Use a substitute on your wedding night to scatter the ashes of your entire family

Duke Shu put his hands behind his back and said, "It's good that the children are back. Why are you talking about all this nonsense? Let them wash themselves and change into clean clothes. They have to go to the palace soon."

A celebration banquet was held in the palace in the evening.

"Yes, yes, yes. I forget it when I am happy."

After washing, the three of them entered the palace together.

Li Shuangwan sat in the carriage, feeling a little nervous.

Before leaving, Xingyan said he would take her to meet his mother and brother.

She had been married in Northern Jin, even though she was a virgin.

Even in the eyes of everyone in Northern Jin, she, Li Shuangwan, the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion, had died in that carefully designed fire.

She knew that Xingyan would confess everything to Empress Dowager Shu and Emperor Daliang.

Including everything about her.

Li Shuangwan felt a little uneasy.

Shu Wenbo noticed Li Shuangwan's nervousness. He knew that his ninth brother wanted to take his younger sister to see the Queen Mother.

To put her at ease, he asked, "Father, what are your majesty's plans regarding the Canglang Army?"

Duke Shu sighed deeply, "Your Majesty will definitely leave the Canglang Army behind and let His Majesty the Ninth Prince lead them, but 150,000 people is still a little too few."

To compete with Chen, we must have at least 200,000 soldiers and horses.

Shu Wenbo frowned and asked, "Recruiting new soldiers?"

"That's fine, but it's always disturbing that the Twenty-Four Guards are still in the hands of the Chen family."

Li Shuangwan was indeed attracted by this topic and smiled slightly.

"Foster father, you don't have to worry about this. Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, and he has been on the throne for several months. He is not afraid of having no troops. Moreover, we now have 150,000 Canglang troops. Although we are far behind Chen's faction in terms of numbers, we can already compete with them."

"If they move again, we won't be afraid."

"Just as my eldest brother said, recruiting new soldiers is feasible in my daughter's opinion."

"We have won a great victory this time, and the morale of the people across the country is high. Once the conscription notice is issued, it will surely attract countless good men to join the army."

Duke Shu nodded and said, "That's right. This time, Zhaoguo paid Daliang two million taels of silver as compensation. In addition to paying the pensions for the dead soldiers, there should be more than 500,000 taels left, which is just enough to recruit soldiers."

"I still need to tell His Majesty that Chen Tinghua might take this opportunity to say that the 24th Guard Battalion is short of manpower and he also wants to recruit soldiers."

Li Shuangwan smiled and shook his head: "Foster father, there is no need for that. When we entered the city today, the people came to greet us ten miles away. They were welcoming the Canglang Army, welcoming Marshal Gu, the hero in their hearts, not his Twenty-Four Guards."

"They want to join the army because of the reputation of the Canglang Army."

"If he also takes the opportunity to propose conscription, he will only bring disgrace upon himself."

Shu Wenbo nodded, thinking that what his younger sister said made sense.

Duke Shu couldn't help but look sideways at this newly adopted daughter. He originally thought that she was just good at martial arts and good-looking, which was why she caught Xiaojiu's eye.

Now it seems that this girl is radiating her own brilliance and does not need to rely on others at all.

But he has a villainous heart.

Good enough for Xiaojiu.

Thinking of this, Duke Shu showed a look of relief on his face.

"Hey, little sister, why don't you tell Brother Nine that when we recruit soldiers, we can recruit some female soldiers and build a female army. How about you be the female general?"

Li Shuangwan thought it was good: "Okay."

Now is the time when Daliang needs people.

However, this matter will probably have to wait until she returns from Northern Jin.

After her brother's interruption, she suddenly became less nervous.

Isn’t it just to meet Xingyan’s mother and brother?

There is nothing to be afraid of.

An ugly daughter-in-law always wants to see her parents-in-law.

Besides, she is not ugly.

He gave Shu Wenbo a grateful smile.

……

The Ninth Prince's Mansion has been renovated. Logically, Gu Xingyan should go back to the Ninth Prince's Mansion to take a bath and change clothes first.

But he knew that his mother was waiting for him.

He entered the palace with his brother Gu Xingcheng. Without even taking off his armor, he went to the Cining Palace and kowtowed three times to Empress Dowager Shu.

"Mother, the unfilial son Gu Xingyan is back."

Empress Dowager Shu's eyes were red as she looked at her son, whose face was weather-beaten, thinner and darker.

I helped him up personally: "Get up, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

Aunt Ning Ru was wiping her tears. You know, the Empress Dowager hasn't had a good night's sleep in the past few months and has been eating vegetarian food every day.

She knelt in front of the Bodhisattva statue for several hours every day, praying for protection, even if it meant shortening her life by ten or twenty years.

Aunt Ningru knew that the Queen Mother did not allow her to speak of these things, nor did she let His Majesty know.

Empress Dowager Shu examined him carefully from head to toe. "Are you injured? Have you asked the military doctor to see you? Someone, go and get Doctor Qiao."

"Mother." Gu Xingyan stopped her, "My son is fine. He only has some minor injuries. He will have healed soon."

Gu Xingcheng came with Queen Zhai Shuhua, followed by Doctor Qiao.

"Brother, sister-in-law." Gu Xingyan saw Doctor Qiao and smiled helplessly. He knew that his brother must be worried.

Gu Xingcheng signaled to Doctor Qiao to take Xiaojiu's pulse.

Doctor Qiao rolled his eyes at Gu Xingyan and took out the pulse pillow: "Hand."

Gu Xingyan stretched out his hand obediently, not knowing whether Doctor Qiao and Yang Luo would fight if they were both present.

After a moment, Doctor Qiao raised his eyelids and looked at Gu Xingyan.

Gu Xingyan was looking at him.

Doctor Qiao put away the pulse pillow and said, "Well, you have been quite obedient recently. You have a minor injury. I will prescribe some medicine for you. You will be fine after a few days of recuperation."

Gu Xingcheng asked anxiously: "Are you really okay?"

"No one is safe from injury in a war. It's okay. Your Highness, do you have any good medicine?"

Gu Xingyan nodded, took out a bottle of medicine from his arms and handed it over.

Yang Luo gave Yanyan a good medicine. During the battle in the valley, both of them were injured. Fortunately, the medicine was good and they recovered very quickly.

Doctor Qiao got something good and left happily.

There were only a few of them left in the hall, along with Aunt Ning Ru who was serving on the side, and even Su Chaoquan was guarding the outer room.

Everyone sat down, and Gu Xingcheng said to Empress Dowager Shu: "Mother, I came here to talk to you and Xiaojiu about something."

Empress Dowager Shu was surprised. The celebration banquet would be held in two hours, so why was there anything happening now?

Gu Xingcheng took a bright yellow imperial edict from Zhai Shuhua, unfolded it, pursed his lips and said, "Your son, I want to make Xiaojiu the crown prince."

Gu Xingyan jumped up from his seat: "I don't agree with this!"

"Xiaojiu, sit down and listen to me."

How could such a calm person get so excited when it comes to this matter?

Zhai Shuhua lowered her head and sat quietly beside Gu Xingcheng. Her eyes had already turned red, but she was trying hard to hold back the tears.

Gu Xingcheng gently shook her hand and said to Gu Xingyan, "Since you have returned victoriously this time and the people are in favor of you, it is most appropriate for me to appoint you as the Crown Prince."

Gu Xingyan's face was frighteningly cold: "Brother, I will never agree to this. I will definitely find a way to cure the cold poison in your body."

He wanted to say that the Dark Guard poison in his body was more dangerous than his cold poison.

But when he saw Empress Dowager Shu's pale face, he didn't say it out loud.