Princess and the General

A Triumphant Atmosphere (Part Three)

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“The one sending the message to Zhu Guan, have you already set out?”

While the rest of the officials were gathered around Emperor Ning’s bier, Ji DaoGong took advantage of the situation to walk away to the side of the tent.

A servant cupped his hands and said: “They have already gone.
Does my lord have any other instructions?”

“His Majesty passed away, and the imperial guards are without a leader.
Right now, we will obey Imperial Consort Xian and the eldest prince’s orders.
For the sake of avoiding any mishaps, this official can only feel at ease after I have sent one of my own people with the message.”

The servant was shocked, “My lord, that means that you suspect Imperial Consort Xian and the eldest prince…”

Ji DaoGong gave him a muted look, “This old one does not suspect anyone.
It’s just in case something happens.
There’s no need to ask any further.”

As he said this, he pulled out a letter from his pocket, “This is a letter that this old man personally wrote.
Marquis Gu recognizes this old man’s writing.
This letter absolutely must be delivered directly to Marquis Gu.
Do you understand?”

The servant did not dare ask anything else.
Receiving the letter in both hands, he placed it into his pocket, “Yes, this servant will go immediately!”

When the Gu family’s army set out from Zhu Guan, the soldiers stationed at the border remained in place.
The only group setting out were the members of Marquis Gu’s Manor and 500 personal guards.

The winter wind continued to howl while they traveled, and Yu Fu sat inside the carriage that Emperor Ning had sent from the capital.
Inside, it was as warm as spring.

Yao Lan casually leaned back in the carriage with a cushion on her lower back, “It’s so comfortable! His Majesty treats young miss so well.
The things that he sent for princess are so nice and comfortable.”

The carriage was embroidered with a bright-yellow phoenix embroidered on it.
The inside of the carriage was very spacious.
It was spacious enough for seven or eight people to be seated inside without it feeling cramped, and it had a heater to prepare hot tea.

After enduring a month of hardship at the military camp, to be able to enjoy this sort of thing now was truly luxurious.

Yu Fu lifted the curtain and looked outside.
The triumphant army traveling behind the carriage formed a long and orderly line.

Thinking back to the scene of Western Kun’s army retreating that she saw from Zhu Mountain’s peak, Yu Fu felt quite emotional, “The Gu family’s army’s setup is really thorough.
The border cities are protected by their respective armies, but they also work together and help each other.
Even if head general was at the capital, the armies would be able to fight off Western Kun’s invasion.
When head general travels back and forth, he only needs to bring along his personal guards.
It makes the journey much faster.”

“Then what is Western Kun’s army like?”

“Western Kun…”

Yu Fu had an expression that showed her reluctance to compliment them, “Their border defenses are very weak.
It can’t be said that their setup is a problem because they know that Eastern Ling will not invade, thus there’s absolutely no need to strengthen their border defenses.
That’s why their armies are usually stationed around their capital and only set out for the border when it’s time to go to war.”

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Yao Lan could not understand what the differences were and said in confusion: “What is young miss trying to say?”

Yu Fu said: “I’m saying that Western Kun’s army’s setup is not thorough.
Once Eastern Ling launches a counterattack on Western Kun, it would be very easy to take their border cities.”

Yao Lan thought for a bit, “Then if Northern Li wanted to attack Western Kun and Eastern Ling, would it not also be very easy? Over the decades, Northern Li has never attacked the two southern countries, and the two souther countries have no defenses against them.”

Yu Fu nodded, “That’s right.
My fief of ZhenJiang is on Eastern Ling’s border with Northern Li.
I looked through some books about it.
As a location on the border, there are only five hundred soldiers stationed there.”

“Five hundred?”

Yao Lan laughed and thought to herself that the soldiers stationed in ZhenJiang were not even soldiers from the Gu family’s army.
What good would five hundred soldiers accomplish?

Even if they were the best soldiers from the Gu family’s army, such small numbers could not possibly endure an assault from Northern Li.
It was merely a deterrent to them expanding south.

While master and servant chatted inside the carriage, Gu ShuBai and his brothers were also chatting outside the carriage.

“Second brother, stop being mad at father.
Just look at third brother, he doesn’t seem to be holding any grudges? You should be happy that you have third brother to commiserate with you.
When I was left behind by father for three days and three nights, I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it.”

When Gu ShuBai chatted to them after the last battle, no matter how gentle his tone, it just sounded like gloating to Gu JiuGe.

Do not assume that they did not know that the one leading the final charge was Gu ShuBai!

He led his soldiers and was able to have his fill of killing on the battlefield, abandoning his two younger brothers to worry themselves to death in the side cities.
What sort of older brother was this?

Gu JiuGe rolled his eyes at him and did not say anything, while Gu HanMo said: “Eldest brother never spoke about what happened during your first battle.
Since you have brought it up today, why not tell us about it?”

Gu ShuBai immediately saw through his intentions.

He did not really want to hear stories about his first battle.
He just wanted to hear about his own failings.

Gu JiuGe also chimed in, “That’s right, eldest brother.
Father is training us, and you are his accomplice! If you aren’t willing to share your humiliating stories, we won’t agree!”

“How do you plan to refuse to agree? Very well, you even dare to act against eldest brother!”

With the clear sound of swords coming from outside the carriage, Yu Fu could not help but laugh inside the carriage, “Eldest brother isn’t at all steady today.
Why has he started fighting with second brother and third brother?”

Yao Lan lifted the curtain to take a look.
While watching, she explained to Yu Fu, “Isn’t this the joy of a triumphant return? When I was at Zhu Guan’s military camp, I could tell that second young sir and third young sir had already fought with eldest young sir!”

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Yu Fu cozied up to the brazier, “They even want to fight with head general.
Would they dare?”

Master and servant looked at each other and laughed, while the military officers rowdily cheered and watched the three young sirs fight.

Gu HuaiJiang sat inside his carriage with his eyes closed.
Hearing the sounds coming from the outside, he opened the curtain and glanced outside before quickly shutting it.

Yan HuaShi rode in front of the carriage, “Head general, will you not be stopping the young general and the other two?”

“There’s no need.
The army suffered many casualties.
Now that we have this hard-earned victory, let them have some fun.
Don’t be overbearing with the young soldiers.”

He closed his eyes once more and sat calmly inside the carriage.

Yan HuaShi laughed and watched the fight, “That’s right.
The young general and the others are still young.
The other soldiers in the army are also quite young.
The young ones aren’t as calm as we are.
This battle really spoiled them.”

“Good!”

Just as he said this, a loud shout boomed like thunder from the back.

Yan HuaShi immediately covered his ears and bitterly looked at that person, “Lao Jin! Just how old are you that you’re still as excitable as the young ones?”

That battlefield butcher had nearly deafened him.

Lao Jin closely watched the three figures in the air, while his hands moved back and forth, “Do you not know how old I am? Hah, quickly come and take a look.
The young general’s technique is really quite amazing, while the third young sir has improved quite a bit.
It seems that Tian Shu, whom the Deity of Medicine brought to Marquis Gu’s Manor, taught them something really amazing! Hah, should we go and ask the young general to teach us a few things?”

When it came to raw strength, the young ones might not be able to compete with them, but when it came to technique, they were far worse than the young ones.

Yan HuaShi just rolled his eyes, “You’re going to go and ask for advice? Are you able to even get up there as you are?”

Lao Jin looked down, “What’s wrong with how I am? What’s wrong with how I am? It’s just that I have had some good fortune, and my belly has gotten a bit larger? This is a general’s belly.
Do you understand?”

Looking back up into the air, Gu ShuBai pushed the two away with his sword then turned and landed back on his horse, saying with a smile: “It seems that father’s methods were quite effective.
Both of you have made huge improvements!”

“You’re still saying it?”

The two were unwilling to let it go.
In front of others, they were reliable generals, but in front of their brothers, they reverted to being lively young men.

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Gu ShuBai looked at the two with a smile.
Turning his head, he suddenly saw a person rapidly riding toward them in the distance.
Their horse was kicking up a cloud of yellow dust.

This person was carrying a banner on his back.
Upon seeing the Gu family’s army’s banner, he headed straight for them, and everyone turned to look in his direction.

“Lord Marquis Gu! May I ask if Lord Marquis Gu is here? This subordinate has come with a secret message from Lord Ji!”

Aside from Ji DaoGong from the Imperial Censorate, who else in court would be called Lord Ji? Gu HuaiJiang personally stepped out of his carriage, “Bring him over.”

Ji DaoGong was someone who kept a low profile.
In court, he would bide his time and avoid standing out.
Why would he suddenly send someone with an urgent message?

Since he sent this message, there had to be something urgent.

The messenger retrieved the letter and gave it to Gu HuaiJiang.
The seal did indeed belong to Ji DaoGong.
Yu Fu also came out from her carriage and came forward with her brothers.

“What happened in the capital?”

Gu HuaiJiang was in no rush to open the letter and asked the messenger.
The messenger was stunned, “Does Lord Marquis Gu not know?”

The messenger was acting strangely.
What should he know?

Gu HuaiJiang furrowed his brow, while the messenger kneeled and cupped his hands, “His Majesty was attacked by the second prince during the autumn hunt and has already passed away!”

“What?!”

Before anyone could even start coming down from the elation of triumph, they were instantly dragged down into a state of shock and sadness.

Gu HuaiJiang had always been steady.
Not only was he frowning, but he was also swaying.
Yu Fu hastily rushed forward to support him, “Head general…”

He waved his hand and stared at the messenger, “Is what you said true?”

The messenger lowered his head and cupped his hands, “With Lord Ji’s letter as evidence, this subordinate does not dare lie.”

Gu HuaiJiang looked at the letter in a daze, not daring to open it.
He feared that reading the letter would affirm what the messenger had said.

Before he set out for battle, His Majesty had gone against the wishes of the officials and promoted Gu JiuGe and Gu HanMo.
He had always favored Marquis Gu’s Manor greatly.

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Over the years, His Majesty had envied him and suspected him but had never done anything to harm him.

To die so suddenly and at the hands of his own son, Gu HuaiJiang found it hard to accept.

Yu Fu quietly supported him and gave Yao Lan a look.

Just a little while earlier in the carriage, Yao Lan was talking about how thorough and kind His Majesty was, sending a carriage and the things that a princess should have to the border to allow her to be a little more comfortable.

Who knew that in the blink of an eye, they would receive news of His Majesty’s passing.

Gu ShuBai stared at the messenger, “When did this happen? Why did we not hear about this at all?”

The messenger reported: “This subordinate left the hunting ground the morning after His Majesty passed away.
It has been five days since then.
On the night that His Majesty passed away, Lord Ji sent an imperial guard with the news to inform Marquis Gu.
That messenger left one night ahead of this subordinate.
No matter what happened, they should not have arrived later than this subordinate!”

Gu HuaiJiang had already come to an understanding of the situation.
It was possible that someone had control over that imperial guard, and there was someone hoping that he would not quickly return to the capital.
While opening the letter, he said to the messenger: “Carefully explain everything that happened at the hunting ground.”

“Yes! At that time, the group had encircled a wild boar with His Majesty.
Aside from His Majesty, the eldest prince, the second prince, and Prime Minister Yin were in the encirclement.
The four then encircled the boar.
The second prince was standing across from His Majesty and shot the arrow into His Majesty’s chest.
Before we could bring His Majesty down the mountain, he had already stopped breathing and did not say another word.
Lord Ji was worried that there would be drastic changes in court and specifically ordered this subordinate to ask Marquis Gu to quickly return!”

Gu HuaiJiang carefully read the letter, while Gu ShuBai said: “Where were His Majesty’s guards at that time? With the second prince standing across from His Majesty, did nobody think of standing in front of him?”

The messenger said: “Someone did! But His Majesty did not allow it because the night before the hunt, the second prince showed off his accuracy with a bow.
He was able to hit the bullseye in a single shot.
His Majesty said that the second prince was accurate with a bow and was aiming at a boar on the ground, so how could he hit him while he was on a horse? Who knew… hah.”

“The second prince is skilled with a bow?”

Gu JiuGe said: “We in Marquis Gu’s Manor know about the second prince’s skill with a bow.
How could it be considered accurate? But His Majesty was right.
Even if he was not accurate, he could not possibly target a boar on the ground and hit someone who was riding a horse.
Unless it was done deliberately, there is no other possibility.”

It was deliberate?

No sane person would possibly assassinate His Majesty in front of so many people.
This did not benefit the second prince in the slightest.

Gu HuaiJiang had already finished reading the letter and placed it into his sleeve, “The second prince has already been detained for the assassination of His Majesty.
It has already been five days since His Majesty’s passing.
Who knows just how much of a mess the court has become.
Get on your horses.
From here on out, we will be rushing back to the capital!”

He turned back and returned to his carriage, while the soldiers put aside their earlier joy and immediately became serious.

The group of 500 soldiers did not ask any questions and just orderly mounted their horses.
They continued their hurried journey back to the capital, and even the young Yu Fu and Yao Lan acted without any sloppiness.

The messenger watched in a daze, and Yan HuaShi said to him: “You’ve worked hard to rush here.
Come with our group back to the capital.”