Chapter 84: Taking Care of Xiao Xi; Considerate Little Xie Tends to the Emperor + Continued Rivalry…
The Imperial carriage stopped, and the woman was brought to the carriage door.
She was, after all, an official’s daughter who had seen something of the world. Seeing the Dragon Banners fluttering and the white robes and silver armor of the Longwu Army, she likely guessed the identity of this group.
The person in the carriage was indeed the Emperor who had come south on a campaign.
The girl bowed softly, “This commoner woman pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”
The carriage door remained closed; Ying Xi did not see outsiders.
The Emperor questioned her from behind the door, his voice drifting out ethereally, “What official position did your family hold in Xindu? Why did you flee?”
The woman then repeated what she had just told Lian Qing to the Emperor.
Only, when she had spoken to Lian Qing, she had just escaped danger, so her words were filled with pleading.
Now that she was finally safe, her voice was even more melodious, carrying a delicate timidity—every word like a pearl or jade.
“This little woman is named Hua Ling.”
“My father was the Lord’s strategist.”
“Under the Lord, there are ‘Eight Pillars of the Court,’ ‘Sixteen Strategists,’ and ‘Twenty-four General Stars,’ which together form the core members of Xindu. My father was one of those strategists.”
If these were official titles, Ying Xi only thought they were irregular, sounding a bit childish, like something out of a storybook.
But he wasn’t particularly surprised.
Li Yilong’s group was a mixed bag. Whether officials or soldiers, they didn’t have a high level of education. They could only rely on familiar storybooks to fabricate some awe-inspiring titles to attract more people to join the army.
As for the internal nobility of the Jiangnan Army, their titles were also varied—Heaven-Suppressing Prince, Sea-Opening Prince, Earth-Piercing Prince, and so on. There were eight Great Princes in total.
“Coupled with the Jiangnan Army and the current personnel in Xindu, they have gathered a hundred thousand ‘Heavenly Soldiers’.”
Her report was orderly and analytical, worthy of someone from within Xindu.
Although he had already investigated intelligence on Li Yilong’s army, hearing it described personally by someone from the city gave a more realistic and intuitive feeling.
The woman knelt outside the carriage for a while. Her legs seemed to have gone numb from exhaustion, and Hua Ling’s fragile body trembled slightly.
The range of movement was very small.
Coming from her, it looked like the light flutter of a butterfly.
In a soft voice, she said to Ying Xi, “Your Majesty of Jiangbei, my father met with misfortune because he was framed by other strategists for poor performance. A family servant risked his life to help me escape Xindu. I haven’t been out much since childhood and have nowhere left to go…”
“I beg Your Majesty to show me a way to live.”
“I beg Your Majesty to let me live.”
At this moment, even Lian Qing’s heart was trembling.
It wasn’t just Lian Qing.
A damsel in distress was right before their eyes, yet the beautiful and moving Imperial presence was rarely seen. In an instant, several gazes couldn’t help but focus on the girl.
Lian Qing was itching to try something in his heart. Hua Ling was homeless, and he was just at the age for marriage.
The Lian family had a clean background; his father was alive, and his mother was easygoing. Although they weren’t considered a particularly powerful family in Chang’an, if she married him, she would certainly be guaranteed a life without worry.
Yes, he would never take a concubine!
A small movement came from the carriage, a click.
The door opened.
A pale, moon-white hand reached out from the gap in the curtain, the left hand lifting the bright yellow brocade.
The Emperor appeared amidst the light ink-wash misty rain of Jiangnan. As soon as the Emperor stepped out of the carriage, all the soldiers in the ceremonial procession bowed before him.
The gazes that had been cast toward Hua Ling a moment ago shifted in an instant, all looking uniformly toward the ground.
Only Hua Ling, seemingly by accident, lifted her eyes to take the Emperor into her sight.
“……”
Her eyes, moist with water, saw her pupils contract slightly.
Beneath her colorful clothes, her body unconsciously stiffened for an instant.
She hadn’t expected that the ruler of the Imperial Court—who had turned the tide of the failing empire and acted with swift resoluteness—would not only be young but also beautiful.
His appearance drew people in, yet his power made him distant.
This was an inherent contradiction that formed Ying Xi’s unique attraction.
Hua Ling hid the disbelief in her heart!
She quietly adjusted her posture, also lowering her head, quickly letting her eyelashes drop.
She had practiced this posture countless times in front of a mirror.
Her pointed chin was slightly tucked, as if waiting for someone to lift it.
Her hair was slightly messy, her dress stained; she looked distressed.
Even her silence spoke louder than a thousand words.
Hua Ling made up her mind:
——Men need beauties to add splendor to their foundation.
The Emperor of Great Qin was not only a man but also the one in power. Furthermore, he was not yet married.
She didn’t believe a man with the ambition to conquer the world wouldn’t want a woman.
Hua Ling took a step back to move forward, prostrating herself and sobbing softly:
“If my request is too much and I become a burden to Your Majesty, delaying the army’s progress, I would absolutely not want that.”
“Could Your Majesty please leave me some water and food, bestow upon me a horse, and let me escape on my own…”
Tears shimmered in Hua Ling’s eyes.
Her eyes were filled with moisture, looking as if they held stars.
In truth, Hua Ling’s final words were the most appropriate way to settle her.
If this matter were handled entirely by Xie Qianli, he would certainly arrange for a few reliable hands to send the girl to other commanderiers nearby.
An official’s daughter would naturally be literate.
Afterward, whether she became a female teacher or did some needlework, she wouldn’t be unable to support herself in the city.
According to normal logic, the Emperor would certainly not create extra trouble and would surely send her away.
But perhaps this woman’s appearance was extraordinarily outstanding, making it hard to bear seeing her only once before letting her vanish into the crowd.
Ying Xi ordered the soldiers: “Go and find her a change of clothes. She will stay in my retinue for the time being.”
Lian Qing was stunned.
Xie Qianli’s heart sank, and he raised his sharp brows.
Even Prince Yong watched from afar.
This Jiangnan girl, Hua Ling, had in an instant become the center of all gazes.
The Longwu Army soldier replied: “…Yes!”
As night fell.
Outside Nancheng County, a hundred and twenty miles from Linchuan and adjacent to the Fushui branch of the Yangtze River, the Longwu Army set up camp.
The Emperor’s main tent was four or five zhang long and about two zhang high.
Inside the tent, a large military topographical map was set up. A report on military intelligence had just concluded.
Xie Meng had surrounded Linchuan, and the commander Cheng Qingtam was about to be defeated. News of victory from Linchuan was expected soon.
This was good news.
It could even be called the only smooth thing since the southern campaign began.
Therefore, the army was in no hurry to leave. Ying Xi could comfortably finish his meal and get a good night’s sleep.
Ying Xi wanted to recover his health.
The Emperor coughed several times, the coughing causing a bit of pain in his head.
He kept drinking water in the camp, but his throat was still burning, and his lungs felt as if they were on fire. He hoped for quick relief.
At this time, a soldier came in with dinner. The soldier lifted the curtain, bringing two vegetable dishes, one meat dish, and a soup—all cooked very lightly.
“Please have dinner, Your Majesty,” the soldier said.
Ying Xi nodded.
The Emperor’s gaze lingered on the dishes.
Shepherd’s purse was a common wild vegetable in the south, known for cooling the blood and reducing internal heat.
Houttuynia (Fish Mint) went without saying; it cleared heat and detoxified, specifically treating sore throats and lung discomfort.
The meat dish was river shrimp, not fish. Fish was considered a “trigger” food and was not suitable to be eaten in large quantities during illness.
Just looking at the spread, he knew someone had given special instructions.
Ying Xi slightly curled the corners of his mouth.
The Sweet System couldn’t see the Emperor’s smile, but it could see the dishes clearly. With hundreds of gigabytes of Danmei novels built-in, how could it not understand the hidden thoughtfulness in Xie Qianli’s details?
[Sweet System: Your Majesty, I beg you two to just date already.]
The Sweet System thoughtfully circled the dishes and their medicinal properties in front of the Emperor’s eyes.
[Sweet System: The Big Wolfdog is so gentle and obedient.]
[Sweet System: He’s not like this at all when he’s fighting! He’s usually so fierce!]
[Sweet System: I can already hallucinate him peeling shrimp and picking out fish bones for you in the future. I suggest you give it a try.]
Peeling shrimp and picking out bones… he hadn’t done that as a child.
Back then, he had snuck himself out of Fanglan Palace to go hunting in Mount Li and had caught a wild rabbit.
Ju-er had done the killing and roasting himself. The rabbit meat had sizzled with fat, and he had reminded him it was very hot when handing it over.
He had roasted his face until he looked like a calico cat.
He had then used a silk handkerchief dipped in river water to wipe his face clean.
Ju-er had a pair of very bright eyes.
Ying Xi recalled those black pupils once being filled only with himself, and the pain in his lungs suddenly turned into an ache in his heart.
They had known each other for years, but they weren’t together every day.
But why were those brief moments of interaction not erased by time? Instead, they were surfacing with more and more vividness.
Ying Xi’s throat caught, and a layer of red heat rose in his eyes.
Yet he shook his head and said, “You want to turn a man gay who wasn’t even moved by nine thousand charm points?”
The Sweet System was stunned: [That’s true…]
The difficulty of conquering this person was too great!
Not only did he have to be turned gay, he also had to be made to realize it.
Even that wasn’t enough. This person was not romantic and had such a dangerous working environment; he truly wasn’t a good match.
The Sweet System murmured softly: [What a waste of his looks.]
“Hmm?”
[Sweet System: I was asking, what do you plan to do?]
“Bestow upon him a beautiful wife.”
[Sweet System: What!?]
“Let his title be hereditary, use his descendants in high positions, and grant him a tomb built next to the Imperial tombs.”
“Let his name be recorded in history and pass down through the ages.”
“Let future generations know that Minister Xie was my beloved general.”
“If he doesn’t rebel in this life, the above is the highest courtesy I can give to a subject,” Ying Xi said in a light tone.
When things are too calm, they inexplicably remind people of sadness.
The Dating System’s perception was keen.
It couldn’t say anything specific, but the Sweet System felt uneasy.
The Sweet System was eager to change the subject and said hurriedly: [Then what if he rebels?]
The way he died in his past life flashed across Ying Xi’s eyes in an instant.
The final memories of his previous life surged forward again—
Chang’an was breached, and the Xiongnu iron hooves ravaged the Imperial capital.
Before the Xiongnu enemy troops could kill him, Xie Qianli had used the Youlong E (Swimming Dragon) sword to pierce through him first. The two of them had died for their country, one after the other.
“Faint ruler.”
“You killed my father, slaughtered my brothers-in-arms… faint ruler…”
Ying Xi’s breathing took on a temperature like fire!
Immediately afterward, he turned sharply toward the inside of the tent and burst into a violent fit of coughing, his throat feeling as if it were embedded with countless razor blades.
“A rebel, of course… kill, kill him.”
“Cough, cough-cough, cough—”
“Cough-cough-cough-cough…”
[Sweet System: Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I was just speaking casually, Your Majesty!]
The Sweet System panicked; it hadn’t expected its host to react so strongly.
Naturally, the Sweet System pulled back the topic.
Fortunately, Ying Xi was also trying his best to restrain himself. He pressed his hand against the edge of the table, and before long, he gradually calmed down. It was just that the coughing left him feeling a bit flustered, and his head was covered in cold sweat.
[Sweet System: Please eat, Your Majesty. The food is getting cold.]
The Sweet System hurried to coax him.
Ying Xi nodded slightly. He slowly picked up his silver chopsticks, but just as he had lifted them, the tent curtain was flipped open: “Elder Brother!”
It was Prince Yong.
Ying Dang plopped down opposite Ying Xi, his face thick-skinned as he unceremoniously grabbed a pair of chopsticks. “I’ve been riding all day and my body is numb. I’m starving, I’m starving! I beg my brother for a feast!”
Ying Xi stiffened slightly.
But before he could even accept the addition of Prince Yong across from him, the tent was opened again.
Hua Ling’s figure looked slender. Dressed as a common woman, she had slightly rolled up her sleeves and was holding a tray. “I am grateful for Your Majesty’s life-saving grace and have no way to repay it. I could only pick some wild fruits nearby. I request Your Majesty to taste them; I have taken the liberty to present them.”
She was the first woman the Emperor had actively kept. Her appearance was stunning, and no one in the Longwu Army dared to treat Hua Ling casually.
Therefore, the two Longwu Army soldiers guarding the door could only stand outside the tent with Hua Ling, waiting for the Emperor’s personal response.
Ying Xi frowned.
And behind Hua Ling and those two soldiers, a cold, frost-like figure suddenly appeared.
The silver armor was eye-catching, so everyone inside and outside the tent looked toward the outside at the same time.
Xie Qianli said with a cold face, “His Majesty is of supreme status; how can you allow idle people to approach at will? Take them all away.”
The two soldiers: “Yes!”
Hua Ling’s small, innocent face stiffened for an instant.
Ying Dang grew anxious. “What? Mourning doesn’t allow one to eat?”
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