“He is my disciple after all,” Qian Baimei said. “As long as no one sabotages him from behind, taking Wu’s border cities shouldn’t be a big problem.”
“Sabotage from behind?” Shen Zaiye raised an eyebrow. “Could it be that even as a prince in Zhao, he could be framed?”
Snorting a laugh, Qian Baimei replied, “Why do you think I went to those official residences? I may not play political games, but I know how to kill.”
Unfortunately, he had only killed a few villains before Changjie threatened suicide to stop him from committing more crimes. In the end, he couldn’t smooth Changjie’s path completely.
“Killing isn’t very useful,” Shen Zaiye shook his head. “You kill one person, and another will continue to sabotage him. As long as his position in Zhao doesn’t improve, he can’t escape this fate.”
Qian Baimei said nothing. How could he not understand this reasoning? But as a jianghu figure, he had no way to deal with court affairs.
“I can help him now,” Shen Zaiye said, observing his expression. “As long as he can help His Majesty of Wei take the border cities, I’m willing to help him secure military power in Zhao and claim the position of Crown Prince.”
This sounded quite good. Qian Baimei was about to speak when Jiang Taohua rushed in from outside, looking flustered. She stumbled, nearly spilling tea from her tray onto Shen Zaiye!
Quickly steadying the teacup, Shen Zaiye rose to catch her, frowning. “Is there a fire outside? Why are you in such a hurry?”
Blinking, Taohua straightened up and smiled at him. “I just wanted my lord to quickly taste the tea I just brewed. There are also snacks with Qingtai.”
She turned and called out, “Bring them quickly.”
Qingtai complied, placing two plates of pastries beside Shen Zaiye and Qian Baimei. Taohua smiled apologetically as Shen Zaiye sat back down. She then moved in front of her master, stuffing a pastry into his mouth while giving him meaningful looks.
Don’t say anything rash! You’re falling into his trap without realizing it!
Qian Baimei looked utterly innocent, glancing at his disciple a couple of times before chewing the pastry silently.
Shen Zaiye’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked at her. “Have you finished your tasks?”
“All done!” Taohua smiled brightly. “You needn’t worry about the back courtyard. Just go about your business.”
“Very well,” Shen Zaiye nodded. “With so many deaths in court, I fear there won’t be peace for the next month. Stay honestly in the mansion and don’t go anywhere.”
“I understand.”
After eating snacks and drinking tea, Shen Zaiye intended to retire with Jiang Taohua. However, just as he was seeing Qian Baimei out, someone came galloping on horseback, urgently bowing to him. “Chancellor, there’s chaos in the palace. The Empress Dowager requests your immediate presence.”
South Prince’s birth mother had passed early, so naturally Emperor Mingde’s empress became the Empress Dowager, still managing harem affairs. Hearing this, Shen Zaiye could only tuck Taohua into bed before hurrying to the palace.
Taohua clutched the quilt, watching his retreating figure until he was out of sight. Then she sat up and called out, “Qingtai, has Master gone far?”
“No.”
Before Qingtai could answer, Qian Baimei had already climbed in through the window. He looked at her with a smile. “One look at you and I knew you still had something to say to your master.”
Taohua jumped out of bed, pulling him to sit in the outer room. With a serious expression, she said, “Master, you absolutely must not agree to anything Shen Zaiye proposes regarding Changjie. Leave these matters to your disciple.”
“Why?” Qian Baimei was somewhat surprised. “Don’t you like him so much? Why are you so guarded against him?”
“Liking someone and being wary of them are two different things,” Taohua said earnestly. “Just listen to your disciple and you won’t go wrong. If Changjie can take Wu’s border cities, that’s his ability, and military power should be in the hands of someone like him. But you must not listen to Shen Zaiye. You absolutely cannot harm the lives of my royal father, the Lü family, and Jiang Suheng.”
“Why?” Qian Baimei was extremely displeased. “Have you forgotten how those people treated you and Changjie? If I wasn’t in a hurry to find you, I would have broken into the palace again and cut them all down!”
“We can’t cut them down now,” Taohua shook her head vigorously. “Although I also want Changjie to ascend the throne, right now Changjie’s forces are with Wei’s army. If the Father Emperor passes away and the Crown Princess also dies, he would have to return to succeed to the throne early. He would inevitably bring Wei’s troops back to Zhao, unable to shake them off. That would be like inviting wolves into the house. If Changjie rashly resists, he might even be held hostage by Wei’s people, leaving Zhao leaderless and easier to conquer.”
“So no matter what, before this great war is completely over, someone must occupy Zhao’s throne.”
Qian Baimei understood, his brow furrowing deeper. “How can he have so many schemes? Has he not considered your feelings at all? Changjie is your brother after all.”
Taohua shrugged. “Why should he consider me? Aren’t family, country, and the world more important than romance?”
“If that’s the case, why do you still stay by his side?” Qian Baimei said. “You might as well leave with me.”
“I can’t,” Taohua sighed heavily. “If I leave, Changjie will be even more at their mercy. Staying by Shen Zaiye’s side now, if he makes any moves, at least I can think of countermeasures.”
After quietly looking at her for a while, Qian Baimei said with some heartache, “Haven’t you thought about what to do for yourself?”
“For myself?” Taohua raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t I doing fine? Living in luxury without having to go to war – compared to Changjie, I’m enjoying good fortune.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Qian Baimei shook his head. “I mean, given how you two are constantly scheming against each other, what will you do in the future when Zhao and Wei inevitably stand in opposition?”
“What else can I do?” Taohua said. “Naturally, I’ll stand on Changjie’s side.”
Qian Baimei’s gaze deepened. “But don’t you like him?”
“No one said liking someone means you have to spend a lifetime together,” Taohua said with a mischievous smile. “We still have a long time to be together now, don’t we? So there’s nothing to regret.”
“Silly girl.” Qian Baimei reached out, pressing her head to his chest, his eyes full of tenderness.
Why did it seem like the fate of the nation had fallen on this young woman’s shoulders? She was still so young – where did she find the courage to bear all this?
To him, even if the world crumbled, it wouldn’t be a big deal. The masses were like insects, each with their fate – what did it matter to him? But this little one cared deeply. Although she often scolded Changjie for being reckless, wasn’t she the same?
Sighing lightly, Qian Baimei thought it would be better if Changjie could grow up quickly, to share some of his sister’s burdens so she wouldn’t have to worry about everything.
The late autumn wind blew from Wei’s capital to Wu’s borders.
Mu Wuxia held a long spear, mounted on horseback at the front, utterly fearless of the stones constantly thrown down from the city walls, fighting alongside his soldiers. Beside him was a youth of similar age, his battle robe fluttering, exuding a heroic spirit.
“Changjie,” Mu Wuxia called out to him. “Retreat first. Your sister told me to protect you well.”
Jiang Changjie’s face bore a six-tenths resemblance to Taohua’s, but his aura was exceptionally masculine. Raising his long sword, he said, “What’s the point of a man living if he’s not at the forefront of battle? Moreover, Your Majesty hasn’t retreated, how can a subject retreat first?”
“I have no choice but to stay,” Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together, swinging his spear to take heads while calmly saying, “So many are waiting to see my war achievements. Otherwise, I can’t command respect.”
“What a coincidence,” Jiang Changjie said. “This subject is the same as you, needing to prove that the position of the commander isn’t held in vain.”
The Zhao-Wei allied forces were battling Wu’s soldiers behind them. They saw Wei’s emperor and Zhao’s commander riding together, splitting left and right, guarding the city gate tightly, taking as many heads as people came out.
Several deputy commanders watched with cold sweat. After long peaceful days, many in the army had grown afraid of death. Yet unexpectedly, this first battle was so fierce. With Wei’s emperor and Zhao’s commander at the front, they naturally dared not retreat. The city gate, planned to be breached in two days, fell before there was even time for a ceasefire.
The messenger sending the war report hadn’t even reacted before the victorious news was urgently transmitted back over eight hundred li.
“Truly young heroes,” Jiao Changan stood nearby, looking at Mu Wuxia and Jiang Changjie with a light laugh. “This world is destined to be yours.”
Jiang Changjie curiously examined this old man. He seemed to have appeared only after they entered Wu’s territory, but Mu Wuxia completely trusted him and even made him the military advisor.
What kind of person was he?
Mu Wuxia smiled, looking at him and asking, “In your opinion, sir, how long will it take to conquer Wu’s capital after taking the ten border cities?”
Jiao Changan stroked his beard with a kindly expression, pondering before saying, “By next spring, Your Majesty can return in triumph.”
It was almost winter now – could they take Wu’s capital in just a few months? Jiang Changjie didn’t believe it.
However, the subsequent situation truly unfolded as the old man said. They fought their way from the border cities to Wu’s capital before winter had even passed.
“I’m back,” Mu Wuxia said, looking at the majestic palace gates with a happy smile. “I wonder if old acquaintances are well?”
Jiang Changjie stood on horseback not far behind him, feeling extremely curious. Mu Wuxia was Wei’s emperor – why would he say he was back here? Could he still be remembering the humiliation of being a hostage back then?
The old man led them into the palace. We had suffered a crushing defeat, its emperor had committed suicide, and only a few princes of the royal family remained. They now knelt before the hall, looking at them in terror.
“You… Jingzhe?” Wu’s Crown Prince stared at Mu Wuxia in shock, shaking his head in disbelief. “How can it be you? How can you be Wei’s emperor!”
“Royal brother, it’s been a while,” Mu Wuxia smiled. “I’ve come to settle the debt for my imperial mother and eldest brother’s lives.”
His pupils constricting, the Crown Prince watched Mu Wuxia approach, shaking his head as he backed away. “It can’t be. There must be some mistake. Jingzhe, you were always the kindest. How could you bear to harm your royal brother?”
“Kindness is for Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,” Drawing his sword, Mu Wuxia calmly looked at him and said, “I’ll send you to meet them. You’ll find they’re very kind.”
Jiao Changan stroked his beard with a smile, watching Mu Wuxia’s sword fall, splashing blood. He nodded approvingly, “Shen Zaiye has taught you well. You no longer have unnecessary mercy for the unrighteous.”
Sheathing his sword, Mu Wuxia turned to look at him. “On this point, you can thank him when you return.”
“Haha,” Jiao Changan shook his head. “This old man had better stay here to handle subsequent matters for you. He’d likely be angry if he saw me.”
After all, he had framed him quite a few times.
Mu Wuxia was somewhat surprised. “You’re not returning with me?”
“No need. When the two countries truly merge into one, this old man can see you then,” Jiao Changan smiled, glancing at Jiang Changjie nearby. He suddenly said, “This Commander Jiang has quite a talent for leading troops. I wonder if he’d be willing to submit to our emperor?”
Jiang Changjie was startled his brow furrowing. “I am a man of Zhao.”
How could a man of Zhao submit to another country’s emperor?
“Zhao,” Jiao Changan turned to look at Mu Wuxia. “Zhao is also a fine place. On the way back to Wei from here, you’ll pass right by it. Why doesn’t Your Majesty take a look?”
“No need,” Mu Wuxia pressed his lips together. “I’ll return the way I came.”
“That would waste a lot of time,” Jiao Changan shook his head, pulling out a letter. “Why don’t you see Shen Zaiye’s thoughts before deciding?”
Jiang Changjie’s heart tightened, his eyes fixed on that letter. He had a bad feeling about this.
On a cold winter day, Taohua curled up in a cotton quilt, then curled up with the quilt in Shen Zaiye’s arms, reading war reports with him.
“Your brother is truly impressive,” Shen Zaiye said. “He’s even earned His Majesty’s praise.”
Both being hot-blooded young men, these two had fought for several months without growing to dislike each other. Instead, they seemed to have developed a mutual admiration, which was beyond his expectations.
Taohua raised her chin proudly. “I told you early on, that as long as you give him a chance, Changjie wouldn’t disappoint you.”
“Mm, they should be returning soon,” Shen Zaiye looked up, glancing at the peaceful courtyard with satisfaction. “Everything is just right now.”
In these three months, he had cleared out all opposition in court and gathered many worthy scholars. Though they might not be loyal to him personally, they would certainly be satisfied with a ruler like Mu Wuxia and thus work for him. When Mu Wuxia returns now and adjusts for a while, he can…
“Ah!” Taohua was embroidering a handkerchief when she accidentally dropped the needle and thread into the charcoal fire. Frowning slightly, she turned to look at the person behind her, suddenly feeling uneasy.
“My lord,” Taohua said. “With Wei’s war just ended, there won’t be another conflict, will there?”
Shen Zaiye chuckled lightly, looking at what he held in his hand. “You needn’t worry about that.”
How could she not worry? Once Wei swallowed Wu, Zhao would also be within their grasp. It was just a matter of when Wei recovered and had the strength to swallow it. Now was the time for her to properly contend with the man behind her.
“The division will be according to the alliance agreement, right?” Taohua asked with a smile.
(End of Chapter)