When Fang Linyuan returned to the Yuntai Hall, Zhao Chu was sitting at the desk reading memorials.

Hearing the voice of the palace maid outside greeting him, Zhao Chu looked up, slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t expected him to return to the palace so early today.

As for Fang Linyuan, standing not far away, for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

Just now, he had been carried away in a rush of hot blood, his head filled entirely with thoughts of Zhao Chu. Now that Zhao Chu was right before him, he instead didn’t know what to say.

Fortunately, Zhao Chu didn’t ask him anything either.

Zhao Chu merely looked at him, his gaze pausing for a moment before a smile spread across his face. He raised a hand and beckoned: “Why are you standing there? Come here.”

As soon as Fang Linyuan walked over, Zhao Chu pulled him into his arms.

“Did you see him?” Zhao Chu asked.

Fang Linyuan nodded, his eyes happening to sweep over the memorial on the desk. “Mm. …Hm? Prince Consort Li wants a divorce?”

He had been responding when the contents written on the open memorial startled him.

He looked at Zhao Chu in surprise, only to see Zhao Chu nod.

“Mm,” he said. “I agreed to it.”

The memorial already bore imperial vermilion comments approving the request, along with a separate grant of a residence.

“When was this?” Fang Linyuan had no impression at all.

“When I had him carry a message to you in the palace,” Zhao Chu said. “But he’s quite clever. I hadn’t intended to approach him—he noticed on his own and came forward.”

Fang Linyuan was taken aback, understanding even less. “Noticed?” he asked. “Noticed what—that His Majesty had me imprisoned?”

Zhao Chu nodded.

“At that time, Jiang Hongluan had just died, and Zhao Yao hadn’t been able to see the Emperor, so she had Li Zhe use the excuse of visiting the Ninth Princess to come to the palace every day to seek an audience.”

“Why didn’t she go herself?”

Zhao Chu chuckled. “She was afraid of provoking the Emperor’s annoyance and losing his favor even more,” he said. “She’s always looked down on Li Zhe’s humble family background. With Jiang Hongluan gone, she had even less backing—how would she dare stake herself on such a gamble?”

This Sixth Princess really was…

But thinking back to the few times he had seen her before, and then to her actions this time, Fang Linyuan wasn’t all that surprised.

“He took the initiative to tell me the news,” Zhao Chu continued, idly rubbing Fang Linyuan’s lower back as he spoke. “I told him there was no need to meddle, so he probably guessed I already had a plan.”

“It tickles.” Fang Linyuan’s back tingled from his touch, and he hurriedly shifted to avoid it.

But the armchair had only so much space; instead of escaping, he was cornered by Zhao Chu.

Zhao Chu smiled and kissed him.

“Mm,” he said. “Then he asked if I had any message to send you. He said he was gradually able to see the Ninth Princess in those two days, and could spend some time in the palace each day.”

With nowhere left to avoid, Fang Linyuan gave up.

“Then he really was taking a risk,” he said.

“Yes, which is why I only told you in my letter to rest assured, and then I asked him what he wanted,” Zhao Chu said. “He said he had no particular desires—if possible, he only wanted freedom.”

“What about the Sixth Princess then?”

“Let her be,” Zhao Chu said with a careless smile. “Marriage is supposed to be free. If Li Zhe truly wants to divorce, I can’t stop him.”

Hearing this, Fang Linyuan thought for a moment, then nodded.

Zhao Chu was indeed right. Besides, even if the Emperor changed, princes and princesses would still be provided for by the court. Disputes like a husband and wife parting ways would, at most, only be a loss of face.

“Speaking of which, has the Ninth Princess’s name been decided yet?” Fang Linyuan asked.

Zhao Chu gave an “Mm,” freed a hand, and flipped through the pile of memorials: “The Ministry of Rites submitted two names. Let me see…”

Fang Linyuan already knew they had proposed two names for her.

But recalling the calm yet stubborn look in the little girl’s eyes that day, Fang Linyuan paused and said to Zhao Chu, “Perhaps this is something we could ask her about?”

Zhao Chu paused: “What?”

“The last time I saw her, she struck me as a very opinionated child,” Fang Linyuan mentionned. “I’d imagine she already has something in mind.”

Hearing this, Zhao Chu couldn’t help but look at him a few more times, the smile in his eyes carrying some meaning Fang Linyuan couldn’t quite read.

“What is it?” he asked.

“You seem to like children quite a bit,” Zhao Chu said, his gaze faintly tinged with ambiguity for some reason.

Fang Linyuan’s expression stiffened slightly.

“It’s not about liking or not liking—just respecting her personal wishes,” he said, and then, warily, he tried to stand up.

But Zhao Chu had already encircled him. “If you like them, we could try too.”

“Try what?”

After a moment of silence, Zhao Chu answered Fang Linyuan with action.

Fang Linyuan: “…Zhao Chu!”

He ground his teeth in frustration.

Unfortunately, he still could not yet stand in the imperial court. Otherwise, he would have submitted ten memorials accusing Zhao Chu of being debauched and licentious.

*

After that, Zhao Chu never again asked about Lin Zizhuo’s whereabouts.

Instead, it was Shi Shen who specially ordered someone to deliver some items—banknotes, estates, and letters of appointment—completely intact to the Yuntai Hall. The messenger said that the gentleman who had just been released from prison only asked Shi Shen for a horse, and then left through the south gate of the city.

He had chosen none of the options—whether out of remorse and shame, or for the sake of preserving his last shred of dignity.

Fang Linyuan did not press the matter further. He understood well the principle that partings and reunions have their appointed times, and he knew Lin Zizhuo was still young, highly skilled in martial arts; even if penniless, he would never be without a place to go.

The matter of Emperor Hongyou was settled. Seeing that the emperor had already become a cripple, and that the Third Prince had committed such an act of high treason, there was, for the time being, no one in court who voiced further objections to Zhao Chu.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau, having received Zhao Chu’s orders, began methodically surveying the heavens to choose an auspicious date for Zhao Chu’s enthronement.

The next evening, Fang Linyuan met with the general who had returned from Longxi bringing news of victory.

He knew this general well—it was Cao Yangqiu, under Zhuo Fangyou’s command, barely twenty years old now but already following him for several years.

The young officer, his skin tanned dark from the sun, had barely completed his salute before his excitement spilled over.

“General!” he said. “It’s been a year—I can finally see you again!”

They met at the Garrison Command, and Fang Linyuan took him to a nearby tavern, ordering two pots of the capital’s unique huadiao wine.

After two cups, Cao Yangqiu smiled and said, “Back then, General Zhuo said the wine in the capital was sweet as sugar water. I didn’t believe him—but now that I’ve tasted it, it really is like sweet water!”

Fang Linyuan was amused, but did not forget to ask, “Let’s talk about the important matter first. I saw the battle report from Longxi was quite sketchy—what exactly happened?”

At this, Cao Yangqiu brightened with energy.

He explained that the battle report was sent in haste, and since the capital had specially dispatched General Fang, Zhuo Fangyou feared Fang would worry. So as soon as the fighting ended, he sent the news of victory back to the capital without delay.

It was just as Fang Linyuan had guessed.

Yumen Pass was a vast fortress occupying a natural strategic barrier—much easier to defend than Hulao Pass.

The defensive strategy Fang Linyuan had drawn up beforehand—what Longxi locals called the “Marquis Ding Plan”—was indeed thorough and meticulous. Zhuo Fangyou implemented it step by step, and Yumen Pass was secured so tightly that not even water could seep through.

In addition, all the gold and silver Fang Linyuan and Zhao Chu had sent were converted into grain seeds and farming tools, which were distributed to the people of Longxi’s towns. They confiscated the silver from the population, taking only a tenth of their harvest in autumn to supply the garrisons.

Thus, this year, Longxi’s storehouses were full, its troops strong and well-fed. The starving and freezing Turkic soldiers were routed within just two days.

Speaking of this, Cao Yangqiu could not help but sigh repeatedly. “These days, the soldiers in Longxi all say you’re like a heavenly general descended to earth! When Yumen Pass was lost back then, you were still a boy—yet after recapturing it, you returned to the capital within days, and with nothing but a border defense map, you held Yumen Pass as secure as an iron cauldron!”

Hearing such praise, Fang Linyuan only smiled and shook his head. “That’s an exaggeration,” he said. “You were the ones who defended the pass—I merely fought on paper.”

“If fighting on paper can win battles, then that’s truly a world-shaking talent!” At this, Cao Yangqiu’s face darkened with indignation. “But none of us expected that it wouldn’t be you who came to Yumen Pass. On the road, I heard all about the capital’s affairs—the emperor didn’t even trust you. Fortunately, His Fifth Highness is as brave as any man. If you had truly been… discarded after the hunt was over, how could the border troops not feel bitterly cold in their hearts?”

Fang Linyuan quickly cut him off, saying sternly, “Do not speak rashly of the sovereign.”

Cao Yangqiu’s expression still held traces of doubt. After all, that sovereign might not be sovereign for much longer.

But since he had always respected Fang Linyuan, hearing this, he dropped the subject. “Still, His Fifth Highness truly is a heroine among women!”

“How so?” Fang Linyuan asked.

“This morning I entered the palace for an audience, attending the early court session along with the others,” Cao Yangqiu said with a grin. “Now that His Fifth Highness holds power, we naturally respect her. But quite a few in court still do not. Yet Her Highness’s methods are formidable, and her actions swift and decisive—those officials may mutter sourly under their breath, but they dare not truly act against her.”

Hearing this, a faint smile touched Fang Linyuan’s lips. He knew well how capable Zhao Chu was—but hearing it from others was still different.

Speaking of this, Cao Yangqiu could not help but ask, “But General, what are your plans now?”

Fang Linyuan looked at him and saw that he seemed hesitant, even a little flushed beneath his tanned skin.

“In all the dynasties of our history… there’s never been a female emperor,” Cao Yangqiu said. “So, General, you…”

“Don’t worry about me,” Fang Linyuan replied. “But since you mention it, I actually do have something I want to ask you.”

“Please speak, General!”

“The soldiers of Longxi were all trained under me—I trust them completely,” Fang Linyuan said.

Cao Yangqiu nodded vigorously.

“This great victory has made me realize for the first time—if military strategy is sufficiently sound, drawing on many strengths and adapting to local conditions, then even following the plan step by step can ensure a steady victory. If we could enable the generals of all four borders to defend their posts this securely, then perhaps our current peace could last much longer.”

Hearing this, Cao Yangqiu also nodded. “It’s just a pity—not everyone can be like you, General, and write such flawless military plans.” After nodding, he sighed again.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be me. Take the Eldest Princess, for example—her skill in commanding the navy like a deity is something few could match,” Fang Linyuan said.

Hearing him say this, Cao Yangqiu nodded in strong agreement, but still looked puzzled. “Then, what does the general think?” he asked.

“I’m thinking…” Fang Linyuan said thoughtfully. “If the capital also had a place like the Imperial Academy, dedicated to regularly training new soldiers and generals, and allowed commanders from various regions to take turns exchanging and studying tactics during times of peace on the borders, then Daxuan would no longer have to worry about a shortage of good generals, nor scramble in wartime to borrow and reassign officers from each other.”

At this point, Fang Linyuan thought for a moment and added,

“To avoid only teaching and studying strategies that are nothing but armchair talk, I think the method my elder brother came up with back then could be used—separate the troops and horses, simulate wartime formations, then have different commanders each lead a portion, stopping short of full contact, in order to train through realistic drills,” he said.

“When we were on the frontier, we also did this for several years, and it proved quite feasible.”

Upon hearing this, Cao Yangqiu’s eyes lit up. “Such a good thing exists!” he exclaimed. “So you can not only learn new military strategies and tactics, but also test their feasibility through simulated drills!”

As he spoke, excitement flushed Cao Yangqiu’s face red. “General, I think this is completely doable!” he added.

“This isn’t something that can be achieved in a day,” Fang Linyuan noted. “However, I think the method used in this year’s new tax reform—testing it in selected towns in Jiangnan—could work here as well. In short, since the four borders are peaceful for now, we can proceed step by step to prepare for the needs of wartime.”

Cao Yangqiu nodded so hard it was like pounding garlic, and then poured several more cups of wine for Fang Linyuan in succession.

Later, he was already dipping his finger in the wine to sketch out with Fang Linyuan how the current garrison at Yumen Pass could divide its officers and squad leaders into several rotations to enter the capital for training and exchange, while still ensuring that the border was adequately defended.

After a while, Fang Linyuan himself was somewhat drunk. “This matter shouldn’t be rushed,” he said tipsily to Cao Yangqiu. “It must be done gradually.”

“What’s there to worry about, General!” Cao Yangqiu laughed. “That person now is your wife. If you tell her about this, how could she refuse?”

Hearing this, Fang Linyuan held his wine cup and laughed.

“That’s not how it works,” he said. “Personal feelings and official matters must be kept separate. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be making a joke out of the state? If this truly proves feasible, it would mean changing the entire system of managing Daxuan’s military forces. If a mistake were made, it would be letting down both the heavens and the ancestors, as well as the people of the realm.”

But Cao Yangqiu was already too drunk to understand him. “Just tell me—if you went to your wife, would she agree or not?” he slurred, only repeating the question over and over.

Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but laugh at his persistence. “She would agree.” When he spoke again, his voice was softened and filled with laughter.

“She would agree to anything.” He smiled, the wine in his cup reflecting in his eyes, making them shimmer brightly.

“She has always been someone who treats me very well,” he continued. “A very, very good person.”

*

When Fang Linyuan returned to Yuntai Palace, he saw Zhao Chu sitting on the couch by the window, a cloak draped over his shoulders, holding a scroll of official documents.

On the desk not far away, memorials were piled like a small mountain.

Zhao Chu had never been this busy before. In the past, when Fang Linyuan went to Huaiyu Pavilion each day, Zhao Chu was always either reading or burning incense.

When he saw Fang Linyuan return, Wu Xinghai bowed and silently withdrew.

“Been drinking?” Zhao Chu raised his eyes and had already caught the scent of wine on him.

Fang Linyuan nodded and went closer to his side. He had indeed drunk quite a bit earlier, and after stepping outside into the cold wind, his head felt drowsy and heavy.

Once he entered the room, surrounded by the warm air, the scent of osmanthus cold fragrance from Zhao Chu’s body swirled around him.

He couldn’t help but lean in.

Seeing this, Zhao Chu chuckled softly twice, shifted to make room for him, and when he sat down, pulled him into his arms. “Drank so much—were you very happy today?”

Fang Linyuan nodded, then looked at the table in front of Zhao Chu. “Why aren’t you finished yet?”

With one arm around him, Zhao Chu poured tea to sober him up and said with a smile, “There’s not much left, just a bit that needs further refinement. Will you help me take a look?”

As he spoke, he placed the teacup in Fang Linyuan’s hands and slid the document he had been holding over to him.

Fang Linyuan lowered his eyes and saw that they were several appointment documents issued by the Ministry of Personnel for the reassignment of generals.

After the governor of Yanzhou, Tan Ji, had been dealt with, many civil and military officials in all of Yanzhou had also been dismissed or reassigned. The civil posts were easy enough to fill, but the vacancy in military leadership was still unresolved.

Right now, the governor of Yanzhou was still being temporarily replaced by the deputy general. Now that the New Year had passed, some court officials had already submitted memorials, requesting that Zhao Chu appoint a new commander as soon as possible.

Fang Linyuan couldn’t help but put down his tea and flip a few more pages.

“The Vice Minister of Personnel suggests promoting the acting deputy general to full commander,” Zhao Chu said. “The Ministry of War has also put forward several candidates, asking me to choose one from among them.”

“I’ve met that deputy general before. Though he didn’t side with Tan Ji at the time, he has only ever led troops twice in total. I suppose he is more than loyal enough, but he cannot shoulder a great responsibility.” Fang Linyuan flipped past the deputy general’s dossier and shook his head.

Zhao Chu said, “Mm. And the others?”

After turning a few more pages, even the tipsy Fang Linyuan could not help but frown. “Though these men hold posts in the Ministry of War, they are all civil officials from the imperial examinations. Yanzhou may have enjoyed peace for years, but it borders the tribes of the grasslands and Goryeo—it is a critical frontier stronghold. This is far too careless.”

Zhao Chu nodded. “It’s not that the Ministry of War is being careless, but that throughout the entire court, these are the only military officers currently available for use.”

Fang Linyuan looked up at Zhao Chu. “Not necessarily only them,” he remarked.

A glint flashed in Zhao Chu’s eyes, and then he smiled slightly. “It seems the person you’re thinking of is the same as the one I have in mind.”

Who this person was went without saying.

At present, in the whole capital, the one with the most illustrious military merits—aside from Fang Linyuan—was none other than the widowed Eldest Princess.

“However, Eldest Sister has only ever commanded the navy. I don’t know if she can lead forces on land,” Zhao Chu wondered. “Also, once the vacancy in Yanzhou is filled, the subsequent effort to purge the military ranks will likely create even more gaps. For now, even if I want to act, I am somewhat like a rat afraid to knock over the jar.”

“You don’t need to worry about Eldest Sister,” Fang Linyuan said. “The principles of deploying troops are the same. Compared to marching on land, the navy’s terrain is even more complex—much harder, in fact.”

As he spoke, he looked at Zhao Chu.

He saw Zhao Chu’s brows and eyes slightly lowered, but his gaze was intent, listening to him seriously.

In that moment, Fang Linyuan suddenly realized—whether or not certain ideas were feasible, he didn’t necessarily need to think them through entirely before speaking them aloud.

He blinked at Zhao Chu. Perhaps he could discuss such matters with Zhao Chu? The two of them were bound in marriage, and were, after all, one and the same.

Then Zhao Chu smiled softly, his expression gentle, his voice equally warm. “What scheme are you plotting now? Speak.”

Fang Linyuan gave an embarrassed smile. When he drank too much, he couldn’t hide anything on his face.

“It’s nothing,” he said. “I was just thinking—this shortage of military officers you mentioned might actually have a solution.”

“So you were keeping me in suspense,” Zhao Chu said with a smile, lowering his head to kiss him.

Fang Linyuan was talking serious matters, intent on avoiding him—but only now did he realize that, apart from the few pieces of furniture blocking his way, Zhao Chu surrounded him on all sides.

Drawn in by that cool fragrance, he had already fallen into the trap.

 

--

Author’s note:

The next morning, when Cao Yangqiu woke up sober, he only felt his stomach bloated and a little indigestion.

After thinking back carefully…

“Damn! Turns out it’s because I ate too much dog food!” Crash!

 

Translator : DarNan