Your Majesty, We’re Counting on You to Ruin the Country! 37

Chapter 37: The Frontier

The carriage jolted along. After Wen Ning’an lowered the curtain, the inside of the carriage immediately became dark. He leaned to the side, stroking Xingxing in his arms, while Ah Bai sat beside him, obediently folding a paper kite.

Xingxing seemed a little down, nestled in Wen Ning’an’s arms without moving. Perhaps it was because it had been separated from Liangliang.

Wen Ning’an helplessly rubbed Xingxing’s furry ears. He thought to himself, Usually, you’re bullied so miserably by Liangliang, always acting coquettishly and asking for my help, and you always have a little expression on your face as if you want to beat it up. Why are you so dejected now that you’re separated?

Why are you so dejected now that you’re separated…

Ah Bai presented the paper kite to Wen Ning’an as if it were a treasure and asked, “How long until we get to the place big brother mentioned? Big brother said… it’s called… Fengzhou!”

“It’s still far away.” Wen Ning’an pinched Ah Bai’s nose. “We have to pass through a few towns before we get to Fengzhou. After all, it’s at the end of Bei Miao. I’ve taught you this before, don’t forget. Don’t think you can skip your homework just because you’re out of the palace.”

Ah Bai pouted and nodded, continuing to fiddle with the small origami in his hand.

Seeing Ah Bai folding so earnestly, Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but smile. “Who taught you to fold these little things?”

Ah Bai replied, “The pretty big sister.”

During the few days Wen Ning’an was imprisoned by Feng Qi, it was Qin Zhaohuang who had stayed with Ah Bai, comforting him and telling him not to worry, and also teaching him many paper crafts.

Wen Ning’an smiled. “That was a big brother.”

And so, for the rest of the journey to Lizhou, Wen Ning’an was explaining to Ah Bai “why the big brother became a big sister but is still a big brother.”

The carriage passed through Lizhou, Fengzhou, and Lianzhou… After the scenery before them changed from maple forests and fertile land to yellow sand, Wen Ning’an switched to a horse and rode Wuying all the way to Fengzhou, which was located at the mouth of the wind and sand.

“General!”

Before he even got close to the city gate, which was built of sand and stone, the adjutants all came out to greet him.

“General! You’re back!” The big-hearted Ren Feiyang even threw himself at Wen Ning’an and slapped his shoulder hard.

“Now we’ve made it in time for tonight’s banquet!” another old adjutant said with a smiling shake of his head. Ah Bai looked at these generals in armor and the desolate, magnificent yellow sand all around. Although he had been on a carriage and horseback for several days, he didn’t feel tired at all, and his eyes were sparkling.

“Brother Wen.”

Only then did Wen Ning’an notice that Li Huaisheng was also standing in the group. Thinking of Li Huaisheng’s previous confession to him, Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but feel a little awkward. But Li Huaisheng didn’t seem to hold any reservations. When he looked at him, there was no strangeness in his eyes, and his smile was open and frank, as if the previous incident had been an illusion.

“Welcome back, Wen the God of War.”

Night fell in the palace, and the stars twinkled. Feng Qi was lying on a long bench in the courtyard, drinking. He felt that tonight’s moon seemed rounder and brighter than usual. The silver moonlight lit up the surroundings, but there were still places the moonlight couldn’t reach.

Qin Zhaohuang stood at the side. “Your Majesty, you can’t go on like this. You are the ruler of the world, and all the people…”

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by Feng Qi. “I let you come here to drink with me, not to listen to you preach. You’ve been saying the same thing for days. If you’re not tired, I’m annoyed.”

As he spoke, Feng Qi took another gulp of the strong wine. It was bitter going down.

Qin Zhaohuang looked helplessly at the disheveled Feng Qi, who reeked of alcohol, with dark circles under his eyes, so thin that his cheekbones protruded. It had only been a few days…

“General Wen is shedding his blood for you, for the world, for the people at the frontier. Your Majesty must also do something.”

“So what if I do something? He’s not coming back… He’s gone…” Feng Qi’s eyes were filled with drunkenness and confusion.

Qin Zhaohuang sighed, took the wine pot, and also leaned against the long bench, sitting on the soft grass.

Unlike what outsiders thought, Feng Qi was actually a very poor drinker, while Wen Ning’an could hold his liquor very well. In the past, when the two of them drank together, it was always Feng Qi who got drunk first, so he had never liked to drink with Wen Ning’an. After all, he was always the one to make a fool of himself.

At this moment, Feng Qi was drunk.

“I’m going to die soon…”

Qin Zhaohuang was startled and immediately said, “Your Majesty, don’t say such inauspicious things. Your Majesty is blessed by the heavens and will live a long life.”

“I… am going to die soon…” Feng Qi smiled bitterly. “So this is how Yixin felt in the past… and that was for several years…”

Feng Qi drew his long sword and stood up unsteadily.

Swish—

Before Qin Zhaohuang could react, a strong wind rushed towards him. His long, dark hair flew everywhere, and the hem of his clothes was blown up. Qin Zhaohuang opened his eyes with some difficulty and saw Feng Qi standing in front of him, his back to him, practicing his sword. With no opponent and no enemy, Feng Qi swung his sword at the empty courtyard. The long, sharp sword glinted with a murderous light under the moonlight, like a swimming dragon.

Every move was deadly, his presence overwhelming. Feng Qi’s eyes were bloodshot, filled with madness. His whole body seemed to be shrouded in a golden light, and strange golden patterns slowly appeared on his neck and wrists. His inner energy erupted from the long sword in his hand like a flood. For a moment, it was as if a storm had descended on the courtyard.

Feng Qi let out a low roar and leaped onto the stone table in the courtyard, splitting it with one strike.

With a “boom,” the stone table, which was connected to the ground, shattered into pieces, and the stone fragments flew everywhere with the sword qi. The untouched tea set and pastries on the table also met with disaster, crushed to dust.

Although Qin Zhaohuang was standing behind Feng Qi and at some distance, his cheeks still stung from the wind of the sword. He couldn’t help but cover his ears and cheeks and shrink beside the long bench. He thought to himself, Perhaps His Majesty is not as strong as he appears on the outside… Wen Ning’an had a family he cared for and protected, and comrades who fought and died with him. But Feng Qi only had Wen Ning’an.

With a “thud,” Feng Qi seemed to be exhausted and knelt on the ground. The sharp sword was deeply embedded in the ground. He panted heavily, letting the cold wind dry the sweat on his body. The skin on his palm was scraped, and fresh blood slowly flowed from the web of his thumb. Seeing this, Qin Zhaohuang was so startled that he called for Fu Che.

“If Yixin could come back, I would listen to him in everything…”

The moon was the only thing that didn’t change.

Tonight, the moon in Fengzhou at the frontier was also very round. The gentle moonlight and the countless bonfires, each taller than an adult man, complemented each other, illuminating the desert night.

The so-called banquet was not a formal and grand affair like in the capital or the palace. It was just the soldiers building bonfires on the sand and roasting meat under the open sky. The desert nights were cool, not to mention it was already autumn. At this time of year, to sit around a bonfire, take a few gulps of strong wine, and eat large mouthfuls of mutton was a true delicacy!

The sound of laughter and talking was incessant. One had to shout to be heard. When a strong wind blew, the thick smoke from the barbecue made one’s eyes water. The aroma of cooked meat filled the air. These were all good men who had fought on the battlefield, and they were not afraid that the smell would attract wolves or other beasts.

Wen Ning’an placed a few pieces of mutton with sauce on a plate and handed it to Ah Bai. He wasn’t worried about Xingxing anymore. For some reason, this little guy had become a mascot since coming here, and everyone was scrambling to feed it.

Looking around, Wen Ning’an indeed found the happily eating Xingxing in one corner. And before it was a small mountain of fragrant, juicy, and plump mutton.

The atmosphere gradually became more lively, and it seemed everyone was planning to stay up all night. Someone volunteered to sing a war song, and the singing and dancing were very lively.

“A tournament! A tournament!”

Ren Feiyang beat a bronze gong and shouted, “Let’s have a tournament! Which shameless one wants to start first!!”

A large, burly man immediately stood up and patted his chest. “If I lose a move, I’ll drink a jar!”

There was a chorus of cheers and boos.

Ren Feiyang immediately threw the bronze gong to someone else, rolled up his sleeves, and rushed at the large man, shouting, “Grandpa will make you kneel and beg for mercy today and take care of all the wine jars!”

Everyone was in a frenzy, shouting all around. Wen Ning’an had Ah Bai go to sleep first, but Ah Bai shook his head, his eyes never leaving Ren Feiyang and the large man.

Although Ren Feiyang was tall and thin, he was not weak. His body was light, and his moves were agile. He bent down and dodged the large man’s meteor hammer, and as the large man was pulling his hammer back, he hooked his leg.

With a loud thud, the large man fell face down on the sand, raising a cloud of dust. Before he could get up, the meteor hammer came crashing down on his head. The slightly drunk large man let out a cry and immediately fainted.

Everyone laughed so hard they were almost on the ground, clapping and cheering. Ren Feiyang spun around a few times, gloriously accepting the crowd’s applause, his posture affected and exaggerated, his face full of smugness.

Wen Ning’an smiled and shook his head, taking a few steps forward. “Next, I’ll go.”

With General Wen personally participating, the atmosphere instantly reached a climax. The cheers could be heard from ten miles away.

“Tonight, I will stand here for the whole night. Whoever in the Left Army can defeat me will be promoted one rank. If a brother from outside the Left Army wins, I will punish myself with ten jars.”

“Alright—”

Many soldiers, especially those from the Left Army, were eager to try, rubbing their hands and waiting to show their skills. Not only could they get guidance from the general, but they also had a chance to be promoted!

Wen Ning’an chuckled softly, not worried at all.

It was the same every year, and every year, no one could defeat him.

Not far away, Li Huaisheng looked at the subtle arrogance and sharpness hidden in Wen Ning’an’s gentle features and couldn’t help but be entranced.

“Come.” Wen Ning’an, dressed in a white robe, stood elegantly among the thousands of men, a victorious smile on his face, brighter than the moon in the sky.