The Empire will continue to win

There was no phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, no dragon and phoenix wedding candles, and no three cups of wine.

"My husband, I respect you."

The entire ceremony consists of a single cup of nuptial wine.

The wine was spicy on the palate, and Lan'er coughed softly, her pretty face flushing red.

But in Shen Moqing's eyes, this was the most beautiful scenery in the world, so he simply picked up the wine jar and drank all the remaining wine down, gulping it down~

A red dress slowly landed, covering the cold, damp straw.

Lan'er stood there gracefully, like a newly sprouted sapling, ready to face the impact of the storm.

Shen Moqing's fingers trembled as he untied the white silk shirt.

"My lord, my mother died young, and I have no one to teach me. I fear I cannot serve her properly." Before she could finish speaking, the young woman's face was already flushed red.

Coming from a poor family and having been traveling for days, she had lost even more weight than before, and her already slender figure had become even thinner.

delicate and charming.

Weak and helpless.

As the saying goes: The cave dwelling spans endless ages, and the world within the pot holds a unique universe.

As the saying goes: "A brave and heroic man, with skill and talent, bravely climbs Jingyang Ridge."

Those delicate, tender, white, crimson, and soft qualities are the most precious things a girl possesses, which she now willingly offers to her beloved.

.........

I don't know how much time passed.

The two red candles that were brought in finally burned out, the light disappeared, and darkness descended once more.

"Lan'er, I... I really didn't expect you to come."

"From a young age, my father taught Lan'er the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. The Three Obediences are: before marriage, obey your father; after marriage, obey your husband; and after your husband's death, obey your son. As for a woman's virtues, she doesn't necessarily need to be exceptionally talented; she doesn't necessarily need to be eloquent; she doesn't necessarily need to be beautiful; and she doesn't necessarily need to be skilled. Lan'er has never forgotten these things for a moment."

Du Yulan spoke very seriously.

Shen Moqing listened very attentively.

Proud modern people are keen to critique Confucianism, finding a whole host of fallacies and then criticizing it harshly, deeming Confucianism utterly worthless.

Upon closer examination, however, the teachings of Confucius and Mencius may not be without merit.

Whose theory is 100% correct?!

Moreover, it is a doctrine that originated more than 2000 years ago.

in the dark.

Lan'er was like a vine, tightly entwined.

Shen Moqing stared wide-eyed, even though he couldn't see anything, he still tried his best to stare wide-eyed.

After extreme madness comes extreme calm, because the brain is desperately secreting serotonin, and the brain has started a process of reorganizing fragments.

The post-coital period is great!

.........

Combining his years of political science research with the current predicament, he indeed came up with an excellent way to get out of the predicament!

Empress Dowager!

If I can persuade the Empress Dowager, I can live!

"My lord, if Heaven grants me mercy, I have given birth to a son or daughter. What should we name them?"

"Lan'er, I have a request."

"My lord, please give your orders."

"Although we are currently in a situation where we are on the verge of death, there may still be a way to break the deadlock. I have a plan that takes an unconventional approach, but I need your assistance."

"Is it true, my husband?"

Lan'er straightened up abruptly.

"This plan requires you to take some risks."

"If it can help my husband get away, Lan'er is willing to do anything, even die."

Shen Moqing got up and lit the oil lamp.

In the dim light, the petite Lan'er turned her back and rustled as she dressed herself. Even at a time like this, she was still thinking about following etiquette.

Who exactly is my father-in-law? How could he raise such a gentle and virtuous daughter? He's truly an extraordinary person!

Shen Moqing thought to himself that if he could escape this calamity, he would definitely bring a hundred times more gifts to the door.

"Lan'er, to make a long story short, there is only one person who can save me right now, and that is the Empress Dowager Cixi." Shen Moqing murmured like a demon, "The Empress Dowager Cixi may seem to be riding high and holding great power now, but in reality, she is walking on thin ice and trembling with fear. Therefore, if she can see the memorial, there is a 70% chance that I will not have to die."

"But how can I possibly deliver this letter to the Empress Dowager?"

"There is an Imperial Naval Officers School on the shore of Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace. They might be able to help you deliver the letter to the residences of Prince Gong and Sheng Bao out of consideration for your friendship as classmates."

Shen Moqing judged that these two people might be involved in the scheme.

"Husband, what if that prince is unwilling to help?" Lan'er continued to ask.

"Lan'er, don't worry, I'm confident."

Shen Moqing thought to himself, "A time bomb has been dropped at the gate of Prince Gong's Mansion. You can't ignore it even if you want to. No one understands officialdom better than me."

He tore off a stack of rough straw paper, smoothed it out, and picked up his pen to write—"A Letter to the Empress Dowager Cixi".

Despite the pain of the melon, Lan'er held the oil lamp, and a glimmer of hope ignited in her bitter heart.

.........

The next morning.

The time for the two to part ways had come.

"My husband, take care."

Wearing a bright red wedding dress, Du Yulan kowtowed with tears in her eyes, then left the gloomy prison cell, turning back to look at it every few steps.

The soldiers watched her leave, their hearts heavy with sorrow.

Envious~

Jealousy~

"Old Ma, if you break the law and get thrown into jail, will your wife come to see you?"

"Her? Without saying a word, she immediately made a 'wrap-up'."

"So heartless?"

"We don't have any children, and our relationship is very distant. She'd love for me to go to war and die so she can get a pension and remarry."

Two young, low-ranking officers whispered to each other.

After leaving the prison directly under the Ministry of the Army, Du Yulan hurriedly hired a four-wheeled carriage to rush to the Summer Palace. Time was tight and the task was important.

When she was released from prison, the soldiers were respectful and did not search her, which gave her the opportunity to tuck the stack of straw paper under her skirt and take it out.

"Halt! Don't you know where this is?" As they approached the Summer Palace, two galloping cavalrymen stopped the carriage.

The Summer Palace is an imperial garden, and ordinary people dare not approach it.

"Sir, my husband is from the Naval Petty Officer School," Du Yulan explained sincerely as she lifted the sedan curtain.

"You just got married, right? Missing your husband? I understand. However, carriages are not allowed in. You'll have to walk there by yourself." The soldier on horseback was very kind.

Most of the cadets at the Naval Petty Officer School come from wealthy and influential families.

Can not afford to offend!

.........

Naval Petty Officer School.

Two bronze cannons are placed at the entrance, one with its muzzle facing east and the other facing south. It is said that they were chosen by the first prime minister of the United Empire, and their significance is profound.

Du Yulan's heart raced, her mind went blank, she broke out in a cold sweat, and her steps faltered as she walked toward the sentry.

Thump~

She actually fainted.

The two armed sentries looked at each other in bewilderment.

"What should we do?"

"Don't move yet. Go call the military doctor. What if she's a female relative of one of our colleagues? We'll have trouble explaining ourselves later."

Medical Affairs Office.

The room was packed with naval cadets in black uniforms, each one younger and more curious than the last.

"Who is this girl?"

"I don't know. Is she wearing a wedding dress? Does anyone in our school just get married?"

"Hey, look! She's awake!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Du Yulan struggled to her feet. Her nose stung, her eyes reddened, and two streams of tears flowed down her thin face, making her look utterly pitiful.

"I am the wife of Shen Moqing, a naval officer cadet. We have just officially married in the army prison. If you still remember our friendship as classmates, please help him one last time."

They pushed over mountains of gold and pillars of jade, and knelt down, bowing their heads in reverence.