C27

With the opening of public relations in Gan, it wouldn't be a bad thing for a man like Princess Yun Jiao to enter the palace together with her. The crux of the matter was that this man was Yun Jiao's future husband, the current emperor — Qianyu.

Whoever dared to say no would be courting death.

Mu Yi'an had already received the news that Yun Jiao had gone to see a man and expected it to be the emperor. However, when he saw them appear in front of him hand in hand, he was shocked and helpless.

He had grown up together with Yun Jiao, but they had never been so intimate. Yun Jiao was usually warm and gentle, yet she did not have her current bright and beautiful smile.

Thinking about it, he had been careless. He hadn't realized that her smile might not be sincere.

It was only now that Mu Yi An realized that he had really underestimated Yun Jiao in the past. He had always thought that she was an ordinary girl, gentle and amiable, but he didn't know that this girl was not someone an ordinary girl could compare to.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live our Emperor." King Yu bowed and prostrated himself on the ground. He glared at Yun Jiao with resentment. "How dare you …"

"It's fine." Qianyu raised his hand to interrupt Mu Yi An. His pampering tone was clear, but he smiled and said to Mu Yi'an, "General Mu, long time no see."

"I pay my respects to the Emperor. My respects to the Emperor." Mu Yi'an knelt down and bowed.

"Forget it." Qian Yu held his hand and said, "General Mu and I do not need to be courteous. Stand up."

King Yu hurriedly led Qian Yu in. "Your Majesty, please sit."

"Alright, let's all sit. Yun Jiao, come sit here." Qian Yu pointed to the spot beside him and smiled.

That was originally King Yu's seat. Seeing this, King Yu quickly retreated to the side and gave his chair to Yun Jiao.

Yun Jiao walked over with gentle steps and sat down beside him. "Thank you, your majesty."

"You're being too courteous with me."

Yun Jiao smiled shyly and didn't say anything. She slowly lowered her head and looked at Mu Yi'an from the corner of her eyes, carefully observing his movements.

Mu Yi An pretended not to notice her gaze and lowered his head in silence.

Qian Yu sized up the people in the room and smiled: "General Mu, seeing that the Autumn Harvest is about to arrive, I'm afraid that the Tigers and Wolves from the northern border are about to attack again. Have you made your preparations?"

The meaning behind his words was, why are you still here? Don't you need to guard the border?

"Reporting to the Emperor, Muyi had already made his preparations. He only needed to wait for them to arrive and would definitely capture them all. Not a single one was left alive."

Qian Yu nodded his head in satisfaction. "Since General Mu's garrison at the border city, not only has the number of criminals in the northern border city decreased, even the tax revenue there has been increased by twenty to thirty percent every year. General Mu is actually a good general of our country."

"Your Majesty's praise is too much, this lowly general doesn't dare to accept it." Mu Yi An stood up and bowed.

"Haha, General Mu, why be so modest? You are a pillar of our country. With General Mu, our country will be safe." Qian Yu looked at Mu Yi'an with appreciation. "Take a seat, General Mu. There's no need to stand on ceremony."

"Thank you, your majesty."

Qianyu looked at Mu Yi An and smiled, "I've heard that the northern border is vast and boundless. I've heard that it's the most magnificent. I've really yearned for it, but unfortunately, I've never seen it before. Tell me about it."

"Reporting to the Emperor, the scenery of the Northern Frontier …"

"Cough, cough …" Yun Jiao suddenly covered her mouth and nose with the handkerchief and began to cough.

"What? Are you feeling unwell?" Qian Yu asked in a low voice. At the same time, he stretched out his hand to pat Yun Jiao's back with a doting look on his face.

"No, it's just that my throat feels a bit uncomfortable."

"Here." Qian Yu served her some tea. "Drink slowly."

"Thank you, your majesty." Yun Jiao blushed as she sipped the tea from her cup. She stole a glance at Mu Yi An and quietly gave him a meaningful glance. If you don't want the emperor to ask anything, then you'll answer without thinking.

Mu Yi An slowly shifted his eyes away and lowered his eyes in silence.

Eunuch Li glanced at the two as his eyes flashed with curiosity. "General Mu, why aren't you speaking?" The Emperor asked you, how is the northern border? "

Mu Yi'an's expression was normal as he got up and said respectfully, "Reporting to the emperor, I have guarded the border for many years. Mu Yi'an's expression was normal as he got up and said respectfully," Reporting to the emperor, I have guarded the border for many years.

Yun Jiao secretly let out a breath of relief. She sipped her tea and pretended that she didn't hear his reply.

Eunuch Li scoffed, "General Mu is too modest. You have been guarding the border for many years and have never seen the northern border before. It is unbelievable."

Mu Yi'an narrowed his phoenix eyes and swept a glance at Eunuch Li.

Eunuch Li's heart skipped a beat. He had served the Emperor for many years and had never seen anyone with such a strong aura. This Mu Yian's aura was not any weaker than that of Zen King's, and there was even a faint overbearing aura.

Eunuch Li's expression changed. He saw Mu Yi An get up, kneel on one knee, and clasp his fists: "This general is incompetent, and has let down Your Majesty's grace."

"Why does General Mu say that …"

"Mu Yi'an requests that next spring, we will cross the Suo Tuo River and take down Northern Frontier Zhou and Spirit City. I hope that Your Majesty will agree."

Qian Yu was still smiling blandly, but he let out a long sigh and said, "I don't like to fight. When war broke out in the north, blood flowed into rivers and the river was dyed red. I don't know how many families died, but I can't bear to see the people suffer …"

"Your majesty is right, our country is in its prime, it really isn't suitable for war to break out." King Yu swept a glance at Mu Yi'an and complained to him in his heart. The Emperor had always governed the country with kindness, and had never thoroughly fallen out with the northern border in so many years. He had even allowed them to trade with each other, which meant that the Emperor didn't want to fight, but he wholeheartedly wanted to fight to the death with the northern border.

"Your Majesty's words are quite true. I was careless."

"It doesn't matter. The general is a good general of our country. The northern borders are thanks to General Mu for their safety. I thank General Mu on behalf of the citizens of Gan."

"This lowly general does not dare to accept the honor. As a soldier, I will protect my own home and country, and I will not hesitate to wrap my body in horse skin."

Qian Yu laughed, "General, please sit."

Everyone sat down to drink some tea.

The silence in the room was terrifying.

"General Mu, you must be twenty this year. I remember that the general is about the same age as me. I think he's a little older than me?"

King Yu's heart trembled, why would the emperor suddenly mention this matter? He winked at Mu Yi'an.

Mu Yi'an slowly stood up and knelt, not saying a single word.

The room grew quieter, and a silent atmosphere reverberated within the room. King Yu's forehead was sweating, he slowly clenched his fists and laughed, "Supreme Emperor, how can you compare yourself to us micro soldiers? Your majesty really overestimates Muyi."

Qian Yu laughed, "General Mu, get up."

"This lowly general doesn't dare."

With a faint smile on his lips, Qian Yu gave Eunuch Li a look.

Eunuch Li stepped forward to help Mu Yi'an up. "The general is nervous, the emperor has already said that the general is a good general of our country, so how many people admire him? His majesty the emperor values the general and wants to be closer than the general, but the general is overthinking."

"The Emperor is the ruler of nine or five years, and this general has only done the smallest amount of work for the Qiangguo. It's just a small matter, but I can't compare with the Emperor."

Qian Yu sighed and shook his head, "General Mu, I... "I am truly worried."

Mu Yi An didn't understand.

"I have ascended the throne at the age of sixteen and have already had a pair of children. General Mu and I were not married at the same age. This really makes me uneasy."

"I will serve my country …"

"Since we're serving the country, we shouldn't mistreat the general." Eunuch Li's eyes turned as he spoke, "General Mu, the emperor's golden mouth is a gift from the heavens. If you have someone you love, tell them immediately. Please make the decision, Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Yun Jiao's small face drooped even lower, almost burying into her chest. Her fingers forcefully twisted the handkerchief and her eyes continuously rolled around in her eye sockets. She actually didn't even dare to look at Mu Yi'an.

Mu Yi'an had been waiting for her all these years without a single woman by his side. If he was unwilling in his heart and said his name, how could the Emperor possibly let him off?

No, she was someone who wanted to be the imperial concubine, how could she be held back by Mu Yi'an!

What to do, what to do!

Her hands tightened around his, and her knuckles turned white.

A hand slowly reached out and took her hand, wrapping around her hands.

Yun Jiao's body shook as she slowly lifted her head to meet Qian Yu's eyes. Her heart slightly trembled as she did not know how to respond. She could only pray in her heart, "Muyi, don't pull me into the water."