Emperor Xuanwu was well aware of what Bei Xiang was trying to do.
After two decades of rest and recovery, Bei Xiang had gradually rebuilt its strength. The shadow of their past defeat had begun to fade, while Tian Sheng, by contrast, had endured two consecutive years of severe floods and droughts. The national treasury was far from full. If war were to break out now, it would be difficult to sustain the effort.
Clearly, Bei Xiang had chosen this moment to test Tian Sheng's strength.
If Emperor Xuanwu were to respond with too much leniency, it might embolden Bei Xiang to launch a southern campaign within the year.
But he also could not afford to appear overly aggressive—
If Bei Xiang had intended to go to war from the outset, a strong reply might hand them the excuse they needed to send troops across the border.
His face darkened like still water.
If possible, he would have liked nothing more than to relive the glory of two decades past, to crush Bei Xiang once again with overwhelming force.
[The Simulation Life Selection System is at your service.]
[Please select your next course of action.]
The familiar interface popped up again—more frequently in recent months than it had all year prior.
Emperor Xuanwu's tightly furrowed brow eased slightly. He lifted his gaze to the glowing screen hovering before him.
[A. Consult the court officials.
B. Casually let slip the situation to Yun Shu during her visit to the stables.
C. Respond with a hardline stance—if they want war, give them war!]
He had been stewing in frustration all day. With a hint of spite, he chose Option C just to let off some steam.
[You selected C. Tian Sheng wins the war. The people suffer and are left destitute.]
Victory, but not without cost.
Emperor Xuanwu stared at the large, bold characters—"the people suffer and are left destitute"—in silence for a long moment. The fleeting satisfaction he'd felt when making the choice quickly dissipated, replaced by a familiar sense of disquiet.
He had known this was a likely outcome, yet seeing the words laid out plainly still filled his heart with gloom.
Expression hardening once again, Emperor Xuanwu returned to the system and selected Option A.
He was curious to see what his esteemed ministers might have to say.
[You selected A. Two years later, Bei Xiang invades.]
"...?"
He blinked.
Bei Xiang invades—then what?
Who wins?
What happens to Tian Sheng after the war?
If the war were delayed by two years, his private coffers would likely be fatter than the state treasury. Even if it came to battle, surely the people wouldn't suffer quite so badly?
Still pondering, he tapped into the second choice.
[You selected B. A large number of decommissioned warhorses are returned to the battlefield, resulting in a massive increase in Tian Sheng's cavalry forces!]
Crash!
The stack of memorials by his elbow was knocked over in his excitement, scattering papers across the floor.
The Third Prince flinched and stiffened, quickly stepping forward and bracing himself.
"Father Emperor, please quell your anger!"
Anger?
Emperor Xuanwu was in the best mood he'd been in all day. What anger was there to quell?
He stood and paced twice before returning to his desk, where he eagerly picked up his brush and issued his reply to Bei Xiang.
"This letter must be delivered to Bei Xiang without delay. If anything goes awry along the way, We shall hold you personally accountable!"
"…Yes, Your Majesty."
The Third Prince was thoroughly bewildered.
Moments ago, his Imperial Father had looked ready to summon troops and burn down the border. Now he was practically beaming with enthusiasm.
Truly, the imperial mind was impossible to read.
Bowing, the Third Prince carefully accepted the imperial decree and retreated from the imperial study.
He had no idea that the moment he left, Emperor Xuanwu, no longer needing to maintain his regal composure, allowed himself to break into an unrestrained grin.
Back when the treaty was signed between Tian Sheng and Bei Xiang, why had Tian Sheng been willing to forgo a massive silver indemnity just to demand that Bei Xiang send one thousand elite warhorses each year?
Because Bei Xiang's horses were vastly superior in stamina and strength compared to Tian Sheng's native breeds.
Bei Xiang knew this well.
That was why, for all these years, they had only ever sent stallions.
Tian Sheng had tried breeding them, of course, but the mixed-blood foals never quite measured up to Bei Xiang's purebreds.
Now Bei Xiang was claiming they had no suitable warhorses in active service and were offering decommissioned ones instead.
He had every right to demand ten times the number, hadn't he?
If, among those ten thousand retired horses, there were even a few mares… then it would be a windfall!
And even if there weren't, as long as Xiao Wu was involved, those ten thousand Bei Xiang horses returning to the battlefield would still be an enormous strategic gain for Tian Sheng.
The only problem… was that it meant more work for Xiao Wu.
Yun Shu was already researching low-cost paper and preparing to open a restaurant. Now she'd also have to shoulder the burden of rehabilitating retired warhorses for combat.
For a rare moment, Emperor Xuanwu felt a flicker of guilt.
He paced two steps with a hint of hesitation, then promptly dismissed it and summoned the Dragon Shadow Guard to issue new instructions.
After all, the Simulation Life Selection System had mentioned Yun Shu would be heading to the stables soon. That meant it should happen within the next few days, right?
But days passed.
Ten of them, in fact.
Still no word of Yun Shu visiting the stables.
Instead, what arrived was a completely baffling report—that she had torn down Fengyang Palace.
Emperor Xuanwu: "!!!"
"You'd best explain clearly. What do you mean she tore it down?"
For the first time in his life, Emperor Xuanwu began to doubt his own comprehension.
"She… took off the roof?"
"The roof is intact," replied the Dragon Shadow Guard calmly. "But the entire floor has been dug up."
"...?"
Did his daughter think Fengyang Palace was too small or too remote, but was too embarrassed to ask for a new residence—so she demolished it outright, forcing him to step in?
Or had her digging spree at the hunting grounds last time left her addicted to excavation, and now even the palace was fair game?
After some thought, Emperor Xuanwu decided to go see it for himself.
Half an hour later, after waving off the eunuchs at the entrance to Fengyang Palace, Emperor Xuanwu quietly stepped into a side hall.
There he saw Yun Shu, feather pen in hand, sketching on a large sheet of paper.
Curious, he approached and peered over her shoulder.
"What are you drawing?"
"Mechanisms. This one—"
She began explaining instinctively, then paused mid-sentence as she turned and came face to face with a very familiar expression.
Startled, she quickly stood.
"Father Emperor, what brings you here?"
"We heard that Our Fifth Princess has decided to tear apart Fengyang Palace. As your Father Emperor, We naturally had to see this with Our own eyes."
Straightening to his full height, he glanced around the room.
"We just came through the main hall. The entire floor has been stripped bare. Tell Us—do you find this palace too cramped to house your grand ambitions?"
"I only just started! How did you even find out so quickly?"
Yun Shu looked dejected.
"I was hoping to surprise you after it was finished…"
"A surprise?"
So… he had accidentally ruined a surprise his daughter had been planning just for him?