bayedsolid Chapter 2014 The Situation of the State of Chu
Chapter 2014 The Situation of the State of Chu
Feng Mulan's feigned attempt to claim credit was quite different from her usual forthright and cheerful demeanor.
This only highlighted the closeness and tacit understanding between him and Chu Ning, which made the generals around them who knew the situation smile.
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning laughed heartily, feeling extremely pleased. He gripped Feng Mulan's hand tightly and said loudly:
"Of course! I have already prepared a grand banquet in the palace, firstly to welcome you, my beloved consort, and all the meritorious soldiers of the Vermilion Bird Legion, and secondly to reward the three armies!"
"All the meritorious soldiers have been commended by the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War, and will be generously rewarded!"
He then turned to the generals standing solemnly behind him and the tens of thousands of soldiers below the pass, his voice booming like a bell, echoing across the entire field:
"Today, I, the Imperial Concubine, and all of you drink together to celebrate this great victory!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"
"May Great Chu be victorious! May the Vermilion Bird Legion be victorious!"
A thunderous roar of cheers erupted from both inside and outside the pass, the sound so powerful it seemed even the majestic Zhennan Pass trembled slightly in the face of such high morale.
Amidst deafening cheers, Chu Ning personally took Feng Mulan's hand and turned to walk slowly towards the interior of the pass.
Generals such as Feng Anguo followed closely behind, and then bugles sounded and drums thundered.
The crimson torrent of the Vermilion Bird Legion, following their commander and emperor, marched with the steps of victors, passing through the towering gate in a grand and orderly fashion, and merging into the even larger Chu army camp inside Zhennan Pass.
The morale of this formidable pass reached an unprecedented peak thanks to the arrival of this new force.
Everyone knew that the moment of the decisive battle was drawing ever closer.
The scales of victory are steadily tipping in favor of the Great Chu.
The night at Zhennanguan Palace finally returned to tranquility after the grand welcoming banquet.
The daytime hustle and bustle, the clinking of glasses and toasts, and the soldiers' rousing cheers have all receded like the tide.
Only the lanterns hanging from the eaves swayed gently in the chilly night breeze.
The dappled, flickering light and shadows cast on the ground, along with the faint sound of watchtowers echoing from the distant camp, reminded everyone that this was still the wartime command center.
Inside the sleeping quarters, however, was a warm and enchanting place, completely different from the outside world.
The warm floor heating system dispelled all the damp chill of the southern winter night.
Several exquisite palace lanterns emitted a soft glow, illuminating the simple yet imperial furnishings inside the hall.
Feng Mulan had already removed the phoenix-winged gilded armor that symbolized her status as commander, as well as the white veil that always concealed her face on the battlefield.
She changed into a soft, elegant palace dress, her long, flowing hair loosely tied up with a simple jade hairpin, a few strands falling lazily beside her cheeks.
The intense "bedroom scene" that had just ended left her fair and jade-like cheeks still with a lingering, captivating blush, like a red plum blossom blooming in the snow, exquisitely beautiful.
Those eyes, which were as cold and clear as stars on the battlefield, now seemed to be filled with spring water, their shimmering light reflecting off the surface.
She has lost some of her ruthless and decisive sharpness, and gained more of a girl's gentleness and languor.
She breathed softly, nestled against Chu Ning's strong chest, listening to his powerful and steady heartbeat, feeling the rare tranquility and tenderness amidst the chaos of war.
Chu Ning leaned against the headboard, her arm naturally wrapped around Feng Mulan's shoulder, her fingertips idly twirling her loose hair, enjoying this moment of peace.
He looked down at the rare, delicate appearance of the person in his arms, his heart filled with satisfaction and love.
This imperial concubine, who commanded armies with such authority and instilled fear in the enemy, would only reveal such a vulnerable side to him in the most private moments.
After a moment of silence, Chu Ning's deep and magnetic voice rang out in the hall, breaking the tranquility but adding a touch of homely warmth:
"Mulan, during my absence from the capital, is everything still peaceful in the court?"
Although he was far away in the southern border, his heart was with the entire empire, and the stability of the capital was the cornerstone that allowed him to fight on the front lines.
Upon hearing this, Feng Mulan adjusted to a more comfortable position, her voice slightly soft with the afterglow, yet still clear and articulate:
"Your Majesty, rest assured, with Sister Wu Zetian in charge, the affairs of the court are managed in an orderly manner."
"She was capable and knew how to appoint people to their positions. She managed the affairs of the six ministries very well, and the regents were all very dedicated. I have never heard of any major mistakes."
She paused, then continued, "As for the affairs of the inner palace, they are all handled by my sister, Empress Shen. The rules are strict, and everyone is respectful. There has never been a single mistake."
"The two of them, one working outside and the other inside, have a clear division of labor and cooperate seamlessly, which allows me to have fewer worries while I am on the front lines."
Hearing that Wu Zetian and Shen Wanying managed the court and harem so well, a hint of relief and relaxation flashed in Chu Ning's eyes.
He nodded slightly: "That's good. With them around, I can indeed feel much more at ease."
These two women, one a vice empress with both wisdom and courage, and the other a empress with both gentleness and dignity, were his capable assistants in balancing the court and stabilizing the harem.
After inquiring about the affairs of the court, Chu Ning's thoughts naturally turned to his family members far away in the capital.
His voice unconsciously softened, carrying a father's concern and a hint of barely perceptible longing:
"And... what about the children? Xiuning, Tian'er, and Ying'er, are they all well?"
"When I left the capital, Xiuning was still a tomboy, Tian'er still spoke with a babyish voice, and Ying'er could only babble."
Mentioning children, Feng Mulan's face immediately radiated a maternal glow, and even her voice became lighter and more lively:
"Your Majesty's question reveals that the children have changed quite a bit."
A beautiful smile curved her lips as she began to recount:
"Xiuning is now over eight years old, almost nine."
"Her temperament is becoming more and more like her mother's; she's very forthright and doesn't have the slightest bit of a princess's spoiled air."
"For the past six months or so, she has shown little interest in needlework and poetry, but has become extremely obsessed with horseback riding, archery and martial arts."
"He's always pestering the Imperial Guard instructors to learn this and that. I heard that a few days ago he was even clamoring for a small-sized Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), which left Sister Wu both amused and exasperated."
"She had such a spirit, she looked exactly like a young female general."
Chu Ning found it amusing, imagining her daughter's lively antics as she wielded swords and spears, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"This girl has taken after you; she'll probably expand the territory of our Great Chu in the future."
Feng Mulan smiled and continued, "Tian'er is four years old this year, but his personality is completely opposite to Xiuning's. He is very calm and mature for his age."
"The Crown Prince's tutor also praised him, saying that he was extremely focused on his studies, learned to read very quickly, and could already babble a few words about some simple poems. Although his words were immature, they were quite logical, and he seemed to have a good talent for literature."
"He just doesn't seem to like to move around much, and I'm a little worried that his health might be a bit weak."