from her, and Mu Tianling mentioned Concubine Yin.

After Emperor Mu passed away, Concubine Yin went to guard the imperial mausoleum, and no one knew the details except the Tianwu Guards that night.

The public statement was that Concubine Yin missed Emperor Mu too much and volunteered to guard the imperial mausoleum.

Mu Tianqi also restrained his edge and no longer associated with court officials. He never expressed his opinions on state affairs. He returned home after court every day and did not see guests, as if he wanted to avoid the world.

"Second brother is a very secretive person. If it weren't for my father's plan, I'm afraid the emperor wouldn't have been able to sit on the throne so smoothly."

Chao Yan reached out and held Mu Tianling's hand, smiling at him, "It's enough to have me as your Highness's princess, there's no need for three palaces and six courtyards."

Mu Tianling asked with a smile, "How many children does Yanyan want? I think one boy and one girl is good enough." He suggested to Yan, "Why don't we have a child in two years?"

Mu Tianling lowered his eyelashes sadly, "Yanyan, don't you want to give birth to a child for me?" Chaoyan immediately shook her head to deny it, and explained in a low voice, "Well, I heard that giving birth is very painful..." Mu Tianling was amused and put his hand to her mouth again. Chaoyan was puzzled, and he said, "When the time comes, bite my hand, bite it as much as it hurts."

Chaoyan was speechless and touched, and politely declined this heartwarming proposal. She didn't want her husband to become clumsy with his hands right after giving birth.

The next day, Mu Tianqi went out to attend court. As soon as he walked out of the alley, another carriage followed. After both carriages stopped, the curtains on the windows were pulled by someone.

"Second brother has been staying at home rarely recently, but I didn't expect that he is still so well-informed. He even knows everything about the war far away at the border." Mu Tianling said through the car window.

Mu Tianqi said through the other side of the car window: "It turns out that the fourth brother is here to call for punishment."

"How dare I ask for punishment? My second brother still has to attend the court, so I will take my leave first." Mu Tianling gave an order, and the carriage slowly turned around and left.

Mu Tianqi pushed aside the curtain and took a look, then gave an order and the carriage headed towards the palace.

At the morning court, Prime Minister Shang recommended Xu Ming to lead the troops to fight the river bandits, while Minister Liu suggested to focus on appeasement. There was a war going on at the border now, and if war broke out in Jiangzhou again, it would probably shake the people's morale, and then bandits and robbers from all over the country would rise up, and the consequences would be disastrous.

Mu Tianyuan was originally planning to appoint Xu Ming as the commander-in-chief to go to Jiangzhou to fight the pirates, but after hearing what Minister Liu said, he became a little hesitant.

Prime Minister Shang said that this group of water bandits chose to cause trouble at this time, most likely because they heard news of the war on the border and estimated that the court would not dare to send troops easily. If they were left alone, they would only become more arrogant and rampant, and the people would think that the court was in the wrong and had to compromise with the bandits. They must be defeated in one fell swoop, firstly to demonstrate the emperor's power and reassure the people, and secondly to make an example of them so that those with evil intentions would not dare to spread rumors and cause trouble again.

Prime Minister Shang's words reassured Mu Tianyuan, and he immediately appointed Xu Ming as commander-in-chief to lead troops to Jiangzhou to quell the rebellion.

After Xu Ming went to the military camp to check the troops in the afternoon, he led his troops out before dawn the next day.