Chapter 39: Taosha
Although they had previously received a secret report that the King of Youzhou was gathering troops and supplies and marching south towards Bei Miao’s “city gate,” Fengzhou, there had been no movement from the King of Youzhou for several days. The Fengzhou garrison thus had no reason to act, and there was peace and quiet for a few days.
Wen Ning’an discussed with the generals, constantly changing the distribution of troops and defensive formations according to the climate and terrain. Compared to the people of Youzhou, they, who considered this yellow sand their second home, knew the desert like the back of their hand. They knew when there would be a sandstorm, where the sand dunes and quicksand were, all of it clear in their minds. Mastering the terrain was also their advantage, and Wen Ning’an planned to use this advantage to the fullest.
This day, Ren Feiyang pulled Wen Ning’an to ride to a small town not far from Fengzhou, saying that the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching and he wanted to buy a gift for Fang Qingqing. Their conversation was overheard by Li Huaisheng, so he also went with them, saying he also needed to do some shopping.
The three of them left the military camp on horseback before the sun had fully risen. By the time they arrived at Taosha City, the sun was already high and warm.
Taosha City was a small town with a small population, but though the sparrow is small, it has all its vital organs. The streets were occasionally bustling with people, and there were scattered cries of vendors.
Ren Feiyang took one look at the rouge, powder, and colorful hairpins and skirts in the stalls and was dazzled, losing his bearings. He scratched his head and turned to Wen Ning’an. “General, what do girls… like your esteemed sister, like?”
“What my sister likes is not necessarily what Miss Fang will fancy.”
Ren Feiyang immediately blushed and shouted, “I-I’m not buying it for Qingqing!”
Wen Ning’an: “…”
This person, he’s simply hard to describe…
Li Huaisheng rolled his eyes. “Feiyang, even I, who am not from the Left Army, know.”
Ren Feiyang was dumbfounded.
Does that mean the entire Fengzhou knows? Then Fang Qingqing…
Wen Ning’an patted Ren Feiyang’s shoulder and smiled. “But all girls like small and beautiful accessories. Especially a girl like Miss Fang, who has been traveling with the Left Army. Unlike the young ladies in the capital, she has few opportunities to dress up or go shopping. She must be looking forward to it in her heart.”
Ren Feiyang nodded like a pecking hen, clutching his purse and calculating, forgetting even to hide it. He muttered, “Qingqing probably doesn’t use rouge, powder, or skirts. How about a hairpin…”
The three of them came to a small hairpin stall. The owner, seeing them, especially the extraordinary air of Wen Ning’an and Li Huaisheng, immediately began to introduce his wares enthusiastically.
Seeing Ren Feiyang’s indecision, the owner asked with a mischievous smile, “Is the young master buying this for his sweetheart?”
“Mmm… yeah.”
“What kind of girl is she?”
Ren Feiyang’s face was so red it was almost ripe. He stammered, “She’s an enthusiastic and energetic girl. She’s, she’s very pretty. In short… she’s a good girl!”
“Pretty!” The owner clapped his hands and took out an ebony hairpin. “This is suitable! A hibiscus emerging from the water!”
The hairpin was carved with a hibiscus pattern, simple and unadorned. Compared to the luxurious and expensive ones, it was indeed more suitable for Fang Qingqing.
While Ren Feiyang was still hesitating, Wen Ning’an stood at the side, waiting. From the corner of his eye, he saw a gilded hairpin for men… The hairpin was entwined with auspicious clouds, and what was unique was that a fierce-looking Qilin was hidden among the clouds. It looked noble and elegant, with a sense of dignity but not too conspicuous.
It would suit that person very well…
Wen Ning’an couldn’t help but pick it up, but then he thought that he probably wouldn’t have a chance to give it, so he put it back.
But on second thought, it would be a real pity not to buy it…
Seeing Wen Ning’an pick up the hairpin again, Li Huaisheng, who was standing behind him, frowned slightly.
“If you like it, then buy it! Why be so hesitant?” Someone stretched out a fair hand, took the hairpin from Wen Ning’an, and handed it to the owner with a smile. “Owner, wrap it up.”
Wen Ning’an was startled and turned to see a familiar face. And the owner and Ren Feiyang, looking at the person beside Wen Ning’an, were both lost in a daze for a moment.
So beautiful…
“Zhaohuang?” Wen Ning’an came back to his senses, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
The person who had arrived was none other than Qin Zhaohuang, carrying a bundle and dressed in a fiery red robe. He blinked. “I’m here to lend you a hand, of course!”
Wen Ning’an smiled. “What? Are you going to use a beauty trap on the King of Youzhou?”
“What are you talking about!” Qin Zhaohuang stomped his foot in anger. General Wen is teasing me again!
“…And this is?” Seeing that Qin Zhaohuang and Wen Ning’an seemed quite intimate, Li Huaisheng couldn’t help but narrow his eyes slightly.
“Let me introduce you. This is the National Preceptor, Qin Zhaohuang.” Wen Ning’an introduced them to each other.
Ren Feiyang said woodenly, “I see. He truly lives up to his reputation…”
After a while, Ren Feiyang finally chose the hibiscus ebony hairpin that the owner had recommended. The group decided to go to a teahouse to eat some fresh, hot dishes. After all, back at the military camp, it was all beast meat. Vegetables and fruits were rare, few and far between.
Wen Ning’an looked at the hairpin in his hand, his expression a little troubled.
Li Huaisheng finally couldn’t hold back and said in a low voice, “That person is not a good person. Why must you continue to be entangled with him?”
Before Wen Ning’an could reply, Qin Zhaohuang, who had been secretly listening at the side, immediately said, “Yo, what’s this about a good person or not! Ning’an can give it to whoever he likes. What business is it of yours? At least that person is the supreme ruler of the world.”
Li Huaisheng was stunned. He really hadn’t expected this beauty he had never met before to immediately confront him.
Qin Zhaohuang seemed to be in the know, so Li Huaisheng didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, “It’s not that I’m meddling. I just can’t stand to see it. Brother Wen is a great general. He doesn’t need to be submissive under another man.”
“Ah, are you saying that if Ning’an is with you, he won’t have to be submissive? Do you like to be the one on the bottom?”
“Eek.”
Li Huaisheng: “…”
Ren Feiyang, who had been immersed in the hairpin, finally came back to his senses and asked with confusion, “What are you guys talking about?”
Wen Ning’an and Li Huaisheng were both silent.
Wen Ning’an secretly pinched Qin Zhaohuang and said in a low voice, “Alright, stop talking. Isn’t it disgusting to talk like that?”
“Sorry, I’m sorry!” Qin Zhaohuang raised his voice to Wen Ning’an. “It was wrong of me to put you two together! I didn’t consider your feelings of disgust!”
Wen Ning’an: “…”
That’s not… what I meant.
Seeing Li Huaisheng’s face turn from blue to white, Qin Zhaohuang felt a sense of satisfaction.
Qin Zhaohuang thought to himself, When I was drinking with Feng Qi before, he would always grit his teeth and mutter about Li Huaisheng when he was drunk. I thought he was some formidable character. But now that I see him, his looks are average, his personality is average, he’s a general of the frontier who is not valued by the Li family, and his family background is also average. I don’t know what Feng Qi is so angry about.
His Majesty is still more handsome, hmm.
Li Huaisheng’s face was flushed with anger. With a flick of his sleeve, he was the first to leave. Seeing this, Ren Feiyang immediately followed with a gossipy and excited look.
Wen Ning’an said helplessly to Qin Zhaohuang, “Why are you targeting him like that?”
“I’m not. It’s just that he’s so petty, like a shrew. He doesn’t have the courage of our emperor at all.”
Wen Ning’an was stunned and turned his head away, not speaking.
The two of them walked forward slowly, not in a hurry to catch up with Ren Feiyang and Li Huaisheng.
Qin Zhaohuang said, “Ning’an, let me tell you, His Majesty has really changed. He’s now holed up in the Imperial Study every day, reviewing memorials, listening to the prime minister’s advice when he does things, and has even improved and written many policies. He’s a diligent and people-loving good emperor, just as you hoped.”
Wen Ning’an said, “His Majesty was originally exceptionally intelligent, just that he had no interest in state affairs. It’s very good like this now. It’s a blessing for the people, a blessing for Bei Miao.”
Seeing Wen Ning’an beating around the bush, Qin Zhaohuang continued, “After you left that day, His Majesty drowned his sorrows in wine every day at first, practicing his sword alone. His hands and palms were covered in wounds, and the wounds had split open.”
“Wounds?” Wen Ning’an frowned. “He was injured?”
Qin Zhaohuang immediately said, “Yes, yes, yes! He was very, very seriously injured. When you were imprisoned, he disappeared for a few days. When he came back, I don’t know what he had been through, but there was a huge sword stuck in his chest! The sword had gone in through his chest and straight through his back. It looked terrifying. But as soon as he heard you were being held without food or water, he rushed to see you without even treating his wounds.”
Wen Ning’an lowered his head. So he hadn’t deliberately ignored or forgotten me…
Seeing the heartache flash in Wen Ning’an’s eyes, Qin Zhaohuang sighed and shook his head. “Do you know that His Majesty washed his face with tears all day, couldn’t eat or drink, pitied his own reflection, wallowed in self-pity, and gave up on himself…”
“Alright, alright.” Wen Ning’an, his head full of black lines, stopped him. “Let’s talk about you first. Tell me the truth, why did you come to this frontier? Don’t beat around the bush with me, otherwise, the battlefield is a place of blades and swords without eyes, dangerous and fierce. I’ll have someone send you back immediately.”
Qin Zhaohuang pouted, lowered his head, and seemed to be thinking about how to say it.
“I came… to find someone. It’s said that Yu Qianzu has already colluded with the King of Youzhou. Maybe I can find Yu Qianshou through him. After all, they are from the same sect. Maybe Yu Qianshou is also here.”
“Why are you looking for Yu Qianshou?”
Qin Zhaohuang said, “Firstly, His Majesty asked me to investigate the whereabouts of the jade pendant. Secondly… I always feel that Yu Qianshou seems… uh… to have some connection with me?”
The many suspicious points and the hazy memory of that drunken night in the Star Gazing Tower were like a cat’s claws, constantly scratching at his heart.
Wen Ning’an nodded.
“Besides, I can also do divinations for you when I’m here. Predicting the weather and the enemy’s movements, all in one. Are you still afraid of not winning? And luck is also extremely important on the battlefield. Just look at my name. Me, the National Preceptor with a heaven-defying fate, can bring you good luck!”
Before his words had even finished, one of Wen Ning’an’s adjutants came riding towards them in a hurry from the distance.
“Report—”
“General! The enemy army is advancing towards Fengzhou with full force, preparing to attack the city!”
Qin Zhaohuang: “…”
Wen Ning’an smiled and shook his head, then said to the adjutant, “I’ll go back first. You go to the Keyun Teahouse and inform Feiyang and Brother Li.”
With that, Wen Ning’an helped Qin Zhaohuang onto Wuying, then also leaped on and whipped the horse to leave Taosha.
As the horse galloped, it kicked up a cloud of dust.
