187 Planning Ahead
City of Long Han, Nanglong family territory
Soujin looked towards the woman behind Yan. Despite years in the Cold Palace, she still knew the etiquette and manner of a refined lady. The time she spent on that place only made her charm lower, but it made her look more intelligent and mature.
"Madam Qin."
Madam Qin looked towards the young man before her. In the past, this young man fought with her son almost every day and it makes her felt helpless. But, looking at him now, he was already a capable man who can do a lot of things by himself.
"You have grown up, Soujin."
Soujin nodded. "It's good to see you safe."
Soujin took Madam Qin inside the residence. His mother had been nagging him to let her see Madam Qin again. Qin Shie was eager to see her long friend whom she hadn't meet for years.
"You still look young, Qin'er," Qin Shie was startled upon seeing Madam Qin. Then her expression changed to look at Madam Qin with a smile.
Madam Qin smiled. "You must be joking. How can a woman in her mid 30 considered young."
"You do…"
The two women soon chatted away as Soujin leave them talk and meet with Yan who was standing outside. The young man looked more calm and at ease.
"Your mother is quite cooperative to the rescue mission," Soujin remarked and watched Yan's expression, "Are you satisfied with this?"
"Yes, is there anything wrong?" Yan asked with confusion.
Soujin didn't answer immediately and after a few seconds he shook his head. "You're just too idiot."
"…Are you looking for a trouble again?"
Soujin instead asked back, "I heard that there is some trouble?"
Yan's face froze and he nodded solemnly. "That brother of mine is suspecting something. I manage to fool him once, but I'm not sure how in the future would be."
"How did he come to suspect you?"
"Shu appearance that day," Yan said in rueful tone. "I have made a huge blunder."
Soujin recalled that day back. That was the first time after a long time that they lost control of their selves and do things that they would normally didn't do. The reckless decision of that time seemed to be really disastrous.
Ming Kui was not that sharp of a prince, but he's not a fool. Besides that, he had gotten that smart assistant, Xuan Pei, who would surely helped him noticed the important marks from those things that piqued his interest.
Luckily, Soujin didn't do anything big except a bit rushed to save Jun Min. He had spread news that he just doesn't want to lose his rival so easily. That way, the suspicion towards Soujin was erased completely.
"It seemed that you're going to be targeted again," Soujin remarked.
"Can't you help me in this case? The troubles are so irritating," Yan said with an annoyed tone. Somehow this friend of his was getting more unreliable as time passed by.
"You can solve it on your own. Why should I intervene?"
Hearing that answer from Soujin, Yan can only raise his hand in defeat. The two of them walked down the streets towards Hospital of Fan Hui.
"That man should learn to name his hospital better," said Yan protesting.
Fan Hui Hospital is hospital where Ming Hui build and run. He was the main doctor of this place, but he would only receive the hardest to cure patient while the others were handled by the other doctors of the hospital. Despite being a new hospital, the fame of Ming Hui had spread out widely.
The name of this hospital obviously comes from his name and his girlfriend, Fan Lanying. To make it less obvious, he used the girl surname, but for those who know his real identity, it's not hard to deduce how this name comes from.
Soujin looked around. He stopped one of the people there. "Where is Doctor Hui?"
"He should be upstairs, on the highest floor. Do you have any appointment…?"
"Thank you," Yan cut him off and started walking with Soujin. He was curious at this 'new' identity of Ming Hui. Being a doctor should be fun for him since he has been longing to do it for a long time.
The hospital was not really big and they soon reached the highest floor. With Soujin keen sense, he found where Ming Hui is. They quickly reached his office.
"Who is…? Soujin?" Ming Hui looked up from his paperwork and smiled towards the two who came. It has been some time since they reunited together.
"Doctor Hui, it seemed you have built your name," Yan commented. The other party was dressed as a man, it seemed like he was already adamant to leave the girl's clothes forever.
"Yan, you have not changed," Ming Hui smiled brightly.
"Call your brother politely!"
Ming Hui laughed. "So you have finally chosen to return. Will you start preparing for the war?"
"Yes," Soujin nodded. "I need to survey all the territory under me once more before the war started. There are bound to be some differences compared with the past."
Ming Hui looked towards Soujin. The man looked even more determined than in the past. Had something happened while he's here?
Yan coughed. "This man just falls in…"
A book had gone to his head at quick speed and he barely manages to avoid it with his back still hurts from the book. The book that supposedly only made by hundreds thin paper was now stuck on the wall, making a deep crack there.
Ming Hui sighed. "Go to training hall if you want to spar, I don't want my office got wrecked by you two."
"I better stay here," Yan said hurriedly. If he were to go to the training hall, Soujin would definitely finish him off. He didn't want to die yet.
Ming Hui didn't respond to Yan words. From their conversation, he knew that Soujin had set his heart on that little girl. But now, they can't stay together.
"You wish to end this all quickly?"
Soujin nodded calmly. His demeanor was contrasting of what he truly thoughts.
Ming Hui didn't comment on that. He pointed towards the map on the board by his right side. "I have prepared some of the newly made maps. You can use them to survey the area. Also, how do you want to start the whole war?"
Soujin shook his head. "I'm not the one who will be starting it. It's her."
Ming Hui raised his eyebrows. Since Soujin didn't want to talk about the detail, he won't ask for that. He was content with living here.
"Right, where is your wife?"
"Military compound. She is enlisted as soldier. And Yan, I hadn't married her yet."
Yan looked at Ming Hui. "You can actually hold yourself? I imagine that you have already frustrating…"
He can't continue because this time even Ming Hui glared at him. With the other party had returned on using the man clothes, he looked far scarier than that little girl. After all, although Ming Hui built was indeed petite, his face only looked like woman because of makeup. Without that makeup on his face, he looked manlier. He still looked kind of flower boy, but not as bad as Jun Min.
Thankfully, Princess Ming Hui's name was not known for people outside the capital since the emperor rarely mention it. Who would want to mention someone people could hardly remember? This makes it easy for Ming Hui to pass off as a man in this city.
It will take some time for the people to completely forget about Princess Ming Hui, but with the other party never came out to the light again, it will be easier. Besides, the main topic for these people in the recent days would be about wars.
"She wanted to be a general. I'm only helping her."
"I see…"
Soujin looked at the map. There were going to be some troubles in the future. The war will soon start and this time, it's going to be a big war where even a big kingdom might fall.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶