275: Chapter 275 The Empress's Vision

Xiao Qingxuan sighed jokingly: "I knew it. My husband prepared such a delicious meal, so he must be planning to work me to the bone again."

Lin Xiao chuckled: "Can't help it. Since you, my Xiao Qinger, married me, you're destined to work hard!"

"Besides, my wife is capable of everything, so I have to trouble you. The capable do more work."

"That's right. Only a remarkable woman like you, Xiao Qingxuan, can manage civil administration, economy, and people's livelihood. I think the guy on the throne isn't even as good as you!"

Mu Wanying was also straightforward: "If you were the Emperor of Dagan, you would be a hundred times better than that muddled ruler!"

Words are spoken without intent, but heard with meaning.

Xiao Qingxuan's expression immediately became unnatural.

"Yingying! You can't just say things like that!" Leng Bingyan hurriedly said.

"Oh, I won't say it outside. I just genuinely think Qingxuan is amazing!"

Mu Wanying said dejectedly: "I tried to help my husband deal with some simple livelihood issues these past few days, but as soon as I looked at those documents, I got sleepy."

Xiao Qingxuan's complexion cleared slightly, and she smiled: "Everyone has their strengths. Wanying, as a woman, being able to make millions of men follow you, willing to shed blood and sacrifice their lives, is a rare quality in itself."

"Alright, alright, stop flattering each other. I've got goosebumps!"

Leng Bingyan looked back at Lin Xiao and asked curiously: "With your prestige, Husband, can you not suppress those two hundred thousand troops?"

"Suppressing them is only temporary."

Lin Xiao smiled: "Have you thought about why the White Kings Army, the Yan Kings Army, and even the Prefectural Army, when fighting against our Zhenbei Army, would defect or surrender so easily?"

"Are they really just afraid of me and the Zhenbei Army, wanting to survive, so they defect?"

The women were silent, lost in thought.

"Fear, that's certainly there, but that's not everything."

Lin Xiao smiled: "For example, when we were fighting against the Northern Barbarians and the Khitan, there was rarely talk of surrender among the soldiers."

"Everyone had high morale, and even knowing they might die, they would charge fearlessly. That's how we managed to win against superior numbers several times!"

"If I really had to rely on myself alone... of course, I might win in the end, but the losses would be far worse than they are now."

The women nodded one after another; it was indeed so.

"Husband, do you mean it's because the Zhenbei Army is the Dagan army, the imperial army, that they are willing to surrender?"

"Exactly."

Lin Xiao nodded: "This creates a problem. If we fight against other Dagan armies in the future, will our soldiers easily defect again when they encounter difficulties?"

"To put it more bluntly, if Emperor Hong issues an edict to take back military power, and I refuse to let go, what will the soldiers think?"

"By then, the whole world will call me, Lin Xiao, a rebellious subject, and I will be in the same position as Prince Bai was."

The women's expressions immediately turned serious.

Yes, the current Zhenbei Army looks strong and sturdy, but it is a scattered heap of sand.

Moreover, the reason Zhao Yunting, Lu Sanchuan, and others agreed to surrender was because they fought under the banner of the Dagan orthodoxy.

The problem is... their husband is a dignified Great Grandmaster with world-shaking talent!

How could he be content to be under others?!

When Prince Bai rebelled, he at least had the imperial bloodline as a basis. What does Lin Xiao have?

"Husband, have you thought of a solution?" Xiao Qingxuan felt this matter was too complicated.

And as a former empress, asking her to help a "rebel" plot to usurp the throne was really quite difficult!

Lin Xiao took a big bite of lamb leg meat and blew on the heat.

"There is a way, but it needs to be put into practice to know."

"Don't worry, Wife. You just need to manage everything else for me. As for the army, I'll handle it myself."

Xiao Qingxuan nodded, her beautiful eyes turning, and she suddenly thought of someone.

"Husband, why not have General Zhao Caiwei come over from E Prefecture? The garrison there is under no pressure, and she doesn't need to be stationed there permanently."

"Besides, General Zhao has become one of our own sisters, and we haven't had a chance to meet her yet."

Mu Wanying's eyes lit up. She had long heard of this fellow female general, Zhao Caiwei, and was very interested.

"That's right, Husband. Zhao Caiwei is Commander-in-Chief Zhao's right-hand woman; she will definitely be able to help you govern the army."

Leng Bingyan nodded: "It's almost New Year. Even if she stays in E Prefecture usually, she should come back for the New Year, otherwise, it won't feel like a family."

Lin Xiao waved his hand, domineeringly: "Oh, she's a woman who came later, how can she be as important as you all?"

"Today, I just want to eat and drink with my three wives, and later go to Qingguo Temple in Yong Province to burn incense and pray for blessings. We won't talk about anything else!"

Just as he finished speaking, a report came from outside—

"General! A female general has come to the mansion, saying her name is Zhao Caiwei, and she is someone from your mansion..."

"Cough, cough!! —"

Lin Xiao choked on a mouthful of saliva!

Xiao Qingxuan, Mu Wanying, and Leng Bingyan pursed their red lips, their eyes teasing; evidently, they couldn't hold it in anymore.

"No... I really didn't know she would come today."

Lin Xiao thought to himself, didn't he agree with Zhao Caiwei that she would arrive tomorrow?

"Quickly let her in."

Since she had arrived, Lin Xiao naturally had nothing more to say, so he got up to welcome her.

Xiao Qingxuan and the other two also stood up; they were quite curious about this legendary female general of the Cold Iron Guard.

In the corridor, Lin Xiao saw Zhao Caiwei walking towards him.

She had taken off her military uniform and was wearing a plain white fur coat, her long hair like a waterfall, adorned only with a green jade hairpin.

If he had only met her on the street, he would certainly have thought she was a young lady from a wealthy family and would not have guessed she was a majestic female general.

"Hus..."

Zhao Caiwei saw Lin Xiao, she was filled with heartfelt joy, but upon seeing Xiao Qingxuan and the other two behind him, her beautiful eyes immediately revealed a trace of confusion.

Lin Xiao stepped forward and held the woman's trembling hand, finding it funny. Her hand, which wouldn't even tremble after killing hundreds of enemies, was shaking upon meeting a few "sisters"!

"Caiwei, you gave me a surprise by arriving a day early?"

"I haven't been to Yong Province before and was worried that the epidemic would block the road, so I set off a little earlier..."

Zhao Caiwei naturally felt embarrassed to say that she missed the man too much and was also worried about her old father.

"Sister Caiwei, I've long heard from my husband that thanks to your heroic help in Jingmen and the Yan Region, my husband was able to defeat the White Kings Army and the Iron Kite Cavalry."

Xiao Qingxuan stepped forward and bowed gracefully, "I've wanted to meet you for a long time. Seeing you today, you are even more intelligent and elegant than I imagined."

Zhao Caiwei blushed slightly, "Madam, I am just a concubine, I dare not accept this courtesy..."

"Hey! I've said it before, our family doesn't have those rules. Qingxuan is my first wife and the mistress of the house, but she doesn't put on those airs in daily life."

Lin Xiao said: "You are all my women, there is no distinction between high and low!"

Zhao Caiwei looked at the man in surprise, then at Xiao Qingxuan, Mu Wanying, and Leng Bingyan.

Seeing that the three women were all smiling and nodding with kind eyes, she truly believed it.

She had originally thought that Lin Xiao was just "comforting" her; it turned out to be true?

"Sister Caiwei, actually, I should have met you in E Prefecture, but you were in Jingmen and I was in Hanyang, and we both had to take care of the epidemic, so it was truly inconvenient."

Xiao Qingxuan took out a silk handkerchief she carried with her that she hadn't used and handed it to Zhao Caiwei.

"This is a piece of Shu embroidery I bought in E Prefecture. Take it as a small gift for our first meeting. I hope you won't mind."

Leng Bingyan's gaze behind her narrowed slightly. That Shu embroidery was a royal tribute of the Western Shu Kingdom, but now, because Western Shu had fallen, it was scattered on the Dagan market.

Zhao Caiwei declined twice, but the kindness was hard to refuse, so she finally accepted it gratefully.

"I have followed my father in the army since I was young and don't understand the etiquette of the boudoir. I didn't prepare any gifts for my sisters... I hope you won't blame me, Qingxuan."

Xiao Qingxuan held Zhao Caiwei's hand and said gently and emotionally: "Sister Caiwei, I've heard about your story. I am the same as you; if it weren't for my husband, I would have died in the war long ago."

"Since we are fated to be by my husband's side, we should work together to assist him and share his worries."

"I am not good at military matters, so I hope you can help my husband more. I am deeply grateful."

Lin Xiao was almost moved to tears on the side. Look at that, this is the vision of an empress!

The art of being an emperor! She almost made Zhao Caiwei cry!

"Madam, your words are too heavy. Since I have entered the Lin family, I will naturally do my best."

Zhao Caiwei's eyes were red. Since her mother passed away, she had never felt the warmth of a family so sincerely.

"Alright, Caiwei, we are still eating. You must be hungry too. Come and join us!"

Mu Wanying stepped forward and took Zhao Caiwei's hand.

"Yes!" Zhao Caiwei nodded, and the tense string in her heart finally relaxed.

Leng Bingyan looked at Lin Xiao teasingly: "Husband, for the trip to Qingguo Temple later... how many people are going?"

Lin Xiao blushed, "Everyone! Everyone is going!"

With the addition of Zhao Caiwei, eating hot pot and barbecue became even livelier.

Mu Wanying finally found a "military bestie," and they chatted about various things regarding leading troops in battle, feeling like they met too late!

After Zhao Caiwei discovered that there really was no distinction between them, she opened her heart and dared to speak.

The only thing that made her feel uneasy was why everyone was so beautiful?

Especially Xiao Qingxuan, who was both young and so stunning that she didn't seem to belong to the mortal world.

It looks like she will have to buy some rouge and powder later to take care of herself...

Just as they were chatting enthusiastically, a carrier pigeon suddenly landed not far away.

"Huh?"

Lin Xiao looked closely. This seemed to be intelligence from that fat father-in-law, Su Chang?