He knew Yu Mingyue's words were astonishing. Ever since their previous discussion on literature, he had recognized her intelligence, far surpassing that of ordinary women. However, he hadn't expected her to be so perceptive about matters of state.
"No one has heard of it; I guessed it. Did the Sage summon my father to Jizhou for another mission?" Yu Mingyue's expression was anxious.
Jizhou bordered Youzhou. The Sage didn't trust the Feng family, so he used the excuse of transferring her father to Jizhou early, then used the grand court assembly to summon Feng Qirui and his family to the capital, keeping them here under a pretext.
Her father wasn't going to lead the militia; he was cooperating with the Seventh Prince to quell the rebellion.
Otherwise, Great Wei had defeated the Khitans many times. This war should have ended long ago, yet the Khitans seemed emboldened, clashing with Great Wei as if determined to fight to the bitter end, dragging on for so long.
What was the attitude of the Luo family in Youzhou during all this?
Would they collude with the Khitans?
If so, the war would be even more arduous.
Would her father and brother, both on the battlefield simultaneously...
In the storybooks, her father and brother died in the same battle.
Yu Mingyue's eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.
She didn't want to cry, but suddenly, she couldn't control herself.
That thought grew more and more terrifying.
Xie Jia'an raised his arm, his fingers about to touch Yu Mingyue's face, but then he stopped.
"Sixth Lady, your father will be fine."
"Really?" Yu Mingyue desperately wanted to hear this. She longed for someone to give her a reassuring word.
And she trusted Xie Jia'an the most.
"Mm," Xie Jia'an nodded. "If Jizhou falls, Great Wei is in peril. Your father is to be that nail, firmly pinning down the Jizhou army. As long as Jizhou remains stable, that is enough."
"That's all?" Yu Mingyue felt it couldn't be that simple.
"That's all."
Xie Jia'an wasn't lying to Yu Mingyue, but stabilizing the Jizhou army was no easy feat. A slight misstep could lead to mutiny.
This was why the Sage had kept the Jizhou Military Governor confined in the capital.
In fact, it wasn't just Jizhou; Ding and Bing prefectures also had varying degrees of ties with the Luo family.
The Sage had taken a risky gamble this time. If it succeeded, he could reclaim half of Great Wei's military power in one fell swoop.
If it failed, it could very well reignite war in the Central Plains, leading to widespread suffering.
The aristocratic families had clearly sensed something unusual and guessed the Sage's true intentions. They had all sent people to the capital, ostensibly to show goodwill but actually to probe for information and wait for an opportunity.
"So, the Seventh Prince's expedition is ostensibly to fight the Khitans, but in reality, it's to reclaim the military power of Youzhou." Yu Mingyue watched him, her eyes unblinking, afraid of missing any flicker of expression.
As long as the Youzhou Luo family was pacified, and a warning was issued to others, the other prefectures would surely not dare to act rashly.
"Are you worried about him?" Xie Jia'an's voice was calm.
Yu Mingyue frowned, her expression complex. "The Sage sent the Seventh Prince on this campaign to legitimize his position as Crown Prince. If the Seventh Prince meets with misfortune, Great Wei will likely fall into chaos."
As military officials, her father and brother would never abandon their lord to save themselves; they would follow him to the end.
Although she felt her words might be inappropriate, she spoke them because it was Xie Jia'an.
While the Sage had more than one son, the Eighth and Ninth Princes had left the capital for their fiefs long ago, leaving only Xiao Che to satisfy the Sage.
Moreover, she remembered Xiao Che's almost worshipful reliance and trust in Xie Jia'an.
"To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. This is not something you need to concern yourself with. It's getting late; you should rest early." Xie Jia'an's gaze was sharp, causing Yu Mingyue to flinch. She felt that Brother Jia'an seemed a little displeased.
"Brother Jia'an, are you unhappy?" Yu Mingyue voiced her feeling directly.
"No. Such words should not be spoken to others," Xie Jia'an pursed his lips, his voice flat.
Yu Mingyue visibly relaxed, shaking her head. "I would only say such things to Brother Jia'an. I only trust you."