On this day, the fleet of carriages entered Youzhou. Only when Ling Zhang was back on his own turf and rid of the stalkers did he feel that the air was free and fresh again.

“It’s an honor to kneel before you, Your Highness. I’m Shao Feng.”

The moment Ling Zhang had entered Youzhou, Shao Feng had come to know about it, and then he had hastened to this place to welcome Ling Zhang.

“You may rise, General Shao. There’s no need for formalities,” said Ling Zhang, raising Shao Feng to his feet.

Shao Feng was no longer merely the commander of the Youzhou garrison. Yuwen Tong, after enthronement, had bestowed the title “the General of the North” on him. He, along with Jiang Ke, Jiang Xi and Xiao Jiangyue, were now the four most renowned generals of the Great Wen.

Feeling overwhelmingly flattered, Shao Feng hurriedly rose to his feet. “Was your journey a smooth one, if I may ask, Your Highness?”

Ling Zhang nodded at him, saying nothing. A gleam flashed across Shao Feng’s eyes as he saw Ling Zhang incline his head. Knowing that this was not the place to talk about that issue, he hastened to usher Ling Zhang into the Abode of General of the North.

It wouldn’t be long before the Wan Kingdom waged another war, and the Luohai Kingdom was the Great Wen’s “ally”. When the troops massed at the border, Youzhou would become the battlefield. Shao Feng, as the commander of Youzhou garrison, must be aware of it.

After entering the Abode of General of the North, Shao Feng led Ling Zhang into his study.

Wang Dashan and the other bodyguards followed them into the Abode of General of the North and then quickly got into position to stand guard on the perimeter of the study.

Ling Zhang smiled to Shao Feng, “My bodyguards have orders from His Majesty to never let me get out of their sight. I hope you don’t mind, General Shao.”

“I understand, Your Highness.” Shao Feng didn’t mind at all. Having served the emperor for so many years, he naturally had come to know how much Ling Zhang meant to the emperor. Also, he had long since had some dealings with the twenty-four bodyguards of Ling Zhang’s, so they all knew very well what kind of person he was.

After a few moments’ catching up, Shao Feng asked about the agreement with the Luohai Kingdom, the signing of which concerned Yuwen Tong’s big plan. As the General of the North, he would be having direct dealings with the Luohai Kingdom. The agreement was of supreme importance to him in the sense that it determined what attitude he was to take towards the Luohai Kingdom.

“The agreement has been signed. Mu Hengtian undertook to pretend to send his army in cooperation with the Wan Kingdom,” replied Ling Zhang.

Though having received a reply a short while before, Shao Feng still felt greatly relieved as he heard the affirmative answer from Ling Zhang. “You must’ve been through a lot to get the job done, Your Highness. The success of this plan means we now have a fifty percent chance of getting the big plan to work.”

Ling Zhang smiled, “I’m afraid you’re giving me too much credit for it, General Shao. For the big plan to succeed, we still need you to work in coordination with the Luohai Kingdom and put on a convincing act.”

Shao Feng said, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I promise I’ll put on an excellent act.”

Ling Zhang gave a bob of the head and then said with a serious face, “Although Mu Hengtian has made a promise, and I have made some arrangements in the Luohai Kingdom for their attention to be distracted, you must not take this matter lightly lest any unexpected changes happen. If the Luohai Kingdom tears up the agreement and launches a real offensive, Youzhou must not fall. Under no circumstances should the defense be breached.”

Shao Feng’s face also grew grave. “I understand. Your Highness and His Majesty may rest assured that Youzhou will stand as long as I still draw breath.”

Once the Great Wen went to war with the Wan Kingdom, Youzhou would be the home front according to Yuwen Tong’s plan. If Youzhou fell, all arrangements would be upset. The Great Wen had been preparing for this war for five years, and nobody wanted to see that happen. Shao Feng was fully aware of this.

“After I leave, intelligence reports from the Luohai Kingdom will still be delivered to you on a regular basis. They’ll sacrifice their lives to ensure the successful delivery of intelligence reports if necessary.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“You don’t have to thank me. They’re all subjects of the Great Wen. They’re doing this for their home country.”

Next, Ling Zhang filled Shao Feng in on what he’d heard and seen in the central region of the Luohai Kingdom, with an emphasis on the deployment of troops in its various prefectures. He had drawn a troops deployment diagram according to the intelligence that his scouts in the Jiahe Chamber of Commerce had gathered in the Luohai Kingdom at the risk of losing their lives.

Shao Feng was shocked at the sight of the diagram, having a new appreciation for the intelligence network in the charge of Ling Zhang. After studying the diagram, Shao Feng came to understand the significance of it deeply. Ling Zhang was giving it to him because Youzhou must be held. Shao Feng distinctly felt the weight of the trust and responsibility on his shoulders. He wouldn’t say “I promise I’ll hold Youzhou” again, but these words would be engraved in the heart of every soldier of the Northern Army. Defending Youzhou was their only mission.

…

Ling Zhang didn’t stay in Youzhou for long. Without even visiting the local branch of the Jiahe Chamber of Commerce, he quietly exited Youzhou, headed straight south for some time, then took another road and entered Shengzhou.

A war against the Wan Kingdom and the Luohai Kingdom was in sight. Ling Zhaowen and Fu Caiwei, who were still in Shengzhou, were the ones he worried about the most, especially Fu Caiwei. She was now pregnant, and Ling Zhang couldn’t find peace of mind knowing that she was still in Shengzhou, so he specially took a detour to Shengzhou, intending to bring Fu Caiwei back to the capital city.

It took the fleet of carriages two days to reach the city gates of Shengzhou. They didn’t alarm anybody when entering the city. Neither Ling Zhaowen nor Fu Caiwei had bargained on Ling Zhang specially paying a visit to Shengzhou.

It was not until Ling Zhang’s fleet of carriages quietly came to a halt in front of the abode of the Shengzhou governor that Ling Zhaowen and Fu Caiwei were informed of his arrival. Both of them panicked.

“Why did Zhang’er suddenly come to Shengzhou? We didn’t receive a single message from him about his visit. Did something happen in the capital city, by any chance?” said Fu Caiwei apprehensively.

Ling Zhaowen, who was more composed than her, consolingly placed his hands on her shoulders. “Calm down, darling. Sit here. I’ll go and bring Zhang’er in.”

“But–”

“You’re pregnant. It’s inadvisable for you to get anxious or walk around too much. Also, Zhang’er would feel guilty if you go to that much trouble. Just sit here.”

It was only then that Fu Caiwei cooled down. After Ling Zhaowen left, she had a handmaid bring Ling Xuxu her second son to the room. Ever since she had brought Ling Xuxu to Shengzhou and settled down in this city, Ling Xuxu had barely seen Ling Zhang. He’d always been quite curious about Ling Zhang, his cousin who was the consort. A few months before, he had demanded to go back to the capital city with Ling Maomao, and his demand would have been granted were it not for Ling Zhaowen’s and Fu Caiwei’s worry that Ling Zhang would have to spare some time to look after Ling Xuxu if Ling Xuxu went back there.

As this thought crossed her mind, Fu Caiwei couldn’t help but give a smile, straining to look out of the living room, expecting to see Ling Zhang coming in.

Meanwhile, Ling Zhaowen met Ling Zhang and was just about to kneel to pay his respects when Ling Zhang stopped him.

“Uncle Zhaowen, I’ve come incognito. There’s no need for formalities.” Ling Zhang held his uncle’s arms, his eyes appraising him carefully. This governor, who was a member of the Ling family and was always elegant and gentle, seemed to have been affected by the natives of Shengzhou, a prefecture not far away from the border. His demeanor was now more brisk and less scholarly than before. On top of that, his complexion was tanned. Ling Zhaowen looked more swarthy than he used to.

Ling Zhaowen was sizing up Ling Zhang when Ling Zhang was sizing up him. As he saw that his nephew was healthy and unhurried, that the bodyguards were acting normally, Ling Zhaowen inwardly let out a sigh of relief, knowing that no accident had happened.

“Zhang’er, why did you suddenly come here? Was it because of some arrangement made by those people in the capital city that you specially came here?” Ling Zhaowen asked him in a low voice.

Ling Zhang shook his head. “No. I’m passing by this city, so I came here to look up you and Aunt Caiwei.”

Passing by this city? Ling Zhaowen appeared rather surprised. Where had Ling Zhang been? How did he come to pass by Shengzhou?

Ling Zhang didn’t explain, so Ling Zhaowen restrained himself from asking about it and ushered Ling Zhang into the residence.

“Your aunt got excited and wanted to come out to meet you after being informed of your arrival. I had her wait in the living room lest you be worried,” said Ling Zhaowen on their way in.

Ling Zhang felt a surge of guilt. “Information about this journey of mine is confidential. We were all in disguise along the way, so I didn’t send you a message beforehand. It’s rather inconsiderate of me not to have informed you in advance. Aunt Caiwei must’ve been startled by this unexpected visit of mine.”

On hearing that information about this journey of Ling Zhang’s was confidential, Ling Zhaowen came to know that what he’d done a short while before was the right thing. Because Ling Zhang had arrived without notice, Ling Zhaowen, uncertain about the situation, had told all servants and handmaids to go back to their rooms, except for those who were absolutely loyal to him and very much in his confidence.

“Your aunt is stronger than you give her credit for. She’s just a little worried about you. Go and see her first, and then I’d like you to tell me in detail what this is about.”

Ling Zhang inclined his head and with that the two of them walked into the living room.

Fu Caiwei, along with Ling Xuxu who was five years old, had been waiting in the doorway. The mother and son both had eager looks on their faces. At the sight of Ling Zhang and Ling Zhaowen coming, their eyes brightened.

“Zhang’er!”

“Cousin!”

Well, the mother and son both subconsciously addressed Ling Zhang in the most affectionate way, forgetting that he was now the empress.

Ling Zhaowen gave them a dirty look.

Catching on, Fu Caiwei took Ling Xuxu’s hand and was just about to have the boy kneel with her to pay their respects when Ling Zhang hastened up to them and stopped them. “Aunt Caiwei, Xuxu, there’s no need for that. We’re family. It’s not like I came here with a guard of honor or something. Forget about the formalities.”

Then he twisted his head around and tossed his uncle a disapproving glance.

Feeling hard done by, with a fairly guilty expression on his face, Ling Zhaowen gave a cough and made an attempt to save his dignity. “They must not forget your identity.”

Ling Zhang slightly shook his head, turned his head back to scrutinize Fu Caiwei’s face. At the sight of her ruddy complexion, bright eyes and smooth forehead, he came to know that she had been living a happy life, and his worries dissolved.

“Let’s go inside first and talk later, Aunt Caiwei. Come, Xuxu.”

“Okay,” answered Xuxu, hastening to follow them. While walking forward, the boy was looking up at Ling Zhang, intense curiosity in his eyes.

Ling Zhang, holding Fu Caiwei’s army, was guiding her forward. Fu Caiwei didn’t stop him, a big smile as bright as a blossom on her face. While happily letting her nephew guide her into the living room, she was sizing her nephew up. Since it didn’t look like there was something bothering him, she felt relieved as well.

Ling Zhang helped Fu Caiwei into the living room, settled her in a chair and then looked down at Ling Xuxu. The boy had been looking at him with a twinkle in his eyes all along, which struck Ling Zhang as quite amusing. Maybe because the natives of Shengzhou were more out-going than residents in other prefectures, Ling Xuxu was more active and vivacious than Ling Maomao had been when at this age. Ling Zhang raised his hand to rub the boy’s little head. “You’ve grown taller, Xuxu.”

Ling Xuxu’s face instantly creased into a broad grin, but he also appeared a little shy. Although Ling Zhang was deliberately controlling the sense of power he was radiating, the air about him which was different from that of any official or personage in Shengzhou still deterred Ling Xuxu from behaving as he would at ordinarily times. In addition, Ling Xuxu remembered that the last time he’d seen this cousin of his who was the empress had been the year before, when he’d returned to the capital city with Ling Zhaowen and attended a banquet in the palace. At that time, Ling Zhang had appeared so aristocratic and far removed from the masses as the moon in the sky, and Ling Xuxu had been awed. But now Ling Zhang looked quite approachable, different from the image of him the boy had. Ling Xuxu was a little confused and didn’t dare speak freely for fear of saying anything wrong.

Ling Zhang could tell that the boy was a little uptight, but he didn’t make any particular remarks. Instead, he took the boy’s hand, settled himself in a chair opposite Fu Caiwei, and sat the boy on his knees.

Ling Xuxu twisted his head around and looked up at Ling Zhang, who rubbed the boy’s head again and said, “I brought you a gift. Do you want it?”

“Yes!” Ling Xuxu bobbed his head, his eyes lighting up.

“Ahem!” Ling Zhaowen let out a cough disapprovingly, looking at Ling Xuxu with stern eyes.

Ling Xuxu hastened to sit bolt upright and was instantly on his best behavior.

Amused by this scene, with a smile in his eyes, Ling Zhang looked up at Ling Zhaowen. “Uncle Zhaowen, it’s the Luohai Kingdom that I’ve just returned from.”