Cui Yi wiped the tears from her eyelashes, "Why are you crying like a child when I mention leading the expedition? You never reacted this way before."
Cheng Ying silently shook her head, unable to tell him about the past. If Ji Jie died, those memories would remain buried forever.
She persisted, "Take me with you!"
Cui Yi frowned, conflicted. Emotionally, he didn't want to part from her, but rationally, he knew it was impossible. Not only was the battlefield dangerous, but—
"No, you can't go. You need to stay here, watch over the court, and protect the empire."
Cheng Ying stubbornly shook her head, "Take me with you. I don't care about being Empress or Consort. I just want to be with you." Her eyes welled up with tears again.
Cui Yi had never denied her wishes before, but this time, he was resolute, "Think about Nian and Hao. What will happen if we both leave? Nian used to cling to Lu Ping. Now that Lu Ping is dead, you leaving will make her even sadder."
Cheng Ying sniffed, forcing back her tears. Seeing her distress, Cui Yi held her tighter, "I seldom lose battles, but I can't guarantee victory. Liangzhou borders Ba Bian and Cha Cha, and the Beidi tribes are eyeing us. With Guo Ziyang by my brother's side, if I fall into a trap, you following me would mean your death too. Hao is not even two years old. How can he rule alone in the palace?"
"But if I stay, how can I help him? The ministers consider me a traitor's daughter. If you don't return, I can't hold the court together."
Cui Yi said firmly, "I've thought this through. Alone, you can't control those old ministers. I've arranged for people to stay in the capital. You have military power and allies in the court. You won't be defenseless."
Cheng Ying felt a mix of emotions, touched by his planning, but also wondering if he planned to die.
Cui Yi laughed, "As long as I have breath, I'll return. What are you thinking?"
Cheng Ying pouted, "Who are you leaving behind? From our former generals, you'll take two and leave one. Dai Laojiang's sons are reliable, but what about the strategist? Will you take Minister Baili?"
"No, if I take him, there will be no one to speak for you in court. Minister Baili must stay. I'll take Yuanke and Zhonghang. Recently, Wang Shi became pregnant, and I considered replacing Zhonghang, but he's been with me the longest and understands my intentions without explanation. So, he'll accompany me. You and the princess need to look after Wang Shi."
Cheng Ying agreed to care for Wang Shi but worried about leaving Baili behind, "If Master Shan were alive, he'd be ideal, but since he's gone, Baili is the best strategist. Without him, I can't be reassured."
Cui Yi dismissed her concern, "I've won battles without him before. Can't I win this one without him?"
After much discussion, Cheng Ying insisted on taking Baili, threatening to confront Guo Mao herself. Cui Yi relented.
Cui Yi added, "Gong Qi is also capable, but I'm leaving him behind as a prince consort. He can easily enter the palace with the princess to consult you. However, Gong Qi is too gentle. If the ministers challenge you, he might not defend you well. Therefore, I've left you a protective talisman."
"What protective talisman?" Cheng Ying asked, puzzled.
Cui Yi smiled mischievously, "Guess. Aren't you supposed to be clever enough to figure it out?"
Cheng Ying laughed, "When did I ever say you weren't smart? Isn't it thanks to me that you're like this now?"
"All your doing, hmm?" Cui Yi tickled her, and they rolled around laughing until she cried for mercy.
Cheng Ying wiped her eyes, having choked on her laughter.
Cui Yi hovered above her, smiling, "I've left a decree. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, read it publicly."
Cheng Ying blinked in surprise—what kind of decree could help her in such a situation? It couldn't be a decree promoting her to Empress.
"Also, if necessary, you can appoint your brother as a censorial official in my name. Censors can criticize even the emperor and are immune to execution. He and his mother rely on you for survival and will support you fiercely."
Cheng Ying nodded absentmindedly, wondering about the decree.
Internally, she hoped never to use it, but soon after Cui Yi's expedition left, the court descended into chaos. Ministers quarreled, impeaching each other, taking advantage of the emperor's absence and the perceived weakness of the Empress Dowager.
Little Cui Hao, however, showed remarkable composure, sitting calmly on his throne amidst the noisy debates. Yang Qiong, as expected, couldn't compete with the older ministers and was sweating profusely, unable to contribute.
Cheng Ying sighed deeply behind the pearl curtain, facing the tumultuous court.
When Head commanded Xiaoqiu, "Go fetch the jade box from beside my bed," Xiaoqiu dashed off and returned swiftly. Inside the hall, the crowd was still in a heated debate. Chi Ying retrieved the imperial edict and stood up, saying, "Ministers, please pause for a moment; I have an imperial edict left by His Majesty." No one outside paid any attention to her. She raised her voice again, but still no one responded. Du Zhongquan anxiously stamped his foot, shouting, "Her Highness has an imperial edict to read! Be silent!" One of the ministers sneered, "Matters of state are too significant to be interfered with by a eunuch!" Du Zhongquan was instantly enraged, about to retort when he saw Xiao Cui Hao lift his ball and hurl it forward. It hit a leading civil minister's thigh with a thud. The man was startled, and the surrounding people quieted down. In moments, the great hall fell into silence. Chi Ying sighed inwardly, thinking that in critical times, her son was indeed reliable. She handed the edict to Du Zhongquan. "By the mandate of heaven, the emperor decrees..." The content of the edict stunned everyone present, including Chi Ying herself. The edict left by Cui Yi promoted Zhong Yuanshan, who served as Deputy Minister of War, to General of Cavalry, a third-rank position equivalent to the Minister of Personnel. In the absence of Grand Tutors or Grand Guardians, he ranked just below Crown Prince Cui Hao and the two provincial secretaries. Moreover, inside the jade box were tokens to mobilize three out of twelve capital guards—tokens which only Cui Yi himself, the Minister of War, and Longwu Guard Commander Yang Qiong held. Now, one was being given to Zhong Yuanshan. Immediately someone shouted, "This is against protocol! According to ancestral rules, the Divine Might, Loyal Sky, and Golden Eagle Guards have always answered directly to the emperor. How can you openly give military tokens to relatives? Is the Ji family's empire to change its name to Zhong today?" Yang Qiong angrily replied, "Nonsense! If not for the emperor foreseeing your chaos after his departure, how could this happen?" His voice was soon drowned out by the clamor. Some officials supported Cui Yi's decision, but they were low-ranking and couldn't compete with the influential ministers. Chi Ying instructed Du Zhongquan to summon Zhong Yuanshan while she took a deep breath and shouted, "Be silent!" Just as she finished, Xiao Cui Hao echoed, "Silent!" A child barely over a year old didn't understand what "silent" meant but mimicked his mother, albeit unclearly and somewhat hoarsely. Despite this, as the prince and a member of the Cui family, the ministers had to show respect, gradually falling silent. "You all have sharp tongues but where are your strategies to defeat the rebels in the northwest? The emperor has been gone less than half a month, yet you disrupt the court with loud voices, disrespectful and unbecoming!" Chi Ying rarely scolded people, but having been empress, her reprimand silenced them. Feeling slightly relieved, she continued, "Though the emperor is absent, the crown prince remains! The ancestors of the Cui clan are watching! How dare you act so boldly! All of you, educated and talented, should focus on governing the country instead of bullying a woman and a child under this banner of righteousness! You mock eunuchs, yet they understand propriety better than you. Are you even men?" With Zhong Yuanshan arriving and holding the military token, the agitated ministers had no choice but to submit. Within just half a month, things had gotten so chaotic. What would happen next? Chi Ying pressed her temples in worry. Come back quickly, she silently called out to Cui Yi, don't abandon us orphans and widows!