Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Competing for Favor

On this day, returning to the Duke Mansion from Diligence Academy, Tang Xiaobai was lost in thought the entire way.

After lunch, she did not return to the Bright Moon Building as usual, but went straight to Zhou Xun’s place.

“Is there a problem with the Tingzhou military conflict?” Tang Xiaobai asked directly, without any preamble.

Zhou Xun was taken aback.

This was indeed direct and forthright.

“What prompts the Second Miss to say this?”

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment and decided to share what she had seen at Mr. Zhang’s place: “I saw a draft on Mr. Zhang’s desk, and it seemed like he was analyzing the Tingzhou military conflict.”

“The Second Miss can understand military analysis maps?” Zhou Xun was shocked.

Tang Xiaobai nodded absentmindedly: “A little, a little, mainly relying on guessing.” The draft looked so much like a part of the Chinese map that she connected it to Tingzhou.

Zhou Xun observed her for a while before slowly shaking his head: “There’s no problem with the Tingzhou conflict; the Duke has already retaken Tingzhou.”

“But has the conflict not ended? Is the Tingzhou situation unstable? Otherwise, why would Mr. Zhang analyze the Tingzhou military conflict?” Tang Xiaobai pursued the question further.

Things that aren’t problematic don’t require analysis.

Mr. Zhang, who doesn’t even teach princes or princesses, came to the Gu Family to instruct children, showing he’s indifferent to fame and fortune.

If he’s concerned about the conflict, it should be purely out of interest in the matter itself, not for related interests.

Zhou Xun nodded: “The Turkic Khan hasn’t been captured yet, so it can’t be called a complete victory. But as long as the Duke is in Tingzhou, the situation there will be stable, and capturing the Turkic Khan is just a matter of time.”

A sudden thought flashed in Tang Xiaobai’s mind: “So does Your Majesty want Father to return to the Capital City?”

Mr. Zhang is worried about the border conflict, which leads him to analyze it.

If Duke Yan is in Tingzhou, there’s nothing to worry about.

Unless, Duke Yan is not there—

The great victory at Tingzhou, pressure from memorials, it all looked like a pattern of overpowering achievements and showing disdain for the emperor’s authority; if she were the emperor, she wouldn’t want Duke Yan to grow stronger.

Even if it meant changing generals on the battlefield.

“Will Your Majesty find an excuse to summon Father back to the Capital City?”

Zhou Xun looked surprised and smiled, just about to respond—

“Sir, Gu Fifth Son requests an audience!”

Tang Xiaobai was stunned.

Gu Hui? Why is he here?

When Gu Hui entered and saw Tang Xiaobai, he was quite surprised too. After greeting, he seemed unsure whether he should speak.

Tang Xiaobai felt inspiration strike: “Is it about Father?”

Gu Hui hesitated and then nodded: “With the Crown Prince’s birthday approaching, Your Majesty intends to hold a grand ceremony to bless the Crown Prince, and Mr. Zhang advised my father, stating that Your Majesty might order your uncle to return to the Capital City with captives.”

Presenting captives indeed constitutes a grand ceremony.

But what does it have to do with the Crown Prince’s health?

“Please ask Sir to write, Tingzhou is unstable, and my uncle is not suitable to return to the Capital City for now.”

Tang Xiaobai frowned.

Is the reason of Tingzhou being unstable enough to block this?

…

“Tingzhou being unstable won’t prevent him from sending someone else to replace my father back!”

Zhang Yin’s estimate was quite accurate.

On September 20, the decree ordering Duke Yan and his son to return to the Capital City with captives had already been issued.

According to unspeakable insider news, the decree also appointed an inspector for Tingzhou to take over the recently reclaimed Tingzhou.

“I don’t know if my brother could return to the Capital City on behalf of my father, but it’s quite frustrating,” Tang Xiaobai felt more agitated the more she thought about it, and couldn’t help but mutter: “Why is the Crown Prince’s birthday so untimely?”

Li Mu’s brush trembled.

One mistake ruins the whole piece.

Li Mu tossed aside the ruined sheet, crumpling it tightly in his hand, paused, and said softly: “Earlier, Duke Yan was in such a mess after hearing about the attack on his eldest daughter, he might have accidentally gotten injured. As his son, Little General Tang should serve him whole-heartedly.”

Tang Xiaobai’s eyes lit up, but then she was puzzled: “Is this okay? What if they take the opportunity to bring father back to recover?”

“Some injuries are unsuitable for long-distance travel.”

The young girl’s eyes sparkled: “Might as well make it a severe injury?”

Li Mu’s heart stirred: “If the commander-in-chief is severely wounded, it might lure the enemies to attack…”

Tang Xiaobai leapt up: “I’ll go find Mr. Zhou!”

“Second Miss—”

The young girl flutters back in front of him like a sparrow.

Li Mu squeezed the hand that wanted to pat her head and said softly: “Don’t mention that I said it.”

Although she looked confused, she still nodded obediently.

Feeling warmth in his heart, Li Mu couldn’t resist patting her head…

…

Tingzhou Camp.

Tang Ziqian brushed the snow off his shoulders, intending to enter the Central Army Tent when suddenly, boisterous laughter erupted from inside.

“Father, what’s making you so happy?” Tang Ziqian lifted the curtain and entered with a smile.

Tang Shigong placed the letter he was holding on the desk: “Come and take a look, Xiaobai is giving us advice now!”

Tang Ziqian quickly stepped forward to pick it up and read it closely.

The letter was written by Zhou Xun, who sent it via express before the censors could deliver it, outlining strategies against the upcoming decree, but Zhou Xun specifically mentioned in the letter: advice from the Second Miss.

After reading, Tang Ziqian laughed heartily: “Xiaobai is giving advice! And it coincides with Father’s thoughts! Impressive! Impressive!”

That’s what he said, though he didn’t take it seriously, suspecting the little girl just made some random remark, and Zhou Xun added it in jest.

After all, his little sister was only nine years old… how old was nine, really?

Tang Ziqian recalled his little sister’s face, but it was only a blur. He sighed: “Father, I can barely remember what Xiaobai looks like. When will we go home to see her? Is Mother feeling better? I need to go back and deal with those bullies who troubled Jiaojiao…”

Tang Shigong’s eyes wavered slightly, then he smiled: “Once we take the Yingsuo River, you go back first; that person in our mansion should also be sent away—”

…

The news of Duke Yan’s serious injury spread back to the Capital City, causing the frail and constantly ill Lady Yan to faint on the spot.

Subsequently, the Duke Mansion closed its doors to visitors, claiming the need to transcribe eighty-one volumes of sutras for Duke Yan as an offering before Buddha.

Thus, Tang Xiaobai was forced to take leave, sitting at home copying sutras.

Not only did she have to copy them, but she also dragged Li Mu into it.

“We need to copy eighty-one volumes in three days! Why do they like copying sutras so much…” Tang Xiaobai muttered while copying.

Reportedly, they were to appear as if their womenfolk abandoned rest and food, exhausting themselves while copying sutras, so she had to find someone to help.

Occasionally raising her head, she saw the little ancestor hesitating and not having started yet.

“What’s wrong?”

“Is it appropriate for me to copy?” Li Mu hesitated to write.

The last time he copied sutras, it was for himself; this time, it was for Tang Shigong—

No matter what, he was still the Crown Prince. Copying sutras and praying for a minister, was it appropriate?

“Why wouldn’t it be appropriate?” Tang Xiaobai said casually, “It’s eighty-one volumes! My mother also has people around to help copy them—” Suddenly realizing, “Do you think it’s too much? How about I ask Ah Yuan to help too—”

“Second Miss, Ah Yuan requests an audience!”

Speak of the devil, and the devil appears.

Ah Yuan didn’t come empty-handed; he was holding a stack of papers, densely covered with writing.

Li Mu frowned and glanced at it, finding it seemingly more neat than his usual practice writing.

“This is the scripture I copied last night… I, I also want to pray for the Duke…” he presented the manuscript, looking into Tang Xiaobai’s eyes with some trepidation, as if afraid she’d scold and reject him.

Li Mu’s brows knitted tighter.

This kid, trying to win favor!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep