"I asked this child if Zong Han bullied her, and she just cried and shook her head without speaking. My daughter is grown up, and I understand if she has things she can't tell her father. But if I find out Zong Han bullied her, I'll definitely cripple his third leg, so he can forget about continuing the family line for the rest of his life!"
Those words were too harsh!
"Don't overthink it. When she and Zong Han arrive later, I'll find time to ask. If they really can't get along, a letter of divorce is all it takes!"
Instead of saying such harsh words, it's better to be decisive. If they can be together, they will be; if not, they'll separate. There's no need to cling to each other and suffer together!
After more than half an hour, Prince Xiaoyao, Prince Xian, and Huangfu Xi arrived, with Zong Han following them. Zong Han held their daughter Junjun by the hand!
At this moment, her eyes could not hold anyone else. Her heart was drawn to Junjun, and she kept trying to find some clues from her smiling face!
But unfortunately, she really couldn't see anything!
The Huangfu brothers nodded to them: "Greetings, Consort, Your Highness!"
Zong Han and his wife also greeted them: "Mother-in-law, Father-in-law, Father, Mother!"
Zhao Jiaqi smiled and waved at Junjun: "Come to Mother. It's all big men talking over here, and their loud voices are hurting my ears. Come walk with Mother over there!"
Junjun smiled and nodded, then helped Zhao Jiaqi down from the viewing platform. Her hand never left her arm, as clingy as if she were unmarried!
After the two walked a short distance away, she finally asked Junjun: "Your father said you cried this morning?"
Upon hearing her mother's question, Junjun pursed her lips, pondered for a moment, and then nodded: "Mother, I'm pregnant, but Zong Han doesn't want this child and insists I have an abortion. But I love this child, and we argued a few times yesterday because of this."
"I thought he had agreed to keep the child, but when I woke up this morning, he still told me to have an abortion. That's why I couldn't control my emotions when I met Father."
Zhao Jiaqi couldn't understand. Shouldn't a royal family be happy to have an heir? Why was Zong Han so different from others!
What was Zong Han up to?
"Did you ask him what he meant?"
When this was brought up, Junjun felt even more like crying: "I asked, but he wouldn't say anything!"
"No matter how I ask or press him, he just repeats one thing: he doesn't want this child!"
Seeing her daughter's distress, Zhao Jiaqi gently patted her hand: "When I have time, I'll ask him what's going on."
As far as she knew, Zong Han had a bad temper and ruthless methods, but his love for Little Junjun had never wavered!
They had known each other since they were young, and Zong Han had waited so many years to marry Junjun. It was impossible for him to tire of her in just over a year!
Perhaps there was some melodramatic misunderstanding, and she would ask when Zong Han needed help.
Wangcai trotted over to Zhao Jiaqi: "Consort, Empress Zong, Your Highness says the performance is about to begin and requests that you and Empress Zong return to the viewing platform!"
"I'm coming!"
She led Junjun back to the viewing platform and sat beside her husband. They watched the soldiers practicing below, but Zhao Jiaqi's heart had already wandered far away and was not on the viewing platform.
Suddenly, she heard bursts of applause and praise, which finally pulled her back from her deep thoughts.
The moment she looked down at the platform, her pupils constricted, and she looked at the person beside her in surprise.
"Why did you call them out?"
The 'them' Zhao Jiaqi was referring to were the special forces soldiers she had painstakingly trained for years. A small team of these soldiers could rival five thousand ordinary soldiers!
These soldiers were primarily known for their intelligence gathering, surprise attacks, swift actions, accurate strikes, and ruthless efficiency. They were a mysterious force.
Her husband had actually used them for deterrence. Although it had achieved its deterrent effect, it had also exposed them!
"Don't panic, just watch!"
Her hand was held by him, and he gently squeezed it, telling her to continue watching.
She had no choice but to watch. These soldiers were her pride, and she had developed this team based on fragments of information she had seen on modern television. She really didn't want them to be exposed!
But it seemed they had already attracted the attention of those around her.
However, the performers below were not the familiar faces. They were new ones. Although they decisively defeated the ordinary soldiers in their sparring, the techniques they used were from years ago.
At this moment, she understood!
Her husband was exposing that he had a mysterious force that could fight a thousand men, while also being secretive and not revealing their true strength. She sighed inwardly.
Day after day, neither her husband nor her sons and daughters gave her any peace of mind!
Clap, clap, clap!
Applause erupted. The emperors did not hesitate to bestow their applause upon Fan Zehao, as they had witnessed a truly spectacular soldier drill, and more importantly, the mysterious force from the inner city.
The other emperors, while fearful of how such a force could be used against enemies, maintained their composure and even inquired about it with Fan Zehao.
But Lan Jinfeng and Yu Xiaoshuang's faces had turned pale. They stood to the side, looking helpless.
They didn't know whether to step forward and speak or remain silent. Zhao Jiaqi, watching from the side, felt awkward for them.
She took the initiative to ask: "Emperor Xue and Emperor Wei, what do you think of this drill by the regular soldiers? I hope you can offer a fair evaluation and some suggestions."
The two exchanged glances and gave awkward smiles. Yu Xiaoshuang, despite his fear, was a person who had seen much of the world and could not show weakness. He gave an answer that he didn't want to admit but had to.
"Very good. From the formation and deployment, to the unexpected moves afterward, to overcoming the superior numbers, the coordination between the soldiers is exceptionally默契 (mòqì - harmonious/understanding). One could say that with such a force, dominating the battlefield would not be impossible."
Fan Zehao raised his eyebrows with a smile. This was quite a high praise.
Seizing the opportunity, he asked: "Emperor Wei, if I were to send this force to the front lines to fight, how long do you think it would take them to annihilate a country?"
Yu Xiaoshuang frowned and said sheepishly: "This... it probably wouldn't take too long, right?"
"Oh, not too long. So, it could annihilate a country! Haha, with the words of the Emperor of Wei, I suddenly feel like letting these people try. After all, I've been cultivating them for many years, and they've never had a chance to show themselves. What do you say, Zong Han?"
Zong Han's eyes twinkled, and the corners of his mouth turned up. He immediately bowed and replied: "My father-in-law speaks wisely. Your son-in-law is willing to lead the charge. Perhaps we could start by taking a small country to test their skills. What do you say, father-in-law?"
"Your son-in-law's words can be considered. Tonight, you and Junjun will return to the Prince's mansion, and we will discuss it over dinner, deciding where to begin."
The dialogue between the two, as they echoed each other, completely disregarded the presence of the others, truly striking fear into the hearts of those present.