Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 430 The Emperor Personally Leads the Campaign (4)

"You’re getting better and better at banter," Feng Xuxu mumbled, nestled in his arms.

Time ticked by second by second. Ever since Feng Xuxu learned that her husband was to go off to war, she hadn’t slept well for even a single day. During the day, she forced herself to deal with the affairs of the Imperial Palace; at night, she would hide in their private space with her husband, one concocting golden sore medicine, the other ceaselessly planting various medicinal herbs in the field outside. In just a few short days, the space’s storeroom was filled to the brim with herbs.

"Husband, it looks like I’ll need to take some time to move all these herbs out, the storeroom can’t fit anymore." Looking at the mountainous stacks of herbs, Feng Xuxu shrugged her shoulders and smiled helplessly.

Dugu Chen looked at the herbs and stepped forward to hug her shoulder, "Mhm, wait for tomorrow and I’ll go with you."

After spending a tender moment together in the space, they bathed and went straight to the second floor of the space to rest. When they awoke again, they could see through the space that it was only just beginning to dawn outside.

After an early breakfast, dressed in their regular clothes, Dugu Chen led Feng Xuxu out of the Imperial Palace, and after about half an hour, they arrived at a wealthy merchant’s estate.

"Husband, whose estate is this?" As soon as Feng Xuxu entered the estate, she was captivated by the plum blossoms inside. The blossoms weren’t red, nor white, but a rare shade of bluish green.

Dugu Chen watched Feng Xuxu with a gentle smile, "This is your husband’s estate, and these plum blossoms were imported from the Sunset Kingdom."

"Oh? You actually have a hidden stash of wealth. Tell me, what other assets do you have that I don’t know about?" She stretched out her hand to pinch the flesh at his waist, slowly twisting it three hundred and sixty degrees.

Dugu Chen inhaled sharply; after not sparring for a few days, he found that his wife’s grip was getting stronger.

Noticing that he was distracted, Feng Xuxu increased the strength in her hand, "Not going to speak, are you?"

"Ow, it hurts, consort, go easy, easy, I’ll talk, I’ll talk." Dugu Chen smiled bitterly, pleading with his wife for mercy.

Feng Xuxu let go, her little face flushed with displeasure as she glared at him.

"Consort, all my wealth has already been given to you; you just haven’t checked!" Dugu Chen complained, rubbing the now sore flesh on his waist where she had pinched.

"Really? You’re not lying to me?" Feng Xuxu arched an eyebrow, looking at Dugu Chen skeptically.

Dugu Chen couldn’t help but feel amused and wronged, "My consort is truly treating me unjustly, I’m even more wronged than Dou E. If you don’t believe me, summon the Prince Residence’s butler. The deed has always been with him. I truly don’t have a hidden stash of wealth." Even the keys to the grand treasury within the Imperial Palace are with you; how could I have another stash? But he dared not utter these thoughts; otherwise, he estimated he’d likely be sleeping on a cold stone bed tonight.

"Fine, I’ll trust you this time." Feng Xuxu rolled her eyes, turning her head away with a guilty conscience. She had never managed the affairs within the Prince Residence, so she really didn’t know about this estate.

Feng Xuxu inspected the estate’s rooms one by one and, finding them all in good condition, started moving the medicinal herbs out of the space. Once all the herbs were moved, the empty rooms in the courtyard were filled up. The two of them exchanged a smile before getting up to head back to the Imperial Palace.

"Husband, I plan to send Xiaobai to deliver this batch of medicinal herbs. At that time, we should also bring along some grain and provisions in case of emergency."

"Mm, my consort is always so thoughtful," Dugu Chen praised, tapping her little nose.

Feng Xuxu raised her chin, pridefully huffing, "Well, you should see who my husband is!"

Dugu Chen was startled for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter, "Your husband is the happiest man in the whole world."

On the tenth day of December, the new Emperor personally led a military campaign. Not long after Dugu Chen had left, Feng Xuxu returned to her space and called for Xiaobai.

"Xiaobai, sister needs you to escort the herbal medicines along with supplies to the Western Frontier. The carts and people have already been arranged; once they’re loaded, set out with Wan Hun."

Xiaobai wagged its tail, casting a reluctant glance at Xiaolan behind it, "Okay, but I’m taking Xiaolan with me."

Feng Xuxu twitched the corners of her mouth and glanced at the Blue Fox, "No, Xiaolan is too conspicuous. It will be very dangerous for it to go out like this. It’s better to cultivate more in the space until it can transform into a human. Then you can appear together as a pair."

Xiaobai pouted, nodding helplessly, "Sister, when do I leave then?"

"Set off early tomorrow morning."

"Got it, sister," Xiaobai said and then ran towards the mountains, leading Xiaolan with it.

Feng Xuxu couldn’t help but smile wryly. A tiger had actually fallen in love with a fox. What would their offspring look like? Would they resemble tigers or foxes? Or have the body of a tiger and the head of a fox? Or perhaps a fox’s body and a tiger’s head? The thought alone was panic-inducing.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed since Dugu Chen left. Every few days, Feng Xuxu would receive a brief message brought back by an eagle, usually containing simple words such as ’all is well’ and ’don’t worry’.

With Dugu Chen gone, the Ministers continued to attend the morning court as usual. Every morning, Feng Xuxu listened to the Ministers bickering back and forth about trivial matters, while the Prime Minister loyally managed the court affairs, only consulting the Empress when there were uncertain issues.

Though Dugu Chen wasn’t by her side, with the daily affairs of the court keeping her busy, life was still fulfilling.

That night, on the battlefield at the Western Frontier,

Dugu Chen was fiercely struggling against Ming Shang, wielding his blood-stained Treasured Sword. The raging fire behind him burned relentlessly, casting a red glow over half the sky.

Suddenly, a blue-glowing arrow flew swiftly from behind, aiming directly at Dugu Chen. Unable to dodge in time, he heard a ’thud’ as the arrow pierced his heart from the back. Dugu Chen looked down at the arrow embedded in his heart, blood slowly trickling from the corners of his mouth. Incredulous, he looked behind at the person who had shot him, then gradually, his body tilted backward and fell.

"No, no, no, dodge, husband!" Suddenly, Feng Xuxu sat up abruptly in bed.

Outside the room, Yingsu, on night duty, heard the commotion and hurried into the bedroom. Seeing the Empress sitting up in bed, sweating profusely with tears on her face, she asked with concern, "Your Majesty, did you have a nightmare?"

"Yingsu, I dreamt that my husband was assassinated?" Feng Xuxu reached for her heart, which was still violently pounding.

Yingsu picked up a cotton handkerchief from the rack, moistened it, and handed it to Feng Xuxu, whispering comfortingly, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has been raised in the military camp since childhood, and he is indeed a War God with notable military achievements. Your Majesty is probably just overwhelmed with concern. In a moment, I will cook some soothing soup for you to drink before you sleep, and all will be well."

Feng Xuxu nodded absently and closed her eyes. The scene from her nightmare kept replaying in her mind, like a movie that wouldn’t stop.