NFBE Chapter 244 The Imperial Concubine Returns with Gifts for the Emperor
Chapter 244 The Imperial Concubine Returns with Gifts for the Emperor
The next morning, Su Nuannuan got up early and finished washing up. She sat at her dressing table, where Yaoqin carefully combed her long, flowing hair, then instructed Jinse, who had just finished making the bed:
"Go and call Li Quan here."
A moment later, Li Quan limped in. He approached Su Nuannuan, bowed, and asked, "Your Majesty, what brings you here so early?"
Su Nuannuan smiled slightly and gestured for Jinse to bring over a sealed letter and a small cloth bag that she had prepared beforehand. Then she said to Li Quan, "Li Quan, I'm sorry to trouble you to make this trip and deliver this letter and this small cloth bag to the Emperor for me." As she spoke, Jinse handed the items in her hand to Li Quan.
Li Quan quickly took it with both hands and carefully held it in his arms.
Su Nuannuan continued to instruct, "When you see the Emperor, you don't need to say much. Just hand these two items to him personally. If the Emperor asks about me and the two children, answer truthfully. Don't hide anything, and don't embellish or speculate. You should know that there are spies of the Emperor and Empress in this manor we are in now."
Li Quan nodded repeatedly in response, saying, "This servant understands, Your Majesty, please rest assured!"
Su Nuannuan nodded slightly in satisfaction, then instructed, "After you have breakfast, you should set off immediately. You will stay in the capital tonight and return to the estate tomorrow. Remember, unless it is an extremely urgent matter, do not travel at night. Traveling at night is never safe."
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Unless something extremely urgent has happened, this servant would never have traveled back at night," Li Quan replied respectfully.
Su Nuannuan nodded gently, a warm smile on her face, and said softly, "Go and have your breakfast!" With that, she waved her hand gracefully, signaling Li Quan to leave.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. This servant obeys." Li Quan hurriedly bowed respectfully, then carefully carried the two items in his hands and slowly withdrew from the room.
After a quick, simple yet exquisite breakfast, Li Quan didn't dare to waste a moment and headed straight for the stables. He went to the snow-white steed he had ridden before, carefully checked the saddle, reins, and other equipment, and after confirming that everything was in order, he nimbly leaped onto the horse's back.
He sat steadily on the saddle, his satchel securely strapped to his back, his hands gripping the reins tightly. With a powerful squeeze of his legs, he gave a soft shout, "Giddy up!" and the white horse shot off like an arrow, kicking up a cloud of dust as it galloped away from the village.
Meanwhile, Su Nuannuan enjoyed a delicious breakfast with her two adorable children. Afterward, she took their little hands and slowly walked towards a room with a huge sand table.
Upon entering the room, Su Nuannuan smiled and pointed to the neatly arranged military chess pieces on the sand table. She softly said to the two children, "Today, your mother doesn't intend to explain anything too profound or complex. I just want to introduce you to this novel and interesting military chess game." Hearing this, the two children curiously craned their necks to look at the chess pieces on the sand table, their eyes filled with intense interest.
Holding a helmeted soldier figure with a long spear, Su Nuannuan enthusiastically explained to the two children, "Look, this is an infantryman. They are a very important combat unit. Each of these infantryman figures is equivalent to a hundred infantrymen. Moreover, we have divided them into groups of ten, making a total of ten groups. Imagine how spectacular it would be if hundreds or thousands of these brave infantrymen charged into battle!"
Then, she gently put down the infantry figure and picked up another piece—a majestic cavalryman riding a fine horse and wielding a sharp weapon. Su Nuannuan smiled and continued, "Next, take a look at this handsome fellow; this is a cavalryman. Like the infantryman, each cavalry piece can represent up to one hundred powerful cavalrymen."
However, because cavalry is relatively more mobile and has greater impact, we only deployed five in each group, but even so, we prepared a full ten groups. When these lightning-fast cavalry surge towards the enemy lines like a tidal wave, they will surely be unstoppable and unstoppable!
After introducing the cavalry, Su Nuannuan's gaze fell on a row of chess pieces of various shapes and sizes beside her. She first pointed to one of the little figures carrying a bow and arrow and explained earnestly, "This is an archer. They are experts in long-range attacks and can deliver a fatal blow before the enemy even gets close. Although the strength of a single archer is limited, when a group of archers fight together, the dense rain of arrows is enough to terrify any enemy."
Then, pointing to several small dolls with resolute expressions and a willingness to die, she said, "These over here are the suicide squad. They are all brave and fearless warriors, willing to pay any price for victory. Once the war becomes stalemate or a particularly dangerous mission needs to be carried out, the suicide squad will step forward and use their own flesh and blood to open the road to victory."
Then, Su Nuannuan picked up a doll with muscular arms that was about to throw something and said to the children with a smile, "Let's take a look at this powerful character. He's called a Thrower. As the name suggests, they are good at throwing all kinds of lethal weapons, such as stones and javelins. Don't be fooled by their small number; if they seize the right moment to strike, they can often deliver an unexpected blow to the enemy."
Then, her finger moved to a huge and sturdy wooden vehicle model, and she said proudly, "This big guy you see now is a siege engine. It is specially designed to attack enemy cities or fortresses. With its powerful impact and defensive capabilities, it can break through city gates and open up a path for our army to advance. Speaking of siege engines, there is another one suitable for sieges, and that is the sword chariot."
At this point, Su Nuannuan paused slightly, then picked up a wooden board-like object covered with sharp iron nails and said with a serious expression, "And this terrible thing is called a wolf fang sledgehammer. When the enemy tries to climb the city wall, the defenders will use it to smash it down hard, letting those enemies taste what it feels like to have their bodies pierced by iron nails."
Then, she pointed to a device that looked like a crossbow but was much larger, and explained in detail: "Look over here, this imposing behemoth is a ballista. It has a super long range and power, and can even penetrate thick shields and armor to deliver a fatal blow to enemies at a distance."
As Su Nuannuan's introduction deepened, the children's eyes widened, completely immersed in this fantastical military world. She picked up pieces like the catapult, siege ladder, and siege engine, vividly explaining their unique uses and functions. Throughout, Su Nuannuan not only described the characteristics of each military chess piece clearly and concisely, but also brought these otherwise lifeless pieces to life through engaging anecdotes and scene descriptions. The two children listened intently, like sponges absorbing water, occasionally letting out exclamations of amazement, clearly captivated.
The palace at this time.
"Your Majesty, Consort Zhuang has sent someone back to deliver something to Your Majesty again." Li Desheng bowed respectfully as he approached the Emperor, who was intently reviewing memorials, and whispered this latest news to him.
Upon hearing this, the Emperor slightly raised his head, put down the brush dipped in cinnabar, and a smile of interest appeared on his lips. He said in a slightly teasing tone, "Oh? Does Consort Zhuang perhaps want me to make something for her again?"