Chapter 82

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

Emperor An Qing’s face changed into shades of red and blue. He swept his gaze over the group of courtiers, trying to figure out who had touched the Shi Family’s wealth.

The courtiers who were barking loudly moments ago were lowering their heads and holding their breaths. There were also courtiers who had accepted beautiful girls enslaved by the Shi Family as concubines. They now glared at Xiao Zhige with both anger and fear.

It was not uncommon for the Southern businessmen to want to move to Yejing and amalgamate with the capitals’ nobles. However, the prestigious families of Yejing only had a rich background from decades ago. Their wealth was dwindling and they could not afford to keep up with their comfortable lifestyles depending solely on their salary. Therefore, they naturally had their eyes on the riches of the South. 

Emperor An Qing was well aware of this fatty piece of meat. The courtiers took their cut from the Southerners and of course, had sent the biggest slice to his personal vault. This was why he had turned a blind eye to their activities over the years.

Among the former Emperor’s sons, Emperor An Qing’s talent and qualifications could only be considered mediocre at best. It was all thanks to the Empress Dowager that he was handed the throne. In the beginning of his reign, Emperor An Qing actually had goals and still cared for the country but as he continued to indulge in fine wine and beauties, he gradually grew complacent and self-serving.

After all, he was the Emperor. Even if the sky fell, he’d still have the Empress Dowager and the Zhao family to take care of things. What’s wrong with indulging himself now?

Those were his thoughts during his twilight years which were now slowly turning into fear. For the Empress Dowager, she had always looked down on him but he was her only son, she had no choice but to support him. However, as the Crown Prince matured and he aged, he feared that eventually the Zhao family and the Empress Dowager would grow impatient and replace him with the Crown Prince.

Everyone is afraid of dying, especially people like Emperor An Qing. That was why he had sought out Taoists masters to research the path to immortality. He had not reached his time, he had not lived enough!

As he looked down at the silent courtiers, Emperor An Qing couldn’t help but feel a streak of panic. These courtiers who had always been obedient to him were gradually turning to support his sons while he was still breathing! The huge fortune of the Shi family which he had been drooling over had long been divided up by the Crown Prince and his associates, leaving him, the Emperor, with only leftover crumbs!

Thinking of the still healthy Empress Dowager and the glamorous Empress Zhao along with the Crown Prince who had begun spreading his wings, Emperor An Qing showed a twisted and malicious smile. His eyes swept grimly over the court as he swung his sleeve and said, “Well done, the whole lot of you!”

The horrified courtiers knelt down and said in unison, “Your Majesty, please forgive us!”

Emperor An Qing gave them one last glance and said, “Adjourn!”

The eunuch relayed his words and even after Emperor An Qing had left the hall, none of the courtiers dared to get up.

It was only a long while later that the courtiers hesitantly looked at each other before daring to get up. It was then that everyone began to look at Xiao Zhige, the central figure, with vigilance. Among the forces struggling for the throne, they have never regarded this Second Prince as a threat. Despite having immense military power and amassing impressive achievements, his ominous birth and notorious reputation had ascertained that he was not eligible for the throne!

Furthermore, he had married a man. A king with a male partner on the throne? It’s simply unthinkable. The only thing they had to worry about was whether he had the desire to rebel.

But never did they expect that the violence and recklessness was just the facade of a cunning and vicious wolf. His trip to the South this time not only maimed the Emperor’s trust in the Crown Prince and Third Prince but also created a good name for himself. 

This was a clear attempt at the throne!

The courtiers exchanged looks of tacit understanding – after this event, they had to revise their plans and come up with countermeasures.

Imperial Censor Officer Li An Min walked alongside Minister An Zhi Ke as they left the hall. Li An Min saw An Zhi Ke’s unconcealable frown but he still lifted his sleeves and congratulated, “The Northern Warlord has made considerable achievements this time. Congratulations to Minister An.”

Whoever did not know that An Zhi Ke was privately supporting the Crown Prince and that the Northern Warlord’s Wangfei had a rocky relationship with this father of his. Li An Ming’s compliment was choking him green and he could only try his hardest to squeeze out an ugly smile.

Li An Min feigned ignorance and bowed to him before walking away, leaving the pale-faced An Zhi Ke to deal with his predicament.

The Northern Warlord, who had once upon a time shown his disinterest in the throne, was now actively competing for it, even going so far as to show his aggressiveness in this matter. In this case, as his father-in-law, An Zhi Ke was going to have a hard time dealing with both factions.

An Chang Qing was the son he couldn’t wait to cut ties with and the Northern Warlord was the son-in-law who wouldn’t give him a second glance. Before, it would’ve been a no-brainer picking sides but now, he couldn’t help but be doubtful. Having sided with the Crown Prince for so long, naturally he couldn’t let the Crown Prince be suspicious of him. However, thinking of the Crown Prince’s situation, he was beginning to have second thoughts. If it was between the Third Prince and the Crown Prince, he definitely would’ve bet on the Crown Prince with no hesitation. But if Xiao Zhige was in the mix, then he wasn’t quite so sure.

The military power in his hands alone was enough for many to fear. And if an all-out war was to break out and Xiao Zhige managed to seize the throne, then the An family would utterly be annihilated…

The matter weighed heavily in An Zhi Ke’s mind and for a long time, he wasn’t able to make his decision.

If An Chang Qing were to know what his father was thinking, he would’ve told him that no matter what, he and the An Family had long gone their separate ways.

…

After leaving the Imperial Court, Emperor An Qing called for the Crown Prince.

These days, Emperor An Qing had stopped taking the pills and dared not indulge in earthly pleasures, as such, by his side were only eunuchs and maids in waiting.

The Crown Prince was aware of what had transpired in court. He was cursing Xiao Zhige vehemently in his heart but still had to keep up appearances as he hurried to the Emperor.

The Emperor leaned back on his bed and looked down at the seemingly docile prince kneeling in front of him.

After the civil unrest in the South had been resolved, the Crown Prince, due to his blunder in judgment, had taken the initiative to punish himself with closed-door meditation in the East Palace. Originally, Emperor An Qing was quite empathetic towards him, after all, he was supervising a whole nation in his stead. Even if the matter could not be settled, he had no intention to blame him since it was his first time making such paramount decisions – it was justifiable to fail.

However, now that doubts of the Prince pocketing the Shi Family’s fortunes had been planted, this fatherly support no longer existed.

Emperor An Qing did not let him rise. He looked at him with downcast eyes and said, “I heard that one of your concubines is a lady of the Shi Family?”

The Crown Prince’s heart thumped but he could only reply honestly, “Yes.” He thought that after Emperor An Qing questioned him, he would make up some excuses and then offer the fortune from the Shi Family and this ordeal would be solved.

However, Emperor An Qing did not pursue the matter. Instead, he asked, “The Crown Prince is twenty-six this year, isn’t he?”

The Crown Prince could not figure out what the Emperor was thinking and simply answered with a yes.

Emperor An Qing laughed for an unknown reason and said, “You’re not young anymore. You’ll have to be more thoughtful when doing things in the future.”

The Crown Prince responded, “Yes, I will honor Father’s teachings.”

Emperor An Qing waved his hand wearily and said, “I’m tired, you can take your leave.”

Being called inexplicably then sent away, the Crown Prince’s expression turned gloomy. He mulled over Emperor An Qing’s words as he saluted and left.

It seemed the Emperor was bitter with him over the Shi Family. He did not ask about the matter and hence, the Crown could not explain himself. 

“Xiao-Zhi-Ge!” The Crown Prince recited the name under his breath and angrily headed to the Empress’ Palace.

…..

Xiao Zhige had now headed back to the Wang Manor for the time being.

Wang Fu Gui has been taking care of the Wang Manor and everything was running smoothly. Ever since he was taught a lesson by An Chang Qing, his attitude had changed. Even with the absence of the household heads for the past year, he did not dare to do anything dishonest. On the contrary, he had become much more dependable and had kept the manor in good order.

Xiao Zhige was quite satisfied. Having reliable subordinates meant that An Chang Qing would have less to worry about when he returned to the manor.

Because Emperor An Qing had not given his verdict, Xiao Zhige could only stay in Yejing for the time being. That said, he doubted that he would be released back to Yanzhou anytime soon.

Surprisingly, the Emperor did not leave Xiao Zhige hanging for long. In five days, an eunuch came to deliver his rewards along with the decree.

In addition to the large number of rewards, Emperor An Qing had made sure to point out that the Northern Warlord had made great achievements in dealing with the conflicts in the South and commended his efforts. Now that the war with the North had ended, he should stay put in Yejing. As for the 20,000 soldiers outside the city, lieutenant Xie Ling is to take them back to Yanzhou to defend the city.

The eunuch handed the decree to Xiao Zhige and said with a smile, “Before, Wangye was always away fighting in the North and His Majesty rarely got to see you. Now that you’ll be staying in Yejing, Wangye should come to the palace more often to keep His Majesty company and help relieve his worries.”

Whatever others felt after hearing these words, Xiao Zhige did not know. He only knew that they made him feel revolting. Unable to muster up even a smile, he lowered his head and said, “I was born with powerful inauspiciousness, getting too close to His Majesty could harm his dragon body. It’s not that I’m unwilling, it’s that I’m unable to. Please explain to His Majesty so.”

The eunuch’s face stiffened. He did expect such straightforwardness from the Northern Warlord. Everyone knew that he was born with a great omen but no one dared to put it into words. Now that the man had said it himself, the eunuch had to keep quiet and accept his declination.

Xiao Zhige was well aware of what the Emperor was planning to do. Now that his health was deteriorating fast and the Shi family’s secrets had been exposed, he was concerned that the Crown Prince couldn’t wait to take his place. He wanted to support his other sons.

However, the Third Prince was also out of the question. Over the years, under his indulgence, the Crown Prince and Third Prince were freely allowed to expand their faction. The Crown Prince was young and powerful but so was the Third Prince with Shu Guifei’s backing. 

No matter who he chose to support, they would have the potential to replace him immediately. The only exception was the Northern Warlord. He had no supporters in court or in the harem and had command of a powerful army, a good countermeasure to the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. 

Emperor An Qing was content with his move and had deliberately called his personal eunuch to deliver the message. Unfortunately, Xiao Zhige did not fall for his trick.

Of course he wanted the throne but he refused to grovel under Emperor An Qing for it. He will rightfully take it through his own means.

Chapter 81

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

The situation in the South was ultimately resolved and Xiao Zhige had to leave for two reasons; one was to help the refugees and recruit the youths within them who were willing to join his army and, the second reason was to escort the group of criminals back to Yejing. Even though it was Emperor An Qing who had ordered him to stamp out the rebellion, he had killed quite a few bigwigs in such a short amount of time and, this was bound to impinge on the benefits of many people in court. He knew his trip back to Yejing would be filled with reproval and adversity but it was imperative that he returned.

If he had followed his previous plan, he definitely would not bare his fangs so boldly. It was better to continue to have his name sullied and take the infamy of the Northern Warlord to the next level. This way, he could stay in the shadow while the two princes fight it out and finally reap the benefits, leaving Emperor An Qing no other choice but to pass the throne to him. Furthermore, with Yanzhou’s powerful militia, he could easily seize the throne. However, now that he had An Chang Qing along with their two children, he was unwilling to do so.

If he were by himself, he could care less about his reputation. But now he was a family man. If he ascended the throne, An Chang Qing would be right beside him and their children would be his successors. Since ancient times, tyrants had been plagued with villainous concubines and disasters that could bring the downfall of a nation. And because An Chang Qing was a man, he could imagine that years later, historians will brand him as the sinful consort that led a country to ruin.

He wanted An Chang Qing to be able to stand with him at the peak and watch over Da Ye as equals but he refused to let him be criticized by later generations because of him.

If he could lead his army to consume a crumbling nation, he could rebuild ruins into mountains and rivers. He wanted their names to be fondly remembered in historical books and passed down for generations to come. 

Therefore, at this point, it was inevitable to clash with the two princes upfront. Albeit things would get more difficult but, it was just a matter of putting in more effort.

While the people of Da Ye were still immersed in the Spring Festival celebration, Xiao Zhige had already led his troops from Yanzhou to Yongzhou.

Of the three Southern States of Yenan, Qing Zhou’s Zuo Qiu and Yong Zhou’s Kang Hong were already dead. On the surface, Qing Zhou was under the supervision of its vice general but in truth, Zhou He Lan was the one in control. As for Yong Zhou, after Kang Hong’s death, his subordinates had surrendered voluntarily, and Xie Ling had taken the helm.

The only person left was Ruan Zhou’s Su Huai Yi. Su Huai Yi had all along only obeyed the orders of the Great General Shi Le Zheng. In the eyes of the public, Shi Le Zheng was well known for being loyal to the Emperor and  hadn’t participated in the fight between the two princes. However, according to An Chang Qing’s dream, Shi Le Zheng had later aided the deposed crown prince to besiege Yejing, revealing his sly and ambitious nature. As such, by this time, Shi Le Zheng should have already developed some friendship with the Crown Prince. Therefore, Ruan Zhou most likely will lean towards the Crown Prince.

Of Da Ye’s thirteen states, Suzhou, Qizhou, Ruan Zhou, and Yu Zhou were four states that surrounded and protected Yejing. Qizhou’s Zhao Yue supports the Crown Prince; Yuzhou’s Shu Lin Ting was Shu Guifei’s confidant and supported the Third Prince; Suzhou’s Shen Tu Xu was the Emperor’s confidant; Ruan Zhou’s Su Huai Yi may seem impartial but it was highly probable that he was supporting the Crown Prince.

Of the four states, half was monopolized by the Crown Prince.

With the current situation in Yejing – Emperor An Qing had to handle state affairs despite his ailing body, the Crown Prince had not been reprimanded but Shu Guifei had regained the Emperor’s trust and her faction was gaining momentum. The Crown Prince was losing his influence. The power of having the whole country at his feet he once held was slipping away. With his nature, it was high time he lost control of himself.

Xiao Zhige decided to change his strategy. There was no rush to deal with Su Huai Yi. Qingzhou and Yongzhou were already under his control, Ruanzhou did not pose a threat.

The refugees in Yongzhou had been resettled and to exchange merit for land, many able-bodied youths had signed up to join the army which Xie Ling accepted without hesitation. Together with the remaining soldiers of Yongzhou, they were reorganized into units and retrained according to Yanzhou’s military drills.

Although Yongzhou’s army was better than Qingzhou’s by heaps and bounds, they were still lacking in training. Without being exposed to war, the soldiers had become lax. Some lieutenants were dissatisfied being forced to do basic drills but after Xie Ling ordered the stationed Yanzhou soldiers to show off their fighting prowess, they closed their mouths and obediently complied.

After Kan Hong committed suicide, the soldiers had hoped that another famed General would take his place. They had heard many things about the infamous Northern Warlord and although they admired his accomplishments, they did not want to work under him. After all, a ruthless leader was not easy to get along with. And witnessing the terrifying skills of the Yanzhou army only enforced the credibility of the rumors.

However, after being under his command, they realized that although the Northern Warlord had a stone-cold appearance, he was not bloodthirsty. He was good to the people and treated his men with fairness, giving out rewards and punishments without bias. The soldiers eventually dispelled their misgivings and pledged their loyalty to him.

Once you decide to use someone, there shouldn’t be any suspicions as a suspicious person cannot be used. After reviewing the documents compiled by Xie Ling, Xiao Zhige decided to entrust Yongzhou to Xie Ling and the remaining soldiers of the Yongzhou army.

As the stately affairs in Yongzhou had been settled, on the 25th of January, Xiao Zhige pulled out his army of twenty thousand soldiers and headed for Yejing, bringing along a group of criminals and evidence for the court.

…

By the time they arrived in Yejing, it was already February. The twenty thousand soldiers were stationed a hundred miles outside Yejing while Xiao Zhige took with him one hundred soldiers to escort the criminals into the city.

On this day, Emperor An Qing sat high on the throne overlooking the court and too often, muffled coughs could be heard from him.

“Send in the Northern Warlord.” In only half a year, he had grown old much too fast. There were traces of frailty in his voice which exuded a sense of powerlessness.

An eunuch relayed his order in a high pitched voice and another eunuch at the door relayed the same message to the outside. 

Xiao Zhige removed his armor and handed his spear to a palace attendant before striding into the main hall.

The court officials were divided into two columns, leaving a path in the middle laid with a carpet embroidered with a golden dragon design. Xiao Zhige took steady strides forward, calm and composed. Several courtiers who had been against him were suddenly startled. Ever since he got married and left for Yanzhou, the hostility in his eyes had faded and unexpectedly, his features had become noble, exuding a majestic aura.

Not to mention the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, even Emperor An Qing who had been sitting on the dragon throne did not look as dignified as this son when he was young.

Standing in the forefront was Li Min An who secretly nodded in his heart. Others might not have noticed but he found that Xiao Zhige bore a resemblance to the First Emperor in his youth.

Emperor An Qing had to sit up and squint his eyes when looking at this increasingly unfamiliar son. “You did well this time,” he said in a feeble voice.

Xiao Zhige knelt down and lowered his head, “It was fortunate that I did not disappoint father.”

Emperor An Qing smiled inexplicably. Like a dying beast, he kept a steady eye on Xiao Zhige. “You have made some contributions in culling the rebellion but at the same time, I’ve also received countless complaints. See for yourself.”

Once he had finished speaking, the eunuch beside him presented a high stack of scrolls in front of Xiao Zhige.

Xiao Zhige did not have to open the scrolls to know what was written on them. Both Zuo Qiu and Kang Hong were backed by heavyweights and he had killed their cash cow. Many must’ve gritted death teeth and wanted payback.

Xiao Zhige pretended to flip over a scroll then threw it aside and said firmly, “I’ve done nothing wrong to garner such impeachment. Zuo Qiu fled in the midst of battle, abandoning his duties and the people of Qingzhou, unworthy of his title as General. Killing him was the only way to appease the people’s anger. As for Kang Hong, raising a private army, colluding with bandits, inciting a rebellion, all evidence is clear as day. Furthermore, he committed suicide out of guilt, his death has nothing to do with me.”

He paused then continued, “Although Kang Hong has committed suicide, his accomplices have been caught and brought back to Yejing. As there are still some questionable details regarding this conspiracy and suspicions that Kang Hong’s abettors are within this court, I will work with the Minister of the Dali Temple to conduct a thorough investigation and will not tolerate any misdeed!”

Kang Hong, together with Shu Lin Ting of Yuzhou, were under the direct command of the Great General Xue Qi. And Xue Qi’s first wife was Shu Guifei’s biological aunt. This was no secret . Xiao Zhige’s demand for conducting a thorough investigation was simply to take this opportunity to warn the Third Prince’s party to stay quiet.

By himself, Kang Hong definitely did not have the courage or funding to raise his own army. A deeper investigation would immediately reveal the Third Prince’s involvement.

After the Qingzhou and Yongzhou incident, seeing him being praised by the people and earning merit in court, both the Crown Prince and the Third Prince must’ve hated him to the core. He had overshadowed them in achievements and naturally, they both felt a sense of crisis. 

Although theoretically, having married a man, Emperor An Qing would never pass the throne to him. However, Xiao Zhige held control over a powerful army and they had to be vigilant. And as the saying goes, the enemy of the enemy is a friend. Both the Crown Prince and Third Prince temporarily ceased their confrontation and joined hands to target Xiao Zhige instead.

But Xiao Zhige had already planned out how to deal with this. His one sentence was not only to force the Third Prince’s faction to back down but also created an opportunity for the Crown’s Prince side to step on them. And hence, ended the short-lived alliance.

Emperor An Qing was indifferent regarding this matter. He was becoming increasingly powerless in state affairs and had no vested interest in them. Instead, he was more concerned with his own benefits. His murky eyes stayed on Xiao Zhige and said in a hoarse voice, “Leave it to the Dali Temple to handle the investigation. You don’t need to step in. I’ve heard… You have seized the Shi Family’s properties? They are a powerful family with immense wealth. The amount of gold and treasures you sent back to Yejing… There should still be more, right?”

What Emperor An Qing most concerned himself with was the Shi Family’s fortune. Such a large piece of meat left behind by the Shi Family, of course he wanted to swallow it whole. In fact, he and the court had been coveting the Shi Family’s fortune for many years but due to his status and not wanting to be bad-mouthed as a poor and shameless Emperor, he could only sit back and watch. 

When he heard that Xiao Zhige had confiscated the Shi Family’s fortunes, he even felt like giving out praise to this unlikeable son. However, when going through the account book for the newly acquired treasures, he was both appalled and enraged.

But at the same time, he couldn’t openly accuse Xiao Zhige of skimming the treasures and could only raise the question in court.

Xiao Zhige sneered in his heart but his expression remained solemn, “Father is wise. I’ve also had my suspicions of the Shi Family’s assets. Whatever I could confiscate has been listed in detail. The lands and fields are used to appease the people. Half of the gold and silver are used to provide disaster relief for the victims and fill the national treasury. The remaining gold and expensive knicknacks have all been sent back to Yejing.”

He then told the eunuch to pass the account book to the Minister of Taifu Temple to verify. The new minister of Taifu Temple was an honest person. He looked through the records and reported, “At first glance, the amounts all match accordingly. However, it would require a few days to actually give an accurate assessment.”

Emperor An Qing remained silent with an unpleasant expression.

Xiao Zhige then continued, “I’ve also had my doubts regarding the Shi Family’s assets and had ordered for it to be investigated. It turns out that the family head, Shi Kairen, had many wives and concubines, giving birth to quite a few daughters who were betrothed to many officials. It is said that when they married, they were given a huge dowry…”

Halfway through his words, the people in the Crown Prince’s faction turned pale.

Let alone the officials, isn’t there a Shi family daughter right in the Crown Prince’s harem? Not only that, the Shi family was so ambitious that they even sent out their illegitimate daughters. Right now in court, more than a handful of officials were believed to have housed a Shi family member…

The court had turned so quiet that the sound of a needle dropping could be heard. Xiao Zhige looked around and secretly smiled.

Chapter 80

Translator: She.Wee
Editor: KitKat

——–

Though he said otherwise, Xiao Zhige still went to see the two children. In a typical household, the babies would have already been taken away by the wet nurse for feeding. However, the situation with the merfolk was different. The two babies, born smaller than usual, had a thin, almost transparent membrane covering their skin. One could vaguely see their soft, tender features underneath.

“This must be the fetal membrane described in the notes. It will fall off on its own in two hours,” Hu Shifei and Yu Xiao were observing the babies, keeping a close watch on the membrane.

When the babies were first delivered, the membrane was a semi-transparent milky white and felt a bit thick, like a protective shell around the fetus. After the babies were taken out, the membrane gradually became thinner and more transparent, and now their faces were clearly visible.

“This membrane should be nourishing; it can provide nourishment to the baby,” Hu Shifei speculated. At first, the babies were still crying, but after the blood on the membrane was wiped clean and they were wrapped in swaddles, they quieted down. Their little mouths started sucking, looking somewhat content. The membrane continued to thin out.

Xiao Zhige crouched down and carefully poked each baby’s cheek: “Which one is older?”

Yu Xiao, excited, said, “The one on the left is the older brother, and the one on the right is the younger sister.” After the babies were delivered, Hu Shifei had to clean and stitch up the wounds, so he was very familiar with the two children.

Xiao Zhige looked and noticed that the younger sister was slightly rounder. Although her features were still immature, with a closer look, one could vaguely see a resemblance to An Chang Qing, especially the small mole under her eye, which was almost identical to An Chang Qing’s. Xiao Zhige’s gaze softened: “She looks like Nuo Nuo.”

As if sensing her father’s presence, the younger sister opened her eyes and waved her hand in the membrane, making a sound like “ah.” Her voice was clear, like a baby bird’s chirp. Xiao Zhige was taken aback, then smiled, “Her temperament seems to take after me, she’s quite strong.”

He had heard the cries when the babies were born and originally thought that the loud cries indicated a boy, but it turned out to be a girl.

Not sure if she understood his words, the younger sister waved her hands and feet with effort. After struggling and finding it hard to move, she closed her eyes again, her pink little mouth sucking away.

She fussed for a while, while the older brother remained completely still.

Xiao Zhige spent some time with them before heading back to check on An Chang Qing. Despite Hu Shifei’s high medical skills, a cesarean delivery still took a toll on one’s vitality. An Chang Qing had lost quite a bit of blood. Even though the delivery room had been cleaned, Xiao Zhige could still smell a faint hint of blood, and his face and lips were quite pale.

After talking with Xiao Zhige for a while, An Chang Qing had fallen asleep from exhaustion. At this moment, Xiao Zhige returned and found him still deeply asleep, eyes closed.

Xiao Zhige lightly traced his face with his fingers and then gently kissed his forehead.

—

When An Chang Qing woke up again, it was the next day, and he was lying on the bed in the main room. His abdominal wound had been properly bandaged. As the effects of the anesthesia wore off, he started to feel some faint pain. He groggily touched his flat abdomen and became fully awake upon realizing its flatness. Just as he was about to call for someone, he saw a small crib placed beside the bed. The two children, dressed in soft, warm clothes, were sleeping with their heads together.

Since he was awake during the delivery, he knew which was the older brother and which was the younger sister.

His expression softened instantly as he propped himself up with his elbow and leaned forward to look at the two babies. The fetal membranes had fallen off, and the babies were dressed in bright red clothes, looking tender and adorable. Although they were smaller in size, they were fair and plump from birth, with dense hair, unlike ordinary babies who were wrinkled and would need time to grow.

The more An Chang Qing looked, the more he found them adorable. He couldn’t help but reach out to poke their chubby cheeks and small hands. Blood ties were indeed magical; although An Chang Qing couldn’t say he particularly liked children before, seeing these siblings now filled him with tenderness from the bottom of his heart.

The two tiny babies, only a bit larger than his palm, were connected to him and Xiao Zhige by blood.

Suddenly, his finger was grasped. The younger sister opened her eyes and made “ah ah” sounds while grasping his finger with her tiny hand. The grip was not strong, like being wrapped in cotton candy, soft and gentle. An Chang Qing couldn’t help but smile, lightly shaking the finger she held.

While father and daughter were playing, Xiao Zhige, hearing the commotion, came into the room. Seeing An Chang Qing smiling, he relaxed and said, “Awake? Are you hungry? Hu Shifei said you can only have some light, liquid food for now.”

An Chang Qing leaned against the pillow and watched him come over. He skillfully picked up a small rattle prepared earlier to entertain his daughter, then shook his head with a smile, “Not very hungry.” In reality, he had little appetite; the pain from the abdominal wound made him reluctant to eat.

Noticing his lack of appetite, Xiao Zhige didn’t mention it directly. He spent some time playing with him and the two children, then went out to call the cook, instructing them to prepare some light, easily digestible congee and egg custard.

By evening, An Chang Qing had eaten a small bowl of egg custard and half a bowl of fish porridge, then lay back down. Until his abdominal wound healed, he couldn’t move around freely to avoid tearing the wound. Lady Yu and An Xian Yu had visited him and the children, but seeing him still weak from childbirth, they didn’t stay long.

Xiao Zhige had also stayed home these past few days, not going to the military camp or official residence, accompanying him in the house. After the delivery, he stayed by his side without leaving, taking care of both him and the two infants. It was quite a hectic task—especially since the babies were just born and smaller than usual. To avoid suspicion, they had not yet hired a wet nurse, and instead, a cow was kept to provide milk daily.

An Fu cleared away the finished meal and brought over warmed milk. The milk was in a specially designed porcelain bottle with a small opening for easy feeding. Xiao Zhige clumsily took out the older brother, placed him on his lap, and began to feed him.

He was very careful, but still unskilled; either he fed too quickly, causing milk to spill from the baby’s mouth, or too slowly, making the baby fussy with the bottle. The younger sister, who hadn’t yet had her turn, became more anxious. When she couldn’t get any milk, she pouted and began to cry loudly.

The Northern Warlord, his face dark, dared not lose his temper. After calming one baby, he went on to calm the other. Finally, after feeding both babies, he felt more exhausted than after a battle.

Seeing his furrowed brow, An Chang Qing couldn’t help but laugh. Once Xiao Zhige had placed the two babies back into their crib, he gently rocked the crib and softly coaxed them to sleep.

Xiao Zhige sat by his side. Once the babies were finally fed and asleep, he remained silent for a while before finally saying, “When they’re a bit older, let’s find two wet nurses.”

An Chang Qing teased him, “Mother and Yu Xiao said they could help, but you refused.”

Lady Yu, who had given birth to two children, was naturally more experienced in taking care of them. Yu Xiao liked the siblings and had always wanted to help, but Xiao Zhige had ultimately refused, opting to personally take care of the children.

Unfortunately, the Northern Warlord had underestimated the difficulty of caring for two infants. In just a day and night, he was completely worn out.

Xiao Zhige didn’t know what to say, staring at his sleeping children, and cursed them softly in his heart.

However, he managed to get through the day. The two babies were not too troublesome; with another feeding in the middle of the night, they would sleep until morning. Xiao Zhige first went to wash up and change into clean clothes, then brought warm water to clean An Chang Qing. Although he didn’t have to go through a traditional postpartum confinement, his wound still needed time to heal, so he had to take it slow.

By the time they were both cleaned up, it was already late. They turned off the lights and lay in bed. An Chang Qing found himself unable to sleep and whispered to Xiao Zhige, “Shouldn’t we choose names for the children?”

Typically, the Emperor would name the grandchildren, but given the relationship between Xiao Zhige and Emperor An Qing, it was better for them to choose the names themselves.

Xiao Zhige had forgotten about this and pondered before saying, “Have you thought of any names?”

An Chang Qing hadn’t thought of any either, as it was his first time being a father and he completely forgot about naming the children.

Xiao Zhige thought for a moment and said, “Since they are our blood, we should use both of our surnames and add a single character.”

However, he couldn’t think of what single character to use at the moment, so he decided to set it aside for now. The next day, Xiao Zhige gathered several books and reviewed them with An Chang Qing. Eventually, they decided on naming their eldest son Xiao Anheng and their youngest daughter Xiao Anzhu.

“Heng” refers to the rare and precious jade, while “zhu” means the “pearl” in the phrase “the pearl of one’s eye.”

The two children were their hard-earned treasures.

***

Half a month after giving birth, An Chang Qing’s abdominal wound had gradually healed, and the two children had grown to a normal baby size. Xiao Zhige hired two reliable wet nurses to help take care of them.

With the wet nurses in place, the existence of the children could no longer be concealed. Although Xiao Zhige didn’t openly discuss the origins of the children, the Generals, though surprised, refrained from asking further after seeing his expression. They assumed the children were abandoned infants brought back from the South. While there were many speculations about the children’s origins outside, both Xiao Zhige and An Chang Qing kept silent, never revealing anything. The few servants who knew about it in the household were also tight-lipped, not daring to say a word.

Thus, the sudden appearance of the two children in the General’s residence gradually became a non-issue.

Meanwhile, New Year’s Eve quietly arrived.

This year, the city of Yanzhou was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. The General’s residence, however, kept a low profile. Since An Chang Qing had not fully recovered, no additional festivities were prepared. After having a reunion dinner, they distributed rewards to the servants and sent them off to celebrate the New Year on their own.

An Chang Qing stayed up with the two children until they were asleep, then he could no longer keep his eyes open and went to bed. Xiao Zhige stayed up with his family, waiting for dawn. Since he had to oversee matters in the South, he made it through New Year’s Eve but had to depart on the first day of the New Year.

At the crow of the rooster, Xiao Zhige took out three prepared red envelopes—one for each child, and the larger one was placed under An Chang Qing’s pillow.

Hearing the noise, An Chang Qing opened his eyes groggily, seeing Xiao Zhige already dressed. He quickly woke up, “Are you leaving?”

Xiao Zhige replied with a soft “mm,” adjusted the blanket that had slipped off An Chang Qing, and kissed his forehead. He whispered, “Sleep now. It won’t be too long. I’ll be back soon.”

TN:
Thank you She.Wee for the wonderful chapters.

On a side note, while waiting for TTBE’s next chapter, you might want to check out this novel being translated by Duct Tape Translations: Wedding Celebration
The original title is 冲喜 (Chōngxǐ). The term refers to someone being betrothed as a wedding partner to ward off evil for someone else who’s been sickly or deemed as bad luck. It’s quite a difficult term to translate in one or two words for the title. The translator decided to translate the title as Wedding Celebration.

This novel is from the same author as TTBE and they bear several similarities. If you like TTBE, I really recommend this one. It’s also a rebirth historical novel where MC was forced by the emperor and his father to marry ML in his previous life. MC had to deal with his father, evil court officials while finding a way to save ML in the beginning. I feel like they’re an older and more matured version of ACQ and XZG. Biggest difference is probably there’s no mpreg in this one. Also, this novel features one of the most pitiable antagonists I’ve read. Don’t worry, it’s a happy ending for our MC.

So if you’re interested check it out:
https://www.ducttapetranslations.com/p/wedding-celebration.html

Chapter 79

Translator: She.Wee
Editor: KitKat

—

Xiao Zhige was stunned.

The normally cold and composed expression on his face suddenly seemed a bit foolish. His emotions fluctuated several times before he finally managed to move his lips with difficulty. His hand hovered above An Chang Qing’s belly, wanting to touch it but not daring to.

“Two?”

“Yes. One is more lively, and the other is quieter.”

An Chang Qing’s lips curved as he placed his hand over Xiao Zhige’s, guiding it to rest on his belly. Despite the thick winter clothing, Xiao Zhige could still feel the slight movements beneath his palm.

“See, they’re moving.”

“Yes, I can feel it.”

Xiao Zhige grinned foolishly, carefully staring at An Chang Qing’s belly.

When he left, An Chang Qing’s pregnancy was just starting to show. But by the time he returned, the two children were already moving. His expression was a mix of joy and worry. “Two children… Will it be difficult to give birth?”

“Doctor Hu said it’s not a big issue. My belly is about the same size as that of a woman carrying a single child.” An Chang Qing knew he would worry, so he said comforting words. “We’ve prepared everything that needs to be prepared. There won’t be any problems.”

Xiao Zhige gave a heavy “Hmm,” hugging him even tighter.

That evening, after they had dinner together, they returned to their room to rest. An Chang Qing loved cleanliness, but now that his body was heavy, and he disliked having others serve him intimately, bathing had become quite inconvenient. However, now that Xiao Zhige was back, that problem no longer existed.

The servants heated the water and delivered it to the bathroom. An Chang Qing originally just wanted the man to help him into the bathtub, but Xiao Zhige extended his arms, firmly picking him up and placing him in the tub.

An Chang Qing was only wearing soft undergarments. Once he was in the water, he took them off. The water was at the perfect temperature, and An Chang Qing finally soaked in a hot bath, letting out a comfortable sigh.

He was about to reach for the bath beans to wash himself when his hand came up empty. Xiao Zhige hadn’t left; instead, he was holding a cloth and the bath beans, saying seriously, “I’ll wash you.”

The hot water flushed An Chang Qing’s cheeks as he gave Xiao Zhige a steady look, then silently turned his back to him—after being apart for three months, it wasn’t just Xiao Zhige who missed him; he missed Xiao Zhige too.

…

Xiao Zhige carefully washed him clean and then wrapped him in a large cloth before carrying him back to the room.

Inside, the room was already warm from the brazier, and the bedding had been warmed with bed warmers, so it wasn’t cold. An Chang Qing slipped into the bed, let down the bed curtains, changed into clean inner garments, and then sat up to look at Xiao Zhige.

Xiao Zhige was outside, removing his wet outer clothes. His muscles were even more defined than before he left. An Chang Qing’s eyes widened as he watched, not blinking once. Unexpectedly, the man suddenly turned around, staring deeply at him for a moment before slowly smiling. “Wait until I finish bathing to keep looking.”

An Chang Qing’s cheeks flushed. He hurriedly looked away, pulling the blanket up and turning his back to him.

Behind him, the sounds of movement continued, followed by the steady sound of footsteps, and then there was silence—Xiao Zhige had likely gone to the bathroom to wash.

Thinking about what had happened in the bathroom earlier, An Chang Qing’s heart began to race, and his cheeks flushed red. His eyelashes trembled as he thought, they’ve been married for so long, intimacy is normal, and after a long separation, the reunion should be more passionate. He should be more proactive…

So, when Xiao Zhige returned and lay down beside him, he saw the person who had been lying with his back to him turn over, cradling his belly as he looked down and whispered, “Do you… need any help?”

Xiao Zhige’s expression froze. When he realized what An Chang Qing meant, his eyes deepened, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. His gaze fell on An Chang Qing’s long, thick eyelashes that trembled with unease, and he suppressed his voice to a low whisper, “…No need. I just took a cold bath earlier, were you thinking about it?”

An Chang Qing: “!!!”

The blush spread all the way to the tips of An Chang Qing’s ears. He glared at Xiao Zhige, angrily turning over again.

Realizing that he might have upset him again, Xiao Zhige immediately admitted his mistake. He moved closer, hugging An Chang Qing from behind, and tentatively asked, “…Was it me who was thinking about it?”

An Chang Qing’s cheeks were already steaming, his neck flushed red. After a long time, he forced himself to stop thinking wildly and closed his eyes, saying sternly, “I’m going to sleep!”

Xiao Zhige chuckled softly, holding him in his arms and gently soothing, “Sleep well.”

Pregnancy had made An Chang Qing especially prone to sleepiness, and after closing his eyes for a short while, he really did fall asleep. He was used to sharing a bed with Xiao Zhige, and though he initially lay with his back to him, it wasn’t long before he shifted in his sleep, nuzzling into Xiao Zhige’s embrace.

Xiao Zhige gently patted his back, his gaze soft as it rested on him. He looked at his familiar features, almost able to paint them from memory, his slender neck… and finally, his gaze settled on the bulging belly.

An Chang Qing’s belly was already very large, and now he could only sleep on his side. Even in his sleep, his left hand instinctively protected his belly.

Xiao Zhige watched for a long time before he raised his hand and gently placed it on the bump.

He had never imagined that one day he would have his own offspring. Having seen too much of Emperor Anqing’s debauchery and the power struggles within the harem, he had no expectations of children. He knew that with his personality, he probably couldn’t be a good father.

But now, the one carrying his bloodline was An Chang Qing, the person he had vowed to spend his life with. His gaze moved back to An Chang Qing’s peaceful sleeping face, and his eyes softened. His hand gently caressed the bulging belly. If they were An Chang Qing’s and his children, he was willing to learn how to be a good father and protect them with all his might.

“You must also protect your father well, and don’t let him suffer too much,” Xiao Zhige whispered softly.

There was a small movement under his palm, as if in response. Xiao Zhige’s eyes softened further as he held the three most important people in his life and drifted into a deep sleep.

***

Hu Shifei had estimated the due date to be December 15, now only four days away.

Xiao Zhige first called Hu Shifei and Yu Xiao over to inquire about the birthing process. After personally inspecting the setup of the birthing room and ensuring everything was in order, he began to stay by An Chang Qing’s side without leaving for a moment.

When Xiao Zhige had not been in the mansion, An Chang Qing had often thought of him. But now that he was back, An Chang Qing found him a bit annoying—his clothes were put on by the Northern Warlord, his meals were fed by the Northern Warlord, and if he walked more than a few steps, Xiao Zhige would scoop him up into his arms at the slightest disagreement.

The Northern Warlord may not excel in other areas, but he certainly had strength. An Chang Qing, eight months pregnant with such a large belly, could still be carried steadily by him without so much as a wobble.

At first, An Chang Qing let him do as he pleased, but eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore and shooed him outside. He carefully cradled his belly as he walked circles inside the room. “I can walk on my own; there’s no need to trouble Wangye.”

Xiao Zhige didn’t dare enter the room, so he stood at the door, peering inside through the crack and speaking in a pitiful voice, “Be careful not to bump into the table.”

An Chang Qing pretended not to hear and continued circling the table a few times before sitting down to drink tea.

When lunchtime arrived, An Fu brought food from the kitchen and set the table, finally allowing the Northern Warlord back into the room. The two sat across from each other, with An Chang Qing eating small bites of food while Xiao Zhige stared at him eagerly, not eating himself. If he weren’t afraid An Chang Qing would kick him out again, he might have insisted on serving the food himself.

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was December 15. The due date was one that Hu Shifei had long calculated based on ancient texts. An Chang Qing, along with the two babies in his womb, were both in good health, and An Chang Qing had been well-prepared, so he remained calm. It was Xiao Zhige who had been sleepless the previous night and began pacing anxiously as soon as the morning arrived.

An Chang Qing didn’t say anything to him this time. Instead, he started giving him tasks to do: “Soon, Yu Xiao will bring the anesthetic soup. The medicine is quite bitter, so I’d like to eat pine nut candy afterward.”

The pine nut candy that Xiao Zhige had bought for him had run out during their three months apart.

Xiao Zhige, feeling restless and irritable, immediately wanted to send someone to buy more when he heard this. However, An Chang Qing stopped him, looking at him with a rare bit of stubbornness in his smiling eyes: “I only want the ones you buy.”

Xiao Zhige had no choice but to ride out of the mansion on his horse to buy them himself.

Not long after he left, Yu Xiao brought in a steaming bowl of Ma Fei soup. An Chang Qing picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go, finding the taste indeed bitter. However, Hu Shifei had instructed that after drinking the Ma Fei soup, he shouldn’t eat anything else for half an hour.

Yu Xiao said, “The birthing room is ready.”

“Then let’s go,” An Chang Qing said as he stood up. It seemed he wouldn’t be able to have the pine nut candies today.

When Xiao Zhige hurried back with the pine nut candies, An Chang Qing was already lying in the birthing room. He was dressed in thin inner garments and lying on a soft couch. The room had braziers placed in all four corners, warming the entire space so it didn’t feel cold at all.

Hu Shifei and Yu Xiao were checking the knives and medicinal herbs needed for the delivery a second time. After confirming everything was in order, Hu Shifei pricked An Chang Qing’s leg with a few needles and asked, “Does it hurt?”

An Chang Qing shook his head.

“Let’s begin then,” Hu Shifei said.

…

Xiao Zhige stood outside the birthing room clutching a bag of pine nut candies. Lady Yu and An Xianyu were blocking him, preventing him from going in.

After a long standoff, he finally took a step back and stopped insisting.

Both women sighed in relief. Lady Yu comforted him, “I asked Dr. Hu, and he said Nuo Nuo’s body is strong. There shouldn’t be any problems. Wangye, please don’t worry too much.”

Xiao Zhige nodded absentmindedly, his fingers tightly gripping the oil paper packet as his gaze remained fixed on the door to the birthing room—its doors and windows were tightly shut, with many candles lit inside, illuminating the room brightly. The faint shadows of people inside could be seen.

Xiao Zhige watched in a daze, his heart aching with every movement of the figures inside.

The three of them waited from noon until the sun began to set before they heard the cry of a newborn baby from inside. Following that first cry, another even louder one rang out, the two cries intermingling.

Lady Yu was overjoyed, “They’ve been born?!”

Xiao Zhige suddenly stood up and stumbled forward a few steps, nearly pressing himself against the door, his gaze eager to penetrate it and see what was happening inside.

However, the door remained closed, and it wasn’t until half an hour later that Yu Xiao opened it with a crack and said, “Congratulations, Wangye! Both mother and children are safe. It’s a pair of dragon and phoenix twins. Master said that if you want to come in, you should change into clean clothes to dispel the cold before entering.”

Lady Yu and An Xianyu were overjoyed, but Xiao Zhige was seemingly still dazed, “Nuo Nuo is fine?”

“Yes, Wangfei must avoid the cold.” Yu Xiao confirmed that everything was fine before quickly closing the door again.

“As long as he’s fine, as long as he’s fine…” Xiao Zhige muttered in a daze as he headed back to the main house. After changing into clean clothes in a daze, he returned to the birthing room.

Yu Xiao allowed him to enter. Xiao Zhige warmed himself by the brazier before carefully lifting the windproof curtain and walking inside.

The closer he got, the more it felt like he was walking on clouds.

It wasn’t until An Chang Qing’s face appeared before him that he felt as if he had finally landed on solid ground. Even his eyes began to heat up.

“Did you get the pine nut candies?” An Chang Qing smiled at him.

Xiao Zhige’s throat tightened. His eyes reddened as he said, “I got them.” He reached into his arms, only to remember that he had left the candies in the main house when he changed clothes. Flustered, he stammered, “I got them, but I left them in the house. I’ll go get them for you…”

An Chang Qing tugged at his sleeve. Although his face was pale, his spirits were still good. “Even if you brought them, I can’t eat them now. Just stay with me.”

Xiao Zhige immediately froze, then turned back around. He carefully half-knelt by the bedside, holding An Chang Qing’s hand, and asked in a strained voice, “Does it hurt?”

An Chang Qing’s abdomen was covered by the quilt, hiding the wound, but he knew how serious it must be. He didn’t dare to look closely; every glance made his chest feel tight with pain, as if he wished the knife had cut him instead.

“I drank the Ma Fei soup, so it doesn’t hurt.” An Chang Qing smiled, his eyes curving. “You haven’t seen the children yet. Xian Yu was right, they really are a pair of dragon and phoenix twins.”

Xiao Zhige forced a smile and kissed the palm of his hand with dry lips. “I want to see the children’s father first.”

An Chang Qing also smiled, “If Wangye keeps acting like this, be careful the children won’t be close to you in the future.”

Xiao Zhige shook his head and gently smoothed the stray hairs from An Chang Qing’s cheek, speaking softly, “You went through so much trouble to give birth to them. It’s enough if they’re close to you.”

Chapter 78

Translator: She.Wee
Editor: KitKat

—

Kang Hong was swiftly detained. Most of the Generals under him were unaware of his actions and were quite loyal to him. Seeing Kang Hong being accused of such crimes, they believed there must be some hidden truth or that he had been framed. Many of them tried to find ways to rescue him or plead for his innocence. Perhaps the death of Zuo Qiu had made them wary; the Deputy General, fearing that Xiao Zhige might preemptively execute Kang Hong, even plotted to break him out of prison.

Xiao Zhige did not comment on this. Being a man who had risen through the military ranks, he did not overly suppress or harshly reprimand these loyal but deceived Generals. Instead, he had his men quickly take control of Yongzhou’s defenses while he began to compile the evidence of Kang Hong’s numerous crimes.

Some of Kang Hong’s confidants, who knew the inside story, secretly sent letters to Yejing. Xiao Zhige did not dispatch anyone to intercept these letters. However, if these letters reached the Third Prince in Yejing, it was likely that what awaited these Generals would not be rescue, but a death warrant.

Three days later, Yongzhou was completely under Xiao Zhige’s control. The rebels in Guangping County had all surrendered. Xie Ling, with his men, registered the household registrations, allowing the common people to return to the city. Meanwhile, in the square of the government office, Kang Hong, his confidants, and several bandit leaders were shackled and awaited judgment.

Xiao Zhige sat in the chief position, with the powerful families of Yongzhou, acting as witnesses, all present.

One after another, boxes of account books were carried in by soldiers. These were the “tributes” that the powerful families had handed over to Kang Hong over the years, and the amounts were staggering. In addition, there were confessions from several bandits, revealing that they were originally soldiers in the Yongzhou army. When they were still unknown, Kang Hong had transferred them out of the military camp, erasing their names from the military registry and fabricating their deaths. On the other hand, he secretly trained them in the mountains, raising them as his private army. Over two or three years, their numbers had grown to three thousand.

During the Yongzhou uprising, these hidden private soldiers, under Kang Hong’s orders, disguised themselves as bandits and raised the flag of rebellion. Their true purpose was to incite the refugees and escalate the unrest, thereby giving the Crown Prince a charge of failing to suppress the rebellion. Although there was no direct evidence linking the Third Prince to this, the truth now laid bare before the people was that Kang Hong had been receiving enormous bribes, raising a private army, harboring ambitions of rebellion, and conspiring against the State.

Xiao Zhige was in no hurry to execute Kang Hong. Before the people of Yongzhou, and in front of the loyal Generals who supported Kang Hong, he presented the evidence, stripping away Kang Hong’s façade layer by layer.

With irrefutable evidence and testimonies, Kang Hong’s crimes were undeniable. Even the Generals who had once been loyal to him had nothing to say.

The onlookers praised the wisdom and benevolence of the Northern Warlord, calling him a blessing to the people.

Kang Hong, now a prisoner, looked around in a daze. When his eyes met Xiao Zhige’s stern face, he let out a bitter laugh. Xiao Zhige did not order his execution immediately; instead, he intended to send him and the other criminals to Yejing for judgment. However, when Kang Hong thought of his family in Yejing, bitterness filled his throat. He could not afford to return to Yejing alive.

Xiao Zhige wouldn’t kill him, but he had to die.

That night, Kang Hong committed suicide in prison, overwhelmed by guilt. Xiao Zhige was not surprised when he received the news; Kang Hong was destined to die, but Xiao Zhige had no intention of killing him with his own hands. This way, no one could use Kang Hong’s death as an excuse to blame Xiao Zhige.

Moreover, with the Crown Prince still in power, the Third Prince might still be of use.

That night, Xiao Zhige pretended to be unaware of the situation. The next day, when the prison guards reported Kang Hong’s death, he gathered everyone to explain the situation. He then ordered that Kang Hong’s body, along with those of the other criminals, be sent back to Yejing. The Generals who had once served under Kang Hong had no grounds for complaint. On the contrary, the Deputy General who had previously attempted to break Kang Hong out of prison showed a look of shame. After hesitating for a few moments, he knelt on one knee and pleaded for forgiveness, thanking Xiao Zhige for his mercy.

Seeing the Deputy General submit, the other Generals followed suit. Although these Generals were not as trustworthy as those Xiao Zhige had personally trained, they were still of some use. Therefore, Xiao Zhige did not make things difficult for them and allowed them to remain in their original positions, each performing their duties.

These sub-commanders were filled with gratitude and became even more obedient to him. When they followed Xie Ling to see that all the surrounding refugees had come to surrender and had been properly settled, they were filled with even greater respect.

The civil unrest in Yongzhou City was essentially pacified. The methods used were much more moderate compared to those in Qingzhou, but perhaps the powerful families in Yongzhou were fearful of his tactics. They took the initiative to donate their wealth and lands, and if there were any criminals in their families, they did not wait for Xiao Zhige to send people to arrest them; they tied them up and delivered them themselves. Every one of them was very obedient. Xiao Zhige accepted their donations and used them all for the resettlement of the refugees.

As most of the refugees in Yongzhou were properly resettled, the refugees attacking Ruanzhou also heard the news. By this time, the situation in Qingzhou and Yongzhou had spread to many States and Counties in the South. The powerful families feared that he would target them, but the common people praised him. Some scholars in rural areas even wrote poems to praise him. The fierce reputation of the Northern Warlord was no longer heard, replaced by the good name of wisdom and benevolence that spread across the South.

Many of the refugees attacking Ruanzhou also flocked to Yongzhou upon hearing this. The small portion that refused to submit mostly harbored other intentions. Xiao Zhige showed no mercy and personally led his troops to wipe out this small group of rebels in early December.

Thus, the unrest that had disturbed three States had completely been brought to an end.

However, the resettlement of refugees in the two areas still required time, and the military needed to maintain a deterrent presence. It was not possible to return to Yanzhou immediately. Xiao Zhige gazed in the direction of Yanzhou from afar, his thoughts drifting to one concern: Now that it was December, Nuo Nuo should be about to give birth.

—

Yanzhou, the General’s Residence.

An Chang Qing’s belly had grown very large, making it difficult to walk without feeling the heavy burden. The movements of the children inside his womb had become increasingly noticeable. Hu Shifei had been right; he was indeed carrying twins. Perhaps it was some kind of mysterious father-child connection, but he could already feel the differences in the movements of each child. One was more lively, with strong kicks that made his belly bulge slightly. The other was quieter, with gentler, softer movements.

An Chang Qing sat in the courtyard, glancing toward the entrance with a hint of disappointment on his face—today was already December 10th, and Hu Shifei had said that his due date would be around the 15th. Since there was still no news from Xiao Zhige, it seemed likely that he wouldn’t make it back in time.

He gently caressed his belly and softly said, “Your father probably won’t make it back in time. Let’s give him a surprise.”

Under his palm, his belly gently bulged as if in agreement. An Chang Qing smiled and slowly stood up to take a walk in the pavilion. Although he was scheduled for a C-section, Hu Shifei insisted that he walk around more. The stronger his body, the faster his recovery would be after the delivery.

Yu Xiao, who was standing nearby, quickly came to support him, but An Chang Qing smiled and waved him off, saying there was no need. Despite the inconvenience of his large belly, the two children were well-behaved and did not cause him much discomfort. Other than his heavy and clumsy gait, he felt even stronger than before.

After finishing his walk, Lady Yu brought over some nourishing soup. She had been personally preparing various soups and medicinal tonics for An Chang Qing in recent days. An Chang Qing obediently took the bowl and slowly drank the soup. Lady Yu sat across from him, her expression filled with worry, several times wanting to say something but holding back. When An Chang Qing finished the soup, she quickly concealed her worries with a smile and said, “The delivery room is ready. When the time comes, Dr. Hu and Yu Xiao will be there to help with the delivery. Your mother and sister will also be there with you, so don’t be afraid.”

She seemed to want to say more, but stopped herself.

An Chang Qing understood her concerns. He was disappointed that Xiao Zhige hadn’t returned yet, but the others were even more anxious, likely fearing that he would be saddened, so they didn’t dare to bring it up.

He smiled, took her hand, and reassured her, “I’m not afraid.”

Lady Yu patted his head as she had when he was a child, but secretly sighed. She had no strong attachment to her lineage or ancestry—she had long since made peace with her past. But now, seeing An Chang Qing with his large belly, about to go through the life-threatening ordeal of childbirth, she couldn’t help but feel regret. If she had found her relatives, perhaps her son wouldn’t have to face such unknown fears and dangers.

An Chang Qing noticed her melancholy expression and, not wanting her to dwell on negative thoughts, began to comfort her by changing the subject, “Yu’er should be back soon, right?”

An Xian Yu had been thriving in the women’s academy. Her talents were exceptional, making her more than capable of educating the young ladies there. In addition, she was beautiful and had a gentle temperament, earning her great praise from the students. The academy, which had initially enrolled only daughters from poor families, had grown in reputation, and now daughters of wealthy families and even officials were being sent there. The academy was flourishing, and An Xian Yu, who had joined early on, had become the dean’s right-hand assistant, even busier than An Chang Qing. She had taken leave to be with him during his delivery.

“She should be back by this evening,” Lady Yu smiled and replied. “She took ten days off, saying she wanted to take good care of her little nephews and nieces so that they would be close to her in the future.”

An Xian Yu had said this ever since she found out that he was carrying twins. Twins were considered a good omen in Daye, and dragon-phoenix twins even more so. An Xian Yu had always talked about wanting a little niece to teach and guide in the future.

Talking about the children softened both their expressions.

An Chang Qing was about to say something when he suddenly heard someone shouting from a distance, “Wangye is back! Wangye is back!”

An Chang Qing was stunned. He turned to look and saw An Fu running toward him in a hurry, shouting as he came closer. Still in a daze, he thought that if Xiao Zhige had indeed returned with his 20,000 troops, there would have been a large commotion, and someone should have informed them much earlier.

As he pondered whether An Fu had misheard, a black horse suddenly galloped past An Fu, covering the distance in just a few strides before stopping in the courtyard. The rider, a man covered in dust, swiftly dismounted and strode toward the pavilion.

An Chang Qing stared at him, forgetting to stand up.

Xiao Zhige removed his heavy cloak, greeted Lady Yu, and then moved toward the heater in the pavilion to warm himself, his deep black eyes fixed steadily on An Chang Qing. “I made it back.”

Lady Yu, seeing this, quietly retreated with Yu Xiao.

An Chang Qing stared at him without blinking for a long moment before suddenly throwing himself into his arms, wrapping his arms around Xiao Zhige’s sturdy waist without saying a word.

“Careful of your belly, I’m cold,” Xiao Zhige caught him, torn between the desire to hold him tight to quell his longing and the fear of chilling him with his cold body. He could only awkwardly hold him loosely.

“I thought you wouldn’t make it back,” An Chang Qing sniffed and looked up at him.

The man’s face was rough, his lips chapped, and his chin was covered in stubble, showing that he had rushed back without rest.

The warmth of the pavilion had already dispelled the cold. Xiao Zhige let out a deep sigh, carefully wrapping his arms around An Chang Qing’s waist, resting his chin on his neck, and gently rubbing it. “Things in the South are not yet finished. I’ve left Xie Ling to handle them.”

How could he bear to let him enter the delivery room alone? He had handed over the Southern affairs to Xie Ling and Tie Hu, then rushed back with only a dozen men, fearing he wouldn’t make it in time for the birth.

An Chang Qing nestled into his embrace, smiling joyfully.

Xiao Zhige lifted his head and gently kissed the top of his head. “You’ve had a hard time these past few days.”

He had left in October, and now it was December. They had been apart for nearly three months. Though he had managed to endure the loneliness and longing when they were apart, now that they were together again, his yearning seemed endless, even more intense than during their separation.

Xiao Zhige didn’t want to let go of him, but he was afraid of pressing against his belly. After much thought, he finally lifted him in his arms, sat on the soft couch, and placed An Chang Qing on his lap.

An Chang Qing wasn’t too happy about it, but Xiao Zhige held him tightly and wouldn’t let go. He narrowed his eyes and pinched Xiao Zhige, grumbling, “You’re setting a bad example. Don’t corrupt the two children!”

“They don’t know anyth—” Xiao Zhige started to say but then froze, his expression turning to shock. “Two children?”

Seeing his stunned expression, An Chang Qing proudly touched his belly and raised his chin. “Yes, Dr. Hu said I’m carrying twins.”

Chapter 77

Translator: She.Wee
Editor: KitKat

———-

When Xiao Zhige received the reply from Yanzhou, he had already arrived in Yongzhou. By November, the weather had grown increasingly cold. Even though Yongzhou was located in the South, the people there had already donned their padded cotton clothing.

Sitting atop his horse, Xiao Zhige gazed into the distant North. By now, Yanzhou would be experiencing its first snowfall.

The gates of Yongzhou slowly creaked open, the loud sound pulling him back from his thoughts. Behind Xiao Zhige followed twenty thousand troops from Yanzhou, their cold and stern eyes fixed on Kang Hong, who had come to greet them.

Kang Hong, the General of Martial Valor, was one of the Twelve Generals, a direct subordinate of Xue Qi, and a loyal supporter of the Third Prince’s faction. He was in his early thirties, tall and robust, with rough, dark skin, clearly a man of the military—a stark contrast to those pampered parasites like Zuo Qiu, who had risen through the ranks by relying on connections. Kang Hong was a man with real abilities.

However, the situation in Yongzhou was not much better than in Qingzhou. Refugees had caused chaos, powerful families had been slaughtered, and they had even breached Yongzhou’s defenses, pushing all the way to Ruan Zhou.

There was no need for Xiao Zhige to guess who was behind all of this. It was nothing more than an attempt to use the chaos in the southern provinces as a way to impeach the Crown Prince. The more severe the situation became, the graver the Crown Prince’s crimes would appear. Even if they couldn’t topple the Crown Prince in one fell swoop, they could at least tarnish his reputation. If a nation’s heir had a bad reputation, his position would become increasingly unstable.

Kang Hong spurred his horse forward to greet Xiao Zhige and led the party into the city.

As they traveled through the streets, they saw desolate roads, collapsed houses, and even dark red bloodstains on the ground that had yet to be cleaned. These were evidence of the turmoil that had taken place within the city. Despite everything, Kang Hong was no pushover like Zuo Qiu so the refugees had not managed to take over the city. The chaos had, however, spread to the surrounding counties.

The city was relatively peaceful now, but ordinary citizens dared not leave their homes or venture into the streets. They spent most of their days holed up indoors. Soldiers patrolled everywhere within the city, the atmosphere cold and tense.

Suppressing his emotions, Xiao Zhige dismounted and followed Kang Hong into the mansion. Without any politeness, he sat directly in the seat of honor and asked, “What is the current situation in Yongzhou?”

Having heard about Xiao Zhige’s actions in Qingzhou, Kang Hong’s eyes flashed with caution as he replied, “The refugees have occupied Guangping County, where most of their forces are concentrated. I sent people to try to persuade them to surrender, but they refused. We have clashed several times since then, but there is a strategist among the refugees whose tactics are quite formidable. Even I suffered some losses, so I decided not to attack preemptively and waited for Your Grace to arrive and take charge.”

Xiao Zhige gave a noncommittal “hmm,” neither agreeing or disagreeing. Instead, he said, “The soldiers have traveled a long way and are exhausted. We will discuss this matter later.”

Kang Hong was taken aback and grew anxious. “How can we afford to delay dealing with the refugee chaos? I heard that the Prince quelled the rebellion in Qingzhou without shedding a drop of blood, which is truly admirable. However, the situation in Yongzhou is different from that of Qingzhou. These refugees are extremely fierce. If we do not resolve this quickly, it could lead to even greater disaster!”

“If General Kang could afford to wait for me to come and take charge, it seems the situation is not that urgent,” Xiao Zhige remarked coldly, casting a glance at him before rising to his feet. “I am tired. We will discuss this matter another day.”

Without waiting for Kang Hong’s response, Xiao Zhige left the room.

Kang Hong watched him leave, his expression uncertain. After a long moment, he called someone over and gave them instructions, “Keep an eye on them. Report any developments immediately.”

…

After arriving in Yongzhou, Xiao Zhige indeed showed no urgency, displaying none of the swift and decisive actions he had taken in Qingzhou. He neither punished the powerful families in Yongzhou nor showed any intention of sending troops to flatten Guangping County. Kang Hong asked him about it three times, but each time Xiao Zhige only said that they would discuss it later.

Kang Hong couldn’t figure out Xiao Zhige’s intentions and spent the following days with a sour expression.

Meanwhile, the powerful families of Yongzhou had also been growing increasingly anxious. They gathered one day to discuss what to do.

Initially, they hadn’t taken the Northern Warlord too seriously. No matter how fierce and ruthless he was, what could he do? A mighty dragon cannot suppress a local snake. He might have been invincible in the North, but now that he was in the South, surely he would have to play by their rules. They assumed it would be nothing more than a matter of spending some money. But to their dismay, he didn’t play by any rules at all. He had arrived in Qingzhou and, within three days, exterminated the entire Shi family. Such ruthless actions had filled them with dread.

These powerful families were used to dealing with officials, speaking in circles and always leaving room for maneuver. They had never encountered such a straightforward killing machine who gave them no room to negotiate. Panic started to spread among them.

Before Xiao Zhige even reached Yongzhou, they had gone to seek help from their commander, Kang Hong.

Over the years, not only had the noble families of Yejing taken money from them, but Kang Hong and the Yongzhou army had also taken a significant amount annually. In exchange, Kang Hong naturally had to protect them.

The powerful families argued among themselves for a while, but no one could come to a decision. It wasn’t until Kang Hong arrived that they fell silent.

Someone anxiously asked, “General Kang, what do you think we should do?”

Kang Hong’s expression remained stern as he scanned the room before saying, “I’ve already assured you that I can protect you all. There’s no need to make such a fuss.”

The powerful families thought to themselves that if they weren’t careful, they could end up with their entire families executed. How could they not be anxious? But Kang Hong had always been a figure of authority, and no one dared to openly contradict him. Someone awkwardly said, “This… After all, this concerns the life and death of our families…”

Kang Hong shot a glance at the speaker and said, “How does it matter if he’s the Northern Warlord? Without evidence, he cannot kill people at will. Besides, I am the Commander of Yongzhou. If there’s any blame or punishment to be meted out, it should go through me first. All of you just stay at home and keep your children in line. Unless there’s something urgent, don’t come looking for me. As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you.”

The powerful families exchanged glances and, after a while, they could only nod in agreement.

***

“Did Kang Hong meet with them?” Xiao Zhige stood by the window, listening to Xie Ling’s report.

“Yes, but it seems neither side was very satisfied. I reckon that within a few days, someone will come forward with a pledge of loyalty,” Xie Ling replied.

This was a strategy Xiao Zhige had planned from the beginning. Yongzhou was different from Qingzhou. Zuo Qiu was incompetent and had no loyalty from his soldiers. Xiao Zhige had made a swift decision to eliminate him, allowing him to take full control of Qingzhou without anyone hindering him. However, Kang Hong was a seasoned General with military achievements, and he was well-regarded by the soldiers. Xiao Zhige couldn’t simply remove him. As a result, things were not as straightforward as in Qingzhou. He had to secretly gather evidence while letting them simmer.

Kang Hong was a strong-willed person, and the powerful families of Yong zhou feared him. They wouldn’t dare act too boldly, and they would have to take the initiative to offer bribes and hostages. Their alliance was far from unbreakable. Moreover, with the Shi family’s recent downfall as a cautionary tale, it wouldn’t be long before someone took the initiative to pledge their loyalty.

Xiao Zhige nodded slightly and asked, “What about Guangping County?”

“Our people have already met with the rebel leaders. From the information we’ve gathered, there seem to be two factions among the rebels. One is composed of ordinary rebels, including many elderly, women, and children. The other appears to be a group of mountain bandits, fewer in number but all young and strong, and well-trained. The two factions do not get along well and are only cooperating temporarily.”

Xiao Zhige’s expression grew intrigued as he tapped his finger on the windowsill and said, “As far as I know, the first group to rise up in Yongzhou was a band of mountain bandits, correct?”

“Yes. The refugees joined them later. But the bandits were so ruthless that the two groups eventually split into factions.”

“Convince the refugee leader as soon as possible, and also investigate the background of that group of bandits,” Xiao Zhige ordered, his hands clasped behind his back. He added, “See if they have had any interactions with Kang Hong or anyone close to him.”

Xie Ling took his orders and left. Xiao Zhige then sat down at his desk and took out the letter he had been keeping close to his chest.

He had received the letter from home shortly after arriving in Yongzhou. After reading it, he couldn’t bring himself to burn it, so he kept it close. Whenever he thought of An Chang Qing, he would take it out and read it again. The handwriting on the letter was neat and elegant, and just by looking at it, Xiao Zhige could almost imagine An Chang Qing sitting in the study, slightly bowed, smiling as he carefully wrote each character.

Gently caressing the envelope with his thumb, Xiao Zhige’s expression softened. He carefully folded the letter again and tucked it back into his chest before standing up to leave.

***

Xiao Zhige’s prediction was correct. Within five days, someone secretly approached Xie Ling and presented a pledge of allegiance.

As it happened, Xie Ling had just uncovered some evidence, and after comparing it with the pledge, he smiled and went to find Xiao Zhige.

He placed a spy’s report and an account book from the Lin family in front of Xiao Zhige. “As you predicted, General. That group of bandits had dealings with one of Kang Hong’s Deputy Generals.”

“Moreover, according to our spy, the bandits’ behavior doesn’t resemble that of ordinary bandits. In fact, they seem more like… Trained soldiers.”

Considering that it was these bandits who had first started the rebellion, Xie Ling continued slowly, “It seems likely that Kang Hong and the Third Prince are behind this.”

The civil unrest began in Qingzhou when the Crown Prince dispatched troops to suppress the rebels. However, the heavy-handed approach only fueled the rebels’ anger, backfiring spectacularly. This led to a series of uprisings across Yongzhou and other regions, with the unrest spreading like wildfire, even reaching the borders of Ruanzhou, threatening Yejing.

Now, rumors in the marketplace accused the Crown Prince of cruelty, and many court officials had begun to impeach him. Emperor Anqing, already in poor health, had to manage the aftermath of the Crown Prince’s failure. Meanwhile, the Third Prince and his faction, who had been quiet since the elixir incident were becoming active again.

Xiao Zhige casually flipped through the account book, noting the substantial bribes paid annually. His gaze grew cold, but a smirk tugged at his lips. “Instruct Tie Hu to take troops to Guangping County. Make sure to capture that group of bandits and secure the evidence.”

***

Kang Hong learned of the situation seven days later.

Not only had the rebels in Guangping County surrendered, but their leader, hoping to atone for his crimes, had also captured the bandits who had initiated the rebellion and slaughtered innocents, offering them up. By the time Kang Hong got word, the leaders of the bandits were already being escorted into Yongzhou, shackled in heavy chains inside a prison cart.

When Kang Hong saw them, his heart sank. But before he could say anything, he heard Xiao Zhige’s cold voice behind him: “Men, arrest the traitor Kang Hong and bring him to justice!”

Xie Ling was well-prepared. Before Kang Hong’s soldiers could react, Xie Ling had already pressed a sword to Kang Hong’s neck and loudly declared, “Kang Hong, General of Yongzhou and Strong Martial General, you stand accused of accepting bribes, raising private troops, colluding with rebels, inciting rebellion and plotting treason. Do you admit your guilt?”

Kang Hong’s eyes flickered as he exchanged a glance with the prisoners in the cart. He realized then that there was no way out. He had lost, outmaneuvered by Xiao Zhige.

Chapter 76

This chapter is translated by She.Wee, our new translator who will be working on chapters 76-80. Thank you She.Wee!!! 💗💗💗

Edited by KitKat

________

By late October, An Chang Qing finally received a letter from Xiao Zhige.

At that time, his belly had grown even larger, and he could already feel faint fetal movements. When Hu Shifei came to check his pulse again, he hesitated before saying that there was a strong possibility that An Chang Qing was carrying twins.

His belly was now about the size of a woman in the same stage of pregnancy, but Hu Shifei said there were two babies inside. An Chang Qing became somewhat worried, thinking that the babies might be too small and frail, and that their health might not be good after birth. However, Hu Shifei, who came to check his pulse every three days, eventually confirmed that the babies inside were very healthy. They may be small in size, but they were not frail; likely due to the mermaid bloodline in them. They couldn’t be treated as ordinary babies.

Only then did An Chang Qing feel relieved.

He gently stroked his belly and opened the letter that Xiao Zhige had sent back.

The letter was thick, and this time, it wasn’t just a short sentence telling him not to worry. Instead, it detailed the situation in the South.

Xiao Zhige did not follow Emperor Anqing’s orders to go to aid Ruanzhou first. Instead, he caught the powerful figures of Qingzhou off guard. When An Chang Qing read about how the powerful families in Qingzhou had refused to open the city gates, and how Xiao Zhige had used six Thunderstrike Bombs to blow up the gates, An Chang Qing couldn’t help but laugh.

The Thunderstrike Bomb was one of the new weapons developed by the Military Ordnance Department. He had once been inspired by a strange tale in a travelogue and had mentioned it to Xiao Zhige. Unexpectedly, Xiao Zhige took it seriously and had had the people at the Military Ordnance Department develop it. Gunpowder had previously been used mainly for making fireworks, but when they shifted their thinking and used it in weapons, they realized its power was not to be underestimated.

Besides the Thunderstrike Bomb, the Military Ordnance Department had also developed other firearms. However, with the Yanzhou war subsiding, they hadn’t been used yet. Xiao Zhige, just in case, brought some with him when he headed South, but unexpectedly, they were first used against the unruly powerful families.

To deter the powerful families, Xiao Zhige confiscated the property of the Shi family, who had led the rebellion. The Shi family was a wealthy merchant family in the south, said to be as rich as a nation, having accumulated wealth over several generations. An Chang Qing knew about them because a concubine in the Crown Prince’s residence was a Shi family woman. Normally, a merchant’s daughter would not be eligible to become a Crown Prince’s concubine, but the Shi family was so wealthy that, without someone backing them, the court would have found them displeasing. So, the head of the Shi family placed their bet on the Crown Prince, not only sending their daughter but also offering a huge dowry.

Unfortunately, the Crown Prince was only fond of beautiful women and looked down on the arrogant behavior of the Shi family woman, so he did not favor her much. Though he didn’t let her suffer, he just kept her in the East Palace. Earlier in Yejing, in the various rumors An Chang Qing had heard, this concubine, relying on the Shi family’s influence, was said to have been domineering in the Crown Prince’s residence. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince, although he wanted the money, did not care for the Shi family or her, and after losing patience, she completely lost his favor.

No wonder the Shi family started to harbor rebellious thoughts. Given their immense wealth, if they couldn’t attach themselves to the Crown Prince, they would become a target if the world fell into chaos. It was better to act first and seize more leverage. Unfortunately for them, they encountered Xiao Zhige.

The Northern Warlord blew up the city gates and first used the Shi family as an example to deter others.

The Shi family’s properties were thoroughly confiscated, their male heirs executed, and those with criminal charges were all beheaded. The women were enslaved by the government, and the remaining servants and children were all exiled.

The Shi family was truly wealthy; their mansion was no less grand than the Forbidden City in Yejing. Xiao Zhige confiscated countless gold, silver, and treasures from it. The common treasures and a small portion of the gold and silver were boxed and sent to Yejing as a show, while the rest of the rare items and most of the gold and silver were secretly kept by Xiao Zhige.

Most of the Shi family’s wealth came from exploiting the people. Xiao Zhige, intending to appease the refugees, not only brought the Shi family’s criminals to justice but also began redistributing their land and offering refuge to the displaced.

Most of these refugees were originally farmers with land, but local powerful families had forced them to sell their land by various means, leaving them with no means to live, which eventually turned them into refugees who had joined the rebel army. These refugees had no ambitions for status or great wealth; they mostly joined the rebellion simply to survive.

Now, Xiao Zhige had drawn a different path for them—any refugees willing to surrender would be given land. If anyone in their family had been persecuted by the Shi family, they could receive compensation upon verification.

Just the promise of land distribution was enough to tempt countless refugees. There were already signs of division within the rebel army. Rebellions always needed leaders, with the refugees charging at the front lines, while the leaders in high positions, having tasted power, were unwilling to easily give up their authority. After all, not everyone was like the two leaders in the Sizhou uprising who cared about the lives of others.

The leaders were nervously waiting to negotiate with Xiao Zhige, but they didn’t expect Xiao Zhige to kill Shi Kairen with overwhelming force and then start redistributing the land to ordinary people. Initially, the leaders of the refugees managed to suppress their followers, but when Xiao Zhige sent the two former leaders of the Sizhou uprising to advocate on the main street, and when the non-rebellious people began registering to receive their land, the restless refugees were no longer under their control.

First, some elderly, the weak, and the women who had not killed or shed blood secretly left, went to the government office, registered for household registration, and received their allocated land. Some even found their daughters who had been taken by the Shi family. The news spread quickly, and even those refugees who had already earned “military merit” began to waver. After all, if they could live in peace, who among the common people would want to rebel?

These people were still hesitating, but then Xiao Zhige released another message: any rebel who surrendered would not be held accountable for their past crimes. They would only need to complete tasks assigned by the government to atone for their sins and could also receive land. Even those who were capable could volunteer for the military and serve the country, thereby also earning land without punishment.

The refugees were in an uproar, and without Xiao Zhige needing to send troops, the refugees themselves began a massacre. Naturally, the side with the most people won. Those ambitious leaders who wanted to emulate Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were all killed, and the remaining refugees voluntarily surrendered, lining up to register for land.

The rebellion in Qingzhou was pacified without a single soldier killed. However, the local powerful families in Qingzhou were mercilessly skinned by Xiao Zhige. Those who needed to be judged were judged, those who needed to contribute silver did so, and so did those who needed to re-distribute their land. Although it was painful, they could only endure it and swallow it, considering the fate of the Shi family, who had been executed.

And those guilty refugees, eager to atone for their sins and earn their land, worked diligently. They quickly repaired the city walls and gates that had been blown up, and even started building dams as required by Xie Ling.

After settling everything in Qingzhou, Xiao Zhige finally wrote a long letter to An Chang Qing and sent it back to Yanzhou.

Along with the letter, there were also large amounts of gold, silver, and rare treasures—the wealth confiscated from the Shi family. A small portion was sent to Qingzhou’s treasury for relief efforts, while the rest was quietly sent back to Yanzhou.

The Northern Warlord’s handwriting was wild as he wrote in the letter: “Keep the rare treasures for yourself, and use the gold and silver as you see fit. Once I conquer the Southern Provinces, I will return quickly. The South is rich in resources and has a warm climate and the Shi family’s mansion is luxurious. After you give birth, we’ll come back and enjoy it together.”

An Chang Qing smiled and picked up the pen to write a reply.

With the situation in Qingzhou settled, Xiao Zhige’s next stop would be Yongzhou. With the main general of Qingzhou dead and no one in charge, Xiao Zhige mentioned in his letter that he would temporarily leave the affairs of Qingzhou to Zhou Helan, speaking highly of Zhou Helan’s abilities.

An Chang Qing replied in his letter, saying that Zhou Helan’s talents were not limited to commerce, and if given the opportunity, he should let Zhou Helan serve him in the future. After writing this, he informed Xiao Zhige of the situation in Yanzhou, and only after the formal matters were addressed did the letter truly become a family letter.

After hesitating for a moment, An Chang Qing ultimately did not tell him that he might be carrying twins. Xiao Zhige had already been anxious when there was only one child, so if he knew it had turned into two, he might abandon all his duties and rush back.

In the past, he never would have thought that the dignified Northern Warlord would be someone who lets his emotions override the bigger picture, but now, An Chang Qing didn’t dare to take that risk. He smiled slightly, pressing his lips together. It would be a surprise for the General when he returned victorious.

After finishing the family letter and handing it over to the waiting soldiers to be sent out, An Chang Qing went to check the gold and silver items that had been sent back.

The wealth of the Shi family was even more than what was exaggerated. Even with just half of the remaining fortune, the front and back courtyards of the General’s Mansion were packed so tightly that there was hardly any space left. Many items were even piled up at the entrance. It was only because Yanzhou was Xiao Zhige’s territory with no one daring to covet it, that they could so openly stack the goods at the door.

It took An Chang Qing half a month to fully catalog everything. Looking at the numbers in the accounts, he only felt that it was a hot potato. This was just the liquid assets confiscated; not to mention the vast lands, estates, and shops the Shi family owned… No wonder Emperor Anqing constantly lamented that the national treasury was empty. How could it not be when all the silver had ended up in the pockets of these parasites?

But like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, all that silver was now theirs.

Right now, Yanzhou was not lacking in silver. Raw jade stones were highly sought after in the South, and despite the chaos in Qingzhou, Yongzhou, and Ruanzhou, other provinces were still steadily bringing in revenue. Although Zhou Helan was in charge, he didn’t monopolize power. The few reliable confidants he had selected were now independently shouldering the burden, not only making their mark in the South but even secretly starting to infiltrate the Yuze Empire.

Yuze was far from Yejing, and although trade had been banned, Yejing’s control over the regions was currently very weak. Local officials and commanders were corrupt and incompetent, so as long as they spent some silver, there were plenty of people willing to open doors for them.

Just from the revenue of raw jade stones, Yanzhou was already quite wealthy. Not to mention that now, they had received this massive amount of silver.

An Chang Qing promptly sent all this gold and silver into Yanzhou’s treasury. With no shortage of funds, whether it was reinforcing the city walls, digging canals, or developing firearms, he was more than willing to invest. Coupled with various welfare policies, the people of Yanzhou were now living much more comfortably than before. With more spare money and time, commerce became increasingly prosperous.

The prosperity of Yanzhou gradually spread through these merchants to other provinces. While the fame of the Northern Warlord and his consort spread, the biggest benefit was that more and more refugees, hearing the news, began to flock to Yanzhou. An Chang Qing welcomed them all, had them registered, and took them all in. Thus, the scene in Yanzhou grew even more vibrant and lively.

Though the neighboring Liangzhou also benefited, sipping the broth, Chang Zaichang couldn’t help but feel a bit sour seeing Yanzhou’s flourishing scene. Yanzhou and Liangzhou watched each other’s backs and were now tied to the same profitable business. Moreover, if there was to be an uprising in the future, Chang Zaichang and Liangzhou’s support would be crucial. Therefore, Xiao Zhige had no need to guard against him and even sent a batch of newly developed firearms.

Chang Zaichang was so enamored with the new firearms that he treated them like precious treasures. When he heard that the idea for these firearms had originally come from An Chang Qing, it was as if he had drunk an entire vat of aged vinegar.

Privately, he was very envious of his good brother’s fortune.

Initially, he thought that Xiao Zhige marrying a man, who was also an illegitimate son, would bring no benefit to him and might even become a source of criticism if he ever contended for the supreme throne. But after seeing Yanzhou grow more and more prosperous, and now receiving these firearms, he began to deeply believe that even the most capable in-laws could not compare to the assistance provided by the Northern Warlord’s Consort.

In any situation, military power is the most important thing. Xiao Zhige held a large military force in his hands, and now, with these powerful firearms, if it weren’t for concerns about his reputation, he could likely march on Yejing immediately, and no one would be able to stop him.

Chang Zaichang leisurely swayed his head and went off joyfully to test his fire lance.

Chapter 75

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

Tie Hu went to deliver the message but the gates remained closed. Not even one person came out in response.

Inside Qing Zhou, several leaders gathered to discuss their next course of action. With their troops stationed outside, they couldn’t possibly not know what was going on. 

With the current hierarchy, even though these landlords were extremely wealthy, without the proper title, they were still beneath a lot of people. Just one sentence from them and they had to deliver, with a humble smile, the gold that they had worked hard to obtain. No one wanted to be someone else’s lapdog forever. Under the current situation, it was the perfect time to stage their own rebellion.

These landlords had funded the Qing Zhou militia all these years and naturally, they had used this connection to raise an army of their own. This was also how they had been able to recruit fighters quickly right after the conflict had started. They had been confident in their calculation but did not account for the arrival of the Yanzhou troops led by the Northern Warlord.

And who is the Northern Warlord? The invincible god slayer. If he did not fear the Beidi people, how could he possibly fear them?

One or two scaredy-cats of the group spoke up, “Why don’t we open the city gates and let them in first?”

These words made the room grow quieter. 

Sitting at the top was the head of the Shi family, Shi Kairen. The Shi family possessed immense wealth, comparable to that of an entire country. In these Southern parts, they had given him the name of the Stone Emperor. Half of the fighters in this regime belonged to the Shi family and Shi Kairen, thus, became the leader of this group. 

Everyone subconsciously looked towards Shi Kairen and heard him sneering, “Raising a bow without an arrow in hand. If you’re so afraid, then go and beg for mercy by yourself. What kind of people are in the ruling class of Yejing? The court will not show you mercy and the streets are in chaos. If so, why can’t we change this world? Do you want to be the dog at their feet for the rest of your lives?”

The previous speaker was ashamed and dared not say anymore. 

However, someone else cautiously hinted, “But outside the gates is the Northern Warlord. He has a ferocious reputation and has never been defeated. If we have to face him…”

Shi Kairen smiled with contempt, “So what if he has never lost? He has rode here from a long distance, his troops and horses are exhausted, and there’s an insufficient supply of food on the outside of the city. We can drag this out for another month and a half and they won’t be able to keep up. And, while we can afford to be idle, Ruan Zhou’s situation is turning critical. He’d have to give up Qing Zhou and turn to rescue Ruan Zhou. With that, we’ll have enough time to conquer the whole of Qing Zhou. And, even if he was dead set on staking out Qing Zhou, when Ruan Zhou falls and Yejing is breached, the court will have his head. What’s there for us to fear?!”

The firmness in his words and the persuasive strategy boosted the confidence of the group. Those who had been scared of the Northern Warlord let go of their worries and praised him for his ingenious tactics.

Suddenly, before they could speak another word, a loud boom resonated from a distance. The ground began to shake and dust was falling from the ceiling. Startled, the landlords who were so full of themselves moments ago, scurried out of the hall in a disheveled fashion.

“What just happened? Did a dragon overturn the earth?”

After evacuating from the building, the dust-covered landlords had lost their golden glow. Shi Kairen was still looking neat but there was a hint of fear on his face. The loud explosions had come from the direction of the city gate. It blasted continuously with barely a pause in between.

Before they could figure out what was happening, they saw the gatekeeper rushing towards them on horseback and exclaimed, “The gates cannot hold on much longer!”

Qing Zhou’s city gates were as strong as metal, how could it fall this quickly?!

Shi Kairen’s face darkened. “What’s happening? Explain it clearly!”

The gatekeeper was injured and his wounds covered with soot. Thoroughly shaken, he stuttered, “They launched some sort of black rock at the city gate. It exploded upon impact. After four or five times, the gate was falling apart!”

Shi Kairen’s face turned black. He did not know what kind of rock could destroy armored gates.

Before he could figure out his next move, there was a dead silence before hooves could be heard stomping towards them. The person in the lead exuded a majestic but fearsome aura. They could feel a chill the moment he spoke, “The Imperial Court’s reinforcements have arrived and stationed outside. Yet you refused to open the gates. What? You want to start a rebellion as well?”

Shi Kairen was still relatively calm but the same could not be said for the other landlords. Although they were unhappy being the lackeys of Yejing’s aristocratic families, they were able to live in luxury. No one really had any plan or even the courage to rebel without the coercion of Shi Kairen. Seeing the ferocity of the Imperial Army was enough to make their legs turn to jelly.

Except for Shi Kairen, the others knelt down and said with a trembling voice, “We dare not. It’s just… it’s just…” they waited half a day and still couldn’t complete the rest of the sentence.

Xiao Zhige’s eyes twitched as he focused his glare on the Shi Kairen who refused to kneel. Shi Kairen was over forty and had a tall and slim appearance. He donned a resplendent robe and even in this situation, he still seemed fearless. He boldly looked straight at Xiao Zhige, put on a fake smile, and said, “Seeing is believing. The Northern Warlord is truly Da Ye’s God of War. I’ve been guarding Qing Zhou for quite a long time but received no reinforcement. When we heard someone shouting at the gate, we were concerned that it was a hoax. We were discussing this matter when Wangye unexpectedly broke through the city gate and came in.”

His words made it seem as though Xiao Zhige’s actions had been rash and irrational.

Xiao Zhige had no obligation to answer him. He looked down at him from his horse and said, “I’ve come to suppress the rebellion. Report to me Qing Zhou’s current situation.”

 After speaking, he rode his horse straight to the General’s Manor. Twenty thousand soldiers marched behind him, each strong bodied and neatly suited, a far cry from Qing Zhou’s soldiers. Xie Ling, who had also been assigned on this trip, looked at the weak legged landlords and urged them with a threatening smile, “Gentlemen, please follow. Wangye’s time is precious and you don’t want to annoy him.”

The General’s Manor was currently unoccupied. The soldiers went to set up their position and in no time, the whole manor was under Xiao Zhige’s control. He sat brazenly in the main hall and waited. After he finished a cup of tea, only then did the landlords arrive.

These people who only traveled by carriage and had servants to their left and right were now herded like livestock by Xie Ling. By the time they arrived at the manor, everyone was panting miserably.

Due to their continuous refusal to open the gates, Xiao Zhige had a bone to pick with them. He refused to let them sit and demanded that they tell him the current situation and where they had stationed the hired hands. 

Inside Qing Zhou, the landlords occupied the West and South gates while the rebels had taken up the East and North gates. They were currently at the South gate’s vicinity which was home to the wealthiest and most powerful of Qing Zhou. Central Street served as the border that divided the two factions. Both sides had guards stationed along this strip and until Xiao Zhige’s arrival, there had not been any large-scale attacks. 

“There are ten thousand private fighters inside the city?”

Xiao Zhige raised his eyebrows and looked at them menacingly, “Unlawful seizure of land, farmlands, and properties, raising a private army, and refusal to open the gates for Imperial Soldiers… Who is it that gave you such courage?” 

Some were scared out of their wits and dared not argue while others refused to accept the charges. Shi Kairen shook his head and rebuked, “Wangye has misjudged the situation. The buying and selling of lands has always been done with agreements and contracts from both sides, how’s that considered unlawful seizure? And about the private army that we have, if it weren’t for them, Qing Zhou would’ve been overtaken by the rebels. We dare not ask for credit but we refuse to be charged with any crimes! Wangye, please treat us with fairness!”

Hearing Shi Kairen’s speech, the rest regained their backbone and echoed in agreement.

Xiao Zhige allowed them to speak to their hearts’ content before raising his hand to shut them off. He then told Zhou He Lan to bring forth the evidence that had been collected beforehand. He had come with the intention of getting rid of these leeches first before dealing with the rebels. These landlords had thought that their activities would never be investigated and were naturally unprepared. Zhou He Lan on the other had been traversing the Southern States for some time and had been able to gather evidence of all their unlawful activities. 

A towering pile of evidence was placed on the table. Xie Ling randomly picked out a scroll and read, “Year Thirteen of the Qing Li calendar, Shi Qian, the second son of the Shi family, took a fancy to a peasant girl and wanted to make her his mistress. After she refused his advances, Shi Qian brutally killed her parents and took her by force…”

“Year Forteen of the Qing Li Calendar, there was a delay in harvesting and the Shi family inflicted a fine on the farmers based on the ‘lamb penalty’. The following year, over a hundred farmers were unable to repay their debts. Most had their lands forcibly confiscated while others had their daughters taken away as collateral…”

For years, the landlords had been left unchecked and their crimes ran rampant. The most audacious of them was the Shi family. Thinking that they had backing from Yejing’s aristocrats, they had been overly arrogant that they had no need to hide their crimes. As long as they had their eyes on something, whether it was land or women, they had openly taken them. Over the years, countless commoners had been forced to hand over their hard earned money and properties to them; numerous girls had been forced to enter the Shi family as mistresses. The Shi Manor had become as grandiose as the Imperial Palace in Yejing; the clothes they wore and food they ate were comparable to that of the royal family.

Xiao Zhige’s face was filled with a grimace as he threw the stacks of evidence at Shi Kairen. And, before he could refute, Xiao Zhige announced, “The Shi family and their immediate associates, for their crimes of raising a private army, unlawful seizure of land, murder, kidnapping women…Pass on my order for the arrest of the entire Shi family. The family heads and all accomplices will be publicly executed tomorrow at the town square. Except for those who were forcefully taken, the rest of the Shi family will be exiled and all their land and properties confiscated to fill the national treasury.”

Shi Kairen’s whole body shuddered, his eyes were red with rage, “You can’t execute with just allegations! This is slander! I won’t accept it!”

His eyes were bulging as he screamed injustice. Suddenly, he thought of something and quickly said, “I’m the Crown Prince’s relative, my daughter is the Crown Prince’s concubine, who dares to touch me! I want to see the Crown Prince!”

Xiao Zhige was indifferent looking at his dying struggle and only ordered, “Take him away! He’ll be executed on the main street tomorrow!”

No matter how powerful Shi Kairen was, at this moment, he could only struggle and scream in vain as the soldiers dragged him away. The rest of the landlords were scared silly as they witnessed how, in just a few seconds, the Shi family had been utterly ruined. They could only bow vigorously and beg for mercy.

Xiao Zhige did not intend for a mass execution. He glanced at Xie Ling who immediately understood. He stepped forward and consoled, “Don’t worry, Wangye is very wise. He despises those who break the law but he will not wrongly accuse the innocent.”

Xie Ling’s words made them more frightened than before. Who among them had not committed a crime? Even if they hadn’t, someone in their family would have. They all eyed Xiao Zhige anxiously, waiting for him to deliver their death sentence.

Seeing that their scare tactic was successful, Xie Ling smiled and said, “No one is a saint and everyone makes mistakes. Wangye is not an unreasonable person. Qing Zhou is currently in chaos and there are people suffering wrongfully. Wangye is concerned for the safety of the common people, if you can make up for your mistakes, then it might not be too late to redeem yourself.”

As for how to redeem themselves, there was no need to put it into words, they were smart enough to understand. After looking at each other, they all said in unison, “We will do our best to help Wangye and the people of Qing Zhou.”

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1 The surname 石 (Shi) means stone or boulder

Chapter 74

Edited and Proofread by KitKat

Yanzhou.

It was now October and the climate in Yanzhou was getting colder. During this time, in the past years, people constantly worried about the coming winter and had always been on high alert against the Beidi people’s attacks. The hustle and bustle of autumn this year however, was a big contrast from that of previous years.

Although they had been hit with a snowstorm and had a poor harvest this year, the people were not worried at all. The Northern Warlord had waived this year’s taxes and had even recruited workers for the land reclamation and construction of the irrigation system. Not only were they fed, they were even well paid. With their wages and the food harvested from the farms, they could get by with ease.

Furthermore, with the threat from Beidi people having been extinguished, Yanzhou was in a celebratory mood. 

In the General’s Manor, An Chang Qing, with his now enlarged belly, was tirelessly reading the reports that Anfu had sent him.

In mid-September, An Chang Qing’s pregnancy was becoming more discernible. By October, his belly had grown considerably and could no longer be hidden with clothes. As such, he declared himself ill and stayed inside the mansion. 

The manor’s servants had all been carefully screened. Those who were deemed loyal and tight-lipped were allowed inside while the rest had been assigned to the outer court. Hu Shifei and Yu Xiao had taken residence inside the manor and were already preparing for An Chang Qing’s delivery.

When the news that An Chang Qing would be on bed rest first spread, Qi Wei and the gang along with the old officials all tried to pay him a visit but were all rejected by Xiao Zhige. But as this matter prolonged, the people who had been working with An Chang Qing felt lost without his leadership. They tried several times to visit and ask him for advice, much to Xiao Zhige’s disapproval. However, with An Chang Qing’s involvement in these projects and his growing boredom of being shut inside the manor, the couple discussed and decided that An Chang Qing will receive guests behind a screen and Anfu will facilitate with the passing of documents.

Xiao Zhige was not happy with the decision so An Chang Qing compromised that he would only work for an hour a day.

An Chang Qing had just put down his pen after adding his input on an official scroll when he heard Xiao Zhige’s voice at the door, “Time’s up.”

An Chang Qing glanced at the clepsydra and mumbled, “Wangye is more on time than the clock.”

Xiao Zhige went on to pack up the documents on his desk as though he did not hear him. He then led An Chang Qing out and they went for a walk. 

The two held hands and strolled in the garden behind the courtyard. This place had been renovated with beautiful rockeries, a pond with flowing water and a scenic pavilion. When An Chang Qing became pregnant, Xiao Zhige would always accompany him here for their walks before returning to their room for dinner.

An Chang Qing’s appetite had been gradually decreasing even though his belly was getting rounder. Xiao Zhige was always worried and would try his best to coax An Chang Qing to eat more. Compared to him, An Chang Qing felt that Xiao Zhige was more like the one who was pregnant. 

This night, Xiao Zhige was particularly quiet during dinner. An Chang Qing finished his meal and realized that something was wrong. He put down his chopsticks, wiped his hands with the handkerchief Anfu handed him and asked with some concern, “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Zhige remained silent. He reached for the scroll inside his sleeve and handed it to An Chang Qing. An Chang Qing took the scroll and after reading, he sneered, “The Crown Prince poked the hornet’s nest and now asks you to clean up his mess.”

Xiao Zhige had already predicted the outcome regarding the situation in the South. What he did not expect was for it to escalate this quickly. He had estimated that it would take at least until An Chang Qing had given birth for the South to be in complete chaos, only then would Emperor An Qing send him to stamp out the rebellion. But alas, his calculation was thrown off by the Crown Prince’s arrogance and foolishness coupled with the inept Southern militia. And now, he had to march off in advance to pacify the rebellion.

An Chang Qing was already six months pregnant. According to the handwritten recount, the man had given birth almost two months earlier than normal women. Which meant that An Chang Qing’s pregnancy would last eight months and his due date would be in December.

It was only two months away but he had to leave for the South. What if he couldn’t return in time…

Xiao Zhige did not speak but An Chang Qing could tell.

“When will Wangye be leaving?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

An Chang Qing nodded and said, “Then I’ll help you pack your things today.”

“No need.” Xiao Zhige grabbed his hand and looked at him deeply. His lips moved as though wanting to say something but he wasn’t sure how to put it into words. After a long while, he simply embraced him and let out an apology.

Being pregnant as a man was difficult enough even without the complications of childbirth. Now he had to do it not knowing if his husband would be back in time to be by his side.

An Chang Qing placed his hand over Xiao Zhige’s and weaved his fingers in between. He smiled and comforted, “It’s not like this is the first time you’ve left for war. I’ll be home waiting for you.”

If this was in the past, he would’ve been feeling anxious and worried. But the current An Chang Qing was no longer the incompetent and timid illegitimate son of the An family. He could tactfully handle Yanzhou’s state affairs which allowed his General to be absent without any worries.

At this point, he was decidedly unafraid. 

He also believed that Xiao Zhige would be able to resolve the conflict in the South as he would be able to watch over Yanzhou in his absence while awaiting his triumphant return.

He took Xiao Zhige’s hand and placed it over his bulging belly and whispered softly, “This child is very obedient. After you’ve pacified the Southern States, bring us there to have a look. I’ve never been to the South.”

Xiao Zhige’s initial misgivings were soothed by the calming of An Chang Qing’s gentle voice. He rested his head on An Chang Qing’s shoulder and took a deep breath as he touched his belly, “Alright. Wait for me. I’ll conquer the South and take you both there for a vacation.”

That night, the two went to bed embracing each other. An Chang Qing tended to sleep on the side due to his enlarged belly while Xiao Zhige opened up one arm for him to rest his head on and the other gently patted his back. An Chang Qing had long fallen asleep while Xiao Zhige stayed awake, watching him the whole night. When the first light appeared on the horizon, he gave An Chang Qing a soft kiss on his forehead before quietly getting up and leaving.

Anfu heard the sounds and was about to come in when he saw Xiao Zhige signaling for him to stay quiet.

Xiao Zhige did not have much to pack. After washing up, he changed into light armor and quietly rode off to the barracks where twenty thousand of his troops had been waiting. 

Xiao Zhige raised his black and golden spear and the soldiers immediately shouted in unison as they marched South under the war flag with the initial “Ge”.

…..

The three Southern States were currently in chaos. Amongst them, Ruan Zhou had become the quintessence turning point of this battle as Qing Zhou and Yong Zhou had already fallen into enemy’s hands. 

Ruan Zhou was the final defense that guarded Yejing. Although it was well prepared and had been able to hold its ground, the prowess of the wrathful rebels in their manic state could not be underestimated. If left unassisted, Ruan Zhou would eventually fall.

Emperor An Qing’s order was for Xiao Zhige to march for Ruan Zhou in haste to drive back the rebels then head for Yong Zhou and Qing Zhou. However, Xiao Zhige had no intention of following his order. Such an anarchic situation was exactly the opportunity he had been waiting for.

He led his army of twenty thousand men through Su Zhou and Yu Zhou, heading straight for Qing Zhou first. The uprising began in Qing Zhou and of the three Southern States, it was also the most prosperous. When the rebellion had started, the big shots of Qing Zhou were only caught off guard by the brutal killings. After the shock, they had immediately hired guards and built an army of their own to fight against the rebels. These people were tyrannical tycoons who had money to spare and food to waste. After recruiting enough fighters and rations, they had begun to act out their brutal revenge, going so far as to branding all commoners as rebels and slaughtering them in cold blood.

Xiao Zhige made the decision primarily to address the merciless landlords who had been oppressing the people. Ultimately, it had been these oppressors who had caused distress among the people and sparked their need to revolt; not killing them was not enough to appease the people’s anger. Furthemore, in recent years, these landlords had been conspiring with each other to amass greater wealth and power. To eradicate this network, Xiao Zhige had to first punish the oppressors by killing the chicken to warn the monkey.¹ 

Xiao Zhige and his troops marched day and night to reach Qing Zhou but the first thing they saw upon arrival was Qing Zhou’s garrison stationed outside the city’s gates. Xiao Zhige sent someone to request the gatekeeper to open the gates but they received no response. Instead, it was the Qing Zhou army’s General, Zuo Qiu, who had heard of Xiao Zhige’s arrival and hastily went to greet him.

“Qing Zhou’s four gates have been overtaken by the rebel army and mercenaries. Each side has control over two gates, neither side will open the gates for us.”

Zuo Qiu was over forty years old but for a General of an army, he had neither charisma nor an authoritative aura. Instead, he was a white chubby man in armor, looking somewhat comical.

“As the General of Qing Zhou, not only were you unable to resolve the civil unrest, you were even driven out of the city like a stray dog.” Xiao Zhige spoke coldly as his gaze swept over him like a sharp blade.

Zuo Qiu trembled as he pleaded in a pitiful tone, “Wangye, please understand. There was nothing I could do about it. Those rebels charged at us with no regard for their lives. They were suicidal. The only thing we could do was to stay out of their way.”

Zhou He Lan had been in Qing Zhou prior to the uprising and Xiao Zhige was very well aware of what had transpired. When the rebels had started killing the rich and powerful, Zuo Qiu had sent his troops to suppress them and had failed miserably. And to add insult to injury, the rebels had attacked Zuo Qiu’s estate and he had almost been killed. Scared out of his wits, Zuo Qiu and his family had fled and had been staying at the military camps outside the city. The General who was supposed to protect the city had abandoned it. Qing Zhou then plunged into utter chaos. The rebels continued their mindless killing and the landlords retaliated with the same blood thirst. Zuo Qiu, the General of Qing Zhou, who had been supposed to take charge in such a situation was ironically ignored by both sides.

As a result, the military had now lost control over the city gates. 

What kind of General Zuo Qiu was, it would be brought out in his soldiers. Qing Zhou’s 8000 soldiers were just like Zuo Qiu, poorly trained both physically and mentally. They were all only hoping to ride on Xiao Zhige’s tailcoat back to the city after he had successfully resolved this conflict.

Xiao Zhige chuckled grimly. His eyes turned cold as he announced loudly, “General Zuo Qiu of Qing Zhou, neglected his duties, fled the battle in shame, and abandoned his city! He will be beheaded according to the law! Take him away!”

Zuo Qiu’s originally smiling face froze up. Immediately scared by his words, he shrunk his neck back like a turtle and shouted, “I’m Qing Zhou’s General personally appointed by His Majesty! If I were to be punished, it has to be done back in Yejing to determine my sentence. Even if it’s Wangye, you cannot execute me like this!”

Xiao Zhige looked at him with an empty expression and said, “A General outside of his city is subjected to foreign rules. You’re now under my jurisdiction, you will be subjected to my rules.”

After speaking, Xiao Zhige raised his hand and immediately, two soldiers strode towards Zuo Qiu and grabbed him by both sides. Zuo Qiu shouted frantically, “Soldiers, stop them!”

However, Zuo Qiu’s underlings were not in any way braver than him. Facing the toughened soldiers of Yanzhou, they were like timid rabbits being stared at by eagles, none dared to make any resistance. Zuo Qiu was forced on his knees and dragged in front of Xiao Zhige.

Xiao Zhige wasted not another minute and ordered, “Execute him.”

Zuo Qiu’s face was white as a sheet. He wanted to beg for mercy but the words did not have time to leave his throat before he was cut down by Tie Hu’s swift motion.

Tie Hu then turned to look at the Qing Zhou soldiers and chided, “Cowards.”

 A few of Qing Zhou’s lieutenants had a bitter look on their faces but dared not speak up due to the fear of the Northern Warlord’s lack of hesitation when it came to killing. 

Xiao Zhige sized up the remaining Qing Zhou soldiers and frowned. At this point, there was no time to retrain them. He simply waved his hand and commanded, “Have someone send word to the people behind the city gates. If the gates remain closed, we will use force.”

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1 杀鸡儆猴 sha ji jing hou – killing a chicken to scare the monkey. Simply put, it’s to give others a warning by punishing someone as an example