Volume One, Chapter Sixteen: The Emperor Appears Somewhat Insignificant Before Yun Jinhua

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“Your Majesty, the Marquis of Martial Peace requests an audience.” The Chief Eunuch, Song Cheng’en, entered the imperial study to make his report.

Although Yun Jinhua had entered the palace without an imperial summons, she possessed the gold token personally bestowed upon her by the emperor and could see him whenever she wished.

“Oh?” Xiao Jinan’s thin lips curved into a faint smile.

Turning his head toward Xiao Muchen, he said, “Imperial brother, you have not come to the palace in ages. Go to the Palace of Longevity and Peace and keep the Empress Dowager company.”

With one hand supporting his temple, Xiao Muchen rolled his dark, gleaming crane-like eyes. What could they possibly have to discuss that he was not allowed to hear?

“I paid my respects to Mother before coming to the imperial study.” Xiao Muchen lounged in his chair with careless ease.

“Then go to the Palace of Compassion and Serenity and show filial respect on your imperial brother’s behalf.” Xiao Jinan’s intention to get rid of him could hardly have been more obvious.

“Imperial brother, I cannot leave. Although you and the Marquis of Martial Peace are sovereign and subject, you are still a man and a woman. Being alone together in the same room would invite gossip. With me here, everything is perfectly proper.” Xiao Muchen sprawled shamelessly in his chair, uttering blatant nonsense with an air of solemn sincerity.

Xiao Jinan narrowed his long phoenix eyes dangerously. He was sorely tempted to seize his younger brother by the back of the collar and throw him out of the imperial study.

Not one of them had the slightest sense of propriety!

“Enough. Quickly invite the Marquis of Martial Peace in. The autumn sun is scorching, and she cannot bear being exposed to that cruel heat outside.” Xiao Muchen sounded rather like a man tenderly concerned for a beauty.

“Hmph. She endured the bitter cold of the frontier and suffered countless hardships to earn the glory she holds today. Unlike you, who know nothing of the world’s misery.” The more Emperor Xuanping looked at him, the more irritating he found him.

Yet he could not bear to let Yun Jinhua bake beneath the sun. He raised a hand, signaling Song Cheng’en to bring her inside.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!” Yun Jinhua bowed.

“Dispense with the formalities. Sit down quickly and have a cup of chilled tea first. Whatever the matter, tell me about it slowly.” Xiao Jinan was warm and gracious.

Xiao Muchen let out a snort of laughter.

Why did his imperial brother seem so utterly undignified in front of Yun Jinhua?

Where had that inviolable majesty gone?

And the imposing aura of one who looked down upon all beneath heaven?

“Oh, Prince Jing is here as well.” Yun Jinhua cupped her hands toward Xiao Muchen.

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Xiao Muchen inclined his head in return and asked with a smile, “Marquis of Martial Peace, what brings you before my imperial brother?”

Xiao Jinan frowned slightly. Only now did he realize how irritating it was when familiarity erased all sense of ceremony.

“Your Majesty, I must leave the capital for a time. I have come especially to request leave.” Yun Jinhua rose to answer.

“You have only just returned to the capital. You should take proper care of your health. Set aside anything that is not urgent for the time being.” Xiao Jinan tapped the edge of the desk lightly with his long fingers.

After three years of war, even those iron-blooded warriors would have given anything to sleep for three months straight.

Why did this little girl have no idea how to care for herself?

“Your Majesty, I intend to go to Netherworld Valley in search of my family and the three thousand soldiers.” Yun Jinhua spoke each word with unmistakable clarity.

There was nothing more important than this.

“No.” Xiao Jinan rejected her request without the slightest hesitation.

“Excellent! The Marquis of Martial Peace possesses loyalty, filial devotion, benevolence, righteousness, and courage in equal measure. I am deeply impressed.” Xiao Muchen’s attitude could not have been more different from the emperor’s.

“Get out!” Xiao Jinan pointed toward the door, two blades seeming to fly from his narrow phoenix eyes.

Xiao Muchen strolled out leisurely. Even as he crossed the threshold, he turned back and gave Yun Jinhua an encouraging smile.

“Jinhua, I know you have always been worried about your family, but you must not act on impulse. Netherworld Valley is indeed a strange and sinister place. Over the past few years, I have secretly sent men into the Sea of Sand four times to search for the whereabouts of the Protector of the State General and the others. To this day, not a single one has returned to report their findings.

“Jinhua, like you, I am unwilling to believe that they have met with disaster. But more than three years have passed without the slightest word from them. It seems the chances of their survival are slim. If the Protector of the State General knew what you intended, he would certainly never approve of your risking your life. Their greatest wish would be for you to live in peace and happiness.”

Xiao Jinan tried to console her with earnest sincerity.

“Your Majesty has sent people to search for them?” Yun Jinhua asked, profoundly surprised.

From an obscure prince to a ruler whose might commanded awe, Xiao Jinan could not possibly have spent these past three years more easily than she had spent hers on the battlefield.

And yet he had kept her family in his heart.

“Ah, even if those men were to return empty-handed, I would not stop you from going. Do not be impatient. All these years, I have been seeking out capable and extraordinary people. Once I have assembled a powerful force, I will have them accompany you to Netherworld Valley. Jinhua, I am not asking you to abandon the idea. I simply need to ensure that you can return without mishap before I give you permission to go.” Xiao Jinan spoke with complete candor.

“Your Majesty is right. Netherworld Valley is like an enemy whose strength remains unknown. I ought to plan carefully before making a move. I will first recuperate and gather my strength, making every preparation. When the time is right, I will lead men to explore Netherworld Valley.” A glint flashed through Yun Jinhua’s icy eyes, and she readily accepted his reasoning.

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“You have truly changed your mind?” Xiao Jinan asked hesitantly.

He knew this girl too well. Once she made up her mind, even eight horses would not be able to drag her back.

“What is there to change my mind about? I am going to Netherworld Valley to bring my family and those soldiers home. There is no point in making needless sacrifices. I am the Marquis of Martial Peace of Southern Ling, and I bear the grave responsibility of protecting the country and its people. My life is precious.” Yun Jinhua replied with solemn seriousness.

Xiao Jinan was filled with conflicting emotions. The carefree young girl who had once known so little of the world had grown into a battle-hardened commander feared by her enemies. She had willingly taken up the swords of her father and brothers and assumed the responsibility of guarding Southern Ling.

Yet how desperately he wished she could remain that innocent, carefree little girl without a worry in the world.

“Jinhua, the Protector of the State General and the others risked their lives for Southern Ling. I will not forget them, nor will I give up searching for them.” Xiao Jinan made the solemn promise.

He was not merely offering Yun Jinhua reassurance. Through his actions, he would prove that Southern Ling would never betray its loyal ministers and gallant generals.

“On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank Your Majesty. This subject takes her leave.” After expressing her gratitude, Yun Jinhua bowed and withdrew.

Once outside the imperial study, she forced the tears from her eyes.

More than three thousand living souls!

She knew the chances of their survival were slight, but even if all she could recover were their remains, it would at least give those heroic spirits an answer.

Moreover, what Yun Jinhua wanted to know most was this: her father had not been a reckless fool driven by empty courage. Had venturing alone into the Sea of Sand truly been his decision alone?

“Well now, why are your eyes red? Did my imperial brother make you cry? I knew he would refuse to let you go to Netherworld Valley. It would require a massive mobilization, drain the people and the treasury, and might not even produce results. My imperial brother has had a difficult time these past few years as well. One year of war brings ten years of unrest. The conflict between Southern Ling and Northern Mo lasted nearly five years from beginning to end, and the national treasury has grown increasingly depleted. Every coin must be spent where it matters most.

“Marquis of Martial Peace, you should try to understand him. Still, you are not short of money. What you lack is probably manpower, isn’t it? In that case, I have a contingent of household troops. Do not be fooled by the fact that there are only three hundred of them—they are all carefully selected warriors, each capable of fighting ten men alone. If you need them, I will lend them to you without charge.

“There is only one condition: do not let my imperial brother find out. Otherwise, this will be more than a mere breach between sovereign and subject. It may well drive the brothers into open enmity. Truth be told, I should not be opposing him like this.”

No one knew where Xiao Muchen had appeared from. He stood before Yun Jinhua and rattled off one thing after another.

Yun Jinhua took a step back and raised her icy eyes at an angle. The Prince of Jing certainly seemed very concerned about her affairs.