CHAPTER 605: CHAPTER 605: THE FRONT LINE

「Mid-March.」

Good news arrived from the frontline.

Commander of the Southwest Shi Yang led his troops and fiercely drove the few Grassland Tribes that had been harassing the borders of the Great Chu Dynasty back to their lairs.

However, at the same time, from the Northwest, came news of defeat after defeat.

The Emperor flew into a rage upon hearing this.

"Merely a few tribes, no more than ten thousand people in all! What on earth is Fan You, that bastard, doing?"

Is he incapable of fighting? Too old? Ridiculous. He’s not even forty yet. Of all those generals and Commanders who unified various regions, which one of them isn’t over forty? At this age, one’s combat experience is rich, and one’s body is still in its prime. Besides, generals rely on their intellect, not brute force. He doesn’t need to personally go to the battlefield; he just needs to devise strategies. And even so, he can’t win? Has a dog eaten his brain?!

Zhao Junyao grew angrier the more he thought about it.

"Someone!"

Li Shengan, holding his horsetail whisk, scurried in flusteredly.

Zhao Junyao glanced at him impatiently.

"Get lost! I didn’t call for you. Summon Xia Tingfeng!"

"Yes!"

Li Shengan left in a fluster once again.

He was nearly scared out of his wits; what had gotten into the Emperor? Tsk tsk, Marquis Xiahou, you’d better be careful.

Muttering to himself, he scurried off and quickly sent someone out of the palace to deliver the message.

「Outside the palace, Xia Tingfeng received the message and hastened into the palace.」

In the Imperial Study Room, he clasped his fist in his palm and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty!"

"Rise!" Zhao Junyao said indifferently.

With that, he threw a memorial to Xia Tingfeng.

"Take a look!"

Xia Tingfeng had just risen when the memorial struck him. He caught it and quickly read through it, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"Yanguan City? Those tribes have actually attacked all the way to Yanguan City!"

Xia Tingfeng was shocked.

Wasn’t General Fan leading a hundred thousand men to defend that place? General Fan, with his illustrious reputation, had achieved numerous military exploits during the Late Emperor’s time. How could it be that now... A few mere tribes, ten thousand men at most, and General Fan’s forces had actually been pushed back to their own stronghold by them!

Ah... um... Xia Tingfeng was suddenly at a loss for words.

Zhao Junyao squinted, his voice laced with cold sarcasm.

"Hmph! I don’t even know how this battle has been fought, yet they still have the audacity to request reinforcements!"

The mere mention of it infuriated him.

Xia Tingfeng thought for a moment before speaking.

"Your Majesty, there are still civilians trapped inside Yanguan City..."

He hadn’t finished when Zhao Junyao interrupted him.

"Enough! I know what to do. I don’t need your sermons!"

With that, he turned and retrieved a tiger tally from a box to the side.

"Take five thousand men from the Capital City’s defensive army and rush there overnight. There must still be other troops in Yanguan City. Once you arrive, retrieve the Commander’s Seal and take unified command. You must drive those tribes out for Us!"

"Furthermore..."

Zhao Junyao paused before continuing.

"Bring Fan You back to Us!"

Gazing at the lustrous jade tiger tally on the table, Xia Tingfeng immediately knelt on one knee.

"This general obeys!"

"Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Junyao approached him and clapped him on the shoulder, saying,

"I remember the first time I saw you; you were brawling in the streets. Even then, you had the same look in your eyes!"

"Determined, decisive!"

"That reckless courage of yours greatly impressed me!"

"And now... you are still that same person!"

Xia Tingfeng also remembered the first time he met the Emperor.

He laughed and said,

"Back then, I didn’t understand anything and was just a petty gang leader!"

"Fighting and brawling, doing whatever came my way! At that time, I truly thought I was the mightiest person under heaven!"

At that time, indeed, no one could defeat him. Until he met the Emperor.

"That kick Your Majesty delivered to my chest left me utterly stunned!"

It was then that he truly believed that someone could indeed knock him flat with just a single move.

Zhao Junyao laughed.

"I couldn’t do that now. You rascal, you’ve learned a great deal!"

Xia Tingfeng quickly bowed his head.

"This subject’s duty is to protect the Emperor with my life. I dare not slacken in the slightest!"

Zhao Junyao glanced at him.

"Clever boy, you’ve learned how to change the subject!"

"Ahem!"

"Very well, you may leave."

Zhao Junyao felt a pang of guilt, knowing he was about to separate a newlywed couple.

Not daring to stay any longer, Xia Tingfeng bowed and took his leave.

「Marquis Zhongyong’s Mansion.」

Xia Tingfeng was hastily summoned to the palace and hadn’t returned for half a day. Ni Manxue was quite worried. While sitting by the window doing embroidery, she pricked her hand twice in quick succession. Her Maid, Dong’er, had to persuade her twice before she finally set aside her needlework.

Just as she stood up, intending to take a walk, news arrived from outside.

The Marquis has returned from the palace.

"He’s back?" The surprise showed on Ni Manxue’s face.

"Yes!" the Maid replied respectfully.

Before the Maid had even finished speaking, Xia Tingfeng strode into the main courtyard.

"My Lord..." she hurried to greet him.

"Let’s speak inside."

"Yes!"

Ni Manxue hurriedly followed him.

In the inner chamber, she listened as she helped him change his clothes. When she heard that he was to leave the capital and lead troops to the frontlines, Ni Manxue suddenly froze, her face turning slightly pale.

"How many days do we have?"

"I leave the day after tomorrow. Don’t worry; I’ll return soon."

Ni Manxue hurriedly mustered a smile.

"Yes! Whether it’s soon or takes longer, I will wait for the Marquis to return!"

Xia Tingfeng turned around, took her hand, and his eyes filled with tenderness.

"Manxue, while I am away, everything in the mansion will depend on you!"

"I entrust my Second Younger Sister to your care!"

Ni Manxue grasped his hand in return, smiling.

"Rest assured, Marquis. With Mother not here, it’s just Second Sister-in-law and I in the mansion. There won’t be much to manage."

Xia Tingfeng considered this and smiled. "That’s good."

After dinner, Ni Manxue began to bustle about, preparing Xia Tingfeng’s things for the journey.

Although it’s already mid-March, it might still be cold beyond the pass. Winter clothes must be prepared. Quilts, spare clothing, provisions for the road! And the attendants who will be by your side!

One matter, however, deeply troubled her. According to custom, it was the duty of the main wife to arrange for female attendants when her husband was to be away for an extended period. This was the duty of a Family Matriarch. But... Just thinking about it made Ni Manxue’s heart ache with a bitter, stifled feeling.

That night, as she lay in bed, sleep eluded her. Yet, she dared not move, trying to suppress her unease.

Sensing her restlessness, Xia Tingfeng gently turned her to face him and asked softly,

"What’s wrong? Why aren’t you sleeping?"

"My Lord..." Ni Manxue forced a smile. "I... I..."

Xia Tingfeng looked at her.

"What is it? Tell me!"

Lady Ni could no longer hold it in. Fidgeting with her clothes and lowering her head, she spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz,

"My Lord... I was wondering... who will you take with you? Dong’er... what do you think of her?"

Elevating a dowry Maid to a Chamber Maid was an established custom in the Capital City, an entirely ordinary matter. Which new bride in the Capital City didn’t provide a few such Chamber Maids? To not do so would be seen as lacking in virtue.