Chapter 343: Making It Clear

Chapter 343: Making It Clear

Yu Zheng spoke with sincerity and earnestness, leaving the emperor speechless as he glared at him.

"What else?" the emperor pressed after a moment.

Yu Zheng replied candidly, "Your Majesty is wise. Although this campaign is perilous and arduous, as long as he returns victorious, no one will dare to raise objections."

On the other hand, even if Yu Cheng were to ascend the throne smoothly in the future, his reign would not be entirely stable.

Thus, Yu Cheng had no other choice.

After a pause, Yu Zheng analyzed logically, "Your Majesty's personal expedition will not only boost the morale of the troops but also allow for timely decision-making in case of emergencies, preventing delays in military affairs. For instance, if reinforcements are urgently needed, Your Majesty can directly order the deployment of troops from nearby Ancheng and Fucheng."

If it were another general, even with Your Majesty's decree, it would be difficult to gain obedience.

Moreover, given the gravity of the matter, apart from the prince and crown prince, the emperor would not dare to entrust such a crucial decree to just anyone.

Loyal subjects and traitorous generals can sometimes be separated by a single decision.

"You are right, and I think the same," the emperor sighed heavily.

"This time is different from the past. If the subsequent provisions of food and fodder cannot be supplied, the morale of the troops will quickly collapse."

Compared to sending reinforcements, provisions are even more troublesome.

This battle will not be easy to win.

But at the moment, there is no other choice; we can only take one step at a time.

In the drizzling rain, Yu Cheng returned to the Eastern Palace as the rain began to let up.

He handed his umbrella to a palace attendant, wiped the rainwater off his boots on the doormat under the eaves, and then stepped inside.

"Your Highness is back," Xie Wanruo greeted him.

Yu Cheng acknowledged her and walked into the inner chamber, where Xie Wanruo helped him change out of his official robes.

Looking at Xie Wanruo as she tied his belt, Yu Cheng said, "I will set out for the frontier tomorrow."

What?

Xie Wanruo was shocked and looked up to ask urgently, "Did His Majesty send you?"

Yu Cheng pursed his lips, "I requested it myself."

Xie Wanruo was stunned and puzzled, "Why? Doesn't Your Highness know the dangers of the battlefield?"

"I know, but someone has to go."

Xie Wanruo couldn't understand and was also worried, wanting to persuade Yu Cheng to change his mind.

"There are so many military officers in the court, and Your Highness has never been on the battlefield. Moreover, your injuries have just healed. How can you go?"

"The people of the northern deserts are inherently fierce, and on the battlefield, swords and arrows are blind. What if..."

Yu Cheng interrupted her, comforting her, "Wanruo, I am only going to oversee and make decisions. Unless absolutely necessary, I will not personally engage in battle."

Xie Wanruo was still not reassured and continued to persuade him.

Yu Cheng sighed helplessly, "Do you know what I’m dealing with at court right now?"

Xie Wanruo furrowed her brow and stayed silent.

Although Yu Cheng had never spoken to her about it, she could guess.

His mother’s family had plotted regicide and rebellion, committing numerous unpardonable crimes. Yu Cheng must be facing a lot of criticism, struggling to act or speak freely.

Seeing her composed, Yu Cheng continued, "Wanruo, I have no other choice."

Unless he stepped down as Crown Prince.

Xie Wanruo understood it all, but she was truly worried for Yu Cheng’s safety, afraid something might happen to him.

"If I begged you to stay, would you?" Xie Wanruo asked sorrowfully.

Yu Cheng replied, "There’s no joking in front of the Emperor. My decision is made."

Xie Wanruo’s eyes flashed, and she suddenly realized something.

She spent her days and nights with Yu Cheng, yet he hadn’t told her beforehand. Instead, he told her only after it was decided.

"Your Highness, is there another reason you’re leading the expedition yourself?"

Others may not know, but Xie Wanruo knew that Yu Cheng had never coveted the Crown Prince’s position.

Especially with the expedition’s outcome uncertain.

A victory would secure his position as Crown Prince. A defeat would mean blame and ruin.

They locked eyes for a moment, and Yu Cheng suddenly asked her, "Wanruo, why did Noble Consort Yu protect you? You had no ties to her. Why would she risk protecting you?"

"Was the downfall of the Cao family orchestrated by my father-in-law and brother-in-law? And the suicides of the Empress and Muxue..."

Yu Cheng did not say it, but he understood everything in his heart.

Xie Wanruo trembled and clenched her hands, asking, "Does Your Highness blame me?"

She had long known that she could not keep it from him.

Yu Cheng shook his head and sighed with guilt, "It is I who failed to protect you. The Empress and the others... brought it upon themselves. My father-in-law and brother-in-law saw the situation clearly and acted loyally for the Emperor. I just cannot forgive myself and want to do something to atone."

Regicide and rebellion meant that the Empress and Cao Muxue could not have survived. Xie Wanruo’s coercion was to protect him.

Precisely because he understood everything, Yu Cheng found it even harder to forgive himself.

He did not want to fail anyone, yet he had failed everyone.

Yu Cheng’s face was filled with self-reproach and pain, too ashamed to face anyone, feeling suffocated by the high walls of the palace.

Whether it was atonement or escape, he wanted to leave Shang Jing, even if only temporarily.

With everything laid bare, Xie Wanruo smiled sadly and said, "Your Highness must take care of yourself. Haolin, Haoyan, and I will be waiting for your return."

She deliberately mentioned Yu Haoyan and his siblings, hoping to touch Yu Cheng’s paternal feelings and give him something to hold onto.

Yu Haolin was fine, as she, his mother, was there.

But for Yu Haoyan and his siblings, Yu Cheng was their only support. Without his protection, their future would be difficult.

"Alright," Yu Cheng replied with a heavy heart, his eyes brimming with pain.

For more than two months, he hadn’t had a single peaceful day, often feeling a dull ache in his chest.

He felt indebted to Xie Wanruo, yet he couldn’t let go of the past and face her openly.

After breakfast, Yu Cheng went to his study to handle official matters and prepare for the expedition, while Xie Wanruo packed his belongings in the East Palace.

It was late autumn, nearing winter, and while Shang Jing wasn’t too cold yet, the borderlands were already covered in snow and ice.

"Did you pack the two fur cloaks?" Xie Wanruo asked Ying Rong, who was organizing the luggage.

Ying Rong answered, "They’re all packed."

Xie Wanruo double-checked to make sure Yu Cheng had enough winter coats to stay warm.

Supplies were scarce at the border, and Yu Cheng had just recovered from a severe injury, so they had to be extra careful.

After making sure everything was ready, Xie Wanruo sank onto the soft couch, gazing absently at the luggage.

"Mother!" Yu Haolin came running in.

Xie Wanruo snapped out of her thoughts and took Yu Haolin’s hand.

"Is Father going away again?" Yu Haolin asked, eyeing the luggage.

He remembered the last time he saw luggage, his father had left for Duanzhou and was gone for over two months.

Xie Wanruo said, "Yes, your father is heading to the border to fight the bad guys, and he’ll be away for a long time."

Hearing about fighting bad guys, Yu Haolin’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "I want to see Father fight the bad guys! Can we go with him?"

Xie Wanruo shook her head and said gently, "No, fighting bad guys is too dangerous. Father won’t be able to look after us, and we mustn’t get in his way."

"Oh," Yu Haolin said, a little disappointed.

Xie Wanruo patted his head and said softly, "Haolin, practice your martial arts well. When you’re older, you can join Father on the battlefield and protect Daizhao."

After surviving the assassination attempt led by the Empress, where Yu Cheng was severely injured, Xie Wanruo realized the importance of martial arts and hired a tutor for Yu Haolin.

However, Yu Haolin was still too young and could only practice basic skills to build his strength, endurance, and discipline.

"Okay, I’ll work hard," Yu Haolin said with a determined nod.

"Haolin is such a good boy," Xie Wanruo smiled with relief, then added, "Besides martial arts, don’t forget your studies and calligraphy practice."

Yu Haoyan, the son of a disgraced consort and a descendant of the Cao family, was fated to live as a leisurely prince.

As for Yu Haolin, he had the backing of his grandfather, the prime minister, and an uncle with a bright future.

No matter how many more children Yu Cheng might have, Yu Haolin’s position would remain unshakable.