Chapter 9

"The military achievements are remarkable, yet the person does not boast about them, which is indeed rare." Meng Yongguang nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on the black armor for a long time, but then he frowned slightly, "It is just too rigid. A piece of bone, with sharp edges everywhere."

Shallow thoughts, easily seen through. Meng Yongguang snorted coldly, "The more humble one's origins, the more one feels grateful when receiving great favors. He wishes to make Ye Zeng his own trusted general, yet he has never truly considered himself in the position of a pure ruler."

Meng Yongguang raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this, "The Grand Tutor is indeed magnanimous." His gaze swept across the gathering, "Just now, it seemed I caught a glimpse of my son. It has been a while since we last met, and he appears to have grown a bit taller."

Upon mentioning his granddaughter, the old man's expression became increasingly kind, "The king is concerned about her."

Meng Yongguang also nodded and said: "Too young." He then added: "Also difficult to use."

The case was adorned with dazzling gold, and as he reached out to touch the wine cup atop it, someone gently moved his hand away

Ye Zeng heavily placed the wine cup in his hand on the table, and with a glance, he interrupted Xu Hong's intention to continue speaking.

Meng Yongguang pulled out a notebook from the side of the bed and pushed it over, saying, "This was submitted by the three yamen a few days ago."

The elder certainly knew to whom his words were directed, and his gaze also turned towards the banquet in the outer hall, where amidst the clinking of cups and the passing of drinks, he could vaguely discern the figure of Meng Shouwen, who was bestowing wine upon the ministers. Thus, he observed for a long while, his smile remaining unchanged: "However, this old minister believes that His Highness the Third Prince bears a striking resemblance to the legacy of the Meng family."

The old man pressed down, lifted the note, and slowly read from the beginning to the end. His brow finally twitched, and his expression changed: "Since I joined the army at the age of fourteen, nearly seven years have passed, and I have only achieved merit without leaving any... Such luck is truly rare"

The elder lowered his gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then smiled faintly as he said: "I fear that the king has already made up his mind, so why must he come to ask this old minister?"

The king's health has not yet recovered, and a banquet should not have been held tonight. The old man lightly brushed his sleeves, withdrew his hand, and his pair of eyes shone with brilliance.

"That is the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Qin." Xu Hong sat down beside him, breaking into a smile, "Among the female relatives of the court officials, she is the only one allowed to wear red when attending the banquet"

On the edge of the corridor, among the ladies' seats, a young girl stepped forward to the end of the row and gently sat down

The elder also shifted his gaze, remaining silent, and simply smiled as he said: "Before this, my country, Chun, has not honored General Ying Chong for over fifty years across two dynasties. It is indeed a commendable resolve for His Highness the Third Prince to pay homage to the general"

It was not until someone called out to him again that Ye Zeng turned his head. Seeing Xu Hong, who was holding a wine cup, he nodded and asked, "What is it?" Although he responded verbally, his gaze involuntarily drifted away, subconsciously chasing after that fleeting red figure.

It is said that Miss Qin possesses extraordinary intelligence, as she can remember everything after reading a page just once. The Grand Tutor even invited a teacher proficient in the literature and etiquette of the Man and Yu ethnic groups to the residence to teach her this knowledge. If one were to discuss who among the noblewomen of the court is the most knowledgeable in literature and etiquette, it would undoubtedly be Miss Qin

Ye Zeng looked at him, understanding the implication of his words, yet his eyes revealed a sense of calm as he asked: "Is His Highness the one she holds dear?"

This wine is unlike the wine before the army; it is clear and sweet upon entry, yet it is bland and tasteless, completely unable to burn away the deep scarlet mark in his heart.

Ye Zeng suddenly came to his senses, his right hand gripping the wine cup feeling somewhat stiff, his gaze appearing somewhat bewildered. After a moment, he finally met Xu Hong's eyes, and then slightly furrowed his brow again

Ye Zeng fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "Fortunately, she is not the beloved of His Highness the Third Prince"

Ye Zeng still could not take his eyes off, and he responded softly with a sound, lifting the wine cup to take a sip.

In an instant, he seemed to hear the empty sheath hanging at his waist emit a faint sound.

The elder surveyed the surroundings, remaining silent thereafter

Xu Hong was taken aback by the question and stammered, "This, this... I am afraid I do not know."

Meng Yongguang's gaze shifted slightly, turning to fixate on the figure in black armor seated among them, "Speaking of heroes... what does the Grand Tutor think of General Ye Zeng, the Eagle Charge General?"

The Grand Tutor has not spoken with me for a long time. If it were not for tonight's banquet to reward the troops, I fear the Grand Tutor would still be neglecting to come to the palace

Xu Hong's expression was somewhat awkward, and he quickly took a few sips of wine, saying: "The Grand Tutor's granddaughter, named Qin Yi, is the beloved of His Highness."

Meng Yongguang said with a faint smile: "It is also impossible not to think of her. A few days ago, Shouzheng mentioned her in front of me... Is it not true that her son is already sixteen years old this year?"

In fact, although Miss Qin appears gentle and graceful, she cannot be considered a great beauty. There are many young women in the city who are more beautiful than her, and even among the ladies attending the banquet tonight, she is merely of above-average appearance. The general may have been stationed at the border for too long, hence he is not familiar with the beauty of women.

Meng Yongguang moved the corners of his mouth, seemingly revealing a hint of a smile, yet his eyes remained indifferent and devoid of light. "Among my several sons, who does the Grand Tutor believe is capable of inheriting the great authority?"

Meng Yongguang said, "Any of my sons would be good to marry. " He slowly lay back, slightly closed his eyes, "Moreover, according to the Grand Tutor's words, matters concerning the young should be left for the young to handle themselves.

"The Pei family lacks benevolence; how can they bring peace to the world?" The old man said slowly, "Now that Pei Zhen is dead, Pei Yi's strategies, decision-making, and intellect are all far inferior to his father's. In times of chaos, where will the heroes emerge? It is still too early to make a judgment."

Meng Yongguang wearily closed his eyes, let out a low hum through his nose, and weakly said: "The war in the south has just calmed down, yet he does not think about how to recover the thirteen strongholds in Henan, but instead fears that I might die at this moment. After several petitions and requests to return to the capital... If it were not for the fact that all the civil and military officials of the court support his request, I would certainly not allow him to return to the capital like this"

But who would have known that just this one glance would happen to catch her sidelong gaze, seemingly casual, yet it lingered on him.

Miss Qin has just turned sixteen this year. It is said that His Highness has long made plans, and in a few years, when she has grown a bit more, he will seek the king's permission to grant her marriage.

The ink-colored curtain beads hung densely, and Meng Yongguang reclined half-heartedly on the imperial couch, his face devoid of color, his voice slightly weary, and his tone faint. His gaze towards the banquet was distant and pale.

His Highness the Third Prince was commanded to go to the ministers on behalf of the King to offer wine. Concerned that the general might not be accustomed to the grand banquet in the royal palace after leaving the camp for the capital, he specifically sent someone to accompany the general for conversation to alleviate his boredom... The general? Xu Hong, while speaking, also noticed that his mind was elsewhere, and could not help but turn his head to follow his gaze.

It is indeed rare. Meng Yongguang's voice was calm. At the age of fourteen, he entered the Yongpei camp, stationed at Suohe Mountain in Shanxi; at sixteen, he was recognized by Feng Hui and was selected to join the reconnaissance troops, despite the usual regulations; at eighteen, following Feng Hui's demotion, he was transferred to the Hebei camp, and in the same year, he was removed from the position of school officer, again against the usual regulations; at twenty, he was appointed as the Eagle Charge General, despite being a border general; at twenty-one, due to his merits, he received an imperial decree to enter the capital and present himself at the court—within seven years, every promotion he received was against the usual regulations. The Grand Tutor has served in three dynasties; has he ever seen such a fortunate talent emerge from our Chun country?

You are overthinking it he said slowly while unconsciously raising his eyes to glance at the diagonal opposite

The old man gazed at the note in his hand and murmured, "Indeed, wherever there are achievements, they often stem from actions that exceed the bounds of propriety... It is rare that in the seven years he has encountered only those who disregard established norms; otherwise, if judged by military law, he should have long been demoted and punished." He raised his eyes to meet Meng Yongguang's gaze, smiling as he nodded, "Is it not the case that every place is filled with sharp edges? Clearly, there is not a single spot that is not a blade's edge."

Meng Yongguang opened his eyes and followed his gaze, after a long pause, he let out a heavy grunt and said: "The Grand Tutor is perhaps overestimating him. A hundred years ago, during the prolonged chaos among the feudal lords, Emperor Wucheng entered the imperial capital Tianqi as the Prince of Chun, issuing the edict of 'Rest for the People' and establishing the 'Thirty Tax One System' for the national revenue. During his reign, the prosperity of the Great Ben Dynasty was unmatched; who among the Meng family could hope to rival that? It is a pity that his legitimate sons and grandsons have not amounted to much. In just over a hundred years since the revival under Wucheng, our Great Ben Dynasty has fallen into the hands of Emperor Xuan, allowing that traitor Pei to usurp the imperial power."

The elder sat upright and smiled gently, saying: "Your Majesty, do you not see that I am now completely gray? How is it that I have not diminished even a bit from my youth? Your Majesty has governed the country for several years, and the burden of your thoughts has caused you to suffer from chronic ailments. Now that you have been confined to your bed for many months, it is understandable that you feel sorrowful, but it is truly unnecessary. Furthermore, all your sons are now accomplished individuals, and there is no need for Your Majesty to worry about who will take charge after you. The court of the State of Chun will surely remain intact."

Xu Hong was taken aback once again. After a moment, he smiled helplessly and said, "General, you truly are... not someone ordinary can compare to." He set down his wine cup and asked, "Are you not serious, General?"

The heavy drapery of the distant hall cascades down, amidst a scene of graceful elegance, there stands alone a striking red that dazzles the eyes... It is deeply etched into the heart

Xu Hong scrutinized his expression, his gaze gradually turning to one of surprise, "General?" Seeing that Ye Zeng still showed little reaction, he glanced at the young girl again, and a hint of understanding suddenly appeared on his face. He couldn't help but lower his voice, cleared his throat a couple of times, and said emphatically, "General!"

Meng Yongguang glanced at him, his gaze inevitably dimming somewhat, and his complexion also became somewhat dispirited: "In the past, before the late king passed away, he entrusted the Grand Tutor to teach me how to govern the country... Now I too am growing old, yet the Grand Tutor remains as clear-minded and spirited as ever, his vitality undiminished from his earlier years"

The old man fell silent for a moment, then said with a half-smile and a sigh: "It is a pity that His Highness the Third Prince is so extraordinarily handsome, yet a mere child cannot catch his eye."

The sound of silk and bamboo is clear and ethereal, lingering in the air and entering the ears

A pair of fair wrists rests comfortably on the knees, while a pair of red wide sleeves hangs down on either side like two blooming flowers. The waist-length hair is straight and glossy, and the gaze is gentle.

"Whether it is difficult to use or not." The old man pushed back the note and leaned forward to reply: "There is no need for the king to ponder over this... This young man should be left for the young to handle."

Ye Zeng slowly drank, yet he no longer spoke

The elder still smiled, "The Third Prince is still young, and it is not surprising that he is somewhat impetuous. After a few more years of tempering, he will surely become much more composed. Has the King perhaps forgotten his own youthful days? Moreover, when it comes to this military achievement, Ye Zeng is indeed worthy of the title of General Eagle Charge. The Third Prince's actions are not without merit."

General Ye

He was momentarily taken aback, yet did not flinch, meeting that gaze with his own

Ye Zeng gazed for a long time, feeling that the red had already imprinted itself deep within his heart. Apart from this red, there was no other color in this grand feast.

Xu Hong has been following Liang Yin since the incident a year ago, and over this time, he has come to understand his temperament quite well. Observing his current demeanor, he remained silent for a long while before speaking again: "Miss Qin lost her parents at an early age and has been particularly favored by the Grand Tutor since childhood. The King also holds her in high regard, often summoning her to the palace to study alongside the various princes.