In the early morning, Zhanjing, which had been silent for a long time in the night, woke up. The people got up one after another. The first thing they did was to burn incense and pray, praying that Zhanjing would not be broken and Qin Yi would return.

After that, they started to light the fire and cook breakfast.

When the light smoke of birds floated out from the chimneys of every house, a piece of bad news quickly spread throughout the city!

Xiangrong reinforcements have arrived!

The Xiangrong troops outside the city have a strength of 150,000!

These brutal Xiangrong troops advanced five miles towards Zhanjing early in the morning, leaving only fifteen miles away!

This move means that Xiangrong is about to attack the city!

For a time, the people were panicked, the whole atmosphere in Zhanjing became very stagnant!

It seems that there are heavy dark clouds hanging over Zhanjing, and a storm is coming!

…

"My Lady, the Xiangrong are about to attack the city. The city wall is in danger. You must not go there hastily!"

Lu Jingyi, who was wearing regular clothes, was about to leave the dormitory and go to inspect the city wall, but was blocked by Xiaoyuan.

Hearing her slightly tearful words, Lu Jingyi couldn't help but feel helpless, as if she wanted to go to the front line to fight in person.

"I'm just going for an inspection. There's no danger." Lu Jingyi didn't have much airs about Xiaoyuan, who had shared weal and woe with her.

Xiaoyuan still advised, "The Marquis and the adults from the Ministry of War must have inspected it, and there is no need for the queen to go again."

Lu Jingyi shook his head and said in a low voice, "Xiang Rong is about to attack the city, and the danger is imminent. If I go to inspect, I will definitely boost morale."

Before Qin Yi left, letting her participate in the decision-making meant that he would entrust Zhan Jing to her.

In this case, she must do her best to...as the future queen, on behalf of Qin Yi, go to inspect.

Without martial arts, one cannot fight in battle, but one cannot turn a blind eye to the soldiers on the front line and the patrols on the city walls.

When Xiao Yuan heard this, she knew that she could no longer persuade him, so she could only keep her mouth shut with a worried look on her face.

With some Thousand Sword Guards and Xiaoyuan, Lu Jingyi took an ordinary carriage and left the palace city.

Originally, the chief eunuch ordered people to prepare a phoenix chariot, a noble chariot that the queen could ride in, as well as arrange numerous ceremonial books, palace maids and eunuchs, etc. The scene was too grand, so Lu Jingyi directly refused.

Now, in this situation, everything is simple.

Therefore, she drove lightly and simply, even taking only twenty guards with her, all the way to the west city wall.

Halfway through the journey, the carriage gradually slowed down and drove slightly slowly.

Lu Jingyi was a little confused, so she opened the curtain and found that there was a new refugee settlement in front of her. It was now being opened. Many refugees had moved in and started to distribute porridge and water, which occupied the road and hindered their progress.

Seeing this situation, Lu Jingyi immediately issued an order to drive slowly and not to hurt the people.

Just as the car was driving slowly, Lu Jingyi suddenly saw a group of officials not far away, who seemed to be inspecting the work.

These officials are all officials from the Ministry of Revenue. Si Qimei, who has a charming appearance and a plump body, is standing among the officials, talking to the scarlet-robed official next to her.

Seeing her, Lu Jingyi suddenly said, "Stop the car."

The driver slowly stopped and walked in the small garden outside the car. He quickly stepped forward and waited for instructions.

Lu Jingyi said slowly, "Xiaoyuan, go and ask Secretary Shangshu if he is busy. If not, ask her to come over and tell her that I want to patrol the city defenses with her."

Xiaoyuan was stunned when he heard this.

this……

Madam, what does this mean?

Although the people don't know it, most officials already know that Qin Yi and Si Qimei are in love with each other, and their relationship predates Lu Jingyi's.

If it weren't for Lu Jingyi's high status, logically speaking, she would have to recognize Si Qimei as her sister.

As for Lu Jingyi and Si Qimei, apart from political decisions, they had almost no contact in private.

Now, Lu Jingyi actually wants to invite Si Qimei to inspect together. Why?

Although he was puzzled, Xiaoyuan did not dare to ask any more questions, so he quickly responded and walked quickly towards Si Qimei and others.

The guards on the side immediately stopped him. After hearing what Xiaoyuan said, the guards were startled, glanced at the carriage, and quickly got out of the way with respect on their faces.

Xiaoyuan continued to step forward and walked up to the officials of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

Si Qimei and the waiter beside her were making appropriate adjustments based on the situation at the scene, when they saw a petite and cute woman walking in front of them. She couldn't help but be surprised and stopped talking.

"I have met you sirs," Xiaoyuan saluted, and then said respectfully to Si Qimei, "Sir, the Queen is preparing to inspect the city defense. If you are not busy, I would like to invite you to inspect together."

The officials were stunned for a moment, and after they came to their senses, they hurriedly said, "Wherever the empress is, we should come forward to pay her respects!"

Originally, they did not need to be so respectful to a queen who had never received a real imperial title.

But the key point is that Lu Jingyi was once the empress, and she controlled the former emperor who had been in power for several years. She still had great power, so everyone naturally respected her.

Si Qimei raised her eyes and saw the carriage in the distance. Seeing that the carriage was quite ordinary, she understood and said slowly, "Your Majesty, I don't want to publicize it, so I went on patrol incognito. Please don't disturb your Majesty. I am alone."

Just go over there.”

Si Qimei said this, the officials did not dare to disobey, so they all nodded.

Immediately, after arranging things properly, Si Qimei followed Xiao Yuan to the car.

"Wei Chen has met your empress," Si Qimei bowed her hands and said softly, "Wei Chen has nothing important to do, so you can go on patrol with your empress."

Lu Jingyi pondered for a moment and then asked, "Does Mr. Si have a car?"

Si Qimei nodded, "Wei Chen came here to take a carriage."

"Then Sir Si, just go with us in the car." Lu Jingyi responded gently.

She originally wanted Si Qimei to enter the carriage and ride together, but it didn't make sense, so she said this.

Immediately, the two of them drove towards the city wall in a car, one behind the other.

Upon learning that Lu Jingyi was coming, the guard of the west city wall, a Forbidden Army guard, quickly came down from the city wall to greet him.

After a brief exchange of greetings, Lu Jingyi led everyone up to the city wall and began to inspect.

She asked many questions about the city's defense and inspected the armaments on the city wall. The Imperial Guards who accompanied her on the way responded repeatedly, and many of the guards couldn't help but feel inspired when they saw Lu Jingyi coming to inspect the city in person.

After a round of inspection, some deficiencies were pointed out, and praise was expressed. This inspection has come to an end.

Si Qimei, who was following behind, listened quietly and did not speak.

She knew that Lu Jingyi must have other things to do when he called her, and it was not because he wanted her to propose suggestions for city defense.

Even if she was really asked to make a suggestion, she is not good at military skills and would not be able to make any suggestions.

After all, the Ministry of War has made relatively good arrangements and it is not easy to find any gaps.

When the inspection was almost over, Lu Jingyi turned around and said, "Wei Shoubei, you don't need to accompany us. Go and do your work. Si Shangshu and I will walk on our own."

Upon hearing this, the guards of the Forbidden Army nodded immediately, stepped back respectfully, and then left.

Lu Jingyi then said, "Master Si, let's go for a walk together."

Si Qimei nodded and responded softly.

So, the two of them walked slowly in front, while Xiaoyuan and many guards followed behind.

Of course, Si Qimei also upheld the etiquette and was not shoulder to shoulder with Lu Jingyi, but one position behind.

While walking, Lu Jingyi stopped, stood by the female wall, and looked at the mountains and forests in the distance.

Soon, Xiangrong will pass there and come to attack Zhanjing.

By then, Zhanjing will undergo the most severe test since its founding.

This test will be a death test.

If you fail to pass, you will die!

And he died miserably!

Seeing Lu Jingyi looking into the distance, her beautiful face full of condensation, Si Qimei, who was standing behind her, said softly, "My queen, there is no need to worry too much, we will definitely be able to repel the Xiang Rong."

Hearing this, Lu Jingyi recovered her mind. She slowly turned her head and looked at Si Qimei's charming face.

After a moment of silence, she spoke up and said, "The affairs of the Household Department are complicated, so you can arrange them for your subordinates. There is no need to worry too much."

Si Qimei was startled for a moment, then shook her head and said, "Wei Chen is the Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs. How can he neglect his duties? He should do his best for the imperial court."

"When you are pregnant with his child, you should take good care of yourself and not be too tired." Lu Jingyi said softly, with a rather complicated tone.

Si Qimei was stunned immediately, her bright eyes opened slightly, and she was very surprised. She didn't expect that Lu Jingyi actually knew about this!

"I have arranged a team of elite soldiers. If the city is broken, they will fight to the death to escort you out... At that time, you can escape to the Liukang territory. If Qin Yi returns, you will meet him there and he will protect you...

…”

Hearing Lu Jingyi's extremely serious words, Si Qimei was extremely surprised.

Unexpectedly, Lu Jingyi would think so about her.

The reason is that she is pregnant with Qin Yi's flesh and blood. It seems that Lu Jingyi also loves Qin Yi deeply!
To be continued...