For a moment, she truly believed what the people in front of her said. Was there some other hidden truth behind this?
But could the words of the Zhao family really be trusted?
Shi Muyuan hesitated, weighing the feasibility of this matter.
Xiao Xiao beside her seemed to sense her thoughts and offered her opinion.
"Your Majesty, if you really find it difficult to decide, why not listen to what they have to say first? We can secretly send someone to the Western Regions to find out the situation. If they're lying, they're bound to show their true colors. Then we can use their identities to negotiate terms with the King of the Western Regions. Maybe we can gain considerable benefits."
It was a win - win strategy. As expected of someone by her side. Shi Muyuan didn't hesitate to give Xiao Xiao a thumbs up.
"You've got such a smart head, just like me."
When she turned her head again, her expression had turned serious.
"I'll give you a chance. You'd better think carefully about what you're going to say. Otherwise, whether you can leave here alive will be a question."
The group was so excited that tears welled up in their eyes. Zhao Jin recounted the whole story word for word. After listening, Shi Muyuan already believed half of it, and many of her previous doubts were dispelled.
It was only because the protagonist in this story was someone else she was familiar with. It was actually within her previous speculation that Concubine Rui could live a good life after going to the Western Regions.
"You're not wronged to be defeated by her."
This non - committal remark made the group's faces look a bit unpleasant. On the contrary, Zhao Jin was more worried about his younger sister's safety.
"My younger sister was poisoned by a gu poison before. She needs a good rest. Please, Empress Dowager, give her a tent to recuperate."
The princess, who had just woken up, refused without thinking.
"Brother, I'm definitely not a coward. I want to stay with you all. I don't mind even if I have to die."
"Little sister, don't be willful. I believe the Empress Dowager will be interested in our deal. By then, after she verifies the truth of what I said, she will let us reunite with you."
Shi Muyuan was a bit speechless. She was seeing for the first time people who were more familiar with her than she was with them. She hadn't even agreed to anything yet, but these people had already decided everything.
"What do you mean? I haven't even said a word yet, and you've already decided everything for me. Who is asking for whom's help here?"
The old lady of the Zhao family, a daughter of a noble family, was always straightforward. From the Empress Dowager's expression, she could tell that the Empress Dowager was willing to give them this chance.
"Empress Dowager, stop being so coy. Let's just decide it like this. Don't worry, we'll stay here and won't go anywhere until you verify the truth of our words."
Actually, the old lady's free - spirited personality quite suited her taste. Shi Muyuan waved her hand and finally had someone arrange a tent for the princess.
At this time, even San Qi, who had never been involved in these matters, couldn't stand it anymore.
"I don't know if I should say you're smart or stupid. If these people are lying to you, you'll have nowhere to cry. Maybe they're just using your kindness to let the princess go out and send a message."
Shi Muyuan shrugged: "I believe the divine doctor will surely help me secretly. I've heard that some medicines can cure the body but also have side effects, such as making one bedridden for a long time."
San Qi was quite surprised. He didn't expect that as a woman, she knew so much about medicine.
"If the Empress Dowager knows so much, why don't you go and find that medicine yourself and give it to the princess to drink?"
"I'm just giving the divine doctor a chance. Since you used the antidote to cure the soldiers of the gu poison, you've been idle every day."
This time, San Qi blew his beard and stared in anger: "That's my own business. I've been researching other prescriptions every day. I don't have time to take care of this foreigner."
"The divine doctor is kind - hearted. Even the military doctors in this camp can't compare with you. Now I'm pinning all my hopes on you. You're the best! Come on!"
San Qi of course didn't understand what she meant. While looking confused, he even jumped up to retort.
"You're saying I'm the fattest. I haven't been eating well recently and have lost a lot of weight. Yet you still think I'm fat."
"Then I'll surely arrange extra meals for you after we return to the palace."
After saying that, she went back inside to question those people. After this conversation, she had indeed gathered a lot of intelligence.
After everything was properly arranged, she called all the important people into the tent to discuss.
"I think what they said is feasible. What do you think?"
The general was the most opposed.
"The Zhao family is like a rabid dog. They've attacked many of our border soldiers before. Even if they've really ended up in this situation today, it's their own fault. It's all fate. The Empress Dowager'd better not interfere in this matter. It can also console the spirits of those soldiers in heaven."
Although Qin Feng was also a general, his opinion was different.
"Brother, I have a different view from yours this time. Who hasn't made mistakes in the past? Moreover, the Zhao family was once a subject of the Western Regions. What they did was their duty. We don't need to blame them. Besides, with Zhao Jin's skills, he will surely provide us with many benefits during our war with the Western Regions. In this way, maybe many people can be saved from death."
Shi An also agreed with his view. Just like this, their opinions were evenly matched. They could only look at Shi Muyuan in unison, letting the young girl make the decision.
"Empress Dowager, maybe the Zhao family is staging a bitter - meat scheme this time. We mustn't be deceived again. Lin Sun is a living example."
When Shi Muyuan faced the gazes of these people, she felt extremely troubled. She could only throw the question back to the man who had never spoken beside her.
"Alright, the national master has always been the most decisive among us. Why don't we ask him what he thinks about this matter?"
Now, all the pairs of eyes in the room were focused on the man. He had black lines on his forehead but didn't decline.
"I agree with General Qin's opinion on this matter. He has considered the most important issue we should face now, which is dealing with the Western Regions. Well, we can first send someone to find out the situation. If what they said is true, then we can form an alliance with them. However, we still have to be on guard at all times to prevent them from suddenly betraying us."
He had said everything that these people had thought of and hadn't thought of. Now everyone had a clear idea in mind.
Shi Muyuan directly made the decision on this matter.
Although the general agreed on the surface, he still had a grudge against the Zhao family. So as soon as the meeting dispersed, he immediately went to find those people.
"Running dogs of the King of the Western Regions, now you want to defect to the enemy country. I don't know what you're thinking."