Аn Shichong аnd Хu Нuаizu wеre now cарable оf standing on thеir оwn. Uроn hеаring that this cаmpaign would involve a jоint еffort with thе Wei Кingdоm аgаinst Song, thеу rushеd аhеad аnd arrived eаrlу outsidе Yushan Pass. Yе Yuqing had beеn conсеrnеd аbоut thеir rеlationshiр, whiсh was whу hе оrderеd them tо withdrаw first.
Now, heаring Yin Gеzhi's tonе, Ye Yuqing lowerеd his gaze, his attitudе suddеnlу softеning: "This time, the thrее kingdоms aсhiеvеd а grеаt victоrу, and thе cоopеratiоn wаs quitе plеаsаnt. Sоng likely won't dаre to invade agаin anytime sоon. Thе Wei Кingdоm cоntributed greatly, and Wu will offer generous gifts and—"
"Oh?" Yin Gezhi didn't even lift his eyelids. "What does the Crown Prince think those generous gifts will be?"
"Wasn't the Wei Kingdom facing a poor harvest this year? There must be many disaster victims. The state granary likely doesn't have enough grain either, right?" Ye Yuqing said: "Coincidentally, the Wu Kingdom produced an abundance of grain this year, and the rice and flour requisitioned as military provisions haven't been fully consumed. Why not round it up? One hundred thousand dan of rice and one hundred thousand dan of flour, all sent to the Wei Kingdom for disaster relief. How does that sound?"
The numbers sounded quite tempting. However, Yin Gezhi still didn't look up: "Your Highness is too kind. The Wu Kingdom also contributed significantly. Instead of offering generous gifts to them, Wu intends to use their grain to relieve the Wei Kingdom's disaster. Aren't you afraid the Wu ruler will be displeased?"
The Wu ruler would certainly be displeased, and that was precisely Ye Yuqing's calculation. As long as Yin Gezhi agreed, he would use Wu's grain as a favor. What would Wu do if they felt slighted? If they couldn't attack Wu, there was still Wei. In this way, would they remain so united and intimate with Wei? No, they might even turn against each other.
Interest is the most important bond between nations.
"My Wu Kingdom has nothing else to offer," Ye Yuqing said with a sincere expression. "As long as you find this gift acceptable, I will handle the rest. You need not worry at all."
A flicker of light passed through his half-closed eyes. Yin Gezhi gently tapped the table, thought for a moment, and nodded: "Acceptable."
Relieved, Ye Yuqing smiled: "Very well."
"Now that the matter of the gift is settled, let's discuss your kingdom's accidental injury of Wei's reinforcements." Yin Gezhi picked up a list, his face as dark as water: "Three thousand of our soldiers were accidentally injured by your forces, with over five hundred dead and more than seven hundred severely wounded."
Mentioning this, Ye Yuqing turned his head away: "I already said it was an accident."
Utterly shocked, Yin Gezhi looked at him in disbelief: "No compensation for an accident? So many dead and wounded soldiers, and Your Highness intends to dismiss it with just two casual words?"
Ye Yuqing frowned: "Then what does Your Majesty propose? In last night's battle, our casualties were likely even greater."
"Last night's battle?" Yin Gezhi looked blankly at Feng Yue beside him. The latter swallowed a piece of preserved fruit and said indignantly: "There was indeed a battle last night, but it was because the Song army ambushed our camp, so General Yin joined forces with the Wu army to resist! The soldiers fought with wisdom and courage and defeated the enemy! A victory report has already been sent from the front."
"I was wondering why there was another battle out of nowhere." Turning back to Ye Yuqing, Yin Gezhi said: "Does Your Highness intend to attribute the casualties from the battle with Song to my Wei Kingdom?"
Ye Yuqing: "..."
Utterly shameless! They clearly knew they weren't fighting the Song army. Who are they putting on this act for?What was even more infuriating was that he couldn't even admit they had attacked Wu Kingdom's troops, or else that cunning Yin Gezhi would surely question why Wu Kingdom had assaulted Wei Kingdom's camp—leaving him at an even greater disadvantage!
Taking a deep breath, Ye Yuqing swallowed this bitter pill and asked through gritted teeth, "What compensation does Your Majesty seek?"
"Every soldier was a warrior who dedicated himself to Wei Kingdom. After this battle, they should have returned home to promotions, honors, and reunions with their families. Yet now they have inexplicably fallen under the blades of our allies!" Yin Gezhi's tone suddenly turned sorrowful. "I am not a ruler who trades soldiers' lives, but their families must be compensated. According to Wei Kingdom's regulations, each family should receive ten taels of silver."
Ten taels per family? Ye Yuqing nearly spat in his face! How many people could never earn ten taels in their entire lives? Since when did every fallen soldier receive ten taels in compensation?
"I can attest to this," Feng Yue raised her hand and said, "When I led troops, I personally distributed compensation silver."
For any soldier under the Guan family's command who died in battle, Guan Canghai would provide compensation. At the time, Emperor Wen of Wei did not offer such payments—this practice was unique to the Guan family army. But now, it served as an excellent standard for reparations.
Taking another deep breath, Ye Yuqing glanced at Feng Yue and said with regret, "I should never have trusted you back then."
Her heart was clearly biased toward Yin Gezhi, yet she had pretended to help him control Yin Gezhi and counter Yi Guoru's influence. If he hadn't been careless, this woman wouldn't have survived to become Wei Kingdom's empress.
Seeing Yin Gezhi now, so content and fulfilled, filled him with resentment.
"Your Highness, what have I done wrong?" Feng Yue blinked innocently. "If it weren't for me back then, many things would have been impossible for you to accomplish."
Yin Gezhi stood up, shielding her, his expression slightly displeased.
Withdrawing his gaze, Ye Yuqing smiled. "Your Majesty need not be tense. I was merely reflecting. Zhu'er in Shadowless City still often speaks of you. When she heard you had taken an empress, she was so upset she couldn't eat for days."
Yi Zhangzhu? Yin Gezhi asked, "Didn't she get married?"
So well-informed? Ye Yuqing chuckled softly. "Indeed, she is married. But her heart still yearns for you. When she heard I might encounter you, she insisted I bring a letter."
"Where is the letter?"
"Lost along the bumpy journey." Observing Yin Gezhi's expression carefully, Ye Yuqing continued, "But I read it and vaguely recall some lines. No need to mention trivial matters, but there is one sentence Your Majesty must remember—'The lord loses his pearl, tears fall in pairs. The pearl still awaits the lord's return.'"
You must be heartbroken without me, and I am still waiting for you to come back.
How deep and sorrowful! Feng Yue couldn't help but dab the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. "Even after marrying, she still holds such longing. It can't be easy."
He Chou, who had been feigning death, couldn't resist whispering, "Miss Yi married a top scholar who treats her well, yet she remains perpetually melancholy, often causing scenes. Your Majesty need not take her words to heart—it's merely her unrequited affection.""Of course I wouldn't mind." Raising her voice slightly, Feng Yue said with a smile, "If Your Majesty had taken the initiative to write such lines for her, then perhaps I would have been angry. But since she wrote such lines, I don't feel angry. Instead, I feel happy."
Ye Yuqing narrowed his eyes.
Happy? What is there to be happy about? Happy that her husband is being coveted by someone else? It's said that women are narrow-minded and would make a fuss when encountering such petty tricks. He had just wanted to stir up some trouble to make Yin Gezhi uncomfortable. So why wasn't this person following the usual script?
"Your Highness clearly has never truly loved someone." Looking down at Ye Yuqing, Yin Gezhi said, "How I treat the Empress, she knows well in her heart. Knowing that, she would not doubt me in any way. I give her affection. She returns her trust to me, something that cannot be shaken by Your Highness's few words."
Affection is something only the person involved can truly understand. Whether the other person likes you, and how much they like you, can be felt. Someone who is genuinely loved wholeheartedly would not harbor suspicions. Even if caught in bed with another, Feng Yue would surely first consider whether someone was framing him, rather than thinking he had strayed.
This was the result of his efforts over the past six months.
With a light laugh, Ye Yuqing stood up, flicking his sleeve as he said, "I was merely conveying a message on someone's behalf. Whether you listen or not is up to you."
As he stepped forward intending to walk toward He Chou, someone blocked his path. Looking at the black boots embroidered with silver dragons, Ye Yuqing sighed, "Compensation will be sent to the Wei Kingdom."
Hearing this, Yin Gezhi finally seemed satisfied and stepped aside to clear the way.
He Chou frowned, watching that person approach step by step, and instinctively moved to stand behind Feng Yue.
"Where else do you think you can hide?" Ye Yuqing's voice suddenly turned cold as he said, "Come back with me."
After a moment of silence, He Chou asked softly, "Can this servant not go back?"
OpenNovel