Noble First Daughter-in-law

Chapter 992: The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to attack their alliances

Yu Wenyuan raised his hand to signal everyone to stand up, then asked, "Where is Yuan Qian?"

He was only wearing casual clothes, and looked like a pampered and dignified rich man who happened to visit his daughter-in-law to see his grandson. Shang Ruyi hurriedly stood up and asked Feng Nanny to carry Yuan Qian out. When he saw Yuwen Yuan, Yuan Qian immediately stretched out his hands to the emperor with joy, and said crisply: "Ah!"

Yu Wenyuan took his grandson with a smile, held him in his arms and kissed him.

Yuan Qian struggled and laughed at the prick of his beard. The solemn atmosphere of welcoming the emperor was immediately dispelled by the child's crisp laughter, and the whole Qianqiu Palace became lively. Yuwen Yuan also laughed heartily and said, "This child is full of energy."

Shang Ruyi was standing aside, watching his son's eagerness, and said with a smile, "He just took a nap, so he is now making a fuss."

"Then I am here."

As Yuwen Yuan spoke, he carried Yuan Qian into the hall and sat down. Shang Ruyi hurriedly asked someone to bring some tea and snacks, and then everyone retreated in silence.

Yu Wenyuan played with his grandson for a while, then leaned over the table, took a sip of tea, and looked at Shang Ruyi.

He asked, "Did you go to your uncle's house today?"

"Yes."

"How is he?"

"My uncle has been resting at home these days, and he has recovered from some of his old illnesses."

"Oh."

Yuwen Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly when he heard this, as if waiting for Shang Ruyi to continue, but Shang Ruyi only said this and did not continue. Yuwen Yuan's expression eased a little, and he looked around again, and then said: "Your place is quite clean. I thought you had already started packing your luggage."

Shang Ruyi heard this and immediately said, "I dare not."

"Oh?"

"How dare I make my own decision without your permission, my father?"

"Do you think I will allow you to go?"

Shang Ruyi lowered his head and said sincerely: "I only want to be filial to my father and loyal to the court. As for whether my father will allow it, it is naturally up to my father to consider. I dare not speculate rashly."

After hearing these words, and feeling the little Yuan Qian in his arms constantly pulling at his sleeves, the love he felt for his child finally softened Yu Wenyuan's expression.

He was silent for a while before he said, "I shouldn't have allowed you to do that."

"..."

"No matter what, this matter is too dangerous. If we really want to relieve Xiazhou's danger, the court should send troops instead of sending a princess."

Shang Ruyi immediately said, "I understand that your father is concerned about me, but if the crisis in Xiazhou is not resolved, the Turks will become a threat to Dasheng. If we allow them to grow stronger, it will be difficult to eliminate them. Therefore, the crisis in Xiazhou must be resolved."

"..."

"And the way to resolve a crisis is not just to send troops. As Sun Tzu's Art of War says, 'The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, the next best is to attack his alliances, the next best is to attack his troops, and the worst is to attack his cities.'"

"..."

"I am not as good at strategy as the ministers in the court, nor am I as good at leading troops as the King of Qin or the King of Qi, but in terms of friendship, I can still have a say in their affairs."

Yuwen Yuan looked at her with burning eyes: "Do you really think that you can make them withdraw their troops by just a few words?" His eyes were solemn. Although he was asking, it seemed that he did not completely disbelieve. On the contrary, the warmth in his eyes was the fanaticism of a daring person. In fact, Shang Ruyi knew very well that a person who could establish a country and become emperor in troubled times could not be conservative all his life. He must have many bold ideas and thoughts, so he could take action at the most critical moment and hit the target with one blow.

So, instead of asking himself this possibility, he should give himself a firm answer.

Shang Ruyi lowered his head and thought for a while, then said, "I beg you, Father, to let me have a try."

This was also the last sentence she said after she told Yuwen Yuan that day that she was going to save Xiazhou from danger and made a promise. However, this time, Yuwen Yuan did not hesitate to let her back out like before, saying that he would think about it for a while. Instead, he looked at her deeply, with undisguised admiration in his tiger eyes.

After a long silence, Yuwen Yuan suddenly smiled and said, "When you were born, I held you in my arms."

"what?"

Shang Ruyi was a little caught off guard by the sudden change from military affairs to a warm topic, but she still looked at him with wide eyes, only to see Yu Wenyuan smiled and said, "When you were born, you were two taels heavier than Fengchen, and your voice was louder than Yuan Qian."

Shang Ruyi blinked. She didn't expect him to say this, and she didn't expect that he had held her in his arms when she was a child.

But this is not surprising. Yuwen Yuan and Shang Ruohong are old friends, and their relationship is so deep that the two families can become in-laws. Even after Shang Ruohong's death, when the Shang family had fallen into decline, he did not change his original intention. It is obvious that he still has feelings for the Shang family and for himself.

Shang Ruyi said softly: "I don't know."

Yu Wenyuan laughed and said, "You only knew how to cry at that time, what could you know?"

"..."

"But, I said at that time that it would be great if I could have a daughter as strong as you."

As he spoke, a hint of loneliness appeared in his smile, and he said, "What a pity, it's still a son."

Shang Ruyi understood immediately that he was talking about the third Yuwen son. From his attitude before she married into the Yuwen family and some of his words from time to time, she could tell that Yuwen Yuan loved daughters very much. Unfortunately, he had three sons but no daughter, so he had been particularly fond of her before. If it weren't for the matter of Han Yuhui that caused a rift between the two of them, she was afraid that he would agree to her request more readily this time.

Shang Ruyi said softly: "Father, isn't a daughter-in-law considered a half-daughter?"

Hearing this, Yuwen Yuan also laughed and nodded, "Well, if I really had a daughter, she would look like you."

After saying that, he let out a deep breath and said, "Go ahead!"

Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi opened his eyes wide with joy, and hurriedly stood up and kowtowed to Yuwen Yuan: "Thank you, father."

Yuwen Yuan put Yuan Qian aside, stood up and helped her up, let her sit down, and then said: "Don't thank me too much, this is not a reward. You have to know that sometimes even swords and knives are useless when facing the people of Western Turks, otherwise Princess Qiancheng would not have sent three consecutive letters to ask for help."

"..."

"If you are in any danger--"

"Father, don't worry!"

As if afraid that he would regret and revoke his order because of his own danger, Shang Ruyi did not hesitate to imitate Yuwen Ye's bad habit and interrupt him, saying anxiously: "Since I have asked for your order, I will naturally go with the intention of risking my life, but I will definitely come back with my life."

"..."

"After all, I still have Yuan Qian."

After hearing this, Yuwen Yuan finally felt relieved and said, "Get ready immediately and set off in three days."