Chapter 68
No one understood Yan Yuntai's character better than Qi Junmu. In his past life, when the Western Di broke through the West Frontier, it was Yan Yuntai who led the troops to stop them.
At his age, Yan Yuntai harbored few cunning schemes and little private ambition — he wished only to guard Da Qi’s soil and the people along its borders. He was a general who served Da Qi with all his heart.
Now that the opportunity had come, Qi Junmu naturally wished to entrust the West Frontier to such a man. With Yan Yuntai holding firm at the West Frontier, even should the Western Di launch a surprise attack in this life, they would not so easily cut down tens of thousands of soldiers in vain.
If the Western Di proved truly formidable and the West Frontier Army could not hold, suffering casualties in the tens of thousands, Qi Junmu would call it his own failing — that Da Qi’s troops were no match for the Western Di — and he could accept defeat.
But if the two sides never even clashed, and the West Frontier Army was instead surrounded, crushed, and butchered outright, then Qi Junmu felt only fury, and found Chang Sheng utterly loathsome. To deliver one’s own people into the enemy’s blades was nothing short of treason.
This time, he had only executed Chang Sheng and spared his nine clans — that was already an act of mercy.
"Your Majesty speaks truly," Shen Nian said with a smile, genuinely believing so.
"Where do I speak truly?" Qi Junmu asked, unable to resist as he watched Shen Nian's smile.
"Everywhere," Shen Nian replied with a straight face, though his eyes brimmed with laughter.
Qi Junmu gave a soft "Mm," then said: "Since you think so too, I will issue the decree directly. The West Frontier has been without a proper commander for too long. Yan Yuntai still carries some weight there—I feel relatively at ease making him the General of the West Frontier."
Shen Nian said, "Since Your Majesty has already considered everything thoroughly, then issue the decree."
Qi Junmu looked at Shen Nian and suddenly burst out laughing—completely undignified, his whole frame shaking.
Shen Nian found it rather baffling and asked, "What is Your Majesty laughing at?"
Qi Junmu laughed and said, "I was just suddenly reminded of the fatuous rulers in the history books. They were all tyrants, and they shared one thing in common—they loved listening to beautiful people speak, so much so that they loved beauty more than the realm."
Shen Nian understood, and looked at the emperor with raised brows, saying nothing.
Qi Junmu said, "I am not saying you are a beauty. My point is that they loved hearing beautiful people speak because their words touched their hearts. Often, even they themselves knew it was unwise to favour such a person so much, but they were willing nonetheless."
"You are no beauty, but I equally love what you say—it touches my heart." The emperor spoke these words somewhat softly, yet his delight was plain.
"I am no beauty, and Your Majesty is no tyrant—Your Majesty naturally loves the realm," Shen Nian said with a stern face. "If Your Majesty enjoys my words, I will speak them often. But please do not call yourself a tyrant."
Qi Junmu looked at Shen Nian speaking so earnestly, and parted his lips as if to say something, but in the end said nothing.
A casual remark of his would be taken to heart, treated as truth, and met with comfort—this was a feeling he had never experienced before. Shen Nian was like a cup of tea—the longer one savoured him, the more depth one discovered.
In the end, one simply could not do without him. And fortunately, Qi Junmu had no intention of ever doing without Shen Nian.
At this moment, Qi Junmu very much wanted to step forward, take Shen Nian in his arms, and do something to him—but in the end, he restrained himself.
Qi Junmu gave Shen Nian a deep look, then turned around and, right before Shen Nian's eyes, picked up his brush at the imperial desk and wrote the decree of appointment.
After finishing, he summoned Ruan Jiqing and ordered him to deliver it by swift horse immediately.
Sending an imperial decree to the border could not be hidden from others, nor did Qi Junmu intend to hide it—by the time they finished gathering intelligence, the matter would already be settled. Some, unwilling to give up, would begin to sling mud at Yan Yuntai.
But no matter how much mud they threw, Qi Junmu would not deign to entertain them.
The imperial decree left the capital, and many heard of it.
The Empress Dowager naturally heard the news as well. Yue shi had come to the palace today. These past days, because the Empress Dowager had been in low spirits, she had been visiting more frequently—and naturally, she brought Lin En with her.
Lin Xiao had also come to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager and to escort Yue shi and Lin En back to the Lin residence.
When the news arrived, the Empress Dowager's brows furrowed. She looked at Lin Xiao and said, "What is the Emperor thinking? Did you not know of this either?"
Lin Xiao's brow creased slightly, then he said, "His Majesty is grown now. He always has his own plans when he acts."
"Of course His Majesty has his own plans—it is simply that the Lin family gains no benefit from them," the Empress Dowager said with displeasure, and patted Lin En's hand reassuringly.
Aside from Lin Xiao, the Lin family had other members—but aside from Lin Xiao, the Emperor had not given any of them important posts. The West Frontier was such a large piece of meat, yet the Lin family had not even tasted a single drop of its juices.
Lin En kept his head lowered and his eyes down, saying nothing on the matter. Naturally, he could not comment on the Emperor's affairs.
In principle, the Empress Dowager should not have said such things in front of Lin family members, since they concerned the Emperor—many matters should not be spoken of casually even before close kin.
But the Empress Dowager did not think that way. She was close to Lin Xiao, so she took many things lightly.
Lin Xiao understood the Empress Dowager's thinking—she always felt that the emperor was guarding against the Lin family and suppressing them. He could only offer soothing words of persuasion: "The Lin family has no military commanders, so naturally we cannot gain a foothold in the army. His Majesty is also constrained in this matter. Too many eyes are on you and His Majesty right now—you must not speak so casually."
"I have heard stories of men who wore masks and went to battle in the old days. The emperor is also heartless—if he placed Lin En at the West Frontier, would merit not be won easily?" The Empress Dowager did not take Lin Xiao's counsel to heart at all, and came out with this remark.
Lin En quickly rose and said, "Your Majesty, I know no martial arts and have never studied the art of war—how could I set foot on a battlefield? Even if you mean well for me, please do not raise this matter again in future."
Seeing Lin En so sensible, the Empress Dowager felt deeply uncomfortable.
Lin Xiao, seeing the Empress Dowager's expression turn sour, quickly signalled to Yue shi, who then deflected with a few light-hearted quips, steering the conversation completely away.
The Empress Dowager did not wish to lose composure, so she followed Yue shi's lead and continued the chat.
After a few more pleasantries, Lin Xiao, along with the others, took their leave.
The Empress Dowager could not insist they stay, so she had a palace attendant bring several boxes of pastries for Lin En, saying they were his favourites and that he should eat more.
Lin En received them with thanks, then left with Lin Xiao and Yue shi.
As they reached the palace gate, they encountered Princess Yueqing. Lin En quickly stepped aside, lowering his gaze as he waited for Yueqing to enter.
Yueqing had recently gained much of the Empress Dowager's favour—or rather, the Empress Dowager had deliberately cooled toward Fuhua and turned her attention to Yueqing. Now everyone in the palace knew that Princess Yueqing was the Empress Dowager's current favourite.
Were it not for Fuhua still having the emperor's backing, the favoured princess of the palace would surely have changed.
Lin Xiao and Lin En were men from outside the inner palace and could not speak at length with Princess Yueqing. Yue shi's expression remained cool as well.
They exchanged perfunctory greetings, then went their separate ways—one entering, the other departing.
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