Chapter 130: The Letter

"Your Highness, the official I am speaking of is the Governor of Pingzhou, Du Yong!" Liu Shuming’s voice was low, his eyes glinting with malice.

Xiao Shengjie frowned. "Du Yong? We may not necessarily be able to seize his troops."

"Who says the troops must be seized? If the military power is left without a master, would it not then belong to the Imperial House? It is killing two birds with one stone!" As Liu Shuming spoke, he made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Killing two birds with one stone..." Liu Yan'er nearly lost her footing, stumbling and collapsing against the doorframe. She could never have imagined that her own father would target the one she loved.

No, she could not let Jun Han return; this place was a den of wolves and tigers.

The young girl scrambled away, running back to her study, gasping for air. Too frantic to notice her exhaustion, she grabbed some paper.

The maid standing by watched in stunned silence; she had never seen her mistress in such a state of panic before.

"Taohong, grind the ink for me."

"Yes, yes." The personal maid, caught up in the tension, began to grind the ink while stealing worried glances at her mistress.

Liu Yan'er’s hands were trembling slightly. Was it fear? Or worry?

"Miss?" Taohong took the paper Liu Yan'er handed to her, looking confused. Why did her mistress look so ghastly pale?

Liu Yan'er pulled a banknote from her sleeve and thrust it into the maid's hand, whispering urgently, "Deliver this letter to Pingzhou in secret. You must be quick!"

***

Inside the Chu family military camp in Liaozhou, the air was filled with singing, dancing, and joy.

A young boy sat by the bonfire, the flickering flames reflecting in his eyes, giving them a hint of allure. Within the light of his eyes, the silhouette of a young lad, about twelve or thirteen years old, could be seen.

"Well done!" Chu Jun Han stood up and clapped in approval.

Across from him lay a brawny man, grimacing in pain, while a young boy stood nearby, proudly tilting his chin.

The soldier climbed up, clutching his backside, and cupped his hands toward the boy. "Young Master Feiyang has incredible strength; I admit defeat."

Yun Yi looked smug. "Is there anyone else who refuses to accept this?"

The soldiers around the bonfire lowered their heads. This was already the one hundred and twentieth soldier the boy had thrown; his immense strength was legendary in the camp, and no one wanted to end up with a bruised backside.

"I’ll take you on!" A haughty voice rang out.

Yun Yi frowned and pouted. "Beautiful brother, I... I can't beat you..."

"If you know you can't beat me, why haven't you come over yet?"

"Oh." Yun Yi replied unhappily, hanging his head as he walked over to Chu Jun Han. Tang Chen stood to the side, suppressing a smile, his eyes filled with indulgence.

"You are not allowed to play like this anymore. Look at you—the new clothes they made for you are ruined again." Chu Jun Han straightened the hem of Yun Yi’s tunic, speaking with the earnest, nagging care of an older sister.

Ten years had passed, and the little babe of the past had grown into a dashing young lad with sharp, defined features and the early signs of a handsome face.

Raised in the military camp, Yun Yi was naturally imbued with a sense of fortitude; only when he saw Chu Jun Han did he wilt like a thirsty cabbage, hanging his head.

"And another thing..." Chu Jun Han patted Yun Yi’s head. She had watched him grow up; he was like a younger brother to her.

"Report! General, there is mail." A soldier interrupted Chu Jun Han’s nagging and handed over three letters.

"So many?" The youth’s brows furrowed tightly.

In the twenty-second year of Tianwu, was the catastrophe of the Chu family’s annihilation finally arriving?

Hearing this, Tang Chen stood up from the ground, brushed the dust off his trousers, and walked over to the youth. His own brows were knit together; he had been feeling restless for days.