Duke Jing's younger sister

Chapter 149 Recovering the Three Continents

Everyone looked towards the door.

A handsome young man with a figure as straight as a pine tree came slowly towards them. He had an unparalleled appearance and eyes like peach blossoms.

He had a faint smile on his face, and when he approached, he bowed slightly to Jiang Minzhi and Xiao Wenche.

Then, in front of everyone, he took Shen Li's hand affectionately, as if declaring his sovereignty.

"It's really unfortunate. I have already made an appointment with Ah Li. I am afraid I can't keep her here tonight."

Xiao Wenche raised his eyebrows slightly. How could he be so unruly in front of someone else's father?

Could it be that Shen Beiqi had some inappropriate thoughts about his little sister?

Shen Beiqi personally took action to dethrone Duke Liang.

In Xiao Wenche's view, this was also another way of surrendering to him.

If Shen Beiqi really likes Shen Li, then he would be happy to help her.

After all, he still knows clearly who is more important between Jiang Minzhi and Shen Beiqi.

Thinking of this, he immediately smiled and said, "Since my cousin has already invited you, just take the third girl with you."

The second prince has already spoken, and Jiang Minzhi can no longer object.

Shen Li let him pull her away from Huajia Lane.

Since there was nothing else to do, Shen Beiqi ordered Yueyang to charter a small boat and go boating on Jiangyang Lake.

The night wind blows gently, rippling the lake water.

The boat slid through the water, sending ripples across its bottom.

Shen Li leaned against the window, looking at the crescent moon in the sky.

Shen Beiqi put down the bamboo chopsticks in his hand and said, "I met Jiang Cheng today and heard him say that you want to move back to the Jiang Mansion?"

Shen Li retracted her gaze, rotated her fingers up and down, and wrapped the silk handkerchief around her fingertips.

"Well, my brother said I should go home."

Shen Beiqi was silent, put the wine glass to his thin lips, and drank it all in one gulp.

Shen Li sensitively noticed that he seemed to be in a bad mood today.

"You don't seem very happy?"

The young man smiled casually, "Ari is about to abandon me, and you still want me to be happy?"

It makes her sound like a heartless person.

"Speak nicely." Shen Li said angrily.

Shen Beiqi put down the wine cup and looked at the lake surface reflected by the lanterns. "Ali, I will leave Jiangdu City in a while."

Shen Li was stunned.

He left Jiangdu City to return to the northern border to fight.

She asked worriedly, "Is there going to be another war?"

"That's it."

"How long are you going?"

"At least three to five months, at most a year and a half."

so long?

Shen Li remained silent.

It was clearly him who abandoned her, and he just bit her back.

Shen Beiqi looked up at her for a moment and said softly, "Come here, closer to me."

Shen Li thought about it, then stood up obediently and sat down beside him.

He felt it was not close enough, so he moved his body, and their shoulders leaned tightly against each other.

"Ari, I'll force you to marry me, okay?"

Shen Li frowned slightly, "Are you a bandit? Why do you use the word 'strong'?"

Shen Beiqi raised his hand and gently stroked her cheek, "I'm afraid that if I leave, you will marry someone else."

What do you mean he left and she turned around and married someone else?

"You said that... as if I hate getting married."

He smiled lightly, "It's not that you hate to get married, it's that I hate to get married! I wish I could tie you up and take you home tonight, worship heaven and earth, and enter the bridal chamber."

He was clearly teasing her again, but there was a hint of loneliness in his voice.

What Shen Li didn't know was that today Shen Beiqi was in Emperor Hongyang's study, asking His Majesty to grant them a marriage.

Emperor Hongyang did not object, but he did not agree either.

She asked him in an ambiguous tone, "Are you going to marry Jiang Minzhi's daughter, your adopted sister?"

"Your Majesty, that's right."

Emperor Hongyang smiled, waved his hand and told Gao Zhong to come forward and take away the approved memorials on the table.

He leaned lazily on the dragon throne, his bright yellow dragon robe shining like a dazzling star, with an awe-inspiring light.

"Speaking of Jiang Qing, I remember what he said about me back then."

Emperor Hongyang spoke in a normal tone, but there was a sarcastic smile on his face.

"Back then, he was drunk and made a lot of nonsense, claiming that I had been on the throne for ten years but had not achieved any political achievements, and that the peace and prosperity in the world was all due to the efforts of the previous emperor. At that time, I thought he was talking nonsense, but now when I think about it, I feel deeply ashamed."

Emperor Hongyang put away his smile and said in a deep voice, "He is indeed not talking nonsense. I have been on the throne for nearly 20 years, but I still have no outstanding achievements."

Shen Beiqi bowed and said, "Now the world is stable and the people live in peace. This is all due to your Majesty's hard work day and night. Your Majesty is too modest."

Emperor Hongyang sighed, seeming dissatisfied with what he said.

He stood up from the dragon throne and walked to Shen Beiqi's side.

"The Crown Prince proposed this morning to take back the three states that were ceded to the Northern Barbarians a hundred years ago. What do you think, Mr. Shen?"

Shen Beiqi's eyes darkened slightly.

Xiao Wenhao must have noticed that he was investigating the saltpeter matter, so he wanted to find a reason to transfer him out of Jiangdu City.

The former territory of Southern Wu consisted of thirteen states.

The prefectures and counties south of Jiangdu City were Changzhou, Haozhou, Chuzhou, Haizhou, Sizhou and Runzhou, a total of six prefectures.

To the north of Jiangdu City, that is, the northern border, are Liangzhou, Chuzhou, Guangzhou, and Shouzhou.

As well as Luzhou, Shuzhou and Yanzhou which were ceded to the Northern Barbarians.

When the late emperor first ascended the throne at the age of 19, the national treasury was empty, the military was insufficient, and the people were living in misery.

In order to stabilize the country as soon as possible, he had no choice but to agree to the armistice agreement with the Northern Barbarians.

He exchanged the land of three continents for thirty years of peace in Southern Wu.

During these thirty years, the late emperor eliminated long-standing malpractices, benefited people's livelihood, and allowed Southern Wu to grow and develop rapidly.

When the Northern Barbarians invaded again, Southern Wu already had enough troops to resist the foreign army.

We will never again be unilaterally beaten by the northern barbarians as we did before.

It’s a pity that the three continents that fell into the hands of the Northern Barbarians have never been recovered.

This was also a great regret in the late emperor's heart before his death.

If Emperor Hongyang wanted to be remembered for generations, taking back the three continents would undoubtedly be the most suitable and outstanding political achievement.

The prince only needed to mention it briefly and Emperor Hongyang became interested.

He did not take into account that the three continents were easy to defend but difficult to attack.

It is now May again, and the North is extremely hot.

Ordinary people couldn't stand the heat even in thin clothes, let alone the Beilin Army wearing helmets and armor.

Shen Beiqi knew clearly that the emperor wanted him to retake the three states and exchange his military merits for the imperial decree granting his marriage to Shen Li.

Recently, Jiang Minzhi has been very close to the second prince, and a large part of this is due to the tacit approval of Emperor Hongyang.

If he wanted to check and balance the court, Jiang Minzhi's daughter must marry the second prince Xiao Wenche.

In this way, the Eastern Faction supports the Crown Prince, and the Western Faction supports the Second Prince, and the forces of both sides can be equal.

After Shen Beiqi saw through Emperor Hongyang's thoughts, he deliberately held Shen Li's hand in front of Xiao Wenche.

This move is just to show his affection for Shen Li.

Xiao Wenche has always been smart. If he still wants Shen Beiqi to be his helper, he will temporarily put aside his thoughts on Shen Li.

It can also leave more time for him.

The cabin fell silent.

Yueyang stood at the bow of the boat and rowed. The oars sliced ​​across the lake, and the sound of the rolling water was particularly clear in the night.

Shen Beiqi kept his brows slightly furrowed and his eyes lowered, as if he was thinking about some serious problem.

Going to the battlefield is no joke. So many soldiers died that even their bodies could not be found.

Shen Li felt that she should say a few nice words to coax him.

So that he can fight without any worries.

She coughed twice and called out, "Hengzhi..."

Well...even though it’s not the first time I’ve called his name, it still feels a bit awkward!

"Don't worry, I will wait for you to come back like before."

He came back to his senses, his gaze fell on her clear eyes, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"What are you waiting for me to come back for?"