novelraw Chapter 1043 - 1032: The Ever-Victorious General
Chapter 1043 - 1032: The Ever-Victorious General
"I underestimated that woman." Zaha’s gaze was fierce, and as he spoke, he exhaled a mass of hot breath while casually burning the Ye Family Army’s flag, watching it slowly burn away in the firelight.
"Master, should we assemble the warriors now?" The subordinates were equally enraged, thinking she was a mere girl with some martial arts skills who only knew how to resort to cunning; little did they expect her to deliver such a slap in the face. If this vendetta is not avenged, won’t they be ridiculed by all the warriors?
"No rush, let that little girl bask in her triumph for a few days first. If we deploy troops now, their morale is high; even if we win, we must pay a certain price. Let’s wait, that little girl’s father and brother both died by my hand; I refuse to believe she is more capable than her kin." Speaking of the Ye Family, Zaha held them in esteem; Ye Hui was the strongest opponent he had ever faced, and if not for an internal traitor within the Rong Dynasty, the situation might be entirely different.
"Then are we just going to watch? Watch the other side mock us?" His underling barbarian warriors were disgruntled.
"Do you think we won against their hundreds of thousands over the years with only our few tens of thousands? Besides our warriors’ fearlessness, it was also due to their internal disunity. According to my reliable sources, the old Emperor is near his end, and the Darong Dynasty is about to descend into chaos. That will be the best time for us to strike." Zaha confidently declared.
He was not wrong; the Darong Dynasty indeed showed signs of disturbance. The old Emperor, growing increasingly senile, put more faith in the misleading words of those old Daoists, becoming ever more paranoid and suspicious of officials, leaving capital officials apprehensive and forming cliques out of self-preservation.
At this moment, Noble Consort Zhang and the Second Prince learned that the old Emperor’s years of favoritism were just a cover, using them as chess pieces, with his heart set on the throne’s successor being the Crown Prince he pretended not to favor.
This jabbed at a hornet’s nest. Noble Consort Zhang and the Second Prince, relying on their overwhelming power, openly opposed the old Emperor.
However, the Crown Prince, being the legitimate eldest son, was the rightful successor, and upon knowing the old Emperor’s stance, gained considerable support.
But at this time, the Third Prince betrayed the Second Prince; coming from a revered family highly regarded among civil servants, his defection created a stalemate.
"Summon Ye Qiu back to the capital. I shall designate her as Crown Princess Consort by imperial decree!" The old Emperor knew that with domestic unrest and external threats, it wasn’t the best time to recall Ye Qiu, but for the son he cherished for decades, he had to sacrifice something.
In his early years, he did not receive favor; while other elder brothers and Emperors had taken main wives, he was forgotten in a corner until his twenties before marrying a concubine. Though the Princess Consort’s background was not high, they were a couple supporting each other through hardships.
When those elder brothers and younger brothers fought fiercely, he unexpectedly gleaned an opportunity to ascend the throne, a succession resulting from multiple factional tractions, compelling him to extend his harem to stabilize the regime.
In earlier times, he dared not let the Empress be pregnant; the woman he loved couldn’t conceive, so he ensured others couldn’t either, dragging out the issue of heirs for years.
Until he grasped some real power, and those aristocrats began to feel restless, did he finally dare allow his Empress to conceive. But if she alone was pregnant, every scheme would target her, leading other palaces to slowly have pregnancies.
Even with such precautions, the Empress endured much hardship to birth their son, her body weakened since then, departing a few years later.
Since then, he realized that even with concentrated power, dark schemes were masterfully evasive, compelling him to distance the Crown Prince, creating the façade of favoring Noble Consort Zhang and the Second Prince.
But lies do eventually unravel; the fabricated favor towards Noble Consort Zhang brought them many benefits. Now, with secrets exposed, even the Emperor couldn’t control it anymore.
For the Crown Prince to ascend smoothly, military support was most lacking. It was frustrating that the fence-sitter officials dismissed him with evasive words, and worse, he couldn’t address them for fear they’d defect to Noble Consort Zhang’s side.
Ye Qiu was now the greatest hope; should she return, which nearby army would dare act rashly? It was infuriating that when the barbarians pressed fiercely, he had not issued a marriage decree.
"Father Emperor, recalling General Ye now might provoke a large-scale barbarian offensive," the Crown Prince said worriedly.
"If she doesn’t return, are we to helplessly watch those people harm you? My son, if you are not the one to succeed, what use is retaining this Jiang Shan?" The old Emperor obstinately replied.
The Crown Prince did not press further, for he understood that losing in this succession struggle could cost his life. Barbarian aggression mattered little to him now.
Somehow, the Emperor’s decision to apoint Ye Qiu as Crown Princess Consort leaked, making the atmosphere in the capital even more tense.
"General, this is reportedly the fifth decree bearer to die; do you think the imperial decree can actually reach us?" Luo Xiao unashamedly gloated; their General wanted no part in the succession conflict, and naturally, neither did they. It would be best if the decree never arrived.
"What a heartless Emperor. If you, General, return to the capital now, wouldn’t Zaha retaliate with an attack? How many then must perish? General, should we..." The General made a throat-slitting gesture.
"No need; others are even less inclined for this decree to reach us. We only have to feign ignorance." Ye Qiuqing smirked, "However, we can’t let others think we’re being idle. Zaha awaits our internal discord; let’s surprise him with an offensive instead."
The mention of warfare invigorated the generals; previously, the barbarians were the ones burning, killing, and plundering; now it was their turn. Moreover, the barbarian tribe’s beef and lamb were indeed tastier.
The court deducted their herbs, but shouldn’t they seize some themselves? Using the plundered herbs and war horses against the enemy felt exhilarating; no wonder the barbarians incited wars consistently.
Call them despicable? Shameless?
Utter nonsense; after losing so many brothers, what’s there to argue? Whoever wields the strongest fist holds the truth!
The capital was anxious as ants in a hot pan, whereas Ye Qiu and her forces leisurely engaged in battle. Should the imperial decree accidentally arrive, Ye Qiu could invoke the military code that commands in the field are not bound by royal orders.
To make her Crown Princess Consort? To aid the Crown Prince against Noble Consort Zhang and the Second Prince and Third Prince’s attacks? She wasn’t that foolish.
Waiting? Let’s all wait together and see who’s more restless. Perhaps the old Emperor was searching for another Crown Princess Consort already; for all we know, the Chancellor’s House, long wary, might seize the opportunity!
She was merely facilitating star-crossed lovers to be united.