AMLFS Chapter 105
by VolareThe next day, Zhao Lu entered the tent and saw that Song Huaixi was already up. She paused, wondering if she had misremembered the time.
It was indeed early. Normally, Song Huaixi would sleep until the sun was high in the sky before getting up.
Zhao Lu walked into the room, observing his expression, and asked, “Your Highness, why did you get up so early today?”
“I just woke up, so I got up.” Song Huaixi, already dressed, sat on the edge of the bed. “Are we going to town? When do we leave?”
He was wearing a stone-green shirt. His dark hair was draped over his chest, highlighting his fair skin and bright red lips. The exhaustion from yesterday was gone, and he seemed much more energetic.
Last night, he had dreamed of Zhao Fangye. He couldn’t remember the details clearly, only that Zhao Fangye’s embrace was warm, holding him and singing an unknown lullaby over and over.
Finally, Song Huaixi childishly and stubbornly made a pinky promise, agreeing that Zhao Fangye must come back safely and quickly to pick him up.
“Yes, but there’s no rush.”
Zhao Lu walked to the side, picked up a comb, and began to tie up his hair. “Deputy General Sun is planning for you to leave after lunch. But since you’re up early, we can leave earlier.”
After Song Huaixi had breakfast, Sun Shu came to take him to town. The carriage traveled for several hours before stopping in front of a courtyard.
A quiet and secluded courtyard appeared before the carriage. What met the eye was a tranquil and beautiful courtyard: green-tiled buildings with white walls stood quietly, like a light and elegant ink painting.
It was surrounded by lush green bamboo. They were slender and upright, and the wind rustled through the bamboo leaves. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo forest, casting dappled shadows.
Sun Shu got out of the carriage and lifted the curtain for Song Huaixi. “Your Highness, we’ve arrived. Please step out.”
Stepping out of the carriage and looking at the courtyard, Song Huaixi felt a sense of familiarity. It was very much like their home in the capital. Walking into the courtyard, he saw that many flowers and plants were also planted. Their home in the capital also had many flowers and plants.
It was clear that the owner of this courtyard was also a refined person.
Lin Rugui and Song Zigen were also very pleased with the courtyard. They didn’t expect to find such a place here.
“Deputy General Sun, thank you for your trouble.” Song Zigen saw the intention behind it and thanked Sun Shu.
“Not at all.” Sun Shu waved his hands repeatedly. “It was all found according to the Prince’s instructions. It’s good as long as His Highness is comfortable.”
Song Huaixi settled down in the courtyard with nothing to do all day. Zhao Qiongwan, knowing this, came and suggested that he learn to paint with her.
“Learn to paint?” Song Huaixi sat in the courtyard, playing with Little Wolf, and looked at Zhao Qiongwan, who was sitting beside him, puzzled. “Why learn to paint?”
“Anyway, there’s nothing to do, just to pass the time. Huaixi, do you want to try?” Zhao Qiongwan had a smile on her face, and seeing his hesitation, she used her trump card, “If you learn well, maybe you can paint the Prince.”
Hearing that he could paint Zhao Fangye if he learned, Song Huaixi’s eyes lit up immediately. “Really? Then I want to learn!”
If he learned, he could paint a picture and give it to Zhao Fangye as a gift.
Knowing that this trick would work, Zhao Qiongwan stood up and clapped her hands. Smiling, she said, “Then let’s go quickly! I’ve already prepared the tools.”
At the same time, Zhao Fangye led his army north, unstoppable. The imperial troops retreated in defeat, clearly unable to resist.
He successfully forced the imperial army to halt in the northern part of Yuanshi Commandery.
But Zhao Fangye stopped at this crucial moment.
The tent was brightly lit. Zhao Fangye sat in the main seat, listening to the generals report on the military situation.
“Your Highness, our army is at its peak right now. This place is not far from the capital. Why should we stop at such a good time?”
Feng Zhen was very puzzled and eagerly questioned him. The other generals had the same question.
These days, they had swept all before them. The troops sent by the capital were like newborn calves in front of them, not only unable to resist their offensive, but also scared out of their wits.
Didn’t Zhao Fangye want to take the capital in one fell swoop? Why did he stop at the last moment?
His gaze resting on the map on the table, Zhao Fangye did not explain much, but simply said, “I am waiting.”
Waiting? Feng Zhen was even more confused.
Fortunately, General Sikou Lanfeng was from a military family, unlike Feng Zhen, who was an amateur. She saw the key to it at a glance.
She explained, “Although we have been victorious all the way, our forces were already depleted in the Northwest. So, the Prince is waiting for the troops from the capital to join us.”
Those forces in the capital who had defected to Zhao Fangye had also sent letters to her father to inquire, so she knew a little about it.
In the battle in the Northwest, the forces were vastly different. Zhao Fangye’s 90,000 troops had been reduced to just over 70,000. The 40,000 that Sikou Lanfeng brought, plus the rebel army led by Feng Zhen, added up to less than 130,000.
Even if the army entered the capital with an undefeated record, it would still be paved with the blood of the soldiers. It was not wise to enter the capital directly with only them.
“The capital?” Feng Zhen was surprised. He didn’t know that Zhao Fangye also had forces in the capital. He admired Zhao Fangye even more in his heart.
“I see, Your Highness is truly deeply supported by the people.”
Lanfeng agreed with this very much and said, “The imperial court’s behavior of disregarding the people’s wishes and conscripting large numbers of young men into the army has already aroused resentment among the people. Many people have risen up and volunteered to join the Prince’s camp, including some generals from the imperial court. They are the help that the Prince is waiting for.”
“These despicable villains are truly hateful. Recently on the battlefield, I saw many soldiers who didn’t even look old enough to serve, fighting on the battlefield. Their trembling, fearful faces were truly heartbreaking.”
As Feng Zhen spoke, he slammed his fist on the table, the anger in his eyes still not dissipated.
How could the current emperor be so incompetent, allowing treacherous officials to be in power, fooling the people.
“Alas.”
The generals in the tent also had indescribable feelings, after all, they were their own brothers. Now they had to kill each other. What’s more, they were killing children.
Zhao Fangye rubbed the jade pendant in his hand, his light-colored eyes deep like a cold pond.
After discussing matters with the generals, Zhao Fangye sat alone behind the table. He held a letter in his hand.
The letter recorded Song Huaixi’s daily life in detail, when he ate, what he ate, what he did, and what he wore were all explained in great detail.
Attached to the back of the letter was a painting. Zhao Fangye unfolded it with interest. It looked like a random doodle. He could vaguely make out the appearance of a man.
The brushstrokes were childish, and he couldn’t see any charm. The paper was crumpled, as if the owner was dissatisfied.
Perhaps the owner of the painting never expected that his spur-of-the-moment doodle would be picked up and sent to Zhao Fangye, thousands of miles away.
Zhao Fangye looked at it for a while, the corners of his mouth never lowering. The stern face was illuminated by the dim candlelight, revealing a bit of tenderness.
Through the words on the paper, Zhao Fangye seemed to see that person’s lively figure in the courtyard.
It dispelled much of the gloom and tyranny that had been accumulating in his heart from days of fighting.
He neatly folded the letter and put it away. Zhao Fangye lowered his eyes and stared at the jade pendant in his hand. So that Huaixi and the people of the world could have such tender times.
So that they would not be bullied and exploited by treacherous officials and corrupt officials, and so that young men who had not yet reached adulthood would not have to face the bloody and cruel battlefield. So that the people would not have to endure the pain of white-haired people sending off black-haired people.
He was determined to have the throne.