Chapter 838: Chapter 506: Reporting to Your Majesty, the Qingzhou Army Has Been Defeated, and Mr. Zhao Returns Triumphant!
The Empress simply smiled and raised her hand to tidy the stray locks of her hair on her forehead, saying with a smile, "Alright, your punishment is to quickly and truthfully report all the experiences along your journey."
"As you command..."
Mo Chou blushed, started stammering, and then quickly recounted the key information from her journey. The Empress listened quietly, occasionally asking a question midway.
In the end, she gently nodded and said, "Though you were not by my side during this journey, you still made contributions in protecting the throne. Are the others in the side hall? They deserve a reward."
Mo Chou quickly shook her head, "I don’t dare to take credit. It’s just my duty as a subject. As for protecting the throne, I heard that Junior Guardian Zhao escorted Your Majesty back to the capital. The other day, Your Majesty even... proposed to him?"
When asking this last question, Mo Chou’s voice altered slightly, and she looked at the Empress with a somewhat resentful gaze.
Xu Zhenguan nodded with a smile, seemingly unaware of the maid’s resentment, "He... is indeed the Consort I have chosen."
Mo Chou was momentarily speechless, having countless things to say, like wanting to ask if anything happened between Zhao Douan and the Empress during the escape, but felt it wasn’t her place to inquire. In the end, she could only hang her head in mourning and said, "I wonder where Junior Guardian Zhao is now..."
"He has gone to the Qingzhou Rode border to pacify the rebellion," Xu Zhenguan replied, sighing lightly as she mentioned it, "He’s only been gone a few days, and it’s already caused dissatisfaction among many at court."
"Junior Guardian Zhao has no experience leading troops in battle," Mo Chou was stunned for a moment, but being very astute, she immediately realized, "Could it be that the military officers from the Privy Council and the Ministry of War find it inappropriate?"
Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly, got up, and began to pace, "That’s right. For the past few days, their requests to replace Zhao Douan for the battle have been incessant."
Just as she finished speaking, a female official walked in from outside, "Your Majesty, the officials from the Privy Council and the Ministry of War are here again, requesting an audience with Your Majesty."
Xu Zhenguan’s face showed some reluctance, but after hesitating, she said, "Let them in."
In no time, about three to five people were led in. At the forefront was the old Chief of Staff of the Ministry of War and the current highest "Deputy Secretariat Envoy" of the Privy Council.
"We, the ministers, pay our respects to Your Majesty!"
They hadn’t even entered the room fully before they familiarly bowed in greeting.
"No need for formalities." Xu Zhenguan’s cool voice came through.
The military officers straightened up and looked into the study. Upon seeing Mo Chou standing quietly beside the Empress, they were taken aback. The old Chief of Staff of the Ministry of War was the first to smile, "We heard upon entering the palace that Mo Zhaorong and others have returned, what a happy occasion."
Sitting behind the bright yellow desk, Xu Zhenguan raised her hand to interrupt him, her expression indifferent and cold, "If you have any matters, speak up." Avoiding niceties and meandering conversations.
This... The military officers exchanged glances, and the tall, slim Deputy Secretariat Envoy stepped forward, bowing his hands and saying, "Your Majesty, we are here once again to advise on the matter of replacing Junior Guardian Zhao to handle the military affairs on Qingzhou Rode."
He took out a memorial from his sleeve and presented it with both hands, "This is a petition jointly signed by the upper and lower ranks of the capital’s military, earnestly requesting Your Majesty to rescind the order and hand this battle over to the Privy Council. We pledge to fight to the death to repay Your Majesty’s grace!"
Xu Zhenguan quietly regarded the group of people, while Mo Chou glanced at the memorial, hesitated, then went over to pick it up and handed it to the Empress.
Xu Zhenguan pinched the thick petition with her slender, pale fingers but did not open it. She just tossed it on the table and said lightly, "Li Yanfu’s mutiny, two heads of the Imperial Guards rebelled, the Vassal Kings caused chaos, military generals like Zhao Shixiong and Ning Xianzong also turned against the court. Theoretically, they all belong to your domains. Now, you vie for military power, do you truly wish to quell the rebellion, or do you have other motives?"
As soon as she said this, the expressions of the people changed, and they all fell to their knees, "May Your Majesty perceive rightly, we are utterly loyal, and the Privy Council (Ministry of War) harbors no ulterior motives! It’s just that although Junior Guardian Zhao is not a military general, has never led troops before, we are only acting for the greater good..."
Xu Zhenguan said lightly, "Who says he hasn’t led troops and can’t win a war?"
Mo Chou glanced at her sideways, thinking to herself that Your Majesty, your favoritism is a bit too obvious.
"This..." The military officers were momentarily unable to refute and could only stand still with stiff necks, their stance clear.
Just as the tension between the ruler and her ministers reached an impasse, suddenly, out in the corridor, a eunuch dashed in hurriedly, and even before arriving, he excitedly shouted in a high-pitched voice, "Congratulations to Your Majesty! Congratulations to Your Majesty! The Qingzhou Rebel Army has been annihilated, the rebel Prince Heng has been escorted outside the city, and Mr. Zhao has returned triumphant! Triumphant!"
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Finish the layout, then make adjustments