I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 233 The Cunning Emperor
"cousin."

Gu Qingmian and Gu Tingji, siblings, also had a box carried and placed in front of Ye Wanshu.

"Here are the two million taels of silver notes you left us before, and some money raised by the Duke's mansion," Gu Qingmian said with a smile. "Uncle Fu said you've been raising money for your brother-in-law, so Aji and I brought them over."

“Uncle Fu has such a big mouth, he’ll tell you anything,” Ye Wanshu said, shaking her head helplessly.

“Cousin, you can’t blame Uncle Fu for this.” Gu Tingji smiled slightly. “How could you hide your lack of money from me and my sister? My sister and I are still young and don’t need much money.”

Ji Ningxuan and Qin Chulin also handed over the money they had collected from their household.

"Big sister, this is what we put together," Ji Ningxuan said. "Although it's not much, it's our heartfelt wish. We just hope that brother-in-law can return in triumph soon."

A lot has happened in the past two years. Ye Wanshu didn't want to trouble everyone, but she didn't expect everyone to come out of their way to help her at this critical moment. Even Ji Ningxuan helped her out of all her means.

"On behalf of His Majesty and the Crown Prince, I thank you all," Ye Wanshu said sincerely. "His Majesty and the Crown Prince will never forget your kindness today."

After saying this, he instructed Chunhong and Xingtao to record all the silver that everyone had contributed. After counting, it amounted to more than three million taels.

Although it was not enough to appease the prisoners of war, it gave Ji Yunze a better chance of stabilizing the situation.

"Qingqing, I'll trouble you to accompany me to the palace."

After having all the money collected, Ye Wanshu and Mu Qingqing went to the palace together.

Upon arriving at the newly built Hall of Mental Cultivation, they indeed saw Ji Yunze kneeling firmly in front of the hall, refusing to get up, while Tao Anran was still trying to persuade him.

Seeing Ye Wanshu's figure, Yan Jin hurriedly came over with a bitter face.

"Crown Princess," Yan Jin pondered, trying to figure out how to bring this up, when Ye Wanshu's brows suddenly darkened.

“Your Highness, this is not something His Highness did to make things difficult for Lord Ji,” Yan Jin explained guiltily. “As you know, His Highness is facing great difficulties on the front lines. Right now, only Lord Ji can share the burden for His Highness and His Majesty in the entire Lin’an.”

This explanation was so far-fetched that it was not only unconvincing to Ji Yunze, but even Ye Wanshu was furious upon hearing it.

At this moment, she couldn't add fuel to the fire, so she slowly walked to Ji Yunze's side.

"Princess Consort, please do not try to persuade me." Ji Yunze said coldly, "I know the Crown Prince's thoughts. As long as I live, the Crown Prince will not be at ease. Today, I am willing to fulfill the Crown Prince's wish."

"Lord Ji, don't judge a gentleman by your own petty standards," Yan Jin said irritably. "His Highness the Crown Prince values ​​talent and wants to recommend you to His Majesty, entrusting you with important responsibilities. How could you slander the Crown Prince in front of the Crown Princess?"

"enough."

Ye Wanshu could easily see through Yan Jin's thoughts. Those of them had always protected Fu Mingchi, and they would not allow anyone to speak ill of Fu Mingchi behind his back.

"Since General Yan believes that the Crown Prince values ​​talent, why don't you take on this task?" Ye Wanshu said frankly, "Why make things difficult for Lord Ji?"

"What does the Crown Princess mean by this?" Yan Jin hadn't intended to suspect her, but seeing how protective she was of the scholar, she couldn't help but feel sorry for the prince.

Indeed, it was wise of His Highness to expel this scholar from Lin'an.

"Does the Crown Prince's character not yet be known to the Crown Princess?" Yan Jin said in a serious tone, "The Crown Prince is kind and generous, and has always distinguished between public and private matters. The Crown Prince has his reasons for arranging for Lord Ji to settle the prisoners of war, and this humble general dares not ask any further questions."

"You don't need to try to fob me off with these words."

Ye Wanshu was well aware of Fu Mingchi's intentions, but she couldn't reveal the truth in front of everyone. She couldn't very well tell them that he was taking his anger out on others because she hadn't written to that bastard Fu Mingchi.

"I think he's just petty and narrow-minded," Ye Wanshu said with dissatisfaction. "My relationship with Young Master Ji is completely innocent. If he still cares about the past, why did he make me the Crown Princess?"

Having said that, she immediately knelt down and shouted into the hall, "I beg Your Majesty to strip me of my title as Crown Princess."

Upon hearing this, everyone became anxious.

"Sister Wan, you can't talk nonsense." Mu Qingqing was quite frightened and hurriedly came to support her: "You are pregnant, you must not disturb the fetus."

Hearing the commotion outside, Emperor Zhaolie hurriedly came out. "Oh dear, girl, let's talk this out," Emperor Zhaolie frowned. "Qingqing is right. If you harm the fetus, how can I face our ancestors?"

Ji Yunze was also getting anxious: "Your Highness, please don't do anything foolish because of me."

Fearing that something might really happen to her, Ji Yunze's resolute gaze suddenly changed, and he hurriedly relented to Emperor Zhaolie: "Your subject is willing to accept the decree, and I will immediately rush to Jiayuguan."

"Ah, Ji Qing, are you not seeking death?" Emperor Zhaolie looked at Ji Yunze with some surprise.

Ji Yunze shook his head: "It was my momentary lapse of judgment. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

As he spoke, he looked at Ye Wanshu with great concern and kept urging her, "Your Highness, please get up quickly. I will certainly live up to your mission and take good care of the prisoners of war."

Knowing that he had compromised because of her, Ye Wanshu felt a pang of unease: "Young Master Ji..."

"The Crown Princess needs no further explanation."

Thinking of Gu Tingchen's matter, Ji Yunze did not want her to be in danger again, and sincerely said, "I only wish that the Crown Princess will live a peaceful and smooth life."

Ye Wanshu nodded silently.

Although Ji Yunze had been a bit too obsessive before, she knew that everything he did was for the sake of his vision.

However, all of this is too much of a cruel twist of fate.

"We and everyone else have pooled together three million taels of silver to do our bit for Young Master Ji's journey to the east."

She ordered the collected military funds to be brought up, and then pleaded with Emperor Zhaolie, "Your Majesty, please spare no effort to help Lord Ji march east."

"I know, I know."

Emperor Zhaolie personally helped the two of them up: "Wan'er, don't blame the Crown Prince for this."

Then, she earnestly advised Ji Yunze: "The same applies to Ji Qing. The situation is difficult, and it is not easy for the Crown Prince in the Northern Border."

"I don't dare."

Emperor Zhaolie and Ye Wanshu bowed deeply with their fists clasped together, and Ji Yunze solemnly said, "Your subject takes his leave."

Seeing this, Yan Jin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking that His Highness would spend his days staring blankly at that handkerchief during his leisure time at the border, Yan Jin steeled himself and walked up to Ye Wanshu, intending to ask her to take a letter home to the border.

"Your Highness, I did not mean to offend you just now. Please have pity on the Crown Prince..."

Yan Jin cautiously opened his mouth, but Ye Wanshu interrupted him in an annoyed tone: "What are you saying, General Yan, in front of His Majesty? The Crown Prince is of noble birth and does not need my pity."

Still burning with anger, she resolutely curtsied to Emperor Zhaolie: "Your Majesty, I will now return to my residence."

Emperor Zhaolie had no idea what kind of quarrel the young couple was having. He was now preoccupied with his grandson and afraid that something might happen to Ye Wanshu, so he didn't bother with Yan Jin and hurriedly ordered the palace servants around him: "Hurry up and send the Crown Princess back to her residence."

Seeing that everyone had left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yan Jin had no choice but to seek help from Mu Qingqing.

"General Yan, you should hurry back to the border," Mu Qingqing whispered, before leaving as well.

“This…”, Yan Jin looked at Emperor Zhaolie at a loss.

"Shouldn't the ceremonial robes I ordered for my grandson be ready by now?"

Emperor Zhaolie pretended not to see, glanced at his attendants, and then slipped into the Hall of Mental Cultivation with his hands behind his back.

Yan Jin stared blankly for a while, feeling completely lost, but she knew that getting back to the border was the most important thing.

(End of this chapter)