“If Master is worried that His Majesty will punish you after the war, Wuyang can guarantee that if we win, Imperial Father will never hold Master accountable!”
Seeing that Jin Feng did not agree at once, the Ninth Princess guessed his concern.
After thinking for a moment, she continued, “Actually, Imperial Father is not foolish. He also wishes to be a ruler who restores the dynasty’s glory. He merely lacks firmness of will and always wavers.
Last time, when he agreed to increase tribute to Xixia, he regretted it for months afterwards. Several times I saw him shaking his head and sighing with remorse while reviewing memorials.
If we achieve victory, and I then write to explain the stakes, Father will certainly support me!”
“You yourself know His Majesty’s resolve is weak. You will not be in the capital. If one day he has another impulsive moment and orders my execution, where could I go for justice?” Jin Feng said irritably.
“Master is upright and may not realise it, but when Wuyang asks you to become commander of my guard, I am in effect handing myself to you as hostage.”
The Ninth Princess said, “If we truly win yet Father still blames you, Wuyang will place herself entirely at Master’s disposal!”
“At my disposal? How exactly would I dispose of you?”
Jin Feng replied, “To speak treasonously, if His Majesty really wanted my head, I certainly would not stretch out my neck and wait. The most likely outcome would be turning outlaw in the hills. Would you come with me and become my mountain stronghold wife?”
“Insolent!” Qin’er glared furiously at Jin Feng.
One word from the princess and she would seize this shameless lecher.
“Qin’er, stand down!” The Ninth Princess waved her hand. “Master, do you know why I like West River Bay so much?”
“Why else? Like that glutton over there, you’re just greedy for my family’s cooking.” Jin Feng pointed casually at Qing Mulan.
“No, it is because of you, Master.” The Ninth Princess shook her head. “Wuyang can feel that Master truly treats me as a friend. Here I can hear honest words instead of flattery. It makes me happy.”
“You’re just… being pretentious!”
Jin Feng had nearly said “masochistic”, but hastily changed it when he realised it was inappropriate.
In truth, he had long understood this, which was why he dared speak so freely.
“So long as Master is willing to help Wuyang fight Tubo, if afterwards Father does blame you and Master really turns outlaw, Wuyang is willing to become your mountain stronghold wife and obey you in all things. How about it?”
The Ninth Princess spoke as though joking, yet her expression was utterly serious.
“Ahem, you are a princess. Don’t say such things lightly!” Jin Feng coughed twice to cover his embarrassment.
He glanced quickly at Qing Mulan and Qin’er.
Especially Qin’er. He genuinely feared this violent girl might think he was flirting with the princess and slap him across the face.
With her strength, she could knock out half his teeth.
Fortunately, Qing Mulan stared at the ceiling while Qin’er studied the floor, both acting as if they had heard nothing.
“Wuyang is not joking,” the Ninth Princess said slowly, fixing her gaze on Jin Feng. “If Master does not believe me, Wuyang is willing to attend you this very night!”
“Your Highness, a joke is fine, but this is going too far.” Jin Feng hurriedly waved his hands.
“Wuyang is not joking. Marriage for peace is now impossible. Whenever Master wishes, Wuyang is ready.” The princess spoke with complete seriousness.
“This is getting more and more outrageous!”
Jin Feng simply changed the subject. “Your Highness, you didn’t already guess Tubo would pull this stunt before you came for the marriage alliance, did you?”
He had only asked to divert the conversation.
Yet the more he thought about it afterwards, the more likely it seemed.
“What does Master think?” Instead of answering directly, the Ninth Princess kept her solemn expression and turned the question back to him.
“I’m not you. How would I know what you’re thinking?”
“If we are truly fated, then when the time comes for us to share a bridal chamber, I will tell Master everything.”
Again she looked perfectly serious while saying words that sounded like teasing…
“Are you ever going to stop?” Jin Feng exclaimed. “If Your Highness has more business, please speak quickly. Otherwise I shall take my leave!”
He had meant to tease the princess a little, but who would have thought her face was even thicker than Tang Xiaobei’s? She truly held nothing back.
And he could not even tell whether she was joking or serious.
It left Jin Feng feeling rather defeated.
“Very well, let us speak of serious matters.”
The Ninth Princess said, “Wuyang still holds one Grade-B military establishment quota. If Master helps me repel Tubo, besides payment for the heavy crossbows and trebuchets, Wuyang will give this quota to Master as well. What do you say?”
“A Grade-B military quota?”
Jin Feng’s heart was even more moved.
Given Great Kang’s current situation, possessing a military establishment quota was equivalent to having a legal private army.
For example, the Qing family’s Qingyuan Army and Changxin Army could be mobilised at will by the Qing household.
The Tielin Army recognised only Qing Huai as commander. Even when the emperor temporarily sent Zhang Qiwei there, no one truly obeyed him.
Everyone with eyes knew the emperor had only been warning the Qing family and never genuinely intended to remove Qing Huai.
Later, when Duke Qing made the slightest concession, Zhang Qiwei obediently returned the Tielin Army to Qing Huai.
With a Grade-B quota, Jin Feng could arm five thousand men!
If he later equipped them with firearms, who in the realm could stand against him?
Nevertheless, the matter was momentous, and Jin Feng did not decide immediately.
“Your Highness, I need to think about this.”
“Very well. Wuyang will wait one night for Master’s answer.”
The Ninth Princess said, “If Master agrees, I shall remain in West River Bay until Master has formed the guard battalion. If Master refuses, Wuyang will take the heavy crossbows and leave at dawn.”
“Agreed!”
Jin Feng nodded and left the room.
That night, Jin Feng could not sleep.
He remembered how, when he first transmigrated, he had only wanted to become a wealthy landowner, marry a few pretty concubines, and live out his days in comfort.
Yet people can never fully control their own lives.
To avoid living subserviently, he had been forced to the front to earn a title.
To avoid being extorted by bandits, he had been forced to suppress them.
To find peace of mind, he had opened one workshop after another.
Jin Feng knew the wisest choice was to stay out of the princess’s affair.
By his original plan, he had already achieved the life he wanted.
He had a title, he had earned enough money, and as for concubines, if he wished, the beauties of Sichuan and Shu were plentiful; he could choose almost at will.
Even if Tubo invaded, what of it?
His current arrangements were sufficient for him to escape comfortably to Jiangnan.
With his abilities, establishing himself in Jiangnan would not be difficult.
The Yangtze River formed a natural barrier. By the time Tubo, Xixia, and Khitan fought their way to Jiangnan, he would probably be near the end of his life anyway.
When a man is about to die, what does it matter if Great Kang is reduced to ruins?
But was this truly the life he wanted?
Jin Feng asked himself over and over in his heart.
“My dear, what’s wrong?”
Feeling Jin Feng tossing and turning, Guan Xiaorou sat up and asked.
“The Ninth Princess wants me to become her guard commander…”
Feeling thoroughly agitated, and since Guan Xiaorou was the person closest to him, Jin Feng poured out all his worries like a flood.
