"Since that was the case, then I would await good news from Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Chen Chu rose to his feet and did not linger. He had come today to stall Xue Qinghe and trap him in a deadlock. Now, it seemed his goal had been achieved.
Just as Chen Chu stepped out of the small pavilion, he saw someone standing not far around the corner. More precisely, it was a woman neither of them had expected—Tang Yuehua.
Chen Chu's expression changed when he saw her. Though he had said that he wanted Tang Yuehua, it had merely been a stopgap measure meant to fool others. He had never expected the person herself to overhear it, which left him somewhat embarrassed.
"Madam Yuehua." Chen Chu walked over and gave her a slight bow. Without saying anything further, he prepared to leave.
Tang Yuehua looked coolly at the heroic, handsome young man before her. For some reason, the words of reprimand she had intended to say would not come out. In the end, she merely said flatly, "Moonlight Pavilion is not a place for your dealings. I hope General Chen will not make things difficult for us."
Chen Chu paused mid-step and turned back to look at her in surprise. "Rest assured, Madam Yuehua. I am not that shameless. I would not make things difficult for Moonlight Pavilion. Whatever I do, I will do openly."
What a joke. Did she think he, Chen Chu, was like those spoiled young masters who did everything in secret? If he truly wanted to do something, he would do it openly and honorably.
After saying that, Chen Chu left the rear courtyard without waiting for Tang Yuehua's reply.
Xue Qinghe in the pavilion had heard their conversation clearly. He had arranged for Tang Yuehua to come precisely to see whether Chen Chu truly meant what he said—that he was interested only in her.
Since Chen Chu had laid everything bare, Xue Qinghe could no longer keep pretending. He rose and walked out of the pavilion, looking apologetically at Madam Yuehua. "My apologies, Madam Yuehua. I should not have done this, but General Chen happens to be fond of you. I had no choice but to resort to this measure."
"General Chen truly is an exceptional man, a one-in-ten-thousand genius. His talent even surpasses that of the Clear Sky Douluo of your sect. He is a rising star of the empire, while you are the legitimate daughter of the Clear Sky Sect. You are a match made in heaven. Besides, you have kept yourself pure all these years. Perhaps he truly could be your destined one."
Xue Qinghe appeared to be persuading her, but he was actually reminding her not to entertain foolish hopes. She belonged to the Clear Sky Sect, while Chen Chu was a general with real power in the empire. No matter what, the two of them could never be together—unless Tang Yuehua left her sect, or Chen Chu gave up the hard-won power he held in the empire.
Tang Yuehua quietly looked at the refined Crown Prince before her and naturally understood what he meant. She gave a slight curtsy. "Rest assured, Your Highness. Yuehua understands."
She had not thought highly of Chen Chu to begin with and had no feelings for him. Why would she take such a risk?
Seeing that she understood so clearly, Xue Qinghe was satisfied. "It is good that you understand. Since that is so, I should return as well."
Tang Yuehua watched Xue Qinghe's departing figure for a long while without coming back to herself.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.
"You really have unusual tastes, boy. You passed over so many gentle, graceful young ladies, yet chose someone like Tang Yuehua, who is already well past her prime. You really know how to make things difficult for me."
Xue Ye looked at Chen Chu, who sat nearby, and rubbed his brow helplessly as he complained.
"Your Majesty, things like feelings and first impressions cannot be explained. I simply feel something when I see her. Perhaps Madam Yuehua is just my type."
Chen Chu did not deny it. Instead, he admitted it openly. He also wanted to see how Xue Ye would choose.
"Hmph. And you still dare say that? Do you know how many ministers submitted memorials after last night's matter was exposed, impeaching you, the General of the Town Army, for lacking virtue and intending to use force and threats?"
Xue Ye snorted and tossed those impeachment memorials into the brazier. He continued, "You are still too young. You act too cautiously and lack the arrogance and domineering spirit young people ought to have."
"Yesterday, Marshal Gelong sent me an urgent military report. The Star Luo Empire has massed troops in the Balak Kingdom and the Pamir Plateau. A major battle may be imminent. He asked me to dispatch reinforcements to escort supplies and provisions there. Are you willing to serve the nation?"
Xue Ye walked to Chen Chu's side and handed him the urgent secret report in his hand as he spoke slowly.
Chen Chu glanced over the report, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. A major battle? It had come at just the right time.
Chen Chu clenched the report and looked up at Xue Ye, his voice firm and resounding. "This subject is willing to go."
Xue Ye raised his brows, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes. He was quite pleased. "The terrain around Balak is complicated, and the Star Luo army excels at cavalry warfare. How many men do you intend to take?"
"I will draw thirty thousand Imperial Guard troops from the Capital Garrison. Half New Army, half veterans will do," Chen Chu answered crisply. "The Imperial Guard are the empire's elite. Even after drawing thirty thousand men, the garrison will still be able to defend the imperial capital, and it will be enough to protect the supplies."
"That is fairly thorough." Xue Ye nodded and returned to the Dragon Throne. "The provisions and military equipment will be ready in one day. You may go to the camp in advance to prepare.
"But... what exactly do you intend to do about Tang Yuehua?"
Chen Chu lowered his eyes, his voice growing heavier. "Let us discuss it after this subject returns in triumph. It will also give those criticisms in court time to quiet down."
Xue Ye gave a sound of acknowledgment, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "It is good that you know what you are doing. Remember, your primary task on this journey is to escort the supplies. Focus on defense, not on fighting Star Luo head-on. The old Marshal Gelong is a seasoned strategist and is holding the front line. Do not cause trouble for me."
"This subject understands." Chen Chu cupped his hands. "If there are no further orders, this subject will return to the mansion to prepare and head for the camp tomorrow."
Xue Ye waved a hand. "Go. Remember, your life comes first in all things. Even if the battle is lost, it does not matter. Be careful above all else."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's concern." Chen Chu accepted the order, turned, and withdrew from the Imperial Study.
Xue Ye had given him only one day to prepare. It seemed he had long intended to send him to the battlefield for training and to let him prove himself. Once Chen Chu earned military merits and returned to court, what would Xue Ye want him to do?
Forget it. There was no point thinking about that. He had lived two lifetimes, yet had never commanded such a large army. At the thought of soon experiencing a real war, Chen Chu felt inexplicably excited.
At the Earl's Mansion, after Chen Chu arranged for his adjutant to prepare everything, he took out the pill furnace he had kept stored away for a long time.
He had bought this pill furnace back when he was at the Ye Family in Maple Leaf City. At the time, he had learned the basics of pill refinement in order to make full use of those Immortal Herbs.
"I do not know how long this campaign will last. It is time to fulfill what I promised Dugu Bo."
He intended to refine pills for Dugu Yan that could resolve the flaws in her martial soul. Pill refinement methods on the Douluo Continent were exceedingly simple, without any particular difficulties. However, that also meant the effects of those pills were far from maximized. Still, it was better than eating the herbs directly.
The pill furnace sat on the table, and the charcoal fire had just been lit when a soft knock sounded outside the door.
"Come in." Chen Chu glanced up as he pinched three petals from a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and placed them into the furnace.
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