The winter in Luoyang was much like the previous year’s, but there were subtle differences this year.

Liu Hong looked towards Qiao Yan, who was praying in the palace hall.

Following the great fire at the Jade Hall, he had continued to collect funds under the pretext of palace repairs for over two years now.

The Jade Hall remained unfinished, so he still resided in the Jiade Palace.

This was where he had last met Qiao Yan, but since it now served as the Emperor’s residence, it wasn’t suitable for their current meeting, which was arranged at the Orchid Pavilion instead.

Originally intended for compiling historical records, the Orchid Pavilion had become his study after Liu Hong moved to the South Palace.

The bamboo shadows outside the open window cast intricate patterns across the hall, extending all the way to where Qiao Yan sat.

The slanting sunlight added a touch of color to her white attire.

Zhang Rang dared not even look directly at the scene before him.

While he knew Qiao Yan was bold and daring, he never expected her to appear before Liu Hong in mourning attire three years after leaving Luoyang.

Who would dare to appear so ominously in mourning before the Emperor!

Even past emperors rarely attended the funeral rites of high officials, clearly avoiding such taboos.

Yet here was Qiao Yan, boldly claiming to have been summoned by the Emperor, dressed in mourning attire, stepping into the Orchid Pavilion.

Especially considering what she had said earlier:

When the Hedong bandits disrupted Bingzhou, she “took it upon herself” to quell them.

When the Xiu Tu King invaded Bingzhou, massacring the citizens of Guyang County, she again “took it upon herself” to quell them, even taking the heads of the Xiu Tu King to the Southern Xiu Tu to instill fear.

If everyone acted on their own like this, wouldn’t it throw the entire realm into chaos?

Fortunately, she seemed to realize the impropriety of her actions and had come to Luoyang to report to Liu Hong.

However, halfway through her apology, she stated:

“My grandfather’s tomb and ancestral shrine are in Le Ping. As the Marquis of Le Ping, it is my duty to ensure their peace. My grandfather aspired to defend the peace of Han, and it is now my responsibility.”

“Now, Bingzhou is unsettled, and the people are in turmoil. If we allow the Xiu Tu Tribes to act recklessly, starting from Guyang Road and breaching the Great Wall, the Southern Xiu Tu could rise up.

If they join forces with the Xiu Tu King in rebellion, the Hedong bandits will seize the opportunity to invade the southwest of Bingzhou, endangering both Bingzhou and my grandfather’s shrine.”

“I am incapable and failed to prevent with no other choice, This subjecy Qiao Yan could only eliminate the Xiu Tu King completely, incite discord among the leaders of the Hedong bandits, and dismantle this mountain bandit force, using the heads of the Xiu Tu King to intimidate the Southern Xiu Tu.

Such actions were beyond the norm, but there was no alternative.

Qiao Yan expressed her remorse, feeling guilty for the Emperor’s trust and favor upon her.”

Listening to her, it sounded like a sincere apology.

However, as soon as she finished speaking, she shifted the topic:

“I humbly request that after punishing those who recruited soldiers, Your Majesty reinstate a General of Northern Territories and maintain stability in Bingzhou.

Then I won’t have to wear mourning attire to console my grandfather or Bingzhou.”

“The tragedy at Guyang left few survivors. The people had no chance to bury their dead or perform ancestral rites, a true calamity.”

“… ” Zhang Rang found it challenging to maintain a stable expression.

This Marquis Qiao seemed a bit… too much. too bold!

At this moment, Zhang Rang couldn’t find the right words to describe Qiao Yan’s unrestrained, bold, and overstepping behavior.

The only thing he could recall was that if his memory served him right, Qiao Yan had done something similar two years ago, all in the name of Bingzhou’s stability.

She had initially restricted the actions of provincial governors and the Taiyuan prefect, then proceeded with decisive actions.

Unfortunately, the apology she made two years ago and the house arrest punishment imposed by Liu Hong seemed quite inconsequential to her.

It hadn’t even been two months since her house arrest was lifted before she decided to personally come to the capital to apologize.

Surprisingly, she hadn’t learned any lessons from her past actions.

The only difference this time was that she wasn’t just going to apologize by letter; she came in person!

She even had a message for Bingzhou: despite the current disorder, requesting someone to serve as General of Northern Territories overseeing the border defenses would likely prevent future issues.

These were not words one would typically hear from someone coming to apologize.

Zhang Rang cautiously glanced toward Liu Hong.

It wasn’t yet deep into winter, and the Emperor had already added an extra layer of quilted jacket, looking somewhat plump and healthy.

However, his complexion was clearly not as good.

Fortunately, sitting at the head of the room, any hint of his dimmed complexion was hidden in the play of light and shadow, giving him an unpredictable appearance.

“General of Northern Territories?”

Liu Hong rolled these words around in his mouth, and beneath his seemingly calm demeanor, what he truly thought remained known only to himself.

Three years had passed, and the girl who was only eleven years old back then was now fourteen.

Apart from her tall stature, towering like the surrounding green bamboo, Liu Hong was not surprised to see that her features were sharp as if honed into a blade, displaying an unapologetic fierceness born from victorious battles on the battlefield.

Cold had settled into Luoyang, and she wore a white garment tinged with frosty hues.

Yet, despite this outward chill, the fire within her…

Indeed, as she had written in her letter, she had become like the epithet she had given herself—a blazing flame, ready to incinerate anyone who dared to set foot in Bingzhou!

She had not disappointed his expectations.

Yet, as this thorn appeared before him, Liu Hong couldn’t help but feel a sense of aging, questioning whether such a lone warrior could still be his, or if it was someone fit to be his successor.

He withdrew his gaze slightly and meticulously examined the apology letter brought by Qiao Yan, then picked up the report detailing her recent achievements, reinforcing this feeling.

Had she not come to Luoyang herself, and instead he received these two documents, he might have needed someone to bring her to Luoyang.

But now…

After she finished speaking, she looked directly at him without hesitation, her face expressing both hope for him, the emperor, to take charge of Bingzhou, and an unyielding resolve that didn’t regret her actions.

Bold.

What a Qiao Yeshu!

Liu Hong even found it a bit amusing!

Comparing the recent battles in Jizhou, Youzhou, Jingzhou, and Liangzhou to Bingzhou, although troops were not deployed according to regulations, at least there were no additional fires to quell.

In that sense, he was satisfied.

However, this satisfaction clearly couldn’t be openly expressed.

At this moment, he suddenly regretted appointing Cui Lie as the governor of Bingzhou.

The man might support abandoning Liangzhou in court, but clearly lacked the courage for more.

Even if Liu Hong wanted to rein in Qiao Yan’s ambitions a bit, he realized he had no surplus energy amidst the current fires across various regions.

He asked at this moment, “So, you…”

“Who, then, could serve as General of Northern Territories?” Liu Hong asked.

Qiao Yan seemed to have already considered this position and answered without hesitation, “General Huangfu.”

“He’s not suitable,” Liu Hong quickly dismissed the suggestion. “I have other plans for him.”

He did harbor some apprehension about General Huangfu Song’s military power, but fortunately, the stalemate in the battle against Liangzhou showed that Huangfu Song was not invincible.

This had lessened Liu Hong’s vigilance towards him.

Since the death of Fu Xie, Huangfu Song had repeatedly requested to lead the troops, and though Liu Hong had hesitated, he was now considering reinstating him.