Chapter 9

After that day, I thought I would never fight with my brother again.

But I still ended up in a cold war with him.

He started it.

When he came home that day, he was very unhappy. No more Daoist scripture. No more gifts of food either.

I racked my brains, unable to think what I’d done to offend him.

Very carefully, I asked, “Brother, did the emperor bully you too? Are you angry because I didn’t hit him that day? I can explain. I was so busy I didn’t get around to it…”

After all that time cultivating his self-control, Ye Cangfeng cracked at a single sentence.

“Wu Zheng, do you hear yourself? You actually want to hit the emperor?”

“You think I don’t know? You don’t care who’s bullying me. You just want to fight!”

I’d angered him so much that a faint flush colored his pale, jade-like face. His cool eyes fixed on mine.

At last, he sighed helplessly.

“Little Zheng, do you really not understand, or are you pretending?”

“I don’t want you going to war. Not at all.”

“Look at Bighead and the others. Their fathers all died on the battlefield. Doesn’t that tell you how cruel war is?”

“You can do anything you like here in the capital. But on the battlefield, if you get hurt or fall ill, what are Mother and I supposed to do?”

By the time he finished, he couldn’t hold back his tears.

They hung on his long lashes like morning dew.

I couldn’t help marveling. My brother was perfect in every way, except he was far too sexy.

“Brother,” I reasoned, “doesn’t that make it all the more important that I go? Who actually enjoys war? Other people go to defend their homes and country. Me? I’m going purely for the fighting.”

“I get to enjoy myself and earn distinction at the same time.”

“As for blades not having eyes, I nearly starved to death once. All those households gave me something to eat. I can’t just let the Hu ride into the capital.”

My adoptive father was getting on in years. Of the whole year, he spent barely a dozen days at home. The rest were on the battlefield.

Did anyone really think he enjoyed watching his adopted children bully his son?

It was because their fathers and brothers had died for the country.

Ye Cangfeng was too frail to fight. That had always been one of the general’s regrets.

Now the Hu watched hungrily, while the army had no outstanding young commanders. There was no one to carry on.

As the general’s adopted daughter, of course I had to step up.

Ye Cangfeng lowered his eyes and was silent for a long time.

Finally, he said, “Then I’ll go with you.”

I was horrified. “Absolutely not!”

“I needn’t fight. I’ve studied military texts since childhood, but my health has held me back. If you don’t mind, Sister, let me stay beside you as an adviser.”