Chapter 785: A Fragrance Named Dream
While the war was raging fiercely, the Northwest King was severely wounded. The court officials harbored different thoughts, with most feeling regretful. They believed that without maintaining the initial momentum and following the Northwest King’s unstoppable drive, he might have achieved unparalleled merits.
Just as everyone thought the tide of the war was about to turn, the Northwest King retreated to the rear, and the Northwest Prince Heir, who had long been stationed in the background, stepped up to the frontlines.
If the Northwest King was an aging but still formidable tiger descending the mountain, then the Northwest Prince Heir was a lone wolf charging forward with unwavering determination. No one expected that the Northwest King’s battle injuries would not only fail to dampen morale but would instead be used by Shen Yungan to inspire the fighting spirit of the Northwest troops.
On the seventeenth day of the sixth month in the twenty-third year of the Youning era, Shen Yungan led three hundred thousand troops across the northern deserts, completely crushing the allied forces of the foreign tribes. He captured the Mongol King alive and set the Turkic royal tent ablaze.
In this battle, Shen Yungan’s iron cavalry reached Mount Guyan—a feat unmatched since the time of the Han Dynasty’s Champion Marquis, a glory no one had replicated since.
The entire Northwest was jubilant and filled with pride. When the news of the victory reached the court, most civil and military officials felt genuine joy and pride. For a time, many scholars took up their brushes to write praises for Shen Yungan, their words overflowing with admiration.
Tales of the Northwest King and the Northwest Prince Heir spread through every street and alley. It was no longer just the Northwest; even in the capital, people spoke of the Northwest King and his son, and even the Shen family, with profound respect.
Though Shen Xihe paid no attention to the outside world, focusing solely on nurturing her pregnancy in the Eastern Palace, these tidings drifted to her like falling snow...
Regarding the restless foreign tribes in the northern deserts, Shen Yueshan had long conducted countless drills and harbored the ambition to annihilate them in one fell swoop. However, Your Majesty’s deep suspicions toward the Northwest made Shen Yueshan hesitant to act rashly. On one hand, he feared that achieving too great a merit would alarm the ruler, forcing Your Majesty to discard all pretense and seek the destruction of the Shen family.
On the other hand, he worried that Your Majesty would sabotage his efforts from behind, causing his endeavors to fail and tarnishing his lifelong reputation, thereby bringing calamity upon his descendants.
Before Shen Xihe went to the capital, she had overheard Shen Yueshan and his generals lamenting their regrets and disappointments on several occasions. He had always believed that this battle of his lifetime would remain unrealized, uncertain whether Shen Yungan would ever have the opportunity.
Yet Shen Yueshan never imagined that his son-in-law would fulfill this wish for him. This decisive and exhilarating battle proceeded so smoothly, a testament to how many times he and his son had privately drilled, deployed troops, and scouted the enemy.
The success of this battle was due to two main factors: first, Your Majesty had suffered a heavy blow and could not covertly dispatch saboteurs. Second, Xiao Huayong’s years of planning ensured that beyond the Northwest, no forces would restrain the Shen family. Even Tibet, due to the influence of the Prince of Shunan, dared not act recklessly. The general guarding the Northwest’s crucial frontier was the maternal uncle of Prince Xin, Xiao Changqing.
Noble Consort Rong’s influence had waned, and a single letter from Xiao Changqing could sway Commander Rong to his side.
Xiao Changqing had already informed the Rong clan leader that he would no longer contend for the throne, as Xiao Changying lacked both the talent and the ambition to rule. With the Eastern Palace’s ascension to the throne imminent, it was better to curry favor with the Eastern Palace early, ensuring future reliance and support.
Thus, through the maneuvering of multiple factions, the Northwest King’s army operated without internal spies. On the surface, they were defending against external enemies, not initiating war. Only under such circumstances could the Shen father and son fight with such unwavering courage, free from any concerns about the rear."Beichen, thank you." Shen Xihe felt an indescribable emotion welling up in her chest.
Since marrying Xiao Huayong, he had given her countless touching moments, each one deeply moving her, but this time she truly found it difficult to express her gratitude.
This was originally something she should have accomplished herself. She had thought that once she gained the power of life and death, she would definitely let her father and brother fight this battle—regardless of life or death, victory or defeat—so they would have no regrets.
However, Father was getting older, and Shen Xihe had always worried whether he would still be able to step onto the battlefield and personally engage the enemy when she finally gained power, rather than standing helplessly in the rear.
"The timing was perfect. I'm also very happy to fulfill Father's wish." To accomplish Father's lifelong desire.
Originally, if Xiao Changyan hadn't schemed against him, Xiao Huayong wouldn't have reached this point so quickly. He had wanted more time to create more memories and footprints with Shen Xihe.
But now was actually the best timing. Your Majesty was constrained at every turn, his capable princes had all been neutralized by them, and even the mission to represent the emperor in rewarding the Northwest forces only had Xiao Changgeng and Xiao Changying competing for it.
Your Majesty naturally favored Xiao Changgeng, but Xiao Changgeng lacked sufficient support and couldn't compete with Xiao Changqing, having to withdraw helplessly. When Xiao Changying went to the Northwest, he faithfully followed Your Majesty's instructions to pay close attention to the northwestern campaigns.
Upon arriving in the Northwest, he immediately became sworn brothers with Shen Yungan. Their seamless cooperation made the Northwest army even more formidable. As the imperial representative, Xiao Changying brought greater stability and unity to the Northwest troops, making the plan progress even more smoothly than Shen Yueshan and his son had anticipated.
During today's morning court, the usually reticent Xiao Changqing, likely overjoyed for his younger brother, delivered an elaborate account of the Northwest King and his son's remarkable achievements and his brother's bravery in battle.
Though Xiao Huayong didn't attend morning court, he could imagine how Xiao Changqing's every word struck deep into Your Majesty's heart like daggers—while Your Majesty had to praise his speech before all the civil and military officials!
Xiao Huayong shared this amusing court incident with Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe wasn't particularly concerned about whether Your Majesty was distressed—she took no pleasure in it—but seeing Xiao Huayong's radiant expression as he spoke, she couldn't help smiling along: "You're pushing Your Majesty to his limits."
Starting from the Min River incident, Your Majesty had encountered constant setbacks, even being poisoned with residual toxins still affecting him. His frustration was understandable, and now the Northwest's glorious successes were thoroughly stinging his eyes.
"It's not enough yet. We need to add more fuel to the fire." Only then would the emperor who had ruled for over twenty years completely snap.
His gaze softening, Xiao Huayong looked affectionately at Shen Xihe: "For what remains, I'll need Youyou's assistance."
Meeting his gaze with a smile, Shen Xihe nodded gently: "I understand."
Although Xiao Huayong hadn't told her his ultimate goal, Shen Xihe could see from the situation that he was forcing Your Majesty to discard all dignity and seek the Shen father and son's destruction, otherwise the consequences would be endless.
Since Xiao Huayong intended to push Your Majesty into action, she naturally would assist him under these circumstances.
The incense "Dream Thoughts" was Shen Xihe's original creation, derived from the concept of daydreams becoming night dreams.The incense itself is harmless, but due to the addition of two medicinal ingredients that can agitate the mind, its fragrance appears tranquil and subtle yet has the power to lure people into nightmares.
These nightmares are manifestations of the heavy burdens weighing on one's mind during the day.
(End of Chapter)
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