Prime Minister

Jiang Kai: "His Highness Yuan Ming's illness is getting worse."

Yuan Ming lay flat on a simple rectangular wooden board. Jiang Kai inserted a silver needle into Yuan Ming's acupuncture point. Sweat broke out on her forehead. It seemed that she was enduring some kind of torture even in her sleep.

Jiang Kai sighed softly. He was afraid that his reputation of curing all diseases with his medicine would be ruined by this former princess.

As for Rulan, she was still the same as before, silently guarding Yuan Ming, holding her medical book in her arms, crying, and wondering what was going on in her mind.

Zhong Yingqi, who was in the distance, settled the remaining wounded soldiers. Seeing Liu Zizhuang digging a hole, he walked forward with a heavy face.

"The fire was very fierce, and these are the only bodies left." Liu Zizhuang said, without stopping his hands.

The faces that could never open their eyes again were gradually covered by the soil and became nutrients for the earth.

Zhong Yingqi covered the dead souls with a handful of soil and heard Liu Zizhuang say, "Their mothers will be very sad."

"Yes," Zhong Yingqi replied. "It doesn't really make much difference who's missing from the world, but if someone's missing from the family, the whole family is practically devastated."

"The general's words speak for the hearts of the soldiers. Everyone is a child of their own family. We are all trying our best to survive, but there are some things we must do. My brothers have died a worthy death."

Beneath each small grave are living lives.

No one can truly emerge from the battlefield intact. No one knows whether the next battle will be the end of their life, and no one knows how they will die. Even if they are lucky enough to survive, the fear of death will take root in the hearts of the living and will never disappear until they die.

Zhong Yingqi watched for a long time as Liu Zizhuang said goodbye to the fallen soldiers. He put himself in the position of a bystander, seemingly watching the grief of others in silence, but in fact he was unwilling to see his own pain.

The heroic soul buried in the earth had fought alongside Zhong Yingqi more than a day ago, drinking and chatting happily. They had once been so vivid, but the dead were dead, and they had no future.

Zhong Yingqi's mind flashed back to the sharp arrows Emperor Liang had ordered to be fired. If it weren't for Yuan Ming, he would still be here. No, as the commander of the military camp, his body should still be able to return to the Zhong family. But these people would have to stay here forever.

Zhong Yingqi clenched his fists. Why, after being in the army for so long, was he still not used to separations and deaths? Zhong Yingqi turned his head away and suddenly ran towards a lonely tent because Yuan Ming was lying inside.

The curtain was suddenly opened, and Jiang Kai and Ru Lan were both startled.

Zhong Yingqi didn't pay attention to the two of them. He only looked at Yuan Ming, with too many emotions in his eyes, and walked towards her step by step.

Yuan Ming's sleep was not peaceful, and even in his sleep he was mumbling to himself. Yuan Ming's lips moved, and the word "kill" appeared most frequently.

Kill this, kill that, I could even vaguely hear her say - kill myself.

Jiang Kai had always told Zhong Yingqi that Yuan Ming was too murderous, and Zhong Yingqi had previously thought that they just disliked each other. Now, looking back, Jiang Kai was indeed right.

The blood-stained path on the official road, the thrilling defense against arrows. Either way, it was a desperate act. Blood and murderous intent seemed to have been branded on Yuan Ming.

But Zhong Yingqi was still amazed at her heroic performance in battle against the enemy king, and he could not forget the glimpse he had of her in Yucheng. He thought Yuan Ming was as bright as spring, and he could not refute Jiang Kai's statement that she was too murderous.

Zhong Yingqi stared at Yuan Ming with fascination, the doubts he'd been grappling with about life and death crystallized in her. He suddenly felt a loss of control, as if something was causing his heart to beat wildly. He was nervous, yet also relieved, a feeling he clung to, unable to extricate himself.

…

In the capital, news of Yuan Zi's attack on the military camp spread throughout the palace. Hearing that the Liang soldiers had launched the surprise attack, rumors spread that the two countries were about to go to war.

The empress no longer hung out with her close male friends and rushed to Yuanzi's bedroom. As soon as she arrived at the door, she saw another distinguished guest - Prime Minister Wen Cunxiao.

The empress narrowed her eyes slightly. She had only one evaluation of Wen Cunxiao: he was a ruthless man.

When Wen Cunxiao saw the empress bow, a hint of indifference crossed his brows. Although he was bowing, his expression was inviolable and indifferent, which was a waste of his good looks.

The Empress was born to be in conflict with such people. She had fought with the former Prime Minister for most of her life, and finally, three years ago, when he resigned and returned home, she thoroughly cleaned up his influence in the court and arrested a large number of corrupt officials. But who would have thought that Wen Cunxiao would suddenly appear.

Speaking of Wen Cunxiao's path to promotion, the empress was furious. After all, he was a noble young man raised by a big family, and his ascension to the position of prime minister was also the result of the game between the empress and many families.

However, the empress was not satisfied with the result. She had tried to make things difficult for the young prime minister in the past three years. However, the young man's position became more stable.

The empress withdrew her gaze and cursed the Grand Marshal and the Imperial Censor in her heart. They were such cowards that even two of them against one could not check and balance the Prime Minister.

The empress strode forward and passed by Wen Cunxiao, who was bowing, without making any eye contact.

"Yuanzi, come out and tell me what needs to be said."

As the empress stepped in, the burning incense ashes in the room shook.

"Mother, you are in such good spirits. It seems that the young men my daughter found before really pleased you."

Yuan Zi was lying on her side on the bed, looking like she had just woken up.

The Empress didn't play dumb with Yuan Zi and asked directly, "What's the situation in the Northern Frontier military camp?"

"Zhong Yingqi guessed right."

The Empress was stunned. "Is Liang really going to war? What does the newly appointed Emperor Liang think?"

Yuan Zi slowly stood up, put on a soft white robe, and said slowly, "If Zhong Yingqi is still alive, the military camp letter should reach the capital by tomorrow. As the commander-in-chief, he can explain it more clearly. If he is dead, the Zhong family should go to the front line to collect his body after tomorrow."

Yuan Zi's indifferent attitude completely angered the empress.

"Yuan Zi, I am still the Queen of Qi Kingdom, and you are talking to me like this now!"

The empress raised her tone, and her whole body exuded majesty without even being angry.

"Don't take advantage of the fact that you are my only heir and act lawless. Don't even know how to write down the rules of respect and inferiority."

Yuan Zi looked at the Empress impatiently, her tone gloomy, "How could that be? Mother, you're being too kind. I just narrowly escaped death and was frightened. The first thing Mother did when she arrived was to ask about official matters, without even asking about her own well-being. Is this the same with Yuan Ming?"

The Empress ignored Yuan Zi's question and said, "Now, tell me everything you know and don't get angry over such a big thing."

"My daughter is throwing a tantrum? Ha!" Yuan Zi almost rolled her eyes. "What's there to say about this? How can I describe how miserable my daughter was hiding from the enemy's attack? Tomorrow, we have to give an explanation as to whether Zhong Yingqi is dead or alive. With only a day or two left, I don't think Liang State would dare to rashly send troops. A war always needs a legitimate reason."

The Empress looked at Yuan Zi as if she were a fool. "Did the enemy inform you of the attack this time?"

“…”

"Hurry up and tell me, don't blame me for spanking you."

Yuan Zi suppressed her anger and told the empress everything she had seen and heard. After listening, the empress left on her own without saying a word to Yuan Zi.

At this time, the palace maid who had just replaced Songlan handed Yuanzi a cup of her favorite hot tea.

Unfortunately, the maid thought serving the heir to the throne was a great job, and she approached with a smile. However, Yuan Zi, who felt slighted by the empress, angrily kicked her away. The hot tea spilled onto the maid's hand, causing it to swell and blister instantly.

"Get out of here, you little dog slave!"

Yuan Zi clenched her hands into fists, her knuckles turning white from exerting too much force.

Ignoring the pain, the palace maid crawled out of the bedroom, but unexpectedly, she ran into the prime minister who was waiting outside the palace.

The palace maid was so sad that she wanted to cry but had no tears. She stretched out her trembling hands and respectfully saluted the Prime Minister.

Wen Cunxiao didn't make things difficult for her, but his tone wasn't particularly gentle either. He just said, "Go away."

He looked into the brightly lit hall, thinking he'd have to wait a bit longer. The Empress had just left when the maid was driven out. Her Highness was furious, and he didn't want to risk her.

Half an hour later, Wen Cunxiao slowly walked into the hall. As soon as he entered, he saw that the princess was surrounded by porcelain fragments and scraps of paper. She must have thrown everything she could smash or tear on the ground.

Wen Cunxiao ignored the mess and said calmly, "Greetings to Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Yuan Zi raised her eyelids and said in a bad tone, "Are you here to get information too?"

"I came to visit you at night because rumors were spreading throughout the court, causing panic among the ministers. Therefore, I came to ask Your Highness to explain my trip to the Northern Frontier so that I can calm people's hearts as soon as possible."

Yuan Zi tilted her head. "Mother just came to ask me about this. She had a frown on her face when she came. She must have seen you outside the hall. Why didn't you come in with me?"

"..." Wen Cunxiao pretended to be unable to answer for a moment, and slowly said: "Your Majesty does not like his subjects, and I dare not displease His Majesty, so I waited outside the palace for a long time in the cold wind."

"Oh, you're afraid of displeasing your mother, but you're not afraid of displeasing me. Prime Minister Wen is very perceptive."

Wen Cunxiao was speechless. After all the trouble he had done, he still offended Yuan Zi.

Yuan Zi changed the subject, "Prime Minister, you came here today not only to learn about the battle situation on the front lines, right? I really can't believe that Prime Minister Wen, who remained calm in the face of a catastrophe, would be so impatient as to come to me for information. I have many of your spies around me, wouldn't it be more direct to ask them? Could it be..."

Yuan Zi's lips curled up. "Someone must be making the Prime Minister sleepless, so he can't wait to get news about her. Who could it be? It's so hard to guess."

Wen Cunxiao didn't move, and Yuan Zi became even more excited. She walked to Wen Cunxiao with a smile, and circled around him like an innocent little girl who saw something strange.

Wen Cunxiao was not surprised and let Yuan Zi tease him.

Yuan Zi didn't get any response from Wen Cunxiao's expression, and suddenly felt bored, so she returned to her chair in a sickly manner.

When Wen Cunxiao thought the princess had had enough fun and was about to follow his plan to trick her into talking, Yuan Zi suddenly said, "Yuan Ming."

Wen Cunxiao's face, which had always been as cold as ice, cracked a little when Yuan Ming's name appeared.

Yuan Zi took in his expression clearly, and a look of triumph hung on her face.