Chapter 560: The Night Before the Return Journey

Mid to late March.

Yinzhou.

At high noon the sun blazed, golden rays splashing over the blue tiles of the Inspector's Office, reflecting dazzling light.

Inside the hall of deliberation, there was no heat at all; a wind passing through, carrying the crispness of the frontier, dispelled the stifling air.

The hall was simply furnished, and in the center a large desk bore a yellowed map.

Several pear‑flower wood chairs were placed around, and Chen Yan and others sat among them, quietly discussing military affairs.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall, and the embroidered‑clad envoy Mei Aoshan hurried in.

He wore a look of urgency, bowed respectfully toward Chen Yan, and in a resonant voice said, "Grand General, fresh intelligence has just arrived from Qi State!"

"Oh?"

"What of it?"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, a spark of interest flashing in his eyes, and asked with curiosity, "Where has Moheduo gotten to?"

Mei Aoshan shook his head, his tone growing solemn, and said, "Grand General, it is not about the Turkic special forces..."

He paused, then reported clearly, "Instead, the ruler of Qi has dispatched a hundred thousand troops from Jinyang, heading straight for the new city of Shuozhou!"

"One hundred thousand troops?" Yuwen Ze heard this, first startled slightly, then murmured it again, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, and immediately began to mock sarcastically, "What a grand display!"

"It seems they intend to strike us while we are still unstable, a swift war to retake Shuozhou!"

"What a pity…" Chen Yan said, a half‑smile curving his lips, a deliberately feigned regret in his eyes, and in a playful tone added, "They mobilize troops, burden the people, and go to fight for nothing but an empty city!"

"Hahaha!" As soon as the words ended, a burst of hearty laughter rang through the hall.

Shuozhou had long been evacuated.

Who knows what spectacular expressions will follow the emptying…

Just as the laughter had not yet faded, two more footsteps sounded from outside the hall, one steady and one light.

The Yinzhou Prefect Jiang Ankuo, in his thirties, entered together with Yinzhou Governor Ye Zhuxi.

Jiang Ankuo's face was square and his eyes earnest; he gave the impression of a pragmatic man.

Beside him, Ye Zhuxi wore military attire, a jade belt at the waist, a tightened skirt, outlining a tall, upright figure.

Her long hair was tied high with a silver hair crown, revealing a smooth forehead and spirited brows; a long sword hung at her waist, swaying gently with each step.

After they entered, Jiang Ankuo stepped forward first, clasped his fists and bowed to Chen Yan, and in a resonant voice reported, "Grand General, as per your orders, the civilians relocated from Shuozhou have all been properly settled!"

"They have been dispersed and settled in Yinzhou, Suizhou, and Yanzhou; each location has designated caretakers, and food and lodging are fully provided."

Chen Yan heard this, nodded slowly, a look of satisfaction on his face, and praised, "Very good!"

"Prefect Jiang handles affairs truly steady and reliable!"

He paused, then in a deep voice instructed, "These displaced civilians must be uneasy in their hearts…"

"You should promptly register them, establish household records, grant them Great Zhou citizenship, and, according to the Equal‑Land System, allocate sufficient fields and farming tools so they can farm peacefully and settle quickly!"

This matter must not only be handled well, but also set a benchmark…

After all, this is done for the eyes of ten thousand Qi people!

"Yes!" Jiang Ankuo replied promptly, respectfully, "I will begin handling this within two days and will not disappoint the Grand General's charge!"

Chen Yan smiled calmly, admiration in his eyes, and said to Jiang Ankuo, "Prefect Jiang, once this is completed, this guild will personally petition the Grand Preceptor on your behalf for merit!"

Jiang Ankuo heard this and was overjoyed, his face showing excitement.

He never imagined that merely being tasked with civilian resettlement would earn Lord Chen Yan's such appreciation, let alone a willingness to petition the Grand Preceptor for him.

Immediately, he bowed again, his voice trembling with excitement, and loudly said, "Thank you, Grand General!"

"I will spare no effort to see this done perfectly, relieving the Grand General's worries and serving Great Zhou!"

Seeing this, Ye Zhuxi stepped forward, clasped fists and bowed to Chen Yan, her voice crisp, "Grand General, Subordinate General has already, per your orders, dispatched troops to escort the convoy to Chang'an!"

She paused, her eyes bright, and added, "The escorting soldiers are all elite; calculating the distance and time, they should be nearing Chang'an by now…"

Chen Yan nodded slowly, a look of approval on his face, and praised, "Very good!"

He turned his gaze to the window; noon sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows, and a slight smile curved his lips, "The task assigned by the Grand Preceptor is now thoroughly accomplished…"

Night deepened.

The courtyard of the Yinzhou Prefect's residence lay silent and tranquil.

A bright, clear moon hung in the deep‑blue night sky, shedding a gentle glow that cloaked the courtyard's trees, flowers, stone tables and benches in a faint silver veil.

A gentle evening breeze brushed by, carrying whiffs of foliage.

Chen Yan and Yuwen Ze sat opposite each other at the stone table, a few delicate dishes arranged before them, untouched.

Yuwen Ze looked up at the moon, a hint of laziness in his eyes, and softly said, "We set out tomorrow, returning to Chang'an…"

After speaking, he sighed deeply and remarked, "A Xiong, this is the fastest return since we first led troops into battle, isn't it?"

Chen Yan gave a slight nod, his fingertips lightly tracing the stone table's grain, a faint smile at his lips, "Indeed!"

He looked up at the star‑filled sky, moonlight illuminating his handsome face, and said, "Though it's swift, the gains are considerable…"

After the surge in commodity prices, another harsh blow has further weakened Qi State's power and disrupted its livelihood!

It also consumed a great amount of Qi's manpower and resources!

In this ebb and flow, it is a double benefit for Great Zhou…

Yuwen Ze's gaze drifted southwest, as if piercing the night to reach Chang'an a thousand miles away.

His eyes were full of tender longing, a faint smile at his lips, and he murmured, "I wonder if Shuying's belly has grown another round…"

At that moment, a light tread sounded from outside the courtyard gate, breaking the silence.

Ye Zhuxi appeared in a moon‑white fitted male outfit, her long hair still tied high with a black band, shedding some of the martial harshness for a more relaxed air, yet her heroic bearing remained unmistakable.

She carried two sealed jars of wine, walking in with steady steps.

"Grand General, Prince!" her crisp voice shattered the quiet between the two.

"Ye Dudu has arrived?"

Yuwen Ze followed the voice, saw it was Ye Zhuxi, a flash of surprise in his eyes, then caught sight of the Wine Jar in her hand, blinked, and teasingly said, "You're here about my brother A Xiong?"

Ye Zhuxi's cheeks flushed slightly, yet she did not shy away, and nodded calmly: "Hmm."

Yuwen Ze saw this, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, rose immediately, and kept saying, "Then you two chat, you two chat!"

I, the ruler, will not disturb here.....

Having said that, she squinted at Chen Yan, called the attendant Lu Cangfeng, and, being very considerate, turned and left.

Her steps were light, and in the blink of an eye she vanished at the courtyard gate, leaving only Chen Yan and Ye Zhuxi.

The courtyard returned to silence, with only the rustle of leaves stirred by the evening wind.

Ye Zhuxi stepped forward, placed the wine altar she held before Chen Yan, her eyes clear: "Grand General, a drink?"

Chen Yan smiled lightly, reached for the Wine Jar, his fingertips touching the cool ceramic body, and in a gentle tone said, "Ye Dudu has invited, how could this Duke possibly refuse?"

He then lifted his hand to break the seal of the Wine Jar, and a rich wine fragrance instantly spread, clear yet with a hint of richness.

Chen Yan tilted his head back, took a big gulp from the Wine Jar, the wine sliding down his throat with a spicy warmth, dispelling the night's chill.

He set the Wine Jar down, a satisfied expression on his face, and praised, "Fine wine!"

"Spicy on the palate, sweet on the aftertaste, truly a rare fine brew....."

Ye Zhuxi sat on the stone bench, moving with a sleek, unrestrained grace, showing no trace of girlish shyness.

She then lifted the Wine Jar, tipped her head back and drank a big gulp, a few drops of wine sliding from the corner of her mouth to wet the moon‑white collar, adding a touch of boldness.

When she set the Wine Jar down, bright light shone in her eyes as she looked at Chen Yan, sincerely praising, "General Chen, you are truly impressive!"

"Indeed, the name lives up to its reputation!"

Saying that, she again clasped her fist to Chen Yan, her tone full of respect: "This arrangement, with such a small cost, has set the Qi State Northern Border's beacons alight and bred internal turmoil; this strategy and daring, Subordinate General truly admire!"

Chen Yan heard this, lifted his hand to press, his face still bearing a light smile, and in a modest tone said, "Ye Dudu overpraises!"

"Just a petty trick, not worth mentioning!"

Ye Zhuxi pursed her lips, her fingertips lightly rubbing the rim of the Wine Jar, glanced swiftly at Chen Yan, then turned her gaze to the moon in the night sky, its clear light casting on the woman's face, revealing a hint of seriousness.

She did not beat around the bush, getting straight to the point: "Grand General should know about our arranged marriage, right?"

Chen Yan nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Grand Preceptor informed long ago!"

"Indeed!" Ye Zhuxi lightly nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, "You are Grand Preceptor's confidant....."

Under the moonlight, Chen Yan's gaze fell on Ye Zhuxi's profile; her outline in the silver glow appeared especially gentle, yet still exuded resilience.

He lifted the Wine Jar, took a sip, and asked slowly: "Ye Dudu, are you unwilling about this marriage?"

"Not at all!" Ye Zhuxi replied without hesitation.

She paused, then sharply turned her head, her eyes meeting Chen Yan's, her gaze firm and solemn, and word by word declared: "Being able to enter the State Duke Mansion and become the side chamber of the illustrious Chen Zhuguo is my honor!"

The man before, as Great Zhou's top minister and Duke of Wei, wielded power over the court and possessed extraordinary strategy.....

Marrying such a man, both in sentiment and reason, is her perfect match, even feeling she has overreached!

Chen Yan blinked, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, a meaning‑laden expression appearing, and asked, "Then Ye Dudu, this is.....?"

Ye Zhuxi let out a light sigh, a slightly bitter yet hopeful smile tugging at her mouth corner, and leisurely said, "I daringly visit tonight, not out of any grievance, just to ask the Grand General one thing....."

"I wonder, after entering the State Duke Mansion, will I still have the chance to lead troops into battle again?"

That is what Ye Zhuxi truly cares about.

She does not wish to be the woman in Shenzhai Dayuan, teaching husband and children, but longs to ride the battlefield, wield a horse spear, serve Great Zhou, and fulfill her aspirations.

Chen Yan heard this, his smile gradually receded, replaced by firmness and appreciation, and resolutely replied, "Of course!"

As soon as his words fell, his eyebrows rose, and he loudly said, "Ye Dudu is a talent; if confined to a mansion, wasted in trivialities, would that not be a pity?"

He paused, his tone becoming more solemn: "She should be on the battlefield, wielding power, building merit for the nation!"

Ye Zhuxi listened to this lofty reply, her whole being stunned, a warm current rising in her heart, eyes flashing excitement and gratitude, and immediately raised the Wine Jar again, her voice crisp and firm: "Grand General, I respect you!"

At that moment, Ye Zhuxi was completely won over by the man before her.

She had originally thought that, no matter whom she married, a woman after marriage must prioritize family and abandon her ambitions.

Yet she never imagined Chen Yan would possess such bearing and magnanimity, not only not opposing her leading troops, but also supporting her aspirations.

Chen Yan saw this, burst into a hearty laugh, his laughter bright, echoing through the silent courtyard.

He raised the Wine Jar, struck it against Ye Zhuxi's Wine Jar, producing a crisp "Clang!" and loudly said, "Cheers to Great Zhou's prosperity!"