Chapter Thirty-Eight
"What is this?" Shu Rong asked, looking at the secret letter in the princess's hand.
Mo Yinghuo handed the letter to Gongliang Zhong, and Shu Rong leaned closer to read it. The letter was short, mainly describing the size of the Hu army.
"Princess, the Hu Kingdom isn't even ready to attack, yet you've already sent people to start investigating?" Shu Rong asked in surprise.
Mo Yinghuo raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"Was it intelligence sent by the Star Division?" Shu Rong asked curiously. As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a large "川" character in Gongliang Zhong's face and knew that he had asked something he shouldn't have.
Mo Yinghuo remained noncommittal, picking up on his previous question and glossing over it lightly, "I'm just sharpening my axe before chopping wood, finding out in advance so I can take down Old Hu in one fell swoop."
“Old Hu…” Zhao Shu felt a knot in his heart.
"General, I don't understand why the Hu Kingdom would suddenly attack the border of Yunxiu Kingdom?" Gongliang Zhong looked at the secret letter. The entire army of the Hu Kingdom was only half the size of the Yunzhao Army.
Mo Yinghuo pulled the broken frost from the table and tucked it into his waistband. "Because they're not stupid. They know that after Yunxiu Kingdom finishes off Xijin, they'll be next."
Shu Rong retorted defiantly, "Do you think they can defeat us? You're just a pathetic little country."
Mo Yinghuo: "Of course we can't win. The conditions proposed by Yunxiu Kingdom are not bad either. War between two countries is not like fighting with people. You can't rely on the blood and courage of one side to support you. The interests and losses of the people, the royal family, etc. must all be weighed. As expected, once Hu Kingdom and Dongliang Kingdom have dealt with the three tough nuts in front, these two helpless little dogs will definitely surrender without a fight."
Gongliang Zhong and Shu Rong nodded in agreement; they had also speculated in the same way. However, the sudden attack by the Hu Kingdom on the border of Yunxiu Kingdom was indeed somewhat unexpected. But upon reflection, it was understandable; the Hu Kingdom's actions must have been aided by the Western Jin court.
Mo Yinghuo looked at the two of them, knowing that they had already guessed the general situation. "I ask you two, if you were the King of Hu, would you send troops to help Xijin attack Yunxiu Kingdom?"
Gongliang Zhong and Shurong exchanged glances, clearly not expecting the Princess to suddenly ask such a question.
Standing to the side, Zhao Shu tapped his fingers lightly on the table, seemingly deep in thought.
Shu Rong said somewhat uncertainly, "Probably."
Gongliang Zhong frowned, then nodded somewhat uncertainly.
In a casual glance, Zhao Shu saw Mo Yinghuo's dark eyes, deep as the night, and he suddenly remembered the innocent young man with a book and a leaf just now, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
“As I just said, wars between nations are not just like fights between people. However, don’t forget that wars between nations are always fought by people. Since they are fought by people, we must also consider some common sense,” Mo Yinghuo said slowly.
Zhao Shu stopped what he was doing, as if he had suddenly realized something.
Gongliang Zhong and Shurong looked at each other, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Mo Yinghuo: "Since Xijin needs Huguo's help, Huguo must be able to guess that Xijin is no match for Yunxiuguo, or at least at a disadvantage. One should always leave oneself a way out. Do you really think Huguo is pure and innocent?"
Gongliang Zhong suddenly realized, "General, you mean that the Hu Kingdom will not actually send troops to attack the border of the Yunxiu Kingdom."
Shu Rong clapped her hands excitedly, "They will fight, but they won't fight with all their might. If the Western Jin battlefield is favorable, Hu will take the opportunity to attack Yunxiu; once Western Jin suffers a defeat, Hu will probably withdraw its troops immediately. Right now, they are observing."
Mo Yinghuo turned slightly to the side, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, which landed precisely on the spot where Zhao Shu's fingers had just tapped.
Zhao Shu was stunned for a moment, and then heard Mo Yinghuo's clear voice in his ear.
"Hmm, not bad. The Hu Kingdom wouldn't be so presumptuous as to start a war with the Yunxiu Kingdom. When the Xijin Kingdom is defeated and they intend to surrender, it will be easier to explain to the Yunxiu Kingdom," Mo Yinghuo said calmly.
Suddenly, the tent door opened, and Zhao Shu glanced at them. It was the two spies from Chen City. He had overheard Mo Yinghuo's conversation with the two and knew that they were members of a secret organization in Yunxiu Kingdom, specializing in investigating Shiling Kingdom, and only taking orders from the emperor and princess of Yunxiu Kingdom.
“General, just as you predicted, half of the Hu Kingdom’s army is stationed on the border between the two countries. However, they only come to harass us occasionally, and there is no sign of a large-scale attack.” The thinner scout said, bowing.
Mo Yinghuo nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "Well, you can help me write a letter to Marquis Beiding and tell him the truth about the situation here in Yunzhao Army, so that he can also know about it."
"Yes." After saying that, the two spies left.
Gongliang Zhong and Shu Rong stared at Mo Yinghuo for a moment. Mo Yinghuo rubbed his temples and chuckled rather unkindly, saying, "Better safe than sorry, better safe than sorry." Then, half-jokingly, he approached Gongliang Zhong and Shu Rong and teased, "Granny Shen wrote to me saying that the court is as usual, and... Yanxi Tower has brewed a new kind of fine liquor, and several new girls from Jiangnan have arrived. They are said to be gentle and talented. Once we deal with Xijin, Huguo and Dongliang will be no problem. Then the three of us can go to Yanxi Tower for a good drink and have some fun."
Gongliang Zhong frowned and said, "With war going on, why would Granny Shen write to you about these things? Besides, you are a woman... growing old is not a good thing."
Shu Rong, standing to the side, suppressed a laugh and said, "Isn't this what our General ordered? He's in Cao Cao's camp but his heart is with Han."
...
Zhao Shu listened quietly, giving Mo Yinghuo a meaningful look from beginning to end. He suddenly realized that the person he was holding in his palm seemed to have been trying to maintain a respectful and unapproachable attitude towards him these days. So, the occasional casual and unrestrained behavior was not intentional or unintentional, but simply because he liked to play and have fun.
Suddenly, everything went dark. Zhao Shu felt a tightness in his palm and quickly looked to his side. He saw that Mo Yinghuo's eyes were tightly closed, with veins slightly visible around them. His lips were bitten so hard that blood was seeping out, and cold sweat was constantly seeping from his forehead, with a few drops falling onto the back of his hand.
"Oh no, her body can't withstand the wormhole's gravity." Zhao Shu reacted immediately, pulling him away and placing a hand on the back of his neck. Instantly, a chill ran through his palm and into his body. Without thinking twice, Zhao Shu lowered his head, their brows touching. A gentle, warm current flowed through Mo Yinghuo's brow, awakening within his entire body, allowing him to withstand the immense, almost tearing-to-tear gravity of the wormhole together.
In a short while, the two of them were standing firmly on the ground.
"That was close," Zhao Shu said softly. As soon as he relaxed, he noticed that Mo Yinghuo, who was standing in front of him, was already soaked in sweat, his eyes still closed. However, the unbearable discomfort on his face just now had disappeared. If it weren't for his wet body, one would have thought that he was just asleep.
Zhao Shu suddenly didn't know how to react. The fair and slender hand was still in his palm. The hand that had just been gently stroking the neck hadn't exerted much force. He could only let the person in front of him, who had fallen into a coma due to exhaustion, slowly brush across his palm and slowly fall to the ground.
To help or not to help?
Zhao Shu felt a surge of inner turmoil, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, a wave of heat and hesitation washing over him. He watched helplessly as the person before him swayed unsteadily, about to collapse to the ground.
Amidst flashes of lightning, just as Mo Yinghuo was about to crash to the ground, Zhao Shu pulled her forcefully, and Mo Yinghuo landed steadily in Zhao Shu's arms. Zhao Shu then quickly and slowly extended his other hand, wrapping his arms around Mo Yinghuo's waist and abdomen with a combination of tightness and looseness.
Lightly, Mo Yinghuo's cold, damp lips touched Zhao Shu's neck. He felt a jolt, his pupils dilating and then contracting, and he gasped heavily. Unconsciously, Mo Yinghuo buried his head deep into that hot, powerful chest. Instantly, Zhao Shu staggered, as if all his strength had been drained away. His legs went weak, but the grip on the person in his arms remained firm, and he carefully knelt on one knee.
A faint scent of sandalwood drifted into the room on a gentle breeze, creating a serene and beautiful atmosphere. Moonlight streamed through the intricately carved window frames, casting a tranquil glow upon the two figures. A calligraphy scroll hung on the wall, its four youthful and elegant characters—"Clouds disperse, moon shines bright"—blending harmoniously into the room.
Not far away, there was a table with an elegant antique wooden pen holder on it, containing three or five purple-tipped brushes. Several books were neatly arranged on the upper left of the table, and next to the books was an incense burner. A faint fragrance wafted from the incense burner, mixed with a slight sandalwood scent, which was refreshing and pleasant.
Beside the incense burner is an hourglass made of sandalwood, with flowing sand settling still in a transparent glass container below. Near the window lattice is a soft wooden bed with delicate carvings, and on the couch lies a brocade quilt.
The entire room exudes a refined and elegant scholarly atmosphere, luxurious yet tasteful. The spacious room is sparsely furnished, giving it a clean and uncluttered feel, yet it's clear that this is not an ordinary family's residence. Upon closer inspection, one discovers that although the room is exceptionally tidy, it lacks any sign of human presence, having obviously been vacant for several years.
This is the Princess's residence; the place where the two are is Mo Yinghuo's room. Since it was a temporary return to the capital, Mo Yinghuo had already told Zhao Shu that they would return to the residence first.
Meanwhile, in another part of the capital, inside the Imperial Palace, at the Shuqing Hall.
"Your Majesty, these are pastries sent by the Empress." The head steward ordered them to be presented and said with a beaming smile, "These are osmanthus cake, walnut shortbread, jujube paste shortbread, and peach blossom soup."
Emperor Zhaoming's eyes were gentle. He picked up a piece of jujube paste cake, took a small bite, and smiled, saying, "The Empress has always been very considerate. She remembers my tastes perfectly."
The head steward bowed slightly, his face kind and gentle. "Yes, this servant doesn't even have the Empress's memory."
Emperor Zhaoming chuckled and coughed lightly. "Chief Eunuch Pang, I almost choked on your words."
The head steward quickly brought the peach blossom soup to Emperor Zhaoming and said in a rambling tone, "This servant deserves to die. If Your Majesty chokes on it, I don't know how I will explain it to the Empress."
Emperor Zhaoming seemed to be in a good mood. He took the peach blossom soup from Steward Pang, scooped a spoonful into his mouth, and then said, "Steward Pang, do you remember? The Princess loved this peach blossom soup the most. I remember that every year on her birthday, my mother would personally make her a bowl. But..." He suddenly stopped and didn't continue.
The head steward understood immediately, knowing that the emperor was recalling painful memories from the past. He subtly picked up where the emperor left off, offering him a piece of osmanthus cake. "Yes, I remember," he said, "the princess also really liked peaches. I recall once when she and the young marquis Shu sneaked out of the palace, they passed by the mansion of a wealthy family in the capital and happened to smell the fragrance of peaches."
The head steward covered his mouth and chuckled, “Your Majesty, these two, one a dignified princess and the other the legitimate son of a marquis, just climbed over the wall to steal a few peaches and even got chased by dogs. Luckily, they hid in the Fourth Prince’s residence, and Your Majesty covered for them, so the matter was not leaked.”
Steward Pang's words clearly had an effect. Emperor Zhaoming's brows relaxed, and the past he had inadvertently recalled was playfully suppressed by the peaches. He took a few bites of the osmanthus cake and said happily, "Hmm, this osmanthus cake was made by the Empress herself. The Imperial Kitchen can't make this taste. By the way, Steward Pang, do you think that wealthy family would immediately offer incense and pray for blessings to that peach tree if they knew that the people they chased with their dogs were actually the Princess of Yunxiu Kingdom and Marquis Shu?"
"Of course we want it." Steward Pang picked up another piece of osmanthus cake and handed it to the Emperor, jokingly saying, "Her Majesty the Empress has delicate hands, and the things she makes are naturally full of love. They are definitely much sweeter than those from the Imperial Kitchen."
Emperor Zhaoming smiled, then seemed to remember something. Suddenly, his expression turned serious, and he asked, "Does the Imperial Uncle Yu still visit the palace frequently?"
The head eunuch noticed Emperor Zhaoming's expression and knew that the emperor's "entering the palace" referred to the inner palace. He nodded slightly and bowed, his face immediately becoming serious as the emperor's expression changed. "Your Majesty, yes, I did enter the palace yesterday. This servant heard from the eunuchs that the Imperial Uncle Yu secretly brought something to the Empress, and the Empress was in a good mood all day yesterday, with a smile on her lips the whole time."
Emperor Zhaoming said "Oh," and then ordered, "Go and find out what this imperial brother-in-law has brought to my empress this time."
The head steward breathed a slight sigh of relief. "This servant obeys the order and has already sent someone to secretly inquire."
Emperor Zhaoming nodded approvingly, then reminded him, "Remember, you must not reveal your identity. If the Empress finds out that someone is spying on him, you will have to apologize yourself. I will not clean up your mess."
The head eunuch hurriedly knelt down, "Your Majesty is the supreme ruler, what are you saying? If this is discovered, I will not say a word. You may kill or torture me as you see fit, it is up to the Empress."
In truth, like many ministers, he also greatly admired the virtuous and benevolent Empress. Even if she discovered he had placed someone by her side, the head eunuch knew she wouldn't make things too difficult for him. After all, he was the Emperor's man; what the Emperor couldn't do, he would naturally do. He believed the Empress, always so sensible, understood this as well. However, it was strange that the Empress, though knowing the Emperor didn't particularly like the Emperor's brother-in-law's frequent visits, never stopped him.
The Emperor had indeed lost his temper a few times, but the Empress's pitiful and sensible words were like a spring breeze blowing into his heart, instantly dispelling any trace of his anger. Indeed, if it weren't for the Imperial Uncle working tirelessly day and night on all sorts of dirty and tiring jobs during those days of wandering and hardship in foreign lands, the brother and sister would have starved to death on the streets long ago.
Suddenly, a eunuch entered, quietly whispered a few words in the ear of the head steward, and then left.
"Your Majesty, the Star Bureau requests an audience," said the head steward.
Emperor Zhaoming put down his spoon, waved his hand, and the head steward quickly cleared away all the snacks, then quietly retreated outside the door.
A man dressed in black, with an expressionless face and his hair neatly styled high, slowly walked in. He merely nodded politely to the head steward.
The head eunuch nodded politely to him. After all, he was the emperor's personal eunuch, and even if he didn't know this man well, he could guess that this man's identity was extraordinary. Every time, it was this man who took the initiative to request an audience, and when this man was present, the emperor would ask everyone else to leave. It couldn't be clearer that this man was handling extremely confidential matters for the emperor.
"Your Majesty, we have informed the Princess that he will be returning to the capital in the next few days," the man in black said, bowing.
Zhaoming stood up, walked to the window, where the bright moon hung high. Looking at the newly planted slender osmanthus tree outside, he asked, "This matter hasn't been leaked, has it?"
"Those two have been settled, and everyone who knew about this has been dealt with," the man in black replied.
Emperor Zhaoming: "Very good. Is the Eastern Liang Kingdom truly colluding with the Shi Ling Kingdom?"
The man in black said, "Yes, the Princess sent out two spies from the Wutai Division who reported that two megalithic formations have been discovered in both Dongliang Chencheng and Suzang. However, based on the Dongliang King's speculation, it is estimated that the Dongliang court is under the control of Shi Ling's people."
Emperor Zhaoming: "That's right, the eldest princess said the same thing."
The man in black said, "Your Majesty, our spies have reported that there are two very strange things inside the two Stonehenge structures."
"What is that?" Emperor Zhaoming's gaze suddenly turned unusually sharp.
The man in black remained calm and said, "A black jade urn and a white jade coffin."
Emperor Zhaoming frowned and asked coldly, "Where is that thing?"
The man in black said, "Your Majesty, a strange person named Zhao Shu has appeared beside the Princess. He is elusive and inseparable from her." He suddenly stopped, a strange look flashing across his face, a hint of admiration and praise in his expression. "This man is very unfathomable. The Princess has entrusted both of these matters to him."
Emperor Zhaoming seemed to have known of this person's existence all along. He gazed at the bright moon hanging high in the sky and said slowly, "The eldest princess wrote to me about this person. Just keep a close eye on him, but under no circumstances should he be harmed."
"Yes," the man in black replied, thinking to himself that probably no one in the entire Star Division could hurt him.
...
Since Mo Yinghuo went to war five years ago, the Princess's residence has been peaceful and quiet. The stark contrast between the desolate atmosphere and the bustling battles on the battlefield is unforgettable.
The moon shines dimly as people settle down, the fragrance fades, and the pillows and mats feel cool. [1]
Zhao Shu remained kneeling, gazing silently at Mo Yinghuo, who lay unconscious in his arms from exhaustion, for a long, long time. His hands and feet were numb, yet he dared not move an inch. He tried to stand up but didn't know how, and his gaze was fixed on the person in his arms, no matter what.
Having just endured the gravitational pull of the wormhole, Mo Yinghuo's entire body was struggling against it, and was soaked with sweat. His white robes, which were already thin, clung tightly to his body despite being soaked, revealing his slender collarbone through the slightly open front.
Zhao Shu's hand remained around Mo Yinghuo's waist, cold sweat seeping through the thin white clothing and seeping into his skin. Since entering the wormhole, he had never let go of her hand. Suddenly, Zhao Shu felt a surge of fervor, gripping Mo Yinghuo's cold hand tightly, his eyes fixed on her delicate, picturesque profile.
The gentle moonlight caressed her smooth, glossy neck; her eyelashes were damp with sweat; her lips were red and moist from being bitten; a few beads of sweat glistened on her nose; her breathing was barely audible; her damp white clothes clung to her slightly heaving chest, slender waist, and long legs...
Suddenly, Zhao Shu tensed, unable to bear looking any further. He suppressed his rapid, disordered breathing, turned half his face to the side, his expression cold and stern, loosened his tightly clenched hands, and with a surge of strength, lifted Mo Yinghuo up. Mo Yinghuo's face rested against Zhao Shu's chest, the vermilion mole on her brow appearing exceptionally crimson in the moonlight, burning intensely against the distant light that the person above was trying to avert.
Then, Zhao Shu walked slowly and gently, as if afraid of disturbing the person in his arms, toward the bed not far away.
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