Chapter 182

Chapter 182

After the King of Luosuo escaped, the Western Expeditionary Army of Great Qi advanced with unstoppable momentum, quickly reclaiming the fifteen western provinces that Luosuo had occupied.

After recovering the fifteen western provinces, Yu Chiyi withdrew from Luosuo and returned to Yuanzhou. He personally penned a military report to Su Yu, but upon picking up the brush, he found himself at a loss for words.

Thanks to abundant supplies, top-notch equipment, focused military strength, and the cooperation of Xiao Cheng, the Western Expeditionary Army took control of the fifteen provinces in just over a month.

Apart from the regret of letting the King of Luosuo escape, this battle was the most effortless Yu Chiyi had fought in over a decade.

He felt the reassurance of having robust support.

He had much to say to Su Yu—he wanted to tell her about the tumultuous emotions in his heart, his current elation, and his sudden yearning to see her, to stand with her on the walls of Yuanzhou and gaze upon the expansive terrain.

But as the ink bled on the paper, Yu Chiyi still couldn't write a single word.

After a long while, he switched to a new sheet and began to recount the detailed battle process to Su Yu in a matter-of-fact tone, only adding at the end: "It is my privilege to serve Your Majesty."

A week after dispatching the letter, Yu Chiyi saw Su Yu on the walls of Yuanzhou.

That day, Yu Chiyi was simply conducting his routine inspection of the city walls when he noticed several magnificent horses and a few strangers standing below, seemingly from the capital.

Upon seeing him, they bowed respectfully: "General Yu."

His heart raced. Without waiting for them to complete their sentence, he strode up the city walls in a few quick steps.

The setting sun bathed the scene in a lazy glow, and wild geese soared in the distance.

Under the vast sky and sweeping winds, Su Yu appeared to be momentarily blinded by the wind, her eyes slightly narrowed. As if they shared a telepathic bond, she turned her head the moment he stepped forward.

Seeing him, she beamed and called out clearly: "Zhong Yun."

Yu Chiyi hesitated, his fist clenching and then slowly relaxing. He knelt on one knee and saluted her: "Your Majesty."

He raised his head slightly, his eyes filled with reverence.

Su Yu quickly walked over, helped him up, and led him to the lookout platform.

She extended her hand, just as he had imagined, gesturing towards the land: "Look, the fifteen provinces of Great Qi have returned!"

Yu Chiyi glanced at their clasped hands, his Adam's apple moved as he responded firmly: "Yes, would Your Majesty like to see them in person?"

"I came here precisely to see the fifteen western provinces with my own eyes," Su Yu said with a smile. With the provinces in need of rebuilding, she decided to visit personally and plan their reconstruction.

"Good, I will accompany Your Majesty," Yu Chiyi said with a smile. Then he heard a cold voice addressing him: "Then General Yu shall arrange the itinerary for the visit to the fifteen provinces."

Yu Chiyi turned and saw Cui Xuan and Yu Chiyou standing behind Su Yu. He asked in slight surprise, "When did you arrive?"

Yu Chiyou whispered, "Uncle, Premier Cui and I have been here all along."

Yu Chiyi laughed heartily, his hand still firmly held by Su Yu, not intending to let go until she released it herself, leaving him with a sense of loss.

With a carefree expression, he asked, "Why is Premier Cui here? Didn't Minister Xie come?"

Only after their hands parted did Cui Xuan's expression soften slightly. Without lifting his eyelids, he said indifferently, "Your Majesty brought me here. Does General Yu have any objections?"

"Not at all, not at all," Yu Chiyi waved his hand.

Yu Chiyou glanced at Cui Xuan and then at Yu Chiyi, quickly moving around his uncle to follow closely behind Su Yu, distancing himself from the two men at odds.

Yu Chiyi: "?" Is this nephew really my own flesh and blood?

The reason Su Yu brought Cui Xuan along this time was partly because Cui Xuan was in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. After the return of the fifteen states, many officials needed to be appointed. But the main reason was to show Cui Xuan, the esteemed head of a prestigious family, the hardships of the common people. Even though the fifteen states were back under Great Qi's control, the war's scars wouldn't heal overnight.

Only by truly witnessing the struggles of these people could Cui Xuan more easily develop a sense of compassion.

She needed the officials she relied on to have a compassionate heart for the people, so she left Yao Feiming and Xie Yiguan to guard the capital. As for the capital, she wasn't too worried now.

She turned and instructed Cui Xuan: "Bring Zijing and A Ran along too. A Ran has been a supervisor for so long; it's time for him to return to my side."

Cui Xuan hesitated before slowly replying, "Yes."

Yu Chiyi stroked his chin. Why did he sense that Cui Xuan wasn't thrilled about Yuan Ran staying close to the emperor?

Regardless, since the emperor had decided, no matter how unwilling Cui Xuan was, Yuan Ran had to return to Su Yu's side.

During the campaign against Luosuo, Yuan Ling and Yuan Ran, familiar with the Luosuo territory, had made significant contributions. After reclaiming the fifteen states, Su Yu personally visited Luosuo's capital to retrieve the twin swords buried in the Yuan family.

When the siblings heard the emperor had arrived, they abandoned everything and raced to the commander's tent.

Yuan Ling was now a general in her own right, but she often feared her achievements were just a fleeting dream. Only upon seeing Su Yu in person did her heart calm slightly.

Su Yu smiled at her: "General Yuan, you've worked hard."

Though it was a simple sentence, Yuan Ling couldn't hold back her tears. She knelt on the ground, choking up as she said, "Serving Your Majesty is the greatest honor of my life."

Yuan Ran, however, had deliberately donned a new robe and lightly perfumed himself. He stood happily by Su Yu's side and whispered, "Your Majesty, I've returned to serve you."

Yu Chiyi finally realized why Cui Xuan disliked Yuan Ran.

Besides the Yuan siblings, Su Chengying also hurried to the commander's tent.

This was the longest time Su Chengying had been apart from Su Yu. Seeing her, he ignored the others in the tent and bluntly asked, "Your Majesty, after extensive training, my martial skills now surpass Ayou's. May I return as your personal guard?"

Yu Chiyi: "..." This kid isn't very endearing either.

Yu Chiyou's eyes widened, instantly looking pitifully at Su Yu, like a puppy fearing abandonment.

If fewer people were around, Su Yu might have patted his head. She coughed lightly and said, "Chengying, continue to train well in the army."

Su Yu's message was clear: she wanted Su Chengying to become a capable general.

Su Chengying understood her intent and felt a bit disappointed, but he still said, "Your Majesty, I'll do whatever you command."

Su Yu spent just one night in Yuanzhou. The next day, she headed for the fifteen states, taking a month with frequent stops.

This month was tough. The fifteen states, heavily damaged by the Luosuo people, lacked proper resting spots. For the whole month, they stayed in tents provided by the Western Expeditionary Army.

Su Yu wasn't fussy, nor were the others, but it was tough on Cui Xuan, accustomed to bathing thrice daily.

Several times, Su Yu, seeing Cui Xuan dust-covered, kindly suggested, "Maybe Xingjian should return to the capital and let Zhiwei take over?"

Cui Xuan's already unpleasant expression grew even darker. "I never abandon tasks halfway, and besides, Your Majesty is still here. How could I return to the capital alone?"

Su Yu suggested it twice, but Cui Xuan firmly refused to go back, so she let it be. After all, it wasn't her who had the obsession with cleanliness.

In Weizhou, one of the fifteen states, Su Yu encountered Ruo Kong again.

At first, she almost didn't recognize him. Compared to their last meeting, he had grown even thinner, his face covered in dust, and his monk's robe was more tattered, patched in several places.

She felt the monk treating a little girl by the roadside looked somewhat familiar. After a long pause, she called out, "Ruo Kong?"

Ruo Kong looked up, his gaze calm, and with hands clasped, he bowed slightly and said softly, "It truly is fate."

Su Yu dismounted, glanced at the little girl hiding behind the monk, and asked with a smile, "Ruo Kong, you’ve been here a while, haven’t you?"

"This humble monk knows a bit of medicine and can offer some small help here," Ruo Kong replied.

After some time in Yuanzhou, he came to these fifteen states. The Luosuo people, being Buddhist, did not trouble him, a monk, but he witnessed their brutality as they killed Great Qi citizens daily for sport.

Ruo Kong should have urged the Great Qi people to follow Buddhism, to read and chant sutras daily for a better afterlife. But seeing their suffering, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He stayed, using his modest medical skills to save whoever he could.

When the Western Expeditionary Army drove out the Luosuo people, the citizens of the fifteen states celebrated with drums and gongs. Even this monk, removed from worldly matters, felt joy.

He couldn’t stay indifferent and began to understand the truth Su Yu had spoken of.

Su Yu took out her purse and handed it to Ruo Kong, saying, "It’s fate. I have urgent matters and can’t stay. Take this silver for now."

Ruo Kong stared at the purse, then silently accepted it, saying, "When I return to the capital, may I request an audience?"

Su Yu replied, "Of course. I haven’t forgotten our promise to meet in the capital."

Ruo Kong smiled and bowed again, watching Su Yu mount her horse and ride off.

The little girl hiding behind him finally spoke up, "Master, who was that? I saw soldiers following him, but he wasn’t in armor."

Ruo Kong paused, then said, "He is the one who truly saves you."

The little girl didn’t understand, only blushing as she said, "He’s very handsome."

Back in Yuanzhou, Su Yu drew a map of the fifteen states herself. First, she discussed official appointments and military deployment with Cui Xuan and Yu Chiyi, then called Li Jianzhang to discuss rebuilding the fifteen states.

Li Jianzhang, a craftsman by trade, wasn’t skilled in architecture. He recommended his two senior brothers to Su Yu.

He said, "My two senior brothers are far better at city-building than I am, but they never had the chance and ended up doing other things."

Su Yu, needing capable people, didn’t refuse. She had Li Jianzhang write to invite his two senior brothers.

After appointing some officials temporarily, Su Yu headed back to the capital, leaving Yu Chiyi in Yuanzhou.

She said, "I know that not killing the King of Luosuo still leaves Zhong Yun with some regret. It's better to stay here for now, perhaps you can catch him by chance."

She added, "But whether you succeed or not, I will wait for you to return to the capital for the New Year."

Yu Chiyi felt as if his heart had been soaked in a hot spring, burning with warmth.

Su Yu left Su Chengying behind but took Yuan Ling back to the capital.

She asked Yuan Ling, "Do you know why I am bringing you back to the capital?"

Yuan Ling, with complete trust, replied, "Your Majesty must have other plans for me."

Su Yu smiled, "Indeed, I want to form a women's army, led by you."