Chapter 1739: Someone Guarding the Abandoned Mansion

 Chapter 1738: Dog Official, Surrender Your Life

 Chapter 270.2: Frightening Herself

Chang Suining’s move was meant to create the illusion that they were terrified by the rumor of Xu Zhengye’s full-scale attack on Huainan Road — so that Xu Zhengye would believe their seventeen armies would be scattered everywhere to defend, focusing all their strength on holding the line.

In this way, Huainan Road would seem like an impenetrable wall of defense.

But to build such a “wall,” their forces would necessarily be dispersed across various locations. Everyone would see the grand scale of the defense and assume that all attention and manpower were focused on Huainan Road.

Then, if Xu Zhengye turned to attack Luoyang, the court’s army would be caught completely off guard.

Having grasped this key point, Xiao Min couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—

“Miss Chang really went to great lengths just to make Xu Zhengye comfortable enough to attack Luoyang.”

As for his knife technique...

Was there still hope?

The war in Jiangnan was of utmost importance to the imperial court. Any slight movement there would be reported back to the capital with the fastest possible speed.

Thus, the rumor that Xu Zhengye was gathering troops to attack Huainan spread rapidly through the empire.

In court, countless voices blamed Xiao Min and Chang Kuo.

In many officials’ eyes, it was precisely because of their poor command and their failure to take the offensive that Xu Zhengye was able to regroup and rebuild his strength—turning the situation perilous once again.

“Since Li Yi was executed, the seventeen armies have done nothing but defend. What exactly are General Xiao and Grand General Chang trying to do?”

The minister who spoke especially emphasized the four words “Grand General Chang”, clearly implying that these decisions came from him.

At that, more voices of doubt arose.

Some even began to speculate — subtly but dangerously — that perhaps Chang Kuo’s long silence and inaction meant he harbored Li Yi’s kind of ambitions.

“Grand General Chang is loyal and devoted. He would never commit treason!”

The Holy Emperor’s commanding voice rang out:

“I trust him.”

At such a critical time, no hint of imperial suspicion toward a commanding general could be allowed to spread; that would only make the situation more unstable.

The emperor’s defense quelled much of the public criticism — but not the dissatisfaction.

That discontent came from fear.

If Xu Zhengye really had two hundred thousand men ready to attack Huainan, and Chang Kuo’s forces continued to merely defend without adapting, could they really hold?

Truthfully, even the Sacred Emperor wasn’t as confident as she appeared.

At her signal, a minister close to Xiao Min secretly sent a confidential letter south to Jiangnan. The message urged Xiao Min to respond swiftly, warning that continued inaction would invite disaster. It also discreetly probed whether Chang Kuo had any rebellious intent.

The capital grew increasingly anxious. With unrest breaking out in multiple regions, the court was on edge. They even convened morning court on the day of the Lantern Festival.

In fact, ever since the previous winter, officials had barely rested.

Even at the end of the lunar year, when offices would normally close for the holidays, court sessions continued — even on New Year’s Eve.

Officials were exhausted and tense, afraid to relax for even a moment.

Grand Tutor Zhu was also busy, but his busyness revolved around preparing for the upcoming Spring Imperial Examination.

The emperor, seeing his age, excused him from court sessions and allowed him to remain in the Ministry of Rites to focus on examination matters.

(Of course, there was another reason — the old Grand Tutor had been arguing with nearly everyone in court lately, making the morning assemblies a battlefield of their own.)

Wei Shuyi privately thought that the Grand Tutor was simply suffering from a case of pre-exam anxiety and suggested he cool off in the Ministry of Rites.

Whether he calmed down or not, no one knew.

But the Ministry of Rites certainly didn’t — the whole place was terrified.

From senior officials to the janitorial eunuchs, everyone tiptoed around, worrying about which foot to step through the door with so as not to offend the Grand Tutor’s bad mood.

On the Lantern Festival day, tension eased a little — because the Grand Tutor only stayed at the Ministry of Rites for half the day before going home.

To be precise, he went home to change out of his official robes — and then went to Dayun Temple to burn incense.

Lately, everyone in the Zhu household had noticed his growing enthusiasm for temple visits.

He could no longer go to the Imperial Academy to “fish” with Head Master Qiao — the exam season was close, and a responsible examiner knew to avoid appearing too cozy with the candidates.

So, no more fishing — instead, he went to Dayun Temple to watch cranes and discuss Buddhist philosophy to ease his mind.

The Zhu family’s verdict on this change was:

“Head Master Qiao has been liberated. The one suffering now is Abbot Wujue.”

Indeed, Abbot Wujue had been quite distressed lately — but today was an exception.

He knew exactly why the Grand Tutor visited him each time — only to ask about news.

He had already promised many times: if a message arrived, he would secretly have it delivered to the Zhu residence. But the Grand Tutor still didn’t trust him, insisting on coming personally each time.

Fortunately, today the abbot did have a letter in hand, so he was calm.

After discreetly avoiding untrustworthy monks, Wujue handed the letter to the Grand Tutor.

Zhu’s heart trembled slightly as he accepted it and quietly tucked it into his sleeve, his expression calm as ever.

To avoid arousing suspicion, he stayed a while longer — played two rounds of chess with the abbot — and only then left the temple.

Once seated inside his carriage, he reached into his sleeve to take out the letter… but paused.

Last time, he had eagerly opened the painting the moment he stepped into the carriage.

Now, even though he was far more desperate to see this one, his fingers froze midair, unable to tear it open.

He sat in stillness for a long time — until he was back home, behind the locked doors of his study.

Only then did his thin, wrinkled but clean and steady hands slowly, tremblingly, unfold the letter.

 Chapter 270.1: Frightening Herself

“If I win this wager,” said Chang Suining, “then General Xiao must promise me one request—how about that?”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Min instinctively wanted to reply, ‘If Young Miss Chang ever needs my help, she has but to ask — there’s no need for a wager.’

But when the words reached his lips, he merely smiled and followed her lead.

“And what request might Young Miss Chang have in mind?”

Chang Suining pretended to think for a moment before saying, “I haven’t thought of it yet. May I tell you when I do?”

Xiao Min agreed readily.

A young lady who always acted with restraint and propriety — what troublesome request could she possibly make?

At the side, Chang Kuo could only sigh inwardly — young, still too young.

The “too young” General Xiao smiled and asked, “Then what if Young Miss Chang loses the wager?”

“The same rule applies,” Chang Suining replied with a smile. “Beyond official duties, I too shall agree to one request from General Xiao.”

“Is Young Miss Chang not afraid I might make an excessive request?” Xiao Min asked.

The moment the words left his mouth and he met the amused gazes of the father and daughter, he immediately realized how unnecessary that question was.

If he truly dared to overstep, the one who ought to be afraid would be himself.

After all, a person’s safety and dignity often depend on their own sense of boundaries.

The young woman’s answer, however, granted him immense grace.

“If I dare wager with General Xiao, then it is because I believe General Xiao to be a man of principle and restraint.”

“Young Miss Chang flatters me…”

Xiao Min bitterly struck out a thought that had flashed across his mind — ‘If I win, perhaps I could ask Young Miss Chang to teach me the late Crown Prince’s spear techniques.’

No — that would be far too greedy, far too shameless. He couldn’t betray the trust behind her compliment.

Sigh… sometimes having too good a reputation is a burden in itself.

So be it.

Even the Grand General himself had been unable to master the essence of those techniques — how could he hope to?

Consoling himself, General Xiao settled for a humbler request.

“If I win, then may I ask Young Miss Chang to instruct me in the blade, even just a little?”

On New Year’s Eve, during that sparring match, what Young Miss Chang had displayed — besides her flawless spearwork — was a blade technique so refined it made others yearn for more.

In the martial path, the strong command respect.

Before such a rare prodigy, Xiao Min felt no shame in asking sincerely.

Chang Suining nodded. “Of course you may.”

Delighted, Xiao Min sighed with a laugh.

“Then for the sake of improving my blade technique, I suppose I should pray in secret that Xu Zhengye does not change course toward Luoyang!”

After a few light-hearted remarks, they returned to official matters.

Once Xiao Min departed, he went to check on the repairs of the warships.

His deputy, surnamed Dong, who had often served by his side since Xiao Min assumed command, asked curiously,

“General, why are we suddenly gathering so many warships? Are we going to attack Xu Zhengye from the water route?”

Xiao Min neither confirmed nor denied it.

“Just a precaution — better to be prepared.”

Deputy Dong pressed further.

“Then when will we march? The soldiers below are eager for battle — they’ve been waiting to face Xu Zhengye head-on and reclaim Yangzhou!”

Xiao Min nodded.

“Indeed. Morale is high — proof that Young Miss Chang’s training has been most effective. She truly deserves her position as Chief Instructor.”

Deputy Dong fell silent.

After a pause, Xiao Min added,

“As for when we march against Xu Zhengye, we must await the Grand General’s orders. There’s no need to rush.”

“But General,” said Deputy Dong, frowning, “now that morale is soaring, this is the perfect time to strike! If we delay, we’ll only give Xu Zhengye time to recover and strengthen his forces.”

Xiao Min’s tone was cautious.

“Grand General Chang and General Ningyuan have both said it — Yangzhou and Jiangning are protected by natural defenses. They are easy to defend, difficult to attack. If we charge recklessly, the casualties will be immense… We must plan carefully.”

Deputy Dong still looked uneasy.

“But the Court is pressing to reclaim Yangzhou. If we lose this golden opportunity, and the Court grows dissatisfied or suspicious, won’t the Holy Emperor lay the blame upon you?”

“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” Xiao Min sighed helplessly.

At that moment, a soldier arrived with a report, and Xiao Min went off to handle other matters.

Deputy Dong stood where he was, saluting as his commander left — a faint unease flickering in his eyes.

A few paces away, Xiao Min’s own gaze grew sharp — vigilant, thoughtful.

Elsewhere, Yuan Xiang, Chang Ren, and Old Kang arrived at Chang Kuo’s main tent.

All had been summoned by Chang Suining.

“What orders does the Young Lady have?” asked Chang Ren respectfully.

Chang Suining had just set down her brush after writing a reply letter — there were too many letters to answer, and she could only make time between tasks.

She looked toward Yuan Xiang and the others.

“I need you to find some people for me in the nearby prefectures.”

Then she clearly listed her conditions.

“There must be commoners and runners, merchants both great and small, scholars and poets, county officials and gentry — and also beggars and refugees displaced by war.”

“Understood,” said Chang Ren. “How should we bring them — the usual way?”

Xi’er hesitated slightly, glancing toward her mistress.

There were many people to find this time… Would her sack be enough? Could she draw from the military stores instead?

“…Not this time,” Chang Suining corrected. “Invite them properly.”

The men nodded.

“There’s one more thing to watch for,” Chang Suining added thoughtfully.

“Among those people — anyone especially sharp-tongued, gossiping, or malicious in speech…”

Yuan Xiang and the others listened carefully — did she mean such people shouldn’t be chosen?

“The more of them, the better,” said Chang Suining.

“…?”

They blinked in surprise — then quickly answered in unison, “Yes, Young Lady!”

After giving several more detailed instructions, Chang Suining dismissed them to make arrangements.

Outside the tent, Yuan Xiang, ever eager to learn, asked,

“Brother Ren, earlier you mentioned the ‘usual way.’ What’s that, exactly?”

“Oh, that?” said Chang Ren, very straightforwardly. “Knock them out, stuff them in a sack, and carry them back.”

“…I see,” said Yuan Xiang.

He had learned something new again.

Before long, word spread that Xu Zhengye had summoned all his forces to gather at Yangzhou.

Rumors abounded — that Xu Zhengye was uniting his armies to launch a full assault on Huainan Route; that he had already recruited over two hundred thousand men and was brimming with confidence.

The news quickly spread throughout Jiangnan, throwing officials and common folk alike into panic.

When Xiao Min returned and met with the Chang father and daughter, he brought up this matter.

Before he could even finish, Chang Suining, still writing at her desk, said calmly,

“General Xiao need not worry. It’s true Xu Zhengye is gathering troops — but the rest of those reports are mere rumors.”

“But what if they’re true?” Xiao Min asked.

“They’re not,” she replied without pausing her pen.

“Because I was the one who ordered those rumors spread.”

“?” Xiao Min blinked. “Young Miss Chang… why would you do that?”

“To frighten myself,” said Chang Suining.

Her brush paused mid-stroke. She pondered the line she’d just written, frowned, and crossed it out.

Xiao Min: …Spreading rumors to frighten herself?

He had long since stopped questioning the young lady’s sanity — his trust in her was that absolute.

So he followed her reasoning, no matter how absurd it first sounded. What would be the benefit of doing this?

After a moment’s thought, Xiao Min’s eyes brightened.

“I understand now!”

Chang Kuo observed quietly from the side.

Her Highness always left half her words unspoken — not to be cryptic, but to sharpen Xiao Min’s intuition for military matters.

She was patient with those worth teaching; in the old days, the entire Xuanzhe Command had been united and fearless precisely because the one they served not only loved talent but also cultivated it.

Genius is born — talent is taught.

The former are few; the latter, under careful guidance, can become many.

Seeing that Xiao Min had understood, Chang Suining said,

“Then I must trouble General Xiao to order all checkpoints along each route to strengthen defenses and make full battle preparations.”

Xiao Min nodded solemnly, confirmed several details with Chang Kuo, and immediately left to see it done.

 Chapter 924: Envy, Jealousy, and Hatred Turned Bad (1)

Mo Yan didn't care about what others thought and couldn't be bothered to explain anything to a stranger. After politely sending Madam An off and happily accepting her family's congratulations, she closed the door and secretly enjoyed the imperial marriage edict on her own.

Xue Tuanzi, disturbed by someone's silly appearance, rushed out to seek attention, but Mo Yan easily subdued it with one hand and even blocked it from her mind.

After the excitement, Mo Yan began to ponder the origins of the marriage edict. She then took up her pen and wrote a letter to Xiao Ruiyuan, briefly mentioning the proposal from the Cui family. Her purpose was to tell him that, despite the imperial marriage edict, things were not settled. If she wanted to "climb the wall," there would still be many opportunities.

As she watched the dove flapping its wings and flying farther away, Mo Yan clapped her hands to dust off the nonexistent dirt and was about to return indoors when she saw a large eagle hovering in the air. The eagle spotted her too, and in the next moment, it dove down and lightly landed on her shoulder.

"Hiss, you damn featherhead, always doing this," Mo Yan grumbled as the eagle's strong claws dug painfully into her slender shoulder. She slapped its foot to signal it to get off.

"Chirp—" The eagle reluctantly loosened its claws and landed on the ground, lifting one leg to reveal a small mail tube tied to its foot.

Mo Yan's eyes lit up as she squatted down to take the letter out of the tube. After reading it carefully, she understood the reason behind the marriage edict and couldn't help but feel grateful to Chu Heng. As for why Emperor Hui'an had initially been unwilling to let her marry Xiao Ruiyuan, though the letter didn't explicitly mention it, she wasn't sure of the exact reason. However, she had already decided to assign the task of settling the border soldiers to Chu Heng.

What she wanted was merit. Once she accumulated enough merit, she could help Xue Tuanzi break free from the restraints of the Heavenly Dao and take it back to the modern world to reunite with the family that had raised her for over twenty years. That would be enough for her. As for her reputation, she didn't care. Marrying Xiao Ruiyuan would bring her fame and the people's favor, but that could become a death sentence. If she attributed the credit to Chu Heng, it would ease Emperor Hui'an's concerns and earn her the gratitude of the future ruler of the country, making it all worthwhile.

Additionally, by doing good under the Prince's name, she would gain advantages, and when there were "insufficient funds," she could ask the royal family for money without hesitation.

Having thought it through, Mo Yan wrote a letter outlining her plans and had the eagle deliver it to Xiao Ruiyuan, hoping he had any better suggestions. Then, she wrote a letter to her father, briefly explaining the marriage edict.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ruiyuan, while the eunuch was still on his way to the Mo family to proclaim the edict, was summoned back to the Wei Yuan Marquis' estate by one of the servants. In the presence of the grim-faced Xiao Xiong and the gloating Madam Wei, he calmly received the edict without revealing any emotion.

Xiao Xiong and Madam Wei didn't know that Xiao Ruiyuan had already been betrothed to Mo Yan, nor did they know that he was actually overjoyed. Seeing that his face showed no trace of happiness, Xiao Xiong coldly said, "You act like this in front of the Emperor too, receiving a wife from a peasant family. You've completely disgraced the reputation of the Wei Yuan Marquis' household. This is all your doing, you disaster."

No matter how much he resented his son, he didn't want a daughter-in-law with a lowly status, someone who would call him "father-in-law," which he found utterly humiliating.

Seeing that Xiao Ruiyuan was staring at the edict and said nothing, Madam Wei quickly stopped Xiao Xiong, who was about to burst into anger, and tried to comfort him with a satisfied expression. "Lord, this generation of the Marquis' family only has the heir and Qing'er, so it's rather thin. Now that the heir has a marriage, it won't be long before the household can flourish. This is a huge blessing! He's much more promising than Qing'er. Lord, please don't blame the heir. Besides, the marriage was ordained by the Emperor, and the heir had no say in it. Why be angry?"

(End of Chapter)  

 Chapter 923: Love, Hate, and Poaching (4)  

Madam An saw this and became even more convinced that Mo Yan might not be satisfied with the arranged marriage. She continued, “The Cui family has been a distinguished clan for hundreds of years. While not exceedingly prominent, their descendants have achieved much, earning respect wherever they go. Moreover, the men of the Cui family have gentle temperaments and are easy to get along with. At the very least, they are not crude and inconsiderate…”  

At this point, Madam An realized her words were inappropriate and abruptly stopped, but her meaning was already clear.  

Now, Mo Yan finally understood Madam An’s intentions and couldn’t help but feel exasperated. She had spoken so plainly, yet Madam An was still openly trying to poach her away. Where was the supposed noble demeanor and magnanimity?  

It turned out she had been overthinking—this was a problem that needed fixing!  

Seeing Mo Yan’s shifting expression, Madam An mistakenly thought she was tempted and felt a sense of triumph. She had always believed that no one could refuse a marriage with the Cui family. Even if the Cui family had some scandals, the Seventh Master Cui was still a good match. At the very least, he had a grandmother who genuinely cared for him. As long as his wife lived peacefully after marriage, the old lady would surely protect her well. How much suffering could there be?  

Thinking of this, Madam An felt quite pleased. Her husband’s family was dependent on the Cui family. Though the Cui men didn’t hold high official positions, they had extensive connections, which could bring many benefits.  

Just as she was about to make her final persuasive push to sway Mo Yan’s heart, a young girl came running in, panting. “Sister Yan, an imperial decree has arrived—quick, prepare to receive it!”  

Mo Yan immediately stood up and asked, “Sheng’er, are you sure an imperial decree has arrived?”  

Sheng’er nodded her small head, her big eyes wide. “It’s true, Sheng’er wouldn’t mistake it!”  

As she spoke, footsteps sounded in the courtyard, followed by a sharp voice announcing, “The imperial decree has arrived—County Princess, receive the decree!”  

Mo Yan finally believed it. Without time to ponder why there was an imperial decree, she quickly instructed Sheng’er to call Li Xiu and the others to come receive it. After Sheng’er left, she turned to the stunned Madam An and said, “Madam An, I must prepare now—please make yourself comfortable.”  

Though the decree was addressed to Mo Yan, everyone present had to kneel in respect. Madam An, naturally, could not avoid it.  

Madam An snapped out of her daze and quickly said, “Your Highness, please proceed, don’t mind me.”  

Mo Yan said no more and went outside to welcome the eunuch delivering the decree. After inviting him in, she carefully asked a couple of questions. Upon confirming it was not bad news, she felt relieved and began preparing the incense table.  

Once everything was set, Mo Yan knelt at the front, with Madam An and the others behind her, all bowing their heads to receive the decree. Madam An, in particular, listened attentively, but the more she heard, the worse her expression became. By the end, she barely remembered how to stand up.  

The eunuch read aloud, “By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: Having heard that County Princess is respectful, virtuous, and of outstanding character… and that Xiao Ruiyuan of the Xiao clan is a man of integrity and exemplary conduct, making them a match ordained by fate—hereby bestowing marriage upon you both. Accept this honor and bring everlasting glory to your household. Thus is the decree given.”  

After finishing the decree in a formal, rhythmic tone, the eunuch glanced at the stunned Mo Yan, who was clearly still processing the situation. He couldn’t help but remind her, “County Princess, please accept the decree.”  

In his heart, he found it unfortunate that such a bright and refined young lady was being married off to that terrifying war god.  

Mo Yan was indeed momentarily stunned by the sudden marriage edict. She couldn’t understand why Emperor Hui’an had suddenly changed his stance. However, this was ultimately good news—now that there was an imperial decree, no one could interfere in her and Brother Xiao’s engagement any further.  

Hearing the eunuch’s prompt, Mo Yan quickly kowtowed to accept the decree and discreetly slipped a prepared pouch into his hand.  

The eunuch felt the pouch and immediately knew what was inside. His smile became even more genuine as he bowed slightly and said, “This servant offers early congratulations to Your Highness.”  

“Thank you, Eunuch,” Mo Yan replied with a bright smile, her genuine happiness evident—she was clearly satisfied with this marriage.  

The eunuch was briefly puzzled but quickly dismissed his thoughts. It was none of his concern. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he left Mo Manor with his attendants.  

Having received Mo Yan’s gift, the eunuch later returned to the palace and deliberately described to Chief Eunuch Liang how delighted County Princess had been upon receiving the decree. He hoped that Liang Gonggong would mention it before the Emperor, indirectly flattering His Majesty for his wise matchmaking. This would also leave a good impression of Mo Yan in the Emperor’s mind.  

Liang Gonggong merely smiled without commenting. Having served the Emperor for many years, he didn’t claim to fully understand him but knew that His Majesty originally had no intention of granting Mo Yan to General Xiao. After writing the marriage decree earlier that day, his expression had remained grim. If Liang dared to bring up this matter, wouldn’t he just be asking for a beating?  

Mo Yan put away the decree and turned to see Madam An’s ashen face, realizing she had finally given up. She let out a sigh of relief—at least now she didn’t have to think about how to send her away.  

Madam An, seeing the unconcealed joy in Mo Yan’s eyes, assumed she was thrilled to marry into a prestigious family and gain a promising husband. She couldn’t help but feel some disdain.  

She had thought Mo Yan was someone who could remain steadfast and unmoved by worldly temptations. But it turned out the previous match just wasn’t attractive enough. Now, with this imperial decree, she had immediately discarded her previous engagement. In the end, she was just another woman who coveted wealth and status.  

Never mind the bloodthirsty war god—just the scandals within the Marquis of Weiyuan’s household alone could fill a basket. Did she really think she was heading into a good place?