Chapter Eighty-Nine: The Confrontation Between the Third Prince and the Empress

His disregard for decorum left Shen Hezhi deeply displeased, yet it happened to suit his purposes perfectly. The more flaws Dongfang Ming revealed, the more leverage he would have to seize.

Still, the friend Dongfang Ming had mentioned was surely none other than himself; that captain must belong to his camp.

Shen Hezhi lifted a hand, and Shen Yi immediately leaned close to his ear. “In a moment, send that captain to the second young master’s residence. At the same time, dispatch a few hidden guards to keep watch. I want to see what they plan to do in order to reclaim him.”

“Yes.” After receiving the order, Shen Yi furtively glanced around. Only after confirming that no one was paying him any attention did he slip away quietly toward the dungeon.

Shen Hezhi remained in the barracks, watching the soldiers drill. Qi Mo’s training satisfied him greatly. If they continued like this, within a few days they would surely forge a company of elite troops. With more time, they might even be drilled into the shape of their former selves.

Yet however they were trained, and however ideal such a transformation might seem, it was little more than a hope. To truly achieve that state was probably impossible, for these men were simply not of the same age as before. Though still not old, neither were they young.

And so Shen Hezhi suddenly thought that perhaps it was time to recruit more soldiers. There were so many homeless people in the city; among them were the elderly and children, but most were young adults. They had no work to do, and thus possessed strength with nowhere to use it.

If such people were properly employed, perhaps they could become a new generation of elite soldiers.

At that thought, Shen Hezhi rose at once and left the barracks. He intended to seek out Dongfang Qing to discuss whether this course was feasible. If it was, then they should begin at once.

At this moment, in the Southern Sun Kingdom.

The imperial palace.

“So the Third Prince has actually been defeated. It seems the legend of the undefeated war god will be reduced to just that—a legend.” Seated on the phoenix chair, the empress mocked Nan An without the slightest concealment.

Faced with her ridicule, Nan An did not retreat. He shot back immediately, “If the Empress is so formidable, why not go to the battlefield herself and take a look? Ah, no—that would be asking too much. After all, the Empress only knows how to wage war on paper.

Not only the Empress, but even the head of the Empress’s clan can do nothing more than talk from paper. So what use is there in saying anything here?

Rather than wasting breath on such nonsense, why does the Empress not tell me why I was summoned here in the first place? Surely I was not brought here because I am an easy target, merely to hear your reprimands and mockery?”

Nan An had harbored resentment toward the empress for years, and because the two were evenly matched, neither could truly bring down the other. Thus they could only gain petty advantage with their words.

But the empress never learned. Though she had never once prevailed in their verbal sparring, she still delighted in provoking Nan An. If she did not initiate the taunts, Nan An rarely did so himself.

“You!” The empress, after hearing Nan An’s words, gripped the chair in anger and pointed at him for a long while, yet could not force out a single complete sentence.

“The Empress’s age must truly be catching up with her, to the point that she cannot even utter a whole sentence anymore. If there is nothing else, this general has matters to attend to and will not remain here to keep the Empress company.” With that, Nan An turned to leave.

How could the empress let him go so easily? “Stop! I have not yet told you to leave, and you dare walk out? Do you still have any respect for your elders in your eyes?”

Nan An halted at those words, turned back, and looked at the empress coldly. “If the Empress truly possessed such concern, she should go recite prayers in the Buddhist hall and reflect on all the wicked things she has done over the years. Does your conscience never ache? And you still ask whether I have any respect for my elders in my eyes? My elders were killed by you, and I will remember that for the rest of my life.

I do not yet have the power to unseat you from the phoenix chair completely, but that does not mean I will never have the chance. The Empress should cherish these few remaining days and enjoy them while she can. Even how many more days you can remain empress is uncertain.”

Nan An was furious, but he still thought of the empress’s current power and therefore did not tear completely with her in any extreme fashion. At least, in his view, this was not yet a truly irreparable break.

To the empress, however, his words made it seem as though he would gladly seize a sword and kill her on the spot.

Though frightened, the empress had no recourse.

“You... I will not argue with you over these matters. I summoned you here today for something I need to ask. I heard that the Ninth Prince has come to the border, and that the Ninth Princess Consort has come as well?”

That question immediately drew Nan An’s attention. “It is perhaps only natural for the Empress to concern herself with whether the Ninth Prince has come, but what relation does the Ninth Princess Consort have to the Empress?”

The empress also realized that her question had been too abrupt and might arouse Nan An’s suspicion. Rolling her eyes, she hurriedly added, “This empress was only thinking that, as the Ninth Princess Consort, why would that woman come to the border? Could she be a spy sent by our Southern Sun Kingdom? That is all.”

“Oh? Is that truly what the Empress thinks? Or is there another reason behind it?” Nan An smiled as he looked at her.

Seeing his expression, the empress grew even more afraid. In recent years, Nan An’s growth had made her deeply uneasy. If not for him, the power of the empress’s clan would never have weakened so greatly. If things continued on their present course, it would likely not be many years before the clan truly collapsed.

“Whether there is another reason or not, if you want to know, investigate it yourself. Whatever I say, you would not believe.” The empress let out a cold snort. “Since nothing can be learned from the Third Prince here, then I shall take my leave. I need rest.”

With that, and supported by her maidservants, the empress turned and left the hall.

Nan An stood in the hall, watching her retreating figure, lost in thought.

That woman would never have asked him this question for no reason. Now that most of the people at her side had been cut away, she was no longer able to gather news as before. Forced by desperation and urgency, she had come to ask him.

If that was the case, then the Ninth Prince’s princess consort must possess some extraordinary identity. Since she had even drawn the empress’s attention, it seemed he also had reason to investigate carefully what remarkable qualities this Ninth Princess Consort might have.