Jiang Xingyan, exasperated, pushed hard against the increasingly bold Yun Chunfeng.
“No way.”
Yun Chunfeng didn’t let go. Instead, he rolled with her, tumbling them both several times across the ground.
The dreamscape obligingly transformed into a vast, open grassland.
The scent of fresh grass filled the air around them.
Jiang Xingyan cupped Yun Chunfeng’s face, leaned in, and planted a solemn, earnest kiss upon his lips.
It was a kiss that made Yun Chunfeng’s heart tremble and his mind reel.
All his earlier bravado instantly evaporated.
He turned utterly inexperienced and shy, truly living up to the title of an untouched youth.
Jiang Xingyan wasn’t faring much better herself, her cheeks burning as red as fiery sunset clouds.
She gazed earnestly into his peach-blossom eyes that shimmered like starlight. “Brother Yun, you can rest assured.”
Yun Chunfeng stared at her, dazed.
After a long moment, a tearful smile broke through. “Okay!”
His life… it was all worth it.
A teardrop fell onto Jiang Xingyan’s cheek. She reached up to wipe it away, but just then, the sound of the fourth watch’s clapper echoed.
Her consciousness hadn’t fully returned, yet her body sat up on its own.
“Young Miss, drink some tea to sober up.”
Groping vaguely, she took the sobering tea Qiu Yan offered, her heart filled with frustration.
Waking up when she shouldn’t, and not waking up when she should.
Truly, just as detestable as Huo Ci himself!
“Qiu Yan, tell Wang Qi to send him back to the General’s Manor!”
Qiu Yan: Sigh, that one has managed to offend the Young Miss again.
What else can you say but… serves him right?
——-
“How utterly unreasonable!”
Smack!
Xiao Ao heavily threw the silk missive bearing the Great Xia seal onto the floor.
Su Sheng hurriedly scrambled to pick it up, dutifully dusting it off.
Great Xia’s territory was far larger than Western Zhou and Northern Luo combined. It was prosperous, with powerful armies and sturdy horses.
Even twenty years ago, when the struggle for the throne among nine princes had left it battered and unstable, it was like a centipede that refuses to die—a force none of them could afford to provoke.
Now, under the rule of the eventual victor, Shangguan Yiyun, it was even more administratively efficient and prosperous than before, making it even harder to catch up.
If they gave Great Xia any pretext, could wiping out a country not be done in the snap of a finger?
“Mediation last time, mediation this time! Must they always mediate from the sidelines?”
Xiao Ao was truly furious.
He had just ordered the seizure of all Northern Luo merchant caravans, confiscating all their goods.
Northern Luo promptly sent over a letter of apology.
It stated plainly that everything was solely the doing of Tuoba Hongxue, who had disregarded the friendship between the two nations and, for his own selfish desires, encroached on Western Zhou’s borders.
The Northern Luo King wrote in the apology: ‘I have already had the young Tuoba punished with one hundred strokes of the rod and fifty lashes of the whip. He is now bound and delivered to Western Zhou by my envoy to await your judgment.
I earnestly hope Your Majesty, in consideration of the amicable relations and mutual benefit between our peoples, will show mercy and allow the Northern Luo merchant caravans to return. My gratitude would be boundless.’
It was followed by a long list of tribute items prepared as compensation.
The sincere tone and generous reparations in the letter had greatly satisfied Xiao Ao.
He had even drafted a pardon edict, only to find out that Northern Luo, fearing Western Zhou’s refusal, had simultaneously sought Great Xia’s intervention.
This changed the nature of the apology into something more like coercion and bribery.
It left Xiao Ao in a difficult position, unable to advance or retreat.
The more Xiao Ao thought about it, the angrier he became.
Last time, when Northern Luo was nearly wiped out by Huo Ci, it was also Great Xia’s meddling that gave Northern Luo a chance to catch its breath, leaving behind a tremendous hidden danger.
Were they trying the same trick again?
Why were they so biased towards Northern Luo?!
“Minister Huo, what is your view?”
“Hmm…”
Jiang Xingyan was still woozy after two bowls of sobering soup. Keeping herself from falling asleep was a struggle, let alone engaging in complex thought.
Before Xiao Ao could erupt, Yun Chunfeng smoothly interjected. “This humble one believes that for Northern Luo to humble itself so deeply, even offering Tuoba Hongxue as a hostage, indicates they have grand designs. We absolutely must not let our guard down.
It would be better to hold firm, not only refusing to release the caravans but also dealing with them severely.
We can wait and see when the Great Xia envoy arrives before making further plans.”
Looking at Yun Chunfeng’s utterly serious expression, Xiao Ao was both angry and amused.
Did I ask you?
Not long ago, you and Huo Ci were nearly coming to blows in court. Why are you so quick to defend him now?
Don’t think I don’t know how wildly Huo Ci was carousing in the military camp last night!
Xiao Ao snorted coldly but ultimately didn’t press the matter.
After all, he still had to rely on someone!
“Enough, enough. All of you, stay alert!
If anyone neglects their duties due to drinking again, I will not be lenient!”
Jiang Xingyan swayed unsteadily as she followed the other officials in kneeling and bowing. “We heed Your Majesty’s instruction!”
Seeing “him” in such a dazed state, Xiao Ao couldn’t take it anymore. “Drag Huo Ci out and give him twenty heavy strokes of the cane!
If he’s still not sober, give him twenty more!”
——-
Hiss!
Huo Ci was jolted awake by the pain.
Why did it feel like someone was fiercely spanking him?!
He snapped his eyes open. Before him was a patch of bright yellow.
Reaching out, he grabbed it—a talisman paper crumpled in his hand.
His body instantly regained its freedom of movement.
What in the world?
This had to be Yun Chunfeng’s thing. Why was it stuck to his face?
The pain in his lower body grew sharper.
His heart lurched. Had he injured A-Yan while drunk last night?
Sitting up, he saw he was sleeping perfectly fine on the bed. Judging by the room’s furnishings, it was indeed the side chamber of the General Manor’s annex.
Then what was this rhythmic, cane-like pain all about?