Several days had passed since the New Year, but the festive atmosphere lingered in the capital. When people walked through the streets, joy was visible on their faces.
Inside the Imperial Study, Chen Kaiming spread out a roll of rice paper as Eunuch Yue ground some ink by his side.
The wolf-hair brush soaked up ink from the inkstone, and Chen Kaiming brushed it lightly against the edge, preparing to write. Just then, a eunuch outside the study announced, "Minister Qi requests an audience."
Chen Kaiming’s hand trembled slightly, and a drop of ink fell onto the rice paper, forming a blot on the fresh sheet.
Chen Kaiming furrowed his brow subtly. Placing the brush on the rest, he waved his hand.
Qi Zongbi pushed the door open and entered. Upon seeing Chen Kaiming inside, he started to kneel, but Chen Kaiming waved his hand.
"Dispense with the formalities."
Qi Zongbi straightened, cupping his hands as he bowed to Chen Kaiming. "Your Majesty."
Eunuch Yue placed a cup of tea by Chen Kaiming’s side and withdrew, standing with his hands folded behind him.
Chen Kaiming took a small sip from the cup before he said, "Today’s matter isn’t urgent. Since you’ll be leaving soon, there are some things I need to go over with you."
Qi Zongbi lowered his gaze, looking at the floor as he awaited his Emperor's instructions.
"Take a seat. No need to be so formal," Chen Kaiming said, gesturing toward a nearby chair.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Qi Zongbi cupped his hands and sat down as instructed.
Chen Kaiming coughed lightly and took another sip of tea. "Marshal Ying set off with the troops before the New Year; he should be arriving at the border soon. When do you plan to depart?"
"In the next day or two. If I travel light and ride hard, I should arrive in less than half a month," Qi Zongbi replied calmly.
"Sooner or later, either is fine. While you will be needed to oversee things over there, it’s not as though you’ll be on the front lines. What I mean to say is, if you wish to spend more time with your family, I will allow it."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Qi Zongbi said with a slight bow, "But the nation’s affairs come first. The battlefield changes quickly, and I’ll need to be there in person to manage any complications that come up."
"Minister Qi, you are indeed a pillar of our great nation. Since that’s the case, I won’t say more." Chen Kaiming suddenly moved away from that topic, looking deeply at Qi Zongbi. "But there is one more matter. How have you arranged it?"
Qi Zongbi lifted his head and met the Emperor’s gaze, waiting for some elaboration.
Chen Kaiming narrowed his eyes and leaned forward slightly, addressing Qi Zongbi, who was seated below. "The people of North Suppressing, North Watching, and North Defending Passes... the task I previously assigned to you... Has it all been properly arranged?"
Qi Zongbi’s expression remained unchanged as he bowed. "I have given the order, and the people will be evacuated from all three passes within half a day. Rest assured, Your Majesty."
Chen Kaiming studied Qi Zongbi for a long moment before leaning back on his throne. He closed his eyes and he nodded. "Very well... You have not let down my expectations."
After a long silence, Chen Kaiming opened his eyes and waved his hand dismissively. "That will be all. You may leave. You don’t have much time left... spend it with your family."
Upon hearing the Emperor say, 'you don’t have much time left,' Qi Zongbi’s body stiffened, but he quickly stood, cupped his hands, and took his leave.
After Qi Zongbi left, Chen Kaiming slowly opened his eyes. Standing up from his chair, he held his teacup and muttered, "The clever ones are... pitiful... laughable..."
Chen Kaiming hurled the teacup to the ground.
"Please calm down, Your Majesty." Eunuch Yue approached from behind, gently soothing his back. "Your health is of utmost importance."
Once Chen Kaiming’s breathing steadied, Eunuch Yue went outside and called for two palace maids to clean up the mess. When he returned, he found Chen Kaiming standing at the desk, wielding a brush. As he approached, Chen Kaiming set the brush down.
Eunuch Yue looked closely and saw five freshly inked characters written in a bold, flowing script on the rice paper.
A Benevolent Ruler is Ruthless.
"Are you really leaving?" Ye Fan looked at Ye Beizhi seriously.
Ye Beizhi glanced over at Chi Nanwei, who was packing their things and nodded.
Ye Fan pursed his lips, unconsciously twirling his folding fan. "The unrest in the capital hasn’t died down yet. The city is full of Imperial Guardians who are still searching for you. If you leave the city now—"
"You have a way," Ye Beizhi interrupted Ye Fan's objections.
Ye Fan was momentarily stunned, then shook his head helplessly. "Alright, yes, I do have a way to get you out...
"But"—Ye Fan pointed at Baili Gucheng and Yang Lu, who were both in a coma—"bringing these two with you won’t make it an easy journey..."
Ye Beizhi remained silent.
Ye Fan continued, "Impending Sword’s injuries are mostly healed, but he shows no sign of waking up. His internal qi is chaotic, yet his meridians remain intact, as if someone went to great lengths to protect them... It’s likely due to his martial arts. We haven’t found a way to wake him, but his life is no longer in danger."
Ye Beizhi looked at Baili Gucheng lying on the bed and nodded. "Thank you."
"Don’t thank me yet." Ye Fan frowned and glanced over at Yang Lu. "Alluring Elegy's situation is far more troublesome. I truly don’t have a solution here. She’s had all the rare herbs I could obtain, but all they are doing is keeping her alive."
Ye Fan pulled out a small box from behind and placed it in Ye Beizhi’s hands.
"Here is all the medicine we have left. Give her one pill per day. I’ve only heard of the Transcendence Stone, and I've never seen it, but if you can find it, maybe you could really pull her back from the brink of death.
"If you run out of these medicines before you find it, then you’ll have to find other rare herbs to keep her going... But these are all temporary solutions. Without a miracle like the Transcendence Stone, I fear she won’t make it."
Ye Beizhi looked at the box of pills in his arms and nodded solemnly.
"Where do you plan to go?" Ye Fan asked.
"North Watching Pass," Ye Beizhi replied without hesitation.
"North Watching Pass?!" Ye Fan exclaimed in shock. "What are you going there for at a time ?!"
Ye Beizhi looked at Ye Fan, then at Baili Gucheng. "I promised him... I’d take him back."
"Stormqueller, have you lost your mind?!"
Ye Fan waved his fan as if he was going to slap Ye Beizhi.
"There’s a war going on there! I’ve already received word... It’s nothing like the minor skirmishes of the past. This time... Northern Qiang has deployed their entire army!"