Chapter 1219 - 300: Military Stratagems (Part 3)

Chapter 1219: Chapter 300: Military Stratagems (Part 3)

"Master Zhang has mentioned, if you enter the palace, Wei Zhonghe might have to step aside."

Ji Chengjue believed that as the emperor’s son, he could understand the imperial intentions, but Zheng Fan was not some long-lost brother of his;

yet he could still perform flawlessly.

"If I enter the palace, I would surely find a way to bring you along, and we could guard the royal tomb together."

"Father’s verbal command..."

"Minister Zheng Fan, I wish for your wellbeing."

"Like death."

"Procedure."

"In my residence, there are no Spy Bureau people. After moving out of the prince’s mansion, Wei Zhonghe didn’t meddle with my residence."

"Alright." Lord Zheng nodded, though he had no intention of standing.

"Father wants you to enter the palace after tomorrow’s court meeting to advise on military affairs in the Imperial Study."

"I already knew, so you prepared me in advance?"

"But why do I feel you seem to support early military action."

"I’m a general; if I don’t like warfare, should I sing praises of peace?"

"But the Yan..."

"You cannot argue with the emperor on this." Zheng Fan stated earnestly.

"I will go with the flow."

"Yes, it’s about time to be like that; don’t burden yourself too much."

"Will you accompany me in the court tomorrow?"

"Do I have to go too?"

"You can wait in the side hall."

"Alright."

"So, did you head out today?"

"I did."

"Where did you go?"

"Lake Heart Pavilion."

"Did you really visit my third brother?"

"I went, indeed. Rivalries are better resolved than maintained. Previously I was not in the capital, so it was fine, but now that I’m in the capital, some matters must conclude.

Visiting the Third Prince at Lake Heart Pavilion, in the eyes of outsiders, at least shows that I, Zheng Fan, still adhere to decorum, and hopefully, it displays to the emperor my sense of awe; as for appearances, everyone can be content."

"What did my third brother talk to you about?"

.....

"Emperor, they conversed about nothing."

"Hmm?"

"The Third Prince frightened Lord Pingye with a paper crossbow. Though explanations were given, Lord Zheng later just sat at the end of the Lake Heart Pavilion’s corridor."

"Sat?"

"The Third Prince wanted to close in, but the closer he got, the more Lord Pingye retreated until finally, the prince gave up. The two sat across the long corridor for an hour without speaking."

"Zheng Fan, typically adept at maneuvering his troops in war, but usually so cautious in person."

"Emperor, perhaps it’s saving a useful body; as the saying goes, a son worth a thousand gold does not sit under a leaning hall."

The Yan Emperor nodded,

spoke:

"Has Li Liangshen entered the city yet?"

"Reporting to the Emperor, Commander Li is still in the military camp outside the city."

"Transmit my edict, say my spirits have been uneasy lately, and order Qian’er to transcribe three hundred Sacred Heart Sutras for my focus."

"Yes, Emperor."

Wei Zhonghe knew this was essentially a way to let the Princess quiet down and was a form of warning and restricted freedom.

The Princess returned to the capital unconscious. Although it was claimed she encountered spirits at Skybreak Mountain, that location is indeed too close to the Snow Sea Pass.

No matter what, during this time, the Emperor would not allow anything to happen to Lord Pingye.

Otherwise, mischief is tolerable, but at this critical junction, the Emperor doesn’t wish for any trouble in the capital.

"Cough cough..."

The Yan Emperor began to cough again.

Wei Zhonghe promptly reached for a cloth but was pushed aside by the Emperor.

"Cough cough..."

This time the coughing was noticeably more severe than usual, and after it subsided, traces of blood were found near the Emperor’s jaw.

"Emperor..."

Wei Zhonghe immediately knelt, assisting in wiping the Emperor.

"Wei Zhonghe."

"Your servant is here."

"Tell me, how much longer can I hold on with this body of mine?"

"Surely the Emperor shall live to a ripe old age, with fortune and longevity..."

"Cough..."

Seeing that the Yan Emperor might get angry, which could trigger intense coughing again, Wei Zhonghe quickly remarked:

"Emperor, your servant truly does not know. Your servant is far below the Grandmaster in skill. If the Grandmaster were still here, with his true pills, the Emperor’s body wouldn’t be in this state."

"Actually, since two years ago, the pills have had little effect. The Grandmaster extended my life force for two years already, but it’s still inadequate."

"Emperor..."

Although rumors among the populace mentioned that the palace’s Grandmaster succumbed to his internal devil at Tianhu Mountain, thus channeling his fortune with the mountain’s aura to replenish what Master Zang consumed by cutting the Dragon Vein,

the Emperor was never one to speak of such matters.

"In recent times, I often dream at night, dreaming about the day Master Zang severed the Yan’s Dragon Vein right in front of me, that dragon seemed identical to my body."

"Emperor..."

The Yan Emperor leaned against the dragon chair, turned his face, gazing at Wei Zhonghe kneeling beside him,

said:

"But I still refuse to believe such things, because if I did, then Master Zang would have succeeded.

Qi cultivators, performing Qi refining, probing destiny, predicting fortunes and misfortunes; their acts are merely deceitful tricks, common folk might be deceived, and they could be forgiven, but am I a commoner?"

"Emperor, wise and formidable, unquestionably cannot be deceived."

"People age, and everyone eventually dies. Master Zang cutting the Dragon Vein is essentially planting an internal devil in me, trying to make me irrational as my body declines."

"Indeed, it must be so."

"I don’t believe in fate; only I can decide my destiny."

The Yan Emperor waved his hand,

said:

"Stay here for the night."

Next to the Imperial Study is a side hall, convenient for the Emperor to rest after handling state affairs.