Chapter 12: An Order to March

As Chu Chenyu approached the entrance to the Imperial Study, Eunuch De stepped forward to inform him.

“Your Highness, the Emperor has ordered that you go straight in once you arrive.”

Chu Chenyu nodded and walked inside with steady strides.

Seeing that both the Minister of War and the Minister of Revenue were present in the Imperial Study, Chu Chenyu furrowed his brow.

“Your Imperial Highness!” Chu Chenyu stepped forward and saluted.

“Ah Yu, you’re just in time. We’ve received urgent news from the western frontier. The northwest is experiencing a severe drought this year, and the autumn harvest has only yielded a third of what we normally expect. Moreover, the Kingdom of Fengxia has sent troops to invade, and the western frontier is about to fall. Some of the citizens have already begun fleeing. However, our national treasury has not yet recovered from the expenses of the northern conflict, and I fear it may not be enough to support the war on the western front. Ah Yu, do you have any good ideas?” Emperor Chu Chenyu asked.

“The southern region is known for its fertile lands, rich in rice and fish, and produces abundant grain. Your Imperial Highness could send people to gather grain in advance. By the time of the autumn harvest, some citizens will have stored enough for their own use. Any surplus can be sold for money, and you can have people buy it directly from the citizens,” Chu Chenyu suggested.

“Minister Wu, you shall take charge of this matter,” the Emperor ordered.

“Your Majesty, I will follow your command,” Minister of Revenue, Wu, replied respectfully.

“Minister Shen, do you have any suitable candidates for this military campaign?” Chu Chenyu then turned to the Minister of War, Shen Hui.

“Your Majesty, many of our soldiers in the northern campaign have perished. The Southern Xian army has no capable generals left,” Minister Shen replied nervously, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Sigh… How is it that our mighty Southern Xian can’t even find a suitable general?” Chu Chenyi lamented, glancing at Chu Chenyu.

Chu Chenyu rolled his eyes inwardly. He couldn’t help but feel exasperated by his brother’s theatrics. Why doesn’t he just say he wants me to lead the troops? Why all the dramatics? Chu Chenyu thought to himself.

After a moment of contemplation, he lifted his robe, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists in both hands, and looked directly into Chu Chenyu’s eyes with a firm expression.

“Your Imperial Highness, I am willing to lead the troops to the western frontier to provide support.”

“Ah… but… but this is too dangerous. On the battlefield, swords and arrows do not discern between friend and foe. If you are injured, how can I face our mother?” Chu Chenyu hesitated, his face full of worry.

“Then… I shall stay at the residence. You can find someone else for the task,” Chu Chenyi said with a sly smile. Let him put on this act, I’ll get him back for this.

“Fine, it’s settled. You will be appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Army. Depart tomorrow at the hour of the rooster,” Chu Chenyi quickly agreed, worried that Chu Chenyu might leave and force him to call him back again.

“Your servant obeys the command!” Chu Chenyu responded, but did not rise.

“I wish to marry Murong Qingxue, the daughter of the Grand Tutor, as a concubine,” Chu Chenyu added.

“You’ve made up your mind? But since your Empress is no longer here, why not just make her your Empress? Why a concubine?” Chu Chenyi asked, genuinely happy for his brother and suggesting this out of concern.

“No, I will only take her as a concubine,” Chu Chenyu insisted. “This is my responsibility, and it is also a form of punishment for her. For someone as proud as her, being a concubine is a humiliation.”

“Since I’m leaving for the western frontier, I don’t know when I’ll return. I leave the matter of marrying her to you, my brother.”

“Understood. You can prepare for your departure,” Chu Chenyu said with a wave of his hand, agreeing to his brother’s wishes. He didn’t mind whether it was a concubine or Empress, as long as Chu Chenyu was willing to remarry. Since Lin Luoluo’s passing, he feared that his brother might live out his life in loneliness.

Before leaving the palace, Chu Chenyu went to the Cining Palace to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, informing her of his marriage plans with Murong Qingxue and that they had already consummated their marriage.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager was so angry she scolded the Emperor and reminded Chu Chenyu to stay safe and return unharmed.

Once back at the royal residence, Chu Chenyu did not seek out Murong Qingxue but instead gave instructions to the housekeeper and then headed straight to the military camp. The next day, he set off with an army of 100,000 soldiers.

The imperial decree soon reached both the Prince’s residence and the Grand Tutor’s residence. When Murong Qingxue received the news, Chu Chenyu had already departed.

Holding the decree in her hand, Murong Qingxue couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. This is his punishment for me, she thought. For what I did to him…