Chapter 98

Ten miles from the capital, a solitary pavilion stood by the roadside. This small pavilion, though somewhat dilapidated, had over the centuries left behind countless well-known articles and poems. As time passed, its fame grew, and it had witnessed countless emotional farewells and joyful welcomes.

The Ten-Mile Pavilion, a scenic spot in the capital.

Today, despite the excellent weather, the pavilion was clearly not a place for sightseeing, as it was under strict guard. The capital's emperor's personal guard, the Fire Phoenix Army, consisting of three thousand soldiers, had surrounded the area, making it impossible to enter. The person they were protecting was now sitting inside the pavilion.

The four pillars were draped with green gauze, which not only shielded from the sun and dust but also blocked the view from a distance.

Min Ruoying, who had just been appointed as the crown prince by the emperor of the Great Chu and was temporarily overseeing the state due to the emperor's health, was, in a practical sense, already the de facto emperor of Chu. Today, he had specially come out of the city to welcome an extremely important person.

Princess Zhaohua was returning to the capital today.

Emperor Min Wei of the Great Chu, known for his literary and military achievements, was the most celebrated emperor in the history of the Great Chu. However, he had only two sons and one daughter, with both sons, Min Ruoying and Min Ruoxi, being born to the empress.

"Your Highness, they are almost here," An Ruhai said, lifting his head and gazing into the distance through the gauze. An Ruhai was a top-notch expert at the peak of the ninth level, but the Min Ruoying before him, though just over thirty, had also reached the ninth level. However, he rarely showed his skills, so the outside world knew little about his true abilities. An Ruhai could sense what was happening, and so could Min Ruoying.

"Commander An, once they arrive, Qin Feng will be handed over to you," Min Ruoying said.

"Yes!" An Ruhai paused for a moment, "Your Highness, why not just end it all? Once I bring him back, I can kill him outright. From the intelligence gathered along the way, it seems the princess is deeply infatuated with him. If we delay, and the princess finds out, it might cause some trouble."

Min Ruoying smiled, "I understand your concern, Commander An. You're worried that Qin Feng might affect the relationship between my siblings, so you want to take the blame. But aren't you afraid that Ruoxi will hate you in the future?"

An Ruhai shook his head, "I'm not afraid. For Your Highness, I'm willing to take the blame. Besides, in time, the princess will understand my good intentions."

Min Ruoxi glanced at An Ruhai, who did not look back. His stern face remained fixed on the end of the road. Min Ruoying knew that An Ruhai's willingness to take the blame was not out of flattery, but rather because he was a loyal servant of the Min dynasty. As the crown prince, and soon to be the emperor of the Great Chu, An Ruhai was simply transferring his loyalty from the emperor to him. If it were his brother sitting here, An Ruhai would have said the same thing.

"Commander An, you've seen me grow up, haven't you?" Min Ruoying suddenly asked.

An Ruhai was slightly taken aback, turned his head, and looked at Min Ruoying. After a moment, he smiled, "Yes, when Your Highness was born, I was just over twenty, serving as a guard for His Majesty. You weighed eight pounds at birth, and I remember how delighted His Majesty was. He even rewarded me with a jade ruyi."

"Was I very mischievous as a child?" Min Ruoying asked with a smile.

An Ruhai hesitated, "Yes, Your Highness was indeed very mischievous as a child. You loved fighting and once almost crippled the grandson of the powerful Left Chancellor because he bullied Min Ruocheng, who was then the crown prince. In my memory, you had a small fight every three days and a big fight every five days, and the two days in between were spent being punished by His Majesty."

Min Ruoying laughed heartily, looking at An Ruhai and shaking his head, "Commander An, you've learned to be diplomatic. Who taught you that?"

An Ruhai's face darkened even more, "Your Highness."

Min Ruoying stopped him, raising his hand to prevent An Ruhai from speaking further, "Commander An, you are an old minister who has seen me grow up. My father trusted you, and I trust you just as much. You can speak directly to me. You are different from others."

An Ruhai lowered his head.

"I know what you want to say!" Min Ruoying's expression turned somewhat sad but also resolute, "We have all grown up, and the innocence of our childhood will never return. I am trying to forget the past. Commander An, I am no longer the boy who would fight to protect my brother or sister. I must become a different person to achieve my dreams. A ruthless person. When I decided to walk this path, I was no longer myself."

Seeing An Ruhai's hesitation, Min Ruoying continued, "Uncle An, I know you disapprove, or even despise me, but I have never regretted it. To accomplish what Emperor Li Qing did, what's a little blood on my hands? This is just the beginning. There will be more bloodshed in the future. The western border army is just the first step. I will not forget their sacrifices, but I do not regret my actions."

"I don't need your understanding, but I need your support."

An Ruhai nodded, "No matter what you have done, since you are the emperor's appointed crown prince and the future emperor, I will do my utmost to support you."

Min Ruoying smiled, clapping his hands, "Good, I was waiting for you to say that. But Uncle An, I want to give you a new position. This is not about trust, but about the need for you to take charge of a different place."

"Your Highness means the western border," An Ruhai asked.

"Great minds think alike," Min Ruoying laughed, "The western border is in chaos without Left Chancellor Zuo Lixing and the western border army. It will take at least five to ten years to restore the glory of the past, and this will require a capable person. You, Uncle An, are the most suitable candidate in terms of both ability and prestige."

An Ruhai sighed, "Your Highness, if only we had known this from the beginning. It will take a great deal of manpower, resources, and lives to drive the Western Qin out of the Luoying Mountains again."

"Rest assured, An Ruhai will do his best to fulfill your instructions," An Ruhai said.

"Good! When you get there, just ask for whatever you need. Whatever you want, I will provide it," Min Ruoying said, "Once this is done, you can take up your post. Qin Feng must die, but not by private execution. His crimes with the daredevil camp must be announced to the world, and then he will be executed publicly. As for Ruoxi, I will find a way. She is a daughter of the Min family and must understand the gravity of the situation. She is my blood sister, and I don't believe that Qin Feng means more to her than I do."

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