LF Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Entrusting a Great Responsibility

Returning from the military drill ground, Jiang Yinghua assumed Your Majesty would let her stay in the Northern Camp, but Your Majesty insisted on bringing her back to the hunting lodge.

After lunch and a short rest, Your Majesty stood on the veranda, looking at the clear sky and bright sunshine. Suddenly, seized by inspiration, she turned her head and instructed her attendants, “Bring two sets of robes. We shall change clothes for Myself and Prince Zhao.”

While the palace staff went to prepare, Your Majesty walked up to Jiang Yinghua and said, “It’s been a while since we’ve been alone together. Let’s go hiking for a bit.” Having said that, she pointed to a small hill on the north side of the hunting grounds.

“Yes.” Having received military power, Jiang Yinghua’s awkwardness had dissipated for the most part, and she softly agreed.

“Scholar Yan, you come with Us and select some reliable people to accompany us.” Your Majesty looked at Yan Wanzhi, who was standing under the veranda, and gave a light command.

Upon hearing this, Yan Wanzhi obeyed the order and bowed, excusing herself.

After changing clothes and tidying up, when Jiang Yinghua came out, Your Majesty was already waiting in the courtyard, with a long sword in her hand.

“Hua’er, do you remember when we last sparred?” Seeing her come out, Your Majesty examined the long sword, turned her head for a moment, and asked with a smile in her eyes.

“I can’t remember, Your Majesty. It must have been almost two years.” Jiang Yinghua pondered for a moment. Ever since Father passed away, Elder Sister had been extraordinarily busy and rarely had time to care for her, let alone spar.

“I’ve had your weapon brought. We’ll exchange blows in a bit.” Your Majesty walked up to her with great interest and instructed.

“Elder Sister, Hua’er’s swordsmanship hasn’t improved much. You are the Supreme of the Ninety-Five, how can we cross blades?” Jiang Yinghua asked hesitantly.

“It doesn’t matter. Don’t underestimate Me. I won’t hold back. Be careful to respond. Losing will result in punishment.” Your Majesty’s eyes were indifferent, and her tone was indifferent. Jiang Yinghua was most familiar with this. The more she was like this, the less room there was for manoeuvre.

Yan Wanzhi arrived late, leading a group of guards. “Your Majesty, arrangements have been made. You may depart at any time.”

Upon hearing this, Your Majesty turned her head and glanced at Jiang Yinghua. “Let’s go.”

Jiang Yinghua raised her foot to follow. Your Majesty’s steps were neither fast nor slow, and each step was very steady. During the ascent, she didn’t say a word.

Yan Wanzhi followed vigilantly behind them with a group of guards, all of them being cautious, for fear of making a sound and disturbing the elegant enjoyment of the two masters.

The mountain was not considered high, and they reached the summit quickly. The summit was a wide open space, where they could remotely overlook the square capital, and also be able to see the winding moat from west to east, endlessly flowing into the distance. The overlapping mountains outside the vast plains of the north intermingled, constructing the barriers of the Great Chu.

Seeing the two of them standing on the summit, braving the autumn wind and looking into the distance, Yan Wanzhi raised her hand to stop the guards. The guards understood and dispersed, observing the surrounding situation, with no one approaching to disturb them.

Having served the monarch for a long time, Yan Wanzhi could sense the different state of mind of that person, even from just a back view.

Intuition told her that Your Majesty was full of worries today, and the back view standing on the summit revealed weariness and suppression.

The ink-colored gold-embroidered brocade robe wrapped around her body could not block the heaviness of her full of melancholy thoughts.

Compared to the mature Your Majesty, Prince Zhao behind her was graceful and slender. Her thin shoulders always gave people a feeling of youthfulness and naivety. The red dress fluttered in the wind, adding a bit of unrestrained heroic spirit.

Along the way, Jiang Yinghua vaguely felt that Your Majesty seemed to have something on her mind, but she didn’t speak, so Jiang Yinghua didn’t want to ask. She had to stand silently behind her, waiting for her instructions.

After a long while, Your Majesty spoke in a very light tone, but with a heavy undertone: “Hua’er, come over.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yinghua took a few steps closer and stopped behind her. Your Majesty turned her head slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on the scenery at the foot of the mountain. “Tell Me, what do you see?”

Jiang Yinghua followed her line of sight to look, and the autumn wilderness really didn’t have any scenery to catch the eye. What Your Majesty was looking at was not the scenery, but her country, its people. Jiang Yinghua’s eyes turned, and she softly replied: “Looking at the four seas, all are the result of Elder Sister’s efforts.”

Upon hearing this, Your Majesty’s lips curled into a faint smile, but it disappeared in an instant. She sighed long, her brow slightly furrowed, looking serious. “If you’re not tired, shall we spar here?”

“Elder Sister’s decision is final.” Jiang Yinghua replied obediently.

“Wanzhi, bring the swords.” Your Majesty turned around and called out.

Upon hearing this, Yan Wanzhi trotted over and delivered the two’s swords. Without any delay, she bowed and retreated back to the stone steps of the mountain road.

Jiang Yinghua took the sword and stood there, pondering how much strength she should exert today, so that it would both make her happy and not lose her sense of proportion.

Your Majesty seemed to have seen through her thoughts and drew her sword. “Let’s put the ugly words first. Today’s sparring is not about stopping when it’s enough. If you hurt Me, I won’t pursue it. If I hurt you, you’re out of luck. Do you understand?”

“Elder Sister?” Jiang Yinghua raised her head in surprise, her eyes full of incomprehension.

“Take the blow.” In the midst of her hesitation, Your Majesty had already made a move, and the fierce sword wind rushed towards her.

Jiang Yinghua dodged and retreated, drawing her sword to block in one go, and secretly thought in her heart that Elder Sister’s swordsmanship had not only not fallen behind, but her speed was far better than before, and even her moves were more ruthless.

Your Majesty’s swordsmanship was both soft and firm, like a silver snake entering the sea, maneuvering left and right, moving up and down. Between the flashing cold light, the wrist turned and moved with the body, the footsteps were fast and not chaotic, and the moves in the hand were urgent and not impetuous. Her eyes were sharp, specializing in attacking weaknesses, making it overwhelming.

Yan Wanzhi watched the two sisters fighting in one place, one in black and one in red, with each move being fierce and decisive, and occasionally unexpected. If the identities of the two were put aside, this competition, even she, who didn’t know any martial arts, could watch it with great enjoyment.

It’s just that these two are both golden and precious. Although Your Majesty had stated it clearly in advance, Yan Wanzhi secretly sweated for Jiang Yinghua.

It would be good if she won Your Majesty without any injuries with all her strength, but if she hurt Your Majesty, or was accidentally injured by Your Majesty, Jiang Yinghua would not be able to get away with it in any way.

And in the current situation, the two seemed to have come and gone, but Jiang Yinghua’s response was obviously difficult, and she often fell into a defensive disadvantage. From this point of view, Your Majesty was still more skilled.

In the past, in the Long Princess Manor, Yan Wanzhi admired Your Majesty very much. She was proficient in both literature and martial arts, and got up at dawn every day to practice swordsmanship before studying. After finishing her own affairs, after tidying up, it was just the time for ordinary people to get up. She was still able to summon her retainers and ministers with great spirit, and discuss important matters until noon, regardless of the cold, heat, rain, snow, wind, and frost, without exception.

A crisp sound of “clang” pulled Yan Wanzhi’s thoughts back. She took a closer look and saw that the two swords collided in one place, and they were competing in equal measure. Just as Yan Wanzhi was speculating which side would fail first, Jiang Yinghua suddenly withdrew her sword and retreated, kneeling on one knee and said:

“Your Majesty, I am physically exhausted and admit defeat.”

Your Majesty made a sword flower and stood the sword behind her, saying indifferently: “There has been some progress, but you have to be afraid of everything. Forget it, get up.”

Jiang Yinghua stood up, put the sword back into its scabbard, and turned to give Yan Wanzhi a look.

Yan Wanzhi quickly stepped forward, took the sword from Jiang Yinghua’s hand, for fear that Your Majesty would change her mind.

She turned around and walked to Your Majesty and bowed, waiting. Your Majesty threw the sword to her with some lingering interest. Yan Wanzhi took it and quickly retreated, and then handed the two swords to the guards next to her.

Jiang Yinghua stood there, her eyes lowered and silent. Your Majesty walked up to her on her own initiative, and was very close to her. “Since you are unwilling to listen, what I say is useless, so I won’t punish you.”

“Elder Sister, what’s wrong with you today?” Jiang Yinghua felt that Your Majesty was very suppressed, and finally couldn’t help but open her mouth.

“No need to worry about Me. You’re grown up, so take care of your actions, be steady, and don’t hold on to petty cleverness.” Your Majesty instructed in a serious manner, nodded and took off a brocade pouch tied to her belt, and handed it to Jiang Yinghua. “Open it and see, keep it carefully, don’t make a sound.”

Jiang Yinghua took it in a daze, feeling heavy in her hand. She gently loosened the tightened opening of the brocade pouch, and when she saw the things inside, she was shocked and turned to give it back to Your Majesty. “What do you mean by this?”

Your Majesty glared at her and scolded in a deep voice: “Put it away.”

The object in the brocade pouch was a Military Seal.

With the Command Tally in hand, there would be thousands of troops behind her. Therefore, the monarch would never give this thing to others for safekeeping without a war.

Having just obtained command of the 90,000 Imperial Guards, and Your Majesty bestowed the Command Tally, Jiang Yinghua suddenly had a splitting headache. She had no joy at all, but was full of doubts.

She tightened the brocade pouch, clenched the object, and said in a very low voice: “Elder Sister, if you don’t give a reason, I will definitely not dare to accept this thing. I have no intention of disobeying Your Majesty’s order, but I ask you to explain my confusion.”

“I trust my sister, and I hope you can reciprocate that trust.

Hua’er, you have been smart since you were a child, and you understand things quickly. There are many things that I don’t need to teach you. I have no idea how long the current political situation will be stable. Once the flames of war start again, I have no idea what the result will be.

Entrusting this thing to you is in preparation for unforeseen needs. I would rather you never have to use it.”

Your Majesty’s eyes wandered over the bricks and tiles of the capital city in the distance, and her voice was very low, so low that only the two sisters could hear it.

Jiang Yinghua’s hand holding the Command Tally trembled, and a little bit of hazy water mist stained her long eyelashes. She did not speak, and gently put the brocade pouch into her arms.

After a while, she held the jade pendant on her waist and asked Your Majesty: “Elder Sister, can you tell Hua’er, what is this? Why did you order Yan Wanzhi to deliver it late at night?”

“The secret agency left by the Late Emperor, you don’t need to care about it. I won’t let you participate in such trivial matters. Just wear it well, it will protect you.” Your Majesty had no intention of hiding it, and revealed the whole story.

“In this case, Yan Wanzhi is in charge of the secret agency on your behalf. The Inner Counselor has great power, and the secret agency is important. Can you trust this person?” Jiang Yinghua opened her mouth with concern. In her impression, Elder Sister handled matters very carefully, and she would never entrust important powers to one person.

“Being alone, if I control her properly, she will be the most worthy of trust. I saved her from danger and understand her completely. In the future, I will also order her to send messages to you for important matters.” Your Majesty turned her head to look at Jiang Yinghua, put her hand on her shoulder and pressed it hard.

“Okay. When will Elder Sister return to the capital? Are you still staying at the hunting lodge today?” Jiang Yinghua looked at the sky, thinking that if Your Majesty wanted to return to the palace, she could not delay for too long.

“I’ll go back in a while. You come with Me. Mother misses you very much.” Your Majesty lowered her eyes to examine Jiang Yinghua. The two sisters each had their own thoughts, and now they were even more worried, and neither of their faces looked good.

“I, don’t want to go back.” Jiang Yinghua’s eyes flickered, and she replied timidly.

“No discussion. Just three days, three days and I’ll let you come back. Now that you have a job, don’t make trouble in the camp. Qiao An is old, you have to take over his burden as soon as possible.”

Your Majesty reached out and pulled Jiang Yinghua over, and turned to walk down the mountain. Jiang Yinghua let her lead her, following closely behind, her steps heavy.

When they came, Yan Wanzhi was watching behind them, and Jiang Yinghua’s pace was light. When they left, she watched the two sisters walking down the mountain side by side, and found that the two of them seemed to be one person, the same height, the same pace, the same tired and depressed figure, and the same heavy and difficult steps.

Yan Wanzhi slowed down her pace and followed slowly behind, shaking her head helplessly. That person eventually embarked on the same difficult path, and could not do whatever she wanted. No matter how much wine passed through her intestines, it could not reverse the fate that had already been decided at birth.

In a trance, scenes from the past suddenly flashed through Yan Wanzhi’s mind, the past events in that high-walled mansion, the laughter and play between the corridors and pavilions, and the dripping blood that the heavy rain could not wash away from the bluestone bricks…