Chapter 111 So well-behaved.
After standing there for a long time, Ji Chengning finally came to his senses.
Ji Lin watched as he stood up dazedly, his face expressionless, looking completely lost. He bowed to her as if his soul had left his body and was about to leave when Ji Lin grabbed his shoulder. "A-Tu, where are you going?"
"I, I," I said, looking at Ji Lin's pale face. I didn't know how I could say those words. Ji Chengning paused and said in a hoarse voice, "I haven't been back to the government office since I came back. I want to go and see the government office."
Ji Lin stared at him for a few seconds, then said, "Hmm."
When Ji Chengning left, he still felt lightheaded. He mounted his horse and rode off aimlessly.
A strong wind was blowing, stinging my face.
The air is getting increasingly humid; it will probably rain soon.
Ji Chengning was in a daze, not knowing where he was going. When he suddenly reined in his horse and stopped abruptly, he suddenly saw a large black door in front of him, with lanterns on both sides of the door swaying wildly in the wind.
"Splash, splash!"
yes……
Ji Chengnin blinked blankly.
"Creak—"
The door opened.
A glimmer of light suddenly shone through the otherwise pitch-black doorway.
It wasn't particularly dazzling; the man was still wearing his usual light gray robe. But at that moment, the world was dark and everything was gloomy. Only when he looked over did Ji Chengning feel a sharp pain in his heart, and his mind instantly returned to normal.
A strong wind blew, and the heavy rain that had been lingering for half a day finally began to fall.
The rain poured down.
Seeing that he was still sitting on his horse in a daze, Cui Yao quickly took the umbrella handed to him by the gatekeeper, stepped through the rain, and walked quickly to Ji Chengnin.
The latter's brow twitched slightly, and he took his hand before dismounting.
Cui Yao frowned.
The joy of seeing Ji Chengnin was largely dispelled by the young marquis's stunned reaction.
Cheng Ning, what happened?
Cui Yao shoved the umbrella handle into Ji Chengning's hand.
Ji Chengning didn't know what he was thinking. Since Cui Yao handed it to him, he took it.
"What are you doing back in this weather?" Cui Yao hurriedly took off her cloak, shook it, and wrapped it completely around Ji Chengning.
He touched Ji Chengnin's face with his palm, but felt that his hand was icy cold, and his brows furrowed even more.
He half-embraced and half-carried Ji Chengning towards the bedroom.
The torrential rain poured down, and a layer of white smoke rose from the courtyard.
Cui Yao put her arm around his shoulder and complained softly, "What business did the young master go on? The host didn't even offer you a guest on a rainy day? I could forgive anything else, but seeing that it was about to rain, they didn't even bother to bring you an umbrella?"
Ji Chengning stared at Cui Yao.
His cousin was talking a lot more than usual. He listened to her word by word, but he couldn't hear her very clearly. It was all hazy and indistinct, as if he were looking through a fog. But even so, he listened very attentively.
Ji Chengning stared intently at Cui Yao, then suddenly smiled.
“Because,” his voice was soft and hoarse, he didn’t even know what he was saying, “I’m waiting for A-Yao to come and pick me up.”
Cui Yao's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She resisted the urge to turn her head away, but the tips of her ears had already turned red.
He cursed himself for being so easily dismissed by Ji Chengnin's words, but barely managed to regain his composure and persisted, "What if I didn't pick you up?"
Ji Chengning was puzzled. "Then what is A-Yao doing waiting at the door?"
Cui Yao took a deep breath, and after a long while, she sneered coldly, raising her beautiful eyebrows and eyes, "You heartless woman who will leave after just one night of passion."
Ji Chengnin tilted his head. "I didn't."
A few strands of hair were stuck to the corners of his lips by the rain, like spider silk, and for some reason, Cui Yao found them to be quite pitiful and adorable.
Her little finger twitched slightly, and the hand gripping Ji Chengnin's shoulder tightened, pulling him into the bedroom.
Cui Yao was not afraid of the cold. His body temperature was lower than that of ordinary people, and he disliked heat. Therefore, his bedroom was always as cold as a snow cave. When Ji Chengning entered the room, he was surprised to feel a warm feeling on his face, as if it were spring.
Jasmine tea was burning inside the room, completely dispelling the charcoal fumes.
His numb body gradually regained sensation.
Cui Yao naturally went to take off his clothes.
Her fingers deftly removed the cloak, but the clothes underneath, damp with water, clung to her skin and were not so easy to take off.
In Cui Yao's eyes, it was just like a cat that had accidentally fallen into a pool.
Perhaps because of the cold, Ji Chengning's shoulders trembled slightly, and his usually bright and radiant eyes lowered pitifully.
Cui Yao couldn't say anything else; she was filled with love, pity, and anger all at once, and only focused on undressing Ji Chengning.
The wet clothes came off with a "splat" sound.
Cui Yao paused for a moment.
I glanced outside; although it was a rainy day, it was still daytime.
Bai Rixuan... What is he thinking!
He wanted to tell Ji Chengnin to take off his clothes himself, but the young marquis seemed to be out of his mind, just sitting on the couch staring at him.
Annoying.
But then, Cui Yao felt her fingertips burning, and she resisted the urge to stroke Ji Chengning's cheek. So sweet.
The usually unruly young marquis quietly let him do as he pleased, obediently raising his hand when told to, and tilting his head back when told to.
An extremely obedient and trusting demeanor.
Ji Chengning tilted his head back, revealing a beautifully taut neckline. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, making Cui Yao's fingertips itch.
It seemed that no matter what unreasonable request he made in the next moment, Ji Chengnin would obediently comply.
Cui Yao felt a mixture of pity and worry. She cupped the young marquis's face in her hands and saw that his eyes were red and misty with moisture.
I don't know if it was because the rain got into my eyes, or something else.
From the moment Ji Chengnin appeared before him, he could tell that something was wrong with Ji Chengnin; he seemed lost and disoriented.
But if the young marquis didn't mention it, he wouldn't ask.
Ji Chengnin's gaze slowly shifted to him.
His face was clearly reflected in his dark eyes.
Cui Yao's breathing suddenly became heavy.
So he lowered his head and moved closer very gently.
Ji Chengning first noticed a slight dampness.
Looking up, I saw a crimson dot right in front of me.
It was Cui Yao who stuck out her tongue and gently licked away his tears.
"Ah Yao," Ji Chengning said slowly.
Her tone was calm, but her long eyelashes trembled violently, making Cui Yao's lips even more numb.
Cui Yao's voice was soft, and her breath brushed against Ji Chengning's eyes.
"I'm here."
The next moment, the jade-like young marquis finally moved, reached out, held Cui Yao's nape, and gently kissed his lips.
Cui Yao was taken aback, and her worries deepened.
The Crown Prince is acting very strangely today. What's wrong with him?
But he still didn't ask anything, gently bit Ji Chengning's lower lip, and said softly, "Your Highness."
She ran her fingers through Ji Chengning's long hair, stroking it gently and soothingly.
The breath brushed against my lips, it tickled, but more than that, it gave me a real sense of being alive.
Ji Chengning looked at Cui Yao, only to hear the latter solemnly say, "No matter what happens, I will be there."
Even if one dies ten thousand times, it is still the same.
...
The next day.
Ji Chengning returned to his original official residence, and Cui Yao naturally went with him. Yesterday, Ji Chengning had seemed dazed and silent, and although he was better in the evening, he was still worried.
The Qinglu Guard's office was bustling with activity. One of the guards who hadn't gone with him said with a grin, "My lord, next time we go to war, you must take me with you. I'd even be willing to pull the mules and horses to carry our provisions."
"You're thinking about a next time for something like fighting?" Ji Chengning was both amused and annoyed, and slapped him on the head. "Go and stand guard."
The group laughed and joked. The young man who had spoken earlier said with a smile, "It's not that I'm looking forward to war. I'm mainly looking forward to making meritorious contributions and serving the court. After you led your men into the city, I went home and was scolded by my father. He kept saying how good men from other families could go to war with you, but I, the good-for-nothing, was left behind."
He was on his way to his post, but he didn't forget to sneak up to Ji Chengnin and make sure he was recognized. "My lord, I'm off now. My name is Wen Qingxiao. Please don't forget me, please don't forget me."
A colleague laughed and said, "The Marquis is so busy with affairs of state, how could he possibly remember you?"
"Don't think I didn't see you slipping those little name tags into the Marquis's study window. I just didn't want to call you out on it!"
"you!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Cui Yao's smile was very faint. Seeing that Ji Chengnin also smiled casually, she slowly felt relieved.
He got up and went to open the window.
It rained heavily yesterday.
Today the sky is a clear, bright blue, and the sunlight is shimmering.
Compared to the relaxed atmosphere inside the Qingluwei government office, the atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was exceptionally heavy.
At this moment, in the Imperial Study.
This morning, a military report delivered by Zhou Qing'an, the garrison commander of Changyang Pass, arrived by express courier. It was an extremely long letter, which, in short, stated: "The Yi tribes have been harassing our border people for years, abducting women and plundering their wealth and livestock. The people are filled with resentment. Recently, a major incident has occurred. Chu Ming, the garrison commander of the important border town of Suijin City, is incompetent. The Yi tribes abducted Chu Ming's close followers, then took him hostage, disguised themselves as his family members, and tricked his way into opening the city gates. Suijin City has fallen."
Finally, the letter stated: "Your Majesty, we have exerted all our strength and fought a hundred battles without retreating, but the barbarians are cunning and treacherous, and all our efforts have been in vain. I have heard from our spies that more than half of the people in the city have died or been wounded, their bodies have not been collected, and their property and food have long been looted. All the people of our dynasty are crying out for the court to send troops. Your Majesty, I humbly request your assistance. I know that I have failed in guarding the border. If peace comes in the future, I am willing to commit suicide to atone for my sins!"
The letter was passed around among the people.
The atmosphere in the entire imperial study was so somber that no one dared to look up.
After a long pause, the emperor's voice, devoid of emotion, came from the head of the table: "Gentlemen, what are your thoughts?"
The Minister of War immediately replied, "Your Majesty, the barbarians have been harassing our borders for more than a day or two. I believe we should immediately send troops to reclaim Suijincheng."
Someone agreed, saying, "Yes, I also think we should send troops, but..." He paused, looking rather hesitant.
If we win, then everyone will be happy.
But if we lose, the Yi tribes will realize that the Wei Dynasty is just an empty shell. After that, their disturbances will become more and more intense. What if the Yi tribes decide to move south because of this?
"Your Excellency makes it sound so easy. An army costs tens of thousands of taels of silver a day. If we were to send troops, where would we find the money?"
"If we don't send troops, are we just going to let the barbarians bully our people?" the Minister of War asked coldly.
"My lords, please calm down," the Minister of Revenue advised gently. "The matter of money is not difficult to discuss. I wonder who we can send out?"
After these words were spoken, the entire Imperial Study fell silent.
The barbarian tribes have been harassing the border for more than a day or two. At first, they would just rob some grain, cattle, sheep and horses in small groups and run away. Later, perhaps seeing that the court would rather tolerate it than escalate the matter into war, their ambition grew day by day, and they became more and more brazen. Now, they have even sent troops to occupy Suijin City!
Officials who had served during the early years of the emperor's reign all thought to themselves, "If only the Marquis of Yongning were here."
During the reign of Marquis Yongning, foreign states submitted to him, and there was no looting or plundering; the border people had not heard of war for many years.
Someone asked softly, "How is General Li?"
After all, the Marquis of Yongning was a student of General Li.
"The old general is almost eighty years old and has been retired at home for many years. How can he go to the battlefield?"
The atmosphere in the entire imperial study was gloomy and somber.
The emperor's gaze swept over the crowd with a gloomy expression.
waste.
He thought to himself, "They're all useless."
In these turbulent times, there isn't even a single person we can rely on.
Suddenly, that face flashed before the emperor's eyes—that face that haunted his midnight dreams, a face that both startled and haunted him.
His Adam's apple bobbed violently a few times as he forcefully suppressed the thought.
The emperor looked at his three princes, who had remained silent, and said, "Third prince, what do you say?"
All eyes immediately fell on the face of the Third Prince, Zhou Zhuo.
Zhou Zhuo had never been on the battlefield and knew nothing about military affairs, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "Your Majesty, I believe that Xiang Yuanzhi is steady and reliable enough to take on this great responsibility."
“Third brother, you’re wrong. This man is not fit for important tasks. Four years ago, when the rebellion was quelled in Anzhou, Xiang Yuan not only failed to defend the city, but also fled after the defeat, leaving the women and children of the city to suffer at the hands of the enemy. It can only be said that His Majesty is merciful that he was not killed. Hmph, you still want to appoint him?” Zhou Yan sneered. “You can’t just make such a fuss over public and private matters because this man is your brother-in-law!”
Zhou Zhuo suppressed his anger, "Second Brother's disparaging remarks about Xiang Yuanzhi must mean he already has someone better in mind."
Zhou Yan cupped his hands and said to the emperor, "Father, I recommend Han Qian as the commander-in-chief. He comes from a military family and is prudent and reliable. He will surely be able to retake Suijin City."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhou Zhuo sneered, "Han Qian is utterly mediocre. He only got to his current position because of his father's reputation."
"That's better than a small retreat at the last minute..."
The emperor, having reached his limit, shouted, "Shut up, all of you!"
"Bang!"
He slammed his hand on the table in the morning, causing everything on the table to shake violently.
The entire imperial study fell silent instantly.
The two princes reluctantly shut up.
The emperor glanced at him, "Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan and Zhou Zhuo were somewhat dismissive, thinking to themselves who else the fourth brother could recommend besides Ji Chengnin.
“Your Majesty, I am ignorant of military matters,” Zhou Yu said. “I do not know who is suitable, but I know that Ji Chengning is definitely not suitable. If Your Majesty is to send troops, you must not appoint this person as the commander-in-chief.”
Um?
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Zhou Yu in astonishment.
His Highness the Crown Prince and Young Master Ji are usually so close they're practically inseparable, so why didn't he recommend his own people today?
However, fighting the barbarian tribes is even more dangerous than suppressing a rebellion. Some court officials thought that His Highness the Crown Prince might not be willing to let Ji Chengning go, after weighing the pros and cons.
To be able to reclaim lost territory and wreak havoc on all sides is certainly a glorious achievement; to fail to do so is an unforgivable transgression.
The emperor narrowed his eyes. "Impossible?"
“Your Majesty, I believe that Ji Chengning has just returned to the capital victorious and is full of pride. If we send him to lead troops now, he is young and impetuous and may underestimate the enemy. Moreover, the barbarians are cunning and the young marquis has never dealt with them before. Furthermore…” He paused, “The old marquis died at the hands of the enemy. He has both national and personal grievances to bear. I fear he may act rashly.”
Zhou Yu analyzed each point systematically.
The ministers were all somewhat stunned, and then suddenly realized that there was no better place than this young marquis than Ji Chengning!
The phrase "full of pride" means that Ji Chengning and his soldiers are in high spirits and eager to press their advantage. Although Ji Chengning has never dealt with the barbarian tribes, did he ever go to the battlefield before suppressing the rebellion? Previously, people in the capital said that he was a disgraceful playboy. As for the old Marquis dying at the hands of the enemy, well—it's even better for the overall situation. This means that Ji Chengning is determined to be irreconcilable with the barbarians and will never be bought off.
Zhou Yu's every word seemed to criticize Ji Chengning, but upon closer examination, it was clear that he was presenting the best candidate in the world.
At this moment, inside the Qinglu Guard's office.
Ji Chengning suddenly sneezed.
“I told you you shouldn’t have ridden over yesterday,” Cui Yao said, but there was no blame in his tone. As he spoke, he placed his hand on Ji Chengning’s forehead and gently pressed it against his forehead.
Ji Chengning muttered, "No fever." Then, he chuckled and tugged at Cui Yao's sleeve, "Good Yao, you're getting more and more clingy these days. It's raining, not knives. Why are you acting like a little girl?"
Cui Yao raised an eyebrow.
Ji Chengning raised his hand and scratched his lips, making a shushing gesture, but before he could be quiet for a few seconds, his handsome lips curved up, "Besides, to see A Yao," he leaned closer, very affectionately, "I'd go even if it meant being stabbed in the back."
Cui Yao looked at him with a half-smile. She had heard Ji Chengning say sweet words countless times, and every time she heard them, she still felt a suffocating feeling of her heart pounding wildly.
He touched his loose hair, hooked his long finger around it, and circled it again and again.
Ji Chengnin rested his chin on his hand and said seriously, "Lately, I've been feeling like someone's been talking about me."
"Huh?" Cui Yao didn't hear clearly.
Before he could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar and quickly reached the door of the study. "Young Marquis."
Ji Chengnin quickly sat up straight, dusted off his official robes, and said, "Report on my recent visit."
Lu Zhong stepped forward and said urgently, "Young Marquis, someone from the palace has come and wants you to go there immediately!"
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