“Your Majesty, what makes you so happy?”
Consort Liu, seeing no one around, asked curiously.
“My dear consort, Qinghuai found a master in Jinchuan who created a grand formation specifically to counter cavalry.”
Chen Ji flicked his sleeve joyfully, “With this formation, we have no more worries!”
“This consort congratulates Your Majesty!”
Consort Liu quickly knelt to offer her congratulations.
“Hahaha, my dear consort, a victory report arrives the moment you come. You truly are a lucky star.”
Chen Ji gleefully pinched Consort Liu’s chin, “Prepare your Deyin Palace. I’ll visit tonight.”
“Yes!”
Consort Liu, thrilled, kowtowed in response.
Chen Ji rarely left his sleeping palace in recent years, usually summoning consorts to his quarters.
His decision to spend the night at Deyin Palace was a great honour for Consort Liu.
“This humble servant greets Your Majesty. Long live our Emperor, long live, long live!”
In Hongde Hall, several Red Feather Messengers knelt, shouting long life.
“We ask you, did you personally witness the Iron Forest Army’s battle against the Dangxiang cavalry?”
Chen Ji knew inflating military merits was a tradition in the Ministry of War, so despite reading the report, he remained cautious.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble servant is the Iron Forest Army’s standard-bearer. During the battle, I was by General Jin’s side, relaying orders, witnessing the entire fight.”
General Fan, anticipating Chen Ji’s questions, had deliberately sent the standard-bearer back.
“Then tell Us what happened. If you dare lie, We’ll exterminate your nine clans!”
Chen Ji demanded.
“This humble servant would not dare deceive Your Majesty. Every word is true.”
The standard-bearer immediately recounted the battle’s events.
Meanwhile, news of the Clearwater Valley victory spread through the capital.
Nobles who received the news could not sit still.
Minister of War Zhou Guan rushed to the Right Chancellor’s residence.
Privy Councillor Gao You, forgoing a carriage, rode straight to the Grand Marshal’s mansion.
Bianjing’s surface was jubilant, but undercurrents surged beneath.
In Duke Qing’s mansion, Second Young Master Qingfan rushed into his elder brother Qingzheng’s courtyard, “Big brother, bad news.”
“Second brother, how many times have I told you to stay composed? Such recklessness will earn you another scolding from Father.”
Eldest Young Master Qingzheng, holding a birdcage, reprimanded, “What’s the rush?”
He had been closely watching the Iron Forest Army. Days ago, hearing Qinghuai was gravely injured and comatose, he celebrated by getting drunk for three days at Chunfeng Tower.
“Big brother, urgent report from the Western Garrison. The Iron Forest Army defeated the Dangxiang cavalry at Clearwater Valley, slaying a thousand, capturing a thousand!”
Qingfan panted.
Clatter!
Qingzheng’s birdcage crashed to the ground.
The goldfinch inside, bought for five hundred taels of silver from another dandy, was his treasure. Normally, a servant touching it would lose a hand.
But now, as the goldfinch fluttered frantically in the cage, Qingzheng ignored it, grabbed Qingfan’s collar, and glared, “Impossible. Where did you hear this? It’s fake, right?”
“Big brother, it’s a report from the Western Garrison’s Red Feather Messengers. How could it be fake?”
Red Feather Messengers signified utmost urgency. All officials and post stations along the way had to assist fully, even bandits would let them pass.
Dandy generals might inflate merits but would never use Red Feather Messengers unless requesting aid.
“But Qinghuai is gravely injured and comatose. How could the Iron Forest Army win?”
Qingzheng still couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t know,” Qingfan said, “But I heard one of the returning Red Feather Messengers is from the Iron Forest Army. He’ll likely come to report to Father. If we wait at the gate, we might catch him.”
“Let’s go.”
Qingzheng kicked the birdcage aside, dragging Qingfan to the gate.
Soon, a soldier with a red feather rode up. The Qing brothers saw the words “Iron Forest” on his helmet by the ears.
It was indeed the Iron Forest Army’s standard-bearer.
After his recounting to Chen Ji, the emperor was delighted, rewarding him three hundred taels of silver.
With this sum, he could buy a small house in Bianjing for his parents and wife.
Besides the report, he carried a private letter from General Fan to Duke Qing. Leaving the palace, he headed straight to Duke Qing’s mansion.
But before reaching the gate, he was stopped.
“Hey, are you from the Iron Forest Army?”
Qingzheng asked, squinting.
“This humble one is.”
Seeing their lavish attire, the standard-bearer knew not to offend them. He dismounted and saluted, “May I ask who the two young masters are?”
“We’re Qinghuai’s elder brothers!”
“So, it’s the Eldest and Second Young Masters!”
Not one of Qinghuai’s personal guards, the standard-bearer was unaware of their strained relations and saluted respectfully.
“I heard the Iron Forest Army won at Clearwater Valley. What happened? Tell us.”
“Yes!”
Before returning, Jin Feng had instructed him to spread word of the Clearwater Valley victory and the Iron Forest Army’s prowess in the capital.
So, the standard-bearer vividly recounted to the Qing brothers what he told the emperor.
“Cracking melon seeds and finding a bug. Where did this damned Jin Feng come from?”
After hearing it, Qingzheng punched a nearby tree.
They couldn’t understand why the Iron Forest Army won despite Qinghuai’s coma.
Now it was clear—it was all because of this damned Jin Feng.
Without him, the Iron Forest Army would have been finished.
Without the Iron Forest Army, Qinghuai, even if alive, would be a toothless tiger, no threat.
“Young master, do not insult General Jin!”
The standard-bearer, now a devoted follower of Jin Feng, darkened at their insults.
“So what if I insult him?”
Qingzheng kicked the standard-bearer’s leg.
Still unsatisfied, he unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks.
The standard-bearer, not daring to fight back, crouched and covered his head.
“Scoundrels!”
Duke Qing, about to leave, saw the brothers beating the standard-bearer and turned livid, “Guards, drag them to the ancestral hall. Thirty heavy military strokes each!”
“Father, mercy!”
Qingzheng, terrified, dropped to his knees.
Thirty strokes would nearly kill him, keeping him from Chunfeng Tower for three months.
“Red Feather Messengers, blockers beheaded. You dare assault one? Thirty strokes are lenient!”
Duke Qing kicked Qingzheng’s shoulder, “Get back and reflect!”
Qingzheng and Qingfan realised their mistake. This wasn’t an ordinary Iron Forest soldier but a Red Feather Messenger.
Duke Qing was right—assaulting one could justify their execution.
The brothers, as if escaping death’s door, paled.
Duke Qing, disappointed, glanced at them, ordered attendants to help the standard-bearer up, and asked calmly, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine.”
The standard-bearer knew a duke wouldn’t apologise to a mere soldier.
Asking if he was alright was already immense care.
He quickly shook his head, pulling a letter from his chest, “Duke, this is a letter from General Fan for you.”
“Good.”
Duke Qing nodded, taking the envelope, “My wife has been worried about your general and the Iron Forest Army. Since you’re from Clearwater Valley, go see her and tell her about the third young master’s condition.
Butler, fetch three hundred taels from the treasury, send it to the second lady’s courtyard as a reward.”
“Thank you, Duke.”
The standard-bearer, thrilled, nearly jumped, following the butler into Duke Qing’s mansion to see Qinghuai’s mother.
