There was only one person who dared to touch her like this here.

Without turning her head, Feng Miaojun said: “You’re back?”

Yun Ya kissed her on the cheek: “Did you help Princess Hanyue find her son?”

“The genuine article.” Feng Miaojun simply handed him the trowel. “Your information network is quite efficient.” This man had been gone for some time, yet the proclamation she issued just yesterday had already reached his ears today.

Yun Ya was also somewhat curious: “Where was he hidden?” He took the trowel and continued her unfinished work.

Feng Miaojun said with a grin: “Does it matter where he was hidden? He’s been found anyway.”

Yun Ya pinched the tip of her nose: “Still keeping secrets from me?”

“It wouldn’t be fun if I revealed everything.” Feng Miaojun swatted his hand away. “There’s more to come in this matter. Just wait and see. By the way, where have you been?” For twenty consecutive days, he had been nowhere to be seen.

Of course, she didn’t say that last sentence aloud, but Yun Ya had already detected her complaint and tilted his head to look at her with a smile: “Did you miss me?”

Those peach-blossom eyes of his were filled with affection.

Miss what? Feng Miaojun blushed slightly and folded her arms across her chest: “You’re full of schemes. Twenty days is enough time for you to execute several sets of sinister plots.”

“You wrong me, Your Majesty.” Yun Ya repeatedly protested his innocence. “This time, I went back to Wei on legitimate business.”

Feng Miaojun tensed slightly: “Has Yan made a move?”

“For now, no. Having swallowed Xi Kingdom less than two months ago, they haven’t had time to digest it yet. The King of Yan isn’t that foolish.” Yun Ya smiled and said, “However, Yan forces have already set up camps and stationed troops at what was formerly the Xi-Wei border, strengthening their military defenses.”

With Yan Kingdom seizing Xi’s territory, they also inherited its border with Wei. Both powerful nations were reinforcing their frontier defenses while rapidly assimilating their newly acquired territories. Yan had consumed the entire Xi Kingdom, while Wei had taken half of the Yao Kingdom. Both needed to consolidate their rule over the new territories and suppress all opposition forces within a limited timeframe.

Feng Miaojun rubbed her forehead and sighed deeply: “Everyone has new territories, so why is mine the most troublesome?”

“Because it wasn’t meant for New Xia in the first place.” Yun Ya chuckled lightly, digging out half a weed with one scoop. “When you take something that belongs to others, you have to pay a price.”

Feng Miaojun glanced at him sideways: “Still angry?” Without her intervention, the entire Yao Kingdom would have belonged to Wei.

His lips curved upward: “Let’s consider it a betrothal gift I sent in advance.”

Feng Miaojun spat out a contemptuous sound. Though they were as close as honey at the moment, their respective positions would not change. He defended his Great Wei, and she considered her New Xia.

Besides, Feng Miaojun knew he was right. Wei’s absorption of Western Yao and Yan’s consumption of Xi Kingdom were based on military prowess and strategy. The defeated parties clearly understood they were outmatched, making post-war governance easier. But New Xia’s acquisition of Eastern Yao was different—to outsiders, it seemed more like a windfall.

Moreover, Yao Kingdom’s entire administrative team and most of the upper nobility remained in the Yinzi City area of Eastern Yao. Their superficial compliance with the new ruler would certainly be more severe than in Western Yao.

Simply put, New Xia’s national strength still couldn’t match Yao’s, so the Yao people didn’t accept its rule. This was the “price” Yun Ya mentioned: even if you can get a free lunch, beware of breaking your teeth on it.

Yun Ya’s smile faded: “Back to business, I have some information for you.”

She listened attentively.

“It’s not Yan that’s making moves, but Western Yao.”

“What?” Feng Miaojun frowned.

“There have been unusual activities in Western Yao, near the Wei-Xia border, these past few months.” Yun Ya said thoughtfully, “As you know, we disbanded and scattered the Yao military, integrating them into Wei units. Especially the surrendered commanders, who were separated from their original troops to prevent resistance and mutiny.”

Feng Miaojun nodded. New Xia handled things the same way—this was the common practice for dealing with surrendered troops across the Northern and Southern Continents.

“But I’ve received information that Yao officials in certain prefectures are privately recruiting local militia, in unusually large numbers.” Yun Ya shrugged. “From what we know so far, sixteen prefectures are doing this. Although each locale’s increase in militia recruitment isn’t blatant, when these sixteen prefectures are combined, they amount to thirty thousand men.”

Hearing this, Feng Miaojun’s eyes flickered.

Armies generally fell into two categories. One was stationed in various regions by the royal court, called the central army, with formal organization and direct funding from the national treasury, serving only the state. The other was the local militia. These were military forces recruited locally, such as city garrison troops, bandit-suppression forces, and local defense corps, used to maintain local stability and implement local policies. They were supported by local resources and naturally only obeyed local authorities.

Although the central army was elite, its numbers were limited and closely tied to national strength and finances. Local militia served as a powerful supplement, borne by the localities without requiring royal treasury funds. So they existed in practice and could not be abolished.

Feng Miaojun was extremely sensitive to the words “local militia.” Previously, when she pacified New Xia’s internal turmoil and consolidated military power, the local aristocratic families cultivated their armed forces under the pretext of recruiting militia—a case of local countermeasures to central policies. When such a situation appeared in Western Yao, her first reaction was:

These fellows want to rebel.

“So?” She waited for Yun Ya to continue. “What does this have to do with me?”

“You little fox, still playing mind games with me?” Yun Ya pinched her soft cheek. “These prefectures aren’t far from the border between Eastern and Western Yao. This is no isolated phenomenon. I don’t believe you haven’t received similar reports from within Eastern Yao.”

So he’d found out? Feng Miaojun said reluctantly: “Fine, the situation on my side is even more concentrated. It seems they’re planning something big.” She hadn’t been eating, drinking, and making merry during her nearly month-long stay in Yinzi City. She had sent people to gather intelligence and, combined with reports from New Xia officials dispatched to the localities, had also discovered the abnormal increase in militia numbers.

In other words, local officials in Eastern Yao were also cultivating their armed forces. These troops would not obey the New Xia royal court.

No ruler liked such an uncontrolled situation.

“They’re also in contact with each other.” Although artificially divided by borders, the people of Eastern and Western Yao originally shared the same culture and ethnicity, and geographical boundaries could hardly truly impede their communication. “We’ve caught several people during their secret meetings.”

Feng Miaojun raised an eyebrow: “Did they reveal the mastermind behind it all?”

“At first they were ready to die rather than talk, but after I pulled out the entire spine of the most stubborn one in front of the others, they didn’t hold out for long.” Yun Ya mentioned a name. “He’s not the main conspirator, but he’s close.”

This fellow’s methods were vicious; few could persist in lying under his torture. Feng Miaojun believed him: “When combined with the case of Miao Hansheng’s disappearance, they’re trying to restore their kingdom!”