Chapter 184: Su Wu

Li Wei led his army with unstoppable momentum, while Mu Yunlian followed, requisitioning local resources for supplies.

Xiao Yang didn’t have to worry about the war at all. Her only responsibilities were appointing officials, taking control of the cities, and fully integrating the new lands into her domain.

However, she didn’t need to trouble herself too much with such matters either.

Lists of official appointments were brought to her; all she had to do was sign off on them.

Li Wei was indomitable on the battlefield, and Mu Yunlian’s logistical support was so abundant it was practically overflowing.

Rong Yin and Xiao Lv managed the Imperial Court, while the officials of every department were swamped with work.

All things considered, the person with the most free time turned out to be Xiao Yang.

She was an Emperor with real authority, but she’d somehow ended up living like a mascot.

’One thrives in adversity and perishes in comfort. Hardship forges strength, while decadence just makes you fat...’

Xiao Yang glanced down at her chest, which felt a bit tight. ’Did these things get bigger?’

Xiao Yang wasn’t one to pursue a large bust. ’It’s one of those things you might not use, but you can’t be without. A happy medium is best.’

She took a few more looks and came to a conclusion. They hadn’t grown much, but she had definitely put on some weight.

Xiao Yang lounged in her chair for a while. After much thought, she concluded she truly had nothing to do, so she decided to flip herself over.

"Your Majesty, Marquis Wucheng has sent someone with oranges from Yizhou."

Xiao Yang looked at the bright orange fruits. Their color was tempting and their size uniform; they really did look nice.

But she wasn’t tempted. ’They came from a man who’s planning to rebel. Who knows if they’re poisoned?’

’But this Marquis Wucheng is constantly trying to make his presence known, and he’s even sending gifts so respectfully. His attitude is rather interesting.’

’Could he be trying to show that he has no intention of rebelling?’

Xiao Yang had a list at hand—a list of Marquis Wucheng’s trusted aides and the official factions he was in contact with.

Nobles, prominent families, officials, wealthy merchants—he was thoroughly prepared.

’Having come this far, who would back down now?’

However, Marquis Wucheng, Zhao Cheng’an, was a rather conventional man. He had some ambition, but not enough to blot out the sky. The truly interesting one was the strategist by his side.

This strategist had appeared a year ago. At that time, Zhao Cheng’an was just a Marquis who wanted to make waves but couldn’t quite manage it. He didn’t even have good relationships with the surrounding officials due to his personality.

A year ago, a man named Su Wu appeared out of thin air. To this day, he has no clear origin. He just suddenly showed up within Yizhou’s borders and happened to rescue Zhao Cheng’an’s son and daughter.

He was brought before Zhao Cheng’an, who was so impressed by his talent that he kept him on as a strategist. Afterward, all of Zhao Cheng’an’s actions bore Su Wu’s mark.

Zhao Cheng’an began to cultivate good relationships with the surrounding officials. He widely recruited scholars from poor families as strategists, performed many acts of charity, treated worthy men with courtesy, and gradually built his reputation.

The governor of Yizhou didn’t have a good relationship with Zhao Cheng’an, so Zhao Cheng’an took the governor’s son as his godson, making their two families relatives.

Within a year, Yizhou was completely under Zhao Cheng’an’s control. His army had gradually swelled, and he was now expanding toward Yan Hill, establishing ties with people like Prince Kang. He also had connections in Chenzhou further south.

He was steadily and surely walking the path of rebellion.

Zhao Cheng’an trusted Su Wu implicitly, to the point of heeding his every word. He would consult Su Wu on everything and act entirely according to his wishes.

Not only did Zhao Cheng’an want to marry his daughter to Su Wu, but feeling she wasn’t beautiful enough, he also specially selected two stunning women to send to Su Wu as concubines.

The marriage between Su Wu and Miss Zhao had yet to be finalized, but he accepted the two concubines.

He didn’t indulge in debauchery or carnal pleasures with them. Instead, he trained the two concubines to act as his stewards, and they became a unique spectacle by his side.

’So far, Su Wu hasn’t produced any of the typical things a transmigrator would, yet the signs are everywhere.’

’An ambitious man very similar to Mu Yunlian. But Yun Lian transmigrated as a child and had to claw his way up for years to get where he is today. This new guy, however, found a shortcut the moment he arrived.’

’If this man isn’t a transmigrator, then he’s a truly remarkable figure. If he is, then all Xiao Yang could think was... this world is an absolute sieve!’

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"Report! Your Majesty, General Li has broken through Wumu City!"

"Report! Your Majesty, General Li has broken through Jinzhou!"

"Report! Your Majesty, General Li has broken through Baiyang City!"

The war had begun, and within ten days, Li Wei had conquered three cities.

The people of Da Wei were ecstatic, their blood boiling with excitement.

Prince Jing was pacing in circles, plotting how to completely absorb these cities and even wanting to go and govern them himself.

Winning battles, expanding territory... ’Even though he wasn’t the Emperor, he shared in the glory.’

’The stronger the Emperor became, the more it proved his choices were correct. When he died, he would be able to face his ancestors with a clear conscience.’

Prince Jing wanted to go, but Xiao Hong refused to let him. Those were Beimeng cities, just recently conquered. The locals must despise Da Wei. Who knew if assassins were lying in wait?

Prince Jing was the Emperor Dawei’s uncle. If those people couldn’t get revenge on the Emperor, he would be their first target.

Seeing he couldn’t stop Prince Jing, Xiao Hong could only hand over the administration of Luoyan City to him, while he himself went off to handle logistics, grumbling all the way.

Xiao Yang: "..."

’She hadn’t said a thing, yet this father and son duo were so proactive. Not bad at all.’

’But this Xiao Hong... isn’t he a little prickly?’

’He grumbles and complains about everything, but in the end, he’s the one who volunteers to do it all, acting as if he’s afraid someone else will steal the job from him.’

Officials dispatched from various places began to arrive one after another, a mix of both civil servants and military generals.

Among the officials were a number of old acquaintances whom she had demoted from the Capital to serve as local administrators. To think they would meet again now.

Among the military generals, Ye Shao was also present. It was clear he was eager to distinguish himself and wanted to go to the front lines, but since they weren’t short on men there, he could only remain by Xiao Yang’s side.

"Your Majesty, this is a letter that Qingyi asked me to deliver to you."

Ye Shao reluctantly took out the letter written by Song Qingyi.

’When the Emperor went missing, Song Qingyi had been unable to eat for days. He had finally managed to coax her back to normal, only for her to find out the Emperor had reappeared in Luoyan City. She immediately packed her bags to leave.’

’He had to use every argument he could think of to stop her. When Song Qingyi realized she couldn’t go, she urged him to go instead, asking him to bring things and a letter for Her Majesty, and repeatedly reminded him that he absolutely had to protect Her Majesty well.’

’She was so afraid of any mishap befalling Her Majesty that she even promised to consider their marriage when he returned, as long as he protected the Emperor well.’

’Ye Shao had been desperate to get married, but nothing he said had ever worked. And now, she had finally relented—all for the sake of the Emperor’s safety.’

’He just knew it! Song Qingyi hadn’t completely forgotten the Emperor!!’

Xiao Yang found it amusing. "Ah, a letter from Qingyi. I’ve really made her worry."

She looked at Ye Shao mischievously. "You’re jealous, aren’t you?"

She reached for the letter, but couldn’t pull it free at first. She had to give it a tug to snatch it away.

Seeing Ye Shao’s resentful expression, she burst out laughing, looking utterly triumphant. "Hahaha, you’re jealous! You can never surpass my charm."

Ye Shao’s eyelid twitched. ’The Emperor seems really abnormal. What in the world does Song Qingyi see in her?’