Chapter 1009: Preemptive Deployment

r best to keep Ripples here and not interfere with your development in Shanghai.I don't ask for anything, just hope that in the future you can take good care of Junyi. My husband and I have retirement...By now, the Emperor had accepted his inability to bear children. There was no point in resisting it. In a desperate attempt to have a child, he took tonics like water, which only ended up harming him. He nearly died from exhaustion and overstimulation, ultimately succumbing to Lian'er's tearful pleas and abandoning his self-inflicted torment.

For this very reason, the emperor valued his three children even more. He had tutors chosen for them early on and renowned scholars to educate them. When the children were four years old, they began their enlightenment education, cultivating them from a young age.

The ripples doesn't object to the emperor's actions. As a prince, there are naturally responsibilities to be shouldered, and learning is just one of the simplest links.

Lian Yi doesn't want the three children to become slaves to imperial power, so she doesn't just have them read books by sages. She focuses more on cultivating their interests and hobbies, and advocates for a balance between work and rest. She doesn't just have them study hard or endlessly read books.

The eldest son, Chiang Hung-chi, has the demeanor of a true older brother. He gets up early every day to run laps, practice stances, and spar with his younger siblings. He firmly believes what his mother said: only with a strong physique can one do more.

The Emperor is often ill because he's weak, and whenever he gets sick, the Empress Dowager has to take care of him. To avoid spreading illness to the three siblings, she spends days tending to the Emperor and can't see them. Though they don't say anything, the three siblings do harbor some resentment in their hearts.

So they are all very active and diligent about basic fitness exercises, so everyone is in good shape.

Ripple had already taught the three little ones martial arts, so she chose a martial arts secret manual suitable for three people and started teaching them from a young age. After all, Ripple was born into a family of martial artists, so she could still take out one or two top-secret techniques.

Lián Yī told the emperor that, this was her dowry, now passed on to her child. It wasn't a waste.

"I hear that you, Lian Yi, have been weak and sickly since childhood. I didn't expect you to also practice martial arts"

When Liàn Yī taught her daughter how to wield a whip, the Emperor happened to see them. He was so astonished that he blurted out his question.

"Your Majesty, how could you believe those rumors"

Ripples feigned surprise.

"I am frail, this is from birth. I am not sickly, just slow to develop. My family wanted me to grow up strong, so they also had me practice martial arts appropriately."

"I am, after all, merely a woman and cannot compare to my two elder brothers. At best, I can only protect myself. Otherwise, if there were a palace coup, even I couldn't protect my three children. During that incident, I did everything in my power."

The ripples' words made the emperor somewhat uncomfortable, but they also dispelled his worries. Rumors can be harmful indeed. Time and again, every time he thought the Empress was about to breathe her last, she pulled through.

Now that all three children have grown up, even if he wants to do something, he has to consider the three children. Otherwise, if the children find out about his thoughts, who knows how angry they would be.

This matter was just dropped, the three children also learned martial arts and passed through the bright path. Under the circumstance of not delaying studies, no one could say anything.

Especially the second princess Jiang Yunsan, the little girl is very talented. She wields her whip with great skill and ferocity. As she grows older and her martial arts skills improve, she becomes more and more imposing.

This year marks the Emperor's thirtieth birthday. Lian Yi proposed organizing a celebration, a way to share the joy with his ministers. Meanwhile, the Meng family from the border region also arranged for people to enter the palace and celebrate his birthday.

Originally, Madam Meng wanted to come, but she was refused by General Meng. He did not want his old wife to upset the Empress.

But General Meng refused to let Mrs. Meng go, the more he refused, the more insistent she became. She always felt that her husband and two sons were hiding something from her. She was also unwilling to accept the death of her own daughter and wanted to see what kind of life Ripple, the substitute, was living, it was simply self-abuse.

General Meng thought his old wife had gone mad. He asked the family doctor to prescribe some medicine, and the next day Mrs. Meng fell ill. This finally put an end to her idea of going to the capital city.

The ripples didn't know any of this, it simply saw the Meng family members who came to visit and chatted cordially with them. In the end, it was still the old grandmother with gray hair who stayed behind.

“Your Majesty, General Meng sent me to deliver a message. He said that the civil war among the Qianglang tribe has ended, and Prince Moha became the new King. However, due to years of warfare, the Qianglang tribe suffered a once-in-a-century snow disaster. To survive, they will launch a war next spring.”

Ripples narrowed her eyes, listening intently. These were things she had long suspected.

"Tell General Meng to prepare for battle and, before the Qianglang tribe launches a war, send a message back to the imperial city via 800 li express."

Also, leverage your connections and transfer Meng's capable generals to the large camp near the imperial city. They will be useful in the future.

Grandma's heart skipped a beat when she heard Ripples' words, but she still lowered her eyes and replied.

"The old slave has taken note, Your Majesty. Are there any further orders"

"Tell the General, this time in battle against the Qianglang tribe, use more non-Meng family generals. If they do well, it benefits both them and my Meng family. If they are promoted, it is also an advancement for my Meng family's direct line. There is no need to insist on placing Meng family members in important positions, which might displease the Emperor."

"Yes, this old slave has taken note."

"Leave now! Return to the border early tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

The old woman bowed respectfully and then retreated from the inner hall.

Of course, the ripples told Old Madam Meng's words, all avoiding Sun Mama and Lan Zhi. Although these two people are loyal, there are some things they don't need to know.

The emperor's thirtieth birthday was indeed a joyous occasion. All the officials in the court congratulated him. The eldest prince even composed a poem on the spot, the second princess played a piece of pipa music, and the third prince performed a set of sword techniques. Though he appeared youthful, he also showed early signs of elegance and was praised for having the spirit of the previous emperor, receiving countless accolades in an instant.

The next day, when the three went to visit Lianyi, Lao San Hongye quietly asked Lianyi:

"Mother, yesterday was my first time dancing this sword form in front of so many people. I was a little nervous, so I made two mistakes, but they still praised me endlessly. I think they were being insincere."

Hongji twitched the corner of his mouth after hearing his third younger brother's words. Although he agreed, he didn't say anything.

Then Liàn Yī smiled and first affirmed her little son's guess:

"Sanbao (nickname)'s feeling is right, perhaps some of these people have seen your shortcomings, but they won't say it to your face. "

First, you are a prince, representing the face of the royal family. Second, today is your father's birthday. No one wants to upset him. Just know this, there's no need to ask further.

You only need to know that in the future, you don't have to believe everything these people say, but you also shouldn't disbelieve them. However, what to believe and what not to believe, you need to judge for yourself.

Hong Ye was a bit dizzy from hearing it, but Hong Ji understood immediately and nodded.

"The son understands. From now on, he will be more careful when speaking with these people."

The ripples indicate that Da Bao's understanding is also correct.

Just half a year after the Emperor's thirty-year birthday, an urgent war report arrived from the border. The new King of the Qianglang tribe, Moha, led 200,000 Qianglang warriors to invade the border. General Meng has already led his troops to resist the enemy.I lost control before and made you feel wronged, but you also know that I can't break off my engagement.Yun Si's rain-filled eyes were misty, brimming with crystal tears. She looked at Zhang Xue Tao a...