northernbook Chapter 188 Yu Ying's Defeat
Chapter 188 Yu Ying's Defeat
"Yes, your blue fox fur cloak is predominantly orange. As long as it's not yellow, it's fine. Your aunt, the Empress, is a paragon of virtue and will certainly not hold this against you."
Li Shuchen breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. As long as she could wear it, that was fine. She certainly didn't want to be unable to wear it; such a beautiful cloak was such a waste to just sit there unused.
Gu Ziying asked
"And let us see Yu Ying's black fox fur cloak too."
Li Shuchen said excitedly
"I'll get it."
He turned and went to the wardrobe, taking out the neatly folded black fox fur cloak from the top.
"Look!"
Gu Ziying reached out and stroked the fur.
"This black fox cloak is calm and understated, which suits Yu Ying well and complements her temperament."
Princess Changning also said
"Yu Ying would look incredibly dashing and heroic in that."
Li Shuchen replied
"Hmm, I just don't know if I'll ever see Yu Ying wear it herself again."
These words created a somber atmosphere, and both Gu Ziying and Li Shuchen's eyes welled up with tears.
Li Shuchen carefully touched the cloak, and whispered with a slight sob in his voice.
"Yu Ying has been gone for two months, and not a single piece of news about the war has been sent back to Weijing. We don't know how she is doing."
She only said in her letter that everything was fine, but Yuying is the type to only report good news and not bad. If she was injured or suffered a defeat, she wouldn't tell us either. We know nothing here, and we can't help her even if we want to.
After Li Shuchen finished speaking, he lay down on the black fox cloak.
Gu Ziying gently patted Li Shuchen's back and said
"Has Yuying received the grain we transported?"
The letter said she had received it.
Gu Ziying coaxed Li Shuchen.
"At least she still has provisions, enough to eat and wear. If she's injured or loses a battle..."
Gu Ziying lowered her head as she spoke, feeling powerless and unable to help Yu Ying.
The two of them stood silently, motionless, tears streaming down their faces.
Princess Changning couldn't bear to see her good friend so sad, so she dismissed the servants, leaving only the three of them in the room, and whispered...
"Don't be sad, Yuying has already recaptured a city."
Upon hearing this, both of them stopped crying and, turning their sorrow into joy, asked...
"really?"
Princess Changning sat down on the stool and said...
"Indeed, a letter came from Qingzhou last night saying that Yu Ying had recaptured a city. I happened to be in my aunt's palace when the Emperor, who was overjoyed, told me as well. But he told me not to tell anyone else."
Because the emperor's uncle did not want certain ministers in the court to know the specifics of Yu Ying's battle, he would spread news of Yu Ying's defeat and heavy losses in the coming days.
When you find out about this, you must act carefully, pretend to be very sad, and don't let anyone notice anything amiss. As long as we know in our hearts that Yuying is alright, that's enough.
Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen nodded hurriedly.
"Okay, okay, Ziying and I are both excellent actors; we definitely won't give ourselves away."
Princess Changning took a sip of tea.
"That's good. You're not sad anymore, are you? We need to believe in Yuying."
"Believe in Yuying" *2
Another day, Li Shuchen got up and stayed in the inn's lobby, listening intently for any new news.
A man entered the inn, slammed his butt on a bench, and said...
"It's over, General Zhenshe has lost the battle."
Another humane
"What happened? Explain yourself clearly."
"Haven't you heard? A letter arrived from Qingzhou the day before yesterday, saying that General Zhenshe suffered a crushing defeat, with heavy losses and nearly being wiped out. Oh dear, it was a terrible sight."
I also heard that the Emperor was furious this morning because none of his many ministers could offer any advice, which is quite strange.”
"Oh dear, what should we do?"
Upon hearing this, Li Shuchen knew her acting opportunity had arrived. Her eyes instantly reddened, and not only red, but also welled up with tears, brimming with clear, bright tears.
Li Shuchen floated to the man's side and asked in a hoarse voice...
"Is everything you're saying true? Did the Great General Zhenshe really suffer a defeat?"
"Yes, how could news circulating from the palace be false?"
Upon hearing this, tears welled up in Li Shuchen's eyes and streamed down her face, making her look incredibly sad and pitiful.
She could barely stand, and was about to collapse.
Grape quickly steadied him and gently called out...
"Miss"
The guests in the reception hall, seeing Li Shuchen's appearance, all expressed their concern.
"Miss Li, please be careful!"
"Miss Li, please take care of yourself."
"Miss Li, don't worry too much."
Li Shuchen sat on the bench, leaning weakly against the table, his whole body blank and dazed, as if his soul had been ripped away. Like a rag doll, his eyes were fixed on something in front of him.
The inn's staff were in a panic.
"Miss, are you alright?"
"Miss, please don't scare us!"
"Miss, you've finally regained your health, you absolutely mustn't turn back!"
A group of people looked at Li Shuchen with red eyes.
Gu Ziying entered through the door, her eyes also red-rimmed. Seeing the scene before her, she panicked and hurriedly said…
"What's wrong with Shu Chen?"
Li Shuchen remained motionless, as if he had gone mad again.
Gu Ziying asked
"Shu Chen also knows about the information to intimidate the Great General."
Grape was so anxious that tears welled up in her eyes.
"Yes, Lord Gu, please save my young lady!"
Gu Ziying grasped Li Shuchen's hand and said
"Shu Chen, Shu Chen, cheer up! The war isn't over yet. Maybe General Zhenshe will win in the future, right?"
Gu Ziying also shed tears as she spoke.
"Shu Chen, General Zhenshe is still alive. As long as she is alive, there is still a chance to win, and we will win."
Li Shufu stiffly shifted his gaze to Gu Ziying and said...
"If she can intimidate the general, will she still win?"
Upon hearing Li Shuchen's reply, Gu Ziying nodded excitedly.
"Yes, she will win, she will win."
Li Shuchen received affirmation and kept muttering to himself.
"She will win, she will win!"
"Shu Chen, let me help you upstairs to rest for a while."
Li Shuchen numbly followed Gu Ziying upstairs.
The staff of Happiness Inn collectively watched Li Shuchen go upstairs.
Gu Ziying helped Li Shuchen to bed, then dismissed the servants and closed the door to the Sanbao Hall.
Hearing Gu Ziying close the door, Li Shuchen sprang out of bed with a jolt and said in a low, smug voice...
"Ziying, how was my acting? Was it okay?"
Gu Ziying breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at the lively and cheerful Li Shuchen.
I thought you had really gone back to the way you were before.
Li Shuchen playfully stuck out her tongue and said...
"Hehehe, I'm perfectly fine, this is just acting."
Gu Ziying said with relief
Yes, we're all doing well.
On the other side of Weijing
"How did Li Shuchen and Gu Ziying react?"
"Your Majesty, after learning of Liang Yuying's defeat and heavy losses, Li Shuchen's eyes became numb and vacant, as if she had lost her soul. Gu Ziying coaxed her into the house to rest."
"Could it be that what the Emperor said is true?"
"In my opinion, Liang Yuying has neither provisions nor money to spare. Her horses are weak and her soldiers are hungry. It is obvious that she will lose the battle. When the cold winter comes, she will not have winter clothing. Her soldiers will not even be able to leave the camp, let alone fight with weapons. It is only a matter of time before they are defeated."
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