Chapter 1095: Chapter 1089: Improper Conduct Before the Emperor
Today was the first meeting between Xie Xun and Bai Qingyu, so it wasn’t convenient for him to ask about Bai Qingyu’s past whereabouts…
In any case, the grace of saving his life this time by Bai Qingyu was genuine, and Xie Xun felt deeply grateful. He bowed deeply again to Bai Qingyu before mounting his horse to leave with Murong Yan and Murong Li, leading the Yan Army away.
After seeing off the Emperor of Yan and the Regent Prince, Bai Qingyu returned with Bai Jinzhi, only to hear that Bai Qingyan had already gone to inspect the camp. Bai Qingyu was taken aback… then remembered his father’s habit when Bai Qishan was alive. No matter how exhausting a battle was, his father always visited the wounded soldiers’ camp before he could rest easy, and now his sister was the same.
“Little Fourth, you should go back and rest!” Bai Qingyu turned to Bai Jinzhi and said, “The day after tomorrow we march, Fifth Brother is counting on you!”
Upon hearing this, Bai Jinzhi smiled broadly and nodded vigorously: “Fifth Brother, rest assured, Little Fourth will do his utmost!”
“Go on then!” Bai Qingyu nodded to Bai Jinzhi.
·
The snow continued to fall heavily, covering the land outside Pingyang City stained red with blood and snow, hiding the blood and dismembered limbs beneath its pure white cover, presenting a scene of peace and tranquility.
Inside the city, soldiers were busy bandaging and applying medicine to their comrades’ wounds, while civilians helped transport stones and timber to repair the city gates damaged by the giant elephants…
Last night’s battle saw many soldiers of Zhou sacrificing their lives, with even more injured. After all, being trampled by a giant elephant was no laughing matter.
Lu Yuanpeng’s horse was kicked away by an elephant that was fleeing under the influence of spicy smoke. Lu Yuanpeng coughed up blood and fainted on the spot. If it weren’t for Sima Ping dragging the unconscious Lu Yuanpeng from under the elephant’s feet at the risk of his life, Lu Yuanpeng might have already become a meat pie by now.
But Sima Ping also took a slash on the back from a Xiliang soldier, and now he lay in the barracks enduring the pain while the military doctor applied medicine.
“How is Lu Yuanpeng?” Sima Ping glanced at the still-unconscious Lu Yuanpeng and asked worriedly.
“Rest assured, General Ma, General Lu is fine… Last night His Majesty had Doctor Hong personally come to take a look. Doctor Hong said the ribs are injured but it’s not serious, there are no internal injuries.” The military doctor covered Sima Ping with a blanket, washed his hands by the water basin, and said, “Before your injury heals, General Ma, you’ll have to sleep on your stomach.”
Sima Ping enlisted under the alias Ma San, and in the army, everyone called Sima Ping General Ma.
Sima Ping looked again at Lu Yuanpeng, who had his eyes closed tightly, and couldn’t help but worry, “So why hasn’t he woken up yet?”
“General Lu is just asleep now…” The military doctor smiled as he wiped his hands with a cloth and packed the medicine box, “General Lu even woke up once when His Majesty came to inspect the camp.”
Sima Ping: “…”
Just as they were speaking, Lu Yuanpeng, lying on the window, suddenly mumbled, extended his hands to stretch lazily from under the blanket, but strained his wound, grimacing in pain immediately.
Wei Zhong entered, pulling the curtain aside, and saw Lu Yuanpeng grimacing in pain. He laughed and said, “Is General Lu awake now?”
The military doctor hurriedly saluted Wei Zhong.
Seeing that it was Wei Zhong who entered, Lu Yuanpeng immediately sprang out of bed in his underclothes and saluted Wei Zhong briskly: “Eunuch Wei, are you here on behalf of the Bai family sister… has His Majesty sent you?”
Heh…
Sima Ping glanced at Lu Yuanpeng with a silent cold smile, turning his head to continue lying down, worrying about Lu Yuanpeng seemed like a useless effort. His recovery ability was as robust as an unkillable pest, did he even need to worry?
“Exactly, His Majesty sent me to invite General Lu and General Ma. He said… if the two generals are able to rise, please come to meet His Majesty.” Wei Zhong said with a smile.
“Of course, of course! We can definitely get up!” Lu Yuanpeng tugged at Sima Ping’s blanket and said, “Get up quickly! His Majesty wants to see us!”
Sima Ping: “…”
Lu Yuanpeng grabbed his clothes and began to put them on himself. Sima Ping, having never been so badly injured before, slowly crawled out of bed, still felt unhurried by Lu Yuanpeng, who might have forgotten Sima Ping’s injury was incurred saving whom!
The two dressed and followed Wei Zhong to the rear courtyard to meet Bai Qingyan.
In the study, Bai Qingyan was discussing strategies for countering the Elephant Army with Bai Qingyu, Bai Jinzhi, Shen Kunyang, Cheng Yuanzhi, and Wang Qiulu when Wei Zhong led the two in directly.
The two were about to salute when Bai Qingyan said, “You both have injuries, no need for formalities!”
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng covered his rib area happily and replied, “Alright!”
Sima Ping, however, endured the pain in his back, knelt down, and pulled Lu Yuanpeng down with him, properly saluting Bai Qingyan.
Bai Jinzhi, who had just returned from an inspection outside the city with a black iron whip still in hand, smiled and pointed at Sima Ping with the whip, “Is this still the Sima Ping I knew? How long has it been since we last met, and he’s already a different person!”
Sima Ping remained respectful with downcast eyes: “The past is the past. Now that I am facing the Emperor, I must observe the proper etiquette!”
No matter how close Lu Yuanpeng was to Bai Qingyan in the past, at that time Bai Qingyan was merely the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhen’s mansion… only holding a nominal title of Commandery Princess or Princess, whereas now Bai Qingyan was the lofty Emperor of Zhou.
History holds many examples of emperors from humble beginnings who, before ascending the throne, promised their commanders a lifelong brotherhood, only to have those formerly close brothers misunderstand, trying to relate with the emperor as equals after his ascent. Not understanding the rites between sovereign and subject, not understanding the necessity for difference in rank, not understanding the limits of propriety, relying solely on friendship — and what was the result? How many of those who relied only on friendship ended with both their family and themselves intact? Most met with the fate of having their family destroyed and their lines ended.
Now that Lu Yuanpeng’s grandfather held a position as Commandant, second only to the Emperor, Lu Yuanpeng should particularly understand the necessity for rank difference and the rites between sovereign and subject; otherwise, if the Emperor was happy, he might view Lu Yuanpeng as straightforward and honest. But if the Emperor was not pleased, Lu Yuanpeng would appear unchecked by his family background, lacking decorum in front of the sovereign.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng glanced at Sima Ping and secretly looked at Bai Qingyan.
Bai Jinzhi was amused by Sima Ping’s serious demeanor: “Enough, Sima Ping, don’t we all know what kind of character you were in Dadu City…”
Before Bai Jinzhi could finish, he was silenced by the look from his Fifth Brother, pursing his lips and shrinking his neck.
Seeing his old acquaintances, Bai Qingyan was quite in a good mood, especially since… both Lu Yuanpeng and Sima Ping were regarded as rakes in the past, but they had pure hearts and later endured in the Bai family army. As noble sons who’ve been pampered since childhood, it was indeed rare.
“You may rise!” Bai Qingyan nodded toward Wei Zhong.
Wei Zhong smiled and stepped to the side, handing over the silver spear to Bai Qingyan…
Seeing that red tassel silver spear, Lu Yuanpeng’s spine straightened abruptly, his fists clenched at his sides, and his eyes revealed wild joy.
He knew… that was Sister Bai’s red tassel spear.