It is said that those with exceptional martial arts skills can turn even a random pebble picked up from the roadside into a deadly weapon.
The eunuch, intimidated by her icy gaze, swallowed hard: "General Shi, you jest. Please, after you!"
The money Lord Ren had promised was no longer worth it—what use was wealth if one lost their life?
At the busiest gate of the imperial city, on a street lined with dignitaries and nobles, Zhang Xiuzhu's restaurant stood out as both incongruous and harmonious.
Incongruous because this area, where land was worth its weight in gold, was reserved for officials of the third rank and above. There were no shops around; if one needed to buy anything, they had to take a carriage to the bustling streets further away.
Harmonious because the restaurant, named "Daughter's Red," was a grand and luxurious structure, standing majestically across from the Eldest Princess's Mansion. Its imposing presence was undeniable.
The restaurant was four stories high, its exterior built from red sandalwood, with layers of crimson silk tied into flowers that fluttered beautifully in the wind.
Inside, it was a dazzling display of opulence, with waiters who were all strikingly handsome young men.
On the stage, not only women but also men played instruments and sang, adding a touch of elegance to the lively atmosphere.
The chefs in the kitchen were all women.
Master He, the head chef, wielded a large ladle. Despite her plump figure, she moved with surprising agility as she sidled up to Zhang Xiuzhu: "Boss, didn't you say General Shi would come to dine here? Is she still coming?"
General Shi was currently the most celebrated figure in the capital, an idol to many women. If she were to grace their establishment, the future of Daughter's Red would be secured.
Although the Empress had provided them with a startup fund, it was a loan that had to be repaid within a year.
The Empress sympathized with the challenges women faced in establishing themselves and had granted them this fund.
However, she had also made it clear that while she could support them, she would not subsidize them indefinitely. To gain a foothold in the capital, they would need to rely on their own abilities.
Sometimes, leveraging the fame of a celebrity could quickly boost the reputation of the restaurant.
Master He believed that with their skills, once they attracted enough customers, their business would thrive throughout the capital.
"Hey, have you heard? The Emperor has annexed Fusang and Goryeo. Those two vassal states no longer exist; they’ve been absorbed into Great Yan."
"You can't deny it—Shi Ruojun is truly remarkable. She single-handedly infiltrated Fusang, collaborated with our spies there, and assassinated the King of Fusang. And she succeeded!"
"I heard the Emperor rewarded her with a general's mansion this morning. She also secured honors for the spies who died in the mission. She’s both capable and honorable."
"She’s now the Eastern Conquest General. Does that mean she can command more troops?"
"The Emperor granted her the authority to recruit soldiers. I wonder if she’ll recruit men or women? If possible, I have a younger sister who loves martial arts and keeps talking about killing Fusang people. Maybe I could send her to train under General Shi."
Once she experiences the hardships of military life, she’ll probably come back and settle down to marry.
"Eastern Conquest General?"
"With Fusang and Goryeo gone, the only significant power left in that direction is the Jin Kingdom, aside from a few smaller vassal states."
"Do you think the Emperor might send General Shi to attack the Jin Kingdom?"
An outright attack on the Jin Kingdom was unlikely, but the Emperor’s intention was clear: Shi Ruojun’s decisive and fearsome reputation would serve as a strong deterrent to the Jin Kingdom.
As for the Emperor’s private motives, only Jiang Xinyue knew.
Shi Ruojun was a sharpened sword, her brilliance unstoppable!
The Southern Prince of the Jin Kingdom had expressed interest in collaborating with Great Yan, hoping to overthrow his older brother.
The Emperor pretended to agree and accepted the letters sent by the Southern Prince, which detailed communications between the Jin Kingdom and Goryeo. He then made the contents of these letters public.
The despicable schemes of the Jin Emperor were exposed to the world, earning the scorn of other nations.
Additionally, after the King of Fusang was injured, he retaliated fiercely, exposing the Jin Kingdom and Goryeo’s misdeeds. Now, the Jin Kingdom was like a rat scurrying in the streets, despised by all.
When the King of Fusang later died from his wounds, his accusations became his final testament. He pinned all his own crimes on the Jin Kingdom and Goryeo, proclaiming himself a victim in his dying breath.
Since he was dead, his words became irrefutable evidence.
The princes of the Jin Kingdom were each scheming for power, and the kingdom was in turmoil. Sending Shi Ruojun there now was like tossing a bomb into boiling water.
The Jin Kingdom was about to explode!
Shi Ruojun’s fiery temperament was exactly what the Emperor wanted to see.
Jiang Xinyue saw through the Emperor’s plan. After the rewards were distributed, she summoned Shi Ruojun to the Kunning Palace, all but explicitly instructing her to stir up trouble along the Jin Kingdom’s border.
The goal was to push the Jin Kingdom to the brink, forcing them to declare war.
Xi Que watched Shi Ruojun’s hurried departure and mused to Shuang Jiang, "Do you think General Shi understood Her Majesty’s hint?"
Shuang Jiang couldn’t help but chuckle. "General Shi is at least smarter than you. If you understood, she probably did too."
Xi Que was getting ahead of herself, worrying about someone else’s intelligence.
"Are you calling me stupid?"
"Not at all!"
Shuang Jiang would never admit to such a thing.
"Xi Que!"
A young man in armor, weary from travel and still unwashed, rushed toward his beloved.
Meng Qingyu and Xi Que had been separated since last year, and it had been eleven long months since they last saw each other.
He had hurried back, arriving in the capital just one day before the Third Princess and Seventh Prince’s first birthday celebration.
Xi Que buried her face in Meng Qingyu’s chest, not wanting anyone to see her tears.
The servants of the Kunning Palace, witnessing the scene, laughed and cheered good-naturedly.
Meng Qingyu waved them off. "Go on, shoo…"
He knew Xi Que was strong-willed and used to being in charge. She didn’t want others to see her vulnerable side.
He wrapped her in his cloak, gently patting her back. "There, there, don’t cry. I’m back now, aren’t I?"
Xi Que sobbed softly, and Meng Qingyu rested his chin on her head. "Tomorrow, my grandmother and sister will come to the palace for the princes’ birthday banquet. The general will propose to the Empress on my behalf, and we’ll be married soon."
The betrothal gifts had been prepared long ago. If it hadn’t been for Goryeo’s sudden rebellion, they would have chosen an auspicious date and married at the start of the year.
The second princess had been married for seven or eight months and was already pregnant. Old Marchioness Yunyang had even sent someone to the capital to share the good news.
Meanwhile, he and Third Young Master had been sent off to war just as their marriages were being arranged.
The pain of separation was truly… unbearable.
