Chapter 407: Plan
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Xiuyuan kicked his brother and said, “Keep your stupid look away.”
Qi Haoran laid at Big Brother’s feet and looked up. “Big Brother, is Ah Ling about to marry me?”
Qi Xiuyuan lowered his head and met his brother’s sparkling eyes. He knocked his head resentfully and said, “How old is Ah Ling this year? I said I would arrange a mistress for you, but you rejected me.”
Although Qi Haoran had a silly smile on his face, he felt extremely bitter in his heart. How would he dare? If he got himself a mistress now, he could very well forget about marrying Ah Ling.
Most importantly, the mistress was the mistress. What he cared about was Ah
Ling!
Seeing that he was smiling foolishly, Qi Xiuyuan did not make things difficult for him and explained, “I plan to betroth Ah Ling before her coming-of-age ceremony so that she can marry into the family when she comes of age. Since she’s not busy now, I can let her learn from your sister-in-law to take care of things in the household. This way, I’ll be at ease to let her marry you.” Qi Xiuyuan had long planned for his younger brother and Mu Yanghng’s future. Previously, Qi Haoran had either gone to war or managed the intelligence system, but no matter what, he did not dare to let him go too far away, afraid that he would cause trouble outside.
Staying near him meant that his achievements could not be great, or that his achievements would eventually be under his name.
Just like before, no matter how many battles Qi Haoran fought, most of the credit would be given to Qi Xiuyuan in the end. Even if the memorial he submitted stated that Qi Haoran was the commander, the people in the Imperial Court would only feel that he was paving the way for his younger brother. They assumed that Qi Xiuyuan was either crediting his own achievements to his younger brother, or that Qi Haoran was snatching the credit of his subordinates.
Qi Xiuyuan realized that not only would such a memorial not bring his brother fame and fortune, but it also left others with the impression that Qi Haoran was eager for quick success. He could only slow down and distribute Qi Haoran’s credit to the other soldiers.
Therefore, seriously speaking, Qi Haoran had actually been a little aggrieved for the past two years, although that silly kid probably did not notice it.
The soldiers of the West Camp more or less owed Haoran a favor. His ability to train and lead the army was not weak either. As long as he could suppress his temper, it was only a matter of time before he achieved something.
Among so many people, only he, Zijin, and Mu Yangling could suppress him. Hence, Qi Xiuyuan planned to send out Qi Haoran as soon as he got married, so that he could accumulate military merits. He had already chosen the place.
General Yuan had been exchanging letters with him. He believed that General Yuan was very willing to take in a small general, but it was much easier for the Imperial Court.
When it came to General Yuan, as long as one had the ability, it was even easier for a person to make contributions than under Qi Xiuyuan. After all, over here, they only clashed with the Jin soldiers from time to time. On General Yuan’s side, there was a small battle every half a month and a huge battle every two months. The battles never stopped. With Haoran’s ability, it was much easier to accumulate military merits.
Oblivious to the fact that Big Brother had planned so much for him, Qi Haoran was busy calculating how long it would be before the wedding. Now that he thought about it, he was instantly dissatisfied. There was still more than a year.
Qi Haoran was very dissatisfied. Big Brother took five months from the engagement to the marriage, but it took him three years from the engagement to the marriage. Including the previous time, it was a solid five years. Why did it take him so long?
Seeing that his brother was squatting by his feet in a daze, Qi Xiuyuan kicked him with the tip of his foot and said, “Don’t think about marriage all day long.
Since you’ve recovered, go to the West Camp to take a look and help your
Brother Rong.”
Qi Haoran immediately came back to his senses and asked solemnly, Big Brother, have you found the spy?”
A fierce look flashed across Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes as he nodded slightly. Qi Haoran immediately jumped up. “Who is it? I’ll skin him alive!
Qi Xiuyuan looked up at his brother, making his scalp tingle. Then, he said, “I’ll tell you when you learn to control your temper.
Qi Haoran shouted, “Big Brother, don’t tell me you haven’t arrested him yet?” Qi Xiuyuan chuckled. “Why should I arrest him? Living people are much more useful than dead people. Alright, you don’t have to worry about the spy anymore. Since the three cities are still on guard, hurry up and go to the West Camp to help your Brother Rong.”
Qi Haoran could only pout and go to the West Camp to do manual labor.
After Qi Haoran left, Qi Xiuyuan stopped smiling and lowered his eyes to stare at the teacup in his hand. How could he arrest the spy?
Haoran must have not expected that the spy was not from the Jin Kingdom, nor was he sent by the Jin Kingdom. He was not even bribed by the Jin Kingdom. That spy was just cooperating with the Jin Kingdom to take Qi Xiuyuan’s life.
That person’s master was also Qi Xiuyuan’s current master. If the Emperor wanted him dead, he had no choice but to die. Qi Xiuyuan was unwilling to tear off this disguise. If he didn’t tear it off, he and the Emperor would still maintain peace on the surface. If he tore it off, his situation would be even worse than General Yuan’s. Perhaps a gold medal could take his life.
General Yuan was able to survive under the suspicion of the Emperor because of his 200,000 troops and reputation among the people.
Qi Xiuyuan had neither, so once they fell out, the only fate that awaited him was death.
Qi Xiuyuan looked at his brother’s back and remained silent. Knowing his brother had a strong personality, he wasn’t sure if he could disguise himself well, so it was better to hide this matter.
At this moment, the Emperor was also discussing Qi Xiuyuan with his trusted aide. “Are you sure Qi Xiuyuan is seriously injured?”
“Yes, the doctor from the Jingzhao Prefecture has been left in the Qi family, and Fan Zijin has been looking for elixirs for Qi Xiuyuan.” The trusted aide recalled the contents of the pigeon letter and said, “The three cities have been under martial law, but there’s no movement from the Jin Kingdom. Your Majesty, do you think the Jin Kingdom will blame us?
The Emperor’s expression was also a little ugly. “More than 5,000 people from the Jin Kingdom have all died?”
His trusted aide lowered his head and the Emperor clenched his fists. He was both excited and angry as he muttered, “800 people against 5,000 people. Is this Qi Xiuyuan actually more powerful than General Yuan?
His trusted aide thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, Qi Xiuyuan is only 22 years old this year. General Yuan was only an assistant commander who had just appeared on the scene at this age, so his talent should not be inferior to General Yuan’s.”
The Emperor’s heart felt like it was being fried. He muttered, “Why wasn’t such a talent born in my Guo family?”
His trusted aide cursed silently. If Qi Xiuyuan was born in the royal family, wouldn’t the Emperor be even more wary of him? Qi Xiuyuan seemed to be more legitimate now.
Coming back to his senses, the Emperor frowned and said regretfully, “It’s a pity that Qi Xiuyuan is married. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to marry a princess to him.”
The Emperor was vexed at his hesitation back then. When Qi Xiuyuan became famous, he had thought of marrying his princess to him. But he had merely hinted at the suggestion in the harem, and the princesses almost cried their eyes out. He also felt sorry for his daughters. In addition, Qi Xiuyuan quickly submitted a memorial to ask him to bestow a marriage to the daughter of the Li family of Longxi, so he let go of that thought.
Furthermore, although Qi Xiuyuan had chosen the daughter of an aristocratic family, it was not that the Emperor looked down on the Li family of Longxi, but that more than half of the Li family’s main branch had been slaughtered during the Invasion and rebellion of the Five Barbarians years ago. What was left now was only the weakest branch. Although it was an aristocratic family, it had no officials in the court and was despised by the various aristocratic families. How could it be of any help?
Therefore, in the end, although he did not issue an imperial edict to grant the marriage, he did approve the memorial and wished Qi Xiuyuan a happy marriage for a hundred years. He even had a congratulatory gift sent on behalf of the royal family, approving the marriage.
However, he really did not expect Qi Xiuyuan to grow so quickly. In just a year after attacking the Jingzhao Prefecture, he had actually expanded his army to 100,000 soldiers. Moreover, even General Yuan still had hungry soldiers under him. Only he seemed to have received the help of the heavens. Although parts of the Xingzhou Prefecture had suffered a drought, his grain harvest had always been sufficient. Even the injured soldiers had been adequately arranged. This ability made the Emperor even more wary of him.
Therefore, in a moment of agitation, he couldn’t help but express his intentions to the Jin Kingdom. Then, Qi Xiuyuan was ambushed..
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