Chapter 26: Memories of Yore

Listening to the complaints of his subordinates, Jun Du Zhao finally said, “Enough, there is no use in saying more. After all, a general from the military died at my hands; they must show some response, or how could they maintain their authority?”

A general interjected, “Ah! If the Fourth Young Master had been a bit more ruthless back then and killed those fellows, wouldn’t everything be fine now?”

Jun Du Zhao smiled faintly, “In times of turmoil, it is right to deter the small-minded, but if we were to slaughter indiscriminately, it would be wrong and not benefit the greater cause.”

Once Jun Du Zhao spoke, the generals did not dare to say much more. One, still dissatisfied, mumbled, “The Duke of Cheng’en would not be so easy to talk to!”

In the central area of the City of Unfallen, within a grand mansion reserved by the Zhao clan, Wei Huang Zhao, clad in armor, walked through the corridors and entered a pavilion by the water.

Princess Gao Yi sat by the window, hearing the door open, but she did not turn her head, only gazing at the pool outside.

Wei Huang Zhao sat down opposite her, with a somewhat embarrassed smile.

Gao Yi poured herself a cup of tea, sipped it lightly, and then set it down, still looking out the window. Throughout the entire time, she did not look at Wei Huang Zhao once. When he tried to pour himself a cup of tea, he found there was only one teacup on the table. He looked around the room, but could not find another. He coughed dryly and withdrew his hand.

Gao Yi held her teacup, staring out the window as if she could sit there for an eternity.

The more silent she was, the more restless Wei Huang Zhao became. There was no sign of the man who once held sway over the Western Frontier, let alone the one who had been a contender to replace Xi Tang Lin and take charge of the suppression of the rebels in the West.

“Uh, hehe…” Wei Huang Zhao could not help but speak, but after his “hehe,” Gao Yi remained unresponsive, leaving all his subsequent words unsaid, resulting in only more “hehe.”

Wei Huang Zhao laughed dryly for a long time, until even Gao Yi could not bear to watch him anymore. She glared at him and said, “Rascal!”

Wei Huang Zhao immediately put on a smile and bowed, “This time, I am truly grateful to have you here, otherwise, I would not know what to do.”

Faced with the Duke of Cheng’en’s thick skin, Gao Yi felt helpless and gave him another sharp look, “If not for Jun Du and Ruoxi, do you think I would bother with this mess?”

“Of course, of course!”

Gao Yi sighed softly, “That boy is bold and impulsive, just like you.”

Wei Huang Zhao’s face turned slightly awkward, “I was only like that when I was young…”

Gao Yi snorted, “But Qian Ye is genuine and loyal, in this regard, he is far better than someone I know.”

Wei Huang Zhao, feeling very embarrassed, just chuckled, not knowing what to say.

Gao Yi set down her teacup, “This matter has grown too large, and those people are indeed out of line, which is why I came. However, this is only the beginning. All I can do is keep the imperial family out of it. What about you, what are you going to do?”

At the mention of state affairs, Wei Huang Zhao straightened up, exuding a commanding aura. He said, “If the military wants Jun Du to come for a hearing, I will let him go. But it’s easier to invite someone than to send them back. With Jun Du not on the front lines, his defense zone will be handed over to those people. Let’s see how long they can hold it!”

“Aren’t you afraid that Jun Du will suffer in their hands?”

Wei Huang Zhao laughed heartily, “If they dare to touch a hair on Jun Du’s head, I’ll make sure to crack open that old man’s skull!”

Gao Yi frowned slightly, reproaching, “Rude! You always act so recklessly, without considering the consequences. This is a matter of state!”

Wei Huang Zhao sneered, “I haven’t seen those people ever put state affairs in their hearts. Their heads are filled with dirty secrets. If they want to stir up trouble, I’ll make it bigger for them. If they have the guts, they can try to hold Jun Du’s defense line. I want to see what they’re made of on the battlefield. Damn it, in my prime…”

Just as he was getting carried away, he saw Gao Yi’s ambiguous expression, deflating like a cat doused with water. He smiled awkwardly, “Well, I did do some foolish things back then.”

“Just foolish things?” Gao Yi pressed.

Wei Huang Zhao suddenly felt very troubled. Any answer to this question would be wrong. He kept rubbing his hands, chuckling “hehe” for a long time, but nothing came out.

Fortunately, Princess Gao Yi did not intend to make it too difficult for him. She said calmly, “Qian Ye is quite remarkable. He saved Ruoxi back then and now Jun Du. Even I have grown fond of him. But by ‘remarkable,’ I mean in character. Qian Ye’s talent, in my view, is no less than Jun Du’s. How can it be simply described as ‘quite remarkable’? So, I’m rather curious, what kind of person is his mother, to have given birth to such a child?”

Wei Huang Zhao’s face alternated between pale and flushed, and he stopped chuckling, holding his breath, eyes fixed on a small spot on the floor, as if there was a rare treasure buried there.

Gao Yi smiled faintly, “Ruoxi has been acting strangely lately. As a father, you should pay more attention to her, instead of always focusing on the Western Frontier. If I hadn’t come in time, perhaps the Manjushaka would have been unleashed.”

Wei Huang Zhao was startled, “Is that true?”

Gao Yi sighed, not saying anything more.

Wei Huang Zhao stood up immediately, “No, I need to talk to that little girl!”

Without waiting for Gao Yi’s reply, he hurried away, as if fleeing.

In the quiet chamber, Ruo Xi Zhao sat cross-legged on the bed, her face calm and expressionless. The Manjushaka was placed in a distant secret chamber, guarded by three clan elders. Everyone knew, however, that if Miss Zhao wanted to activate the Manjushaka, they could not stop her.

If not for the purpose for which Miss Zhao intended to use the Manjushaka, it would be a good thing, indicating her control over it had improved. But now, everyone in the mansion was terrified, fearing she might do something again.

Wei Huang Zhao entered the quiet chamber and sat in front of Ruo Xi, “Ruo Xi, your mother and I think it’s necessary to talk to you.”

Ruo Xi did not lift her eyelids, “What about?”

“Oh, well…” Wei Huang Zhao began to feel a headache. He had been so eager to escape earlier that he forgot to ask what was wrong with Ruo Xi.

Ruo Xi raised her head, her eyes flashing dangerously, “Dad, don’t come here to avoid Mom’s scolding.”

Wei Huang Zhao wobbled, almost falling. He then felt embarrassed and said sternly, “You are too young to understand. There is no problem between me and your mother. What could she possibly scold me for?”

“No problem? What about Brother Qian Ye?”

Wei Huang Zhao almost fell again.

He forced himself to sit properly, “Ruo Xi, you’re not a child anymore. Qian Ye gets along well with you, Jun Du, Jun Hong, and even Yu Ying. Isn’t that good? Besides, those things from the past are complicated and cannot be explained in a few words.”

But Ruo Xi was not easily fooled, “If a few words can’t explain it, then use more.”

Wei Huang Zhao felt the conversation was at an impasse, harrumphed heavily, and left the chamber. Only after he left did he realize he had not figured out why his daughter was acting strangely.

In the City of Unfallen, the imperial military base had been rebuilt and expanded to cover an entire block. Craftsmen and soldiers worked day and night, and transport trucks and construction vehicles often blocked the nearby streets.

This place, originally a temporary base, was now expanding, involving many aristocratic families, but no one objected. Previously, it was managed by a brigadier general, and Feng Shui Li did not step forward. Now, it was different, as the former Imperial Marshal had taken over.

In the newly built main building, the old man who had attacked Qian Ye stood with his hands behind his back, pacing. A brigadier general beside him read a letter aloud, each point making the old man’s face darken further.

Although the brigadier general was also a strong warrior, as the old man’s expression grew gloomier, his voice began to tremble. After all, despite retiring from his position as Marshal, Wu Daoyu’s strength had not diminished much. His name, whether in the past or present, had been feared by many.

Finally, the brigadier general finished reading the letter. Wu Daoyu stopped and asked coldly, “Finished?”

“All done.”

Wu Daoyu sneered, “Bring in the Zhao clan. I want to know what gives them the audacity to make such demands!”

The brigadier general rushed out and soon led in another brigadier general, who looked to be in his thirties, with a resolute and capable demeanor. He saluted Wu Daoyu and stood straight, awaiting his questions.

Wu Daoyu’s gaze fell on the Smoke Wolf emblem on the brigadier general’s uniform, and he narrowed his eyes, “They say the Duke of Cheng’en is skilled at leading troops, and the Smoke Wolf Legion is full of talent. It seems true. What is your name?”

The Zhao clan brigadier general bowed slightly and said firmly, “My name is Cheng Yi Zhao.”

Wu Daoyu’s eyes narrowed imperceptibly, “You are a Zhao? From which house?”

“I am currently affiliated with the Duke of You, but I am a branch member of the Zhao clan, not the main line.”

Wu Daoyu’s face darkened, “In the Duke of You and in the Smoke Wolf Legion, hmm, good, very good. I heard the Duke of Cheng’en is in the City of Unfallen. Did he send you?”

Cheng Yi Zhao replied, “I came on the Duke of You’s orders. The letter should be clear.”

Wu Daoyu’s face darkened, and his oppressive aura spread, making the two brigadier generals pale and waver. Then he said, “I wonder how the Duke of You, with his foresight, could propose such absurd conditions. Could it be that some underlings are playing tricks?”

Cheng Yi Zhao’s legs creaked under the pressure, about to buckle.

But he glared at Wu Daoyu, blood seeping from the corners of his eyes, still refusing to kneel. Though he could not speak, he smirked, his contempt clear in his eyes.

Wu Daoyu’s eyes twitched, realizing further pressure could seriously injure or even kill Cheng Yi Zhao. He couldn’t really hurt him, as that would provoke the Zhao clan. Both the Duke of You and the Duke of Cheng’en were not to be trifled with.

Wu Daoyu retracted his aura, but Cheng Yi Zhao burst into a long laugh, “I bet you didn’t dare to hurt me here!”