"From now on, don’t meddle in my affairs, and don’t bother me with yours. It’d be best if we never meet again. If we do meet, you’d better be polite. My patience is extremely low with anyone who isn’t a friend."
"Oh, and tell your government that they should stop obsessing over me when they’re bored. I have no interest in that shabby chair beneath his butt. Let him govern properly on his own and not bother me unnecessarily."
"Of course, if in the future I encounter more troublesome messes, I’ll still intervene as needed. Prince Ning is only the first, not the last."
"If he’s not satisfied... just send his troops to attack!"
"As long as he targets only me, I will retaliate against him alone."
"But if he dares to harm anyone close to me, then don’t blame me for blindly slashing my way through the Zhao Family."
"That’s all..."
Having said that, he started walking out, but after a few steps, he recalled something, turned back, and from his bosom, he took out a thick stack of documents. Bending down, he handed them to Shen Fa, who was dazedly sprawled on the ground: "These are the details of the situation in Dongying and the subsequent support plans needed from the court. We’ve roughly outlined everything already; the court can further refine our plans but shouldn’t arbitrarily alter our overall direction."
"Especially regarding the key person in Dongying, it would be best not to disturb him for the next three-to-five years, regardless of whether it’s you military nobles or those influential ministers in the court. Control your greed... Anyone who disrupts our plans and gives the Dongying pirates a chance to breathe, I’m afraid I’ll have to sacrifice his entire family to calm my wrath!"
"Feel free to relay my exact words to everyone in the court!"
"I’m off!"
As his words faded, Yang Ge’s figure disappeared within the chaotic grand hall.
Shen Fa, clutching the thick stack of documents, opened his mouth several times but ultimately could only sigh heavily.
Ideals differ, and planning together is difficult indeed!
He had lost another friend...
Like his arrival, Yang Ge whisked up a brilliant swirl of blade aura and flew straight out of Luoyang, appearing again over the docks on the eastern suburbs.
He whistled, and Erhei in the ship’s stables broke the hitching post with a long neigh, leaped to the docks in one bound, galloping through the crowd toward Yang Ge.
Yang Ge landed on its broad back, turned its head, squeezed its belly with his legs, and Erhei joyously carried him off towards the east, disappearing into the distance.
"Helu Helu..."
"Going home!"
...
Soon, the news of Yang Ge’s departure was delivered into Ziwei Palace, presented before Emperor Xiping.
Emperor Xiping felt both a sense of relief and a surge of anger upon hearing the news.
Such is the complexity of human nature.
Before Yang Ge entered the capital, he was anxious, fearing that the stubborn mule would insist on seeing him in the palace.
After all, facing someone who could brutally kill Prince Ning at a moment’s notice, who wouldn’t feel intimidated?
Yet, when Yang Ge left without even mentioning a meeting with him, he felt underestimated.
As if he, Zhao Shu, were insignificant!
In his heart, a sentiment he could hardly admit to others, he actually missed the old days when he and his minister controlled the ministers like kicking a ball, one above and one below, inside and outside together.
’Such a formidable leading figure!’
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.
Zhao Shu thought sadly, regretting once again the decision to turn that stubborn mule into a common laborer.
If he had not made him a laborer back then, Wei would now have seven Grandmasters, especially since that stubborn mule was not yet thirty and at the peak of his strength. If handled well, he could have been a stabilizing force like Duke Xin for the Zhao Family for a hundred years...
Just as Zhao Shu put down the Jade Ruyi in his hand and prepared to smash the inkstone on the table to vent his frustration, Huang, a eunuch, entered and reported that Shen Fa, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, was requesting an audience.
Curious about what Yang Ge might have said to Shen Fa, Zhao Shu immediately summoned him.
Then, he saw Shen Fa, bandaged tightly all over, using a crutch, limping into the Chief of Staff’s office, his path marked by blood leaks.
Seeing Shen Fa’s condition, Zhao Shu was initially shocked, then felt fortunate.
Feigning surprise, he stood up to greet him, tenderly helping Shen Fa to sit: "Zhong He, why has it come to this?"
If not for the fact that he was now emperor, Shen Fa would have liked to grab Zhao Shu by the collar and spit in his face: ’Why do you think I ended up like this, can’t you guess?’
When they used to roam Heluo together, how had he not noticed that this broad-browed fellow was so scheming?
Shen Fa silently cursed inwardly, but showed a pained expression, handed over the documents with both hands to Emperor Xiping: "Your Majesty, these are the ’Dongying Boundary Assimilation Plans’ Yang Erlang handed to me before his departure, for your review!"
Just a second ago, circling Shen Fa, meticulously contemplating whether the liquid seeping from him was indeed blood, Emperor Xiping immediately took the documents, quickly walked back behind his desk, sat down, and began eagerly scanning the pages... He had seen Yang Ge’s "Eyes Open to the World’s Mishaps" and had long ceased doubting Yang Ge’s talent and capability.
Shen Fa: ...
After browsing only four or five pages of the thick stack, Emperor Xiping suddenly slapped the desk, regretfully exclaiming, "A terrible loss of talent, a terrible loss indeed!"
Shen Fa’s expression darkened even more.