The two snuggled together for a while before getting up together.

Bai Su called Yi Man over and said, “Go inform the Imperial Kitchen that His Majesty is in the mood to have a talk with Official Yun in the hall. Ask them to prepare some tea and snacks.”

Yi Man hurriedly bowed and replied, “Yes, this servant will go now.”

After that, he hurriedly ran off.

Soon, Feng Yao and Yun Xie arrived under Chang Le’s lead. The imperial kitchen quickly prepared an array of treats.

Sweet and soft peach pastries, pineapple cake, fragrant osmanthus cake, thousand-layer cake, mung bean cake, and so on were neatly arranged on small plates and served one by one. Some of the freshly made snacks were still steaming.

Additionally, freshly roasted sunflower seeds and peanuts filled the courtyard with a delightful scent.

“Your Majesty, the imperial kitchen mentioned that the patrol commander hunted a few pheasants and wild rabbits in the mountains today and sent them to the imperial kitchen. They will be roasted and brought over shortly for you to taste.”

Yi Man, arranging the food and pouring tea, conveyed this information.

Hearing that there was roasted food, the young man licked his lips in delight, “Noted. Convey my order to reward the commander and the chefs with a hundred gold each.”

“Yes.”

–

As this conversation happened, Yun Xie’s voice rang out, “I could smell the aroma from afar. Our emperor is hosting a feast today. What’s the occasion for such generosity? You’re setting up a plate and rewarding people.”

Following behind him was Feng Yao.

The woman walked gracefully over and performed a gentle curtsy, “Feng Yao greets Your Majesty.”

Duan Changchuan quickly invited them to sit, “There are no outsiders here; please take a seat.”

The two sat together on one side of the table.

Duan Changchuan’s uncle arrived a bit later, but because of the urgency, he ran all the way. When he arrived in the courtyard, Zhang Dehai, who was sent to fetch him, was so far behind that not even his shadow could be seen.

Although he was called uncle, he was actually not even thirty. When Duan Changchuan was born, his uncle was only around ten years old. Now that Duan Changchuan had just turned eighteen, his uncle was only twenty-eight, in the prime of his life.

The uncle and nephew had not seen each other for nearly ten years. Seeing each other again, both had tears in their eyes.

“Uncle!” The young man called out.

The older man, having lived as a rustic hunter in the mountains, hadn’t even had time to change his tattered clothes. His hair was still clumped with dirt. Hearing the word ‘uncle’, his lips trembled before he knelt and cupped his hands, “Your Majesty … It has been ten years since this official last saw you. How has Your Majesty been?”

“I’m fine, thank you for your concern, Uncle …”

When the late Emperor passed away, the young Duan Changchuan was forced to ascend the throne. His Imperial Uncle was only seventeen or eighteen at that time. He was young and impulsive.

The regent had seized power, nearly reducing the emperor to a figurehead. Resentful, his uncle shared Duan Changchuan’s indignation, and they often plotted in secret.

At that time, the Prince Regent had not yet accumulated too much power in the court and had not yet reached the point where he could cover the sky with one hand. Even if the two did not gain any upper hand, they weren’t completely overshadowed. However, the Empress Dowager was too timid and had always been dissatisfied with the two’s behavior.

Eventually, when Duan Changchuan turned ten, his uncle had a fierce argument with the empress dowager and requested to be sent to the border.

Since then, he stayed away for nearly ten years and there was rarely any news of him.

“It’s all Uncle’s fault … I was impulsive when I was young …” As he spoke, he held Duan Changchuan’s arm and examined him closely, “His Majesty has lost weight …”

Duan Changchuan’s eyes were originally filled with tears, but he was completely stunned when he heard the words ‘lost weight’.

He had gained quite a bit of weight, especially around his belly. Yet he was told he actually … lost weight?

Yun Xie couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Imperial Uncle must have not seen His Majesty for a long time. He’s gained quite a bit in the past six months.”

As he spoke, he stared at Duan Changchuan’s stomach.

Imperial Uncle, “His Majesty’s stomach is indeed … rather large. Don’t worry, men in my army sometimes don’t pay attention and get big bellies too. I heard Your Majesty hasn’t been feeling well and has been mostly sedentary. Once you’re better and move around a bit, the belly will go down.”

After a while, he was still worried, “The imperial physicians have checked and said it’s nothing serious, right? Is Elder Huang the one taking care of you? If he says it’s nothing, then it should be fine…”

Rather than asking a question, it was more like he was talking to himself.

Yun Xie laughed again.

Duan Changchuan rolled his eyes at him, “Be quiet and eat your food.”

Uncle continued, “Seeing Lord Yun so relaxed must mean everything is alright.”

Duan Changchuan, “…”

He quickly helped his uncle to a seat.

After exchanging some pleasantries, everyone stopped joking around and began to discuss state affairs.

Duan Changchuan recounted everything in detail, including the Prince Regent’s actions in the Huainan epidemic area and how he had colluded with foreign enemies in an attempt to rebel.

By the end of the story, Imperial Uncle was clenching the cup in his hand so tightly that it was deformed. ” Outrageous! This Duan Jingan, the older he gets, the more shameless he becomes! How many sage books has he read, all to no avail? Even in death, the late emperors would drag him to hell for this!”

The young man took a deep breath and said gravely, ” Based on their plans, I suspect they intend to collude with Zhang Kingdom soldiers to restrain Uncle’s forces at the southern border. Meanwhile, the Regent would take the opportunity to rebel, leaving me alone and without help … At that time, If I send Uncle’s troops to Shengjing to save me, I risk the safety of the entire Datong, handing over the border cities… But without Uncle’s help, my palace guards and secret forces can’t withstand his attack… If I retreat, I lose my life. But if I advance, I become a traitor to Datong. Duan Jing’an is playing a cunning game.”

Uncle frowned and gestured for calm.

“Duan Jing’an’s collusion with foreign enemies, aiming to hand over the Datong kingdom, will make the southern people turn against him. Your Majesty, the people are the water, and the nation is the boat. Only the water can carry the boat! The southern people have long suffered under the Zhang Kingdom. The survival of the southern border is their survival. As long as the military and civilian morale is steady, Zhang Kingdom will not succeed. Your Majesty, I propose sending an urgent message to the southern border, instructing my deputies to manage the situation and publicize the regent’s treachery! With just a thousand cavalry, I can quash the rebellion!”

When he said the last sentence, he got up and knelt before Duan Changchuan. “We’ll use public opinion to stabilize the western soldiers and thus the entire situation. I am willing to make a military order! If I fail to execute Duan Jing’an, I will take my own life in atonement!”

Bai Su quickly signaled Duan Changchuan to help Uncle up.

She said, “His Majesty has already secretly strengthened the prison’s defenses upon receiving the news but convicting the regent will take time and thorough investigation. If the prison can be defended, as long as the Regent is controlled, we won’t have to worry about him rebelling. But if it doesn’t, we’ll follow Uncle’s plan.”

Feng Yao also nodded thoughtfully, “The Imperial Prison is indeed difficult to secure. His Majesty’s imperial guards can’t be mobilized. We can only rely on the secret guards and the soldiers stationed in the capital, or the patrol camp. But if the Regent’s people are among the patrol camp and soldiers, they will assist his rebellion … It’s also inconvenient for Uncle and his subordinates to show up at this time.

Zhang Empire has been eyeing Datong’s southern border covetously. If they find out Uncle and his loyalists have come to Shengjing, they will send troops to the southern border.”

In the end, it was indeed a tricky situation.

It was also because the Regent’s power in the court was deeply entrenched … uprooting him wouldn’t be easy.

That’s why, even when Duan Changchuan exposed him and imprisoned him, the regent remained unperturbed.

After a round of discussion, everyone fell into silence.

Seizing power had always been perilous. Victory or defeat was uncertain until the end.

Yun Xie closed his fan with a bang and said angrily, “So annoying, I’ll just storm the prison and behead him! Let any blame fall on me!”

His righteous anger lightened the mood.

Duan Changchuan rolled his eyes at him, “How would it fall on you? By the time I clear your name, your grave will have grown three feet of grass. Do you think the regent’s party is weak?”

Yun Xie, “… Speak properly. What grave grows three feet of grass?”

“The grass on your grave, if you don’t believe me, bury yourself and see.”

Yun Xie: ???

He turned his head and tugged Feng Yao’s sleeve, “Aunt, look, he’s bullying me again!”

Feng Yao tapped his forehead, “You brought this on yourself?”

So, he pouted and sat down sullenly.

But his outburst had lightened the atmosphere. Bai Su raised her teacup with a smile, “Let’s follow uncle’s plan. Don’t forget we have firearms.”

Speaking of firearms, Duan Changchuan’s eyes lit up, “Sister … cough, has the empress made more firearms?”

When the young man blurted out the word ‘sister’, everyone except the Uncle understood.

Bai Su covered her mouth and smiled, “This concubine didn’t make any more, but Miss Feng Yao and Lord Yun should have made a lot. At least, it’s enough for us and the shadow guards.”

“That’s great!”

Yun Xie was also enlightened, “Yes, we still have firearms! Though apart from me and my aunt, the others might not have practiced enough to be accurate. But we also have more powerful cannons we can secretly transport to the southern border, catching Zhang’s country off guard! We can send them tonight. And they should arrive within fifteen days at the latest. Zhang will be thoroughly surprised!”

Upon hearing about the powerful cannons, Uncle also became excited, “Forget fifteen days, even if it takes three or six months, our southern border soldiers can hold out! Even if there’s only one soldier left standing, as long as we can defeat Zhang, it will be worth it!”

Thus, Duan Changchuan stood up, holding his cup, “Then it’s settled. I toast to our plans and our great Datong territory.”

Everyone immediately picked up their cups and toasted.

“To Your Majesty!”

“To our great Datong territory!”