Disguised as a man, she became the biggest villain in the book.

Chapter 214 Changes on the Frontier

Inside the palace

Chen Xianlin leaned lazily against the chaise lounge in the hall, covered with a soft velvet blanket.

At this moment, a warm atmosphere filled the hall, and the burning charcoal brought Chen Xianlin a touch of warmth. Through the half-open window, she could already see snowflakes falling outside, and the new winter had quietly arrived.

Chen Xianlin closed her eyes slightly, enjoying the tranquility and leisure. She seemed to be resting, but her mind was not completely at peace.

Chen Xianlin suddenly opened her eyes without warning and looked at the palace maid serving beside her, asking, "Is there any news from my father?" Her voice was soft but carried a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

The palace maid hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Your Highness, news has just come from Lord Chen's side that both mother and child are safe and sound!" As she spoke, the palace maid carefully observed Chen Xianlin's expression, afraid that she might say something wrong and displease Chen Xianlin.

Chen Xianlin's face remained calm and composed, without revealing much emotion, which secretly relieved the palace maid.

Chen Xianlin had actually anticipated this outcome.

For many years, Chen Tongyu had longed for a son to carry on the family line and inherit the family business. However, fate had other plans, and despite the passing years, he had not been able to fulfill his wish. Although he had many wives and concubines, none of them were able to give birth to a son.

I wonder which concubine was so lucky to get pregnant so quickly.

Thinking of this, Chen Xianlin couldn't help but sigh softly. The Chen family had always been small in number, and by Chen Tongyu's generation, there were even fewer children, only two daughters. The others had mostly died young, and few had survived to adulthood.

Now, the only surviving members of the Chen family are Chen Ruoyao and Chen Xianlin. Chen Ruoyao will spend the rest of her life in seclusion, and Chen Xianlin is unable to have any more children. The more Chen Tongyu thinks about it, the more desperate he becomes. What will happen if no one inherits the vast Chen family business?

Chen Tongyu had always wanted a son, and now his wish has finally come true.

Thinking of this, Chen Xianlin slowly turned her head, her gaze fixed on the swirling snowflakes outside the hall. Her eyes were empty and lifeless, as if she could see the distant future through the snowy landscape. At this moment, her heart was like the swirling snowflakes, filled with countless thoughts, yet she couldn't make sense of them.

Chen Xianlin's gaze shifted from confusion to openness, and then to ruthlessness in just a few moments.

There was no way Chen Xianlin would let others reap the benefits of her hard work and enjoy the fruits of the Chen family's wealth. Thinking of this, Chen Xianlin's eyes became even more sinister. From the moment Chen Ruoyao had her accident, Chen Tongyu had never uttered a single word in front of Xue Huaiyu to speak up for Chen Ruoyao. Chen Xianlin had come to know Chen Tongyu for who he truly was.

Before this, Chen Xianlin had always regarded Chen Ruoyao as her biggest enemy and wanted to take her father's attention away from Chen Ruoyao. Before Chen Ruoyao's accident, Chen Xianlin never realized that the real culprit was actually their father, Chen Tongyu.

Chen Xianlin has been hostile to her younger sister since returning to Beijing, and she still dislikes Chen Ruoyao even now. However, this does not stop Chen Xianlin from hating Chen Tongyu even more. Chen Xianlin thought that since Chen Ruoyao had accompanied Chen Tongyu in Beijing for many years, Chen Tongyu would at least love his daughter Chen Ruoyao very much, but that was not the case.

After Chen Tongyu discovered that Chen Xianlin was more valuable, he immediately became more fond of her. Chen Xianlin had always believed that Chen Ruoyao and her mother had driven her mother to her death. She had also wondered if her mother would not have died of depression if Chen Ruoyao's mother had never appeared.

But that's not actually the case. It wasn't until Chen Xianlin met Xue Huaiyu that she understood why her mother had died in despair. Even if Chen Ruoyao's mother had never appeared, someone else would have appeared to take her place. It just so happened that the person who took her place was Chen Ruoyao's mother. Thinking of this, Chen Xianlin laughed self-deprecatingly.

The problem has never been with Chen Ruoyao's mother; the problem has always been with her father.

"It's getting cold!" Chen Xianlin suddenly exclaimed, looking at the heavy snow falling outside the window.

As if remembering something, Chen Xianlin turned to the palace maid beside her and said, "What gifts should I give my younger brother for the full moon celebration?"

The palace maid beside her hesitated upon hearing this. She lowered her head, her lips moved slightly, but ultimately remained silent. She looked pleadingly at the other palace maids around her.

The other palace maids looked at each other, none of them daring to answer.

An awkward silence fell over the room, broken only by the occasional soft breathing.

Chen Xianlin observed all of this, but she did not get angry or reprimand the palace maids. Instead, she silently watched them with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Chen Xianlin frowned slightly, gazing at the swirling snow outside the window, and murmured to herself, "It's unbelievably cold. The laundry department must be incredibly busy right now, probably severely understaffed." With that, she slowly turned around, her gaze falling on the group of palace maids in front of her, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

"I see that you are all well-behaved and diligent. If you were sent to help in the laundry department, it would surely lighten their burden considerably. What do you think?" Chen Xianlin said softly, but her eyes revealed a deep meaning that was hard to fathom.

Upon hearing this, the palace maids turned pale with fright and knelt down, kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Your Majesty, spare us! Your Majesty, spare us! Please have mercy on us!" In an instant, the palace was filled with the terrified cries and pleas for mercy from the palace maids.

Seeing this, Chen Xianlin simply waved her hand, signaling the guards beside her to drag all the palace maids away.

Meanwhile, Xue Huaiyu received news of Chen Xianlin punishing the palace maid immediately after the incident.

Xue Huaiyu sat on the dragon throne, holding a scroll of memorials in his hand. After listening to the eunuch who came to report the matter, he couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "Alas, how many times has this happened already? Oh well, since that's the case, let's just select some palace maids from elsewhere and send them to her so she can choose again."

"Yes, Your Majesty! This servant obeys the decree!" Eunuch Zhang, who was standing to the side, quickly bowed and accepted the order. He then hurriedly left to arrange for people to handle the matter.

Prime Minister's Mansion

Zheng Luoqi sat quietly in the study, her gaze passing through the window to the swirling, fluttering snowflakes outside. She murmured to herself, "It's winter again!"

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by Bo Yu's anxious voice: "My lord! Pei Wenyu has been sent back to the capital. There's also news that Miss Shen and the young master have successfully met at the border."

"However, some time ago, the young master wrote to say that General Pei's health seemed to be deteriorating! He has been coughing frequently, and although the military doctor diagnosed it as a minor cold, the young master felt that things might not be so simple and that it was very likely not just a simple cold!"

"The military doctors have now forbidden anyone from visiting General Pei!"

Upon hearing this news, Zheng Luoqi frowned slightly and said thoughtfully, "General Pei..." His mind quickly flashed through various memories of the old general, and a feeling of regret welled up in his heart.

"We are at a critical moment in the border war. If General Pei were to meet with some misfortune, it would be a huge loss for our Great Xia. The Pei family can be replaced, but not now. Now is not the right time!"

Zheng Luoqi slowly stood up, walked to the window, looked at the still falling snowflakes, and after a moment of silence, said, "Immediately send someone to inquire about General Pei's condition and see if we need to transfer some famous doctors from the capital. If so, send them in the name of the heir apparent. Also, send a letter to the Prince of Huainan, saying that there has been a change in the Pei family and that if General Pei cannot hold on for a while, he should take over the position!"

"By the way, go and summon Zisang to me. I have important business with him!"

"Yes, sir! I will go and take care of it right away!" Bo Yu replied respectfully, then turned around and hurriedly ran towards the door, leaving Zheng Luoqi with only his hurried back view.

For a moment, Zheng Luoqi was the only one left in the large study. She stood quietly by the window, gazing at the white world outside.

Not long after, a series of hurried footsteps approached. Zisang rushed into the study, bowed to Zheng Luoqi, and said, "My lord, you wanted to see me?"

Zheng Luoqi nodded slightly, a faint smile on her face, and said, "Yes, Zisang, let's go out together to find an old friend to catch up and have a good get-together!"

After saying that, Zheng Luoqi strode off and headed straight for the door. Zisang quickly followed behind, and the two figures soon disappeared into the vast snow.