Chapter 133

The men of White Wind Stronghold never imagined that after a single day, they would wake up to find the entire stronghold’s logistical force swept away!

The elders they revered, the women in their homes, the children in their arms—even the injured brothers who had retired from the front lines—were all praising the Empress and speaking of how hard life was for the Emperor.

The men of White Wind Stronghold were furious at their lack of backbone and tried desperately to set them straight.

“How can you be so easily swayed? They say a couple of words, and you’re already fooled!”

“Think about why we started this! Think about our situation! We’re supposed to be rebelling and overthrowing the government!”

“You’re so easy to deceive, I don’t even know how to scold some sense into you!”

But after hearing the logistical force reenact the conversation from the previous day, the men of White Wind Stronghold fell silent.

Well… the Emperor did seem to have it a little difficult.

And the Empress did seem to be a little sincere.

Wait, how did the Empress remember so many of their names? And how did she know the stories behind them?

She had even said such embarrassingly earnest things about understanding and cherishing them. Honestly… it was rather difficult not to feel flattered.

The burly men of White Wind Stronghold: uneasy, fidgety, and gradually developing a faint sense of guilt.

At that moment, Yun Yaoyao, the center of everyone’s conversation, was sitting in the courtyard opposite Chief Chu. One of them held the white stones, the other the black, as they played chess.

Chu Fei placed a stone on the board and said, “The Empress certainly has impressive methods. In a single day, you’ve managed to win the hearts of so many people in my stronghold.”

Yun Yaoyao curled her lips and placed a stone as well. “That isn’t a method. It’s exchanging sincerity for sincerity.”

“The Empress’s eloquence has always been admirable.” Chu Fei let out a cold snort. “With so much leisure today, I doubt you asked me here merely to play chess.”

“That’s right.” Yun Yaoyao nodded. “To thank Chief Chu for your hospitality these past few days, I’m giving you three hundred cartloads of grain.”

Chu Fei was about to refuse, but Yun Yaoyao continued, “Before you refuse, think about the people in your stronghold. Your rebel army values loyalty and righteousness, and you were willing to take in so many elderly, weak, sick, and young people.”

“They’re grateful for everything you’ve done for them. To avoid burdening you, they’ve been rationing their food, eating thin, bland porridge as a matter of course. These hundreds of cartloads of grain are for them.”

Chu Fei’s lips tightened, and a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. “Then I thank you, Empress.”

“However, our stronghold still has no intention of submitting to the imperial court!”

As he spoke, Chu Fei placed a black stone on the board.

The chaotic chessboard reflected the turmoil in his heart.

In truth, he had once been happy.

Though he had been adopted, his parents had treated him as their own. They had even denied themselves food and clothing to send him to a private school.

But the skies over Shu were dark. The officials here preyed upon the common people, while the powerful families abused their authority and oppressed those beneath them.

Simply because his father had refused to hand over the last piece of meat at his stall to a constable, the man had held a grudge and found an excuse to beat his father so badly that he was crippled.

At the time, Chu Fei had been sitting for the prefectural examination. His mother had been afraid to tell him and had gone to the authorities herself to seek justice.

But the officials here protected one another.

Chu Fei had performed exceptionally well in that examination. When he stepped outside, the warm sunlight spilled over him, enveloping him in comforting heat. He had believed his future would be just as bright.

Then a neighbor came running over in a panic, seized his hand, and said through sobs, “Little Chu, your… your parents… they’re gone!”

In that instant, bone-chilling cold swept through his entire body.

After that came his efforts to clear his parents’ names and avenge them. Then came failure. His heart grew cold, and he embarked upon the road of rebellion—one that had led him all the way to the present.

Along the way, he had come to understand one truth: for commoners whose lives were as insignificant as blades of grass, only by holding power in their own hands could they escape the fate of being preyed upon by others.

“I’m going down the mountain today.” Yun Yaoyao’s words interrupted Chu Fei’s thoughts.

His consciousness returned, and he stared at her in a daze. “Really?”

Yun Yaoyao nodded. From inside her robes, she took out an imperial decree of bright yellow silk and slowly unfurled it across the table.

“Before I leave, I have something to give you.”

Chu Fei’s gaze moved carefully over the contents of the decree, and his expression grew even more astonished.

It was an appointment decree personally issued by the Emperor. From the positions of prefect, assistant prefect, and judicial commissioner, down to the lowest constable posts, it covered half the official positions in Shu.

And the names written after those positions were all the names of people from White Wind Stronghold!

“You said that you were oppressed by corrupt officials and hated those who held power. You wanted to place that power in your own hands so you could protect yourself. Then I shall make that possible for you.” Yun Yaoyao stared into his eyes and spoke each word clearly. “The suffering you endured—you may reclaim what was taken from you with your own hands.”

“You…” Chu Fei froze, his expression complicated. “Do you truly trust us this much? Or is this merely a sweetener meant to trick us into serving you?”

“I never joke about matters of importance.” Yun Yaoyao’s expression turned solemn. “I trust you because I investigated you in advance. Everyone whose name appears on this decree is a person of talent. My visit to White Wind Stronghold this time was also a second evaluation.”

“As for you, Chu Fei, I had someone retrieve and examine your examination papers. In your essay on governance, you wrote that you wished to devote your whole heart to the nation’s welfare, and that several strands of white hair had appeared from worrying for the people. Therefore, I am willing to entrust this position to you.”

“I’m leaving.” Yun Yaoyao set down the decree and straightened her sleeves. “Tomorrow, at the third watch before dawn, His Majesty’s army will attack Guangyuan. Whether we can break into Shu and march straight through its territory will be decided by that battle.”

“Whether you are willing to accept this appointment is entirely up to you.”

With that, Yun Yaoyao and Niu Xiu’er left the courtyard.

After the two of them departed, Chu Fei remained seated where he was, staring blankly at the bright-yellow imperial decree.