Gold Medal Mediator [Quick Transmigration] 18

Chapter 18: The Empire This One Conquered For You (8)

Because Hua Baihe had to copy an excessive number of lines this time, the candles in the west wing of the Palace of Eternal Joy were lit to burn through the night.

But she wasn’t the only one who would miss out on sleep tonight.

Outside the capital, in the middle of the night, during the second watch (approx. 9-11 PM).

The sound of galloping hooves echoed from the city gates. The guards on patrol on the city wall immediately shouted, “Who goes there!”

The galloping horse was reined in sharply, its front half rearing up with a hoarse, drawn-out neigh. It had been ridden so hard for so long that it nearly threw its rider.

A bronze token was held high by the person on horseback. The rider wore the earth-yellow uniform of a border guard, face slick with sweat, lips cracked and white from dehydration, though it wasn’t obvious in the dark.

The guards on the wall saw the pass and were about to open the gate when they heard the rider tilt his head back and shout at the top of his lungs:

“Report—! The Yelu Di tribe of the Khitan from the northwest has invaded! Lan City has fallen! The Great General of the Northwest… has died for his country!”

**

Within a quarter of an hour, the lights in the Imperial Study were lit. Princes, grand secretaries, the ministers of war and revenue, and other officials were all roused from their beds by the Emperor’s decree. Trembling, they donned their court robes and followed the guiding eunuchs into the palace.

It was now the first year of the Xianzheng era of the Great Yong Dynasty, the first year of Emperor Liu Ye’s reign. Though he still appeared quite young, he had been studying state affairs with the former emperor in the Imperial Study since the age of seven. Beneath the beaded curtain of the imperial crown was a pair of composed eyes.

He tapped a finger on the armrest and asked in a deep voice, “Minister Wang, what is the current number of serving soldiers in the border cities?”

Minister Wang answered without hesitation, “Lan City is at ten-tenths, while Jian City, Can City, and Yu City are at seven-tenths. The rest are at less than five-tenths.”

Hearing this, Liu Ye turned to the Vice Minister of Revenue. “Zheng Qiu, what percentage of grain and silver remains in the state treasury?”

Zheng Qiu reported, “Excluding the flood-stricken Jiangdong region, eighty percent of the grain taxes from all regions have been collected. The state treasury currently holds two hundred thirty-four thousand five hundred shi (approx. 30,816.6 tons) of grain and seventy-two million taels of silver.”

Lan City was a small city with a population of no more than a thousand, but it was the part of the Great Yong Dynasty’s territory that shared the longest border with the northwest. Even on a normal market day, the number of Di barbarians on the street was ten times that of the Central Plains people.

Whenever the steppe tribes suffered from a lack of water and grass, or their livestock were plagued by disease, Lan City was always the first to be plundered.

Therefore, Lan City was practically a city of soldiers, with everyone serving in the military. Even so, it was difficult to avoid this calamity.

Liu Ye now had a clear picture. His gaze swept over the core officials before him, and he continued, “Now that Lan City has fallen, what good strategies do my dear ministers have?”

Those who had already thought it through stepped out from the ranks and spoke in turn:

“Reporting to Your Majesty, the Yelu Di tribe of the Khitan is the most formidable of the eight steppe tribes, and their territory is the most barren. Their people often struggle for food, which is why they resort to plunder. This subject believes that if we send an envoy with five thousand shi (approx. 661.5 tons) of grain and five thousand taels of silver, we can make them submit without losing a single citizen or soldier.”

“It is the first year of Your Majesty’s reign, yet the Yelu Di tribe dares to invade. It is clear they do not hold our Great Yong Dynasty in high regard! Your Majesty, this subject is willing to lead the charge, retake Lan City, and avenge the Great General of the Northwest!”

**

While a heated debate raged in the Imperial Study, in the main hall of the Palace of Eternal Joy, Huan Xi was about to persuade Jiang Yao to rest.

“Your Majesty—” Jiang Yao had just placed a white stone on the game board when the person beside her couldn’t help but call out, making her tilt her head and gesture for a stop.

Then, Jiang Yao listened to the sounds outside and instructed, “Go and find out what has happened. I hear the gongs for urgent matters.”

Huan Xi had, of course, heard the sound as well. Now, trying to contain her own anxiety, she could only curtsy and run out.

A short while later, Huan Xi returned with news. “Your Majesty! The Khitan tribe from the northwest has invaded. His Majesty is currently holding a council with the ministers in the Imperial Study.”

Jiang Yao’s hand, which was about to place a stone, paused. She looked at the board, then slowly placed the piece at the very heart of the ‘cornered beast’ formation, not speaking for a moment.

The sound of the stone being placed made Huan Xi hesitate. She looked at the white pieces, which could now swallow a large portion of the black pieces’ territory, and thought that the game was decided. She was about to ask the Empress to rest when she saw Jiang Yao slowly withdraw her hand, take a letter from her sleeve, and say:

“Deliver this letter to the Jiang Royal Manor outside the palace. Then, relay my verbal command to the Imperial Kitchen to prepare a white fungus and lotus seed soup for His Majesty, to help him cool his temper.”

Seeing her inscrutable expression, Huan Xi didn’t quite understand the Empress’s reaction to the news of war. But she had never been well-versed in court affairs, so she could only nod blankly. She tucked the letter away and was about to leave when Jiang Yao called her back.

“Add one more thing to the message: if any more forbidden books are secretly sent into the palace, he will be dealt with by the family discipline rod.”

Huan Xi received the order and promptly turned to leave.

**

“What a bunch of useless trash I’ve been raising!”

The next morning, Liu Ye came straight to the Palace of Eternal Joy after the morning court session. The moment he stepped through the door, he cursed in a foul mood.

Hua Baihe had been copying lines all night, even deliberately replacing the two characters for ‘Jiang Yao’ with ‘Her Majesty the Empress.’ Now, her wrist was sore, and when she offered tea to the Emperor, it almost trembled.

Liu Ye took the tea, glanced at her, and seeing it was the Empress’s plain-looking handmaiden, looked away towards the gracefully approaching Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao seemed to notice Hua Baihe’s fatigue and subtly shielded her, turning to smile at Liu Ye. “What is the matter, Your Majesty? Who has been so blind as to provoke Your Majesty’s anger?”

Liu Ye was perhaps truly furious, as he didn’t hide it from her this time. He even gestured with his hands. “Lan City has been breached, and the Great General of the Northwest, Su Hu, has died in battle! Yet, since the third watch last night, a full six-tenths of these so-called pillars of the state have been against going to war!”

“I see they’ve grown too accustomed to peaceful days, clinging to their decadent lives and refusing to let go. They’ve all been raised like prairie voles, scurrying into their holes at the slightest hint of trouble!”

The more Liu Ye spoke, the angrier he became. He lifted the lid of his cup and took a large gulp, but amidst the moderate bitterness, he tasted a faint sweetness.

He paused, squinted at the floating things in his teacup, and upon closer inspection, let out a snort of laughter, looking at Hua Baihe. “Did you make this tea for me?”

Hua Baihe had heard about the events at court early in the morning and knew that Liu Ye would definitely come to the Palace of Eternal Joy today. A little worried about Jiang Yao having to face his wrath, she had cleverly—

—made him a cup of chrysanthemum tea!

And had even luxuriously added rock sugar!

Jiang Yao sensed something was amiss and glanced into Liu Ye’s cup, seeing the blooming chrysanthemums. She felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation, but she kept a straight face and took the blame.

“Yesterday, this consort instructed the Imperial Kitchen to send a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup to Your Majesty to cool your temper. Today, I thought Your Majesty might like to try this flower tea. The effects are much the same.”

Hearing this, Liu Ye glanced up at her, tasted the lingering sweetness in his mouth, and snorted. “You women and your flowery things…”

Despite his words, he knew that Jiang Yao was well aware of his preference for pre-rain Longjing tea and wouldn’t suddenly surprise him like this.

So he placed the teacup on the table beside him and added, “It’s not bad to have such a servant by the Empress’s side. She can be amusing when one is feeling vexed.”

Hua Baihe: “…” Hmph!

But the Emperor had no time for a servant’s thoughts. After speaking, he turned the jade thumb ring on his thumb and looked at the Empress. “What gratifies me is that Lord Jiang, though young and often impeached by the ministers for his lack of learning, dared to request a commission to lead the troops and vanquish the enemy in court today.”

“A bunch of great scholars, they’ve read the classics all for nothing!” He then continued to curse the scholars at court, still fuming.

Jiang Yao soothed him gently, “Your Majesty, calm your anger. They are all, after all, subjects who have dedicated their lives to the Great Yong. They are merely muddled for a moment—”

“A fine ‘muddled for a moment’!” Liu Ye said. “I see they’ve all forgotten the teachings of the Sage Ancestor!”

Jiang Yao persuaded him a few more times before finally calming his anger, and he stayed for lunch at the Palace of Eternal Joy.

But he stayed for quite a long time at the Palace of Eternal Joy today. After the meal, he was even in high spirits and painted an orchid with Jiang Yao, listening to the Empress praise his work for its ethereal quality and its air of proud detachment.

He held the brush, looked at the flowers and grass on the paper, and after a long moment of contemplation, suddenly spoke:

“Empress, since the time of the Grand Ancestor, the Khitan tribes of the northwest have repeatedly invaded. Through four dynasties, the Great Yong has always given them money and grain when they asked. And the result—we’ve only made this ingrate wolf stronger.”

Jiang Yao did not speak, only listening quietly by his side.

“I cannot sit by and let this ‘sickness of the heart’ drag on any longer,” Liu Ye said.

Jiang Yao knew he had made his decision. She looked up, and Liu Ye happened to look over at the same time. Their voices sounded as one:

“I have decided to lead the troops myself.”

The next moment, Jiang Yao was kneeling before him.

Liu Ye snorted, tossed the brush on the table, and asked, “Are you going to persuade me?”

But to his surprise, Jiang Yao’s words were, “As the mother of the Great Yong, this consort has the duty to advise Your Majesty. Your Majesty is the foundation of the nation and should not put yourself in harm’s way.”

Liu Ye’s heart slowly grew cold. He stepped past her, about to walk out without looking back, but then he heard Jiang Yao continue:

“But, this consort knows that since the age of twelve, Your Majesty has been determined to resolve the Di Rong chaos that plagues the northwest every ten years. This consort has accompanied you for many years and cannot help but look forward to this day for you.”

The Emperor was stunned. He turned to look at her. “Yao Yao…” He immediately walked back to Jiang Yao’s side.

Jiang Yao was helped up by the Emperor, but she did not rise, still keeping her head bowed. “Your Majesty, this consort’s words go against the way of an Empress. This consort knows her crime.”

A warm affection had already appeared in Liu Ye’s eyes. “The one who knows me is the Empress—for me to have such a good wife is a great fortune for the Great Yong.”

Hua Baihe, a transparent person in the corner, watched the scene of deep love between the Emperor and Empress unfold. From the moment Jiang Yao spoke her first sentence, the 22 above her head had been climbing, and it showed no signs of stopping even as it reached 45.

She sighed to the System in her heart, “This ship, I stan it!”

The System breathed a sigh of relief.

Then it heard her ask, “I’m over the female lead. Can I think about the female supporting character now?”

System: “Who?”

Hua Baihe: “Hee hee, what do you think of Shen Qingyu?”

System: “【Are you trying to piss your dad off?.jpg】”

**

Soon, the news that the Emperor would personally lead the troops to war shocked the court and the country.

Memorials from the ministers at court flew into the palace like snowflakes. The ladies and the Empress Dowager also tearfully tried to persuade the Emperor. Seeing that his mind was made up, the Empress Dowager was so angry she dragged the Empress to her palace and made her kneel for an entire afternoon.

When Jiang Yao returned that night, Huan Xi’s eyes were red from rubbing her bruised knees.

Jiang Yao couldn’t bear to see those around her cry. She sent her out and had Qing Jia come in to serve her.

Hua Baihe was quick and efficient, rubbing her knees with just the right amount of pressure. But for some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Jiang Yao’s gaze was constantly on her neck, sending a chill down her spine.

A short while later, Jiang Yao spoke. “The knowledge you taught This One last time, This One has gained some insights and has recently acquired a few new things.”

Hua Baihe hadn’t expected her to bring this up so suddenly and was completely baffled.

She looked up and saw Jiang Yao point to a box in the corner of the hall, gesturing for her to go over.

She could only help pull down the other woman’s trousers and, completely bewildered, walk to the box—

After lifting the lid, Hua Baihe saw the jade stone in the central compartment of the box.

Ahem, her tongue was tied. It was the jade dildo in the central compartment of the box.

Beside it were some strange feathers, silver bells, and other objects.

While she was still surprised, she realized Jiang Yao had, at some point, put on her shoes and come to stand behind her. She asked in a low voice, “His Majesty is leaving soon. This One intends to give him a memorable night. Do you think it would be good for This One to give him a gift?”

Hua Baihe let out a long breath. Oh, so she just wants me to see some fun things for couples.

She praised, “His Majesty will surely never forget Your Majesty.”

Jiang Yao then smiled, her beautiful face exceptionally radiant in the lamplight.

She looked at Hua Baihe gently and asked, “Is that so?”

Then, she asked another question. “And what about you?”

Hua Baihe: …Huh?

Jiang Yao looked into her eyes. “Among these, which one would make you never forget?”