Zhao Lu silently stared at Feng Ming. At first, Feng Ming could hold his gaze but after a while he looked away. His heart still had lingering feelings for this man, Feng Ming was afraid if he looked at Zhao Lu too long, his heart would just give in.

Zhao Lu chuckled and then turned to go.

Only at this time, Feng Ming lightly cleared his throat and finally found his voice. He said in a low voice, “Marquis Zhulu, wait a minute.”

“Does His Majesty have any orders for this servant?” Zhao Lu said without even turning around.

Feng Ming looked up at Zhao Lu’s back. Finally, he sighed and said, “This Seat plans to visit the Ming River, perhaps for about a month.”

“Ming River…” Zhao Lu couldn’t help repeating; seemingly lost in thought. This place was where the two of them first met. Feng Ming might not remember that he had seen Zhao Lu at Ming River. At that time, Zhao Lu was still young, his family and relatives were still alive.

Feng Ming said, “Today, the court officials presented a case. The dam on the Ming River has been broken for many years and the refugees’ condition is becoming quite a problem. This Seat wants to go and personally see the place. The matters in the Capital city will be handled by you.”

Zhao Lu paused for a moment, then nodded and said, “This subject will do my best.”

Saying that he stepped out of the room.

Rui Xue aas waiting outside King Feng’s residence. She hoped Marquis and King Feng had reconciled their differences. But then she saw Zhao Lu coming out with a cold expression on his face.

Actually, the two hadn’t only fought once or twice. When Zhao Lu had just entered officialdom and wasn’t yet a Marquis Zhulu, his temper was rather cold and curt. He was quite straightforward and would say everything very bluntly. It was because of King Feng’s protection that he was able to maintain his stature. Else for the way he talked, for sure he would have been ostracized by everyone in the court.

At that time, Zhao Lu was still very young and very bold, and Feng Ming had just ascended to the throne. The two of them were similarly hard-headed. If King Feng hadn’t treated Zhao Lu so sincerely, these two closed-off people wouldn’t be together until today.

But seeing that her Master’s mood wasn’t good, Rui Xue who had always been good at reading people, immediately understood that perhaps this time, King Feng didn’t want to lower himself to cater to Zhao Lu’s wishes any more.

When Zhao Lu returned to his residence, he locked himself in his room. He didn’t come out for lunch or dinner, and the servants didn’t dare to disturb him.

Rui Xue hesitated outside Zhao Lu’s room several times but in the end decided against knocking the door. As she was about to leave, she heard Zhao Lu’s voice calling her in.

Rui Xue pushed the door open. The room was very dark so Rui Xue lit the candles. She found Zhao Lu standing by the window, gazing out but it was not known what he was thinking about.

Zhao Lu said, “There’s a letter on the table. Help me send it.”

Rui Xue did as ordered. As she picked up the letter, Zhao Lu said again, “Go and return quickly. Remember, the content of the letter is not something you’re allowed to read.”

“This servant understands.”

Rui Xue hurriedly went out of her Master’s room. She changed her clothes and disguised herself before leaving the residence. Rui Xue had always been the point of contact. First, she was Marquis Zhulu’s most trusted aide and second she was very favoured by King Feng and hence no one dared to suspect her or stop her.

When Rui Xue exited the back door, she finally couldn’t help herself. Reaching inside her pocket, she carefully took out the letter.

Her Master was cooped inside his room all day writing this letter. Rui Xue knew she should not read it but still she couldn’t help her curiosity, so she opened it. A quick read later, she was so shocked that her hands shook so violently and she almost dropped the letter to the ground .

Staring at the small handwriting, Rui Xue clamped her fist in her mouth trying to stop herself from crying.  Finally, her Master had come to this step.

Ktf tjcvkglalcu kjr ecvbeyafvis Itjb Oe’r. Ktf mbcafca kjr bcis obeg kbgvr.

–Xblcu ab atf Zlcu Elnfg.

————

Ktf ybgvfg yfakffc Wef jcv Mfcu tjv j glnfg atja mea atgbeut atf akb mbecaglfr ogbw kfra ab fjra.

Mfcu Jbecags kjr ibmjafv lc atf rbeat bo atf glnfg, jcv tjv yffc tla ys tfjns gjlcr obg j ofk sfjgr, mjerlcu atf Zlcu Elnfg ab bnfgoibk.

The governing of the place surrounding the Ming River was very difficult but many officials wanted a position to govern the area. The reason was very simple. Because the area was always under crisis, the Imperial Court allocated a great sum of funds to control and repair the dam on the river. The corrupt officials would embezzle a lump sum of amounts for themselves. And if the refugees living in the area died –well it was due to the natural disaster and unfortunately inevitable.

Xue Junliang received Zhao Lu’s letter at such a fortunate time. Ming River was located on the border and King Feng personally leading an Imperial expedition to Ming River was a good thing, but also a dangerous thing. Dangerous because now Xue Junliang had the knowledge of the expedition due to the letter from Zhao Lu.

Xue Junliang took the letter to a candle and let the fire burn the paper slowly. He smiled and said, “When this matter is finished, this Seat plans to move this Qi piece, Lu. This Seat will order him to return.”

Jiang Yu opened the window to dispel the smell of burnt paper. Then he said, “This old servant does not understand. Zhao Lu’s position is like the sun at high noon in Feng country, why should he be ordered to return?”

Xue Junliang glanced at Jiang Xue and laughed, “Do you think that being the ruler of a country, using wisdom and strategy alone is enough?”

“This old servant is ignorant.”

“Of course, it’s not enough.”

Xue Junliang shook his head, “A good king has to know how to ‘move with emotion’. Zhao Lu has been in Feng Country for very long. Initially he was unwilling but now he has to meet with King Feng every day and attend the Imperial court daily. If he stays any longer, this Seat is afraid that someday he would hesitate when ordered to do something or be unwilling to return home.”

Jiang Yu nodded, “Your Majesty is very far-sighted.”

“Zhao Lu is loyal and talented. This Seat has always appreciated people with talent. Hence this Seat cannot bear to see him in a dilemma. After this one event, this Seat will let him take a rest and see the great mountains and rivers.”

Xue Junliang waved his hand to extinguish the candles, sat down and said, “This Seat is in a good mood today. Let the Empress bring some wine and food.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. This old servant will go and immediately inform them now.”

The Emperor wanting his wife to bring wine and some dishes wasn’t something that unusual; said wife would only need to make an effort in preparing it.

But for Teng Yun, it was a puzzling thing, because he could not cook at all.

Xiu Yao took charge in helping her mistress prepare the wine and the dishes. Actually, if one thought about it, it was common that a proper daughter from a rich family could not cook.  And her mistress was a Grand Princess of the Feng country; she had been well-kept deep inside the Inner Palace, pampered like the moon and the stars. Let alone cooking, she was never required to do needlework or knitting.

Xiu Yao ordered the kitchen to make a few light but delicious dishes. The dishes weren’t very complicated, rather they were quite simple and ordinary.

An Emperor was used to eating many extravagant and delicious foods every day, therefore, simple dishes would taste better. Moreover, His Majesty asked the Empress to personally prepare the dishes. It was impossible for an Empress to cook complicated dishes. If the dishes were simple, at least it would look more sincere and genuine.

Teng Yun refused to dress up, Xiu Yao also didn’t dress her mistress up too much. The simple but elegant clothing happened to match the simple yet delicious dishes.

The kitchen put the prepared dishes in a basket, added with a jug of wine and two porcelain cups.

Xiu Yao followed Teng Yun until the entrance of Emperor Xue’s residence and stopped at the entrance. Teng Yun took the basket and entered alone.

The Empress’ simple elegance made Xue Junliang rather pleased. When De-fei was called over, she would always dress herself elaborately. The Empress dressed like this, actually exuded another kind of charm.

Teng Yun arranged the wine and the dishes on the table while his mind was running a mile a minute. Initially, he didn’t want to do things like this only to please Xue Junliang, but then he recalled he wanted to seek news about Teng Shang so he’d have to endure.

Residents of the Imperial Harem couldn’t interfere with the affairs of the government. Even if Xiu Yao had a wide network and great connections, she still couldn’t inquire. If Teng Yun wanted to hear news about Teng Shang’s current situation, Xue Junliang was his only source.

Xue Junliang had just started to eat when Jiang Yu rushed inside to report, “Your Majesty, Marquis Wannian requests for an audience, says there is an urgent military report.”

Xue Junliang put down his chopsticks and, without telling Teng Yun to leave, said, “Let him in.”

Xue Houyang walked in with a military report and a map in his hands. He saw the Empress sitting next to the Emperor and was a bit surprised. But he didn’t have time to think too deeply into the matter, so he immediately presented the report to Xue Junliang.

Xue Junliang unfurled the report open and read it. It was indeed a pressing matter and furthermore required quite urgent attention.

Because of the cold  and unfriendly atmosphere between Xue Yu and Teng Shang, the army started to gradually split apart. Most of them stood by Marquis Zhenjiang’s side; after all, the Marquis was a true Xue Country citizen. A small part of the army stood by Teng Shang’s side; although Teng Shang was a foreigner with a different surname, he was talented in leading soldiers and was not just talk. He personally got into the battlefield and made a great achievement by killing the enemy.

—

The two forces were divided, which naturally gave the enemy an opportunity to take advantage of.

Not far from the border pass was a small county. The county was remote and sparsely populated; it had no water source nearby and wasn’t protected by mountains. The county really didn’t look valuable but it had been used as a military focal point for a long time.

Teng Shang proposed to send reinforcements to garrison the small county and strengthen its defense to prevent Cheng Tian and Zou Zhenying from sneaking in. If the small county was successfully attacked and claimed by the enemies, it would become a turnaround point for the enemy’s army, and the food and supplies could be distributed and supplied in the small county, and the army could avoid long distance travel, and go to the small county first to recuperate before attacking the pass.

For Xue Country, the small county was like a watch tower that could give them early warning if the enemy was attacking. For the enemy, the small county was like a bowstring; they could load an arrow and it would hit Xue Country’s territory without fail.

Xue Yu, who had been sent to the battlefield unwillingly by Emperor Xue, didn’t want to dispatch troops to the small county. He said if they dispatched some of their troops there, their army would be weakened. If by chance the enemy attacked the small county as a disguise tactic, they would be in trouble.

Teng Shang was only a consultant, he wasn’t even a deputy general. His words naturally weren’t heeded. On the third night, a small troop led personally by Zou Zhenying made a move and attacked the small county and captured it.

Only then did the Xue army feel the crisis and hastily wrote to the Imperial court, asking for reinforcement.

Xue Houyang said, “Your Majesty, How can we deal with this situation? I’m afraid sending reinforcements right now would not solve the problem.”

Xue Junliang didn’t react much after reading it, just waved his hand to indicate to the maids  to remove the food and wine. Then he placed the report on the table and said, “I also think that it is too late to send troops.”

“This…” Xue Houyang frowned. Then he clenched his hands into fists and knelt on the floor, “Your Majesty, please send Chen-di there.”

Xue Junliang only laughed, “Don’t be hasty and think clearly. There is already a Marquis Zhenjiang, and there’s also Teng Shang who is favoured by the army as well. Now if this Seat sends another Marquis Wannian, who will the rest of the army follow? Won’t they be divided more and confused?”

“Chen-di…” Xue Houyang also felt that he had not thought it through thoroughly. After all, this wasn’t his appointed station; if he rushed there, he would only cause dissatisfaction with Marquis Zhenjiang.

Xue Junliang pushed the report on the table towards Teng Yun and said, “Maybe the Empress has some insights.”

Teng Yun was startled by this sudden action. How come Xue Junliang allowed an Empress to meddle in a military affair? However, when he saw the other man’s slightly smiling face, Teng Yun understood somehow.

Teng Yun hadn’t realized his eagerness to know about Teng Shang was too obvious. After all, Teng Shang was his relative, the only person who sincerely cared about him. Even if Teng Yun forgot other people’s kindness, he could never forget about Teng Shang.

Perhaps, seeing how Teng Yun was so concerned about Teng Shang, Xue Junliang allowed Teng Yun to see the report in exchange for Teng Yun’s insights.

Teng Yun took the report and read through it a few times, and turned his head to Xue Houyang and said, “May I take a look at the map in the hands of the Marquis?”

Xue Houyang hesitated, but then Xue Junliang nodded his permission, so he placed the military map on the table and slowly unfolded it.

Teng Yun stood and leaned down with his head lowered to see the map. He examined it carefully. The small county was only a small distance from the border pass. Xue Country’s army would be encircled on both sides whether they hit the small county first or the main force first.

At that time, because the small county wasn’t protected, it was easily claimed by the enemy.

And now there was almost no chance to snatch back the small county from Zou Zhenying’s heavily guarded army.

Xue Junliang watched the Empress’ movements intently. The Empress, who was usually meek and docile, when talking about military affairs and strategies and also about war, her eyes would light up making her look very compelling.

This kind of lively appearance really made Xue Junliang unable to look away…

Xue Junliang had always appreciated talented people. He’d been looking for more talented people who could help him protect his country and expand his territory, but these people were really hard to find. Teng Shang was one; but Teng Shang would never submit to him. Teng Yun was one; but Teng Yun would rather die than kneel for him. Now he had discovered another one; but this person was, unfortunately, a woman and also a Grand Princess from Feng Country.

Teng Yun wasn’t aware that Xue Junliang was staring at him intently. He lightly touched the military map. Suddenly he felt a fire on his fingertips; spreading warmth all over him. Although Teng Yun didn’t like to fight, in troubled times, the battlefield was where he found his passion; not a desolate and confined place such as an Imperial Harem.

When Teng Yun traced a finger on the small county, his eyes suddenly brightened, shining with a glinting light.

Xue Junliang laughed: “It seems that I did not ask the wrong person.”

Teng Yun then raised his head and resumed his usual indifference and said, “Your Majesty can retake the small county and beat back Cheng Tian and Zou Zhenying without spending a single soldier.”

Xue Houyang couldn’t help but be a little shocked as he listened to the Empress’ words. He hadn’t even heard her plans or tactics, but by her tone alone, he felt he was already convinced.

“Oh? Really?” Xue Junliang reached a hand to stroke the Empress’ cheek gently and then pinched her earlobes, his gesture very intimate and playful.

Teng Yun leaned back, absent-mindedly stepping away from Xue Junliang’s touch, and continued, “Zou Zhenying has always been brave and good at fighting, and since he has claimed the small county, for sure he must have sent heavy troops to guard it. If Xue Country’s army tried to fight head-on, you would only lose troops ……”

Xue Houyang nodded. This was what he’d been fearing, too.

Teng Yun said, “Therefore, not using the troop is the wisest plan. Zou Zhenying is brave but he is too cunning and calculative, even his most trusted aides are all wary of him. Your Majesty can use this flaw of his to create a rift between Cheng Tian and Zou Zhenying.”

“The first thing to do is to send a messenger to Cheng Tian, tell him that Zou Zhenying had an agreement with Emperor Xue from the beginning. Zou Zhenying agreed to only send a small part of his army and half-heartedly attacked Xue Country because his true goal was to send his main army into the Palace and eventually appoint himself as the king. That is why Zou Zhenying, being a single man with little army, could very easily take over a strategic place like this small county.

“When Cheng Tian starts to doubt Zou Zhenying, Your Majesty can spread a rumor for Zou Zhenying to hear. The rumours should say, while Zou Zhenying was isolated in the small county, Cheng Tian planned to seize this opportunity to get rid of Zou Zhenying. When the Xue Country army attacks the small county, Cheng Tian will then take this opportunity to cut off  Zou Zhenying’s military provisions and relief troops. The small county would be isolated and have no back up, making the elimination of Zou Zhenying a piece of cake.”

“Good.” Xue Junliang listened to the Empress with a gentle smile on his face.

At this time, Xue Houyang was already rendered speechless. He didn’t expect an Empress of the Inner Palace to have a character like a brave and capable man. She was only a woman yet capable of saying such intimidating words.

Xue Junliang nodded and smiled, “Sure enough, the Empress is very intelligent. This Seat is even more unwilling to let you go.”