Chapter 38: Thorough Preparations

At the Duke of State’s residence.

“Lord Duke, His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately, without delay.”

The imperial guard dismounted, braving the rain to deliver the urgent message.

“Master, I’ll go prepare the carriage right away,” said Afu, holding an umbrella, about to turn when Ye Tiance’s large hand pressed on his shoulder.

“No need. It seems His Majesty has urgent matters requiring my presence. We can’t afford any delays,” Ye Tiance said. “Afu, fetch a good horse for this young man.”

“Yes, Master.” Afu instantly understood his lord’s intention.

Ye Tiance removed his outer robe and walked straight into the rain. Before the guard could react, Ye Tiance had already mounted his horse.

The blue-maned warhorse, uneasy with a stranger riding it, began to stamp its hooves.

“Hmm?” Ye Tiance’s eagle-like eyes narrowed slightly. He squeezed his legs firmly, pressing down with an intimidating aura. The warhorse immediately settled.

“Lord Duke…”

“Hiya!”

Before the guard could finish speaking, Ye Tiance had already galloped off towards the imperial palace.

“Young sir, please follow me,” Afu said with an apologetic smile.

“Thank you for your trouble,” the guard replied with a helpless bow.

“Miss, someone from the palace came to summon the Lord Duke. It wasn’t His Highness,” Jinxiu said, putting away her oil paper umbrella by the door and wiping her shoes on the rag before entering the study.

“Summon Grandfather to the palace?” Ye Liyan’s beautiful eyes showed a hint of worry and disappointment.

“Then let’s continue and try to get it done tomorrow.” she said.

“Yes, Miss.” Jinlian took out the fabric she had just put away.

Ye Liyan gently picked up the half-finished robe, her eyes misty with emotion as she nodded seriously.

If we finish it tomorrow and make some adjustments, His Highness can try it on soon.

I hope His Highness will like it… (๑•﹏•) *blushes*

At the King of Chu’s residence.

Shen Yian returned to his study immediately upon arriving home.

“Mendu, Cheng Hai, I’ll be leaving on a journey for a few days,” Shen Yian called the two of them while sitting on a chair.

“A journey? Where are you going, Your Highness?” Mendu asked curiously.

Our lord isn’t planning another years-long excursion, right?

“I’m going to the Northern Frontier to deliver an imperial edict,” Shen Yian said, placing the edict on the table.

This edict was entirely based on the old man’s trust in him.

If this mission fails, the chain reaction it could trigger is no laughing matter.

Mendu and Cheng Hai were both startled. Usually, such long-distance edicts are handled by the Martial Guard Division, aren’t they? What kind of edict requires their lord to deliver it personally?

“Don’t think too much. I volunteered for this,” Shen Yian said, dispelling their doubts.

“Mendu, supplement the items on the list as you see fit. Make sure everything is prepared. If anything’s missing, contact the merchant guild directly.”

“Also, if anyone comes looking for me, tell them I’m unwell these days and not receiving visitors.”

Mendu clenched his fist to his chest, promising, “Rest assured, Your Highness. I’ll make sure everything is prepared perfectly.”

Shen Yian chuckled. If he could create firearms, he’d definitely equip Mendu with a Gatling gun.

“Cheng Hai, while I’m away these few days, you’ll need to work a bit harder both inside and outside the residence.”

Cheng Hai bowed, “Please don’t worry, Your Highness. I’ll make sure to clean up any troublemakers who don’t know their place.”

“Good.”

Shen Yian nodded, gave a few more instructions, and then dismissed them.

“Your Highness.” Yin Hai and Fu Sheng appeared.

“Yin Hai, send orders for Shen Jun, Bai Shi, and E Lai to head to Sebei City immediately and await further instructions.”

Fu Sheng’s expression changed slightly. His Highness was actually gathering these three great figures.

“Order the merchant guild to rush all purchased horses back within the borders as quickly as possible. Command all merchant groups to suspend all transactions with barbarian merchants and withdraw within the borders.”

“Your Highness, the orders have been sent.”

In less than half a cup of tea’s time, Yin Hai, having successfully transmitted the orders over thousands of miles using secret methods, returned to the study.

“Your Highness, are we going to war?” Yin Hai asked hoarsely.

“It’s already set in stone. Given Father Emperor’s personality, he won’t miss this opportunity,” Shen Yian said, taking a light breath before informing the two of his own mission.

Yin Hai and Fu Sheng were stunned.

His Highness is personally going to assassinate the leader of a nation?!

“Your Highness, let me go instead!” Yin Hai volunteered.

His purpose was to be the sharpest blade in His Highness’s shadow, clearing all troubles in the darkness.

How could he let His Highness take such a risk when the sharpest blade was still intact?!

“No, I must go personally for this matter.”

“The situation in the barbarian capital is very complex. Even you, Yin Hai, would have a high probability of perishing,” Shen Yian said gravely, looking at the two.

He had been to the barbarian nation before and accidentally learned that several old monsters were hidden in the barbarian capital. He didn’t know if they were still alive.

Fu Sheng’s pupils contracted slightly. Even Lord Yin Hai had a high chance of dying?! How dangerous was this barbarian capital?!

Yin Hai remained silent. Going alone to assassinate the barbarian leader, his chances of success were less than 50%. Even if the assassination succeeded, he would likely be unable to escape.

“That’s why I’m bringing you and Shen Jun’s team of three for protection,” Shen Yian said, indicating he never goes into battle unprepared.

The old man’s words today made him realize he needs to be even more cautious. He must return completely intact to marry that silly girl.

Yin Hai nodded. The four of them plus His Highness to kill one barbarian leader seemed a bit excessive. To speak treasonously, even Emperor Wu couldn’t withstand this lineup.

“Fu Sheng, you’ll be in charge of the residence while I’m away.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Having arranged everything, Shen Yian gazed at the diminishing rain outside, lost in thought. He needed to come up with an excuse to tell that silly girl, so she wouldn’t worry during his absence.

By evening, the heavy rain had stopped, leaving only a rainbow bridge suspended in the sky. In the distance, it reflected the rosy clouds with an indescribable beauty. The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Duke of State’s residence.

Alighting from the carriage, Shen Yian called for Afu to lead some servants in unloading items from the carriage.

“Your Highness, what is this?” Afu asked curiously, looking at the copper hot pot in his hands. It looked like a warming pot, but somewhat different.

“This is a copper hot pot. It’s slightly different from a warming pot,” Shen Yian explained with a smile.

After some casual chat, Shen Yian learned that Ye Tiance had not yet returned from the palace since he went in.

It seemed his old man was determined to strike at the barbarians while the opportunity presented itself.

He speculated that the old man’s first target would be the Liaodong region.

During past late-night talks between father and son, when he mentioned the pros and cons of the Liaodong region, the old man had clenched his fists, his eyes burning with passion.

From that moment, he knew that sooner or later, Liaodong would become part of the Great Qing’s territory.

His second brother, Shen Junyan, had been stationed in Liaodong for so many years, as if preparing for this very moment.

As the saying goes, before troops and horses move, provisions must be sent first.

Such a large-scale mobilization would likely keep the Martial Guard Division’s messengers very busy.

Never mind, these were matters for those old men to ponder. Why should he trouble himself with them?

Tonight, he would spend more time with that silly girl. By dawn tomorrow, he would need to depart.