Chapter 171: Baichai: Lin Daiyu is probably my greatest rival

Jia Jing will lead these two thousand light cavalry, traveling day and night, first rushing to Elm Forest Town.

The remaining cavalry will not set out until early tomorrow morning; as for the infantry, they must wait several days for the Ministry of War and Ministry of Revenue to ready supplies and provisions before heading northwest.

The two thousand elite cavalry are arranged by banner units, their light armor clanking, their military appearance neat, the raised swords and spears polished bright.

After the cavalry unit left the camp gate, they began to gallop, racing along the predetermined Shenjing-Juyong Pass-Xuanfu route and sped away.

And with the troops dispatched from Ba Shang, the hearts of countless people in Shenjing City were stirred.

Lin Daiyu's small courtyard.

At this time it was already evening, the spring temperature still somewhat chilly.

The evening glow fell upon the frail maiden wearing a moon‑white gauze robe, a cyan satin embroidered vest, and a water‑green skirt.

The hue is cold and clear, the texture light and thin, revealing a sense of desolation and aloofness.

Lin Daiyu sat on the kang bed in the room, gently turning the pages of the Memorials of Lord Lu Xuan in her hands.

Many slips of paper were inserted in the book, all of them Jia Jing's vermilion ink annotations.

Lin Daiyu was then looking at the annotation in that piece, "On the Grave Situation of the Two Rivers and Huai West": "The way of using troops is to attack the heart first; the same holds for frontier affairs."

She also looked at the annotation in the "Six Articles on Equal Taxation and Relief for the People": "The difficulty of the New Policies is constant through the ages, yet one must not refrain from acting because of difficulty."

After a while, she held the book to her bosom, gazing in the direction of Bashang Daying outside the window, silent for a long time.

Beside her, Zi Juan entered from outside at that moment, speaking softly:

"Miss, the servant who returned from the manor reported that the Marquis has already led his troops out."

Hearing this, Lin Daiyu startled, set down the book in her arms, and a hint of worry appeared on her fair, elf‑like lovely face as she softly sighed.

She hadn't even had time to say goodbye before he hurried off again.

Since that visit to see him while ill, the two have had no private contact.

Even when Jia Jing came back on New Year's Eve, he did not stay overnight at the manor before returning to the camp.

With more separation than union, Daiyu's heart felt a momentary melancholy.

Since her deep conversation with Zi Juan, Daiyu's feelings toward Jia Jing have gradually changed.

She sometimes hopes to spend a little more time with Jia Jing, even if just sitting together in silence, but it is never easy to achieve.

All she can do is repeatedly recite from beginning to end the Memorials of Lord Lu Xuan that he gave her.

She only hopes to have a chance to discuss with him the work's principles of governing, finance, employing people, and border defense!

Zi Juan filled Daiyu's teacup with warm water and handed it over, saying:

"The Marquis is really too busy; today he came back just to change into armor and exchange a few words with Xiangling and the others."

"Then he went to bid farewell to the grandmother and grandfather's courtyard before leaving."

Daiyu heard this, lifted her teacup, took a sip, and spoke softly:

"Third Brother has been busy with northwestern military affairs these days; the day the Marquis's sister came to the manor, Third Brother didn't even come back to see her, did he!"

Zi Juan looked at Daiyu and lowered her voice:

"Indeed! I heard the Marquis was even granted a character by the Son of Heaven this time—it's Zi Jie!"

"The Marquis is now a year older; after receiving this character, will he soon have to consider marriage?"

Daiyu heard this, a thoughtful expression crossed her face, she was about to speak when she heard Xueyan's voice from outside the room:

"Miss, Miss Xue has arrived!"

Daiyu turned her head and saw Baichai, accompanied by Ying Er, walking in slowly.

"Little Sister Lin, have you been feeling better lately?"

Baichai wore a rose‑purple gold‑silver fur‑trimmed jacket, over which she draped a gold cloak dotted with sparse leaf patterns.

Her skin seemed to outshine snow, her makeup exquisite like jade, her eyes glistening like water, she asked Lin Daiyu with a touch of concern.

Lin Daiyu rose, a smile playing on her lips, a hint of coquettishness in her reply:

"Thank you for your concern! These days, the doctor Third Brother hired has given me acupuncture and medicine; I truly feel different from before, my body much lighter."

Baichai's lovely face paused, ever since she learned from Ying Er that Jia Jing had given her and Lin Daiyu two different books.

These days, whenever she has free time she comes to see Daiyu, and they have come to understand each other a little more.

Baichai took Daiyu's hand, sat on the kang bed, and smiled:

"That's good! It shows the doctor has treated the right ailment. If your illness can be fully cured, I imagine Third Brother will feel more at ease while campaigning abroad."

Daiyu's knotted brows furrowed; was she saying that she had made Third Brother worry?

Before Daiyu could say anything, Baichai chuckled lightly and continued:

"These days the capital has been circulating urgent reports from the northwest; I figured Third Brother might go on campaign, and I had wanted to get him a peace talisman to bring along."

"I didn't expect him to leave in such a rush that we didn't even have time to say goodbye."

Daiyu pressed her lips together, her knotted brows relaxing, and said:

"The military situation is urgent; I hear this time the Northern Yuan, Hunye, and False Qing kingdoms have joined forces to launch an attack, so the situation is grave and cannot be delayed."

"Your peace talisman wasn't given in time, but my peace button is surely on me."

Baichai's watery almond eyes flickered, and she spoke with a hint of gravity:

"This battle is likely to be even more dangerous than Third Brother's previous clash with False Qing; I heard from my brother that many people outside are saying we should seek peace."

"They say this war is hard to fight, with multiple fronts, and the chances of victory are not high!"

Daiyu gently shook her head and spoke softly:

"Seeing the three allies jointly invading, massing heavy troops, coming with a mighty force, but in my view this war is easier than Third Brother's previous battle against False Qing's 150,000‑strong army."

"False Qing, Hunye, and Northern Yuan each have their own calculations; they are not of one heart and virtue."

"With Third Brother's martial prowess and strategy, as long as he can defeat one of their armies, the other two will not dare to act rashly!"

"I see in the annotation Third Brother gave me in the Memorials of Lord Lu Xuan, 'The way of using troops is to attack the heart first.' So I believe Third Brother must have already devised his plan!"

These days, Daiyu also bolstered her theoretical knowledge by reading the palace bulletins and various current-affairs books; when she spoke, she was clear and logical.

「Hehe… Worrying at home is useless, but I hope Third Brother scores an early victory and returns triumphant soon! 」

Upon hearing Daiyu mention the Memorials of Lord Lu Xuan, Xue Baichai's smile faded slightly, and she spoke softly.

Third Brother gave Daiyu the Memorials of Lord Lu Xuan, but for himself he gave the Yan Family Instructions.

She had pondered these implications over and over these past days, always feeling that she might be at a disadvantage compared to Daiyu.

She had no idea what Third Brother actually meant.

Was she saying that she herself was the mistress of the household, or that Daiyu was the one who could discuss state affairs with Third Brother?

Although Baichai did not yet grasp the full meaning, she knew that, barring any mishap, Daiyu before her was likely her greatest rival.

Daiyu: "……"

She meant nothing else by it; she was just speaking offhand!