Over the past few days, the civil and military officials have been discussing the fall of Yong Liang. General Wu once again volunteered himself and even Wu Guogong, who was pushing eighty years old, stood up and offered himself for assignment.

The two were filled with fighting spirit, enough to cut their way through thistles and thorns and burn one's boats. Xiao Jie was infected by their vigor but he didn’t dare make a decision without authorization. He turned around and asked Empress Dowager Wen, seated behind the bead curtain, “Imperial Mother, what do you…”

What the many minister could never have guessed was that behind that bead curtain, aside from the Empress Dowager, was another person standing. This person was wearing the official uniform of a fifth-grade official. It was none other than the Emperor’s trusted and favored Lin Qingyu.

Empress Dowager Wen shook her head and said, “General Wu is an expert at naval warfare. Moreover, he has never fought in the Northwest; Wu Guogong is old and has been living out his retirement in the capital for many years. I’m afraid he will find himself lacking the strenght to match his spirit.”

Wu Guogong refused to give in. “Lian Po, the mighty general of Zhao State, fought on the battlefield well into his eighties. I have not even reached eighty, I can still fight!”

Xiao Jie sat uneasy on the dragon throne. “Could it be that there is no one else… Uh, except for General Gu.”

“How can there be anyone else? Over the years, Dayu’s generals have died, been wounded or crippled. A great number of them have been imprisoned, implicated in the struggle for succession. The Dayu’s military leadership are like yellow autumn crops that cannot last until the green crops of spring. We are the only ones who can be used, these handful of poeple.” The corners of General Wu’s lips pulled down. “Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress Dowager, although this minister has never been to the Northwest, all wars are in their core the same. Since General Gu is unwilling to go, allow this minister to try.”

It wasn’t difficult to hear that when General Wu mentioned “General Gu”, his tone was no longer as reverent as before. Last year, when the late Emperor wanted Gu Fuzhou to return to the Northwest to replace Zhao Mingwei, Gu Fuzhou had declined, citing lingering poison as his reason. At the time, both General Wu and Wu Guogong stood by Gu Fuzhou.

However, this time was different from the past. The situation in the Northwest was desperate. Zhao Mingwei had been disgraced and Xixia had gone so far as to cut off his tongue in blatant provocation. At this time, anyone who would call themselves a general, so long as they still had breath left, would go to the battlefield without any hesitation. But Gu Fuzhou was still the same as the year before; saying that he was not feeling well, he closed the door to all visitors and even refused to attend morning court.

General Gu… had let them down.

The Empress Dowager hesitated and she looked to Lin Qingyu, “Imperial Physician Lin, what do you think?”

Lin Qingyu was about to speak when Xiao Songzi hurried over, coming in from the side door, “Your Highness, Imperial Physician Lin, an urgent report from the Northwest.”

The Empress Dowager opened the letter and quickly scanned its contents, an extremely ugly expression forming on her face. “The Xixia capital has issued a declaration of war, vowing to avenge the Prince of Xixia who died in the battle of Yong Liang ten years ago. The letter says that they demand that the Dayu send Gu Fuzhou to the front line. They wish to take him down in a just and honorable manner. Else, the Xixia army will slaughter Yong Liang City after a month.”

Ten years ago, the former crown prince of Xixia was killed by General Gu using the Qingyun Jiuzhou Spear.

Lin Qingyu took the letter, his hand seeming to grow heavier and heavier. He said nothing, his face turning terrifyingly sombre.

The Empress Dowager called out, “Imperial Physician Lin…” She hesitated for a moment and then said, “Qingyu?”

Lin Qingyu gave an “en”. He then came back to his senses, realizing that the was still in morning court.

“This court has no other general save for General Gu who is qualified to lead the army in the Northwest. What’s more, if he doesn’t go, is this court to abandon the tens upon thousands of people in Yong Liang?” The Empress Dowager sighed, “When the nest is overturned, no egg will escape uncracked. Today, Xixia slaughters Yong Liang, tomorrow, they will slaughter the capital.”

Lin Qingyu sneered, “There is no need for the Empress Dowager to educate this official on the obvious. Everyone understands this truth.”

The Empress Dowager hesitated, “Then, should we tell the ministers about this matter?”

Lin Qingyu found that he could no longer think quietly, so he could only go with his intuition. He said, “We won’t say anything for now.”

After the court was dismissed, Xiao Songzi found Lin Qingyu and told him, “Imperial Physician Lin, just now when this servant was delivering the urgent report, I ran into General Gu. The general has already read this urgent report.”

Lin Qingyu’s felt suffocted. He asked, “Where is he now?”

“The General said that he is waiting for you in the imperial garden.”

When Lin Qingyu found Gu Fuzhou, Gu Fuzhou was sitting by the pond, absent-mindedly feeding the fish. Dozens of brightly colored koi were kept in the pond in the Imperial Garden, adding a touch of color to the monotonous winter day.

Gu Fuzhou sprinkled a handful of fish food, and the koi rushed over, scrambling for food. Seeing Lin Qingyu’s reflection in the water, he said, “Look at the fish in this pond. They were born in the palace. They’ve been fed so well that they’ve grown so fat. They’re never any less so why do they have to fight over the food?”

Lin Qingyu said, “Because there is no limit to greed.”

Gu Fuzhou agreed. “That makes sense.”

Lin Qingyu asked, “Since you’re here, why didn’t you attend morning court?”

Gu Fuzhou threw over the rest of the fish food and said, “There’s no seat for me in Zichen Palace and it’s too tiring to stand.”

“If anyone heard you say that, they would accuse you of being disloyal.” Apart from the emperor, the oly one who could sit in Zichen Palace was the Empress Dowager who was holding court behind the curtain.

Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “That would be an unjust accusation. Being an emperor is a difficult job and I have no interest in it.”

Gu Fuzhou’s words were funny. Lin Qingyu wanted to smile like usual but he couldn’t bring himself to smile. He asked, “You saw the report from the Northwest.”

Gu Fuzhou nodded and sighed, “What should I do, Qingyu? This time, it seems I really have to go.”

The word “not necessarily” stuck in Lin Qingyu’s throat; he was unable to come out with these words.

“For the past few days, the entire court has been criticizing me. General Wu came looking for me yesterday. Carried away by his emotions, he pointed at me and scolded me for being a coward — it was completely laughable.” Saying so, Gu Fuzhou actually laughed out loud, as if this entire matter was absolutely ridiculous. “Although, I had been digging my own grave, but to get Wu Zhan so riled up like this, someone must be have been adding oil and vinegar.”

Lin Qingyu had also come to the same conclusion. “Indeed.”

“No matter who it is, his goal has been achieved. If I don’t go to the Northwest, I will gradually lose the court’s goodwill. How can those hot-blooded men still serve me in the future? A general who doesn’t wish to go the battlefield, without any prestige in the army, he would be unable to protect even his own wife.” Gu Fuzhou pressed the space between his eyebrows. “Now, Xixia is threatening the lives of the people of Yong Liang. – It so annoying.”

Lin Qingyu listened to Gu Fuzhou in silence. He said, “So, you want to go.”

Gu Fuzhou said, “It’s not that I want to go, it’s that I have to go.”

Lin Qingyu said indifferently, “You really care about the people.”

“Because you’re also a member of ‘the people’.” Gu Fuzhou didn’t hesitate, “By protecting them, I am also protecting you.”

Lin Qingyu lowered his eyes slowly and whispered, “I don’t want your protection and I don’t want to be a saint who cares about the common people. I just want to be with you.”

Gu Fuzhou explained patiently, “How many of the Xixia has General Gu struck down? Xixia is obviously coming for me this time. Xixia must be completely defeated. I can hide for a time but I can’t hide forever.”

Lin Qingyu sarcastically said, “Are you really stating the obvious to me as well?”

“I’m not…”

Lin Qingyu interrupted him coldly, “Have you ever thought about it? Just what am I supposed to do if you meet the unexpected?”

Gu Fuzhou was stunned.

Lin Qingyu’s voice trembled slightly, “On that snowy night two years ago, I knelt in front of your wheelchair and watched as you died. I felt your hand slowly grow cold in mine. Back then, not knowing my feelings, I managed to endure the pain of losing my husband. But now, if I have to go through that again…”

Gu Fuzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He said, voice hoarse, “Qingyu…”

“It’s not the losing that is scary. What’s scary is to getting you back and losing you again.” Lin Qingyu looked at his hands and murmured, “This is too cruel even for me.”

Gu Fuzhou said in a low voice, “I’m sorry, Qingyu. But this time, I will definitely try my very best to come back. Look, I’ll even written you a letter of guarantee.”

Lin Qingyu said indifferently, “Back then, didn’t you also try your hardest to live longer? And what was the result? Before you died, you even apologized to me; you said sorry to me, saying that you’ve worked hard, but you couldn’t hold on until the day Xiao Cheng died – Have you forgotten all this?”

“I hadn’t forgotten. But I was so sick at the time that doing my best was no use. But it’s different now. I have a healthy body and with hard work, I’ll be able to perform miracles.” Gu Fuzhou smiled, “Beside, Qingyu, I haven’t even set off yet. It’s unlucky to be overthinking things like this.”

Lin Qingyu couldn’t help but ask, “Are you really not worried at all?”

Gu Fuzhou thought about it and said, “Actually, I am a little scared.”

Lin Qingyu stared at him.

“I’m scared of not doing well and that people who trust me might die because of my wrong decisions. I’m afraid of being tired, of being in pain. And I hate the taste of losing. But more that all that, I’m afraid–…” The voice stopped abruptly. The words reached Gu Fuzhou’s lips, but he swallowed them back down. He said leisurely, “That’s why a person like me could never be the protagonist.”

Lin Qingyu knew that Gu Fuzhou was using his same old routine to try to coax him, trying to ease the atmosphere. But Lin Qingyu couldn’t help but to follow his words and ask, “Why do you say this?”

“Because a story’s male protagonist is either somoene very powerful and can easily crush his opponents, or someone who has a pure heart, who despite knowing he can’t do something, does it nonetheless. And I,” Gu Fuzhou spread his hands, “I don’t have any great strength. I’m lazy and a coward. It’s no wonder I could only transmigrate to supporting roles in a book.”

“You’re wrong.” Lin Qingyu said, “Lu Wancheng, Gu Fuzhou, they may be supporting roles. But when you came, they became the protagonists.”

Gu Fuzhou’s eyes filled with a smile. “You’re getting pretty good at that, Doctor Lin. But you are also wrong. It is because I managed to find my way to your side, basking in the light of the Great Beauty, that Lu Wancheng and Gu Fuzhou became the book’s protagonist. Qingyu, do you still remember, what is a protagonist?”

Lin Qingyu repeated what Gu Fuzhou once said, word for word, “The so-called ‘protagonist’ is the one who no matter how many glits and flashes of swords and daggers, how much foul wind and bloody rain he has experienced, no matter if its during the moment he crawls out of the quagmire, he will always be the most dazzling one.”

Gu Fuzhou snapped his fingers and said in a relaxed tone, “That’s right. Xiao Cheng is dead. We’ve replaced him as the protagonist. Now, we’re the ones with the protagonist’s halo. So, we won’t die so easily.”

Lin Qingyu couldn’t agree with this statement. He was silent for a moment. Then suddenly, he looked at Gu Fuzhou and said, “Xu Junyuan.”

Gu Fuzhou said, “Qingyu, have you gone crazy? I’m your husband, not Xu Junyuan.”

Lin Qingyu was in a rare state of impatience. “In those days, it was Xu Junyuan who used your Eight Characters to figure out whether you were destined to die. We can ask him to do a divination to see whether you will emerge victorious and return safely to the capital.”

Gu Fuzhou said “Oh”. He seemed to think it was useless to consult with Xu Junyuan, but in order not to spoil Lin Qingyu’s happiness, he said nonetheless, “That makes sense.”

Lin Qingyu immediately said, “It’s not too late now. I’ll order someone to prepare the carriage.”

Gu Fuzhou smiled and said, “You and I are both powerful ministers. Why would you need to go to Changsheng Temple to find him? — Have him come. Call Xu Junyuan to the palace, say the Emperor wishes to see him.”