Chapter 75

The two immediately returned to the sleeping quarters to change clothes. Wei Ji gathered Chu Shaoling's hair and placed a crown on his head. Chu Shaoling looked into the bronze mirror and smiled, "Not bad, looks quite sharp."

Wei Ji remained silent, half-kneeling to adjust Chu Shaoling’s waist belt. Chu Shaoling lowered his head, observing Wei Ji’s expression, and softly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Wei Ji hesitated before standing and replied, “As of now... Your Highness is the only prince capable of leading troops into battle.”

Chu Shaoling chuckled, pulling Wei Ji closer by the waist, and teasingly said, “What’s this? Afraid your lord can’t mount a horse or draw a bow?”

Wei Ji’s concern was certainly not about that. Historically, princes leading expeditions rarely fought on the front lines, so their lives were seldom at risk. However, with the current instability in the imperial court, if the Emperor were to appoint Chu Shaoling as the general to lead the army, by the time he returned, the Crown Prince Ceremony for Chu Shaoruan might already be completed.

Wei Ji, unable to relax as long as Chu Shaoling’s position as heir was uncertain, looked troubled despite his youthful face. Chu Shaoling found it amusing, kissed Wei Ji’s forehead, and softly asked again, “What’s wrong?”

Wei Ji whispered his concerns, nervously saying, “If Your Highness goes to war and the Emperor recalls the Second Prince... what then? If he finds a pretext to name the Second Prince as the Crown Prince...”

“When did you get so clever?” Chu Shaoling dismissed Wei Ji’s worries with a laugh, instead teasing, “I tricked you about sleeptalking earlier, and you believed it. Now you’re suddenly so clear-headed—what’s going on?”

Wei Ji’s face turned red as he anxiously exclaimed, “Your Highness tricked me earlier?!”

“Of course, I tricked you. Normally, you’re so stubborn I can barely get you to say anything nice, and you think you’d suddenly be so obedient in your sleep?” Chu Shaoling couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “I just wanted to tease you out of your nap; I didn’t expect you to actually believe it…”

Embarrassed and anxious, Wei Ji protested, “Your Highness... I’m talking about serious matters.”

“And so am I! To your lord here, this matter is far more important than the position of crown prince.” Seeing Wei Ji’s genuine worry, Chu Shaoling stopped teasing and reassured him, “Don’t worry. Even if I am appointed to lead troops, I’ll make sure the situation in the imperial city is settled before leaving. I won’t leave an opening for others to exploit.”

Wei Ji trusted Chu Shaoling’s capabilities, and his mind was somewhat eased. Chu Shaoling tousled Wei Ji’s hair before they entered the palace together.

In the council chamber, many cabinet ministers were already present. After saluting the Emperor, Chu Shaoling stood at his designated spot. The Emperor, still unwell, looked pale and frail, his exhaustion evident even after a short while. He said weakly, “Liaoliang is but a small nation, a mere speck on the map... It’s not worth a large-scale mobilization…”

Hearing this, many ministers inwardly sighed. Liaoliang had been provocatively stirring trouble, angering the civil officials, but the Emperor remained passive. Chu Shaoling glanced subtly at Marquis Zijun, who lightly shook his head. Chu Shaoling smirked coldly but stayed silent, standing motionless at his position.

The ministers debated endlessly. Unlike previous occasions, the majority now supported going to war. The Great Chu was a wealthy and strong nation—why should it tolerate repeated provocations from a barbarian state?

The Emperor’s close advisors, however, continued to argue, insisting, “We shouldn’t stoop to the level of barbarians” and “Excessive militarism only brings calamity to the people.”

Duke Jing'guo could no longer hold back and retorted, “Are the people on the western border not citizens of the Great Chu? Over the past fortnight, Liaoliang’s troops have pillaged, burned, and slaughtered. The people of the northwest border are suffering immensely. Should we simply ignore this?!”

“Of course, we won’t ignore it,” the Emperor, irritated by the quarrels, replied perfunctorily. “We will negotiate a peace…”

Duke Jing'guo, tired of arguing, fell silent. Another negotiation. If Liaoliang were truly stronger, peace talks might make sense, but the Great Chu was more than capable of defeating them. Yet they insisted on sending money and gifts to this small barbarian nation—why?

Duke Jing'guo, just over thirty and still fiery, had argued to the point of frustration. Seeing this, Marquis Zijun interjected at the right moment, “Negotiations are indeed a benevolent approach, sparing much bloodshed. This reflects Your Majesty’s kindness. However... I fear the people on the western border may not understand Your Majesty’s intentions. I’ve heard reports that the border residents have begun forming militia units to defend against Liaoliang’s soldiers. While this may seem like a precaution, it is ultimately a hidden danger.”

At these words, the Emperor’s expression darkened. He sternly asked, “Why wasn’t I informed of this? What is the local governor doing? Privately forming militias is a grave crime—how could he not know of this?!”

Duke Jing'guo could no longer suppress his anger and retorted, “The memorial from the borders yesterday clearly stated that the local governor, Jiang Min, abandoned the city and fled a few days ago. If the locals don’t defend themselves, should they just sit and wait for the Liaoliang soldiers to kill them?”

As soon as Duke Jing'guo said this, several censors stepped forward to reprimand him. Chu Shaoling spoke slowly, “Duke Jing'guo is devoted to the country but seems to have forgotten proper decorum.”

Hearing Chu Shaoling speak, Duke Jing'guo stiffened his neck but knelt down without uttering an apology. The Emperor, feeling his lungs ache from Duke Jing'guo’s confrontation, was frustrated. However, with the Empress Dowager still estranged, punishing Duke Jing'guo now would only add fuel to the fire. The Empress Dowager might misconstrue this as a deliberate insult, making matters even more complicated. Waving his hand irritably, the Emperor said, “Duke Jing'guo meant well. Let it go.”

Duke Jing'guo murmured a low “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace” before standing up. Chu Shaoling chuckled internally. His little maternal cousin, spoiled by the Empress Dowager and their family, feared nothing. This outburst might even have been partly to vent the Empress Dowager’s frustrations.

Recently, the Emperor had unintentionally offended the Empress Dowager by saying, “The rear palace must not interfere in state affairs.” Since then, she had refused to see him, leading to an unprecedented cold war between the mother and son. Initially confined to the palace, the rift gradually spread outside, naturally causing some resentment in the Jing'guo Duke Manor.

Feeling relieved after venting, Duke Jing'guo argued even more vigorously with the officials, his voice strong and commanding. Chu Shaoling remained silent throughout. Perhaps dissatisfied with the lack of opposition, Duke Jing'guo finally turned to him and asked, “What does His Highness, the Prince of Qin, think?”

After a pause, Chu Shaoling stepped forward and said, “I concur.”

The Emperor looked at Chu Shaoling and asked meaningfully, “The eldest prince supports going to war as well?”

Chu Shaoling understood the Emperor’s implication—he thought Chu Shaoling was unwilling to go to war himself. Bowing slightly, Chu Shaoling responded, “Your son volunteers to lead the army in person to defend our borders and protect our lands.”

The Emperor’s heart wavered. If Chu Shaoling were to lead the campaign, perhaps…

Chu Shaoling, seeming to read the Emperor’s thoughts, continued, “As the eldest son, it is my duty to inspire morale. If war breaks out, I am willing to lead the army in person.”

Duke Jing'guo, despite his impulsiveness, had the presence of mind to realize that Chu Shaoling’s absence would leave the imperial city vulnerable. Casting a glance at Marquis Zijun, Duke Jing'guo stepped forward to dissuade, citing the dangers of war and the importance of preserving the royal lineage.

He concluded with a sigh, “Apart from His Highness, the Qin Prince, the only other princes in the imperial city are the Fifth Prince in Huixin Institute and the Sixth Prince, still in swaddling clothes. If anything happens to the Prince of Qin, it would gravely endanger the future of the dynasty. I believe… even with His Highness’s loyalty, it is unwise for him to risk his life.”

Duke Jing'guo tried to give Chu Shaoling a graceful way out, but Chu Shaoling didn’t take it, calmly stating, “If I can contribute to the Great Chu, I do not fear the perils of the battlefield.”

The Emperor’s expression wavered but ultimately made no decision.

After leaving the council chamber, Marquis Zijun deliberately fell back a few steps to walk alongside Chu Shaoling. He whispered, “Does Your Highness truly wish to lead the campaign?”

Chu Shaoling’s response was ambiguous. “Liaoliang is something I’ll deal with sooner or later. Whether I lead the campaign personally isn’t important. This time, my proposal isn’t about earning military merit… it’s about using this as leverage to negotiate with the Emperor.”

Marquis Zijun looked at Chu Shaoling in confusion and disapproval, saying, “The Emperor is wary of you gaining military power. He likely won’t agree to any conditions.”

Chu Shaoling shook his head. “There’s no rush now, but that may change in a few days. I’ll need Grandfather to inform my cousin to spread some rumors in the military. The generals are already dissatisfied with the Emperor. When grievances grow louder both inside and outside the court, the Emperor will have no choice but to send me to pacify public discontent.”

A prince leading a campaign wasn’t always about their military contributions. Often, it symbolized the Emperor’s commitment to the people and soldiers. Chu Shaoling was confident his father would willingly send him away to quell public dissent.

After some thought, Marquis Zijun nodded. “That could work. But… what does Your Highness intend to request from the Emperor in return?”

Chu Shaoling toyed with the jade pendant at his waist and said softly, “He shouldn’t think I’m a fool. If he wants me to go, he must either name me as the crown prince or execute Chu Shaoruan. Let him choose.”

Marquis Zijun chuckled. “Your Highness is truly wise.”

The two descended the dragon-carved steps. Wei Ji and a few of Chu Shaoling’s personal guards quickly approached and fell in behind him. Chu Shaoling had to visit the Empress Dowager in the harem to pay his respects. After asking him to deliver her regards, Marquis Zijun left the palace.

In the Hall of Benevolent Peace, the Empress Dowager anxiously clutched Chu Shaoling’s hand. “You aren’t really planning to go to war, are you? Are you trying to scare me to death?!”

Chu Shaoling quickly reassured her, “Grandmother, don’t worry. Nothing has been decided yet. Besides, princes leading campaigns rarely encounter danger. Whether or not I even leave the camp is still uncertain. There’s no need for concern.”

The Empress Dowager remained uneasy. Chu Shaoling carefully explained his plan to her in detail. After listening, she hesitated and said, “Even if you don’t go to war, there must be other ways.”

Chu Shaoling placed his hand gently over hers and said in a low voice, “When I spoke in court about defending the country, it wasn’t all empty rhetoric. Liaoliang’s repeated harassment of our northwestern border cannot be tolerated. Even if it isn’t dealt with now, I won’t let it go when the time comes. This war... is inevitable.”

The bloodline of the Chu family bore an innate drive for conquest and defense of their land. While the Emperor might turn a blind eye to the slaughter of his own people by foreign tribes, Chu Shaoling could not. When his time to rule came, simply refraining from launching expeditions to expand the empire’s territory would already be restrained for him—how could he possibly tolerate foreign tribes brazenly provoking their sovereignty?

Chu Shaoling’s goal was to use this war to utterly defeat Liaoliang, ensuring they were subdued and never dared to challenge the Great Chu again. At the same time, the victory would serve as a warning to the other barbarian tribes, deterring them from any thoughts of invasion.