Chapter Thirty-Five
At the northern camp of Yunxiu Kingdom, another kind of melancholy arose.
A horse neighs, and the last stars flutter the banner. [1] Sparse stars and pale moon, sorrowful clouds and hateful rain.
Marquis Beiding, clad in light armor, stood solemnly outside the tent, his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes gazed helplessly at the unchanging Milky Way, while Xu Yong and Suo Qian's words from this morning echoed in his ears: "General, the northern barbarians have attacked the border town again. The border people fought back fiercely, but more than a dozen border men have died under the barbarians' blades..."
A sigh, both powerless and profoundly deep, seeped into his half-gray hair, adding a few more strands to his already graying locks amidst the repeated flashes of silver light. In a few more years, he would be scattering his aging body, his heart burning with unwavering loyalty and courage, across the endless yellow sands of this frontier. So be it; at least he would have lived up to his promise to the late emperor, a promise to defend the border to the death, without having accomplished anything significant.
Marquis Beiding mounted his warhorse, which seemed much more delicate than the warhorses of the Yunzhao army. The sound of hooves clattered throughout the camp, and the patrolling and sentry soldiers were all on high alert, as if they were about to face a major battle, not daring to slacken their vigilance in the slightest.
The strictness with which the Marquis of Beiding disciplined his army was known to everyone in the court and among the common people.
They walked around and around. The Beida Camp was large, unlike the Yunzhao Army, which constantly changed camp locations due to war. The Marquis of Beiding showed no signs of sleepiness. The patrolling soldiers slowed their pace, seemingly unintentionally keeping pace with their general, perhaps seeing him like this for the first time. The Marquis of Beiding glanced at the patrolling soldiers seriously, immediately perking up. With a few words, he walked a short distance, his steps unsteady, before resuming his usual patrol rhythm. The sentry was much better off, sneaking off to feign concern for when the Marquis would return to his tent to rest.
Another lap...
Was this a preparation for fighting until dawn? The soldiers all understood and speculated in their hearts.
"General!" A bold voice broke the silence.
When Marquis Beiding heard Xu Yong's voice, he tightened the reins and waited for him ahead.
Now, there were two of them riding around the Beidaying camp. The general had company, and the soldiers quietly breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly becoming a little happier. That's always how it is at the border; the smallest, inexplicable event can add a touch of amusement to one's life.
The bright moon shines, and the Milky Way flows westward. Perhaps it's because people are always enveloped in the stillness of the night, their voices naturally lowered. Unfortunately, Xu Yong, the deputy general beside the Marquis of Beiding, always speaks in the same monotone.
"General, why aren't you resting? Are you having trouble sleeping like me?" Xu Yong's words almost reached the ears of all the soldiers around him.
The soldiers were seen patrolling, standing guard, and making various sentry posts, some with their ears perked up, but it didn't affect their duties.
Marquis Beiding was already used to the tone of his deputy, but realizing that what he might say later could cause trouble, he deliberately lowered his voice and said, "Xu Yong, speak softly."
Xu Yong immediately lowered his voice. Although he wasn't as shrewd as Suo Qian, he had learned to read people and situations over the years while guarding the strategic northern border of Yunxiu Kingdom alongside Suo Qian. Besides, he was a loyal subject, obeying orders without question. He glanced around and whispered, "General, are you like me, worried that the Princess will lead her troops here, and that's why you can't sleep?"
I had hoped to eavesdrop on the soldiers who were passing the long, boring nights on the frontier, but I had to withdraw my ears and go about my business.
Marquis Beiding shook his head, smiled wryly, and frowned, saying, "It's not that bad. It's just that now that the hidden dangers in the western, southern, and eastern parts of Yunxiu Kingdom have been eliminated, it would be very strange if Your Majesty were to remain inactive with the Northern Barbarians."
Xu Yong's voice was still not loud, "That's right, it's not like our Yunxiu Kingdom can't be defeated."
Yes, Xu Yong is right. Yunxiu Kingdom is not invincible. If His Majesty was worried about insufficient military strength before, now that the Yunzhao Army has been added, is there any possibility that they cannot win? Marquis Beiding thought to himself, and he looked north with some excitement, "We are just waiting for His Majesty's decree."
Xu Yong quietly approached Marquis Beiding and whispered, "My lord, will the eldest princess also be coming?"
Marquis Beiding turned his body slightly and glared at Xu Yong. "Why are you so close? You're so soft-spoken that even a mosquito couldn't hear you. The Princess is the commander of the Yunzhao Army. When the Yunzhao Army arrives, if she doesn't come, who will be in command?"
Xu Yong, bewildered by the sudden, inexplicable rage he had received from the usually stern and rarely angry man, sat blankly on the back of his horse, which had been swept by the dust as the Marquis of Beiding's mount turned around and drove off.
The stars twinkle, the moon shines brightly.
Under the same starry sky, inside the royal palace of the capital of Yunxiu Kingdom.
The Fourth Prince, Mo Wangshu, dressed in silver and vermilion, carried a white fan adorned with a beautiful and elegant flower. His slightly upturned peach blossom eyes held a smile as he gazed at the starry sky. He was a man of few words. During the late emperor's reign, the most favored princess was the eldest; the least favored, and even disliked, was none other than himself, the Fourth Prince—the son of a famous courtesan from the Drunken Flower Pavilion.
Clean-cut and ethereal, handsome and elegant, with a refined and otherworldly air, and a wealth of poetry and literature—this was the impression that the civil and military officials had always had of the Fourth Prince, who was almost never spoken and extremely quiet. His refined and frail appearance, lacking any ambition and only capable of writing poetry and couplets, completely unable to wield a sword or tame a galloping warhorse, was a source of constant contempt from the officials.
However, Mo Wangshu remained indifferent to all of this, taking it all for granted. He had once been filled with grief and resentment, but things had changed. The once beloved princess, the only one with whom he could compose poetry and share wine, was now a general on the battlefield, living a life of constant danger and uncertainty. The once peaceful second prince had become the emperor of Yunxiu, his elder brother a trusted minister, and his seventh brother stubbornly remained on the northern frontier with the Marquis of Beiding…
Life was fleeting. After the late emperor passed away, he suddenly felt that it would be a great joy if he could live out his lowly life peacefully and smoothly.
With poetry and prose as his companions, in his leisure time he would read a few books of poems and songs, and jot down a few intentional or unintentional creations. Mo Wangshu, with his gentle appearance and a carefree heart, lived a life of ease and contentment. Moreover, he had the eldest princess, who was not only his brother but also a rare confidante.
"Your Highness, you seem to be in a very good mood today." Xiao Hua, the personal maid, dressed in a light pink palace gown, gave a slight curtsy and said gracefully.
Mo Wangshu, still gazing at the vast sky, smiled politely and said, "I heard from my brother that the Princess will be returning to the capital in the next few days."
"Princess, Xiao Hua likes him the most." Bi Yu was just turning sixteen this year, with big eyes, an oval face, and a dignified demeanor. Her skin was neither too fair nor too dark, and her features were neither too delicate nor too plain. She couldn't hide her joy and continued excitedly, "Xiao Hua thinks that the Princess is not only beautiful, but also dashing in her silver armor. She is also the most humorous and the easiest to get along with."
"So, I'm not even as good-looking as the Princess." Mo Wangshu was clearly in a good mood tonight, and even joked with Xiao Hua, which was rare for him.
Xiao Hua's big, round eyes darted around. She covered her cherry-like mouth and said with a grin, "The prince is handsome too, but compared to the princess, he's missing something..." She tapped her head with her fingers, looking worried, racking her brains for that missing word.
"What's missing?" Mo Wangshu asked with a smile, showing no anger whatsoever.
"Hmm..." Xiao Hua racked her brains, but lacking in education, she didn't know how to express herself. She could only scratch her head, desperately searching for the few drops of ink that had accumulated in her mind over the years. Mo Wangshu wasn't in a hurry either. He stood aside, quietly watching the night sky, waiting idly.
"Lively." Xiao Hua used a vivid and descriptive word that she was quite satisfied with.
Mo Wangshu continued to gaze at the starry sky, neither denying nor admitting it.
Seeing that the prince didn't speak, Xiao Hua continued, "Ever since the eldest princess went to the battlefield, no one has come to the prince's mansion. It's been so quiet and deserted. When the eldest princess returns, she will come to the prince's mansion again, and it will be lively again."
Mo Wangshu regained her usual melancholy and gentle demeanor, closing the flower fan in her hand. "Even if the Princess returns, she is not only the Princess now, but also a general with outstanding military achievements. How could she have so much time to come to the mansion? Besides, she didn't come often before. She would only occasionally bring Shurong and escape from the palace, being chased by the guards, and hide here with me."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hua seemed to recall some amusing incidents from the past and chuckled, "Yes, and by the way, we could hide in the Prince's mansion and live off our savings."
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