Meng De POV

“We have received confirmation this afternoon, Che Zhou, Inspector of Xu state, has died from a fatal wound from an arrow 3 days before in Shouchun city!” A military courier came sprinting and huffing into the main hall during morning Court session and delivered this news.

When this news was delivered, I, who was reading out from a scroll while kneeling, couldn’t help but to draw a deep breath.

The worst part was that this news was delivered at the worst possible time in the worst possible place.

As expected, the hundreds of officials began whispering to each other upon hearing this news.

“Che Zhou… Isn’t she the Inspector of Xu state who was sent to a.s.sist Imperial Uncle Liu to take down Shouchun city?”

“But didn’t we just receive news yesterday that Shouchun city has been taken? And there wasn’t anything about General Che Zhou being injured?”

“Could it be that Imperial Uncle…”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Are you daft, this means that the great Han will rise once more!”

All the officials engaged in gossip that centred around Xuan De even though the military courier’s message did not even mention him at all. Jus this news, along with Xuan De’s t.i.tle of Imperial Uncle, is more than enough to re-ignite the hopes of getting rid of all these d.a.m.ned officials.

This made me feel frustrated to no end.

And to think Che Zhou actually…

I could feel that my grip on the bamboo scroll was extremely tight now, but at the current situation, I could only shake my head slightly.

Things are going to be very troublesome.

I somehow made it through Court, and in my mind, I knew who was behind this.

As I left the palace, Feng Xiao was waiting for me at the gates just as I predicted. In her hands were the reins to the pony I gave her.

Apart from Feng Xiao, I’m guessing Xun Yu and Cheng Yu should be around here somewhere.

“Did you leak this news to the Imperial Court?” I asked in a helpless tone as I walked toward Feng Xiao and stared at her, who was currently in a respectful bow but had a wry smile on.

“Momentous national happenings should be reported to the Son of Heaven.”

“Cut the act, you think I don’t know what you all mean to happen?” I looked at Feng Xiao and at the tall gra.s.s at both sides of road out of the corner of my eyes.

The gra.s.s moved somewhat before stopping.

Of course, today’s weather was perfectly clear and tranquil with no wind at all.

Usually, I’m the one who reports military affairs in morning Court. This isn’t to hide information from the Son of Heaven, but from those inc.u.mbent officials from the previous administration who try and hinder me at every turn. And with what happened today, they were able to grab hold of something that could be used against me.

They must be feeling very happy hearing that my subordinate was killed by the Imperial Uncle.

“You should have been there to see it, how excited those officials were in Court.”

“Oh? Looks like I missed out on a delicious scene?” Feng Xiao waved her hands, feigning innocence.

“…” I didn’t bother replying and mounted my horse.

Who knows how many times she simulated that scene in her mind before making that decision?

“My lord, what do you think we should do?”

What to do? You lot have already forced me into a corner, yet you still ask me what to do?

Of course, the reason why Feng Xiao is going this far is not to make life difficult for me. She has an end goal in mind with this.

Though the report did not mention it, but the responsibility Che Zhou’s death has been conclusively placed on Liu Xuan De. If I just feign ignorance and leave it be, then my position in Court will be tenuous. All the fear and pressure I have been exerting on them will all become naught in a very short time.

So, to prevent all this, I only have one path left before me.

“We can only launch an offensive on Xuan De. From the present situation, it looks like he has willfully murdered a high level official.” Every word that I said was probably perfectly predicted by Feng Xiao. The very reason why she leaked that piece of news was to force me to attack Xuan De and give me a legitimate reason to do so.

From an objective perspective, it is indeed a good scheme.

Not only can I get rid of a dangerous element, I can also strengthen my control over the Imperial Court.

And the very reason why she did not discuss this with me beforehand is because she knows I will never agree to it.

And now that she has done it already, I have no choice but to move according to her script.

Feng Xiao is truly formidable indeed.

“Alright, I’ll send someone to dispatch the troops.” Feng Xiao said ans then waved her hand. As though they were waiting for this very moment, 2 figures sprang out of the gra.s.s immediately and disappeared before I could see who they were. Feng Xiao then dusted herself before getting onto her pony, “Then I’ll be–”

“Halt.” I said as I placed my horsewhip horizontally across from her and stopped her.

“Un? What is it, my lord?” Feng Xiao turned to look at me with a very meaningful smile.

Reflected in her eyes should be my troubled face. I can’t even be sure if I can show a surface smile at this time.

“Why do you have to go this far? Haven’t I talked about this before.” I looked ahead, not at Feng Xiao, as I asked vexedly.

Feng Xiao gave a ‘hm hm’ and then brough her pony around my horsewhip.

“… I don’t dislike Lord Liu Bei. Rather, as a woman, I feel that Lord Liu Bei is a kind and dependable man. If I’m correct, my lord should feel the same way as well.”

“I, I don’t really…”

“But,” Feng Xiao was by now past my horsewhip and she continued in a completely solemn tone that was unusual for her, “You are my lord, and I must think about things from a holistic perspective and weigh the gains and losses from that perspective. Leaving aside how I think, shouldn’t my lord be considering things from this angle as well?”

As she said so, she prepared to make her pony gallop off.

“Feng Xiao, one last question.” I stopped her again just as she was about to leave, “Was Che Zhou really killed by Xuan De?”

“…” Feng Xiao did not say anything. Perhaps she did not plan on giving me an answer or perhaps she felt that it was something I could investigate on my own.

But in the end, for some reason, she still said it, “In the latest report that just came in, Lord Liu Bei said that Che Zhou was killed by a stray arrow. He has since given her a fitting funeral and burial for her t.i.tle of General of the Cavalry and Chariots. Presently, he is stationed in Xu state.”

As for whether he killed her, it’s up to you my lord.

As she said so, she whipped her pony into a gallop. As I rode on my horse, a deep-seated dissatisfaction filled me. I firmly believe that Xuan De did not kill her. As for Che Zhou’s death, though it was something unexpected, it’s not something that was unusual. Objectively speaking, it’s Cheng Yu who should be punished for ordering Che Zhou to a.s.sa.s.sinate Xuan De. But Che Zhou’s death was not because of this, so there’s no point pursuing this point any further.

I eventually got tired of sitting on a horse and got off and walked back to my mansion.

The next day, after all the preparations were made, I led my troops for Xu state with complicated feelings.