Chapter 133: Court Stalemate Pre-Marriage Training
Now that Western Xia wants to increase the annual gift, in fact, in the eyes of the old emperor and civil officials, it is not impossible to give it.

But it's also for the sake of saving face.

After all, Xixia cannot just raise prices as it pleases. Where would the reputation of the Great Zhou be put?

That's why everyone was united in moving troops to Lingzhou.

However, the purpose of military strategy is to win the war.

During this period, he trained his troops in an attempt to retake the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun.

But the emperor and the civil servants were thinking of giving a sweet reward after the big stick.

First, he defeated the Western Xia, and then, as a victor, he increased the annual reward for the Western Xia as a gesture of appeasement.

However, the emperor was not completely ignorant. He also knew that the most elite army of the Great Zhou was the Shaanxi Army. So, in order to be on the safe side, he was unwilling to mobilize the Shaanxi Army as a barrier.

Although Ningyuan Hou submitted memorials many times, they were always ignored by the emperor and high-ranking officials.

It is impossible to mobilize the Imperial Guards and the Shaanxi Army.

If we want to fight, we can only use local troops!
In their view, the strength of their own Great Zhou army was so strong on paper that they could even challenge the Liao Kingdom. However, based on the concept of "business cannot lose money" and peaceful coexistence, they chose not to go to war and only paid annual tribute.

How is it possible that they cannot defeat a tiny Xixia?

Although the description of "swarms of ants can kill an elephant" is not very appropriate, if the armies of all parties in the Great Zhou were really mobilized, they would definitely be able to defeat Western Xia. But the problem is that the gains would not outweigh the losses!
What the military leaders want is to train their troops, not to send a group of weak and remnant troops directly to the battlefield, which would result in heavy losses in the end.

I want to train my soldiers, not give away my lives!
So even though the Great Zhou is now preparing for the battle of Lingzhou, the situation is somewhat stalemate.

At this time, Prince Yong and Prince Yan jumped out one after another and said that since the generals were unwilling, let me do it!
Let me lead the troops and the tiny Xixia will be easily captured!
A new opinion gradually emerged in the court.

Since there is no consensus on the position of crown prince, it would be better to let the two princes lead their own troops and decide the crown prince based on the outcome of the battle.

Although the two princes requested to fight, the emperor, even though old, was not confused, so he naturally would not let them get involved in the military power at this time.

Without anyone else saying anything, the emperor directly rejected it.

Thinking of this, Yang Wenyan couldn't help but feel a little bored.

"Forget it. Tomorrow is Wenyuan's wedding day. It's unlucky to talk about war now. If there is a chance in the future, I will talk to you in detail.

You are still a student now, so you should focus on the spring exam. It won’t be too late to think about it later when you are appointed as an official.”

"Come on, drink something!"

Changbai was also an open-minded person. He knew that it was too early to think about these things now. A scholar was useless. If he failed in the imperial examination, it would be useless no matter how much he thought about it. He immediately raised his glass and clinked it with a crisp sound.

"Drink very much!"

The banquet is over.

Slightly drunk and with flushed cheeks, Changbai and Yang Wenyan said goodbye to each other.

After the conversation at the table just now, the two of them had already hit it off and seemed to be close friends, so they were reluctant to say goodbye.

Jiying Lane.

Sheng family.

With Changbai and Rulan returning home, all the pre-wedding procedures have been completed, and only Hualan is waiting to get married tomorrow.

Today is Hualan's last day as the unmarried daughter of the Sheng family.

In the room, in front of the dressing mirror.

Hualan looked at herself in the mirror, her face showing the joy of getting married soon, but for some reason, she felt a little empty in her heart.

She was obviously very happy to marry Yang Wenyuan, so why did she feel a little scared when the time came?
Hualan stood up, gathered her sleeves, stretched out her bare hands and gently explored everything familiar in the house. Gradually, her heart calmed down a little.

At this time, Wang Ruofu pushed the door open from outside and saw this scene. She immediately laughed and said:

"Why? Are you reluctant to part with it?"

"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, mother." Hua Lan said a little embarrassedly. "It's okay. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Women are like this before they get married. I, your mother, was also reluctant to let you go."

Wang Ruofu also turned his head and glanced around, sighing slightly:
"After tonight, you will be married. Although your mother is happy for you from the bottom of her heart, she also feels a little touched. I only thought you were a child before, but I didn't expect that in the blink of an eye, you will become the wife of another family. I really didn't expect it."

Hearing Wang Ruofu's somewhat provocative words, Hua Lan felt a little shy and quickly changed the subject:

"Mother, you came to see me suddenly, is there something wrong?"

"Oh!"

Wang Ruofu finally reacted and said immediately:
"Your brother and sister have returned from the Yang family, and everything is going well. Your grandmother was thinking that you would be married tomorrow, so she asked me to come and remind you that the dinner should be held at Shou'an Hall."

Hua Lan nodded gently in response.

After it got dark, all the direct descendants of the Sheng family gathered in Shou'an Hall.

Everything that needed to be said had been said a while ago.

During the meal, only Old Lady Sheng held Hualan's hand and spoke softly to comfort her from time to time. The rest of the time it was very quiet.

After dinner, Hualan wanted to stay and talk with Old Madam Sheng for a while, but was persuaded to go back by Old Madam Sheng in a gentle voice.

"It's not like we'll never see each other again. Both families are in Bianjing, not far away from each other. There's no need to rush to finish talking about the future in one night."

Although she said this, Mrs. Sheng's eyes were still red. Hua Lan wanted to stay, but Mrs. Sheng continued:

"Go back to your room. Just think of me as your grandmother. You can't let me occupy all your time. Don't you see your mother looking at you anxiously?"

When Wang Ruofu heard this, a slightly embarrassed look appeared on her face. Hua Lan could only nod and took Wang Ruofu's hand and was about to leave.

But at this moment, Old Lady Sheng asked Hualan to go back to her room first, and then gently called Wang Ruofu over.

Wang Ruofu walked forward in confusion, then a slightly embarrassed expression appeared on her face, and she nodded quickly.

"Yes, mother, I have prepared it and will send it to Hua'er later."

In Hualan's room.

Rulan was talking to her sister Hualan.

Compared to other people who were feeling a little sad, Rulan felt that it was nothing.

Anyway, my brother-in-law Yang Wenyuan has to go back to our family school frequently to study. When the time comes, there will be no one in the Marquis' Mansion, so wouldn't it be a good opportunity for my sister to come back with him?
We can see each other often, so why be sad?
And Rulan also has her own little plans in mind.

Now that my elder sister is married, I shouldn’t have to be scolded by my mother every day for not being as good as my elder sister. And most importantly, I can often find excuses to go to my brother-in-law’s house!

When the time comes, let Yang Ruijin go too, so we can have fun together!

At this time, Wang Ruofu came in.

She first asked Rulan to go back to sleep, then nodded, and saw Mother Liu behind her walking into the door carrying a locked small box.

Seeing this, Hua Lan raised her eyebrows and asked curiously:

"Mother, are you going to buy anything else for your daughter?"

Wang Ruofu looked embarrassed. Her originally calm mood was ruined by Hualan's words. She hurriedly handed the key in her hand to Mama Liu and ran out of the door:

"The things inside are what a girl must learn the night before she gets married. I still have to discuss tomorrow's wedding with your father, so I'll let Mama Liu teach you."

Old Lady Sheng had just talked to Wang Ruofu about this matter, and asked her if she had prepared a pre-marital physiological album and would send it to Hualan later.

Wang Ruofu was particularly concerned about Hualan's affairs and was naturally prepared.

Earlier, he had rummaged through boxes and cupboards to find the small box containing the album, found the key, and rushed to Hualan fully prepared.

See mother suddenly run away.

Only Mother Liu and a slightly mysterious little box were left, and Hua Lan couldn't help looking puzzled.

(End of this chapter)