She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 112: She Knows, But She Can’t

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: She Knows, But She Can’t

The turmoil in the Imperial Court originated from a cavalryman who had rushed back from the north.

He just had time to hand over the urgent report in his hands to the Guardian Army at the city gate before he expired.

The Guardian Army, not daring to delay matters of military intelligence, galloped towards the palace; that day, the Emperor came out from the Alchemy Room, where he had long confined himself, and urgently convened a meeting regarding the emergency military situation in the north.

What Yan Wanqing had not anticipated was that the Emperor would specifically have a Palace Attendant go to the Princess Residence to summon her.

This had never happened before.

Probably because there really was no one else to rely on, the Emperor had turned his attention to her.

The barbarians beyond the pass were unstoppable, having already conquered three fortresses; now, with the frontier in critical condition and the livelihoods of the border people in shambles, everyone was depending on the Imperial Court to dispatch troops to defend the area.

This was the first time Yan Wanqing had seen the Emperor since her rebirth.

He sat on the Dragon Throne, dressed in an ill-fitting Dragon Robe, his entire demeanor aged and frail.

The Empress, youthful and beautiful, sat by his side, making the Emperor’s decline even more apparent.

It seemed he truly didn’t have much time left.

Yan Wanqing withdrew her gaze and stood silently among the court officials.

Plagued with internal conflicts, the Dawei Imperial Family had already sent out all the competent officials they could; now, those present in the court were mostly newly promoted civil officials and some aged ministers. Who among them could undertake this great responsibility to pacify the barbarian unrest in the north?

No one dared to speak up lightly.

All that could be heard were whispered conversations among the court officials, yet no one stepped forward to volunteer in the Emperor’s presence.

Naturally, Yan Wanqing was not going to volunteer to defend against the rebellion.

What did the state of the Imperial Family have to do with her?

Looking at the Emperor’s corpulent, obese body, she felt revulsion from within.

She feared that the moment she left, he would have the entire Yan Family executed.

So, this time, no matter what, Yan Wanqing would not leave the Capital City.

"You have all been discussing for half a day now, have you decided who will go to the north to stabilize the military situation?" the Emperor, seeing the commotion below, suddenly slammed his hand on the Dragon Throne and asked in a deep voice.

Instantly, there was silence under the court hall.

Yan Wanqing kept her gaze averted, occasionally coughing twice to imply that she was too frail and ill to endure the journey to the north, likely to perish on the way.

This caused the court officials who had their eyes on her to retract their plans.

Now, only the two feuding Princes remained.

Crown Prince Xiao Pingfeng and Prince Xiao Hongshen.

Both were young, valiant, and skilled in battle, and being princes, either could represent the Emperor’s authority and inspire the troops.

However, with the Emperor obviously not having much longer to live, who went north, and whether they could return victorious was one thing; whether the possessions originally belonging to them would still be there upon their return was another.

So this was also why the two factions of court officials endlessly debated, each trying to get the other’s candidate to volunteer and go to the north to quell the unrest.

The arguing gave the Emperor a headache.

Zhang Lanyi quickly stepped forward and suggested, "Your Majesty, why not take a break and let them argue among themselves? Since the Princes are here, there will surely be a result."

Between the Crown Prince and Prince Xiao Hongshen, someone had to go, and for Zhang Lanyi, she hoped the one to leave would be the Crown Prince. Compared to Xiao Hongshen’s insidiousness, confronting the unfathomable Crown Prince, her chances of success would be lower, which was her intuition as a woman.

The Emperor accepted the Empress’s suggestion and chose to step back.

With the Emperor no longer scrutinizing them, the court officials freely engaged in heated debates, countless faces turning red with argument.

"The Crown Prince is the heir to a nation, how could he personally go to quell the unrest! Do you truly think others don’t see through your ulterior motives?"

"Prince Xiao Hongshen just returned from abroad, tired from travel, how could he lead troops into battle again, especially without any prior experience. If he delays military intelligence, who will be accountable?"

"If I haven’t experienced it, I need to," he said, "When the seventh prince defeats the Barbarians, the Emperor shall surely be delighted."

"When the Crown Prince wins, the Emperor will still give rewards..."

The ministers were arguing so loudly that Yan Wanqing felt a pain in her eardrums and walked out of the great hall to catch her breath.

What she had not anticipated was that the Crown Prince followed her out.

Xiao Pingfeng’s gaze drifted over her for a moment before finally resting on her flat abdomen, his lips trembling slightly, his expression inscrutable.

Yan Wanqing turned her back to him, unwilling to look at him.

She felt powerless and did not want to expend mental energy dwelling on the past.

In this matter, no one had wronged anyone.

If one must speak of apologies, then she would rather be the villain.

"Don’t you want to say something to me?" he asked.

Yan Wanqing was silent for a while before she spoke, "I hope your Highness does not go to the North to quell the unrest." According to the memories of her previous life, he would not return from that journey.

"In what capacity do you ask me not to go?" Xiao Pingfeng asked gently.

Yan Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat; she pursed her lips and forced a bitter smile, "I have overstepped my bounds. It’s just that the court is unstable, and there are plenty of ambitious wolves. Once your Highness leaves the Capital City, many changes will surely occur."

"...Is that all?"

Yan Wanqing’s mind was so full of thoughts that she could not squeeze out any words at that moment.

Xiao Pingfeng looked at her thin figure and a bitter smile appeared on his handsome face.

"I know none of this was your intention, but... Yan Wanqing, I really can’t bring myself to forgive your cruelty," he admitted.

His words blew through the warm air into Yan Wanqing’s ears, but they felt like a sharp ice shard piercing her heart.

"What a pity, Princess Anping. I must go to settle the unrest in the North," he said before turning and walking back into the great hall.

Yan Wanqing’s outstretched hand failed to even grasp the hem of his robe.

He left with such finality that only the resounding voices inside the great hall could be heard.

"For this rebellion in the North, I, your son, volunteer to lead the troops, to suppress the barbarian tribes and uplift our Dawei Kingdom’s prestige!"

When the last four words reached her ears, Yan Wanqing felt as if the images of her past and present lives were linked together; after a bout of tinnitus, the world came back into focus around her.

Yan Wanqing steadied herself against a vermilion pillar.

Everything was fate.

She should not have become involved with him.

Yan Wanqing woodenly walked into the great hall. The Emperor was already seated on his throne, his gaze deep and scrutinizing as he looked at Xiao Pingfeng kneeling on the ground.

When the Emperor saw Yan Wanqing walk in, he suddenly asked, "The barbarian tribes are cunning. If a capable advisor could go to the North, the task could be accomplished much more efficiently. Is there anyone willing to volunteer?"

Many young ministers stepped forward.

Yan Wanqing’s eyes fell on Xiao Pingfeng’s firm back, her hands clenched tightly.

She couldn’t.

She couldn’t go...

She knew what he was waiting for, but she couldn’t do it.

Yan Wanqing’s eyes were bloodshot as she stared fixedly at the ground.

And the Crown Prince finally stopped waiting for the voice he wanted to hear echo in the great hall, the last glimmer in his dark eyes dimming completely.

The Crown Prince himself would pacify the turmoil in the North and elevate the prestige of the Dawei Kingdom. The decision was final, and he would depart immediately!