Chapter 536 - Chapter 536: Are You Feeling Threatened By My Brother?
Chapter 536: Are You Feeling Threatened By My Brother?
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In reality, Zhao Chuchu didn’t have the chance to do anything with Xie Heng, even if she wanted to.
An urgent message was delivered from the northeastern side of the dynasty. The Rong Dynasty had declared war on the Wei Dynasty. There were more than one million Rong soldiers stationed outside Tianlang Checkpoint. The general stationed at the checkpoint had requested reinforcements from the imperial court.
The emperor was livid. He immediately summoned the cabinet to the palace to discuss possible solutions.
Although the emperor wasn’t a great leader and was often quite oblivious to many issues, he knew that he could not back down when the nation’s integrity was threatened.
The Wei Dynasty had no choice but to fight the war. All government officials in the Ministry of Revenue and Military Department were summoned back to their respective posts to await instructions. Mobilizing the troops, planning for weaponry and supplies…
Xie Heng couldn’t even finish his bath when he had to put on his official gown and head out in a hurry.
It would be three days before he returned.
The emperor ordered the Dynasty Duke to lead 300 thousand troops and head to Tianlang Checkpoint to reinforce the border army. Qiao Heting was on the list as well.
Because of this, Qiao Heting and Yuan Hui’s wedding was brought forward. But unfortunately, the emperor gave Qiao Heting one month before he had to head to the battlefield.
On the other hand, Xie Heng was in charge of delivering supplies for the army.
This made Zhao Chuchu rather confused.
Xie Hengs position was very high right now. So why would he be put in charge of something so important?
“The Great Prince is still alive. He absolutely hates me right now, so he’ll try everything to kill me.” Xie Heng was relatively calm as he spoke. “Chuchu, I need your help this time.”
“Okay.” Zhao Chuchu nodded and answered before Xie Heng even told her what he needed help with. She knew what Xie Heng meant. “Prepare the supplies, and I’ll go get them.”
“Thank you,” said Xie Heng. “It’s going to be dangerous this time.”
“It’s fine. I’ve experienced things that are even more dangerous than this.” Xie Heng sighed and hugged Zhao Chuchu.
The Rong Dynasty had been rising rapidly in the past few years. It had already become the Wei Dynasty’s greatest enemy.
They had previously maintained peace with the Wei Dynasty but had started to harass the Wei Dynasty’s border in the past two years. However, they seemed to have no intention of launching an all-out war. No one expected this to happen.
But Xie Heng was prepared for it. In fact, he had discussed it with Xie Yan before.
A centipede can still continue moving after death. So although Sikou Zhendong and his family had been executed, some of his forces were still alive.
Besides, the emperor had nine sons. The Great Prince wasn’t the only one who had ambition. The other princes were greedy, ambitious people as well.
Xie Yan was destined to die, but Zhao Chuchu’s appearance allowed Xie Yan to become normal again. On top of this, the emperor had always favored Xie Yan, not to mention Xie Jun’s return to the royal family. All these things caused the other princes to feel increasingly threatened.
To them, Xie Yan was a strong enemy, and so was Xie Heng.
But they had no chance to do anything to them in the Imperial City. Now that the Rong Dynasty had launched a war against the Wei Dynasty, it was an excellent opportunity for them to wipe out both Xie Yan and Xie Heng in one fell swoop.
As for Xie Jun, no one really cared about the kid.
“Chuchu, you get ready. They might summon you to be their military doctor,” Xie Heng reminded her. “Before the army sets up, give me a list of herbs that you might need.”
“I thought women could not enter the army.”
“When they need you, they don’t care if you’re a woman or a man.”
Xie Hengs eyes turned cold.
There are many shameless people in the world, especially those in the royal court.
They disallow women to enter the army during peacetime, then push the women out to try to form marriage alliances with the enemy during wartime.
They certainly wouldn’t hesitate to summon a few female doctors.
“Got it.”
Zhao Chuchu nodded.
She had actually been trying to make high-concentration alcohol a long time ago and had succeeded.
But Zhao Chuchu didn’t tell Xie Heng about this.
There was some high-concentration alcohol in her carry-on space, but it was certainly not enough for a war between the two dynasties.
She had started thinking about this when they were still in Guangqing Province.
The stock of high-concentration alcohol is still in Guangqing Province, and they would need to move it to the battlefield in the northwest as well.
Zhao Chuchu came out with a list of herbs, passed it to Xie Heng, and then quietly returned to Guangqing Province.
Ten days later, everything was prepared. The army set off for the northwest border.
As for the supplies, Xie Heng and Xie Yan swapped out part of them after the Great Prince’s men had verified them. Then they brought the supplies and headed to the northwest disguised as merchants.
But Xie Yan didn’t know that the supplies they were delivering had been swapped again. The actual supplies were actually inside Zhao Chuchu’s carry-on space.
The Great Prince’s men thought they could trick everyone by mixing sand and old supplies and using them to replace the “real” supplies being delivered. There were several layers to this complex scheme. Almost no one knew that the real person delivering the supplies was actually Zhao Chuchu.
The day before the army was slated to set off, just as Xie Heng had predicted,
Zhao Chuchu was enlisted as a military doctor to head to the northwestern
border with Xie Heng.
Upon learning about this, Xie Jun immediately went to look for the emperor. “Father, Sis is just a woman, and the battlefield is extremely dangerous. How can we send her to the border? Please retract your order, Father.”
The emperor said coldly, “Junjun, do you know who you are? As a prince, you should know that every citizen is responsible for fighting when our dynasty is threatened. Now, the entire Wei Dynasty was being threatened. If they break through Tianlang Checkpoint, not one of our people will be safe! Zhao Chuchu is a great doctor. With her in the northwest, she will be able to minimize deaths and injuries for our army.”
The reason he agreed to the suggestion of the cabinet to let Xie Heng deliver the supplies was because it aligned with his plan.
His favorite prince, Xie Yan, didn’t have much time left. But Xie Jun was far more intelligent than the other princes. So if Xie Jun could follow Xie Yan for a few years and learn the ropes, he would undoubtedly become a worthy crown prince.
However, Xie Heng and Xie Jun had a very strong bond. As the emperor, he couldn’t let a threat like this remain.
If Xie Jun becomes the emperor in the future and Xie Heng uses the opportunity to control Xie Jun, this dynasty could change hands and belong to the Xie clan instead!
The emperor couldn’t allow a threat like this to exist. Xie Heng was way too intelligent. If Xie Heng weren’t related to Xie Jun, the emperor would greatly appreciate his wisdom, and he might even give him very important duties.
But the emperor had too many other considerations. So no matter how much he liked him for his talent and intellect, he couldn’t let Xie Heng live. The same goes for Zhao Chuchu.
With Zhao Chuchu around, unless they could kill Xie Heng instantly, it would be tough to kill him.
The emperor had pride. He couldn’t let the world think he intentionally tried to kill Xie Heng and Zhao Chuchu!
Xie Jun had been with Xie Heng for a long time. Although he had always appeared naive and innocent when he was with Xie Heng, he wasn’t actually so.
He looked at the emperor. He was tempted to ask, “Are you doing this because my bro raised me? Are you feeling threatened by my brother? Are you trying to kill him?”
But as the words reached his tongue, he swallowed them back down.
He knew that if he really asked those questions, his brother might die the very next day.
Xie Jun had no choice but to use the fact that he was still a child. He asked the emperor with redness in his eyes, “There are so many doctors in the imperial physician academy. Why can’t they go?”
“Come here.” Xie Jun’s tears triggered a soft spot in the emperor’s heart. He waved and told Xie Jun to go closer.
Xie Jun walked over and stood beside the emperor.
The emperor rubbed his head and said, “I know you like them and care for them a lot. But you must understand that someone has to take the risk for the millions of people in the country. Besides, your Sis is just working behind the army. Nothings going to happen to her. Don’t worry.”
Xie Jun clenched his fists.. Working behind? Do you intend to send her to the frontline and fight the enemies?