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Chapter 427: Ten Years Later
Chapter 427: Ten Years Later
A decade passed in the blink of an eye.
In a small courtyard at the Northwest Frontier City, Xiang Gugu heard the clopping of horse hooves and hurriedly put down her needlework to check on the simmering silver ear soup on the stove.
The winter in the Northwest arrived swiftly, and the climate was dry.
As soon as September began, the cold winds stung people's faces in the mornings and evenings.
Xiang Gugu had been living here for ten years, and she still wasn't entirely accustomed to the harsh winters of the Northwest.
"Gugu, I'm back!" A clear and lively voice announced as a young girl entered through the courtyard gate. She stood tall and graceful, her eyes brimming with confidence and vitality.
Ten years was enough time for a person to grow.
Xiang Gugu felt that it had been just the blink of an eye since the once soft and adorable little Suixui had grown into the current elegant and spirited young lady, Feng Mingxi, without losing her beauty.
In the Frontier City, not many people knew the name Suixui, and most of the time, she was called Miss Feng or Radiant Princess.
Yes, a princess.
Who would have thought that the war would last for three years?
During those three years, while Great Xia's potatoes had already been promoted and cultivated in various prefectures and states, resulting in a bountiful harvest, the war at the frontier was still ongoing.
The successful cultivation of potatoes greatly contributed to the Northwest Frontier's food supply, making the war effort increasingly smoother.
The iron cavalry of the barbarian tribes was indeed formidable, but the border defense army led by Prince Qing was not just an empty name; they were not a bunch of incompetents.
Over the three years, although there were casualties, Prince Qing continuously restricted the living space of the barbarian tribes. Several small kingdoms, unable to survive, were forced to surrender and be annexed.
Finally, the leading kingdoms, Xi Shi and Lou Yu, could no longer hold out and proposed a peace treaty.
Suixui was directly granted the title of princess for her contribution in discovering and successfully cultivating potatoes.
Although she wasn't in the capital, her legend spread throughout the city.
Originally, with the peace treaty, they should have returned to the capital.
However, at this critical moment, the Xi Shi Kingdom made a fatal mistake.
They proposed peace, but they sent someone to request the hand of a princess in marriage.
Moreover, they specifically asked for Radiant Princess Feng Mingxi.
They probably thought that by marrying the daughter of Prince Qing, even if future conflicts arose, Prince Qing would consider his daughter's existence and show mercy to them.
But they didn't know that the news of their marriage proposal reached the capital, and countless people sharpened their knives that very night!
Qiwang, who had finally recovered his health, immediately requested an imperial decree that night, preparing to personally come to the frontier and execute the ruler of the Xi Shi Kingdom.
The Emperor's face darkened with anger.
This was the general who brought him good fortune and helped him achieve great feats, leaving a lasting legacy in history, and they dared to covet her?
Let them have it!
The Emperor, who had always advocated for war, flew into a rage during the morning court session, and the court officials understood...
Alright, we understand Your Majesty's intentions.
From the elderly ministers in their seventies who had yet to retire to the newly appointed young officials, everyone submitted memorials expressing: Your Majesty, we cannot tolerate this great humiliation. We must go to war!
Upon hearing this, the Emperor immediately agreed: Yes, we must go to war!
At this point, the pacifists didn't dare to raise their heads, let alone speak up. Some of them even spat and cursed, switching sides to join the war faction.
Their colleagues: ?
What? Are they defecting?
Shouldn't they be watching?
But it seemed like a good idea?
Although they couldn't say that everyone was for war.
However, touching their little princess was truly unacceptable!
The little princess had the insight to recognize potatoes, and her successful cultivation not only added a high-yielding delicacy to Great Xia but might also lead to the discovery of others.
So, they sent you to marry into a small barbarian kingdom?
What about my face?
What about my face?!
With the Emperor's support, Prince Qing led the charge, wielding his well-sharpened sword. It took three years to shatter the Xi Shi Kingdom, leaving a portion of its people as captives sent to the Southwest mines, while others surrendered to the Lou Yu Kingdom.
Upon witnessing this, the Lou Yu Kingdom, who initially planned to negotiate and offer fewer warhorses and silver, tucked their tails between their legs, bowed their heads, and meekly accepted the terms dictated by the Central Plains.
While Prince Qing was at the forefront, leading the battle with fervor, Suixui was still young and had plenty of free time on her hands.
As she grew older, she became increasingly knowledgeable.
With the system's assistance, she began studying the ecological issues in the Northwest.
Severe sandstorms?
The system possesses comprehensive experience in combating desertification.
It is said that these are the experiences accumulated by people from later generations over several decades or even a century, and they are incredibly useful.
The efforts of generations of desert fighters culminated in the final outcome.
Could they, who were merely reaping the benefits of others' hard work, possibly fail? Suixui was adept at adapting and modifying the process. Whenever issues arose, she promptly made adjustments, ensuring that the desertification solution was even more suitable for their current situation.
In the five years of warfare, Prince Qing nearly fought to the point of no return.
Suixui, on the other hand, was on the verge of cultivating an oasis in the rear.
However, creating an oasis takes time; the trees need to grow, and windbreak and sand-binding grasses need time to propagate.
But already, a rough outline of their efforts was taking shape.
After the war concluded and Prince Qing had reorganized the military affairs, he could return to the capital to report.
However, Suixui's desertification project had just begun; she couldn't leave yet.
Nevertheless, a trip to the capital wouldn't take long, so she accompanied her father on a brief visit and soon returned.
On her return, she brought Feng You Tan and Lu Yinxiao with her.
It is said that when Duke of Auxiliary learned that his precious little grandson had been taken to the Northwest by Prince Qing, he stood outside the Prince's mansion and scolded for half a day! In the end, it was the Emperor who intervened and managed to persuade the old man to leave.
After five years of war, they enjoyed five years of recuperation and growth.
The Northwest Frontier Pass had undergone a significant transformation.
Although it didn't match the lush greenery of the Central Plains, it was still far better than before.
At the very least, despite the strong winds, they no longer carried as much sand.
The desertification project was just beginning, but in a decade or two, the environment in the Northwest would undoubtedly improve!
Suixui pushed open the door and entered, smiling at Xiang Gugu.
Xiang Gugu was surprised to see that Suixui was alone, without any attendants or horses.
Just as she was about to ask something, Lu Yinxiao suddenly appeared, taking Suixui's cloak, hat, and soft whip from her waist, and neatly putting them away inside.
When Lu Yinxiao returned, he carried a bowl of warmed silver ear soup in his hands.
Xiang Gugu: ...
I often feel left out, wondering if I'll have anything to do.
At nineteen, Lu Yinxiao no longer displayed the gentle refinement of his childhood.
Now, he stood tall and robust, with firm brows and a healthy honey-colored complexion, unlike Suixui's sun-kissed skin. His features were handsome, especially his flirty eyes, which, with a gentle blink, had unknowingly captured the hearts of countless young ladies in the frontier city.
Yet, in Lu Yinxiao's eyes, there was only one person.
His childhood friend, Suixui.
Second Shift
(End of Chapter)
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