stonecrandall Chapter 1051 Yu Shu's Giving Up, Lü Zhi's Surprise!
Chapter 1051 Yu Shu's Giving Up, Lü Zhi's Surprise!
We must stop Xiao He immediately!
Yu Shu took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and tried to keep her voice steady as she instructed the maid who came to report: "Go and tell Lord Xiao He that the Queen has overworked herself today and has already rested. She is also feeling slightly unwell and is not able to receive guests for the time being. If there are any important matters, please ask Lord Xiao He to discuss them tomorrow, or consult with the cabinet ministers first."
"Yes, sir." The maid acknowledged the order and hurried away.
Yu Shu's anxiety didn't subside; instead, it intensified. This excuse, while seemingly reasonable, appeared utterly weak and ineffective before a seasoned minister like Xiao He. Who was Empress Lü Zhi? If not for a serious illness, why would she refuse the Grand Secretary's late-night visit—a visit undoubtedly for important matters—due to "slight discomfort"? This in itself was a huge point of suspicion. Would Xiao He believe her? What if he insisted on seeing her, even forcibly summoning her under the pretext of urgent state affairs?
She listened intently to the sounds outside the palace, each second feeling like torture. Sure enough, not long after, the maid who had delivered the message returned, her face filled with panic: "Madam, Lord Xiao He refuses to leave. He says… he says it's a matter of utmost urgency, a matter of military importance! The Qiang tribe has amassed an army of 50,000, preparing to attack Longxi! At the same time, scouts from the border report that the Chu army is also making large-scale troop movements, seemingly plotting something while we are off guard! Lord Xiao He says this matter concerns the fate of the nation, and he must immediately meet with the Princess to make a decision!"
"What?!" Upon hearing this, Yu Shu's face turned deathly pale. She involuntarily took a half step back and steadied herself by holding onto the table beside her.
A 50,000-strong Qiang army is pressing in! The Chu army is making unusual moves!
Although she didn't directly participate in military decision-making, she was well aware of the weight of these two pieces of news. Longxi was a crucial border town; if it fell to the Qiang, the gateway to Guanzhong would be wide open, and the flames of war would spread directly to the heart of the empire. The Chu army was an even greater threat; its commander, Xiang Yu, was the bravest in the army. If he launched an attack while the court was dealing with the Qiang, Xianyang would be besieged on two fronts! At that time, it wouldn't just be the border that was devastated; the very foundation of the Qin Dynasty would be shaken.
This is no longer a palace intrigue, but a matter of national importance concerning the survival of the country!
In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Yu Shu's mind. Should she continue to obstruct Xiao He? What reason could she give? With the nation in peril, how could the Queen refuse to see the Prime Minister, who was in charge of state affairs, due to "slight discomfort"? This simply didn't make sense. With Xiao He's wisdom, he would immediately realize that a major upheaval had occurred in the palace. He might not force his way in immediately, but he would certainly mobilize all available resources to investigate the truth. At that time, the maids she had placed there would be utterly powerless against the actual imperial guards.
More importantly... deep down, Yu Shu still held onto a bottom line of loyalty to her country and its people. She could fight for power for her son's and her own survival, and she could scheme against Empress Lü, but she couldn't stand by and watch as her selfishness led to the needless sacrifice of soldiers on the front lines due to delayed decision-making, the fall of cities, the displacement of people, and even the fall of Xianyang and the collapse of ancestral temples!
If it really came to that, Yu Shu would become a sinner of the empire. Even if she were lucky enough to manage to control the court, what would she and Zhe'er possess in the face of a shattered empire? A kingdom trampled underfoot by the Chu army or the Qiang tribes?
No, that must not be done!
The inner struggle was like a raging storm. On one hand, there was the opportunity for success that had been planned for years and was within reach; on the other hand, there was a sudden national crisis and heavy responsibilities. Giving up meant all previous efforts would be in vain, and that they would have to face Empress Lü's cruel reckoning afterward; persisting, on the other hand, could drag the entire country into an abyss of no return.
Cold sweat soaked through Yu Shu's inner garment. She closed her eyes, and could almost see the flames of war raging across Longxi, the fluttering banners of the Chu army advancing straight towards Xianyang. She could hear the mournful cries of soldiers on the front lines, fighting valiantly without timely orders, ultimately falling in despair…
Was it fate? Yu Shu's lips curled into a bitter smile. Perhaps, this was fate. Heaven wouldn't give her this opportunity, wouldn't let her fight for that position in this way.
She suddenly opened her eyes, which were filled with resentment and pain, but even more so with a clarity that came after making a decision.
"Madam, you..." The personal maid beside her saw Yu Shu's expression change and finally return to an unusual calm, and called out in a worried whisper.
Yu Shu waved her hand, stopping her from speaking, her voice low but exceptionally clear: "Go, there's no need to stop her anymore. Go and invite Lord Xiao He to wait outside the hall. Also... go to the back hall and invite the Queen out."
"What?!" The maid was so shocked she almost cried out. She looked at Yu Shu in disbelief. "Madam! No! We've worked so hard... If we give up now, everything we've done will be for nothing! And the Queen... she will never let us go!"
“All for naught…” Yu Shu murmured, repeating these four words, her gaze sweeping over every tense face in the hall—those who had followed her for many years. “If the Qiang tribe and the Chu army rebel at the same time, and the court is unable to respond in time due to internal strife, leading to the loss of Longxi, the peril of Xianyang, and even the collapse of the state… then, even if we succeed, what will we gain?”
"A ruin? Or an eternal infamy?" Her voice wasn't loud, but every word carried immense weight, striking a chord in everyone's hearts. "Heaven has forsaken us, not because of our own shortcomings in battle. It's fate, destiny. What... what can we do?"
She took a deep breath and gave her final order: "Execute the order. Bring Lü Zhi out. Then, all of you pack up immediately and follow the pre-arranged evacuation route to leave the palace and return directly to General Batu in the Southern Border to hide. Under no circumstances should you show yourselves in Xianyang again, otherwise... you will surely face death and the extermination of your clan, understand?"
"Yes, sir!" Although the maids were filled with resentment and fear, seeing Yu Shu's resolute expression, they knew that all was lost and could only accept the order with tears in their eyes. They knew that this retreat might be a final farewell, not only would their dreams be shattered, but they would also live in endless flight and fear in the future.
Soon, Lü Zhi was invited back to the main hall. Her face showed obvious confusion and scrutiny. She saw that her personal maids, who had been restrained, had also been released. Although they were all pale and still in shock, they were indeed free. The tense atmosphere in the hall seemed to have dissipated, replaced by an eerie calm and...dejection.
"Where is Yu Shu?" Lü Zhi looked around but did not find the familiar figure. She asked in a deep voice.
“Your Highness,” a maid who had just been released answered in a low voice, “Lady Yu Shu…it seems she has already left and returned to her own palace. Do you think we should inform the Imperial Guards immediately?”