Wen Yu didn’t know about their first confrontation. Before the calm surface of Ping Province’s waters could ripple into waves, she still had too many things to do.

When she retired for the night, the current distribution of the three forces—Southern Chen, Pei Song, and Wei Qishan—as well as their possible next moves, all cycled through her mind over and over. She contemplated the shifts in the situation after each side made different choices and how to counter them.

The next day, when the maid pushed the door open with light steps, Wen Yu opened her eyes.

Whether it was from overthinking or not, her head still ached somewhat.

She didn’t even know if she’d actually slept at all that night. After washing up and eating, she would need to go to the government office to see those Liang ministers she hadn’t had time to meet yesterday.

Before leaving, Wen Yu had someone summon Xiao Li.

“Today I will recommend you to Minister Chen. You’ve also become familiar with General Fan on the road, so you should be able to adapt quickly once you enter the military.”

Wen Yu sat before a small table, her hand supporting her forehead. Before her sat a half-finished bowl of lily and barley porridge. Her long lashes half-lowered as she contemplated matters. Her jade-carved profile had soft, flowing lines adorned with pearls and jade, yet her expression still revealed traces of pale weariness.

Xiao Li’s gaze stared directly at her without the slightest evasion: “You didn’t sleep well last night?”

This question came rather abruptly.

Wen Yu’s hand supporting her temple didn’t move; she only raised those slightly lowered eyes.

Xiao Li said: “You look very tired.”

Wen Yu replied: “After enduring the hardships of travel for so long, I haven’t quite adjusted yet.”

Xiao Li simply looked at her without speaking.

Zhao Bai, who had received the maid’s message, appeared at the doorway. Seeing the subtly quiet atmosphere inside the room, her eyelid twitched. She called out: “Wengzhu.”

Wen Yu’s gaze swept toward her: “You’re here? Let’s go to the government office.”

Wen Yu rose gracefully. Xiao Li followed half a step behind her.

It seemed like nothing unusual.

After Wen Yu left, Zhao Bai fell back half a step, walking side by side with Xiao Li.

She discreetly observed this person who seemed to have retracted sharp beast fangs yet whose oppressive presence remained undiminished. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the way he’d looked at the Wengzhu in the room earlier really didn’t seem like how a subordinate should look at their master.

But… it shouldn’t be what she was thinking.

The Wengzhu handled matters prudently. If this person truly harbored wolfish ambitions, having already reached Ping Province, the Wengzhu couldn’t possibly still be constrained by him.

—

When Wen Yu entered the main hall of the government office, Chen Wei was already waiting there with Ping Province’s local officials and Great Liang’s former ministers.

Wen Yu was invited to take the seat of honor. Zhao Bai and Xiao Li stood on her left and right respectively.

Wen Yu acknowledged each person in turn, gaining a general understanding of the assembled officials’ past political achievements.

Her stratagem of falsely conscripting troops in Tong City’s name while in Xin Province had spread completely with yesterday’s commotion upon entering the city. When the ministers met her today, they were all exceptionally respectful.

But there were always exceptions to everything.

When a gaunt old man with grizzled hair and beard suddenly spoke, Wen Yu knew that what she’d been vaguely worried about had still occurred.

Li Yao struck his cane on the hall floor with resounding force: “This old minister was a jinshi graduate in the seventh year of Taihe, served two years as compiler at the Hanlin Academy, was then transferred to local government for five years, returned to the capital, and after seven years of grinding, served as Zhongshu Ling. Unable to tolerate the Ao faction’s repeated framing of loyal ministers, I resigned and returned to my hometown. After two years away from court, I originally intended to be merely a retired farmer, but the Prince and Crown Prince personally visited my humble abode several times, asking this old man to return to official service. Moved by their sincerity yet unwilling to re-enter the court, I entered the manor to serve. Now seeing that the Prince still has bloodline surviving in this world—how comforting to this heart!”

Between the lines, unlike other ministers’ deference, there was quite a bit of meaning that used his lifetime achievements and the manor’s past courtesy toward him to pressure Wen Yu.

Li Xun and Chen Wei obviously also detected Li Yao’s attitude.

His loyalty was clearly not to Wen Yu as a person, but to the bloodline she carried. Moreover, regarding the great plan of vengeance, he didn’t have an attitude of following Wen Yu’s lead, rather implying that Wen Yu should respect him as an elder teacher.

The two exchanged glances and carefully raised their eyes toward Wen Yu.

Xiao Li stood to Wen Yu’s left. He didn’t catch all those nuances in the old man’s words, but could sense that his attitude wasn’t as respectful as his words suggested.

He thought of Wen Yu’s weary expression at breakfast this morning, his brow furrowing imperceptibly.

She hadn’t slept well last night—had she already anticipated there would be such trouble?

Zhao Bai looked at Li Yao with some confusion. This person had always been unwaveringly loyal to the manor. When the Prince and Crown Prince died, he was even the first to grab a blade to slash his own throat, only stopped when others tackled him to the ground.

Throughout the southern journey, with pursuers in relentless pursuit, whenever any accompanying aide showed wavering resolve or fear, he would harshly berate them. In desperate straits, he was also willing to serve as bait and face death.

Why was he now putting on airs before the Wengzhu?

All those varied gazes fell on Wen Yu. From beginning to end, her face remained gentle, her words unhurried and calm: “Since parting in Luodu, Yu is greatly comforted to see all you ministers again.”

She directly bypassed discussing Li Yao’s enumerated achievements, shifting the topic to encompass all of Great Liang’s former ministers—a measured response that suppressed Li Yao’s lead.

Li Yao’s aged eyelids lifted as he asked: “Southern Chen’s marriage escort envoys are already on the road. Does the Wengzhu have detailed plans regarding the alliance with Southern Chen?”

Wen Yu said: “If Southern Chen’s army advances north, Ping Province can provide passage, but cannot allow Southern Chen’s troops to remain within our borders long. Prefectures near Ping Province that are conquered can supply provisions to Southern Chen’s northbound army, but their territory must be subordinate to Ping Province. As for which prefecture to take first among the rebel kings north of Ping Province, I’ll need all you ministers to deliberate and provide Yu with an answer.”

As soon as these words left her mouth, the entire hall fell silent.

What Wen Yu proposed was indeed the primary condition they must achieve in their alliance with Southern Chen.

For Southern Chen to advance north, Bairen Pass outside Ping Province occupied a natural stronghold—the first great obstacle. Thereafter, supplying provisions to the army would also be a major difficulty.

And for Ping Province to rapidly expand its influence outward under the encroachment and competition of Pei Song and Wei Qishan, conscripting new troops was too late—they must borrow Southern Chen’s military strength.

Whatever southern prefectures Southern Chen conquered would all belong to Ping Province—which meant they would all belong to Wen Yu.

Wen Yu was using control of provisions to control that Southern Chen army penetrating deep into the Central Plains heartland. By bringing nearby prefectures into Ping Province’s sphere of influence, it was tantamount to becoming a massive gate bolt.

If the Central Plains heartland stabilized in the future and Southern Chen harbored different intentions, once this gate bolt dropped, it would completely sever Southern Chen’s connection with their army in the Central Plains heartland—truly closing the door to beat the dog.

But for Southern Chen, this seemed a choice with all benefits and no harm. After all, once Wen Yu became the Chen King’s consort, the prefectures conquered north of Ping Province would also belong to Southern Chen.

Except their ownership would still remain in Wen Yu’s hands.

Not knowing who led, the assembled ministers suddenly clasped their hands and called out in unison: “The Wengzhu is wise—”

The only veteran minister who hadn’t spoken, Li Yao, stood in the hall leaning on his cane, gazing at Wen Yu.

Wen Yu calmly met his gaze.

Finally, this seventy-year-old elder also lowered his grizzled head and said: “The Wengzhu is wise.”

Wen Yu said: “Yu is still young with shallow experience. To revive Great Liang will require all you ministers’ full support.”

The assembled ministers proclaimed: “We subjects shall certainly exhaust ourselves in service until death.”

Standing at Wen Yu’s side watching this scene, Xiao Li suddenly felt an odd sensation rising within.

He knew these people suddenly feared and respected Wen Yu not because of her Wen clan imperial bloodline, nor because they felt any threat from her.

It was simply that in that instant they realized her formidability.

This formidability differed from the fear brought by bloodshed and slaughter. Rather, all things in heaven and earth, condensed at her fingertips, seemed no more than a speck of dust.

Those slender, pale hands—placing a game piece casually anywhere on the board could tear open a path to survival even in a completely lost game.

Just as Zhao Youcai and his men had all become chess pieces in her hands.

She didn’t even need the pieces in her hand to understand her intent. They only needed to follow her instructions, stand at designated positions on the board, and her strategy would be complete.

The loyal, the treacherous—she could use them all.

Those eyes, when gazing at the churning dark clouds over the board, grew increasingly cold and detached.

When leaving Bodhi Temple, Xiao Li felt Wen Yu was treating him coldly and distantly, but in this moment, he suddenly felt her loneliness.

His eyes, dark and heavy, looked toward Wen Yu sitting in the place of honor, magnificently dressed with striking features yet cold expression. No one knew what he was thinking in that moment.

Wen Yu sensed Xiao Li’s gaze. Before the assembled ministers in the hall, she didn’t turn to look, only saying: “Before Southern Chen’s envoys arrive in Ping Province, there’s another matter requiring Minister Chen and General Fan to deliberate and establish procedures. Currently, all southern prefectures are conscripting troops—Ping Province naturally must also strengthen military defenses and recruit new soldiers.”

Chen Wei stepped forward, clasped his hands: “After this subject drafts the procedures with General Fan, I’ll submit them for the Wengzhu’s review.”

Wen Yu nodded, then said: “I have a righteous warrior by my side, superior in martial arts, who has saved my life several times. I wish to recommend him to enter Ping Province’s military.”

Only then did Wen Yu look toward Xiao Li. Xiao Li stepped forward and nodded slightly to the assembled ministers below.

Chen Wei said: “General Fan has already mentioned Righteous Scholar Xiao’s divine prowess to me. If Righteous Scholar Xiao can enter Ping Province’s army, it will be Ping Province’s military’s fortune.”

Fan Yuan was unconstrained by convention and immediately laughed: “Lucky I was thinking of pulling Brother Xiao under my command earlier—now I’ve finally gotten my wish!”

With Wen Yu’s recommendation plus their words, whether Ping Province’s local officials or the remaining Great Liang former ministers, they all obviously regarded Xiao Li as a person of consequence.

Today’s first assembly and discussion of matters with the ministers ended here. Wen Yu had both shown favor and might, making the group all become more respectful.

She went to the inner hall as the ministers gradually departed.

Fan Yuan, with his arm around Xiao Li’s shoulder, took him first to meet the various generals in the military.

When Chen Wei entered the inner hall seeking Wen Yu for further discussion, she said to him: “That man is my benefactor. I entrust him to you, Minister.”

Chen Wei clasped his hands: “The Wengzhu is too kind. As this subject said earlier, the Wengzhu’s willingness to leave Righteous Scholar Xiao in Ping Province is Ping Province’s fortune.”

Wen Yu looked at Chen Wei without speaking.

Just as Chen Wei was utterly puzzled, he suddenly heard Wen Yu say: “He’s always been accustomed to being unrestrained. If he causes any trouble in the future, please be lenient and spare his life.”

Chen Wei felt this strange but still repeatedly said: “Naturally, naturally.”

After inquiring about matters requiring Wen Yu’s approval and withdrawing, Zhao Bai entered and immediately knelt, pulling her robe.

Wen Yu looked down at her: “What is this?”

Zhao Bai said shamefully: “This servant failed to gather intelligence properly and mistakenly recommended Li Yao to the Wengzhu.”

Outside, Fan Yuan was introducing people to Xiao Li. The military generals’ voices boomed like great bells. Not knowing what was said, laughter rang out continuously.

Wen Yu’s gaze swept once toward the window outside, her voice light: “The fault isn’t yours. He is indeed loyal, just not loyal to me, hence so arrogant.”

She could respect Li Yao as an elder teacher, but what Li Yao wanted was obviously not the title of elder teacher, but that power to overshadow her as an elder would.

In the eyes of these conservative strategists, her existence was probably only for making alliance marriages. As for the various arrangements of the alliance marriage, after they made decisions, she need only accept them entirely.

They would avenge her father king, but wouldn’t necessarily acknowledge her as their new master.

After the discussion ended, Li Yao was the first to leave.

Wen Yu knew that having embarrassed him today, he must be displeased, but to thoroughly transform Ping Province into her own power, this display of authority was essential.

Including having Xiao Li enter the military—in many people’s eyes, they probably felt she wanted her own people to take control of Ping Province’s military authority.

Wen Yu didn’t know to what degree Xiao Li would achieve, but in this chaotic world, the military might be the safest place.

The northern campaign battles would be fought by Southern Chen’s army.

Ping Province’s military only needed to garrison Ping Province, then after Southern Chen conquered neighboring prefectures, go take them over and circle them as their own territory.

Zhao Bai saw that glance Wen Yu cast outside. She frowned slightly, for the first time overstepping to ask: “Wengzhu, why… why did you ask Minister Chen for such a favor for that Guard Xiao?”

Spring sunlight was divided into beams by the window’s openwork carvings, each beam filled with tiny floating dust motes.

Wen Yu’s delicate profile, fine enough to see minute down, was immersed in that hazy glow as she said: “He does have grace toward me after all, doesn’t he?”

—

Outside the courtyard, Xiao Li, who was exchanging pleasantries with the military generals, seemed to sense something and looked back.

But people had mostly left the assembly hall. Though one window in the side halls on either side was half-open, there was no figure inside.

Fan Yuan’s hand landed on Xiao Li’s shoulder: “What are you looking at, Brother Xiao! This afternoon, follow me to the military camp for a round, get familiar with all parts of the garrison! Below Yan Mountain is the entire southern border’s largest horse track—I guarantee you can ride to your heart’s content!”

Xiao Li smiled: “Then I’ll trouble Big Brother Fan.”

This subtle change in address seemed to also hide the closeness of their relationship.

Fan Yuan’s elbow bumped his chest as he laughed heartily: “No need for such words—we’re all brothers from now on!”

Xiao Li laughed along, the corner of his eye sweeping once more toward the assembly hall behind him, his lightly smiling eyes vaguely concealing deeper shades.

He had seen it—she was very tired.

He wanted to help her.