When Magistrate Shen Tongchuan of Yongzhou’s memorial reached Yun Jing, it was like a stone stirring up a thousand waves, immediately causing shock and upheaval throughout the court and the realm.

The news of Song Song’s death came too suddenly. Emperor Zhengyuan only listened once as the Chief Eunuch of the Palace Attendants Bureau, Liang Shenfu, read through the memorial before supporting his forehead. “How do you ministers view this matter?”

Miscellaneous voices filled the Hall of Facing Heaven. An official holding his tablet stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, our Great Qi and Danqiu have coexisted peacefully for over a decade. Even if they intend to tear up the alliance, surely they should not act so rashly…”

“Indeed…”

With his words, many people looked at each other, then nodded in agreement.

Hanlin Academy Reader-in-Waiting Zheng Jian stepped forward. “Your Majesty, why not first send an envoy to negotiate with Danqiu? Relying solely on Shen Tongchuan’s one-sided account makes the situation difficult to ascertain.”

“How is it only Shen Tongchuan’s one-sided account? Haven’t the prefectures closer to Yongzhou also sent memorials? The Yongzhou garrison’s battle with Su Qile—this definitely occurred!”

Grand Marshal Miao could not restrain himself. His brows knitted tightly as he immediately stepped forward. “Your Majesty! Shen Tongchuan has already stated very clearly in his memorial—it was Su Qile who first used Aduorong’s death to create difficulties but failed, forcing Supervisor Song to personally go to Su Qile’s tent to speak with him. Yet Su Qile took this opportunity to kill Lord Song! Danqiu’s wild ambitions are clear as day! If we first send envoys to negotiate with Danqiu, who knows how much time will be wasted, but how can Yongzhou afford to wait?!”

He bowed low. “Your Majesty, with Su Qile’s death, Danqiu will certainly create difficulties for Yongzhou!”

Great Qi and Danqiu had fought chaotically for many years. Having finally welcomed over a decade of peaceful days, this was shattered by the death of Danqiu’s young prince Su Qile. This left the court’s consistently conservative ministers momentarily unable to decide.

“But at present the rebels have not yet been completely suppressed. If we go to war with Danqiu at this time, wouldn’t we face troubles both within and without? In this minister’s opinion, we should first employ conciliatory measures, temporarily stabilizing the Danqiu royal court. To resist foreign threats, we must first secure internal peace!”

Someone advised.

“Su Qile is dead. How can we possibly appease the Danqiu royal court enough?” Hanlin Academy Scholar He Tong really could not help but speak.

The assembled ministers began looking around at each other, discussing in confusion.

“Minister Pan.”

Emperor Zhengyuan on the imperial seat, one hand resting before him, spoke lightly.

Commissioner of the Three Offices Pan Youfang immediately stepped forward and bowed. He heard Emperor Zhengyuan ask from above: “What are your thoughts?”

The hall immediately quieted. Many pairs of eyes stopped on Pan Youfang.

“This minister believes that with Prince Su Qile dying at the hands of Yongzhou’s army, this matter probably cannot be easily reconciled…” Pan Youfang answered, then raised his head slightly to look at Huang Zongyu standing silently to the side. “Grand Councilor Huang once served as Prefect of Jianchi and concurrent Pacification Commissioner. Jianchi Prefecture is close to Yongzhou. I imagine Grand Councilor Huang would understand border affairs better than the rest of us.”

Grand Marshal Miao, hearing Pan Youfang’s words, saw that Huang Zongyu bewilderedly raised his head. That bag of old bones trembled—even moving forward a few steps wasn’t easy. His anger burned fiercely in his heart. He couldn’t help but curse inwardly: this old fellow knows shit. Everyone knows that when he served as Prefect of Jianchi, he was someone who didn’t like managing anything. He probably never even left Jianchi Prefecture—how would he know about affairs outside Yongzhou Pass!

After Zhang Jing’s death, His Majesty had specifically promoted this person to be Bureau Commissioner of the Western Bureau.

Emperor Zhengyuan said nothing, only waiting for Huang Zongyu to come forward. He heard him say: “Your Majesty, Su Qile’s uncle was Prince Duoling of the Nanyan tribe in the past. His mother is the Queen of the Danqiu royal court. The Nanyan tribe is Danqiu’s most valiant tribe. They almost control the Danqiu royal court’s most powerful cavalry. Su Qile is the prince they support. Setting aside what the Danqiu King thinks, with the Nanyan tribe’s people having lost Prince Su Qile, the hatred in their hearts will probably be difficult to dispel…”

Huang Zongyu actually always tended toward conservatism, but in this short time, he also had not thought of how to resolve the war with Danqiu.

Emperor Zhengyuan on the imperial seat said nothing. The ministers below were almost all dripping with cold sweat.

“Minister Meng, what do you say?”

Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhengyuan suddenly looked toward Meng Yunxian on the other side.

Meng Yunxian’s expression was as usual. Hearing the call, he also calmly stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, this minister believes this battle is unavoidable—not because our Great Qi does not want peaceful days, but because in the short term, Danqiu absolutely cannot possibly reconcile with us.”

His tone carried several parts helplessness.

“Continue.”

Emperor Zhengyuan’s fingers tapped lightly on his knee.

“Over these sixteen years, the Danqiu royal court has step by step subdued the twenty-nine tribes on the grasslands. What the royal court relies on is precisely the Nanyan tribe’s most excellent cavalry. But Your Excellencies must not forget—at whose hands did Prince Duoling of the Nanyan tribe originally die? The royal court can suppress the Nanyan tribe’s hatred because the Danqiu King married their princess as Queen. This is equivalent to the royal court being willing to unite with their tribe as kinsmen, advancing and retreating together. Although the Queen has borne two sons and one daughter, factions also divide the Nanyan tribe, each supporting one of the two princes. But regardless of faction, Su Qile ultimately possessed half their Nanyan tribe’s bloodline.”

The death of Nanyan Prince Duoling together with Su Qile’s death meant old grievances and new hatreds. How did it matter if the Nanyan tribe divided into factions internally? Now that Su Qile was dead, those who once supported Su Qile could only place their hopes on his elder brother. Thus, having lost the root of internal strife, wouldn’t they bind together even more tightly? And Su Qile’s mother the Queen and his elder brother might not be able to swallow this insult either.

Meng Yunxian did not state these things explicitly, but whether Emperor Zhengyuan or the court ministers present had all followed his train of thought to reach this understanding.

The hall fell silent as crows for a moment. Those consistently conservative ministers also found it awkward to speak. If they spoke, they would need to present His Majesty with a plan for peace without war. But with the current situation, how could they preserve the alliance between the two nations?

“Have the rest of you all become mute?”

Emperor Zhengyuan laughed coldly from the imperial seat. “Yesterday you still quarreled endlessly over the matter of official exchange certificates replacing private exchange certificates. Today when military intelligence and warfare are involved, how is it that each of you cannot produce an opinion?”

“This minister is terrified…”

The assembled ministers bent to bow in unison.

“Your Majesty, this minister believes that regardless of anything else, please first deploy Jianchi Prefecture’s fifty thousand elite troops to reinforce Yongzhou!” Censor-in-Chief Jiang Xianming stepped forward to advise. “Yongzhou is our Great Qi’s final险关 facing Danqiu! Preserving Yongzhou should be the highest priority. Otherwise, if the Danqiu barbarians truly intend to steal our Great Qi’s territory again, they can avoid the natural barrier of the Rong River and press directly into the heartland!”

“This minister is willing to go to Jianchi Prefecture and lead troops to reinforce Yongzhou!” Grand Marshal Miao immediately stepped forward, proclaiming loudly.

Hearing this, Emperor Zhengyuan raised a pair of eyes. His expression seemed to warm slightly. “Minister Miao, you have old ailments that I hear frequently relapse. Those are all injuries you suffered for Great Qi over these years. Tell me, how can I bear to let you, bearing such heavy injuries and illness, go lead troops to kill enemies?”

Such caring words, yet they caused Grand Marshal Miao’s ramrod-straight spine to collapse. He lowered his head, concealing his darkened expression, his throat dry. “This minister thanks Your Majesty.”

Most of the garrison troops at Jianchi Prefecture came from his Huning Army. And the sons of the Huning Army, more than military orders, recognized him as their general. He had almost forgotten why he had actively relinquished military authority to return to court and become this idle Grand Marshal.

Emperor Zhengyuan sat upright and proper. “Yongzhou absolutely cannot be lost. Although I treasure these years of rest and recovery with the people, I cannot sit by and watch Danqiu deploy troops to endanger our Yongzhou’s critical pass.”

“Pei Zhiyuan.”

Hearing only Emperor Zhengyuan call once, Pei Zhiyuan immediately stepped forward. “This minister is present.”

“Immediately draft an edict commanding the garrison troops of Jianchi Prefecture and Zezhou to immediately reinforce Yongzhou without error!”

“This minister obeys the edict.”

Pei Zhiyuan bowed.

When morning court ended, all the court ministers wore grave expressions, walking out of the Hall of Facing Heaven in twos and threes. Pan Youfang walked out talking with several other officials when he encountered Meng Yunxian and He Tong. He stepped forward with concern. “Minister Meng, I heard you’ve been ill these past days. Are you better now?”

Meng Yunxian hummed acknowledgment, then said, “I haven’t yet thanked you, Commissioner Pan, for the ginseng you sent.”

“My hometown is precisely a region that produces good ginseng. This is not worth mentioning.” Pan Youfang waved his hand. “Please, Minister Meng, you must take care of your health. The new policies cannot do without you.”

With numerous affairs in the Three Offices, Pan Youfang did not speak many words with Meng Yunxian before being urged away by subordinate officials. Pei Zhiyuan, having received his assignment, had also long since left. Only He Tong still followed Meng Yunxian step by step down the stairs.

“With Chongzhi gone, you’re always behind me like a shadow.”

Meng Yunxian lifted his robe hem with one hand, teasing him.

“Minister Meng, you can still laugh?” He Tong said gloomily, raising his chin to glance at Pan Youfang who had not yet walked far below. “If not for Commissioner Pan, His Majesty wouldn’t even bother listening to you.”

Since Zhang Jing’s death, Emperor Zhengyuan had been consistently lukewarm toward Meng Yunxian. Among the ministers he summoned privately, this chief councilor was never included. Add to that that Huang Zongyu had always differed politically with Meng Yunxian, yet Emperor Zhengyuan insisted the Eastern and Western Bureaus jointly deliberate on new policies, which considerably constrained Meng Yunxian.

Just now in the Hall of Facing Heaven, Pan Youfang had pulled out Bureau Commissioner Huang Zongyu. Only after His Majesty questioned this Western Bureau councilor did he think to ask Meng Yunxian, the proper Eastern Bureau councilor.

“Minister Meng!”

A voice suddenly came from behind. Both Meng Yunxian and He Tong turned to look, only to see Chief Eunuch of the Palace Attendants Bureau Liang Shenfu hurrying over. “Minister Meng, His Majesty requests you at Qinghe Hall.”

“I understand.”

Meng Yunxian nodded. Seeing Liang Shenfu leading several inner attendants turn to walk back up, he slowly looked toward He Tong beside him. “Doesn’t His Majesty want to listen now?”

He Tong looked at him sitting there calm and composed, seemingly not at all surprised that Liang Shenfu would come to request him. Something vaguely dawned in his heart. He could not help but murmur, “Minister Meng, what do you intend to do?”

“What do you think I intend to do?”

He Tong was straightforward, without so many twists and turns. He could not guess this Minister Meng’s thoughts either. He could only say, “Regardless, I hope you will be extra careful before His Majesty. Teacher, he…”

His voice grew hoarse. “Teacher had only you as his close friend in all his life. Please, treasure yourself.”

Hearing this, Meng Yunxian could not help but laugh. He reached out to lightly pat He Tong’s shoulder. “Hearing you say this makes me happy. You need not worry about me either. I treasure my life more now than at any time in the past. Moreover, you also heard in the hall just now—even if His Majesty does not wish to wage war, with the current situation, warfare between Great Qi and Danqiu is already unavoidable. I go to see His Majesty to resolve his worries, not to add to his troubles.”

“You go back first.”

Having said this, Meng Yunxian turned and headed toward Qinghe Hall. When he entered the hall, Pei Zhiyuan was already inside holding a brush drafting the edict.

Emperor Zhengyuan supported his forehead, sitting behind the imperial desk. “Liang Shenfu.”

Liang Shenfu immediately had inner attendants move a chair and place it behind Meng Yunxian. Meng Yunxian immediately bowed. “This minister thanks Your Majesty.”

“Minister Meng, Song Song died at the hands of Danqiu barbarians, yet Yongzhou’s army cannot go a single day without a supervisor. I wonder—do you have a candidate in mind?”

Meng Yunxian had just sat down when he heard Emperor Zhengyuan get straight to the point.

“Does Your Majesty have concerns in your heart?”

Meng Yunxian said with lowered head.

Emperor Zhengyuan laughed coldly. “Among these court ministers, I truly don’t know which one to trust that would allow me some peace of mind.”

Meng Yunxian sensed several parts dissatisfaction with Song Song in Emperor Zhengyuan’s words. He lowered his eyes as if deliberating for a while. “This minister dare not assert which colleague is suitable for this duty. After all, Yongzhou is currently at a critical moment of survival or destruction. But this minister has one thing to say—I don’t know whether it should be said?”

“Speak.”

Emperor Zhengyuan lifted his chin slightly.

“If Your Majesty cannot decide which court minister to appoint as Yongzhou’s supervisor, why not entrust this duty to someone close to Your Majesty?”

These words were too unexpected. Emperor Zhengyuan restrained the carelessness in his eyes. “Someone close?”

“Someone at Your Majesty’s side who exists only for Your Majesty.”

Meng Yunxian did not raise his head, but Liang Shenfu beside Emperor Zhengyuan could not help but feel his heart stir at these words. Thoughts immediately turned in his mind as he carefully glanced at Emperor Zhengyuan.

What did “someone close” mean? It must be someone closer to His Majesty than court ministers—a eunuch.

“Minister Meng speaks extremely correctly.”

Emperor Zhengyuan clapped his hands, his brows loosening slightly.

Pei Zhiyuan finished drafting the edict and left Qinghe Hall together with Meng Yunxian. He drew both hands into his sleeves and could not help but sigh. “Court ministers are ministers, but what are eunuchs? They are His Majesty’s slaves. Court ministers do not necessarily serve only the sovereign father, but eunuchs can only serve their master. Minister Meng, these words struck right at His Majesty’s heart.”

From beginning to end, Meng Yunxian had not recommended any specific person. It was precisely because of this that he enabled Emperor Zhengyuan to lower his guard and adopt his suggestion.

But Liang Shenfu on the side could not possibly fail to争功绩 for his godson Han Qing. With such a good opportunity, he certainly would not let it pass.

This appointment would very likely fall to Han Qing. After all, the Yinye Bureau he controlled had always been His Majesty’s Yinye Bureau. Before Han Qing became Director of the Yinye Bureau, supported by Liang Shenfu, he had also been able to remain near His Majesty. If it were not trust, His Majesty would not have permitted him the position of Yinye Bureau Director.

Han Qing had always gone alone, rarely associating with court ministers. And few civil officials in court looked favorably upon this eunuch who relied on His Majesty’s authority to impose severe punishments.

No one in court knew of the connection between Han Qing and Meng Yunxian. Once Han Qing became Yongzhou’s supervisor, then Meng Yunxian could silently grasp the situation at the Yongzhou border.

“Now I only worry about the situation at the Yongzhou border. Even if His Majesty’s edict is as fast as possible, delivering it to Zezhou and Jianchi Prefecture will still take some time.”

Meng Yunxian raised his head and sighed. “Yongzhou has natural barriers. Our troop strength in Yongzhou does not differ greatly from Danqiu’s at Juhan Pass. But we lack military horses—our cavalry is inadequate. And Shi Monu under Su Qile’s command is a fierce general from the Nanyan tribe. He must have elite cavalry under his command. I fear Qin Jixun will suffer some hardship…”

Yongzhou was not without险 to defend. And Shi Monu leading troops here was, after sixteen years, the first true war in the proper sense between him and Great Qi. He might not be able to break through Yongzhou Pass, but as long as he could inflict as many losses as possible on Yongzhou’s army strength, afterward when Danqiu’s reinforcements arrived, they would treat Yongzhou as a breach and exert all effort to devour it.

After Yongzhou entered autumn, the temperature difference between day and night grew even greater. Nights were cold as winter—only during the day did it warm somewhat. In this place that did not often see rain, wind and sand were severe.

“Qin Jixun, Wei Dechang! You Danqiu grandfathers killed you back from the poplar grove so that you’re now cowering inside the city. Now you don’t dare come out for one battle?”

Beneath the city tower, Danqiu general Shi Monu from Juhan Pass mocked from horseback. “Now your courage fails, but when you killed our Danqiu young prince Su Qile, how did you not anticipate today?! This old man will definitely make your two heads into bowls to hold our Prince Su Qile’s ashes!”

“Those Danqiu people use skulls…”

Qingqiong, who had come up the city tower to deliver flatbread to the soldiers, happened to hear Shi Monu’s shouting below. His thick black pupils trembled once.

“A dog barking. Can’t even be bothered to listen.”

Duan Rong picked at his ear. “You shouldn’t listen either. Listen too much and you won’t be able to eat your flatbread.”

Qin Jixun was speaking with Xu Hexue to the side. Ni Su, seeing Qingqiong’s complexion was not good, wrapped her own cloak around him. “Last night when I gave you acupuncture, did you feel any better?”

“Better. Not as painful as before.”

Qingqiong nodded. Once he entered autumn, his body became unbearably cold. By winter it was even harder to endure. His health was always somewhat worse than in spring and summer.

“Ni Su.”

Ni Su was speaking with Qingqiong when she heard a call.

She turned her head to see Xu Hexue wearing that snow-white round-collared robe. Inside, the vermillion collar of his inner garment was very eye-catching. His face was still wrapped in the long cloth. That pair of consistently cold, desolate eyes was looking at her, beckoning to her.

She stood and walked before him, then saw him extend a hand, stuffing an oil-paper package into her palm. Then she heard him say: “Commander Wei gave this. You and Qingqiong eat it together.”

Ni Su opened the oil-paper package. Inside were cakes wrapped in what looked like fine snow granules of frosted sugar. She raised her head to see him again discussing defense deployment matters with Qin Jixun.

She picked up a piece and took a bite. The red bean paste filling was very soft. Her eyes brightened. She stuffed a piece into his hand, then turned to go to Qingqiong.

Xu Hexue’s words paused. He lowered his eyes to look at the extra piece of cake in his hand.

Qin Jixun also noticed. Over all these days, his grave countenance showed a relaxed smile for the first time. He turned his face to glance at Ni Su’s back. “Miss Ni truly shares everything with you to eat.”