Chapter 0021: The Emperor’s Demeanor

Chapter 0021: The Emperor's Demeanor

Qu Yunmie didn't go far. He went straight back to the palace and then, without changing his expression, entered the eastern wing of the palace, which Xiao Rong considered as forbidden territory.

It was where he thought Qu Yunmie's concubines lived. ...

The eastern wing wasn't particularly mysterious; it just had its main gate always closed. This was because the residents of the eastern wing rarely ventured out, and when they did, they used the back door to avoid contact with strangers.

Qu Yunmie walked through the corridor with familiarity, encountering two or three teenagers in their early teens along the way. Upon seeing him, they bowed respectfully, though not as fearfully as those outside. Qu Yunmie glanced at them and continued walking.

He paused briefly before the largest chamber, hesitating for a moment before continuing forward.

In the western wing, this large chamber served as the meeting hall, frequently used by advisors and generals. In the eastern wing, it was also an office, but instead of endless meetings, there was continuous preparation of medicinal herbs.

In the nearly three hundred square meter space, many people were busy sorting, dividing, and grinding herbs, crushing stones, cutting insects, and cleaning weapons. Everyone had tasks to do.

Qu Yunmie was unfazed by the scene and silently made his way to the far end. Those who saw him pass looked up curiously but kept working.

Pushing through piles of clutter, in a corner of the chamber sat a woman. She appeared somewhat old, giving the impression of being around fifty, although she was actually only forty-three.

Her skin was slightly dark, her features sharp and enduring. With some adornment, she wouldn't be inferior to the pampered noblewomen. However, she wore few accessories and had no expression on her face, making her look both determined and stern. She wasn't exactly a likable face.

Qu Yunmie approached her, adjusted his robe, and sat down in front of her.

He called out, "Luo Wu."

The woman, who was examining some herbs, slowly lifted her head upon hearing his voice.

Qu Yunmie continued, "Luo Wu, I need a piece of Salt Maiden Ginseng."

She finally looked at him properly and asked in her accented official language, "Is someone injured?"

Qu Yunmie paused before answering, "No."

She asked again, "Is someone dying?"

Qu Yunmie replied, "No."

She pressed further, "Then why do you need Salt Maiden Ginseng? I won't give it to you unless you tell me."

Finally, she recited a long string of syllables, which was Qu Yunmie's true name, translated from the Butu language.

Knowing her character well, Qu Yunmie explained, "A new advisor has arrived at the palace, but he is very ill, coughing blood and running a fever. He is useful, and I want him to live longer." She raised an eyebrow.

Salt Maiden Ginseng was not an ordinary herb. It was collected under the desperate decision of the Butu tribe when the previous queen ordered them to gather all they could. Their living conditions were so unique that even their own people might not find their way back after leaving. Thus, each piece of Salt Maiden Ginseng was precious.

Growing in the deep pits of towering mountains near Salt Maiden Lake, these herbs were rare but highly effective, far surpassing common ginseng. The Xianbei, Goguryeo, and Khitan all coveted Salt Maiden Ginseng, a priceless treasure. Qu Yunmie had never asked for it before.

Though Qu Yunmie didn't disdain his mixed heritage and was close to the Butu people, he never confused his position. Outside, he was the Northern Pacification King, commanding respect; here, she was the queen, whose word was law. Qu Yunmie couldn't command her.

Her name was Agusega, the younger sister of the previous queen, Qu Yunmie's mother.

Agusega was born when her mother died in childbirth, and her sister, only nine years old, was forced to take over leadership during difficult times. Her sister cared for both the tribe and young Agusega, becoming a mother figure to her.

For Qu Yunmie, it was similar. When he was one year old, both his parents passed away, and Agusega took on the role of a mother in his life. However, this maternal role was incomplete. As Qu Yunmie grew older, Agusega never involved herself in the affairs of the Northern Pacification Army, and Qu Yunmie never interfered with the internal matters of the Butu tribe. This understanding led to a growing distance between them.

Was their familial bond weakened? Not entirely; they still cared for each other, but they had little to say to each other.

Agusega wanted to ask about the new advisor and why Qu Yunmie would seek Salt Maiden Ginseng for him, but she hadn't shown such concern in years. After a moment of silence, she asked another question, "Li Xiuheng."

"Why is he still alive?"

Upon hearing this name, a woman grinding herbs nearby looked over.

Qu Yunmie didn't notice her and simply answered, "He is still useful."

Agusega: "What use?"

Qu Yunmie: "I don't know. Xiao Rong didn't say."

Agusega looked puzzled, "Who is Xiao Rong?"

Qu Yunmie: "The new advisor I mentioned earlier."

Agusega: "..."

She gave Qu Yunmie a peculiar look, stood up, and turned to him, asking, "When Li Xiuheng is no longer useful, will you kill him yourself?"

Qu Yunmie answered casually, "Of course."

Agusega nodded and said equally calmly, "Remember to have Danran check on him, and Ayan—"

Mentioning this name, Agusega instinctively looked behind her. The chamber was peaceful, everyone busy with their tasks, no one watching them.

Looking at the figure grinding herbs repeatedly, Agusega shook her head, "Never mind, wait here."

Agusega retrieved a small box from her room. Inside lay three pieces of Salt Maiden Ginseng. Initially, they brought seventeen pieces, now reduced to three.

After the Northern Pacification Army grew, she used them less. In the past, the death of one person would lead to a night of mourning; now, even the death of ten thousand wouldn't prompt anyone to seek her for the ginseng.

Thinking about it, she hadn't opened the box in almost two years.

Pausing, she took out a crescent-shaped knife from her waist and gently sliced a thin piece from one of the roots, almost transparent.

Well, the root was only lightly damaged.

Taking the delicately sliced piece, Qu Yunmie: "..."

He looked at Agusega, and she met his gaze straightforwardly: "If he's not injured or dying, this small piece should be enough. If you think it's not enough, bring him to me. I need to see for myself whether he needs more Salt Maiden Ginseng."

Qu Yunmie... Qu Yunmie had nothing to say.

After all, this was the property of the Butou Clan, a matrilineal society where men truly had no say.

Still, he put away the crystal-clear ginseng slice.

As for bringing Xiao Rong to Luo Wu, that was out of the question; he would never do such a thing.

Qu Yunmie carefully stored the items, and Agusega returned to her seat. However, Qu Yunmie did not leave immediately. Instead, he knelt beside Agusega and asked, seemingly out of nowhere, "Luo Wu, do you like it here?"

Agusega looked at him and replied, "Any place without the Salt Maiden Lake is the same." *

Three days later, just as Xiao Rong was about to lose patience and inquire about progress, he received good news and a bowl of murky medicine.

The color of the medicine looked incredibly strange. He heard it was a tonic sent by Qu Yunmie, and for a moment, Xiao Rong thought Qu Yunmie had finally lost patience with him and was trying to poison him.

Looking at it from every angle, he could not discern anything unusual. Besides, Qu Yunmie did not seem capable of plotting. So, Xiao Rong held his nose and drank the tonic.

After all, in the past seven months, he had consumed countless medicines; one more bowl wouldn't make much difference.

After drinking the medicine, Gao Xunzhi came to him joyfully, saying that The King had reconsidered and decided to seek the opinions of the scholars to relocate the capital.

Xiao Rong stood up in surprise and asked Gao Xunzhi, "Has The King told anyone else about this?"

Gao Xunzhi hesitated, "Ah, probably not yet?"

Hearing this, Xiao Rong rushed off like the wind.

Gao Xunzhi: "..."

Looking at the empty bowl on the table, he thought, this Salt Maiden Ginseng is indeed a good thing. ...

Xiao Rong sprinted through the palace, startling everyone who knew him. Finally, he found Qu Yunmie and immediately stopped him from telling anyone else about the matter. Qu Yunmie looked at him in confusion, and after catching his breath, Xiao Rong explained his plan in detail.

Qu Yunmie listened with a furrowed brow, hesitating for a long time before finally nodding.

Soon after, the idle soldiers in various barracks heard the latest military order: The King wanted them to gather at the foot of Yanmen Mountain at noon. He would personally execute Li Xiuheng to honor the fallen Northern Pacification Army soldiers.

Most people did not know who Li Xiuheng was. Everything about Li Xiuheng was too shameful, so Qu Yunmie and others never mentioned it. Since it was going to be a public execution, and the first of such scale, everyone was naturally curious about the man's identity. The soldiers delivering the orders were Qu Yunmie's guards, who elaborated on Li Xiuheng's and traitor Zhuang Weizhi's deeds, making them sound even worse.

Although Li Xiuheng had not harmed them directly, people could still distinguish right from wrong and felt indignant upon hearing these stories. With this mindset, they quickly formed ranks and gathered, more enthusiastically than when they were preparing for battle.

Essentially, they were there for the spectacle. ...

Within an hour, it was impossible to gather hundreds of thousands of troops, but many minor officers from other garrisons and several thousand nearby soldiers arrived. This was enough.

Just before noon, Qu Yunmie arrived, with guards leading the gagged Li Xiuheng to kneel in front of him. His pitiful appearance was visible to every soldier present.

Xiao Rong stood among the staff, wearing a cloak. Yu Shaoxie was beside him, occasionally asking if he felt okay and suggesting he should not be exposed to the wind and go back.

Xiao Rong: "..."

Do you think I'm sitting in confinement? I can't even come out in the wind?

After dealing with Yu Shaoxie, he looked down at the crowd. The back rows were filled with ordinary soldiers, but the four generals in front were clearly visible.

This was the first time he saw these four together.

From left to right: Yuan Baifu, Jian Qiao, Gongsun Yuan, Wang Xinyong.

Their order also reflected their standing in Qu Yunmie's heart.

Everyone was present, and Qu Yunmie glanced at the sun before stepping forward.

There were no loudspeakers, but the air currents in the mountainous area carried his voice farther.

"This person is named Li Xiuheng, a former general of the Northern Pacification Army."

The heads below moved slightly, but there was no commotion.

Qu Yunmie paused briefly and continued, "He was once the leader of the Northern Pacification Army and someone The King respected as an uncle. The King and the soldiers revered him, but he betrayed us by selling the army to the court, sacrificing the blood of our soldiers for his own glory and wealth. While he feasted and danced, the dead soldiers could not even get a proper burial, only to be buried in the snow."

People became even more enraged because they were soldiers themselves and could empathize with their comrades' plight.

At this moment, Qu Yunmie suddenly drew his sword, pointing it at Li Xiuheng, and shouted loudly, "It was he who neglected his duties, who took lives lightly, who stole the soldiers' pay and honors, even neglecting the families of the dead! He is unworthy of being human! Today, The King swears by his head that there will never again be such scum above our soldiers!"

With that, he raised his sword high and, using all his strength, brought it down on Li Xiuheng, whose head rolled away in a spray of blood. Due to the force, the sword embedded itself two inches into the ground.

Li Xiuheng's head rolled further and further away, and Qu Yunmie's face, splattered with blood, looked even more terrifying.

Everyone stared in shock, unable to react. Xiao Rong frowned and looked at Jian Qiao, who seemed equally unaccustomed to the scene.

Noticing Xiao Rong's gaze, Jian Qiao suddenly remembered his task.

He gathered his strength, using all his might, and shouted until veins bulged on his forehead: "Good! The King's execution is just! As soldiers of the Northern Pacification Army, we wish to pacify the north and secure the nation; The King is benevolent, and we swear to follow him to death!"

Gongsun Yuan, standing next to him, almost fell over from the shout. He covered his ears in shock, wondering why his colleague had suddenly changed.

Following this, something even more shocking happened. Behind them, many soldiers began to respond, initially sparse but gradually forming a thunderous chorus.

One voice louder than the next.

"We wish to pacify the north and secure the nation!"

"The King is benevolent, and we swear to follow him to death!"

In the end, only the words "follow him to death" echoed repeatedly. When a few thousand people shouted, it sounded loud, but when tens of thousands joined in, the effect was entirely different.

Deep and vast, as if coming down from the heavens, it made those who witnessed it feel an irresistible sense of reverence.

Amidst these waves of sound, Xiao Rong once again felt a sense of comfort throughout his body. He straightened his back slightly and shifted his gaze from the excited soldiers to Qu Yunmie.

He stared at this group of people without blinking.

When Xiao Rong first asked him to give a speech, he was very reluctant. At that moment, Xiao Rong guessed that he had probably never done anything like this before. Even when boosting morale, he only spoke a few dry words, so he didn't know that when hearts were stirred and united, the scene could be so spectacular and exhilarating.

There wasn't even a campaign or a specific enemy; it was just a few words, with no tangible benefits promised, yet everyone was so happy.

Qu Yunmie's experience was quite novel. When the crowd was about to quiet down, he raised his hand to stop them and said, "Soon, this King will relocate the capital. Soldiers, this King wishes to build a capital city exclusive to the Northern Pacification Army with all of you. The capital of the Northern Pacification Army will not be inferior to Jinling!"

Jian Qiao was fully focused this time, not wasting a second. He quickly raised his fist: "Not inferior to Jinling!"

Gongsun Yuan: "..."

After the people behind repeated it, Jian Qiao shouted again: "The King is wise!"

Soon, the people behind echoed, "The King is wise."

Gongsun Yuan: "............"

You little guy, you've been brownnosing quite intensely lately. ...

Yu Shaoxie was already stunned. He was, after all, from a noble family, though his rank wasn't great. His father used to be in the military, making him a second-generation military man. He had seen others boost morale before, but somehow, it never felt like today—so strange.

Others usually boosted morale before a campaign, fueled by hatred for the enemy and fear of life and death, leaving no room for retreat. Soldiers had to be highly alert, ready to risk their lives. But today, although everyone looked excited, Yu Shaoxie could tell that this excitement wouldn't last long, and no one would decide to risk their lives for a mere execution.

But then again, once might not work, but what about twice? Repeatedly, it's like monks striking the wooden fish. On the surface, it seems to be accumulating merit, but in reality, it's repeatedly investing time and effort to deepen the belief through self-persuasion.

Yu Shaoxie: "..."

The King surely didn't think of using this method to solidify the soldiers' loyalty to him. Mr. Gao isn't that devious either. That leaves only one person.

Yu Shaoxie turned his head to look at Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong met his gaze with a puzzled expression.

Yu Shaoxie's expression was somewhat complex: "..."

Brother Xiao seemed less naive than he imagined, but... he felt more aligned with his tastes now.

With a slight smile, Yu Shaoxie said, "I've decided that when I return, I'll write a letter to have my brother come and serve under the King."

Xiao Rong: "............"

Yu Shaocheng? That Yu Shaocheng who needs to take more medicine?

His expression faltered: "Why such a sudden decision?"

Yu Shaoxie looked at Qu Yunmie not far away and smiled faintly. "Because The King has finally come to his senses. Moving the capital is the beginning of our pursuit for supremacy in Central China. We two brothers can't serve two masters, can we?" ... That's right.

Moving the capital means actively joining the game of power. In the past, all of Qu Yunmie's actions were forced. He wanted revenge, so he drove away all the barbarians. He was attached to his hometown, so he stayed in Yanmen County. He couldn't stand Southern Yong, so he established himself as the Northern Pacification King in a defiant manner.

In truth, he never truly governed this land. He claimed the title of king but still acted like a grand general.

That's why others both feared him and looked down on him. Even in the original historical progression, Qu Yunmie never revealed his ambitions. He was just seeking revenge, always seeking revenge, until he ultimately sacrificed himself.

Dai County, Yanmen County, and Zhongshan County—these were the territories the young emperor intended to grant him when he offered him the title of king. What he genuinely possessed was still the former vassal state of Dai.

Staying in Yanmen County seemed like honest behavior to Southern Yong and outsiders, but leaving here would announce to the entire world that he was no longer under the control of Southern Yong's legitimate authority.

Xiao Rong couldn't help but look at Qu Yunmie. The blood on his face hadn't been wiped off, there was a limp corpse at his feet, and his long knife was stained with the blood of many.

But such a man was more dazzling to Xiao Rong than when he wore the attire of a prince.

This is the Northern Pacification King.

Everyone continued cheering. Qu Yunmie, facing their enthusiasm, finally couldn't help but curl his lips. His gaze swept across the crowd, pausing slightly when it landed on Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong lowered his head, turned around, and left him when everyone else was jubilant and excited.

Qu Yunmie's heart tightened. He didn't know why, but it was his intuition at work. ... *

That night, many people had trouble sleeping. The rush of adrenaline felt too good, and everyone felt they had boundless energy.

Even Xiao Rong was affected. Although the positive impact of the gathered morale disappeared once he left the foot of the mountain and he became Xiao Jiejie again, he still felt a bit excited.

Lying in bed, he couldn't help but repeatedly recall Qu Yunmie standing there, exuding an air of invincibility and disdain for the world.

He really does have the bearing of an emperor.

Xiao Rong closed his eyes, his lips curling involuntarily. Ah Shu, having finished cleaning up outside, was about to come in and ask if he should extinguish the lamp.

However, upon raising his head, he was instantly stunned. "Master, why are you bleeding from the nose?!"