Murong Jin sat, her eyes narrowed at Xue Liulan as he practiced calligraphy. He was completely serene, his focus absolute, as if he were alone in the room.
"So you have no intention of discussing this," Murong Jin said, setting her teacup down. Her voice was ice.
Xue Liulan's brush paused, but he didn't look up. "Discuss what?"
"The news Yi brought."
He took a deep breath. "That is a matter our father has decided. It's pointless to discuss. Nothing can be changed."
"If you hadn't asked the Fourth Prince to recommend Guo Ren, Zuo Xunxiao would be leading that army." Murong Jin rose, her gaze fixed on him. "You're right, nothing can be changed. But I need to know why you did it."
Slowly, he set his brush down and looked up with a faint smile. "So, are you here to condemn me on Zuo Xunxiao's behalf?"
The question caught her off guard. Meeting his eyes, she felt a profound sense of strangeness. His gaze was a bottomless abyss, calm and still, yet exuding a terrifying aura.
A strange bead of sweat formed in her palm, hidden in her sleeve. She took a step back and slowly sat.
After a long moment, she spoke, her voice low. "I just need a reason."
"A reason for what?" He walked out from behind the desk and stood before her. "Every man from the army dreams of making a name for himself. You need a reason for why I destroyed Zuo Xunxiao's future?"
A wave of frustration washed over her. She stood. "Never mind." She turned to leave.
His hand shot out, grabbing her arm. She stopped. They stood shoulder-to-shoulder, and he had only to glance down to see the deep furrow in her brow.
"Why are you so angry?" he asked calmly.
"If he were sent away, we could truly go our separate ways," she answered woodenly.
"Go your separate ways? Right. After all, you were comrades. You wouldn't want to be his enemy." He let her go. "In that case, how about we have Guo Ren appoint his deputy tomorrow?"
"You want Zuo Xunxiao to serve as Guo Ren's second-in-command?" She stared, then let out a soft laugh. "With his pride? He'd never agree."
"Then you can't blame me."
She shot him a glare, then remembered what she had originally come to ask. He had completely sidetracked her.
"This isn't about Zuo Xunxiao," she said, sitting back down, digging in for a fight.
He sighed. No getting out of it. He put down his brush. "You're not going to ask me to have Father replace Guo Ren with him, are you?"
"Stop twisting everything to be about him!" Murong Jin snapped. "There was never anything between us, but even if there had been, the moment I married you, my past was severed."
"Ahem." Xue Liulan watched her, swallowing a smile. "Since your past is severed, and you're only my wife, what are you doing right now?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Women are not to discuss matters of state. It's the law of our ancestors. Since you married me, you must abide by it, no?"
She grew even more confused. It was true, that was the law. But this was a strange new tactic.
A cold smile touched her lips. "You were clever enough to use the Fourth Prince to promote Guo Shangzhong's adopted son. Are you now afraid that I know you allied with him?"
"Since you already know, what reason are you asking for?" he sighed.
"Isn't the Murong family's power enough? Why must you ally with the eunuch faction?" Her voice rose.
"You seem to have a strong prejudice against them," he noted.
She looked away, staring at her teacup with hatred. "Ever since the Emperor established the Imperial Messengers, all court matters pass through their hands. I know for a fact he colluded with officials to embezzle rations for my army in Wuchuan."
"Guo Shangzhong embezzled your army's pay?" Xue Liulan was surprised. "You have proof?"
"No. But no one else has that power." She glared at him, then gave a scornful laugh. "Or is it that the Emperor so fears the Murongs that he'd sabotage his own Great Wall?"
"Of course not," Xue Liulan answered, his mind already racing.
The Yanyun were at the gates. The Turks had been held back for years only by Murong Yan's unyielding defense. His father wasn't that foolish. Nor was his seventh brother. Which left only Guo Shangzhong.
Murong Jin studied him. "From the look on your face, you agree."
"Regardless of who it is, what's the situation in Wuchuan?"
"We've begun to cultivate military farms. But we won't see anything from it until next year." A shadow of worry crossed her face.
"It's snowing in Wuchuan now," he said, nodding. "The grain reserves?"
"If there are no battles, we can last until the new year."
He frowned and strode toward her. "Why didn't you tell me something so important?"
"When my family was secure, you didn't think we were enough. If you knew we were in crisis, you might have sought another backer." She stood to face him. "Even if you didn't betray us, you couldn't help. Better to say nothing."
"You…" The words nearly choked him. "In your heart, am I that kind of petty man?"
"It's human nature to seek advantage. That doesn't make you petty," she answered calmly. "But using the lives of soldiers as the price for your alliance with Guo Shangzhong—that is hardly the act of a gentleman."
"Court politics isn't as simple as you think. It's more complex than any battlefield." He didn't know how to explain it. In the end, he still couldn't be completely honest.
"Are you telling me to stay out of your affairs?" Her eyes were fixed on his face.
"Yes." The hand behind his back clenched. "Be my princess consort. You don't need to involve yourself. Since Murong Yan married you to me, he has pledged his loyalty. I'll communicate with him as needed."
She turned away from him and let out a bitter laugh. "So all my help has been a hindrance."
"The deal with Guo Shangzhong isn't up for debate. Whatever he's done to others, for now, he's useful to me."
"So you can ignore the soldiers who bleed and die for this dynasty?" A cold, sarcastic smile twisted her lips.
"Victory and defeat are common. Besides, Guo Ren won't necessarily lose." He sighed. "Zuo Xunxiao isn't the only man who knows how to fight."
"True. But he won't win as decisively." She shot him a final glance. "Explaining this to a royal who's never set foot on the frontier is like playing a lute to a cow."
With that, she left.
Xue Liulan stood frozen, watching her disappear. An autumn wind blew through the window, lifting the edge of a scroll on his desk. On it was the faint image of a woman in armor, her long hair flying in the wind. It was how he had first seen her.
That day, she had said she knew of the lazy, dissolute prince.
"So my image in your heart has worsened," he murmured, gently tracing her face on the paper. "But I'm only doing this so today's crisis won't be repeated." He smiled faintly. "The branches may wither, but the rot is at the root."
"My lord!" Little Dingzi came running in.
"What is it?" Xue Liulan asked, rolling up the scroll.
"The princess consort… she's left the residence."
"She's a grown woman. Is someone going to kidnap her?" he snapped, but he was already walking toward the door. "What happened?"
"I only saw her leave in a rage."
"Where is He Chengjian?"
"Following her, my lord, as you ordered."
Xue Liulan nodded. "Have him report if anything happens." He paused. "Prepare the carriage. I'm going out."
"Yes, my lord. Where to?"
"The Yichun Courtyard."