She paused briefly, “Xiao Jing lived in Wu Sai Er City for several years and developed it quite well, giving it a solid foundation.” People always maintain their dwelling places nicely, and Xiao Jing was no exception.
Her words were methodical. Zhao Hong Yin found some sense in them but still thought her idea was far-fetched: “Your Majesty, in Wu Sai Er City, we cannot guarantee your safety.”
“Why the need for ‘we’?” Feng Miao Jun smiled, with considerable meaning behind it. “General Hong alone is sufficient.”
Seeing her smile, Zhao Hong Yin suddenly realized she wasn’t merely being whimsical. This Queen of New Xia, supported by Fu Ling Chuan, might be more astute than people imagined.
Zhao Hong Yin left in the afternoon, and by that evening, Fu Ling Chuan came calling, his jade-like countenance displaying rare and unconcealed irritation:
“You told General Hong you want to relocate the capital to Wu Sai Er?”
“Indeed.”
He stared at her unblinkingly: “Do you understand the consequences of such an action?”
The maidservants had just set out the evening meal. Feng Miao Jun smiled and asked him: “Has the State Preceptor eaten? Would you like to join me?”
Her demeanor was infuriating. Fu Ling Chuan secretly took a deep breath and played along with her diversion: “Very well.”
This fellow could maintain his composure. Feng Miao Jun ordered the maidservants to add another set of bowls and chopsticks, then picked up a piece of raw beef with her chopsticks, chewed it lightly, and praised: “Excellent!”
The black-skinned small cattle unique to Chi Qian Grassland were somewhat smaller than ordinary domestic cattle and liked to eat daylilies. Their meat had a marbling pattern and, after proper bleeding, could be sliced thin and eaten raw with locally flavored sauce. Though clearly meat, it had an ice cream-like texture in the mouth—soft, tender, and melting instantly.
This was Feng Miao Jun’s first time trying raw beef, and she was immediately inclined to give it full marks. However, at that moment, Fu Ling Chuan heaved a heavy sigh and finally asked her: “Why won’t Your Majesty return to Lu Bo City?”
Without looking up, she replied nonchalantly: “That place isn’t good.”
He gave a cold laugh, enunciating each word: “That is where you establish yourself and your purpose!”
“Oh?” Only then did she turn to look at him. “Who established me, and who determined my purpose?”
The implication was clear. Fu Ling Chuan’s expression darkened. Everyone knew that the New Xia Queen’s itinerary, decisions, and even preferences were all controlled by him, and the decision to return to Lu Bo City was also his.
This true Queen was not merely disobedient—had he been too gentle with her? Fu Ling Chuan began to consider the necessity of forcing her to return west.
At this thought, he suddenly realized that he had indeed been too indulgent with her. In the past, Fei Yuan had liked to cling to him and act coquettishly, but he had always maintained professional boundaries, standing firm in his positions without being softened. Now, having been with Feng Miao Jun for only a few months, he had somehow developed a habit of yielding.
She was full of pride, neither coy nor seductive, and didn’t even bother trying to please any man. Such a queen should have been the type he most despised.
While these solemn thoughts occupied his mind, he heard Feng Miao Jun say: “In Lu Bo City, even my cousin would have to be cautious, how can that compare to Wu Sai Er City where we can act freely?”
She smiled enchantingly, but Fu Ling Chuan’s gaze flickered as he asked in a deep voice: “What do you mean?”
“During the nine years of resistance against Wei, the generals and frontier commanders all contributed, not to mention other forces,” Feng Miao Jun said slowly. “I’ve studied the sand table of An Xia. Nine generals are stationed in the southwest and northwest, with Lu Bo City as their core; while in the east and central regions, there are only four, including General Hong, and most likely they remained because of the joint efforts of Jin, Wei, and An Xia against Xiao Jing. This doesn’t even count other powerful families and former dynasty loyalists.”
“So?” He probably knew what she was going to say next but was surprised by her acuity:
Had she already seen through An Xia’s political situation and her position so quickly?
“My cousin has guessed what I want to say, right?” Feng Miao Jun composed her expression and stopped beating around the bush. “You cannot dominate Lu Bo City singlehandedly. If we return, we’ll be constrained at every turn. It’s better to stay in Wu Sai Er.”
Every word she spoke struck Fu Ling Chuan’s heart.
Others might not know, but everything Feng Miao Jun said accurately reflected the current situation. The fall of An Xia nine years ago had been too sudden. Many generals and frontier commanders were still rushing back to aid the king when they received the tragic news, realizing it was too late to save the situation, so they held onto their troops and established their own power.
After the Wei Kingdom occupied An Xia, these forces became the most persistent and stubborn resistance, firmly entrenched in their respective territories. When facing external enemies, they supported each other. Just as the Wei Kingdom suppressed one in the south, another would emerge in the west, like wild grass growing uncontrollably, impossible to burn away completely.
For nine years, the Wei Kingdom had never been able to subdue them.
Princess Chang Le’s coronation as queen also received the support of these large and small factions, without which she could not have successfully established the nation or rebuilt the ancestral temple. Fu Ling Chuan controlled just one of these armed forces.
Now the problem arose: since all factions considered themselves meritorious contributors to the founding of the nation, they naturally demanded corresponding treatment. The New Xia Queen, besides relying on the forces under Fu Ling Chuan, had no army of her own and was therefore largely constrained by these various factions.
Whoever had the strongest fist had the loudest voice.
In the current situation, Lu Bo City was located at the center of all these forces. It was as if the Queen was being watched by everyone simultaneously—euphemistically called protection, plainly speaking, surveillance. Under such circumstances, whether Feng Miao Jun or Fu Ling Chuan, any move they wanted to make, any policy they wanted to implement would require careful consideration and weighing of various interests.
How extremely limiting was that?
Fu Ling Chuan was seriously pondering this issue.
As a capable leader, he had already faced numerous difficulties after the nation’s founding, with fragmented political power and the erosion of royal authority being among them. Flying the banner of the New Xia Queen, he naturally hoped for the strengthening of royal power and often considered ways to break the deadlock. But the problems that had once stymied the Wei King and Wei Crown Prince now also fell upon the newly enthroned New Xia Queen.
That is, there was a lack of effective means to control these powerful and wealthy factions.
Feng Miao Jun’s talk of relocating the capital opened up an entirely new direction for him at this moment, which was:
If they couldn’t work together, why force it? Let everyone go their separate ways.
Since he and Feng Miao Jun couldn’t overcome so many people, they might as well move to the east and develop a completely new territory.
A flash of insight came to him, and he seized upon this inspiration: “Though moving away from the West has its advantages, the eastern region has long been devastated and will require considerable time to redevelop. They… won’t just sit by and watch.”
He too hoped his words would be heeded, that his call would be answered. Fu Ling Chuan was not obstinate in character, otherwise he wouldn’t have disregarded public ridicule and subordinates’ opposition to bring Princess Chang Le to Tai Ping City to persuade the Yan King.