The princess regretted it.

Chapter 179 Can we mention the issue of establishing a crown prince?

After Jin An returned from the Mu Mansion, she seemed a little uneasy. She sat in the house, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, trying to recall whether anything happened about her two cousins during this time in her previous life, but there was no useful information in her mind. She only remembered that at this time in her previous life, everyone was still arguing about whether food and grass should be prepared as needed, and the food and grass had not been prepared and sent to the northern border so early. Later, her aunt asked her great-aunt for help, and her great-aunt came forward to make the final decision. After all, her great-aunt had not been involved in government affairs for a long time, and this incident did cause quite a stir at the time. Can the food and grass arrive safely in this life? Is cousin Zhong's sudden departure from Beijing related to this food and grass? Jin An's heart was full of worries. She only hoped that the food and grass could be delivered to her uncle as soon as possible, so that her uncle could defeat the Yu Kingdom faster and return victorious.

Nanny Zhao saw Jin'an's concerns, but she didn't know what was wrong with the princess. She turned to Ziyun to inquire, and learned that the princess had deliberately dismissed her and Hanshuang from the Mu residence today, and had a private conversation with the Mu family's old lady and eldest lady. Nanny Zhao speculated that this might be related to Young Master Mu's marriage. After hearing Ziyun's words, Nanny Zhao returned to Jin'an's room and brewed him another pot of hot tea. She glanced at him with concern, but said nothing and left without hesitation.

While Jin An fretted over the issue of grain and fodder, the supply convoys advanced slowly and steadily toward the northern border. Why was it slow? Before Wu Anshuo left the capital, the Third Prince had warned him to be cautious, citing the possibility of a fraudulent operation due to their smooth handling. Wu Anshuo was fully aware of the importance of this mission and was extremely vigilant throughout the journey. He employed all the tactics of his past, dispatching scouts to gather information and avoiding potentially dangerous areas. He knew the importance of this shipment of grain and fodder was too great to be lost. Any mishap would spell the end for the Jinwu Marquisate. Therefore, at every stop, even during breaks, he urged everyone to remain vigilant and carefully observe their surroundings to ensure there were no unusual signs. His actions kept the entire supply convoy on edge, meticulously guarding the grain and refusing even the slightest slackness. Naturally, their progress was significantly slowed.

Seeing his father act this way, Wu Changfeng felt a little skeptical. He felt that this place was not far from the capital, so there was no need to be so nervous from the beginning. Moreover, if the current pace continued, the food and fodder might not be delivered to the northern border on time. If the battle was delayed, they would also be implicated. Moreover, under such high pressure, he worried that the soldiers would be exhausted and their morale would be low. If an emergency occurred, they might not be able to react quickly. However, he was concerned about his father's dignity and could not directly refute him. He just frowned slightly, thinking about how to express his thoughts to his father tactfully.

After a few more days of marching, Wu Changfeng noticed that some of the soldiers in the grain transport team were showing signs of fatigue, even giving up, and some complaints were beginning to emerge from the ranks. He thought about it and decided to talk to his father. When he arrived at the next resting place, he approached Wu Anshuo and respectfully invited his father to the side.

Wu Changfeng carefully considered his words and slowly shared his thoughts with his father. "Father, I know you're worried about the safety of the food, but keeping the entire team on edge isn't a good idea. Besides, at this rate, we might not be able to get the food to the northern border on time. That would be very disadvantageous for us."

"I've noticed that the soldiers in the grain transport are already showing signs of fatigue and are complaining. If this continues, the progress and safety of the grain transport will be affected. Can we adjust the high-intensity pressure on the soldiers and increase the pace of the march?"

After hearing his son's words, Wu Anshuo carefully observed the troops and found that it was indeed as his son had said. In fact, he himself felt a little tired, but his determination to revive the Wu family continued to sustain him. Wu Anshuo frowned slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, "Changfeng, you are right. I have indeed neglected the soldiers' condition. How about this? We can speed up a bit and increase the rest time, but we must not slack off in our scouts' investigation."

Wu Changfeng felt a little relieved after hearing his father's words. He nodded and said, "Father, you are absolutely right. Now, why don't you tell everyone about the next plan and arrangements. And also boost morale."

Wu Anshuo nodded gently, then strode towards the resting grain transport team. After explaining his upcoming adjustments and arrangements, the soldiers' mental stress was no longer as great, and they naturally relaxed a lot. Sure enough, under his supervision, the speed of grain transportation improved significantly.

On another path leading to the grain transport, a dozen horses galloped at full speed, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust. They were also heading north. The riders were uniformly dressed in dark, tight-fitting clothing, their faces covered with veils, shielding them from the wind and sand while also adding a touch of mystery. Each one had a slender build, their eyes sharp, as if they were driven by a clear goal and a resolute mission. As the horses galloped, the distance between them and the grain transport gradually closed.

In the capital, at the Grand Tutor's Mansion, Minister Zhang and his son sat in Grand Tutor Zhang's study. Grand Tutor Zhang watched as Minister Zhang handed over a letter from Zhang Xinrou, which asked him to find a way to ask the Emperor to appoint a crown prince.

This matter was of grave importance. Grand Tutor Zhang frowned slightly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, lost in thought. Minister Zhang, observing his father's solemn expression, felt a little uneasy as well. He asked softly, "Father, what are your thoughts on this matter? Your Majesty must have been displeased with the last incident, and Xinrou must have sensed something. But now that Xinrou hasn't moved into the Eastern Palace, can we raise the issue of appointing a crown prince?"

Grand Tutor Zhang was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Xinrou must have had her reasons for spreading this message within the palace. However, this matter is always sensitive, and the slightest misstep could lead to disaster. In my opinion, we must not act rashly. Your Majesty's only heirs now are Ji'er and the Third Prince, and the throne is undoubtedly between them. Judging from their backgrounds, Ji'er has a good chance of winning. However, the situation within the court is complex, with various forces intertwined. The Duke of Huguo and the Mu family are both pro-monarchy. The Emperor has also not made a clear statement regarding his opposition to the Crown Prince. If we rashly bring this up, we risk incurring the Emperor's displeasure and becoming a target of public criticism."