The Road to Glory

Chapter 95: Horizontal Alliance

Li Yao bowed to Wen Yu: "This old minister thanks Your Highness on behalf of the officials and people of the three provinces and one commandery."

Wen Yu silently watched the elderly man, then finally turned her head to gaze at the garden scenery outside the window where green vines climbed all over the wall. She seemed to take a slightly heavy breath before saying: "If you have no other matters, Sir, you may withdraw for now."

The other party repeatedly pressured her with the foundation of Great Liang and the lives of the people in the three provinces and one commandery, while strictly adhering to the etiquette between ruler and subject - all to remind her of her identity.

Yet Wen Yu still addressed him as "Sir" rather than "Your Excellency."

Hearing her form of address, Li Yao also paused momentarily. His aged, grayish pupils reflected Wen Yu's profile as she looked out the window. His lips, framed by graying beard, moved slightly before pressing tightly together again, his expression remaining as stubborn and unyielding as before as he addressed Wen Yu: "This old minister takes his leave."

The sound of footsteps and cane taps echoed together, followed by the sound of the door closing.

Throughout this time, Wen Yu kept her gaze fixed outside the window, until her eyes grew slightly sore from prolonged staring, then she slowly closed them.

She told herself that Li Yao hadn't done anything wrong. He was merely fulfilling his role as an advisor. It was her own fault for regarding him as a mentor while still hoping he would truly treat her like one.

His use of righteousness and responsibility to pressure her wasn't so much about not daring to gamble with Great Liang's foundation and the lives of the people in the three provinces and one commandery, but rather that he had never considered trusting her.

From beginning to end, what that old man wanted to accomplish was merely the grand ambition her royal father had left unfinished. That was why he couldn't permit her, the inheritor of this legacy, any possibility of making mistakes.

When Zhao Bai returned, Wen Yu was sitting at her desk writing letters. The room was filled with strong doses of invigorating incense - so potent that Zhao Bai frowned after just a few whiffs. She glanced at Wen Yu sitting by the window, focused on her writing, and reported on the arrangements for Cen An, Tong Que, and the other Zhou Manor Guards: "As you instructed, proper accommodations have been arranged for all of them, and the manor physician has been summoned to examine and tend to them."

Wen Yu responded with an "Mm," saying: "Treat them generously. These people all risked their lives to protect me. When they have recovered, if any wish to retire, provide them with ample funds. Those willing to stay, arrange suitable positions for them and ensure they are not mistreated. For those who lost their lives along the journey, obtain their names and native places from Cen An. If they have surviving family members, send condolence gifts to them as well."

Zhao Bai knew Wen Yu had always been generous to her subordinates. After acknowledging each instruction, she looked at the figure whose face was half-concealed in the thin incense smoke and said: "The manor physician said this incense can harm your health if inhaled too much, and advised you to use less. Why are you using such heavy doses?"

Wen Yu simply said: "This incense is very effective for mental alertness."

As Wen Yu's personal attendant, Zhao Bai naturally knew this was the same incense Wen Yu had started using earlier when studying day and night to complete the assignments Li Yao had given her.

When even strong tea couldn't relieve drowsiness, this incense could sharpen the mind - evidence of its potency.

She pressed her lips together: "Your health is what matters most. If you're tired, you should rest for a while. How can you keep pushing yourself like this? Haven't many affairs already been delegated to Lord Li and Lord Chen?"

After keeping her mind strained for so long, it seemed to have indeed triggered headaches. Wen Yu raised her fingers to massage her temples, her words coming out like a sigh: "Even when delegated to them, I still need to review everything personally."Zhao Bai wished to persuade further, but Wen Yu instructed: "Rearrange our spies near sister-in-law. Pei Song has likely discovered her secret communications with us. The previous covert agents have probably been exposed."

She paused briefly, her eyes as still as stagnant water: "The new Shadow Guards sent to sister-in-law must not reveal their identities."

Since Pei Song had already targeted sister-in-law without her knowledge, the newly assigned Shadow Guards must remain concealed even from Jiang Yichu to prevent Pei Song from detecting them.

This measure protected Jiang Yichu and her daughter while confirming whether Pei Song had truly uncovered the connection between sister-in-law and Wen Yu.

Zhao Bai was astonished: "Then aren't the Crown Princess and young mistress in danger?"

Having finished writing her letter, Wen Yu lowered her long lashes as she sealed it with wax, her tone calm and assured: "I have allied with Southern Chen and Northern Wei. When necessary, sister-in-law and A Yin are Pei Song's best bargaining chips against me. Until then, he won't harm them."

While somewhat relieved, Zhao Bai watched Wen Yu's slender profile with complex emotions. As an outsider, she had panicked, yet Wen Yu appeared unfazed—having analyzed the stakes and devised solutions as if... she had never known uncertainty.

But how could that be true?

She simply had no time for panic or fear, channeling all her energy into finding solutions without sparing any for other emotions.

As bitterness rose in Zhao Bai's throat, Wen Yu continued: "Moreover, Pei Song is targeting Xiao Li. It's unclear if he truly holds Xiao Li's mother as leverage. Zhou Sui would know best what happened at the Zhou residence that day. Send someone to Yongzhou to contact Zhou Sui and investigate Xiao Li's mother thoroughly. If she's truly in Pei Song's hands, rescue her by any means. His mother once showed me great kindness—ensure she comes to no harm."

Wen Yu slid the secret document brought by Li Yao toward Zhao Bai.

After reading it, Zhao Bai was shocked and suspicious. She nearly exclaimed that Xiao Li was a spy, but considering Wen Yu's earlier words and fearing this might be Pei Song's scheme to sow discord, the revelation that Xiao Li was connected to Pei Song's biological father made her scalp tingle. Holding the letter, she looked up at Wen Yu: "Xiao Li actually studied under Qin Yi?"

Wen Yu replied: "This is the only suspicious point that labels him a spy. The truth requires questioning him directly. Go personally and bring him back."

Pondering Wen Yu's words and recalling Xiao Li's disheveled departure in the rain that night, Zhao Bai suddenly realized that retrieving him wasn't about interrogating a potential spy, but rather a form of protection.

After all, if this were truly Pei Song's scheme, Xiao Li alone outside would give Pei Song an opportunity.

Even if recruitment failed, Pei Song could still restrain Xiao Li using his mother as leverage, then spread rumors of Xiao Li's defection. This would both destroy Xiao Li's reputation—leaving him unable to return to Pingzhou—and severely demoralize Pingzhou's forces.

Understanding this, Zhao Bai could only perceive Pei Song's plot as profoundly venomous.Fortunately, the princess had first suppressed the news of Xiao Li's departure from Pingzhou. Otherwise, if Pei Song had taken action first, they would have been completely cornered.

Zhao Bai quickly clasped his hands and bowed to Wen Yu: "Your Highness, rest assured, this humble servant will definitely bring him back!"

Li Yao slowly walked along the corridor with his cane. The summer breeze from the lake finally drove away some of the heat.

He recalled Wen Yu calling him "Master" when he left her presence, and the way she had averted her gaze, refusing to look at him again. His heart felt heavy.

Throughout his life, he had held himself in high esteem, and it was only in his later years that he had truly taken on such a student. She was intelligent, diligent, and hardworking—any principle found in books, she never needed him to explain twice.

He firmly believed that the ambitions he had held for most of his life could be realized through her.

She had always performed excellently, except when it came to that Xiao boy. On that matter, she had repeatedly lost her usual impartiality, showing favoritism and protection.

He had asked Fan Yuan: that Xiao boy had submitted his resignation letter early in the morning, the day after he broke into Wen Yu's residence at night. That day, Li Yao had also used the pretext of visiting Wen Yu to question Xiao Li about his nighttime intrusion. Wen Yu had explained it as related to bandit-suppression maps and testing the Shadow Guards and advisors.

Now, it seemed, it was all an excuse!

That Xiao scoundrel was simply audacious and had developed improper intentions toward Wen Yu. Otherwise, why would he break in at night?

Since he dared to go that far, he must have been unafraid of being discovered by the Shadow Guards and had already prepared to prevent Wen Yu from marrying into Southern Chen!

The more Li Yao thought about it, the more alarmed he became, and his fury intensified. He grew even more convinced that Xiao Li was a spy: if he used romantic feelings to bewitch Wen Yu, causing her to break off the engagement with Southern Chen, wouldn't the alliance between Great Liang and Southern Chen collapse?

And by leveraging Wen Yu's trust, he could completely control the forces of the old Great Liang faction!

Pei Song's move was truly insidious and cunning!

Even if the other party wasn't a spy, anyone who dared to harbor improper intentions toward the royal princess and commit such an audacious act absolutely could not be forgiven!

Li Yao slammed his cane heavily, his internal organs aching with rage.

Since Wen Yu had allowed Xiao Li to leave that night, it seemed she had rejected his proposal. But that didn't necessarily mean she had no feelings for that scoundrel—it was just that her rationality prevailed, reminding her to prioritize national and familial grudges.

If she continued to be bewitched by that scoundrel...

Recalling Wen Yu's numerous defenses and protections of Xiao Li, the gravity in Li Yao's eyes deepened.

So be it. If that child were to blame him, then let her blame him.

His old bones wouldn't be able to accompany her for many more years.

The sun was setting in the west, and the lone geese crossing the sky appeared as mere specks in the distance.

Cooking smoke had already risen in the camp. The sun-scorched earth seemed to retain some residual warmth in the evening, and hurried black boots kicked up clouds of dust.

A guard presented the latest intelligence report to Pei Song: "Minister, a message from the south: Wen Shi Hanyang has posthumously honored Changlian Wang as emperor in Pingzhou, proclaimed herself the Great Liang Guardian Princess, and single-handedly facilitated a temporary alliance between Southern Chen and Northern Wei."

Gongsun Chou, standing nearby, frowned deeply after hearing this: "That woman's intelligence is almost supernatural—she is truly a great threat! In the past, Pingzhou was barely held together by Chen Wei alone, but in less than half a year, she has forged it into an iron fortress. Now she has even won over Southern Chen and Wei Qishan..."

He looked at Pei Song, his eyes full of concern, and said: "This is highly unfavorable for you, my lord!"Pei Song’s long fingers, scarred and calloused, pinched the submitted intelligence report. He narrowed his eyes as he read, his expression so languid it was impossible to discern whether he was pleased or angered. "Interesting. I deliberately ceded Yi Province to Wei Qishan after implementing a scorched-earth policy, intending to use it as bait. When Southern Chen attacks those two provinces, he won’t be willing to abandon them outright, yet sending reinforcements would come at too great a cost—especially since his main forces are still locked in a stalemate with me in Mo Province. To lull Wei Qishan into lowering his guard and eventually deploying troops to Yi Province to confront Southern Chen, I’ve feigned weakness for so long, even gifting him several cities. Now it seems all that effort was in vain?"

Gongsun Chou responded, "The pressing matter now is to devise a strategy to counter the imminent joint attack by Southern Chen and Northern Wei."

Pei Song set the report on the desk, tapping his knuckles lightly, and chuckled dismissively, "If they form an alliance, we can just as well forge our own counter-alliances."

Gongsun Chou hesitated briefly, then his expression shifted. "My lord, you mean…"

He left the rest unspoken, but judging by Pei Song’s demeanor, it was exactly as he had guessed. Strangely, Gongsun Chou’s expression did not lighten with relief; instead, he seemed to hesitate, as if holding back words.

At that moment, a guard hurried into the tent and whispered something into Pei Song’s ear.

Pei Song’s previously indifferent gaze sharpened. He uttered, "Understood," and waved the guard away with a gesture.

Only then did he turn to Gongsun Chou and the other advisors in the tent. "If there is nothing else, let us conclude today’s council."

The advisors filed out in small groups. Gongsun Chou, however, remained seated as if he had more to say to Pei Song. When the tent was nearly empty, he finally spoke, "Has something happened with Lady Jiang?"

Pei Song lifted his eyelids slightly, a scornful smile playing on his lips. "Just petty squabbles among women."

He seemed entirely unconcerned.

Gongsun Chou had also heard of the friction between Jiang Yichu and Lady Zheng. Knowing it was futile to persuade Pei Song to send Jiang Yichu away, he could only sigh and say, "As long as you are aware, my lord."

Pei Song rose, retrieved his saber from the weapon rack, and fastened it at his waist. Adjusting his vambrace, he said to Gongsun Chou, "Before the sun sets, I’ll ride to Bladeback Ridge to survey the terrain for the next battle. You’ve been overworking yourself lately, Master. Go and rest."

Gongsun Chou quickly interjected, "My lord, about the counter-alliances…"

But Pei Song had already lifted the tent flap and stepped out. Gongsun Chou watched the curtain fall back into place and heaved a heavy sigh.

—

Outside the tent, the guard who had earlier delivered the message was waiting. Seeing Pei Song, he promptly fell into step behind him.

The smile Pei Song had worn in front of Gongsun Chou had vanished completely, replaced by an expression that could only be described as cold. "Have her people met with the old woman?"

What the guard had reported earlier was not about Jiang Yichu’s conflicts with other consorts, but that her maid had uncovered Xiao Huiniang’s current residence.

The guard replied, "Not yet. Lady Jiang’s maid has only confirmed the old woman’s whereabouts."

Striding forward briskly, Pei Song issued a cold order: "Ensure Master Gongsun remains unaware of this."

The guard acknowledged the command, well aware that if Gongsun Chou learned Jiang Yichu had been secretly gathering intelligence to communicate with Han Yang, his principled nature would compel him to vehemently advise the Minister over the Masses to execute Lady Jiang.The personal guard couldn't understand why the Minister over the Masses would shield a convicted woman so stubbornly, yet dared not provoke Pei Song with further questions. After careful consideration, he asked, "Should we relocate the old woman then?"

Pei Song replied, "Send her back to Yongzhou."

His gaze swept across the sky painted with fiery clouds, like a beast contending for the throne staring down an unseen rival: "Han Yang seeks to ally with Southern Chen and Northern Wei to attack me. Not only will I sever her arm in Pingzhou, I shall also destroy the chess piece she planted in Yongzhou!"

Author's Note:

Li Yao: Scoundrel! How dare there be a handsome troublemaker by the princess' side! Bandit Pei's tactics are truly despicable!

Gongsun Chou: Ah, but our lord has a beautiful troublemaker by his side too! The Great Liang's tactics are equally shameless!

Classmate Xiao Huan: Seems like many people are looking for me?

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