Chapter 40
"At first all of us manage to hide from the enemy. After a few days scouting the ground, we found the enemy camp. Under Leader Yue Hao's command, we manage to take down the enemy's camp but at night Leader Yue Hao went missing and this letter is given." Grandpa Yue takes the letter,
The people of Hui! Ten years ago, you hunt and kill my people. Now, it is your turn.
The Emperor of Jin
"This is ridiculous! It is their people that infiltrate our country first and spread the Tree disease and it turns into a plague. It is not because of them my
fourth son will not die." Yue Chang roared.
Grandpa Yue and Yue Chao exhale roughly. The Tree disease is a disease that slowly solidified the body and the skin of the one that caught it will be dried like tree bark. Country Hui is saved because of a doctor that found the antidote but now Country Jin is blaming them.
"General, when we are searching for the leader, we found a few clues about the traitor." The soldier holds Grandpa Yue's palm and writes on it. Grandpa Yue is shocked when he decodes the code.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!" The soldier is confident. They will not risk their life for half-baked information.
Yue Chang and Yue Chao did not know the secret code because both of them are not soldiers. None of them has any passion for the military and fight with their father to follow their passion. Now, they really wish that they can go to the battlefield to save their family. Yesterday, they also found out that Yue De also missing from his camp. Two young masters have been taken, how can they be not restless?
The former Great General Yue Cheng or Grandpa Yue sits in his study room. He is analysing the information sent by the blackguard. He needs confirmation. He reads all legal information and rumors that are being spread.
After making a few confirmations and with the words from the soldier earlier, he is confident that the news is true. He writes a few letters and quietly lets his blackguard send them to his trusted aides. If anything happens to him there will be another person that will continue his work.
Grandpa Yue gets out of his study and when he sees his worried wife, his stern eyes soften, "What are you doing here? It is late night right now." He takes his wife's hand and gently pats her.
Grandma Yue smiles, "Waiting for you. I suddenly crave hot noodles and since you did not sleep yet, I come to invite you for my late-night craving."
Grandpa Yue laughs out loud, "Good! Let's eat together." Grandpa Yue still holding his wife's hand and they walk together. He put aside all his worries.
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Li Zian is sleeping on her bed when she opens her eyes. Her deep black eyes show a glint of mischief, "It has begun."
"Ling Min Zhe!" Li Zian communicates with him telepathically.
"Yes, Master!"
"Watch over the emperor. Something might happen tonight."
"Alright, Master!"
Zhong appears and sits beside Li Zian's bed, "So happy?"
"Of course, the imperial drama is beginning. It is shame I have to protect the emperor."
"The current emperor can be considered as a good ruler."
"I just don't like the royals." Li Zian closes her eyes and a few minutes later she is sound asleep. Zhong adjusts Li Zian's blanket before leaving the room.
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In the Imperial Palace, the emperor is sleeping alone. He is a middle-aged man. He was still strong and did not ready to give up his throne to his sons. A blackguard appears beside the emperor's bed. The sleeping emperor wakes up. He seems angry. Who disturbs his sleep? Seeing the blackguard kneeling on the floor.
The groggy emperor sits straight immediately.
"What is it?"
The blackguard did not speak. he hands over the letter written by Grandpa Yue. The emperor takes the letter and reads it. His hand is shaking from fury.
He said in a low and angry voice, "Those Jins are going rampant and my loyal minister is in cohort with them. Go tell your master that I understand. I will act as he told me. Make sure the plan is successful."
The blackguard nodded and leave the palace. The emperor burns the letter. There is smoke but no smell is produced from burning the paper. Nobody noticed a small incident in the emperor's palace.
Just like when nobody noticed Ling Min Zhe is like a ghost watching over everything that happen. He is arranging people in the palace since a few days ago so he easily comes over to watch on the emperor.
He scans the room and checks the incense. He also checks the bedding but there is nothing suspicious. Except for the blackguard, no one comes into the room after the emperor is asleep. The eunuch also sleeps soundly. Ling Min Zhe wants to leave the room and assign a blood servant to monitor the emperor when he hears the emperor's breathing.
The emperor's breathing sounds normal but Ling Min Zhe manages to detect a small irregularity. He approaches the emperor and listens for his breathing carefully.
Ling Min Zhe put his palm at the emperor's lung and pour some of his spiritual energy. He detected a small amount of poison inside the emperor's lung. He gets rid of the poison and for security, he put a small universal antidote into the emperor's mouth. That will take care of most of the hidden poison. Ling Min Zhe did not leave the emperor that night, he stays and guard the emperor.
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At the court, the emperor is furious! He hears the report from the military that almost all promising young soldiers are captured by the enemy.
"The Jins want to cripple my country! What should we do?" Don't just stand there! Tell me is there any request from them?"
"Your Majesty, the Jins they wanted revenge for what happened ten years ago."
Another minister cut the minister that talking, "Your Majesty, we cannot forgive them! I suggest we mobilize the Turtle Army to attack the Jins.
The other minister did not agree, "The Turtle Army is for a dire situation. They are elite of the elite. Besides, we already confirmed that the hostages are still alive."
One of the ministers refutes him, " Your descendent is not being captured! it is easy for you to say! This is a dire situation. Those young soldiers are the pillar of defense for our country. How many years those have been trained?
The emperor listens to the ministers arguing. He even sips a cup of tea. One of the princes noticed the emperor's behaviour.
"Your Majesty! Let's negotiate with the Jins. With this, we can make decisions based on the Jins intention."
"Third Prince, the Jins intention is bad. They want to take us down. Your Majesty, I suggest we send the army to rescue the hostage and use this reason to declare a large-scale war with the Jins."
"Full-scale war is easily said than done. Fourth Prince does not casually try to wage a war. Your Majesty, I agree with the Third Prince to go and negotiate with the Jins. Directly to wage a war is reckless." The Crown Prince eyed the Fourth Prince.
The Fourth Prince grit his teeth and clenches his palm until his vein is popping out, "Negotiate? While we are negotiating who knows what happen to the hostages? I want us to take immediate action to rescue those soldiers."
The court is heated once again, one camp wants to negotiate and one camp wants to directly attack the Jins to rescue their relative. The emperor signals the eunuch and the eunuch shouts for the court to be quiet, "Negotiate! Third Prince, I want you to lead this negotiation..."
The Fourth Prince disagrees, "Your Majesty! It will be too late!"
"Shut up! Listen to me! The emperor showed a displease towards the Fourth Prince, "If we go into a full-scale war with the Jins what about the other country?
Will they just sit back and watch, join the war or cooperate with the Jins? During the negotiation period, Crown Prince will investigate the other country's intentions. We must be aware and see the bigger picture. Do not let your emotions control you." The Crown Prince and the Third Prince are happy and thanked the emperor.
The Fourth Prince gets out sulkily from the court with the Second Prince.
"Second Brother, why did you not back up me in the court?"
"Imperial Father is right, you are emotional right now. I know you care a lot about your subordinate but you need to keep calm and analyse things. Just like Imperial Father said, see the bigger picture. It is not just about you. Every decision we make will impact the country." The Second Prince leaves the Fourth Prince alone after saying this.
The Fourth Prince wanted to scream and let out his frustration but he holds it. He returns to his residence. He goes to the training ground to vent his frustration. In the evening after taking a bath, he enters his study a blackguard hiding in the corner.
The guard kneels and passes an envelope and directly leaves. The Fourth Prince's eyes shine brightly when he reads the content of the envelope.
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