At noon in early summer, the sunlight was not scorching, yet Grand Commandant Tong Huan felt a wave of restless heat.
He stood beneath the dripping eaves with Chancellor Cui Yizhong, watching military officers stream in and out of Purple Dawn Hall, an inexplicable irritation stirring in his heart.
These generals, veterans of battle, strode with the wind at their heels, each hurrying as though his backside were on fire. Their steps moved in perfect unison, lending the entire Imperial Palace an air of tension.
"Grand Commandant, you have always been resourceful and decisive. In your opinion... is His Majesty... preparing to wage war against Western Liang?"
Cui Yizhong's face was wreathed in smiles as he ventured the question.
"Hmm... Heaven's might is difficult to fathom... hard to say!"
Tong Huan shook his head, making the long wings of his official hat sway.
"Ah... we serve as ministers in the same court. We ought to work together to ease His Majesty's burdens. There are no outsiders here. What leaves your mouth will enter my ears alone. You may rest assured, Grand Commandant!"
Still unwilling to give up, Cui Yizhong pressed him warmly.
"His Majesty is wise and mighty. Since ascending the throne, he has never forgotten recovering Qin Prefecture and avenging his elder brother. But... the imperial heart is as deep as an abyss... difficult to gauge..."
Tong Huan gently pounded his aging lower back, then slowly turned and paced aside with measured steps.
Having pressed his warm face against a cold backside, Cui Yizhong was deeply displeased. Watching Tong Huan's retreating figure, he cursed inwardly, *You old pickled bastard, putting on airs of mystery. You were just a petty director of the Left Office back then. Didn't you climb your way up by licking people's arse cracks? What a