Chapter 714 - 492: Trading Barbs

Chapter 714: Chapter 492: Trading Barbs

By this time, Feng Yi had reached the border city. After getting his bearings, he didn’t even have time to write to Yun Zhao, instead taking his men on horseback and riding a circuit around the city walls.

The weather was atrocious. A fierce wind howled, kicking up yellow sand until the entire landscape was a desolate blur and visibility was extremely low.

Ruins and broken walls were everywhere, a testament to the fierce battles that had raged between the two armies.

The villagers from outside the city had all been relocated inside, and the houses they left behind were either burned down or looted bare. Feng Yi’s face turned livid with rage. This sight was a far cry from what he had seen on his last border inspection.

It was pitch-black by the time Feng Yi returned to the city. He went back to the relay station where he was staying and immediately issued an order: starting tomorrow, they would implement a scorched-earth strategy. All villagers were to be brought into the city, leaving not a single grain of rice nor a blade of grass for the Beiming.

He also ordered sentries to monitor the Beiming cavalry’s movements. When they came to raid, they would find nothing for their troubles and would surely be disheartened. That was when they would launch a surprise attack, while the enemy’s men and horses were exhausted.

In the past, it was always Great Chu on the defensive against Beiming’s surprise attacks. This time, he would let the Beiming get a taste of their own medicine.

"The Emperor is brilliant!"

The men roared in unison.

Feng Yi and his generals spent the night discussing troop deployment. Meng Jiuchang waited nearby, recalling the Imperial Consort’s parting words and debating whether he should step forward and urge His Majesty to get some rest. ℯ

In the end, Meng Jiuchang didn’t dare to speak. He waited until everyone had dispersed, then said softly, "If the Imperial Consort knew that Your Majesty held meetings all night until dawn right after arriving, without a moment’s rest, she would surely blame this servant."

Feng Yi glanced at Meng Jiuchang upon hearing this. "You certainly listen to the Imperial Concubine these days."

Meng Jiuchang’s heart jolted. He chose his words carefully, "The Imperial Consort is worried for Your Majesty’s health. To this servant, Your Majesty’s well-being is also the most important thing."

How could Feng Yi not know what was on Meng Jiuchang’s mind? He just smiled and said, "You go get some rest as well."

Meng Jiuchang helped His Majesty get to bed, then quietly withdrew. He found a spot in the adjacent room to get some sleep, though he didn’t dare to fall too deeply into it.

Meanwhile, Ling Yunhe had already slipped out of the Capital City, leading a grain convoy that moved slowly along a mountain road. The carts were loaded with merchandise from the Baozhuang Building, and he was curious to see what he could accomplish on this trip south.

Ever since the two of them turned the whole affair of purchasing medicinal herbs upside down, the Capital City had been in chaos. Getting away at a time like this was probably for the best.

He just wasn’t very confident that he could actually succeed in procuring the grain. This business couldn’t be done openly; he had to move quietly, like a thief in the night.

The stakes were high, and these were not peaceful times, so Ling Yunhe had spent a small fortune to hire men from an escort agency for protection. With every city they passed, he had to curse Xie Jinshu a few times just to feel a little better.

***

Meanwhile, back in the palace, Duchess Gu En had been summoned to keep the Empress Dowager company. The Duchess, however, hadn’t come alone; she had brought an illegitimate daughter with her.

Yun Zhao hadn’t seen this illegitimate daughter. On the day Duchess Gu En arrived, she had avoided going to Shouci Palace.

Ever since she’d begun to suspect the Empress Dowager was up to something, she had been steering clear of Shouci Palace, leaving the burden to Consort Shu and Princess Consort Zhuang.

The two were now united with Yun Zhao. Knowing about the bad blood between her and the Empress Dowager, they willingly took on the task. They simply explained that the Second Prince cried daily because he missed His Majesty, and Yun Zhao had to stay with him to calm him down.

Whether the Empress Dowager believed it or not, that was Yun Zhao’s story and she was sticking to it.

’I can’t provoke her, but can’t I at least avoid her?’

’If Feng Yi were in the Capital City, she truly wouldn’t be afraid.’

’But with the Emperor away, the Empress Dowager holds all the power. If she, a mere Imperial Concubine, were to openly defy the Empress Dowager, the courtiers would almost certainly side with the old woman.’

Song Yunzhao never fought a battle she wasn’t confident she could win.

At that moment, Lu Zhixue was telling Yun Zhao about the illegitimate daughter from Gu’en Houfu.

"My heavens, you should have seen her. I thought An Shutong was already quite a beauty, but this An Ling is even more striking. She’s so radiant, and those eyes of hers are so expressive they practically speak. Even as a woman, I couldn’t tear my eyes away."

Lu Zhixue patted her chest as she spoke. "We have no shortage of beauties in this palace. Never mind you, Your Highness, even Noble Lady Qin from my own palace is a first-rate beauty. But compared to An Ling, they all lack a certain... ethereal quality."

’Who are you saying lacks an ethereal quality?’

’Back when she first entered the palace, what did she use to keep the Emperor by her side?’

’It’s only because she’s an Imperial Concubine now, managing palace affairs, that she has to be somewhat mindful of her image. Otherwise, would anyone else even stand a chance?’

’Huh?’

’Song Yunzhao realized something was off. Why was she comparing herself to someone else? Lu Zhixue had really dragged her down this rabbit hole.’

"It’s not like I get by on my looks alone," Song Yunzhao said languidly to Lu Zhixue.

Lu Zhixue let out a dry laugh. "Do you take me for a fool?"

Song Yunzhao was left speechless.

Seeing Yun Zhao rendered speechless by her retort, Lu Zhixue arched a brow smugly. "Back during the selection, the moment you took your place, I knew I probably didn’t stand a chance."

"If you had such a premonition, why did you still go against me?" Song Yunzhao retorted, twisting the knife.

Lu Zhixue ground her teeth in frustration. "A premonition is just a premonition! What if it had been wrong? I had to at least try. Even if the result was the same, at least I could accept my defeat without regrets. Is that so wrong?"

Song Yunzhao chuckled. "Fine, fine. Why wouldn’t it be? Here, allow me to pour you some tea myself."

Lu Zhixue took a contented sip, then said pensively, "You know, the Emperor isn’t even in the palace. What do you think Duchess Gu En is doing, bringing such a beautiful illegitimate daughter here? Who’s that pretty face supposed to be for?"

’Yes, who *is* she for?’

Song Yunzhao was pondering the same thing. She couldn’t quite figure out the angle. Looking at Lu Zhixue, she said slowly, "You’ve always had a habit of speaking before you think. I think when you go to Shouci Palace, you had better stick close to Feng Yunjin."

Lu Zhixue rolled her eyes. "Do you still take me for the fool I used to be?"

"You don’t seem that much smarter now, either," Song Yunzhao added, getting in another jab.

Lu Zhixue grew flustered. "I came here out of the goodness of my heart to warn you, and what do I get? You mock me! Just see if I bother coming back next time."

"We’ll be one short for a game. Could you really stay away?"

"...I’ll be there."

Lu Zhixue sighed. Song Yunzhao had her right where she wanted her. Playing cards was her greatest joy these days.

Song Yunzhao really enjoyed talking to Lu Zhixue these days. It always put her in a good mood.

"So, besides her eyes, what other part of her do you think is more beautiful than me?"

"Don’t you go putting words in my mouth! When did I say her eyes were more beautiful than yours? In my heart, she could never compare to you."

’Can An Ling get me a promotion?’

’Can she help me make money?’

’Can she let me ride her coattails?’

’Can she let me strut around this palace like I own the place?’

Song Yunzhao clutched her chest, a surge of pride welling within her. ’See? These are *my* beauties.’

Lu Zhixue was at a loss for words.

’It felt like there was no way to explain herself clearly.’

"But... her waist is also incredibly slender, and there’s something indescribable about the way she walks," Lu Zhixue said hesitantly. She remembered clearly that during the selection, her own waist had been very thin, but she had never moved quite like An Ling.

Thinking of this, she glanced at Song Yunzhao again and suddenly blurted out, "Back then, your tiny waist was the envy of all of us, but I’d say An Ling’s is even a little bit smaller."

Song Yunzhao’s expression grew thoughtful. ’Smaller than my waist?’

She instinctively glanced down at her own waist. She had deliberately slimmed down after giving birth to Feng Yun, but no matter how much weight a woman lost after childbirth, there was still a difference between her figure and that of a young maiden.

Now that Lu Zhixue had mentioned it, the whole situation felt even stranger.