The Bai family elder sister had always been true to her word. Once at the gates of the capital city, she had said… when he enlisted in the army and achieved merit, she would give him her red-tasseled silver spear!

Before Bai Qingyan had even said she would give the red-tasseled silver spear to Lu Yuanpeng, he already sensed that he would become the next owner of this red-tasseled long spear, unconsciously wiping the sweat from his palms on his clothes.

“It seems… Yuanpeng already knows why I summoned him here?” Bai Qingyan looked at Lu Yuanpeng’s expression, her eyes full of smiles.

Lu Yuanpeng chuckled dryly. Seeing Bai Qingyan take the red-tasseled silver spear from Wei Zhong’s hands, he straightened his back even more.

“I once said that when you enlisted one day, I would give you this red-tasseled silver spear. Now you’ve done better than I imagined – even General Shen and General Cheng can’t stop praising you two!” Bai Qingyan lovingly arranged the red tassels on the spear, then walked before Lu Yuanpeng with a smile. “This spear was forged for me by someone General Shen found when I first went to battle…”

Hearing this, Shen Kunyang’s smile deepened as he looked at Lu Yuanpeng.

“General Shen once said he hoped I would use this silver spear to kill many enemies and achieve great merit!” She looked at Lu Yuanpeng seriously with smiling eyes. “Today… I give this silver spear to you, also hoping you can kill many enemies and achieve great merit!”

Lu Yuanpeng’s bright black eyes glanced at Shen Kunyang, then wiped his palms on his clothes again before accepting the red-tasseled silver spear from Bai Qingyan with both hands, gripping it tightly and saying solemnly: “Bai family… Your Majesty, rest assured! Yuanpeng will kill many enemies! I will become a general as formidable as Your Majesty! I’ll bring honor to this red-tasseled spear! And bring honor to my grandfather!”

Seeing Lu Yuanpeng’s serious expression, Bai Qingyan nodded: “You will become a good general. Follow General Cheng and learn well!”

“Yes!” Lu Yuanpeng held the red-tasseled silver spear in his arms, made a cupping gesture to Bai Qingyan, then couldn’t help but grin foolishly.

Bai Qingyan then turned to look at Sima Ping, whose posture was respectful… completely unlike his lazy and unrestrained appearance in the capital, saying: “General Shen told me you have the makings of a general. Yesterday, from atop the city wall… I saw you use your sword excellently.”

Yesterday Lu Yuanpeng had been extremely brave, galloping wildly and even getting ahead of Cheng Yuanzhi, charging and killing all the way toward the city tower…

Sima Ping, worried, had been following behind the whole time.

It was precisely because Lu Yuanpeng charged too quickly that he didn’t have time to dodge the giant elephant, causing his warhorse to be kicked away.

Hearing that Bai Qingyan had seen him from atop the city wall yesterday, Sima Ping’s palms tightened and he felt happy inside, but he still kept his gaze lowered, his attitude respectful, as if unmoved by favor or disgrace.

Wei Zhong came forward with small steps, carrying a long sword, and handed it to Sima Ping.

“This long sword was captured yesterday. It’s forged by mixing Tianfeng Kingdom’s ink powder, and can be said to cut through hair with a breath. Today I’m borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha by giving them to you.” Bai Qingyan said with a smile.

Sima Ping looked up and accepted the precious sword with both hands, gently pressing his thumb against the hilt. Even without drawing the sword, he could already feel its compelling sword energy. Indeed, this was… an extremely rare, precious sword.

Sima Ping quickly knelt on one knee: “Sima Ping thanks Your Majesty!”

“You have injuries, get up! No need for formalities!” Bai Qingyan said to both men again, “Go back and recover well. Soon… our Great Zhou will go to war with Tianfeng Kingdom. Then you must kill many enemies.”

“Yes!”

After Lu Yuanpeng and Sima Ping happily left with their respective new weapons, Bai Qingyu, who had been standing with hands behind his back, slowly stepped forward and said: “Elder sister, since we’re going to war with Xiliang and Tianfeng Kingdom tomorrow, I believe… after setting the general strategy, elder sister should return to the capital to oversee things.”

“The capital has Mother and Grand Commandant Lu and the others – I’m very confident in them.” Bai Qingyan knew A’Yu was worried about her safety, and calmly said to Bai Qingyu, “My being here is also to let you all know that in this battle… our Great Zhou has no way to retreat. Once spring arrives, all our advantages will be gone, so we must drive Tianfeng Kingdom back before winter ends!”

·

The Yan Kingdom Empress Dowager, who had just arrived in Meng City, heard that Murong Li had been injured last night while leading troops to aid Great Zhou’s Pingyang and immediately panicked. When getting off the carriage, she nearly fell from weak legs; fortunately, her maid was quick to support her.

Murong Yan knew his sister-in-law had arrived in Meng City and was quite surprised – he hadn’t expected to receive no news at all before she arrived.

As the Regent Ninth Prince who held power throughout Great Yan, at least in front of outsiders, he should appear to be at odds with the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Therefore, Murong Yan didn’t go out of the city to welcome her. Murong Li had just received the news while drinking medicine. He threw on a cloak and rushed outside. Just as he stepped out of the main gate, the Empress Dowager’s carriage had already stopped before the black lacquered, gold-studded six-panel gate.

Murong Li hurried down the high steps to welcome her. When the Yan Empress Dowager saw Murong Li, she rushed over and grasped his shoulders, looking him up and down…

She touched Murong Li’s face, but didn’t dare touch his body casually, afraid of touching his wounds. Not knowing what to do, she only choked up and asked: “Where are you hurt? Tell mother where you’re hurt!”

“Mother… your son is fine!” Murong Li smiled and grasped his mother’s hand with his left hand. “The injury is on my arm, just a surface wound. Physician Hong has already examined it and said as long as I change the dressing on time and don’t get it wet, it will heal in three to five days.”

As he spoke, Murong Li moved his arm: “Look, really nothing serious.”

The Yan Empress Dowager’s tears fell patter-patter. She reached up to touch Murong Li’s head, gripping his hand tightly, walking into the mansion with Murong Li while scolding him: “How could you be so bold? You’re Yan Kingdom’s emperor – if something happened to you, what would become of Yan Kingdom? How could Mother go on living?”

“Mother, don’t worry. Yue Shi was protecting your son, and General Xie and Ninth Uncle were there too!” Murong Li smiled as he made excuses for himself.

Speaking of this, the Yan Empress Dowager felt great anger in her heart, dissatisfied with Murong Yan allowing A’Li to follow them to battle, but with palace maids, eunuchs, and guards present, the Empress Dowager couldn’t say anything…

“Why did Mother suddenly come to Meng City? Ninth Uncle and I received no news at all.” Murong Li asked his mother with a smile.

The Yan Empress Dowager tugged at the corners of her mouth: “New Year’s Eve is coming soon. Mother couldn’t bear the thought of you spending New Year’s Eve alone outside, and was extremely worried. Your grand-uncle, knowing your mother was thinking of you, found a way to let your mother secretly leave the palace and had people escort you here.”

The news of the Yan Empress Dowager coming to Meng City was kept completely secret. Even now… the ministers in Yan Kingdom’s capital still thought the Empress Dowager was seriously ill and resting in bed.

Hearing the words “grand-uncle,” Murong Li’s brow furrowed tightly.