The border.
The rations had not yet arrived, but Xi Zixing's letter flew into Zhongyi City ahead of them.
There were two letters in total.
One for Qu Dubian, and one for Xia Fuyang.
The two opened and read them together.
After reading his own, Qu Dubian smiled and said, "He's quite worried about public opinion in the capital, reminding me to keep a low profile."
But was that something he could do just because he wanted to?
"He's right, adding oil to a roaring fire invites disaster," Xia Fuyang agreed. "But we're in the Northern Frontier right now, far from the emperor's reach. If someone is jealous of your achievements and wants to make things difficult for you, they'll have to wait until we return to the capital."
Qu Dubian said, "We'll worry about the future later. Let's see yours."
Xia Fuyang muttered as he opened the letter, "What kind of letter is this guy writing to me? Does he miss me too...?"
The first sentence that caught his eye:
Tsk, writing the title 'Tanhua' still doesn't feel right...
Smack! Xia Fuyang slammed the letter onto the table. Qu Dubian's eyelids twitched. "What are you doing! I haven't even read it yet. What did he write to make you so agitated?"
Xia Fuyang ground his teeth for a moment before smiling. "It's nothing."
He stood up, grabbed Qu Dubian by the shoulders, and pushed him out of the tent. "Alright, alright, I'll read the rest myself. You go busy yourself first!"
With that, he firmly closed the tent flap.
Qu Dubian was puzzled. "What are these two whispering about?"
When did their friendship get so deep? Even he wasn't allowed to read the letter.
Inside the tent.
Xia Fuyang resumed reading the letter.
His face twisted uncontrollably, and finally, he simply tore the letter to pieces.
The letter was incredibly concise throughout. On one hand, it instructed him to look after His Highness and make sure he didn't get hurt too much; on the other hand, it was sarcastic and passive-aggressive right from the very first sentence.
Xi Zixing, that bastard!
Did he even need to say that? As if he wouldn't look after His Highness well??
After fuming for a while, Xia Fuyang chewed over the underlying meaning and suddenly laughed.
Xi Zixing was a bit aloof and proud, generally quite polite under normal circumstances, and wouldn't easily take jabs at people. But this letter of his was full of sarcastic remarks right from the start. What did that mean?
It meant he was incredibly envious of the fact that Xia Fuyang got to kill enemies alongside His Highness.
He was envious but couldn't come, so it had evolved into jealousy.
Haha!
Xi Zixing was jealous of him!
Xia Fuyang pasted the torn letter back together and gleefully stored it away.
He swore he would write an analysis of this letter, take it into his coffin, and have it carved onto his epitaph so that future generations would ruthlessly mock Xi Zixing's jealous behavior.
-
Night.
The commander-in-chief's tent.
Qu Dubian, dressed in his sleepwear, sat cross-legged on the bed, holding a mirror in one hand to inspect the bridge of his nose.
He was checking to see if there were any needle marks on his nose.
Having stuck so many needles into it, he hoped he hadn't made his nose crooked. He didn't want to be a crooked-nosed general.
After examining it for a moment, the youth nodded in satisfaction. His technique was good, he had found the right spots, and everything was perfect.
Qu Dubian picked up a silver needle from under his pillow. After sterilizing it, he gathered internal energy in his hand, channeled it into the silver needle, and was just about to stick another needle into himself when his wrist was suddenly grabbed.
"Liuliu."
Qu Dubian looked up.
Yi Shier didn't say a word, nor did he let go.
Qu Dubian said, "Be good. I'll tell you a storybook tale after I finish my acupuncture."
Yi Shier's attitude was uncharacteristically firm. He snatched the silver needle Qu Dubian was holding and confiscated it.
"There are no battles recently. Your Highness doesn't need to take to the battlefield, so you don't have to do the acupuncture."
"...Actually, I think..."
Yi Shier mimicked Qu Dubian's speaking format and said earnestly, "Be good, or I'll tattle."
Now it was Qu Dubian's turn to be speechless. He let out a long sigh and collapsed onto the bed, his long hair cascading over the edge. He kicked the blanket away, scooped up a pillow to hug in his arms, his sleeping posture a complete mess.
The youth stared blankly at the roof of the tent, his eyes devoid of focus.
After Yi Shier confiscated his silver needle, he didn't leave.
A moment later, he asked hesitantly, "Your Highness, do you have a headache?"
"Hmm?"
Yi Shier had previously been busy with the Supervisory Department's affairs. It was only recently, after digging up all the gold and silver bribes Feng Bing had accepted from the Northern Frontier, that he finally had the time to continue staying by Qu Dubian's side.
He noticed that the frequency of Qu Dubian pinching the bridge of his nose, rubbing his temples, and closing his eyes for short rests was getting higher and higher.
Only people with headaches would act like this.
Yi Shier squatted down. "Has stimulating your acupoints to block your sense of smell already started affecting other things?"
Qu Dubian immediately closed his eyes. "No."
Yi Shier stayed quiet for a few seconds and didn't contradict him. "Let me massage your head for Your Highness. It will help you sleep."
He pressed two fingers against Qu Dubian's temples, his fingertips slightly cool, and gently massaged them.
Qu Dubian murmured something that Yi Shier didn't catch, but he could feel Qu Dubian's breathing and heartbeat gradually steadying.
His Highness had fallen asleep.
His sleeping posture was unrestrained, sprawled out diagonally across the bed.
There was a faint layer of dark shadows under his eyes.
Yi Shier stopped his hands, gathered the hair that was hanging off the edge of the bed, and took the opportunity to straighten out his sleeping posture.
This situation felt somewhat familiar; he had done this before.
Finally, he tucked Qu Dubian in properly with the blanket before leaving.
-
Five days after Xi Zixing's letter arrived.
The rations for Zhennan Pass arrived.
The rations for the Northern Frontier border did not arrive.
Another eight days passed, and the rations still hadn't arrived.
This had already exceeded the normal time required to transport grain to the border.
Qu Dubian sent Ye Lianyang out to meet the supply convoy, but he couldn't find a single trace of them.
He sent a message to Tang Yisu, who was in charge of transporting the grain. The reply he received stated that a sudden heavy downpour had made the roads muddy and difficult to traverse, delaying the transport, and that they were still on their way.
At this time, the remaining food at the border was no longer enough to feed the soldiers.
Qu Dubian had no choice but to temporarily reduce the logistics department's rations to ensure the frontline soldiers were fed first.
Logistics were also extremely important. After their food was reduced, the speed of resupplying slowed down significantly. Some simply filled their stomachs with water, and after drinking, found a place to rest, trying to move as little as possible.
Qu Dubian could only be thankful that it wasn't winter.
Otherwise, the body would burn more heat, food would be consumed faster, and it would probably be even more agonizing than it was now.
The people of the Northern Frontier seemed to have noticed something. The frequency of their harassing attacks had noticeably increased over the past few days, perhaps as a way of testing the waters.
Xia Fuyang sent another message to the supply convoy, urging them to speed up.
But the reply he got was still that the roads were muddy, one cart of grain had already overturned, and to prevent further accidents, they could only proceed cautiously.
Xia Fuyang laughed out of sheer anger. "This excuse... Is the person in charge of this grain transport just inexperienced, or is this intentional? If they delay any longer, I'll start suspecting he's a spy for the Northern Frontier!"
"The food in the city won't last. If the soldiers go hungry for even a day, their spirit and energy will be completely off. When the Northern Frontier attacks again, won't our casualties double?"
"Little Seven, how about you hold down the fort in the main city, and I'll lead troops out to fetch the grain? I refuse to believe they can be this slow if we go out to meet them!"
Qu Dubian leaned with both hands on the edge of the table, reading the background files of the person in charge of transporting the grain this time, which Liuliu had compiled overnight.
The escort officer, Deputy Envoy of Waterway Transport, Tang Yisu. He had a slick personality and mediocre skills, but simply because he had never made any mistakes, he eventually rose to the position of Deputy Envoy over time.
How could a person who had never made a mistake and had served as a Deputy Envoy for so many years delay the military rations for the border?
"Wait one more day."
Qu Dubian said. "If they still haven't arrived, follow the transport route to meet them. Even if you have to snatch it, bring it back."
-
The next day.
When Xia Fuyang went out to patrol the camp, Tang Yisu arrived at the main city.
Qu Dubian let out a sigh of relief upon hearing the news and immediately asked, "Has all the grain been stored in the warehouse?"
Ye Lianyang shook his head. "No, the grain hasn't arrived. Only Lord Tang and a few others came."
"The people arrived, but not the grain?"
"Lord Tang said the grain will arrive shortly, but he needs to see you first. He has something to discuss with you in private."
"See me in private..."
Qu Dubian furrowed his brows.
Why would Tang Yisu want to see him in private instead of handing over the grain?
He suppressed the trace of strangeness in his heart. "I will make a trip to the main city. When Xia Fuyang returns, tell him to guard the city. I'll be back soon."
Ye Lianyang: "Boss, let me go with you!"
Qu Dubian patted his shoulder. "Follow your orders. Liuliu going with me is enough."
Ye Lianyang glanced at Yi Shier by Qu Dubian's side and silently lowered his head.
"Alright."
He wasn't a match for personal guard Liuliu anyway.
Qu Dubian packed up briefly, selected a hundred men from his thousand-man personal guard, and hurried to the main city with Yi Shier.
They galloped all the way.
The main city.
Tang Yisu was waiting eagerly.
As the hundred-strong army rode toward the city, his gaze instantly locked onto the Seventh Prince.
For no other reason.
He was simply too dazzling.
Months of border warfare had inevitably added an aura of slaughter to him, yet it hadn't diminished his innate nobility in the slightest.
Tang Yisu narrowed his eyes, watching the Seventh Prince dismount cleanly and nimbly.
Qu Dubian walked up to him. "Lord Tang."
Tang Yisu smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Your Seventh Highness."
Qu Dubian asked directly, "Why is there no grain?"
Tang Yisu made an inviting gesture. "Please allow me to explain the reasons to Your Highness in detail."
The place he was staying at was one of the better houses in the city.
Qu Dubian glanced at him and stepped inside. Yi Shier followed beside him but was stopped by Tang Yisu. "Please remain here, sir. My words are for His Highness's ears only."
Yi Shier stopped in his tracks and looked toward Qu Dubian.
Qu Dubian unfastened the saber at his waist and handed it to Yi Shier. "Wait for me outside."
He followed Tang Yisu inside. He really wanted to see exactly what this Lord Tang was plotting.
Inside the house.
Only after entering did he realize that the interior was much more elegant than its exterior suggested.
On the small desk meant for conversation, there was even a vase leisurely arranged with various flowers and plants.
Unexpectedly.
Someone was already sitting by the desk.
Qu Dubian said in surprise, "Eunuch Cui."
"Greetings, Your Highness," Cui Rong bowed and poured him a cup of tea. "Please."
Qu Dubian sat opposite him and glanced at Tang Yisu. "Weren't you the one who had something to discuss with me? How did it become Eunuch Cui?"
Tang Yisu replied respectfully, "Eunuch Cui will speak first. I am in no hurry."
After saying that, he excused himself and stepped out.
Now, only Qu Dubian and Cui Rong were left in the room.
"Eunuch Cui, for what matter have you come?"
Qu Dubian knew Cui Rong. He was the Old Geezer's confidant and wouldn't easily come out to handle matters. If he was here, it could only mean that the task the Old Geezer had assigned him was of utmost importance.
Cui Rong: "Your Highness has grown up."
Qu Dubian took a sip of tea, waiting for his next words.
"The border is still the same as before."
Cui Rong sighed with emotion, then suddenly seemed to remember something. "Oh... Your Highness's uncle, Commander Xu, who is currently leading troops at Zhennan Pass, was also fighting against Northern Xinjiang at the border when he was your age."
"I also came here once back then, and later, it was I who escorted Commander Xu back to the capital. In a flash, so many years have passed, and his legs have actually healed."
"..."
Qu Dubian raised his eyes. A few seconds later, he asked calmly, "Eunuch Cui, what do you mean?"
His fingers resting on the edge of the teacup tightened unconsciously.
Cui Rong: "Back then, I came under orders, and today, I also come under orders."
He took out a pitch-black dagger from his breast pocket. The scabbard was carved with a golden dragon, and a single character was inscribed on the hilt: Execute.
"This is bestowed upon you by His Majesty, granting you the authority to execute first and report later. With this dagger, if you find anyone suspected of colluding with the enemy and committing treason while marching at the border, you may execute them on the spot without needing to submit a memorial."
Qu Dubian didn't move, so Cui Rong had to place it on the table.
Immediately after, he took out another item.
A small cyan bottle.
"This is what His Majesty intends to bestow upon Commander Xu after the war at Zhennan Pass concludes."
Qu Dubian: "What is it?"
Cui Rong: "Tendon and Bone Destroyer."
Qu Dubian didn't speak. He put down his teacup, picked up the small bottle to touch it, and then checked the simulator's explanation.
The room fell silent for a moment.
"Since it's for my uncle, why has it come to me?"
Cui Rong said, "There is only one dose of the medicine. If one person takes it, naturally, the other person won't have to."
"Eunuch Cui," Qu Dubian put down the bottle and asked, "I want to know, are those words from His Majesty, or did you decide this on your own?"
"His Majesty dotes on you and naturally wouldn't want Your Highness to suffer."
Cui Rong smiled. "It's just that I feel Commander Xu finally managed to stand up from his wheelchair with great difficulty; there's no reason for him to suffer that pain a second time. And considering he is your uncle, perhaps you could bear this burden for him once?"
