From cute to empress

Chapter 124 Return of Glory

The night was chilly, and the howling of the wind outside the tent, like the low growls of wild animals, disturbed my restlessness. When Zhao Xianfeng came in with a bowl of porridge, I was staring blankly at the mark on the map that represented Zhen Youcai's last seen location.

"Your Majesty, you haven't slept for a day and a night. You should eat something." Zhao Xianfeng advised, his tone full of worry.

I shook my head. My stomach felt like a mess, and I had no appetite at all. How could I possibly eat with peace of mind when Zhen Youcai's life or death was uncertain?

"Your Majesty..." Zhao Xianfeng wanted to say something else, but suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the tent, and a soldier stumbled in with uncontrollable excitement on his face.

"Report - the general..." The soldier's voice trembled, my heart sank suddenly, and a bad premonition came to my mind.

"What happened to the general?!" Zhao Xianfeng grabbed the soldier's shoulder and asked anxiously.

"The general...has woken up..."

I stood up suddenly, not caring about my royal demeanor, and grabbed the soldier's arm. "What did you say? Youcai is awake? How is he now? Where is he?"

The soldier was startled by my action and stammered, "Your Majesty, the general has woken up, but he's still a little weak and is now receiving treatment from a military doctor..."

My heart finally settled down and I breathed a sigh of relief. Zhao Xianfeng also let go of the soldier, a relieved smile on his face.

"Great! I knew that the general would be blessed by fate!"

I immediately ordered, "Prepare the sedan chair, I want to see the general!"

Arriving at the military doctor's tent, I immediately saw Zhen Youcai lying on the bed. His face was pale, but his eyes were still bright. When he saw me come in, he wanted to stand up and salute, but I held him down.

"Your injuries haven't healed yet, so there's no need to be polite." I sat down beside the bed and looked at him carefully. "How are you feeling? Are you still feeling uncomfortable?"

Zhen Youcai shook his head, held my hand, and said in a hoarse voice with a smile: "I am fine, Your Majesty, I am sorry to have worried you."

I turned to ask the military doctor and learned that although Zhen Youcai's injuries were serious, fortunately no vital parts were injured. He would be able to recover after a period of good care. Only then did I feel relieved.

"Your Majesty, during the time I was unconscious, the war on the border..." Zhen Youcai struggled to get up, and I quickly supported him and let him lean on me.

"Rest assured, you can recover from your injuries. General Zhao and I are here for the border affairs. You don't need to worry."

Zhao Xianfeng also stepped forward and reported to Zhen Youcai on the situation during this period, including how he led the soldiers to achieve a major victory and the news that the Human King asked for peace.

After listening to this, Zhen Youcai nodded with satisfaction, and his eyes were full of tenderness and pride when he looked at me.

"Your Majesty, I know that you will lead Da Qi to glory."

I smiled and squeezed his hand. Yes, now that the border war has settled and the Barbarian King has sent a peace letter, everything is moving in a positive direction.

"Report—the Human envoy has arrived outside the camp, requesting an audience with Your Majesty!"

Zhen Youcai and I looked at each other and saw the same determination in each other's eyes.

"Xuan!"

In the magnificent court, I sat on the dragon throne, looking down at the barbarian envoy kneeling on the steps. He was a burly figure, dressed in barbarian clothes, with a look of uneasiness and fear on his face.

"Why did your Hu Man King send you here?" I said indifferently, with a sense of majesty without anger.

The envoy kowtowed quickly and said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor of Great Qi, our king, grateful for the mercy of Heaven, does not wish to provoke further war. He has specially ordered this humble official to come here and submit to Great Qi, vowing eternal peace."

I narrowed my eyes slightly. This Human King is quite sensible. He knows that my Great Qi is now strong and powerful. If we continue to fight, we will only bring about our own destruction. But I am not a bloodthirsty person. When two countries go to war, the people will suffer in the end.

"Go back and tell your king that I agree to his request. From now on, our two countries will not invade each other's borders and will coexist peacefully."

The messenger was overjoyed upon hearing this and kowtowed again to express his gratitude. I waved my hand, signaling him to leave.

A few days later, Zhen Youcai and Zhao Xianfeng returned to the capital with their triumphant army. The news sent the entire capital into an uproar, with the people spontaneously pouring into the streets to welcome their heroes.

I stood at the city gate, dressed in my finest attire, watching the mighty procession in the distance, my heart filled with pride and emotion. Zhen Youcai rode at the head of the procession, aloft on a majestic horse. He was dressed in military uniform, looking dashing and victorious, his face etched with the joy of victory. His gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on me, his lips curling up slightly in a warm smile.

I walked down the city wall quickly and came to Zhen Youcai surrounded by the crowd.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you. I have fulfilled my mission and returned in triumph!" Zhen Youcai dismounted, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a loud voice.

I reached out and helped him up, my eyes swept over Zhao Xianfeng behind him, and said loudly: "Soldiers, stand up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" A deafening voice echoed through the sky, resonating for a long time. Looking at the faces before me, each brimming with joy and pride, I felt a surge of emotion.

Tonight is destined to be a sleepless night. I will hold a banquet in the palace to celebrate the triumphant soldiers. I turned to look at Zhen Youcai beside me, raised my glass, and was about to speak... "My dear, please stand up." I helped Zhen Youcai to his feet, my eyes lingering on his face for a moment, then turned to Zhao Xianfeng behind him and said loudly, "General Zhao, you have worked hard! You two generals have gone on this expedition to defend our country and have made great achievements. I am very pleased!"

"It is our honor to serve Your Majesty and the Great Qi!" Zhen Youcai and Zhao Xianfeng said in unison, their voices filled with unconcealable excitement.

That night, the palace was brightly lit, with singing and dancing, and I held a banquet to celebrate the triumphant soldiers.

"My dear ministers, today is a good day, and the truth must be revealed!" I raised my wine glass high, and glanced at the civil and military officials and the triumphant soldiers present. "This toast is to the heroes of the Great Qi!"

"Cheers to the heroes of Da Qi!" everyone shouted in unison and drank it all in one gulp.

As I drank and chatted, I looked at the beaming faces before me, yet a lingering heaviness lingered within me. This peaceful and prosperous era, this joyful and peaceful life, was won with the blood and lives of countless soldiers. I know full well that peace is hard-won, and maintaining it is even harder.

"Youcai, you led the army to a great victory this time. I have prepared generous rewards for you. Just tell me what you want." I turned to look at Zhen Youcai beside me, with a bit of pampering in my tone.

"It is my duty to share your majesty's worries. I do not ask for rewards, I only wish..." Zhen Youcai hesitated to speak, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"What do you wish for?" I asked, feeling a little uneasy.

Zhen Youcai took a deep breath, as if he had made some important decision. He raised his head, looked at me firmly, and said word by word, "Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask. I hope Your Majesty will grant my permission!"

My heart tightened, and an inexplicable premonition came over me. I put down the wine glass in my hand, looked at Zhen Youcai, and slowly said: "You said..."

"You said..." The wine glass in my hand paused slightly, but my heartbeat inexplicably quickened, and an inexplicable premonition came to my mind.

Zhen Youcai took a deep breath, as if he had made an important decision. He looked me straight in the eye and said word by word, "I dare to ask Your Majesty to agree to one thing for me. This matter concerns the long-term peace and stability of the border and the well-being of the people of Daqi!"

His tone was firm, his expression solemn, which only intensified my uneasiness. I put down my wine glass and said solemnly, "Please tell me, my dear minister. As long as it is for the sake of Great Qi and the people, I will agree to anything you ask."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" A glint of relief flashed in Zhen Youcai's eyes. He turned to the ministers and said loudly, "As you all have seen, although our army won a resounding victory against the barbarians this time, the people living along the border have suffered greatly from the war, their homes shattered! To prevent such incidents from happening again, I earnestly request Your Majesty to increase troops to the border and strengthen border defenses!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the court erupted in discussion. Some supported the idea, while others opposed it. Some argued that with the treasury now empty, further military action was inappropriate. I took in the ministers' reactions, but I had already made my decision.

"My dear ministers, what you say makes perfect sense." I spoke slowly, motioning for everyone to be quiet. "I know that years of war have left the treasury empty, and the people need rest and recuperation. However, we cannot let our current comfort make us forget the potential dangers! Only by being prepared for danger in times of peace can we achieve long-term stability!"

My gaze was firm and powerful, sweeping across everyone present. "I have decided not only to increase troops on the border, but also to allocate funds to build fortifications and develop border trade, so that the people living on the border can live and work in peace and contentment. Only in this way can we completely eliminate future troubles!"

I paused, then looked at Zhen Youcai, my eyes filled with trust and determination. "General Zhen, you will be fully responsible for this matter. How about that?"

Zhen Youcai knelt on one knee, clasped his hands together, and said loudly: "I obey your command and will definitely live up to your majesty's trust!"

I turned my gaze away from him and looked outside the hall. The deep night sky was dotted with stars, but my heart was clear. I knew this was just the beginning, and the road ahead was long, but I believed that as long as we all worked together, we would surely lead Da Qi to an even more glorious tomorrow...

"Your Majesty," my thoughts were interrupted by a gentle call. The senior palace maid Yuehua beside me looked anxious and said in a low voice, "The Human envoy requested an audience and said he had something important to report..."