Letter from Luoyang

In the blink of an eye, Gao Yuan and the others had been in Dehong for over a year. During this time, they had gone from having no fixed abode to establishing a stable base; one could say their development was extremely rapid.

However, living in this corner of the Southwest border, information was very restricted, and they were completely ignorant of what was happening in the Central Plains.

Only occasionally would Gao Zhong, who was running the ice business in Guangzhou, send back some scattered bits of news.

By now, the struggle between Former Crown Prince Zhao Wufang and Third Prince The Emperor had become public, with both sides engaged in intense open and covert maneuvering.

The civil and military officials were also picking sides, forming three major camps. Everyone was fighting for power and profit, banding together for selfish interests and eliminating those who disagreed with them.

Meanwhile, Emperor Zhao Che seemed to enjoy this feeling, supporting one faction one moment and suppressing another the next, playing the game of political balance to perfection.

Everyone's attention was focused on the power struggle, and the negative impact of this was immense.

In early July, a great drought hit Guanzhong. Not a single drop of rain fell for over a month; the earth was parched and cracked, and for thousands of miles, the people had no food.

In early September, the Yellow River saw autumn floods, causing breaches in many places across Hebei. Wheat fields that were about to be harvested were suddenly wiped out, leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced.

As a result, the court was embroiled in internal strife over who should lead the disaster relief. By the time the relief officials arrived with grain, riots had already broken out.

Although these were eventually suppressed by the army with a strong hand, the common people were already filled with grievances.

Reading this news, Gao Yuan felt both heartbroken and helpless.

He really wanted to take in all these refugees, but unfortunately, he was too far away to help.

“Master, should we report this news to the Mistresses?”

“Forget it. Telling them won't help; it'll just be a few more people feeling miserable.”

Gao Fu thought of his son's suggestion and probed cautiously,

“Master, Zhong'er says that every year, fleets from South of the Ranges head north to transport fresh fruit. Could we try to gather some refugees from the north and bring them back?”

This suggestion made Gao Yuan's eyes light up, and he immediately picked up a brush to write a manual order.

“Give this order to Gao Zhong. Tell him he doesn't need to send back the profits from the Guangzhou shops; he has full authority to use them. He must secure as many people as possible.”

“Understood. This old servant will go send the message now.”

Gao Yuan didn't want to upset Zhao Xiyao, but unfortunately, the tree wants to be still but the wind won't stop. At this moment, in Zhao Xiyao's courtyard, she was holding a letter with a face full of worry.

“Zhao Xiyaos informal address, has something happened? I've seen you looking troubled ever since you received that letter.”

Seeing her best friend like this, Mu Qing couldn't help but show concern.

Zhao Xiyao shook her head.

“It's nothing, Qingqing. I'm a bit tired; you should head back first.”

“Alright!”

Mu Qing left, looking back every few steps. Zhao Xiyao's distressed face remained in her mind. After thinking it over, she turned around and walked quickly toward Gao Yuan's courtyard.

“You're saying Zhao Xiyaos informal address has been frowning ever since she started reading that letter?”

Hearing the news from Mu Qing, Gao Yuan couldn't help but frown as well.

“Yes, she's been frowning and sighing the whole time. When I asked her, she wouldn't say why. I'm really worried...”

Gao Yuan nodded.

“I understand. Don't worry too much; it should be fine. Go back and rest for now.”

“Mhm, you should show her more care!”

After Mu Qing left, Gao Yuan sat there thinking for a while before getting up and heading toward Zhao Xiyao's courtyard.

Although they were husband and wife, the two had never consummated their marriage. Furthermore, according to the rules, a Consort Kin must request an audience to see the Princess, so Gao Yuan rarely came to Zhao Xiyao's courtyard.

There were no wicked old nannies or blind female officials to make things difficult for him, so Gao Yuan entered the courtyard smoothly.

However, he didn't barge straight into the room. If he walked in on some cliché bathing scene, he would surely be beaten out as a pervert by the girl.

“Your Highness, the Consort Kin is outside requesting an audience!”

Hearing that Gao Yuan had arrived, Zhao Xiyao guessed that Mu Qing had told him. She stood up, thought for a moment, and then sat back down.

“Go invite the Consort Kin into the bedroom.”

“Understood!”

“Inviting me to the bedroom?”

Gao Yuan double-checked with the female official. Upon receiving a positive answer, his mind couldn't help but wander into flights of fancy.

“Could it be she's feeling down and needs her husband's comfort? Is today the day I finally get lucky?”

Walking into the girl's bedroom, a refreshing and heart-warming fragrance wafted over him, making Gao Yuan feel even more restless.

Seeing her husband's lecherous gaze, the girl couldn't help but blush. She then took out the letter and handed it to Gao Yuan.

“This is a letter sent by my Eldest Brother. Take a look!”

“A letter from the Former Crown Prince?”

Gao Yuan instantly snapped back to reality. He sat down, took the letter, scanned it, and then set it down to look into Zhao Xiyao's eyes, which were as bright as the stars.

“What are your thoughts?”

Zhao Xiyao nodded, then immediately shook her head.

“I don't know what to do. I know it's a trap, but I really miss my Mother Consort. Thinking of her all alone in that cold palace, I...”

As she spoke, the girl began to sob and choke up, which made Gao Yuan feel a pang of heartache.

He moved his stool closer to her and gently put his arm around her fragrant shoulders. The girl submissively leaned against his shoulder.

Gao Yuan soon felt his clothes getting soaked. He organized his words for a moment and said,

“Zhao Xiyaos informal address, have you ever considered that the one who sits on the throne in the future might not be the Former Crown Prince?”

As soon as he said this, the girl's sobbing stopped. She looked up at Gao Yuan with a face full of disbelief.

“Your Imperial Father clearly wants to support your Third Brother more. Otherwise, why is it that no one knows about such major crimes as committing adultery with an aunt or intercepting and killing a Princess and a County Duke?”

“So what you mean is, Eldest Brother's promise can't be fulfilled at all.”

“Exactly.”

Gao Yuan nodded with certainty.

“If we had tens of thousands of elite troops, then leading them back to Luoyang might actually be of some help to him. But now...”

He knew his own situation best. Although there were nearly five thousand troops in the entire Nanzhou region, in reality, the only ones worth mentioning were the twelve hundred or so troops of the First Division.

These troops were fine for deterring the surrounding Local Chieftains or intimidating Lan Xang in this Southwest border, but taking them back to the Central Plains would be like serving them up on a platter.

Moreover, most of the soldiers were locals. If you asked them to travel thousands of miles to the Central Plains, probably half of them would be unwilling to go.

The matter was that simple. Zhao Xiyao had just been blinded by her concern, but now that Gao Yuan had pointed it out, she understood.

“Then... how should we reply to Eldest Brother?”

“Just tell him that we are currently surrounded by powerful enemies and our own strength is insufficient; even passing through Qian Prefecture would be difficult. Ask the Former Crown Prince if he can support us with some troops, money, and grain.”

Hearing Gao Yuan say this, Zhao Xiyao couldn't help but break into a smile through her tears.

“Eldest Brother wanted us to go back and help him, but here you are, actually wanting to take advantage of him.”

Gao Yuan gave a little shrug and said with an innocent face,

“I'm just telling the truth. Our strength really is insufficient!”

Having comforted his wife, Gao Yuan returned to his own small courtyard with a dark expression.

He hadn't expected the Former Crown Prince to know about him when he had just barely started. Since the Former Crown Prince knew, the old Emperor and The Emperor surely knew as well.

It seemed the saying 'all land under heaven belongs to the King' was not just talk. The imperial family's claws had clearly penetrated even this border region; it was truly impossible to guard against!

At the same time, he felt a strange sense of urgency.

In fact, how could Gao Yuan know that his news had leaked purely because the two Pacification Commissioners Offices had gone silent, and the imperial court had sent someone to investigate secretly once.

It was also thanks to the fact that this place was remote and far from the capital; otherwise, what arrived would not have been a letter, but the Qian Army.