"Impossible! The Emperor sent them out to make their name, how could they possibly turn on my Huang family!"

Huang Long shook his head, a hundred doubts in his heart.

Last time, I asked Zhao Yuan to find Hu Ma and try to kill Qin Ze. However, the plan was exposed, and I went to the Emperor to plead guilty. The Emperor didn't punish me too harshly.

Though his official rank was lowered, he was still a high-ranking official of the second grade!

Moreover, the Emperor even specially sent Tianhu to lead his troops to the Beiku Grassland. Isn't this just to allow him to make achievements?

Tian Wei said so much, but it's all just speculation. This... this can't be taken seriously, can it?

Huang Long took a few deep breaths, calming the tumultuous emotions surging within him. He refused to believe that the Empress would attack him, and he didn't want to believe it.

For many years, I have diligently served Your Majesty. Whatever tasks You bestowed upon me, I carried them out without fail. Even when the Qin family was placed under house arrest, those responsible for their surveillance were all under my command.

If Your Majesty treats me so well and I obey her orders completely, why would she need to harm me herself?

Huang Long's gaze shifted, landing on the letter once more. He reached out and picked it up, reading it over again.

"Come to think of it, what's the point of a betrothal...?" He muttered to himself, picking up the letter and holding it by the candlelight.

The slightly damp paper gradually dried under the intense heat of the flames, then began to smoke. Huanglong stared blankly at the burning letter, momentarily stunned.

Not until the paper was completely burned, and the flames singed his fingers, did Huanglong come to his senses.

He quickly let go, the yellowish-brown paper burned faster and faster, finally leaving only black ashes...

Huanglong sat in the chair, his face covered in cold sweat.

Thinking about it carefully, I really don't have many troops at my disposal right now...

After sitting at the end of the chair for a while, he couldn't hold back any longer and finally got up in a hurry, opening the door and walking out of the study.

"Get the carriage ready!" he shouted.

---

Palace.

Dear esteemed Sage Hall.

Upon the dragon throne, Jin Fengluan's delicate features held no expression. Her emotionless eyes surveyed Huanglong who bowed low before her.

"My lord, you arrived in such haste. Has news returned from Beiliang?" Jin Fengluan said softly.

Upon hearing this, Huang Long respectfully replied: "Reporting to Your Majesty, we have yet to receive any news from Beiliang. The reason I came before you this time is due to another matter."

Jin Feng's phoenix eyebrows shot up, "What is it?"

As soon as these two words left his mouth, Huang Long's head drooped and his heart pounded like it was about to burst out of his chest.

He had words stuck in his throat, but now that the moment was here, he suddenly hesitated to ask.

If the heavenly will is truly as it says, Your Majesty's immediate rejection and silence on the matter of marriage... could it be that she would actually resort to violence against me?

At this moment, he was truly scared.

He was afraid that what Heaven said came true.

"What's wrong? What's so hard to say? In front of me, is there anything you can't say? Hehe, the golden wind and phoenixes laugh lightly."

The laughter made Huanglong feel as if he were bathed in spring breeze, and his tense emotions were instantly relieved.

Yes! He himself found Hu Ma to work together, and the emperor pardoned him, even instructing him to secretly kill Qin Ze. Isn't this using himself as a confidant?!

He cleared his throat, banished all distractions, and began to speak:

"Your Majesty, my son Huang Tianwei is now twenty-eight and unmarried. He has long admired Princess Yongning. I wish to propose a marriage between him and Princess Yongning to the King of Qing, and therefore I would like to ask Your Majesty to speak a few words on my behalf to the King of Qing."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Huang Long took a deep breath and tensed up again. His heart was pounding in his chest, waiting anxiously for an answer.

"Agree, Your Majesty! Agree!" Huanglong kept muttering to himself.

Upon the dragon throne, Jin Feng Luan's eyes were like electricity, carefully scrutinizing Huang Long.

Seeing him bend over, sweat dripped from his chin, leaving some water stains on the ground.

This couldn't help but make her suspicious. Was Huang Long's hurried trip to the palace today just to talk about this?

Looking at him like this, he's really different from before.

This sweaty look is really...

After much deliberation, Jinfeng Lan let out a light laugh:

"Huang Tianwei is twenty-eight already? Time really flies. It's true that he's reached marriageable age now.

>But....

Hearing the previous sentence enter Huang Long's ears, he felt relieved. But at this moment, hearing these two words "just," his heart immediately lifted again.

Only the golden wind and phoenix continued to speak:

"It's just that, even if I speak up, it won't be of any use. Don't you know Yongning's temper? Even if I bestowed a marriage upon her, she wouldn't agree."

"Hmph, if I were to issue a decree, this girl would probably harbor resentment towards me for life."

"You are right. Your Huang family has made many contributions to Great Qin over the years, and Huang Tianwei is also a man of achievement. He and Yongning are truly a match made in heaven."

But I cannot speak of this matter myself. Let us wait until the end of this year, when Huang Tianwei's term ends. I will recall him from the East Sea to the capital and let him seek out Yongning himself. If they are compatible and wish to marry, then there is no harm in it.

Upon hearing this, Huang Long was momentarily uncertain whether he felt joy or sorrow.

The good news is that it seems the emperor has agreed, but it also seems he hasn't.

How about this year? Time isn't long, after all, it's already the winter solstice, just a month or so left.

Hearing Your Majesty speak like this, there's nothing wrong with what you're saying.

Considering this, Huang Long respectfully said, "Your Majesty is right, this matter indeed needs to..."

Before he could finish, Jin Fengluan laughed again and said, "General Huang, aren't you just eager to have grandchildren? That's why you said such things?"

"To tell you the truth, you've made countless contributions to the Great Qin Dynasty. It's time for you to enjoy the pleasures of family life. I've seen it all with my own eyes. You don't need to worry, I've already made arrangements."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Huang Long felt a wave of relief wash over him. The worry that had been weighing on him finally lifted. He wiped the sweat from his brow and said respectfully:

"Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, if you say so, then I shall not worry any further. Let us wait for Heaven's Will to return and then speak again. After all, Princess Yongning... does indeed have a strong personality, hehe."

Jin Fengluan's lips curled into a smile, her face lit with amusement: "Indeed, Yongning this girl, doesn't know who she takes after. She dislikes music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, preferring to dance with swords and wield spears. Ordinary people can't truly control her."

"I remember joking a couple of years ago that I wanted to find her a husband. But she said, 'First, you have to beat me!'"

Wang Shangshu's eldest son went recklessly, this girl didn't know how to use her strength and beat him until his head was bloodied. I heard she was carried out of the mansion in the end and stayed in bed for several months at home.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Huang Long couldn't help but smile. He covered his mouth and chuckled softly.

This Minister of Works, Wang Yong, was quite close to me. Back then when his son was beaten so badly he couldn't get out of bed, Wang Yong complained to me incessantly.

He was just a wastrel, his son. He only learned some shoddy kung fu. The servants puffed him up, making him think he was invincible. Even the house martial artists wouldn't really spar with him. When he met the fearless Yongning County Princess, how could he not get beaten to a pulp?

According to Wang Yong, that lifeline seemed to have been kicked crooked and now it's unknown if he can still live a normal life.

Only his own son, Tianwei, possessed genuine martial prowess. It was said that only he could subdue Princess Yongning.

When Tianwei returns to marry Yongning County Princess, Huanglong will be considered a relative of the imperial family. The more Huanglong thought about it, the happier he became, and all his previous worries were completely forgotten.

"Alright, I've said what needed to be said. Go back now. It's the winter solstice today. Spend more time with your family." Jin Feng said softly.

Huang Long restrained his expression and immediately bowed before retreating.

"Yes, Your Majesty! This humble servant takes his leave.

After leaving the Palace of Filial piety, Huang Long let out a sigh of relief, his mouth curled into a slight smile. He couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.

After this conversation, he felt much lighter and the cloud had lifted from his heart.

"Tianwei is still overthinking things, huh?" He chuckled to himself. Huanglong left the palace with light steps.

—

But inside the main hall, Jin Fengluan's face now held no trace of a smile. Her expression was cold and severe as she spoke in a low voice:

Has there been any news from Beiliang?

"Your Majesty, there is still no news. However, if there is any, it is on its way. An urgent dispatch of 800 li can arrive within a short time," a voice replied from the shadows.

"Well, keep a close eye on Huang Long's residence. His sons are doing the same, just waiting for news from Beiliang...."

Yes, Your Majesty

No more words spoken, the golden wind crane rose to its feet and departed....

(Editor in charge：novel meaning)