Chapter 995 – Battle at the Northern Border (Thirty-Two)
The strategist was inspired by the Sixth Prince, his mind racing as a new plan took shape suddenly.
“Dai Wang,” he said, “I’ve heard that Liu Xi is not only the eldest daughter but also has a half-brother under Liu Zhi.” The advisor’s brain churned quickly as a scheme of sowing discord formed within him. “In the Central Plains, the Han have always looked down on women. Even if there are no males in the family, the inheritance goes to an adopted son, not a daughter. No matter how capable Liu Xi is, she is still an unmarried girl…”
A daughter who is married is like water that has been poured out; once she is married, she belongs to the husband’s family, and at her natal home, she becomes a guest.
The Han of the Central Plains have no custom of leaving ancestral heritage to women.
No matter how capable a woman is, the inheritance goes to the men, or else it would be the end of the line!
The Sixth Prince was momentarily bewildered and quickly asked, “What do you mean?”
The advisor replied, “Dai Wang, regardless of Liu Xi’s battle prowess, Liu Zhi is still alive. Using the Central Plains’ saying, one ‘filial piety’ can easily crush her. She’s just an unmarried daughter; the more she earns, the more it will end up as a dowry for that half-brother…”
As the Sixth Prince listened, he nodded, realizing what this meant.
“You mean… to sow discord between Liu Xi and her half-brother? To have them compete against each other?”
Jiang Pengji had reached her current position not by relying on her family’s status or connections.
In other words, she built this vast territory from scratch.
If because she is a daughter, she is forced by Liu Zhi to hand over everything she earned, how can she not resent it?
From the half-brother’s perspective, taking everything from his elder sister seems only natural, as he is the one who must carry on the Liu lineage. Everything earned by an unmarried sister rightfully belongs to him. If Jiang Pengji refuses to hand it over, it would feel like theft to the half-brother.
The advisor nodded seriously, feeling the weight of the matter.
“Dai Wang, you are wise; this is indeed the point.” The advisor smiled, “If a disturbance arises behind the lines, Liu Xi naturally won’t be able to focus on the front.”
Liu Xi’s neglect of the front would mean a greater chance of discovering the treachery at play.
The Sixth Prince nodded, looking enlightened.
“Then this matter… I’ll leave it to you. Be sure to handle it thoroughly.”
The Sixth Prince was a typical Northern Border man, his mind filled with brawn.
He valued strength above all and revered violence.
What good are brains against his fists, after all?
As long as he was strong, there were plenty willing to devise strategies for him.
The advisor chuckled, “I will not fail in my mission.”
Dual efforts are needed for quick results.
The Sixth Prince began plotting the tribes’ treachery while simultaneously staging a distraction behind Jiang Pengji.
To make Jiang Pengji lower her guard, the Sixth Prince even deliberately pulled back some of his troops, making her advance smoother.
With a series of victories, Jiang Pengji didn’t revel in glory; instead, she darkened her expression and commanded the army to regroup.
Qi Guanrang and Wei Ci were the first to notice the abnormality. The former didn’t ask much but instead handed this task over to Wei Ci.
Wei Ci hesitantly accepted the urgent assignment, pondering how to approach it.
“Just ask what you need to know; why hold back?”
Jiang Pengji didn’t stop her movements, merely raising her eyelids. While her expression stayed neutral, her eyes softened slightly.
Wei Ci hesitated a moment and said, “My lord, you haven’t seemed well these past few days…”
When it was just the two of them, Jiang Pengji usually had no airs about her. She often mingled freely with her subordinates, laughing and cursing together without restraint.
In formal settings, however, she was quite composed, her expressions minimal, making it difficult to observe her true feelings unless one looked closely enough.
Wei Ci could sense her mood; she was unhappy, and there was even a hint of anger.
“Is it because of this matter?” Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow, humor glinting in her eyes as she asked, “Doesn’t Zixiao think we’re winning too easily?”
Wei Ci furrowed his brows. “Do you suspect there are other schemes from the Northern Border?”
Jiang Pengji replied, “No, I just dislike the atmosphere of excitement in the camp. Let’s pause and cool their heads.”
Wei Ci took a moment to reflect, understanding Jiang Pengji’s intentions.
Since the battle at the Northern Border began, they had faced enemies who suffered crushing defeats, hardly facing any setbacks.
Now that they had a smooth sailing, with enemies striking fear at just their name, both commanders and foot soldiers were showing signs of restlessness.
Jiang Pengji couldn’t demoralize them, but she could delay their advance to allow them to calm down.
Wei Ci sighed in relief. “If it’s this matter, then I’m at ease.”
Jiang Pengji countered, “Otherwise, what do you think it is?”
For a moment, Wei Ci was taken aback, making direct eye contact with her gaze.
“My lord—”
Jiang Pengji continued, “Coincidentally, I also have something to ask you.”
Wei Ci readily complied, “Please ask, my lord! I will answer anything.”
Jiang Pengji asked, “Between the Wei Clan and me, which is more important?”
Since the Northern Border battle began, it was a rare opportunity for her to be alone with Wei Ci. There were some questions she wanted to clarify.
Qi Guanrang had alerted her that being indirect and silent would not resolve the issue; being straightforward might be more effective.
Wei Ci was momentarily speechless, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Which is more important?”
Wei Ci forced a smile, “A fish and a bear’s paw cannot be had together. No matter how I answer, there will always be something unsatisfactory.”
For a well-educated scion, family lineage far surpassed all else. Every descendant must uphold this principle.
However, Wei Ci was different; his past experiences made him more open-minded than anyone else.
Between family and her, which was more important?
Is there even a need to think about it?
“Naturally, it’s my lord.” Wei Ci said softly yet firmly, “No one weighs more in my heart than you.”
Jiang Pengji stared at him intently and said softly, “Then, Zixiao, would you be willing to become my loyal subject?”
What does loyal subject mean?
It refers to a distant subject who is isolated and not given regard, as well as someone with their own thoughts and personal integrity, not pursuing fame or power but rather refusing to cater to others. Jiang Pengji’s question was crystal clear.
Choosing her meant that Wei Ci would have to cut ties completely with the Wei Clan.
Aside from her, he couldn’t lean toward anyone else.
Of course, there was a deeper layer to this question.
Wei Ci struggled to speak, “My lord, if one day Heaven warns—‘the Emperor will not pass a generation, Huangfu will replace him,’ would you believe it?”
Jiang Pengji frowned at the words. “Heaven warns? What does that warning entail?”
“A meteor falling as a warning, inscribed with words…”
Before Wei Ci could finish, he noticed his lord’s eyes reflecting the words “Are you stupid?”
“First, if a meteor from outer space has words inscribed on it, by the time it travels to Earth’s surface, those words would have vanished. Second, meteors from outside are just unburnt remnants of cosmic debris or mixed materials from other celestial bodies; it’s impossible for them to have words.” What Jiang Pengji said left Wei Ci dumbfounded; he understood each word, but when combined, he couldn’t make sense of it. His lord even added, “If such a stone really existed, inscribed with ‘the Emperor will not pass a generation, Huangfu will replace him,’ it’s more likely someone wants to eliminate you—”
