Being praised is not always something that makes one happy.
Miss Jun remained indifferent.
Lu Yunqi was also not someone skilled in giving compliments, he only spoke because he felt something involving Miss Jun.
Ning Yunzhao treated Miss Jun this way not because of her appearance, but because he saw the soul within through her appearance.
"People who are educated and literate are more capable than me," he said.
Miss Jun looked at him.
"You are truly humble," she said sincerely.
Lu Yunqi looked at her, neither probing her sarcasm nor getting angry about it.
"Eat," he said, reaching out to pinch her cheek.
These days, things remained the same between them.
She did not back down, nor did he, in silent confrontation.
After feeding her, Lu Yunqi then ate his own meal.
"Everyone knows that the Duke of Chengguo would flee to the northern lands," he said casually as if chatting, "It's interesting, both sides are very confident."
Strictly speaking, it shouldn't be considered fleeing; for the Duke of Chengguo, it was more appropriately a return.
He came to the capital because he wanted to take a look, not because he was forced by the emperor, and likewise, his leaving wasn't an escape.
Miss Jun paused silently for a moment.
"The northern lands never belonged to any single person, and if someone thinks so, they are bound to be taught a lesson," she said.
Lu Yunqi put down his chopsticks.
"It doesn't concern us," he said indifferently.
Miss Jun looked at him.
"It doesn't concern you," she said, her expression serious yet stubborn.
She and he were no longer a 'they'.
Lu Yunqi smiled at her and had the servant take away the dishes.
"Get up and walk around, I'll prepare a footbath for you later," he said.
For the past two days, Lu Yunqi would remove the restraints on Miss Jun's feet whenever he returned, allowing her to walk indoors to avoid the discomfort of sitting for too long.
Miss Jun never tried to run outside because it was a completely unnecessary attempt.
As the restraints loosened, she got up and started pacing slowly, her expression calm and her steps steady, as if she wasn't in a small room, but still in Yangcheng or her home in the capital.
Lu Yunqi lit the lamps and sat beside her, flipping through the documents and reports he brought, occasionally commenting on the matters in the reports to Miss Jun, just like before, though Miss Jun never responded.
He had been doing this for the past few days.
Miss Jun stopped walking,
"Lu Yunqi," she said.
Lu Yunqi looked up at her, his expression under the lamp light seemed indifferent, but perhaps due to his gaze, his features looked unexpectedly gentle.
"It won't be like before," Miss Jun said, "I've already died once."
Lu Yunqi responded with a hum.
"So you won't die a second time," he said.
"Stop deceiving yourself, you're not truly the King of Hell; you can't decide others' life or death," Miss Jun said, "What you think you can decide regarding life and death is merely controlled by others."
Lu Yunqi nodded.
"You're right," he said, putting down the report in his hand, "Are you tired of walking? I'll prepare a footbath for you."
Regarding this topic, he accepted nothing, responded to nothing, discussed nothing.
There was nothing more to talk about between her and him.
Miss Jun looked at him indifferently once more.
...…..
...…
For the government soldiers of the northern lands, walking for a day and a night was a common occurrence; no one would feel tired. Those who did feel tired were already dead, and compared to death, being a bit more tired while alive was preferable.
The night was already deep, and in the desolate winter night, the sound of hooves echoed as torches snaked across the earth heading straight for a city.
The northern lands were strictly guarded and inspected, yet this city had its gates wide open at this moment, with troops galloping in and out, the place buzzing with noise and excitement.
A troop that carried torches had just entered the city, headed directly to a residence; here too the gates were wide open, the lights bright as day.
A general dismounted, and the rattling of his armor echoed as he strode inside.
In the courtyard, clerks passed by occasionally, soldiers stood solemnly in front of the government hall, and inside, a man wearing a general's robe, though advanced in age with graying hair, exuded vigor and authority.
Despite the deep night, there was no trace of fatigue about him; his eyes shone brightly as he stared at the sand table in front of him, listening to the generals around him speak.
"Lord Bo," the general entered the hall and saluted.
Uncle Qinghe looked up at him.
"General Wei," he nodded, "you arrived quickly."
The man addressed as General Wei saluted again.
"I dared not disobey orders," he said.
Uncle Qinghe looked towards another general.
"Now that General Wei is here, have his troops go to the Yongjing Army. You take your men to Jiaohe," he said.
The general complied with an affirmative response.
General Wei hesitated to speak up.
"General Wei, you've had a tiring journey. Go and rest," Uncle Qinghe said, not raising his head.
General Wei thanked him but continued to stand there motionless.
The generals in the room either whispered among themselves or gazed at Uncle Qinghe, seemingly unaware of the newcomer.
General Wei stood with a complex expression, the torchlight casting changing shadows on his face.
He certainly understood this meant he was not welcomed here; he shifted his footing to leave but hesitated and stopped.
"Lord Bo," he gritted out.
Uncle Qinghe looked at him, as did the other generals, seemingly surprised he was still there.
"Is there something else, General Wei?" Uncle Qinghe asked.
"Lord Bo, the recent rearrangements have been quite frequent," General Wei said, "I heard that many troops have been reassigned."
"Yes, this is Lord Bo's reallocation after inspection, isn't that what you've been told?" a general said with a hint of arrogance, then frowned, "What, does a troop reassignment require a special reason?"
The rule is that soldiers follow orders, and it naturally does not call for questioning the reason.
Uncle Qinghe raised a hand to stop the general.
"General Wei, do you have any thoughts?" he asked.
"Lord Bo, I think it's inappropriate to carry out such large-scale frequent redeployments at this time," General Wei said, "especially involving critical border defenses. The troops here are very familiar with the Jurchen people, and such sudden changes in defense might inconvenience everyone..."
Before he could finish, a general interrupted him.
"Inconvenience? Inconvenience for you to be lazy?" he raised an eyebrow.
Though restrained in conduct, no general would appreciate hearing the word 'lazy,' as it was akin to being called a coward.
"Vice General Zhang," General Wei shouted, "what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?" Vice General Zhang sneered. "I mean there's no need for you to teach Lord Bo how to maneuver and array troops. When Lord Bo was dealing with the Jurchen people in the northern lands, you were still feeding the horses."
General Wei's face flushed red.
"That was not what I meant," he said, not skilled in words despite his rank.
Uncle Qinghe looked at him.
"General Wei, are you unwilling to move?" he asked.
"Lord Bo, it's not that I am unwilling to move, but it seems the redeployment of officers and troops is not for defense, but for..." General Wei said, biting down as he stepped forward, "to disperse forces and divide authority."
The atmosphere in the room immediately grew tense, and Uncle Qinghe's expression gradually cooled.
Having spoken up to this point, General Wei was no longer fearful.
"...and lately, many generals have been charged, arrested, dismissed, Lord Bo, those people, as well as those of us being reassigned, share something in common; everyone is aware of it," he said, his face flushed.
Uncle Qinghe responded dispassionately with an "oh."
"You're aware of what?" he asked.
General Wei raised his gaze to meet Uncle Qinghe's.
"Lord Bo, you fear us because we are loyalists of the Duke of Chengguo, and you intend to suppress us. We can understand that," he grit his teeth and said, "but please not at this time, lest we disrupt our own defenses and give the Jurchen people an opportunity."
His words had barely settled when the generals in the room erupted.
"Wei Shunqing, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Damn it, utter rubbish."
Everyone cursed, and the hot-headed ones seized General Wei.
"Is this how the Duke of Chengguo drills his troops? Is this your renowned military might? Disobeying orders and daring to slander superiors?" he scolded.
The government hall turned noisy and chaotic.
"Silence," Uncle Qinghe commanded, suppressing the commotion, and looked at General Wei, "You're right, my rearrangement of defenses this time is indeed to suppress you, the close-knit officers loyal to the Duke of Chengguo."
......
.......
(Feeling slightly tired, only one update today, taking a small break, my apologies, my apologies, after laying this groundwork for so long, finally reaching a climax. You may want to save up chapters for a more satisfying read.)