Chapter 61: The Choice
How could one simply snatch another man’s wife?
At Shili Slope, Xuan Rui met with the envoy from the capital. However, the one who appeared was not Young Master Jin, but an accompanying official said to be from a noble family, named Ji Ling.
After all, they were all young masters from the capital. Xuan Rui sized up that fair and delicate skin, silently weighing in his mind whether this was the type his little one used to like.
After reading the imperial edict, Ji Ling noticed Xuan Rui’s unfazed expression and remembered his friend Jin Cheng’s request. He proactively brought up a recent secret happening in the palace.
“His Majesty has been bedridden for years. The Crown Prince has been seeking doctors everywhere, spending heavily to invite numerous famous physicians, yet none could reverse his condition.”
“Until Master Zhang from the Astrology Bureau suggested using the blood of a close relative to sacrifice to the heavens. That very night, His Majesty’s most beloved Third Princess jumped from the city tower, offering her living body as sacrifice to the heavens.” Ji Ling recited the prepared words, secretly observing Xuan Rui’s expression. He couldn’t help but wonder what the other was thinking at this moment.
Both parties had just heard His Majesty’s decree – the imperial family’s most common tactic of combining favors with threats, always seeking to “control” everything.
On the surface, Xuan Rui was appointed as Grand Commander, with both the border garrison and the Red Feather Army incorporated under the Zhenbei Army. Yet simultaneously, Lu Zhan was cleared of false charges, leaving Zhenbei Wang as a thorn in the northwest to counterbalance Xuan Rui.
The relationship between these two had already reached the point where any minor misstep would be seized by the other to crush them completely.
Privately, Ji Ling felt this approach was somewhat harsh towards border defense generals.
But as A Cheng had said, if giving up such earth-shattering achievements meant finally winning the beauty’s heart, it might be worth it.
Considering recent arrangements at the Crown Prince’s residence, Ji Ling actually didn’t favor their relationship.
To be fair, the Crown Prince was the more suitable match.
Moreover, that stern and fierce face before him was rather difficult to look at directly.
He didn’t know where A Cheng had gotten the idea that the princess would be better off with him than with the Crown Prince.
On one side was immense wealth and imperial power, on the other was remaining in barbaric lands with life at risk. How could someone as intelligent as the princess not know how to choose?
But remembering how that scoundrel A Cheng had gone to find the princess himself, throwing this hot potato to him while instructing him to offer more advice about capital affairs, he had no choice but to continue dealing with the other with gritted teeth.
Mustering all his concentration, Ji Ling went from the Third Princess jumping from the city tower to sacrifice herself for righteousness, to the Crown Prince falling seriously ill several times from excessive grief over his deceased sister.
Seeing the other still maintaining an icy expression, he continued with last month’s development where Master Zhang emerged claiming that the Third Princess’s sincere devotion had moved the heavens, and she had now ascended to immortal status. To express gratitude for heavenly grace, His Majesty needed to find a woman resembling the Third Princess in both appearance and age to adopt as his goddaughter, allowing her to eternally enjoy imperial honors, thus appeasing the heavens.
Though this was sheer nonsense, he narrated it with great emotion. Noticing impatience surfacing on the other’s face, he felt somewhat embarrassed himself. Clearing his throat twice, he said: “Look at me, these palace secrets aren’t worth mentioning. Rather, Commander Xuan’s promotion to command the three northwestern armies truly deserves proper celebration. Why not let Minister Jin host a few banquet tables in the city? This would be the perfect opportunity to—”
Ji Ling, intending to test the other party and estimating they wouldn’t dare cause trouble, said, “This is a perfect opportunity for Commander Xuan and Zhenbei Wang to reconcile and jointly govern the northwest. It would make for a fine tale throughout the land.”
Xuan Rui slightly raised his chin, leaning halfway back with half-closed eyes as he slowly responded, “Is Your Excellency handling this matter on behalf of the Crown Prince or His Majesty—”
“What kind of talk is this, General Xuan!” Ji Ling’s expression shifted, his anger stirred by the other’s dismissive attitude and treasonous words.
Muttering “borderland savage” in his heart, he sternly declared with righteous indignation, “Commander Xuan should mind your words. The Crown Prince is the heir apparent and shares the same heart as His Majesty. How could there be any distinction between the two?”
Xuan Rui remained silent, a cold sharpness flashing in his eyes as he stood to leave. “The banquet is unnecessary. This general stands in direct opposition to the rebel king. I will personally explain this relationship to His Majesty upon returning to the capital.”
“Return to the capital?” Jin Cheng raised an eyebrow, finally feeling some relief from the pressure he’d been under. He glanced at Xuan Rui and said, “By His Majesty’s verbal decree, given the year-end military unrest in the north, General Xuan need not return to the capital.”
Xuan Rui’s brow twitched as he turned to look calmly at him. “What did you say?”
“This official said: by His Majesty’s verbal decree, the General may not return to the capital without summons.”Ji Ling provocatively raised his chin, his tone firm.”
Already irritable, Xuan Rui’s expression darkened further upon hearing this news. Without another word, he turned and left.
These capital-bred nobles spoke in circles, utterly lacking in logic.
The previous matters aligned exactly with the spies’ reports.
But he hadn’t anticipated that His Majesty would forbid him from returning to the capital with the princess.
He had found it strange all along why Jin Cheng hadn’t appeared on such an occasion today—
Seeing him about to leave, Ji Ling remembered his friend’s request and gritted his teeth before adding, “Just a few days ago, the Crown Prince angered His Majesty and received forty-nine disciplinary lashes. Might General Xuan guess why?”
This man was still using capital affairs to provoke him—
For just a moment, Ji Ling thought he must be imagining things.
The newly appointed commander, who had moments before appeared solemn and exceptionally steady, suddenly took on an ominous and inscrutable expression.
His eyes filled with violence, coldness, and a bloodthirsty brutality that is enough to instill fear in people’s hearts.
Ji Ling instinctively stepped back, but upon closer inspection, found that cold face had returned to its placid stillness.
He breathed a sigh of relief, growing more doubtful of Jin Cheng’s decision.
How could such a savage be worthy of the exquisite Princess?
“Why.”Across the square sandalwood tea table, the tall Xuan Rui played with his jade thumb ring, his eyes remained coldly lowered.”
He had long known of the Crown Prince’s intentions, but to display them so openly—had he abandoned all decency?
How foolish must His Majesty be to tacitly permit his own son to act this way.
And what of her? If she learned of the Crown Prince’s intentions, what choice would she make?
Would she still wish to return to the palace, or keep her promise to remain with him in the desert?
If she knew that the brother she’d grown up with had always harbored such filthy thoughts, she should feel disgust.
Ultimately, he had been too indecisive, failing to strike first!
Had he let the princess know earlier about the Crown Prince’s impure intentions, he would have had more assurance.
Now with conclusive evidence, given her nature of seeking advantage and avoiding harm, she shouldn’t return to walk into a trap.
No—he had overlooked one more thing—
Previously, he had been confident that she wouldn’t return to the Crown Prince’s side because that man couldn’t give her proper status.
But now? The Crown Prince actually intended to bring this matter into the open.
Qingqing, what choice will you make?
The sharp, persistent pain in his chest nearly tore his heart in two.
Xuan Rui, oh Xuan Rui, how pitiful you are. At this point, do you not even have this little bit of confidence?
His brow twitched slightly. Certain that Ji Ling wouldn’t answer, he parted his lips but ultimately didn’t voice those words.
Does receiving forty-nine disciplinary lashes qualify someone to steal another’s wife?
Just because he’s the Crown Prince, because he’s of imperial blood, he puts on this grand show for the world to see, thinking it will silence the murmuring masses.
What… an absolute joke.
From the moment he heard the imperial decree, several thoughts had been haunting his mind.
Chaotic and disordered, they nearly pushed his mental state to the brink.
The same words kept repeating… rebellion… rebellion… cannot…
Stay, stay, stay…
If she stays, what would become of her?
Following a puppet commander with no future.
Guarding the main tent day and night alone, constantly facing Zhenbei Wang’s surprise attacks, living each day uncertain of the next.
The person in the imperial city was her father. The Zhenbei Army couldn’t bear the charge of rebellion either. Yet, constrained by the rebel king, they couldn’t truly ensure her safety in the northwest either.
Never in his life had he felt such intense killing intent. He wanted to fight King Bai’s forces head-on, slaughter all the northern iron hooves that oppressed the common people, and execute the rebel king to avenge his fallen brothers.
The meeting ended unhappily. Xuan Rui led his men back to camp on horseback, his murderous aura growing increasingly intense as they rode against the biting cold wind.
Halfway there, they received a message from the military camp.
Xiao Ziqi, guessing there was movement in the dark prison holding the rebel king, said with a grim expression: “General, what about Lu Zhan? Should we send troops now to kill him first?”
Though usually prudent in handling affairs, his suggestion of such a rash move showed just how enraged the entire Zhenbei Army was about the rebel king’s collusion with the enemy and betrayal of their own soldiers.
Xuan Rui shook his head, looking toward the Zhenbei Army camp with a face as still as water: “Keeping him in the northwest is what will put His Majesty at ease.”
Suddenly he remembered that night when the little princess lay in his arms, her wide eyes filled with confusion, pitifully asking if he would rebel.
Silly girl, how could I? He had never actually considered—
Xuan Rui’s throat tightened as he crumpled the note in his hand.
[Author’s Note]
One more chapter of life-and-death torment before returning to the palace. This author’s already had several heartaches writing this…