Chapter 111: Lin Miaomiao's Letter

Li Yanhe knelt on the ground, listening to the words of Emperor Yongchang. In that instant, he felt a wave of sorrow.

Lin Miaomiao had been sensing that something was amiss over the past few days. As she sat there lost in thought, the sound of hooves suddenly echoed from outside. The moment she stepped out with Nanny Zhao, she saw Emperor Yongchang mounted on a tall steed. Lin Miaomiao froze, glancing behind him, but she did not see Li Yanhe.

Emperor Yongchang spotted Lin Miaomiao standing outside the crowd. He beckoned her over, saying, "Anping, come here to me."

As Lin Miaomiao approached, she noticed Li Zheng beside the Emperor and caught the faint scent of medicine lingering on the Emperor’s person. She lowered her gaze, standing by like a wooden statue.

The Emperor’s health was clearly failing; his coughing was intermittent and labored. Lin Miaomiao watched as he was escorted back to his quarters, followed by a flurry of imperial physicians rushing in to check his pulse. The temporary palace suddenly became bustling with activity, a commotion that even Lin Miaomiao found unexpected. She felt a tightness in her chest, though she could not pinpoint the cause. Li Zheng remained stationed outside the door, keeping watch.

By afternoon, when the Emperor awoke, Li Zheng went in to report. Lin Miaomiao felt a splitting headache, and Nanny Zhao massaged her temples to soothe her. When Lin Miaomiao caught sight of Li Zheng and tried to speak to him, he merely glanced at her and hurried away. Seeing his anxious demeanor, Lin Miaomiao felt a sense of utter helplessness, realizing she couldn't even manage to gather simple information.

The next day, the imperial physicians were still coming and going, and the Emperor’s condition seemed to have grown even more fragile. Soon, news arrived that Li Yanhe had returned victorious. Upon hearing this, a faint, beautiful curve touched the corner of Lin Miaomiao’s lips.

Li Yanhe arrived travel-worn as autumn began to settle in. Seeing him return, Lin Miaomiao felt the weight in her heart finally lift. The Emperor’s health continued to fluctuate, and Lin Miaomiao knew that in this era, a lingering illness combined with the exhaustion of long-distance travel could prove fatal.

The news of Li Yanhe's victory greatly pleased the Emperor. That evening, Lin Miaomiao saw him again. The Emperor seemed slightly better and beckoned Li Yanhe over, saying, "I told you he would be back soon. Miaomiao has been waiting for you every day like a stone statue."

Lin Miaomiao was stunned to hear the Emperor speak this way; she had never known him to be so amiable. Li Yanhe smiled, replying to the Emperor, "Indeed. Your son is finally able to be enfeoffed and married; naturally, I am delighted. Since Father’s health is poor, this joyous occasion will serve to bring you good fortune."

Watching the father and son at the table, trading words without yielding an inch, Lin Miaomiao knew that Li Yanhe must have experienced something harrowing on the grasslands.

As the Emperor’s health gradually improved, winter silently descended upon Da'ankou. Watching the leaves fall from the branches, Lin Miaomiao asked Li Yanhe, "What did you mean by what you said at the table today?"

Li Yanhe replied, "The studs on Father’s horse shoes were tampered with, causing him to fall and sustain injuries. At the time, the Southern Barbarians nearly took his life. The Emperor was furious, and his first instinct was to suspect that I wanted him dead."

Lin Miaomiao frowned at his words. Seeing her expression, Li Yanhe shook his head with a wry smile, pulled her into an embrace, and said, "Do not be afraid. As long as I am here, you have nothing to worry about. This has nothing to do with you."

Lin Miaomiao nodded, and Li Yanhe continued, "At first, Father suspected me, but after an investigation, he discovered that the horse studs were supplies from the capital. Later, they also found that the grain and fodder had been mixed with pebbles and mold. Father initially believed you were the one I instructed to do this."

Lin Miaomiao frowned, asking anxiously, "Why would he suspect you? What does this have to do with you?"

Li Yanhe gave a bitter laugh. "Of course it has to do with me. Your factory supplied a vast amount of materials, and when those supplies were found to be faulty, the Emperor naturally suspected it was the work of an outsider."

"And then?" Lin Miaomiao asked. "Who did they find was responsible?"

Li Yanhe sighed. "We do not know exactly who, but it is certainly linked to the capital."

Confused, Lin Miaomiao asked, "What do you mean?"

Li Yanhe sighed again. "Father has been delaying his return to the capital, partly in hopes that this war would drive the Southern Barbarians into the Kingdom of Sang, and partly because he hopes to use this ruse to flush out the mastermind behind the scenes—someone who has been using their official position to siphon off grain and supplies for personal gain."

"Why not just investigate the officials in charge of these matters?" Lin Miaomiao asked. "Is that so difficult?"

Li Yanhe smiled helplessly. "If it were that simple, Father would have already had their heads. Do you think he is waiting for the New Year? If he were to truly dig deep, everyone from princes down to minor officials would be implicated."

The Emperor was determined to pursue this matter, but he needed to wait until his health was fully restored. Lin Miaomiao asked with curiosity, "Does one need to be in good health to settle scores?"

Li Yanhe offered a sarcastic smile. "If he were not in good health, and someone were to attempt a coup, the Emperor might meet with an 'accident'."

Lin Miaomiao nodded, struck by how the Emperor truly possessed the mind of a ruler, having foreseen everything. She then asked, "Should I continue to provide you with supplies?"

Li Yanhe replied, "Do as you wish; pay no mind to others. We will not be staying here much longer."

Lin Miaomiao was momentarily stunned, then nodded.

With the war concluded, the Emperor prepared to return to the capital. The news of his total victory and his impending return kept everyone in the capital on edge. Rumors of the assassination attempt had already reached the city, and Li Zheng had begun a secret investigation. Many officials were imprisoned, and anyone remotely connected to the grain supply was dragged off to jail. The factions of the Crown Prince, the Ninth Prince Li Yonghe, and the Seventh Prince Li Yankang all suffered varying degrees of losses. Crown Prince Li Hanwen, seeing the capital finally at peace, couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.

It was October by the time the Emperor returned to the capital, but Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe did not accompany him. The Emperor had instructed Li Yanhe to remain and guard the new border and ordered Lin Miaomiao to establish pastures in the region. There, Lin Miaomiao saw a large number of slaves.

In the 18th year of Yongchang, the war between the Dayong Dynasty and the Southern Barbarians came to an end. The Emperor had personally led the campaign alongside Prince Shengxuan, Li Yanhe, effectively conquering the entire grassland and doubling the territory of the Dayong Dynasty.

In October of that year, the Emperor returned to the capital and initiated a massive purge, known in history as the "Horse Stud Incident." The Crown Prince, who had served as regent, was reprimanded and punished by being forced to copy scriptures for the late Empress. The Fourth Prince Li Deren, the Ninth Prince Li Yonghe, and the Seventh Prince Li Yankang were all stripped of their official positions, while the Fifth Prince Li Anping became a prince of leisure.

By December, a new border had been established at Da'ankou. Standing on the new city wall and looking at the many dead slaves, Lin Miaomiao shuddered. She looked up at Li Yanhe and asked, "Is this the price of war?"

Li Yanhe looked at her and said, "Yes. The war here has ended, and there are no more Southern Barbarians in this world."

Shivering from the cold, Lin Miaomiao said nothing and retreated into her tent.

Once Li Yanhe had finished constructing the border walls, new troops were sent to garrison the area. Feeling the bitter cold, Lin Miaomiao thought of modern down jackets. Though she had wanted to develop them, she had never found the time. She began having Lin Qi collect duck feathers from nearby villages and started experimenting. She failed repeatedly at first and almost gave up, as some of the feathers were too large.

Through persistent trial and error, she finally discovered the right method. She transported the slaughtered ducks to Da'ankou, utilizing the freezing weather to create a simple refrigerator to store them. She then had her garment factory begin producing down jackets in earnest.

Within a month, the factory had produced many jackets, which were then transported to the border. The Emperor had provided the funding, having made a fortune from the confiscated assets of the disgraced officials. Although the court’s payment barely covered costs, Lin Miaomiao was happy that her clothes were being used. The jackets were short and worn under the military coats she had also designed, providing excellent warmth. Even though they lacked an abundance of ducks in the region, these short jackets were sufficient to withstand the winter.

After a long period of busyness, Li Zheng finally had a moment of respite and began reading the letter Lin Miaomiao had written to him.