Chapter 207: A Ruthless Game of Power
Xu An reclined on his bed, having rested for several days, and his spirit had significantly improved. Just as he regained his strength, he, along with several generals from the Lan Kingdom, made their way to Xuan Yue's tent.
Xuan Yue sat at a table, her legs crossed. Compared to the day she first arrived in Ye City, Xuan Yue observed that Xu An's complexion had improved considerably; however, it still paled in comparison to when he was in Lan City. Back then, he indulged in a carefree life of eating and sleeping, bolstered by the support of Gong Shaohua, and felt invincible. Now, he could hardly compare to his former self.
"Your Majesty, I have heard that you were attacked at Black Wind Ridge by Xuanyuan's men. Why did you let the tiger return to the mountain?" Xu An exclaimed, brimming with false bravado, resembling an inflated rooster. Xuan Yue could somewhat comprehend his demeanor; he was a man who knew how to distinguish allegiances. Given his current predicament, he should have been aligned with her, yet his attitude was worlds apart from the previous Gong Shaohua. While he bore some grievances over Gong Shaohua's decision to involve him in the military campaign, he still viewed Gong Shaohua as superior. No matter how favorable the military camp was, it could not rival the luxurious lifestyle of Lan City. Although unsure of Gong Shaohua's reasons for sending him, he sensed it was to convey something significant. This certainly had nothing to do with aiding him in defeating Xuanyuan. Now, he seemed eager to earn merit by stirring discontent among the other commanders, ultimately leaving it for Lan Yixuan to resolve.
"Impudent! What is your status that you dare question the princess's decisions?" Lu Zhu snapped, her fiery temper ignited. Hearing Xu An speak to Xuan Yue in such a manner instantly displeased her. Despite having some initial doubts about the princess's choices and feeling indignant for their fallen sisters, they would not allow anyone to challenge Xuan Yue's authority, not only out of loyalty but also unconditional trust.
Xu An felt a twinge of fear at Lu Zhu's response. He understood who Xuan Yue was; their deepest impression of her was of the four-year-old girl who had killed in the Golden Luan Hall of the Phoenix Kingdom. After ascending to the throne, she had erased decades of foundations, disappearing overnight. To them, Xuan Yue was undoubtedly ruthless; someone shaped by such experiences could not be a paragon of kindness.
"Lu Zhu, Yi Lan," Xuan Yue called softly, "fetch General Cheng and ask Bai Gongzi to join us as well."
Xuan Yue remained relaxed, her legs crossed leisurely. Xu An was far too self-serving and inflexible; most importantly, he lacked understanding of Xuan Yue. Since she had made the decision to allow the tiger to return to the mountain, she must have a plan in place.
As Lu Zhu passed by Xu An, she shot him a sharp glare, startling him into retreating several steps. The others also regarded Xu An with disdain, and seeing him back away further fueled their contempt. Xu An felt both frightened and embarrassed, not daring to utter another word.
Not long after Yi Lan left, Cheng Qiang and Bai Zhanfeng arrived, accompanied by several subordinates.
"Please, everyone, take a seat," Xuan Yue gestured towards the available spaces in the tent. In a military camp, seating was sparse. Bai Zhanfeng glanced at Xuan Yue and chose a spot to sit, while Cheng Qiang and the others remained standing, hesitant to move. Usually, when discussing military matters with superiors, they would stand around a table rather than sit.
Xuan Yue did not press the issue; if they preferred to stand, then so be it. She was indifferent to their preferences.
"All right."
Xuan Yue clapped her hands and stood up, casting a glance at Xu An. With Cheng Qiang and the others present, especially Bai Chu's soldiers, Xu An felt emboldened. Even if the queen bore him a grudge, she would not dare act against him in front of so many witnesses. Xuan Yue gave Xu An a cool glance, perceiving his thoughts. She chuckled softly; if she truly wished him harm, she would not hesitate to strike, regardless of the audience. The real question was whether he was worth her efforts. Nevertheless, Xu An's recuperative abilities were remarkable; after only two days of resting, he had the energy to confront her in the tent.
"Lord Xu, are you feeling better?" Xuan Yue approached him and patted his shoulder warmly. Xu An's previously narrowed eyes widened in shock, staring at her with a pale face. Xuan Yue smiled and withdrew her hand.
If she had intentions, she would be unconcerned about others' opinions.
"Much better, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Xu An replied, frowning and instinctively shrinking back, regretting his decision to confront her today. If he had simply kept to himself and avoided trouble, perhaps life would not be so difficult. However, if he did that, when would he ever return to Lan City? Nothing about this place—the food, the accommodations, or the weather—felt familiar or comfortable.
"That's good to hear," Xuan Yue smiled, moving to her desk and scanning the room. "Just now, Lord Xu inquired why I allowed General Cen and Xuanyuan's soldiers to escape at Black Wind Ridge. This question—" she turned to Xu An, whose expression was taut with anxiety, her smile growing brighter, "is an excellent one."
Even if Xu An had not raised the question, she had intended to clarify things for Cheng Qiang and Bai Chu. After all, to outsiders, it might seem like she was allowing a tiger to return to the mountain, potentially leading them to believe she had ulterior motives. Regardless, she deemed it essential to communicate her intentions clearly. How they interpreted it afterward was beyond her control. Since Xu An had taken the initiative to ask, she was more than willing to provide an explanation.
"I hope that in the future, if anyone harbors doubts about my decisions, they can approach me directly, just as Lord Xu has done. Holding onto questions for too long breeds suspicion."
Not everyone can discern your true intentions, nor can anyone fully understand one another.
"Lu Zhu, do you remember when I returned from Black Wind Ridge after allowing those individuals to leave? What were your thoughts at that time?"
Lu Zhu fixed her gaze on Xuan Yue, pondering for a moment. She indeed recalled the princess's words—that the intent was not to take their lives. At the time, she had not fully accepted this reasoning. Later, the princess mentioned that when they regrouped with General Cheng and Lord Xu, they would bring it up. She was to listen to the explanation and serve as a witness. To this day, she still did not grasp the meaning of that witness.
"Because of General Cen's ambush, we lost several female soldiers. Were you not all enraged?"
Lu Zhu and the others nodded in unison. They were indeed furious, believing that the princess should have held onto them for revenge rather than letting them go.
"Actually, I felt the same. After all, there were losses, and those were sisters they had spent every day with. Seeking vengeance is only natural. However, this is war; casualties are unavoidable. You say they killed our people and we wish to retaliate, but at the same time, Xuanyuan must have suffered losses in this conflict."
War is merely a means to fulfill the ambitions of a select few, among whom he also stands. The world is destined to divide after a long period of unity and to unite again after a period of division; this has always been the case. However, what relevance do these matters have to ordinary folk? They seek only to live peaceful lives, yet due to the avarice of their rulers, they are helplessly swept into the turmoil of war, uprooted from their homes. She was one of the orchestrators of this chaos, driven by love and the desire to alleviate her own heartache.
"Just like Lord Xu—"
Xuan Yue suddenly shifted her gaze to Xu An. "Regarding the incident at the Yuxuan Hall, Xu Daren, are you still brooding over it?" Compared to the death brought about by war, it hardly merits mention.
Xu An glanced at Xuan Yue, tempted to defend himself, but upon meeting her inscrutable gaze, the words caught in his throat. How could he not be troubled? If it weren't for her, he would not have been separated from his wife and children, nor would he have left Lan City, enduring hardship to reach this place. Even now, he ached all over; had he been in Lan City, no one would have spoken to him with such sarcastic disdain.
"Xu Daren, do not try to evade the truth; your eyes reveal your dissatisfaction with me," Xuan Yue remarked with a light laugh. "If you feel this way, then imagine how the soldiers of Xuanyuan would react if we were to execute all of General Cen's men. Such actions would undoubtedly incite collective discontent among the Xuanyuan warriors. Morale on the battlefield is crucial; if we can unite against a common foe, we will achieve twice the results with half the effort. What do you think, gentlemen?"
The others regarded Xuan Yue thoughtfully for a moment, their expressions shifting to one of acceptance. In their previous battles, they had only known to slaughter their enemies, often executing prisoners swiftly, fueled by vengeance for their fallen comrades. In truth, Xuanyuan was no different; if they treated the Xuanyuan soldiers with kindness, those soldiers would surely reciprocate. After all, even the prisoners would not have to die.
"I believe Your Highness is letting the tiger return to the mountain. General Cen is a fierce warrior of Xuanyuan; if we could slay him, it would certainly instill a sense of caution in Xuanyuan," Xu An proclaimed, raising his chin, attempting to maintain a semblance of bravado, though his confidence had begun to wane.
Xuan Yue chuckled softly and nodded, "Xu Daren, you make a valid point." Her gaze swept over everyone present, her smile dazzling enough to instill fear in Xu An. She tapped her chin, fixing her gaze on him with a thoughtful expression. "General Cheng, if the soldiers of Xuanyuan were to kill Xu Daren, what would you do? Would you be afraid?"
Xu An stared at Xuan Yue, his eyes widening in shock. He parted his lips to speak but found himself rendered speechless.
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