Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home - Chapter 2033: Disheartened

Chapter 2033: Disheartened

How could this happen? They had braved the battlefield, risking their lives, only to meet their end under the emperor’s blade. Why?

Unbeknownst to the imperial court, the Northwest Army had once come to the aid of Old General Zhao.

In truth, General Zhao’s grandson had also been rescued, but fate did not smile upon the virtuous. The young scion of the Zhao Family endured immense suffering in the depths of the prison and succumbed to illness soon after.

With his passing, General Zhao retreated into the shadows, consumed by sorrow. Henceforth, his whereabouts became a mystery.

None in the Northwest Army ever laid eyes on him again.

Even as the truth vindicated General Zhao and his kin, he remained elusive.

It became widely accepted that General Zhao had departed this world. Had he been alive, he would have emerged, if only to safeguard the honor of the Zhao Family.

The Northwest Army dispatched emissaries to the capital for the Zhao family’s burial, but the palace also sent representatives. One particularly haughty eunuch looked upon the Northwest Army’s delegates with disdain.

He showed no deference to General Zhao or his kin. Instead, he declared, “The Zhao Family has benefited from our generosity!”, “It is their fortune that the Emperor has bestowed such favor upon them. They should express gratitude even in death and pray for the empire’s eternal prosperity.”

The representatives of the Northwest Army seethed with anger. Some among them struggled to contain their volatile tempers, their restraint the only thing preventing an immediate eruption.

Following this encounter, the Northwest Army’s discontent with the imperial court deepened, and their disillusionment with the royal family intensified.

Their duty at the northwestern border was not in service to the royal family but in obedience to the final directive of their esteemed general.

Unless expressly relieved of their duty by the imperial court, they would stand sentinel over the palace. Yet, their loyalty lay not with the court or the Emperor.

As the late emperor breathed his last, the ensuing power struggle among the three princes and the eldest grandson plunged the land into uncertainty. The Northwest Army observed with cold detachment, silently cursing their arrogance and disdain.

The corruption within the Great Qin Imperial Family festered openly.

Now, the fourth prince presumed to wield them as pawns in his bid for power. Such audacity was met with incredulity. What delusions clouded his mind?

Regardless of the royal infighting, the Northwest Army remained steadfast in their refusal to be embroiled. Their stance was clear: they would not lend aid to anyone.

The Northwest Army’s resolute rejection was met with the Fourth Prince’s ire, yet his frustration found no outlet, for there existed no recourse against their principled stance.

Not to mention the uncertain future, the Fourth Prince dared not even entertain the thought of confronting the Northwest Army. He refrained from addressing them sternly, fearing that any hint of provocation might drive these impetuous and brash men into the arms of another.

The mere notion of their potential defection kept him awake at night.

Thus, the Fourth Prince sought solace in asserting his dignity, clinging to the polite response he received from the Northwest Army. In his mind, this signaled their tacit acknowledgment of his authority.

If they couldn’t depart, they certainly wouldn’t.

The rumors of discord within the Great Qin Empire were pervasive, impossible to conceal. It was likely that Qingdi, Beihu, and others were already aware. While Qingdi had maintained a semblance of stability in recent years, Beihu posed a genuine threat. Indeed, departure was not an option.

Hence, the Fourth Prince dispatched an imperial decree to the Northwest Army, offering reassurance and instructing them to remain vigilant against Qingdi’s machinations while dutifully safeguarding the northern borders.

Yet, the Northwest Army remained indifferent to his missive.

No amount of explanation from the Fourth Prince could alter the stark reality of their rejection.