Chapter 8

Luo Tingshi’s face paled.

His eyes locked onto that single character, rage boiling in his gaze, nearly reducing the letter in his hand to ashes.

Could Yu Zhi truly humiliate him like this?

He had sincerely sought to marry Lu Jing, offering his utmost sincerity. Before this, the worst outcome he had anticipated was Yu Zhi politely declining with a letter of apology.

He never imagined Yu Zhi would be so brazen.

The entire character was written with immense force, each stroke carrying a colossal momentum that seemed to leap through the paper, clawing at him as if mocking his presumption.

Hmph, well, that was to be expected.

Even as a child, Yu Zhi had been this arrogant and overbearing.

Luo Tingshi recalled their first meeting, his gaze turning icy.

At the time, he had accompanied the old emperor on a diplomatic mission to Yu Kingdom. With official business to discuss, the Yu emperor had instructed palace attendants to show him around the imperial palace.

As they reached the imperial garden, something whizzed through the air and smacked squarely against Luo Tingshi’s head. He snatched the falling object and opened his palm to find a magnolia blossom.

“Who are you?” a soft, childish voice asked.

Luo Tingshi looked up to find a beautiful child perched on the nearby rockery, tilting his head curiously to examine him.

Before Luo Tingshi could speak, a palace attendant cried out, “Your Highness, what are you doing here? It’s too dangerous! I’ll help you down at once.”

“No!” The child’s large, dark eyes widened. “I just climbed up. I won’t go down.”

The eunuchs gathered beneath the rockery, pleading earnestly with the child. Luo Tingshi glanced at the magnolia tree blooming profusely beside the rockery, then looked down at the flower clutched in his palm.

He thought, I’ve found the culprit.

A willful child.

Luo Tingshi’s first impression of Yu Zhi had not been favorable.

He snorted derisively, took two steps back, and leaned against the willow tree behind him, arms crossed, observing coldly.

The palace attendants, anxious and fearful, formed a circle around the rockery, terrified the child might fall. After a tense standoff lasting a quarter of an hour, a sudden, cold rebuke pierced the air, landing with a heavy thud.

“All this clamor! What manner of behavior is this!”

Luo Tingshi recognized the voice—it belonged to the Emperor of Yu.

The child’s eyes widened in terror. Panic flashed across his face as he scrambled frantically to climb down the rockery. But his foot slipped, his body tilted, and he tumbled suddenly from the structure.

“Your Royal Highness!” the palace attendants cried out in alarm.

Luo Tingshi’s eyes sharpened. He lunged forward in a single stride, pushing aside the palace attendants below and catching the child securely.

Still shaken, the child clung tightly to Luo Tingshi’s neck, wrapping his arms around him like an octopus. He looked up and flashed a sweet smile: “Thank you, Brother.”

Luo Tingshi lowered his gaze, meeting a pair of smiling, crinkled eyes.

This scene unfolded before the eyes of the two emperors who had rushed to the scene.

Yu Kingdom’s Emperor Yu Heng hurried forward, offering Luo Tingshi a hurried thank you before taking the child from his arms. He anxiously scanned the boy up and down. “Is he hurt anywhere?”

Luo Tingshi’s gaze flickered slightly.

He had expected the Yu Emperor to reprimand this mischievous child, yet the outcome was entirely opposite to his expectations.

The Empress of Yu, Ye Jiang, also approached the father and son. She reached up to ruffle the child’s hair, feigning sternness. “Xiao Yu, what did I tell you?”

The child picked at his fingers, his voice weak. “Don’t do dangerous things. Xiao Yu knows he was wrong.”

“Knowing your mistake and correcting it makes you a good child,” the Empress said with a smile, glancing at Luo Tingshi before turning to the boy. “Your brother saved you. How will you thank him?”

The child pondered for a moment, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. “Give Brother all of Xiao Yu’s snacks and toys.”

The Emperor and Empress couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The harmonious family scene reflected in Luo Tingshi’s eyes. He quickly lowered his head, hiding the unease flickering beneath his gaze.

As fellow princes, why was this little brat so pampered? When he made mistakes, they would soothe him first instead of scolding him?

This was something Luo Tingshi had never witnessed in the imperial family of Sheng Kingdom.

Luo Tingshi found Yu Zhi even more unbearable.

Yu Heng set the child down and turned to Emperor Sheng, declaring, “The Fifth Prince displays such skill and courage at such a young age. He will surely achieve greatness. Emperor Sheng, you have a remarkable son!”

Emperor Sheng shot Luo Tingshi a glance before offering him a grudging compliment: “Well done this time.”

Luo Tingshi, his objective achieved, flashed a smile.

He never did anything unnecessary. Saving Yu Zhi before anyone else merely served his purpose—as the Crown Prince of Yu Kingdom, rescuing him held numerous advantages.

Had it been anyone else, he wouldn’t have bothered to glance their way, let alone intervene.

Unaware of his true thoughts, the boy scampered over, took his hand, and looked up at him. “Big brother, come play with Xiao Yu.”

Luo Tingshi lowered his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Alright.”

Chu Sui stepped into the hall and bowed deeply to Luo Tingshi.

Luo Tingshi’s gaze remained fixed on the letter as he slowly, deliberately, delivered a thunderclap of a question to Chu Sui: “If I were to attack Yu Kingdom at this very moment, Lord Chu, what are our chances of victory?”

Chu Sui could scarcely believe his ears. Swallowing hard, he cautiously repeated, “Your Majesty… are you saying we should attack Yu Kingdom now?”

“Naturally.”

For a moment, Chu Sui’s mind buzzed with questions swirling in his head. Taking a deep breath, he picked the most crucial one to ask Luo Tingshi: “But we have no just cause! Launching an attack recklessly will surely be despised by all under heaven!”

“Who says we lack justification?” Luo Tingshi chuckled softly, lifting the letter. “Isn’t this the perfect reason?”

Chu Sui stared at the sharp character for “Get lost” written on it, his eyes clouding with confusion. “This is…”

Luo Tingshi retrieved the letter, laid it flat on the table, and smoothed out the creases with his fingertips, smiling. “This is a letter from Yu Zhi.”

His brow relaxed, a smile playing at his lips as he spoke with evident pleasure, his slender fingers repeatedly stroking the letter.

Chu Sui’s mouth twitched. Had he not seen the contents himself, he might have thought the Emperor had received a love letter from his beloved.

Luo Tingshi continued, “With sincere affection, I offered three cities as betrothal gifts to marry Lu Jing, the Vice Minister of Rites of Yu Kingdom. Yet the Yu Emperor not only refused but also publicly humiliated me, trampling my true heart underfoot. His actions are nothing less than contempt for our great Sheng Kingdom. If this grievance remains unavenged, will not the Great Sheng forever remain a step below Yu? How could I bear to sit upon this imperial throne while the people of Sheng suffer such indignity before my very eyes? For the sake of the Great Sheng, for the sake of its people, this battle must be fought.”

The emperor’s voice rang out with force and righteous indignation—who could have imagined this was a declaration of war?

If Your Majesty were to deliver these words to the army, it would surely ignite the fighting spirit of countless soldiers. Perhaps we could even capture several cities of Yu in one decisive blow.

The letter was restored to its original state. Luo Tingshi carefully repacked it and placed it in the ebony box beside him before rising to his feet.

He paced over to Chu Sui, gently patting his arm with a look of earnest hope. “General Chu, you possess both military prowess and strategic brilliance, mastering the art of warfare with unparalleled genius—a talent that comes but once in a century. Should you lead the assault on Yu, you would sweep through the enemy like a whirlwind, striking straight at the heart of the dragon court.”

Chu Sui gave a bitter smile. “Your Majesty, I laid down my armor years ago. How could I possibly wield a spear now?”

Luo Tingshi raised an eyebrow slightly. “So you’re saying, Minister Chu, you refuse to restore honor to the people of our Great Sheng?”

Chu Sui was rendered speechless. After a long pause, he sighed, “Your Majesty, you are putting me in an impossible position!”

Luo Tingshi’s smile faded as he spoke earnestly, “The late emperor was foolish, misled by slanderous words, and stripped you of your military authority. Now, I shall not allow a capable general to suffer unjust humiliation. Chu Sui, your place is on the battlefield.”

Chu Sui’s heart trembled. After a long silence, he bowed deeply to Luo Tingshi.

“This servant shall not fail in his mission.”

–

“Did Luo Tingshi send for you?”

Yu Zhi paused his writing, lifting his gaze to look at Lu Jing below. Yet Lu Jing kept his head bowed, staring at his own toes, looking extremely uncomfortable.

Yu Zhi’s heart suddenly began to race wildly, his voice growing colder: “Minister Lu, lift your head. Let this Emperor see you.”

At the command, Lu Jing slowly raised his head, his slightly flushed cheeks coming into view.

Yu Zhi closed his eyes briefly, his tone heavy. “What did he say to you?”

Lu Jing opened his mouth, his cheeks flushing deeper. He stammered, “He sent word saying… ‘Since we have consummated our marriage, you are now mine. I shall take you back to Sheng Kingdom.’ Your Majesty… did you…”

Damn Luo Tingshi!

Yu Zhi couldn’t suppress the urge to kill him.

Lu Jing, seeing the Emperor visibly shaken and pale, hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, rest assured. I won’t tell anyone.”

Yu Zhi waved his hand weakly. “I believe you.”

No one spoke. The room fell instantly silent.

Just as Lu Jing pondered how to comfort His Majesty, an urgent report shattered the stillness.

“Your Majesty! Trouble at the border! Shengguo will likely launch an attack within days.”

“What?”

Yu Zhi knew Luo Ting intended to attack Yu Kingdom, but hadn’t expected it so soon. He sprang to his feet.

“I must go to the border.”