Qu Yunmie’s destination wasn’t far, as he headed straight back to the palace. He walked unperturbed into the East Palace, which, in Xiao Rong’s view, was as forbidden as the inner sanctum of the palace.

This was where he thought Qu Yunmie’s harem resided.

…

The East Palace wasn’t very mysterious. The main door was usually kept shut because the person living there rarely went out. When they did, they used the back door to avoid contact with strangers.

 

Qu Yunmie navigated the corridor with ease, encountering a few teenage boys along the way. When they saw Qu Yunmie, they didn’t exhibit the extreme deference typical of outsiders but still showed respect by bowing. Qu Yunmie glanced at them before continuing on.

 

When he reached the front of the largest room, he hesitated, remained silent for a moment, and then proceeded forward.

 

In the West Palace, a large room like this was used for meetings, frequented daily by staff and generals. In contrast, the East Palace served as an office, but instead of endless meetings, it was filled with endless herbs.

 

In the nearly three hundred square meters of space, many people were busy picking, sorting, and grinding herbs, while others were smashing stones, cutting insects, and polishing weapons. Everyone had their own tasks.

 

Qu Yunmie was accustomed to this scene. He quietly walked to the innermost part, and others, seeing him pass by, looked up with curiosity but continued their work.

 

In a corner of the room, a woman sat, looking a bit aged—about fifty—but she was actually only forty-three. Her skin was somewhat dark, with pronounced and attractive features. With a bit of grooming, she could rival any pampered noblewoman. However, she wore little ornamentation, and her face bore no expression, making her look either resolute or harsh. In short, she wasn’t particularly pleasant to look at.

 

When Qu Yunmie approached, he lifted his robe slightly and sat down in front of her.

 

He called to her. “Old Wu.”

 

The woman, who had been examining herbs, slowly looked up upon hearing her name.

 

Qu Yunmie looked at her and continued, “Old Wu, I need a piece of Salvia ginseng.”

 

The woman finally gave him a proper look and asked in a slightly accented official tone, “Is someone injured?”

 

Qu Yunmie paused before responding. “No.”

 

The woman asked again, “Is someone dying?”

 

Qu Yunmie replied, “Not at all.”

 

The woman then asked, “So why do you need Salvia ginseng? If you don’t answer, I won’t give it to you.”

 

She then recited a long string of syllables, which was Qu Yunmie’s real name, as his name was transliterated from the Butuw language.

 

Qu Yunmie understood her character and had no choice but to explain. “A new advisor in the palace has poor health, is coughing up blood, and has a fever. He is very useful, and I want him to live a few more years.”

 

The woman raised an eyebrow.

 

Salvia ginseng was not an ordinary herb. It had been collected at the order of the last queen, who had commanded them to gather it when they came down the mountain. Their living conditions were so unique that even members of their tribe who left the mountain might not find it again. Thus, every piece of Salvia ginseng was precious.

 

It grew in high mountain sinkholes near Salt Woman Lake, was extremely rare but highly effective, and was far superior to ordinary ginseng. It was sought after by the Xianbei, Goguryeo, and Khitan. Qu Yunmie had never asked for it before.

 

Although Qu Yunmie was not averse to his foreign bloodline and was relatively close to the Butuw tribe, he had never confused his position. Outside, he was the revered King of the North, but here, she was the unquestioned queen, and he couldn’t command her.

 

Her name was Agusheja, the younger sister of the last queen, who was Qu Yunmie’s mother.

 

When Agusheja was born, their mother died during childbirth. At just nine years old, her elder sister was forced to take over as leader during a difficult time, managing the entire tribe while also caring for the young Agusheja. To Agusheja, her sister was like a mother.

 

Similarly, for Qu Yunmie, Agusheja had taken on the motherly role after his parents died when he was only one year old. Though he didn’t remember his mother, Agusheja had always played the motherly role in his memories.

 

However, this role was incomplete. As Qu Yunmie grew older, Agusheja hadn’t been involved in the affairs of the Northern Army, and Qu Yunmie hadn’t engaged in the internal matters of the Butuw tribe. What was supposed to be a respectful distance became a growing estrangement.

 

Has their kinship faded? Not really; they still cared for each other, but there was little to talk about.

…

Agusheja wanted to inquire about the staff member and why Qu Yunmie sought the Salvia ginseng, but she hadn’t shown such concern for over ten years. After a moment of silence, she asked another question. “Li Xiuheng. Why is he still alive?”

 

Upon hearing the name, a woman grinding herbs a distance away looked over.

 

Qu Yunmie didn’t see her and simply answered, “He still has use.”

 

Agusheja asked, “What use?”

 

Qu Yunmie replied, “Unknown. Xiao Rong didn’t say.”

 

Agusheja showed confusion. “Xiao Rong?”

 

Qu Yunmie clarified, “The new advisor I mentioned earlier.”

 

Agusheja looked at Qu Yunmie with a strange expression. She then stood up, and before turning away, asked, “When Li Xiuheng is no longer useful, will you personally execute him?”

 

Qu Yunmie answered calmly. “Naturally.”

 

Agusheja nodded and said casually, “Make sure to have Danran and Ayan look at him—”

 

As she mentioned the name Ayan, Agusheja instinctively glanced back. The palace was peaceful, with everyone engrossed in their work and no one watching them.

 

Looking at the figure continuously grinding herbs, Agusheja shook her head. “Never mind. You can wait here.”

 

＊

Agusheja retrieved a small box from her room, inside which lay three pieces of Salvia ginseng. They had originally brought seventeen pieces, and now only three remained.

 

With the expansion of the Northern Army, her need for the ginseng had decreased. Previously, even a single death would cause everyone to grieve, but now, even ten thousand deaths elicited no requests for ginseng.

 

Reflecting on it, she hadn’t opened this box for nearly two years.

 

After a moment, she took a crescent-shaped knife from her waist and carefully shaved a thin slice from one of the ginseng pieces, making it almost transparent.

 

Yes, it was only lightly damaged.

 

Qu Yunmie received the ginseng slice, which showcased the knife’s skill, and looked at Agusheja.

She met his gaze directly. “If he’s not injured and not dying, this small piece should be enough. If you think it’s insufficient, bring him to see me. I want to see for myself if he needs more Salvia ginseng.”

 

Qu Yunmie was left speechless.

 

This was the Butuw tribe’s asset. The Butuw tribe was matrilineal, and men had no real say here.

 

He accepted the translucent ginseng slice and put it away.

 

As for bringing Xiao Rong to see Old Wu, that was out of the question. He would never do that.

 

Qu Yunmie collected the item, and Agusheja resumed her seat. However, Qu Yunmie didn’t leave immediately. After a moment of thought, he kneeled beside Agusheja and asked without preamble, “Old Wu, do you like it here?”

 

Agusheja looked at him and answered, “Anywhere without the Salt Woman Lake is the same.”

＊

 

Three days later, Xiao Rong, who could hardly contain his impatience to inquire about the progress, received some good news along with a bowl of a black, mysterious medicine.

 

The medicine looked very peculiar, and Xiao Rong initially thought Qu Yunmie had finally succumbed to his impulses and decided to poison him.

…

Examining the liquid without finding any particular clue, and since Qu Yunmie didn’t seem like someone who would use cunning, Xiao Rong pinched his nose and drank the medicine.

 

He had already consumed countless medicines over the past seven months, so another bowl didn’t make much difference.

 

After drinking the medicine, Gao Xunzhi joyfully came to find him, informing him that the King had made a decision. He decided to consult the officials about relocating the capital.

 

Xiao Rong stood up in surprise and asked Gao Xunzhi, “Has the King informed others about this?”

 

Gao Xunzhi hesitated. “Uh, not yet?”

 

Hearing this, Xiao Rong ran off like the wind.

 

Gao Xunzhi: …

 

Looking at the empty medicine bowl on the table, he thought to himself that Salvia ginseng was indeed a good thing.

…

Xiao Rong’s frantic run through the palace alarmed everyone who knew him. He finally found Qu Yunmie and immediately stopped him from revealing the news to others. Qu Yunmie looked at him in confusion, and Xiao Rong explained his plan in detail.

 

Qu Yunmie listened with a frown and, after a long pause, finally nodded in agreement.

 

Soon, soldiers in various barracks received the latest military orders: the King wanted them to assemble at the foot of Yanmen Mountain at noon to personally behead Li Xiuheng in honor of the fallen Northern Army soldiers.

 

Most people actually didn’t know who Li Xiuheng was; everything about Li Xiuheng was too disgraceful for Qu Yunmie and the others to mention. Since it was to be a public execution and a grand affair, everyone was naturally curious about the man’s identity. The soldiers who relayed the military orders were Qu Yunmie’s guards. They exaggerated the stories of both Li Xiuheng and the traitor Zhuang Weizhi, thoroughly and dramatically publicizing their deeds.

 

Though Li Xiuheng hadn’t harmed him personally, people had the ability to discern right from wrong. Hearing these accounts, they were filled with righteous indignation. Fueled by this sentiment, they quickly organized and assembled with even more enthusiasm than they had for previous battles.

 

In essence, they wanted to witness the spectacle.

 

 …

It was impossible to summon several hundred thousand troops within an hour. Those who came were mostly small officers from other garrisons and a few tens of thousands of nearby soldiers. However, this was sufficient.

 

Just before noon, Qu Yunmie arrived at the scene. The guards dragged the gagged Li Xiuheng to kneel before Qu Yunmie, his pitiful appearance visible to every soldier below.

 

Xiao Rong, draped in a cloak, stood among the officers. Yu Shaoxie was beside him, occasionally asking how he felt and advising him to avoid the wind and go back.

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

Did he think he was in confinement and couldn’t be out in the wind?

 

After dealing with Yu Shaoxie, Xiao Rong looked at the dense crowd below. The soldiers at the back were too far to be seen clearly, but the four figures in general armor at the front were quite distinct.

 

This was the first time he saw these four together.

 

From left to right: Yuan Baifu, Jian Qiao, Gongsun Yuan, and Wang Xinyong.

 

Their arrangement mirrored their order in Qu Yunmie’s heart.

 

The crowd had gathered. Qu Yunmie glanced at the sun and then stepped forward.

 

There were no loudspeakers, but due to the mountainous terrain, the circulating air helped carry Qu Yunmie’s voice further.

 

“This man is Li Xiuheng, a former general of the Northern Army.”

 

The heads below shifted, but there was no sound of unrest.

 

Qu Yunmie paused slightly and continued, “He was once the leader of the Northern Army and also an uncle I respected. I, along with the soldiers, supported him, but he betrayed the Northern Army to the court, shedding the blood of soldiers for his own glory and wealth. While he feasted and celebrated, the dead soldiers were left with nothing but the snow for burial.”

 

The crowd grew more indignant because, as soldiers themselves, they empathized deeply with their comrades’ suffering.

 

At this moment, Qu Yunmie suddenly drew the sword from his side, pointing the tip at Li Xiuheng, and shouted, “He has enjoyed his position without merit, trampled lives, and seized soldiers’ wages and achievements, disregarding even the widows and orphans of the dead! He is unworthy of being human! Today, I will use his head as a pledge that from now on, no such scum will rise above the soldiers!”

 

Having said that, he lifted the long sword high and, with all his might, brought it down on Li Xiuheng’s terrified gaze. Blood sprayed instantly, and due to the force used, the sword even embedded itself a couple of inches into the ground.

 

Li Xiuheng’s head rolled away, further and further, and Qu Yunmie’s face was splattered with blood, making him look even more fearsome.

 

Everyone stared blankly at the scene, unable to react immediately. Xiao Rong furrowed his brows and looked at Jian Qiao, who was also struggling to adjust to the scene.

 

Noticing his gaze, Jian Qiao jolted and remembered his task.

 

He took a deep breath and, with all his might, shouted, his forehead veins bulging, “Good! The King has done well! As soldiers of the Northern Army, we wish for the stability of the Nation and the North. The King is benevolent, and we swear to follow him to the death!”

 

Gongsun Yuan beside him nearly fell from the shout, shocked and covering his ears, unable to understand why his colleague had suddenly changed.

 

Then, something even more shocking happened. Many soldiers behind started to respond. Initially sparse and unconvincing, the responses gradually built into a thunderous roar.

 

The voices grew louder and louder.

 

“May the Nation and the North be stable!”

 

“The King is benevolent, and we swear to follow him to the death!”

 

In the end, only the repeated “swear to follow to the death” remained. When a few thousand people shouted it, it was loud, but when tens of thousands joined in, it felt overwhelming and majestic, as if descending from the heavens, evoking a deep sense of reverence.

 

Among the waves of cheers, Xiao Rong felt a sense of completeness again. He straightened his back and shifted his gaze from the excited soldiers to Qu Yunmie.

 

He looked at this group, not blinking.

 

When Xiao Rong had asked him to give a speech, Qu Yunmie had been reluctant. Xiao Rong had guessed that he had probably never done it before, and even when encouraging troops, he had only spoken a few dry words. He hadn’t realized how spectacular and stirring the scene could be when people’s hearts were mobilized and gathered.

 

There was no actual campaign, no specific enemy, just a few words, and no tangible benefits promised, yet everyone was so thrilled.

 

Qu Yunmie found the experience novel. When the crowd began to quiet down, he raised his hand to signal them to stop and said, “Soon, I will relocate the capital. Soldiers, I wish to build a capital exclusively for the Northern Army with you. The Northern Army’s capital will be no worse than Jinling!”

 

Jian Qiao focused intently and wasted no time, quickly raising his fist. “No worse than Jinling!”

 

Gongsun Yuan: “…”

 

As the others repeated the phrase, Jian Qiao shouted again, “His Majesty is wise!”

 

Soon, the crowd echoed the praise.

 

Gongsun Yuan: “…”

 

You little toady, you’ve really been working on flattering intensely lately.

…

Yu Shaoxie was stunned. Though he was from a distinguished family and had seen morale-boosting performances before, none had been as strange as today’s.

 

Other morale-boosting events usually occurred before a campaign, fueled by hatred for the enemy and the fear of death, creating high tension among soldiers who had no choice but to fight with their lives. Today’s scene, while appearing emotionally charged, seemed unlikely to sustain such fervor. No one would risk their lives over a public execution.

 

Yet who could say? One event might not suffice, but if repeated? Like a monk striking a wooden fish, it appeared to be a persistent effort to deepen belief through self-persuasion.

 

Yu Shaoxie: “…”

 

The King likely didn’t realize that this method would stabilize the soldiers’ loyalty. Master Gao wasn’t that cunning, so the only person left was…

 

Yu Shaoxie turned to Xiao Rong.

 

Xiao Rong met his gaze, looking puzzled.

 

Yu Shaoxie’s expression was complicated: “…”

 

Xiao Rong didn’t seem as straightforward as he had thought, but… he seemed more proper.

 

With a slight smile, Yu Shaoxie said, “I’ve decided. After I return, I’ll write a letter to have my brother come and support the King.”

 

Xiao Rong: “…”

 

Yu Shaocheng? The Yu Shaocheng, who should be taking more medicine?

 

His expression tightened. “Why this sudden decision?”

 

Yu Shaoxie looked towards Qu Yunmie in the distance and smiled faintly. “Because the King has finally understood, moving the capital is the beginning of the campaign for the Central Plains. As brothers, we cannot serve two masters.”

 

…Indeed.

 

Relocating the capital meant actively joining the power game. Previously, Qu Yunmie’s actions had been forced. He had sought revenge, driven away all the Huns people, stayed in Yanmen County because he missed his hometown, and established himself as the Northern King in defiance of Southern Yong.

 

In truth, he’d never truly governed the land. Even though he declared himself King, he still conducted himself like a general.

 

Others were both wary and dismissive of him. Even in the original historical context, Qu Yunmie had never shown his ambitions. He was only seeking revenge, endlessly seeking revenge, until it consumed him.

 

Dai County, Yanmen County, Zhongshan County—these were the lands he was given when the little Emperor conferred a kingdom upon him. What he truly possessed was still that vassal state.

 

Staying in Yanmen County seemed obedient from the perspective of Southern Yong and outsiders, but leaving announced to the world that he no longer accepted the legitimacy of Southern Yong rule.

 

Xiao Rong glanced at Qu Yunmie, whose face was still smeared with blood, a soft corpse at his feet, and whose long sword was stained with who knew how many people’s blood.

 

Still, this image, more than his princely attire, made Xiao Rong feel more awe.

 

This was the Northern King.

 

The crowd continued to cheer. Qu Yunmie, unable to resist the enthusiasm, finally let a smile touch his lips. His gaze swept across the crowd but paused slightly when he saw Xiao Rong.

 

Xiao Rong, head lowered, turned and left while everyone else was still jubilant.

 

Qu Yunmie’s heart tightened, uncertain if it was his intuition at work.

…

That night, many people had trouble sleeping. The rush of adrenaline felt amazing, and everyone felt as though they had endless energy.

 

Even Xiao Rong was somewhat affected. Though the positive impact of the morale boost faded once he left the foot of the mountain and returned to his usual self, he still felt a bit excited.

 

Lying in bed, he couldn’t help but repeatedly recall the image of Qu Yunmie standing there, unaffected by the wind, with an imposing presence.

 

He really did have a bit of an imperial demeanor.

 

With his eyes closed, Xiao Rong’s mouth involuntarily curled into a smile, while Ah Shu, having finished tidying up outside, was about to come in and ask if it was time to blow out the lamp.

 

However, upon casually glancing up, Ah Shu was immediately stunned. “Young Master, why are you bleeding from your nose?!

 

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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