Yin Furen had picked up a trick or two from Xu Nian’an and Zhao Jiazhen. Ever since Zhao Huanchao made his appearance, she had someone secretly keep tabs on him. As a result, news of Zhao Huanchao heading to Guanghua Gate quickly reached Yin Furen’s ears.

“I was wondering why he secretly slipped back to the capital from Pingliang Prefecture. Turns out he was gambling for an opportunity, and he actually managed to find one,” Yin Furen said calmly, her hands resting on her lap. “He knows his life would otherwise amount to nothing, so he wants to take a gamble on the battlefield. Fine, let him go if he wants to. At least it’ll save my Huanxi from being put in a difficult position.”

Nanny Su, standing to the side, chimed in, “Exactly! War is no joking matter. Let whoever wants to go, go. Our San Yé certainly won’t be going.”

Yin Furen had received the news, so naturally, Xiangzhong had too. And if Xiangzhong knew, then Zhao Huanxi would inevitably know as well.

He sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his grandfather, who showed no signs of waking. Slowly, he clenched his fists. After a long while, he abruptly stood up, said a word to Xiangzhong, and returned to Shenhui Courtyard.

Xu Nian’an had just finished directing the maids to tidy up the courtyard. Seeing him return so suddenly, she was surprised and asked, “Has *Zufu& woken up?”

Zhao Huanxi shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Then why did you come back?”

Zhao Huanxi looked at her, hesitated for a long moment, and finally said, “Dong Jiejie, I have something I want to tell you.”

The two went into the room, and Zhao Huanxi closed the door behind him.

Xu Nian’an, with her back to him, poured tea at the table and said casually, “What is it you want to say? Go ahead.”

“Dong Jiejie, Xiang Guanshi said that Zhao Huanchao went to Guanghua Gate to personally petition the Emperor to take Zufu’s place in leading the expedition. I can’t let him go,” Zhao Huanxi said, staring at her back.

“What do you plan to do to stop him?” Xu Nian’an asked, still facing away from him, holding a teacup.

“I’ll go,” he replied.

Xu Nian’an closed her eyes, her fingers tightening around the teacup.

Outside, birds chirped merrily, but inside, the room fell so silent that even the faintest sound could be heard.

“Zufu detests Zhao Huanchao. He cast him out of the family residence and sent him to Pingliang Prefecture. Zufu trusts me, and petitioned the Emperor to name me the heir grandson. Now that Zufu has fallen ill, the court needs someone from the Zhao Family to replace him in Liaodong to stabilize the army’s morale. If I don’t go and let Zhao Huanchao take my place, I’ll never be able to hold my head high before Zufu or Zhao Huanchao for the rest of my life,” Zhao Huanxi said, his eyes brimming with tears. “Dong Jiejie, I know I’m not capable. My decision to go is irresponsible to you and Mother. But I have to go.”

Xu Nian’an opened her eyes, calmly set the teacup back on the table, and turned to face the young man before her. “You can do it.”

Zhao Huanxi was stunned.

She walked over, raised her hand to straighten his collar, and smoothed his lapel. “Since you’ve made up your mind, then go for it without hesitation. For such a significant matter, the last thing you should do is waver and second-guess yourself. Go to the study now and write your petition to join the battle. I’ll arrange for someone to prepare a horse at the back gate. Once you’re done, leave through the back gate immediately.”

“Dong *Jiejie&…” Zhao Huanxi looked at Xu Nian’an in disbelief, as if unable to comprehend that she would support such a decision.

“Hurry up. If the Emperor has already approved Zhao Huanchao’s petition, they might be drafting the edict as we speak. Whatever you have to say, save it for when you return,” Xu Nian’an said.

Hearing this, Zhao Huanxi became anxious, nodded quickly, and hurried out to the study.

After he left, Xu Nian’an stood frozen in place for a moment before snapping out of it and heading out to arrange a horse for him.

In the Imperial Palace, inside the Imperial Study.

The Emperor sat behind his desk, reviewing memorials. Liu Fuyi, standing nearby, glanced at a few and remarked disdainfully, “Even trivial matters the size of sesame seeds need to be submitted for your approval. What use are these ministers?”

The Emperor chuckled. “Is Aifei worried for Zhen?”

“Why would I worry about you? Who knows, you might actually enjoy this,” Liu Fuyi replied as she gracefully moved to the side. “By the way, wasn’t there some fool who came to petition for battle earlier today? What position do you plan to grant him?”

“Look at Zhen*&‘s memory! If **Aifei hadn’t mentioned it, Zhen would have forgotten all about it,” the Emperor said, spreading out a blank yellow silk scroll, preparing to write. Just then, a young eunuch arrived outside the Imperial Study to speak with Hong Feng. After hearing the message, Hong Feng accepted the document and entered to report.

“Your Majesty, the eldest legitimate grandson of Jing Guogong, Zhao Huanxi, is kneeling outside Guanghua Gate. He has submitted a memorial, personally requesting to take Jing Guogong’s place in battle.”

The Emperor paused his brush mid-air, visibly intrigued. “Oh? He’s here too. Summon him. Zhen wanted to see for myself what kind of person this grandson, whom Jing Guogong holds in such high regard, really is.”

Hong Feng bowed and left to carry out the order.

Liu Fuyi raised an eyebrow. “Since someone’s coming, I’ll excuse myself for now.” She turned to leave.

The Emperor quickly grabbed her hand. “Didn’t we agree you’d accompany me to the Imperial Garden after I finished reviewing these memorials? It’s just a seventeen-year-old boy, there’s no need to avoid him.”

After a while, Hong Feng led Zhao Huanxi into the room.

Although it was already late afternoon, the sun outside remained harsh. Zhao Huanxi’s cheeks were flushed red, and his sweat glistened like steamed jade under the heat. The Emperor was momentarily stunned upon seeing him, as he had never encountered a youth of such striking appearance.

After the initial surprise, the Emperor inwardly shook his head. A boy like this, clearly raised in luxury and pampered beyond measure, was unlikely to last on the battlefield. The bitter cold winds and heavy snow of Liaodong alone would probably send him scurrying back to the capital.

After Zhao Huanxi finished his bow, the Emperor asked, “You wish to petition to take Jing Guogong, your grandfather’s, place in leading the expedition? Have you ever trained in martial arts?”

Zhao Huanxi kept his head lowered and said, “Replying to Your Majesty, I began training in martial arts last year’s Sixth Month. It has been exactly one year.”

“Bold! How dare you refer to yourself as ‘I’ before the Emperor?” Hong Feng scolded.

The Emperor raised a hand, signaling for calm. “It’s fine, a minor matter.” Though he felt Zhao Huanxi was wholly unsuited for the battlefield, the Emperor found himself rather fond of the young man. After all, someone with such a pleasing appearance was a rare sight and pleasant to look at.

“Do you believe you’re fit to take your grandfather’s place on the battlefield?” the Emperor asked.

Zhao Huanxi replied, “When ordinary citizens are conscripted, no one asks if they are fit for the battlefield. Yet our army is composed of precisely such trained ordinary citizens. I dare say I’m neither missing an arm nor a leg and have even trained for a year in martial arts. If I were to join as a new recruit, I might very well be among the more capable ones. There’s nothing particularly unfit about me.”

The Emperor laughed heartily. “Do you only plan to go as a new recruit? You’re stepping in for your grandfather to lead the expedition.”

Zhao Huanxi lowered his head in shame and replied, “No one in the Zhao Family can truly replace Zufu. My purpose in going is merely to show the border soldiers and the Tiele invaders that even if Zufu is ill, the men of the Zhao Family have not cowered, nor have we lost our spirit. As long as I go, that purpose is fulfilled. Whether I go as a general or a soldier makes no difference.”

“But your eldest brother, Zhao Huanchao, who once served as an official in the Central Military Commander’s Office, has already submitted a petition to Zhen, expressing his willingness to take your grandfather’s place and fight the enemy,” the Emperor said. “Since he has held such a position, his martial skills must surpass yours. He is also older than you. Zhen believes it would be more appropriate for him to go. You are the heir grandson that your grandfather personally requested me to appoint. If Zhen let you go and you were to fall on the battlefield, would that not leave your grandfather without a successor?”

Zhao Huanxi replied, “Precisely because I am heir grandson that Zufu petitioned Your Majesty to appoint, I am more qualified than my eldest shu brother to take Zufu’s place on the battlefield. With Zufu gravely ill, if the Zhao Family were to send only a shu son, it might lead others to think that we are merely sending someone to go through the motions. But if I go, it is different. As the eldest legitimate grandson and heir grandosn of Jing Guogong, my presence will assure the soldiers and people of Liaodong of Zufu’s confidence and resolve for this battle. Zufu has guarded Liaodong for decades and holds great prestige among the soldiers and people there. His faith in this battle will undoubtedly boost the morale of the Liaodong troops.”

“Ha! Boost morale? With someone like you, the moment you step onto the battlefield and face the enemy, if you’re cut down with a single strike, how would that inspire morale for the soldiers of Liaodong?” Liu Fuyi said mockingly. “Your Majesty, Chenqie believes all this talk of titles and morale is meaningless. Winning this battle is what truly matters. That former official of the Central Military Commander’s Office is far more reliable than this so-called heir.”

The Emperor, who was on the verge of being persuaded by Zhao Huanxi, immediately changed his tone after hearing Liu Fuyi’s words. “Aifei shares the same view as Zhen does. In that case…”

“Your Majesty, I am willing to compete in martial arts with my elder shu brother. If I lose, I will accept the outcome without complaint. But if I win, it will prove that I am more capable of surviving on the battlefield. At that time, I ask Your Majesty to grant my request and allow me to take my grandfather’s place in leading the expedition!” Zhao Huanxi declared loudly.

His words left Liu Fuyi without a valid objection, and the Emperor was similarly unable to refuse.

“Very well,” the Emperor said. “Tomorrow, after the morning court session, you will compete against Zhao Huanchao in the square outside the Chenji Hall. Whoever wins will take your grandfather’s place in Liaodong.”

“Yes!” Zhao Huanxi responded, bowing before leaving the palace.

Upon returning to Jing Guogong Residence, he intended to share with Xu Nian’an what had transpired in the Palace. However, as he approached the entrance to Shenhui Courtyard, he noticed the nearby gate to Shenxiu Courtyard was ajar, and faint sounds of a heated argument emanated from within.

“…Zufu is gravely ill. As his descendants, Father and Huanyang, are naturally obliged to return and visit him. Furen’s insistence on refusing to return Yilan Pavilion, what could be the intention?” This was Zhao Hanchao speaking.

Earlier this spring, Yin Furen had Yilan Pavilion renovated and renamed it Xuanjing Zhai for Xuan Jie’er to reside in.

the Xuan from Xuanjing Zhao is the same as in Xuan Jie’er, 萱 that means the day lily flower.

“Your Zufu is merely gravely ill, yet you blatantly return and act so insolently. Have you not considered what might happen when he regains consciousness?” Yin Furen said, suppressing her anger.

“That is none of Yin Furen’s concern,” Zhao Hanchao replied arrogantly, emboldened by the knowledge that he was about to replace his grandfather in leading the military expedition and convinced that Yin Furen could do nothing to him.

“You—” If not for the fact that Zhao Huanxi would not need to go to the battlefield once Zhao Hanchao went, Yin Furen would have long ordered him to be thrown out.

“Mother.”

Yin Furen heard Zhao Huanxi’s voice coming from outside the gate of Shenxiu Courtyard. She turned and indeed saw him standing there.

“Why bother reasoning with someone so disrespectful to his legitimate mother? Just throw him out,” Zhao Huanxi said, looking directly at Zhao Hanchao.

Zhao Hanchao was furious, clenching his fists tightly as he glared at Zhao Huanxi.

“But…” Yin Furen, of course, also wanted to expel him, but she was counting on him to go to the battlefield in Huanxi’s place.

“Driving him out was Zufu’s command. Now that Zufu is ill, does that mean his orders can be disregarded, allowing this person to return? What if Zufu wakes up, learns he came back, and falls ill again from the anger?” Zhao Huanxi said.

Yin Furen looked at her son with some surprise. Ever since Guogong Yé fell ill, Zhao Huanxi had changed significantly.

“Zhao Huanxi, don’t go too far!” Zhao Hanchao shouted angrily.

“The one going too far is you!” Zhao Huanxi stepped inside and stood by Yin Furen’s side. “It was Zufu’s order to expel you. Now, taking advantage of his illness, you sneak back into the residence. Allowing you to visit him is already a concession, yet you want to stay and even expect my mother to prepare a courtyard for you? Are you trying to make her seem unfilial? If you want to return, fine, wait until Zufu wakes up and plead with him yourself. For now, leave!”

“And if I refuse to leave?”

Zhao Huanxi said, “Didn’t you submit a memorial to the Emperor, requesting to take Zufu’s place in leading the expedition? At such a critical moment, if word gets out that you were thrown out of Jing Guogong Residence, do you think people might start wondering about the reasons behind it? And if this reaches the Emperor, and he learns the truth, do you think you’d still be qualified to replace Zufu on the battlefield? Your grand plan to risk everything for your future might just come to ruin.”

Zhao Hanchao’s expression shifted repeatedly, and finally, with a resentful flick of his sleeve, he stormed out.