Eleven and a half months later...
It was a bright morning of early spring. The weather couldn't be anymore nicer with its clear blue sky and fine cool breeze. The sun was only less than forty-five degrees to the east and so the rays hitting the bare skin of those in the streets or the fields were not that painful yet.
On such a nice day that many people, no matter the age or status in the city, would be in the mood to gossip or talk about random things. The large city never ran out of stories and rumors which add colors to many bored or stressed out people's lives.
These days, few of the topics that seed to always escape out of people's lips were those about the princes and other notable aristocratic people in the empire.
Hai Wang's relationship with the first miss of the Sheng was going strong... Rui Wang had chosen to take Jiang Rou Li as his Wang Fei... The First Prince Duan Wang had built a branch academy in one of the eastern provinces.... Chen Wang was finally returning from the Southern battlefield after a huge victory against the Wu army of the neighboring country...
Had it been like usual, a lot more would be discussing the exploits of the second prince Hai Wang. After all, this low-key prince, for the past year, had beco much active and brought the empire quite a few wonderful inventions and surprises.
However, since Chen Wang was going back after a huge exploit, the household talk temporarily beca him.
"Hey, have you heard of the latest news! Chen Wang is returning to the capital!"
"Haha. Old guy, you're late to the news. We, of course, knew. Who hasn't heard about the general bringing huge rit to the crown when he cut down the enemy's whole army at the Fu Chang Valley?"
"I see. But do you all know how he did it? There's a hearsay those stupid guys from the Wu Kingdom has tried so sort of tactic against our army, but our brilliant general fended it off."
"Oh, well. The battle two weeks ago. My nephew, a brave middling rchant, had just co back from one of the nearest city to the Southern border. He said the seventy thousand Wu army had sohow managed to trap fifty-five thousand of our n there and they were lost in the fog and couldn't get out. Only Chen Wang and a few thousands of his elite n managed to escape, but many others are still there trapped."
This talk flew about in one of the decent restaurants on the outskirts of the city. At one of the tables near the exit, there sat four middle-aged n who seed to be artisans or farrs and a young man in his twenties who seed to be the son of one of those four.
This young man turned to the one who spoke about his nephew's tale, and asked, "Uncle Bo, it sounds horrible to . Chen Wang left his army in the fog? Then doesn't it an they are left by their commander at their enemy army's rcy?"
Looking at his friend's son, the one called Uncle Bo laughed boisterously, "Kid, you're quite impatient. Let continue my story then. Actually, the reason Chen Wang was confident those remaining tens of thousands would not be hard even if he left them for a while is that he knew the place and had thought of a brilliant plan to defeat the foe. He and his n a thousand captured thousands upon thousands of monkeys in the jungle and clothed them partly with our army's combat attire. Then he had them charged into the enemy camp! And while this is happening, his people destroyed whatever formation is locking the place into a sea of fog and freed the remaining fifty thousand!"
The others exclaid and gasped while the eyes of the young man twinkled in amazent. "I see. He's a great commander indeed! The surprise attack from the 'fake' soldiers should have at least helped to dwindle down the opposing army's number. Then with the freed soldiers joining Chen Wang, the battle should not be hard. After all, our soldiers are famous for being able to match up against three tis the number of those from the other countries!"
This rry discussion was happening not only in that one part of the city. Everywhere one would see gossipers congregating, this event was surely one of the most talked-about.
In the sa restaurant though, the subject of the tale was actually long eavesdropping to the group of n. There was a veiled girl in greyish black clothing sitting across him at the sa table. Her eyes blinked once when the one called Uncle Bo narrated about the monkey strategy. When she returned her gaze back to the hat-wearing man seated before her, admiration was in her eyes, and she didn't even hide it from him.
"Your Hi---" eting his stern look, she paused then sheepishly smiled. "I an, Respected Sir, you're the hottest talk in the city right now. If my guess is correct, even those from the upper ranks, especially the beautiful unmarried ladies, should be happily sharing your tales with each other. Are you feeling proud and accomplished in your heart?"
The one who just spoke had a soft voice which made her laughter sound so pleasant to the ears. More or less a year ago, this girl left the capital from the heartbreaks and betrayals she experienced, going with the man in front of her to a perilous place to toughen herself and her heart. Now, she was back to her birthplace with the sa man. Many changes occurred to her, and one of the positives should be her getting familiar and comfortable in his presence. She even dared to tease him now.
He raised his head and threw her a glance. With a corner of his mouth slightly tugged upwards, he asked, "Such a small accomplishnt, what's there to be proud of?"
She giggled and replied, "Oh. My apologies for forgetting that Respected Sir has been excellent since young and a target of admiration from both old and young. You are used to this kind of thing and will not be fazed even if the Emperor rained gifts at your door."
"There is sothing you can forget?" The man laughed, his eyes that were dancing in amusent locked onto her eyes that still appeared clear as day to him despite the veil that was trying to blur his vision.
She had been watching him eat for a while, marveling at his every action that appeared good-looking no matter what he does. Hearing his question, she once again smiled. Rows of white teeth in between rose-colored lips graced his sight and made him sigh that the woman in front of him was very beautiful.
Sadly, he saw sothing odd in her eyes. Gone was the playfulness and excitent on them when she teased him about the common topic of those around them. It was replaced by a glint that could send shivers to any weak-hearted person's spine. At that ti, the news about Rui Wang's marriage to the 'eldest' daughter of the Jiangs floated into their ears.
"Right, Respected Sir.... There is truly nothing I can forget... Especially now that I am back." Lowering her head to hide the darkness pooling in her eyes, the girl chortled and answered aningfully.
Princess Consort
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