Chapter 67: Yuan Qi Has No Way to Eliminate It
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuying turned back to look at Zheng Yangzhi again.
She couldn't bear it after all, and forced a smile at him, saying, "Never mind, I was just kidding."
She softened her tone as much as possible to let him know that she did not mean to tease or mock him.
Zheng Yangzhi stared for a moment, then twitched the corners of his mouth and let out an exaggerated sigh of relief.
Wang Yuying nodded to him again as a farewell, then turned around and continued walking towards the Ministry of War.
As Zheng Yangzhi watched her retreating figure, his relaxed expression turned serious. The initial joy and regret in his heart had long since receded like the tide, leaving only deep worry.
Wang Yuying first returned to the council hall to record the information, and then went to the warm pavilion to meet the emperor.
Just as he was about to bow and ask the two eunuchs guarding outside to announce his arrival, the young eunuch interrupted, saying, "His Majesty has instructed that there is no need to announce Lord Wang's arrival."
As he spoke, he opened the door for her. The northwest wind rushed in from outside, and the wisps of sandalwood incense mixed with the charcoal brazier wafted out.
Wang Yuying stepped over the threshold and looked into the distance. She saw a long table made of huanghuali wood temporarily serving as the emperor's desk. The emperor had already put down his pen and was looking down at the doorway, waiting for their eyes to meet.
Wang Yuying shifted her gaze and presented the list in her hand: "This year's martial arts examination has concluded. The examination consisted of three sessions, all following the ancestral system. The students practiced martial arts at the training ground, and eighty candidates were selected. Zhao Dingrong from Liangzhou, Bi Pan from Yizhou, and Zhang Dacheng from Huainan were the top three."
Qingfu ran over to receive it and presented it to the emperor.
Xu Heng skimmed through the text and set it aside. Before he could offer any words of sympathy or praise for his hard work, Wang Yuying pressed him, "Has the Northern Barbarians made any unusual moves?"
Xu Heng glanced at the edge of the table: "Sit down first."
Qingfu immediately moved a matching huanghuali chair to the table, so that he could face the emperor, separated by a table.
Wang Yuying stood quietly, while the emperor pushed a stack of memorials beside him to the side of the chair. Only then did Wang Yuying step forward and sit down, and Qingfu immediately brought her a cup of Sparrow Tongue tea.
Hearing the noise, Wang Yuying didn't even glance at her teacup. Instead, she picked up the pile of memorials and quickly browsed through them one by one. They were all reports from various prefectures and counties on receiving the returning Northern Di King. She noticed that the earliest one was from seven days ago and couldn't help but worry that the reply might not be timely and would delay important matters.
Xu Heng noticed her worry and explained, "I have already replied in time. These were specially copied for you."
Wang Yuying glanced at him, then flipped through the stack. It wasn't all memorials; there were also secret reports from her spies and informants. Things that were usually burned after reading had been saved up for seven days, but she had been left with them.
After reading through them all, Wang Yuying picked out a memorial, unfolded it, and handed it to Xu Heng, holding it between her thumb and forefinger: "There's a clue here."
Xu Heng also used two fingers to catch it. As soon as he touched the memorial, Wang Yuying let go. He glanced at her still-fading red fingernails and turned his attention back to the memorial.
“This passage says that the Di King was exhausted from his journey and was taciturn during the banquet,” she said, handing over another book. “And here it is: ‘The Northern Di King coughed, canceled the banquet, and went to the post station to rest early.’”
She took a deep breath before mentioning the name: "Actually, on the night Hugu Xumi left the capital, I sent Miss Chu to follow him. She saw the emperor change course midway and hide in the deep forest, only to reappear after a long time. So..." She looked at Xu Heng, paused for a moment, and decided to use the word "your subject" instead, "Your subject suspects that the Hugu Xumi being received by various prefectures and counties is no longer the real him."
Xu Heng picked up the Sparrow Tongue teacup beside him and took a small sip. Perhaps influenced by this, Wang Yuying also reached out her right hand to touch her own Sparrow Tongue teacup, but did not drink it. She simply pressed her hand against the side of the cup, and the heat of the hot tea quickly transferred to her fingertips.
"After all, back in the Northern Frontier, Hugu Xumi once disguised himself as a Han Chinese with black eyes and infiltrated the region, so he must be extremely skilled at disguise."
"How come I didn't know about this?" Xu Heng asked first, then put down his teacup.
"At that time, only I and Hugu Xumi met in the tavern; His Majesty was not present." Wang Yuying, concerned for her country, spoke frankly.
Xu Heng blinked, his eyes darkening.
"Therefore, I suspect that the real Hugu Xumi has already rushed back to the Northern Barbarians, and will then join forces with the tribute missions within the territory to launch a pincer attack and engulf the Northern Frontier." Wang Yuying said she was thirsty, but didn't bother to drink tea. "I've thought about this again and again for the past seven days. This time, when we reinforce the troops in the Northern Frontier, we must focus on deploying troops in several strategically advantageous locations..."
The map of the land that Xu Heng had shown her seemed to unfold slowly in her mind, with an invisible vermilion brush drawing circles on several high grounds, narrow passages, and the city walls.
Just as she was about to launch into her speech, Xu Heng suddenly unfolded an imperial edict, holding it between two fingers and handing it to her: "This is my order to reinforce troops. Take a look, is it reasonable?"
Wang Yuying quickly scanned the area, noting that all the reinforcements were marked with red circles. This time, she still felt a sense of helplessness, as if she had climbed to the top only to be caught in the net, but she felt no defeat, only relief and a sense of accomplishment.
A moment later, she emphasized: "As Sun Tzu said, 'When we concentrate our forces, the enemy divides them.' If we are truly surrounded, our army can choose a point that has not yet been attacked, break through swiftly, and open a breach at any cost."
“It won’t come to that.” Xu Heng said in a deep voice, “I have already issued an edict to all the prefectures and counties to confuse the Northern Di’s understanding. If there are real and fake Hugu Xumi as the vanguard and rearguard, the intelligence received by the two armies will definitely be contradictory. He has no advantage in distinguishing between the real and the fake. There is no need to break through any gaps. Just guard the northern border, set up ambushes, and make preparations. Once the war starts, pretend to be caught off guard, lure the enemy deep into our territory, and wipe them out when the Northern Di think they have joined forces.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuying hesitated for a long time before speaking again: "We should prepare more plans, such as 'internal operations and attacking from the inside'."
Xu Heng nodded.
Both men were familiar with the northern frontier, so they unfolded the map again and discussed the arrangements. After the winter solstice, the days grew shorter, and as darkness fell outside the window, palace lanterns were lit one after another. Xu Heng noticed this but remained silent until the water clock inside the room indicated three-quarters past 5 PM, at which point he casually said, "Let's have a simple meal here; there are still many things to discuss."
Wang Yuying nodded, and only then did she intend to drink some tea to quench her thirst. Qingfu, with his sharp eyes, immediately tried to pour out the cold tea and refill it with hot tea, but Wang Yuying stopped her in a hoarse voice: "It's okay, this is fine too."
She drank it all in one gulp, her throat still churning, and she was about to have another cup when she saw Xu Heng snatch the teapot from Qingfu's hand, pour the tea himself, and then order, "Go and brew a pot of snow pear and monk fruit tea."
Qingfu agreed and went to make the arrangements. Xu Heng turned to Wang Yuying: "Where were we? Continue."
"Speaking of military supplies and the Ministry of Revenue..."
Xu Heng nodded and continued his discussion with Wang Yuying. Time was of the essence, so dinner was simple: a bowl of noodle soup and some roasted mutton each. They didn't stand on ceremony and chatted as they ate, discussing how many troops from various regions could be sent to reinforce the northern frontier should war break out, and how many days it would take for each to arrive.
Not to mention Qingfu, who was watching from the sidelines and was stunned, doubting that the previous reports of passionate kisses were all fake, even Xu Heng himself couldn't help but feel confused, as if he were still in the Northern Frontier with her, when it got dark early, when they ate and talked heart to heart, and when they were even talking about how to "entertain" Hugu Xumi who was about to "visit".
It was so distorted. His temples were getting more and more swollen and painful. In a daze, he felt that after they finished talking, they would go to bed. He would boil a bucket of water for her to soak her feet before going to sleep, and he would sit next to her on a small stool. When the water was almost cold, he would pull her feet into his arms and wipe them.
But at the same time, Xu Heng was also clearly aware that these were all illusions. After they finished talking, no matter if it was windy or snowy, or how dark it was, she would definitely leave the palace.
They became ruler and subject, no longer husband and wife!
The thought suddenly popped into his head, and he couldn't help but shiver.
Wang Yuying noticed this, quickly glanced at the charcoal brazier, and then promptly looked away—was he cold? She didn't think so; she hadn't expected him to be so weak.
"Matters of importance come first," Wang Yuying said firmly. "The Northern Barbarians are wolves in sheep's clothing. Even if we can't find any fault with them right now, our army should conduct military exercises regularly to guard against unforeseen circumstances. If there is an emergency on the border, we can immediately send reinforcements. The imperial examination is still far away, and I also wish to participate in military training. I humbly request Your Majesty's decision."
Xu Heng was somewhat distracted, and he listened with a vague understanding, nodding slowly.
Wang Yuying, having received the agreement, cupped her hands in greeting and said, "It's getting late, so let's stop here for today. I'll take my leave now."
Xu Heng hesitated for a long time before finally uttering, "My dear minister, you have worked hard."
When Wang Yuying was about to say the word "love," she would raise her eyebrows and open her eyes wide.
Xu Heng continued, "It's too dark. I'll take you back."
"Xu Heng, don't go too far." Wang Yuying uttered each word clearly, her gaze turning icy cold again. The next moment, she stood up, the rosewood chair creaking as it was pushed backward.
Wang Yuying walked around the chair, resolutely leaving and never returning.
When she arrived home, it was past 7 PM. Everyone had left her dinner, but Wang Yuying waved her hand and said, "I've already eaten in the palace. Everyone should rest early."
After speaking, he went straight into the side room.
As the snow and frost fell, the lights were extinguished. Only Chu Ying, with her sharp ears, had long ago heard the sounds of horses' hooves and people's breathing at the alley entrance. She climbed over the wall and peered out, only to find it was Jing Ye. She then lowered the door and opened it: "Why are you here?"
Jing Ye dismounted, his brow furrowed with worry: "Ever since you came to see me last time, I've been uneasy, worried about Yingniang. I avoided coming for the past seven days, but today I managed to ask the Grand Commandant for two hours' leave to come and see her."
After hearing this, Chu Ying turned around and said, "You tie up your horse yourself, I'll go and inform them."
Jingye thanked him for his trouble and went to the stable. When he returned to the second courtyard, Chuying told him, "The young lady wants you to come in."
Jing Ye nodded, stepped over the railing, and in a few leaps and somersaults, reached the door of Wang Yuying's room.
There were no lights on inside, and it was pitch black from the outside. Jingye lowered his voice and asked, "Yingniang, are you asleep?"
The wind blew, causing the shadows of the trees outside the railing to sway, and the door opened a crack.
After Jingye went inside, he closed the door behind him and asked, "Yingniang, how have you been these days?" He added, "The people you asked me to send are keeping an eye on you. They've already followed you to Luozhou. I'll let you know as soon as there's anything unusual."
"good."
In the darkness, Jingye looked at her increasingly dark hair and couldn't help but ask again with concern, "Yingniang, are you alright?"
Wang Yuying raised her head, her gaze seemingly veiled in a hazy black gauze as she quietly observed Jing Ye. After a moment, she suddenly lifted the hem of his robe without a word and reached down to pull it down.
Jing Ye was stunned and surprised, but in an instant Wang Yuying had already grasped it.
Jing Ye quickly wrapped one arm around her back, leaned down and kissed her again and again in response, also trying to get himself to react as soon as possible. Wang Yuying was peeling off him and herself, and he sensed her impatience, so he carried her horizontally onto the bed.
He remembered her preferences and planned to give her a full comforting gesture first, pressing his lips to her neck and kissing her ear, while gently moving his hands. However, Wang Yuying did not behave as usual and pulled him up directly, skipping everything and heading straight to a certain place.
The movement was so fierce it could be described as brutal. Jing Ye felt a sharp pain and was momentarily stunned, but he decided to go along with her wishes. He said nothing, simply bracing himself with his elbows as he floated in the darkness.
After a cold winter night, both of them were covered in a fine layer of sweat. Jingye was about to carry her to wash, but she tugged at Jingye's shoulder, indicating that he should continue.
They buried the thorns and brambles again, working hard.
He was always persistent; even after the second performance ended at midnight, Wang Yuying still wouldn't let go.
"Do you want more?" Jingye asked hesitantly.
Wang Yuying tightened her ligature, using this as a form of response.
Jingye buried her again, but couldn't help worrying. His movements unconsciously slowed down, almost stopping: "Yingniang, you should rest early—"
Before she could finish speaking, she grabbed his shoulder and flipped him over, turning him upside down. Since he didn't want to, she would do it herself!
She galloped with all her might. In these days, she did not want to be sentimental or sentimental, nor did she allow herself to affect the martial arts examination and military affairs. She locked all her sadness, resentment and confusion in her heart, building a dam to block them out. As a result, she became more and more depressed and more and more painful... For eight whole days, she opened her eyes to the dawn.
She could have managed to hold on, but Zheng Yangzhi's words during the day triggered her to break down. She wanted to beat him up to vent her anger, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Later, she discussed with Xu Heng a hundred ways to kill Hugu, and finally completely collapsed, all the emotions she had locked up flowed out like a flood. She couldn't suppress them, couldn't fix them, and was almost going crazy pulling her hair... Her body was extremely exhausted, but she couldn't control herself and kept fighting, because in that brief moment her mind exploded with fireworks, and all the bad emotions were suppressed.
But in an instant, it couldn't be contained again, flowing endlessly.
So she greedily sought pleasure again and again.
At the same time, she felt she had regained control, dictating the rhythm and the ups and downs, and that she would make up for and obtain all the intimacy she had longed for, regretted, and lacked.
Jing Ye grimaced. It was too dry. He was only in pain. What about her... was she really happy to be so reckless?
In the darkness, he tried to make out her face, but it remained as blurry as a mask.
Wang Yuying sat down heavily again. Jing Ye was in great pain, but he only thought that she must be in even more pain, and blurted out: "Yingniang, you will get hurt if you do this!"
Wang Yuying seemed not to hear, repeating up and down like an empty wooden puppet, yet her leaping steps were in sync with her heartbeat.
Jing Ye gritted his teeth and knocked the man unconscious with a chop to the neck.
Wang Yuying's head lolled to the side and her body went limp. Jing Ye sat up just before she completely collapsed and pulled her into his arms.
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