Chapter 99
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“Your Highness, why is this bed so narrow?”
The bedroom’s door was shut, making it even darker. The big boss’ face hid in the dim light, leaving behind handsome contours.
Unable to see his eyes, Han Jiao inexplicably felt his heart racing, as if he were locked onto by a wild beast.
Xie Duo didn’t expect him to suddenly turn around. He paused for a moment before regaining composure, striding towards the little child prodigy and looking down at the bunk bed. “Narrow? Aren’t beds usually like this?”
“The bed at my home is much larger than this. It even has a footboard in the front. When you include that, it’s more than twice as wide as this bed!” Han Jiao felt a surge of pride, showing off in front of the royal offspring.
Xie Duo looked at the child prodigy with confusion. “Do you sleep on a double bunk bed all by yourself?”
“Of course!” Han Jiao proudly replied. “A carpenter made that bed, and it wasn’t too expensive.”
Xie Duo was somewhat puzzled, but considering that the little child prodigy’s residence probably lacked many things, like detailed furniture arrangements, it wasn’t surprising.
Seeing the big boss remaining silent, Han Jiao continued, “In reality, a larger bed offers more comfort. Your Highness can give it a try. We can have the carpenter widen this bed twice its current size.”
Xie Duo chuckled. “Doubling its width means two people would sleep in it. Who would sleep with me?”
Han Jiao was puzzled. “Who told you that? Beds are more comfortable when they are larger. There’s no rule that says you must share a big bed.”
“According to Feng Shui masters, both the bed and the bedroom should gather energy, filled with the essence of the person. If several people live there, the space should match their sizes.”
“Is there really such a saying?” Han Jiao suddenly felt unsure. He was from a poor family and didn’t pay much attention to Feng Shui. “But a bed this small isn’t comfortable, is it?”
Xie Duo looked at him sideways and said, “Try lying on it and tell me what’s uncomfortable.”
“Isn’t that a bit strange?” Han Jiao felt something odd and wanted to make an excuse to slip out and visit somewhere else. Just as he was about to move around Xie Duo on his left, Xie Duo’s left hand suddenly moved faster, gripping the bed rail and blocking his path.
Han Jiao glanced to his right and realized that the big boss’ body was slightly angled, leaving no gap wide enough to slip through.
He was trapped!
“It’s alright, I permit you to lie down.” Xie Duo suddenly leaned forward slightly.
Han Jiao instinctively moved backward and ended up sitting down with a thud on the bed.
Xie Duo lowered his head and raised his chin slightly. “Take off your shoes.”
Han Jiao was inexplicably flustered, thinking of quickly helping the big boss test the bed and then making his escape. He promptly removed his shoes and lay down on the bare wooden bed, waving his arms. “See, my hand would hit the bed rail! It’s too narrow. It’s uncomfortable to sleep on.”
At this moment, Han Jiao lay stretched out in the Ninth Prince’s bedroom.
Xie Duo’s light gaze reflected an unusual gleam in the dim light, and his throat moved up and down. The railing he held in his left hand made a soft creaking sound.
“Your Highness, why aren’t you saying anything?” Han Jiao slowly sat up, supporting his body with his hands and looked up at the big boss. “Maybe it’s just because I’m used to larger beds, but if you find it comfortable, then it’s no problem.”
Han Jiao never expected that Xie Duo would suddenly bend down and pick him up horizontally.
In his astonishment, he didn’t even have time to struggle. Just like that, he was obediently carried by the big boss all the way to the door.
He watched in shock as the big boss kicked open the door, placed him by the entrance pillar, and then swiftly closed the door alone.
“Your Highness?” Han Jiao stood up and rushed to the door. “What’s wrong, Your Highness? Don’t be angry! I’m just not used to sleeping on a small bed. That bed is actually quite lovely!”
It remained quiet inside for a long time before Xie Duo responded with a hoarse voice, “I understand. I’ll figure out how to change it myself. Have the guards at the entrance escort you back and tell them it’s my order.”
Han Jiao: “……”
The big boss was quite meticulous. Once he spotted an issue, he couldn’t wait for even a moment and wanted to handle it personally.
“Shall I take my leave then?”
“Hmm.”
Han Jiao went back home feeling dizzy.
When many things happened, it was not always apparent how unusual they were, and one didn’t know how long they’d be immersed in them in the future.
Lying in his own large bed at night, Han Jiao kept feeling as if the upright figure of that youth was quietly guarding beside him, ready to pick him up into an embrace at any moment.
At that time, he only felt his heartbeat and confusion, but now, he could vividly recall the sensation of being surrounded by the young man’s presence.
Xie Duo didn’t wear any fragrance sachets, and there was no distinct scent on him. However, strangely, Han Jiao felt enveloped by a certain smell, even though he had been separated from him for several hours. Han Jiao could still perceive it.
Tossing and turning, he wished he could just knock himself out with a blow. It was only in the deep of the night that he seemed to wake from a dream-like state.
•••
The urgent news, spanning eight hundred miles, reached the capital on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.
After Prince Yan led his 220,000 strong army to reach Luozhou, they conducted reconnaissance for just two days before launching an attack.
As General Chen had said, in less than five days, they broke through the first defense line of Luozhou and began extensive reconnaissance from all directions.
This good news, of course, relieved the Emperor’s frustration. The atmosphere at the morning court meeting changed, and the ministers breathed sighs of relief.
However, Han Jiao became even more nervous.
Because the upcoming two battles were the main event.
Han Jiao didn’t actually want Prince Yan to follow the big boss’ strategy and forcefully capture those two fortresses. The big boss had said that due to the actual terrain and the fortifications, the casualties could reach three to five thousand.
The ideal scenario would involve the Emperor regaining composure and recognizing the challenges posed by the second battle. In this situation, the Emperor would make the decision to temporarily pause the campaign and shift the focus towards developing a comprehensive long-term strategy.
But before Han Jiao could receive the second report from Luozhou, he received an urgent secret report from the commander of the northwest garrison.
On this day’s court meeting, the Emperor had someone read aloud the urgent report from the Governor-General of Liaodong: “On the third day of the year, the Tatars launched a nighttime raid on the Guyuan border, and Guyuan fell. Over 20,000 Tatar cavalry advanced eastward. I only received news the following day and have summoned the army to rush to the capital. However, thirty percent of the northwestern garrison troops have been transferred to Luozhou, leaving our defenses weakened. Please dispatch reinforcements urgently from the southeastern towns to aid the capital.”
After the grim news of the border’s fall was read, Senior Minister Xu, holding a ceremonial tablet, remained silent, showing no sign of guilt as if he had nothing to do with the movement of the northwestern cavalry.
Many officials aligned with Prince Yan, however, didn’t maintain composure and seemed on the verge of collapsing.
Nevertheless, the Emperor, who had been silent for a while, despite his dark expression, didn’t hold Senior Minister Xu accountable for the troop movement. He simply ordered the immediate reading of an imperial decree, appointing an experienced veteran to lead the reinforcements and prepare to gather the army to bolster the defenses in Hanzhou.
Senior Minister Xu faced no blame because the Emperor himself had vetoed the advice from Senior Minister Li to halt the movement of the northwestern cavalry. The Emperor wouldn’t hold Senior Minister Xu responsible for this. It would be like tarnishing his own reputation.
The capital was plunged into an unprecedented chaos overnight. Somehow, the common folk seemed to have caught wind of some secrets. People from the vicinity of the capital were carrying their belongings and frantically seeking refuge within the city.
In just two days, around 30,000 troops had gathered in the vicinity of the capital. Combined with the soldiers from the three major army camps stationed within the city, the total numbered more than 70,000. The troops for reinforcing Hanzhou were still en route.
Han Jiao had never experienced the fear of foreign invaders coming so close to his homeland. It felt like a nightmare, and a survival instinct urged him to stick close to the big boss.
The Imperial Princes were also shocked. Xie An spent an entire day sitting in his study, looking lost and not uttering a word.
Xie Jing scratched his head while repeatedly reading military manuals.
Only the big boss remained as composed as ever.
If the War God felt there was no problem, Han Jiao found solace. So he asked Xie Duo calmly, “Your Highness, why would those 20,000 Tatar cavalry venture so deep into our territory alone? Even if the elite border cavalry has been sent to Luozhou, we still have around 70,000 soldiers near the capital. When the reinforcements arrive, we can surely wipe out these Tatars.”
Xie Duo took a deep breath and replied in a calm tone, “It depends on whether the Tatars break through Hanzhou before the reinforcements from the various towns.”
“Are you suggesting that the Tatars might capture Hanzhou before the reinforcements of the Prince’s army gather?”
Xie Duo didn’t answer that question directly but turned to Han Jiao. “At this point, staying within the capital might actually be more dangerous. The capital is the destination of those 20,000 Tatar cavalry. If you’re afraid, you should take your family and leave the city immediately. Head south for safety by land and water.”
Han Jiao’s mind exploded with a loud bang. He stared at the big boss in disbelief, “You can’t make jokes like this.”
“Ninth Brother, what are you saying!” Xie An heard this and, both angry and fearful, turned to Xie Duo and punched his shoulder. “If you’re scaring me, I’ll tell Father Emperor!”
Xie Duo lowered his head, said nothing, and after a moment, he stood up and walked out of the study.
Han Jiao took a deep breath, his bewildered gaze gradually turning steely.
When a real crisis arrives, one must set aside the unhelpful sense of fear. Han Jiao got up and quickly followed him out of the room.
If this unexpected event genuinely threatened the capital, then the best strategy to turn the danger into safety was to activate the big boss’ talents in advance.
So what if 20,000 Tatar cavalry could make the hearts of 70,000 Great Chu soldiers tremble?
Han Jiao crossed the threshold. He gazed impassively at the figure standing under the corridor.
This guy, even if alone, could strike terror into the hearts of the Tatars.
If these twenty thousand Tatar cavalry breach the capital, defended by seventy thousand elite soldiers, it should mark the beginning of Xie Duo’s victory.
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