Becoming the Emperor’s Greatest Woe - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

 

The fierce wind hurled gravel against the carriage wall with a loud “bang.”

 

Though it didn’t puncture the carriage like it had during the day, the noise woke those who were fast asleep.

 

During spring in Ze Fang County, nighttime temperatures could still drop below freezing.

 

Outside, the wind continued to howl. Jiang Yuxun took a light sniff, instinctively leaned toward the heat source, and rubbed against it gently.

 

A faint warmth, along with the subtle scent of ambergris, instantly enveloped him.

 

So warm…

 

Before Jiang Yuxun could relax and drift back into slumber, a realization jolted him awake.

 

Wait!

 

Where did such a warm object come from in the carriage?

 

Jiang Yuxun abruptly opened his eyes, blinking heavily to ensure he wasn’t dreaming.

 

In the carriage, there seemed to be… only him and Ying Changchuan?

 

Jiang Yuxun froze in place like he’d been hit with a petrification spell. He cautiously attempted to glance at his side using just the corner of his eye.

 

At some point in his sleep, he had unknowingly rested his head on Ying Changchuan’s shoulder.

 

Their bodies were tightly pressed together without even a sliver of space between them.

 

A buzzing noise rang in Jiang Yuxun’s ears.

 

His previously cool earlobes instantly turned scalding hot, and his cheeks followed suit, as he mentally screamed—

 

How is this okay to lean on just like that?!

 

Unsure of how to handle the situation, Jiang Yuxun decided in less than a second… to shut his eyes and pretend to still be asleep!

 

Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump.

 

At that moment, Jiang Yuxun even began to suspect Ying Changchuan might hear his heartbeat.

 

Outside the carriage, the howling wind showed no signs of abating.

 

Just as he held his breath and focused, Jiang Yuxun suddenly heard a faint chuckle near his ear…

 

He tensed up immediately.

 

Did Ying Changchuan realize I’m awake?

 

Or was it just a hallucination from my nerves?

 

Jiang Yuxun’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

 

The carriage returned to silence.

 

Only that fleeting laugh lingered in his ears, slipping into his heart like a gentle itch, leaving an indescribable sensation behind.

 

Exhausted, Jiang Yuxun stumbled back to the Zhenbei military camp as if in a daze, collapsing into sleep immediately.

 

When he woke up, the wind that had howled all day had finally subsided. The sky was a spotless blue, and yesterday’s swirling sandstorms seemed like nothing but a distant dream.

 

As Jiang Yuxun stared blankly at the top of the military tent, Tang Yimeng’s voice came from outside.

 

“Is Lord Jiang still not awake?” Tang Yimeng hesitated before speaking softly to those beside him. “Let’s unload the grain seeds first and not disturb him.”

 

Grain seeds?

 

…Ah, right. The grain seeds brought back from Zherou hadn’t been unloaded yet!

 

Upon hearing Tang Yimeng’s words, Jiang Yuxun finally roused himself and sat up on the bed. “Wait a moment, Lord Tang, I’ll be right there!”

 

As soon as he spoke, he realized his voice had become extremely hoarse after shouting last night.

 

“Ah! Alright, then we’ll wait for you outside the tent—” Tang Yimeng’s voice carried in from outside.

 

After enduring the raging wind, Jiang Yuxun looked as though he had just been dug out of the ground, covered head to toe in dust.

 

He vaguely remembered that early in the morning, the Mystic Seal Division had told him he could wash up in Ying Changchuan’s camp area.

 

But he’d been too tired last night to bother.

 

In the Zhou army, strict discipline dictated that bathing was only allowed after the evening hour of Xu.

 

It was still far from that time now, and seeing the dust all over himself, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but feel a bit repulsed.

 

He coughed lightly a few times before dragging himself up to wash.

 

After about the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, he changed into fresh clothes and stepped outside.

 

As soon as Jiang Yuxun emerged, he noticed that Tang Yimeng, much like himself, was also covered in dust. Even the dark circles under his eyes hadn’t faded.

 

Jiang Yuxun was startled by his appearance. “Lord Tang, have you had your eyes checked by the military doctor?”

 

“They’ve been checked,” Tang Yimeng said as he limped along. “It’s nothing serious; they said the swelling will go down in a couple of days.”

 

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but steal a glance at Jiang Yuxun.

 

Tang Yimeng’s gaze was peculiar enough to make Jiang Yuxun’s skin crawl. “What is it, Lord Tang?”

 

“Nothing, nothing!” Tang Yimeng quickly shook his head, initially determined to stay quiet. But after a few seconds, he couldn’t hold back and asked, “Lord Jiang, aren’t you going to find His Majesty?”

 

“His Majesty?” Jiang Yuxun was puzzled. “Do we need His Majesty’s input to unload the grain seeds?”

 

“No, no!” Tang Yimeng hastily scratched his head with a smile. “I must have slept poorly last night and said something foolish. Please just ignore what I said, Lord Jiang—”

 

Then he knocked on his own head and added, “What a memory I have. His Majesty went to the military horse farm early this morning and isn’t even in the camp.”

 

Jiang Yuxun hesitated for a moment before nodding lightly. “Alright…”

 

He maintained a composed exterior, but inside, he couldn’t help but feel a guilty sort of nervousness, as though he’d been caught doing something wrong.

 

Stop overthinking!

 

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yuxun forced himself to dismiss the chaotic thoughts.

 

The grain seed carts were parked not far away.

 

Tang Yimeng, still limping, walked a step slower than Jiang Yuxun.

 

As they approached the carts, a spring breeze suddenly blew by.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s long hair drifted back with the wind, brushing past Tang Yimeng’s face.

 

It carried a faint warmth, along with… the subtle scent of ambergris.

 

Tang Yimeng’s eyes widened instantly.

 

A significant portion of the soldiers in the Zhenbei Army were “servant troops.”

 

Before coming here to serve, they were all ordinary civilians.

 

When it came to farming, they could talk about it in great detail.

 

When Jiang Yuxun arrived, a few soldiers were working together to roll a large clay jar into place.

 

After exchanging greetings, some of them began unloading the grain from the carts while explaining to Jiang Yuxun, “Wheat seeds are most afraid of moisture. If the surrounding environment is too damp, they are prone to rotting or molding, making it difficult for the wheat to sprout.”

 

As they spoke, they poured half of the wheat seeds from a burlap sack into the clay jar.

 

Jiang Yuxun grabbed a handful, rubbing it lightly between his fingers, and said, “These seeds seem to have been taken from a cellar; they feel a bit damp.”

 

“The royal court of Zherou is dry with little rain, so storing seeds like this isn’t easy,” Tang Yimeng chuckled. “Fortunately, they don’t value these seeds much, or it wouldn’t have been so easy for us to acquire them.”

 

The soldiers joined in inspecting the wheat seeds.

 

After a while, one of them looked up at the sky and said, “The weather is good today. Why don’t we dry the seeds in the sun first? Once they’re completely dry, we can put them back into the clay jars.”

 

Ze Fang County was too close to Zherou, making it unsafe to cultivate seeds here.

 

While Jiang Yuxun and his party were away, Ying Changchuan had already surveyed several suitable sites nearby for a military horse farm, making progress on training the cavalry.

 

In a little while, they would head south to return to the capital.

 

At that time, the seeds would be brought back to Zhaodu and sown during the last window of spring planting.

 

Having never farmed before, Jiang Yuxun carefully noted down the soldiers’ advice while asking about specific details: “Should each jar be filled to the brim, or should some space be left?”

 

The soldiers stationed in Ze Fang County spoke with a strong northern accent.

 

They had long heard of “Lord Jiang’s” reputation and regarded him as a living legend.

 

Never did they expect that Lord Jiang would one day listen so attentively to their words.

 

Their tanned faces flushed red as they tried to speak in proper official dialect: “Since wheat seeds absorb moisture easily and don’t allow for good ventilation, they mustn’t be packed too tightly. If moisture builds up inside and causes heat, it’ll be hard to detect and resolve.”

 

Jiang Yuxun nodded earnestly, committing their advice to memory.

 

In recent years, most of the Great Zhou’s tax revenue had been spent on military salaries.

 

Barring unforeseen circumstances, this year, the army could supply about 30-40% of its own grain.

 

Once back in Zhaodu, efforts to expand the granaries would need to begin.

 

Jiang Yuxun trusted that the officials in charge would do their utmost to accomplish this.

 

But in addition to that, advice should be gathered from farmers who worked the fields daily.

 

It was now around mid-afternoon, still some time before sunset.

 

Seeing the clear weather, the soldiers began spreading the seeds out to dry on the ground.

 

“Wait a moment,” Jiang Yuxun said, greeting them as they busied themselves. “I’ll go back to the tent to grab a notebook to jot down everything we’ve discussed.” He turned and headed back to his quarters.

 

“Yes, Lord Jiang—”

 

Sunlight pierced through the felt tent, illuminating a small space.

 

Jiang Yuxun sat at his desk and began searching for his notebook.

 

There were too many notebooks on his desk, and it took him a while to go through them all.

 

“What’s going on…” Jiang Yuxun muttered. “I clearly remember putting it here. Why can’t I find it now?”

 

Unconvinced, he continued searching.

 

Ten minutes later, staring at the scattered notebooks covering the ground, Jiang Yuxun began doubting his memory.

 

“How strange.”

 

…Could I have forgotten to bring it to Ze Fang County?

 

He hesitated, then pulled out a random piece of paper and started taking notes.

 

The sandstorm yesterday had kept the soldiers resting in their tents.

 

Now that the skies were clear, their enthusiasm for training was greater than usual.

 

While drying the seeds, the distant sound of drums echoed from the training ground.

 

“Boom—”

 

The faint clash of metal reached the area outside the camp.

 

The drum, made of cowhide, produced a deep, resonant sound when struck.

 

It seemed to synchronize with the rhythm of their heartbeats.

 

Tang Yimeng, sorting the seeds, asked, “What’s going on at the training ground?”

 

Curious, he turned his bruised face to look toward the distance.

 

Though there was some distance between the camp and the training ground, the clear weather allowed a good view of the soldiers’ movements.

 

At the first drumbeat, the soldiers finished organizing their weapons.

 

Then came the second beat.

 

With the rhythm of the drum, the fully equipped soldiers swiftly adjusted their formations, moving in different patterns across the training ground.

 

In the age of cold weapons, formations were crucial.

 

They were the foundation for ensuring orderly attacks.

 

From a distance, thousands of soldiers followed the drumbeats, forming various geometric shapes on the training ground.

 

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, creating a spectacle worthy of admiration.

 

“Incredible!” Tang Yimeng couldn’t help but exclaim. “This is truly the iron-blooded army of the Great Zhou! I wonder how His Majesty manages to make so many people move in unison…”

 

Jiang Yuxun and his group had been in Ze Fang County for some time.

 

As the drumbeats resonated, he raised his voice: “Only with strict laws and fair rewards and punishments will soldiers willingly follow their commanders.”

 

While gently sifting the wheat seeds, he couldn’t help but compare Ying Changchuan to the King of Zherou:

 

“Although His Majesty’s military laws are harsh, I believe the soldiers are more willing to shed their blood for Great Zhou than for a king like Zherou’s, who treats diplomacy as a game and resorts to petty tricks to toy with envoys.”

 

Objectively speaking, Ying Changchuan excelled in this regard.

 

Historically, Great Zhou had suffered greatly from the Yi River breach and the chaos in Zhaodu.

 

Soldiers who only served two years lacked the individual capabilities of the Zherou warriors.

 

Ying Changchuan had fought for seven years, ultimately defeating the formidable Zherou forces.

 

This success was owed to a disciplined and awe-inspiring army, backed by strict military regulations.

 

“Indeed, indeed!” Tang Yimeng nodded immediately. “An army that is both disciplined in peacetime and unstoppable in war—that’s the hallmark of Great Zhou’s soldiers.”

 

※

 

Though the military horse farm was still under construction, the cavalry in the Zhenbei Army had already begun training.

 

Today, Jiang Yuxun and his companions had no major tasks to attend to.

 

He could have rested, but the thought of not having bathed yet instantly dispelled the idea.

 

After drying the wheat seeds, the weather remained clear. Jiang Yuxun, Tang Yimeng, and others intended to take a casual stroll and enjoy some fresh air, but they unexpectedly ended up near the stables.

 

At this time, most of the adult horses were out training, leaving only a few foals resting in the stable.

 

Watching for a while, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but remark, “These horses are indeed different from the Zherou breed.”

 

Some time ago, all horses looked the same to him. But after visiting Zherou and safely returning to Great Zhou, Jiang Yuxun could finally distinguish the differences between the horses of the two nations at a glance.

 

“Indeed,” Tang Yimeng agreed, glancing at the foals alongside Jiang Yuxun. He pondered for a moment before saying, “Most Zhou horses are draft horses used for pulling heavy loads. They’re strong but lack agility, and their speed is somewhat slow.”

 

Jiang Yuxun nodded lightly. “Zherou horses, on the other hand, are shorter in stature with strong limbs, making them more agile in comparison.”

 

“By and large, that’s correct.”

 

As a civil official, Tang Yimeng didn’t know much about cavalry training.

 

After watching the foals for a bit, he turned his attention elsewhere.

 

But Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but start thinking…

 

The Kekhan horses were also relatively small but possessed great endurance. If their traits could be combined with the strengths of Great Zhou’s native horses to breed a new type of horse, the future combat capabilities of the cavalry would surely improve significantly.

 

“I wonder when the envoy to Kekhan will return to Zhaodu,” Jiang Yuxun remarked casually as the thought crossed his mind.

 

Tang Yimeng considered for a moment before replying, “The round trip will take at least four or five months.”

 

Another person added, “About a month has already passed, so they should be back by midsummer.”

 

In modern times, the journey would take only a day or two.

 

But in ancient times, it required enduring countless challenges and taking nearly half a year to complete…

 

Hearing this, Jiang Yuxun momentarily felt dazed.

 

But seeing everyone else’s calm expressions, he simply nodded along.

 

Just as they were about to leave, a soldier in charge of the horses entered the stable ahead, carrying a bow and arrow.

 

He began by rubbing the foals’ bodies with the bow, letting them grow accustomed to its presence. Then he adjusted the angles and plucked the bowstring repeatedly.

 

As the “whoosh” sound of the string cutting through the air resonated, the young foals nervously shifted their hooves in place.

 

But contrary to Jiang Yuxun’s expectations, they didn’t panic or rampage through the stable.

 

—After some time, the foals gradually grew accustomed to the presence of the bow and arrow.

 

Finally, the hour of Xu arrived!

 

The day’s training concluded, and the soldiers of Great Zhou returned to the camp.

 

After dinner, Jiang Yuxun immediately got up to prepare for a bath.

 

“Why is Lord Jiang eating so quickly today?” A colleague, still eating, asked curiously. “Do you have something to do?”

 

“The sandstorm yesterday was severe, and there’s still dust in my hair,” Jiang Yuxun replied tactfully. “Don’t you all want to wash off the dust?”

 

“Hahaha, it’s no big deal!” Before his colleagues could answer, a centurion dining with them laughed and waved his hand. “Isn’t this normal in the army?”

 

Another centurion, equally unconcerned, added, “In summer, we just wash in the river. Other seasons? We don’t bother much.”

 

“Exactly. Why waste time on that?”

 

With that, they all laughed heartily.

 

Though Jiang Yuxun was well aware of the harsh conditions in ancient military life, hearing it firsthand still left him somewhat shocked.

 

Jiang Yuxun: ?!

 

Seriously? You’re this casual about it?

 

Even Ying Changchuan, who’s always been in the military, doesn’t think it’s a waste of time!

 

At that moment, Jiang Yuxun suddenly found Ying Changchuan’s use of dragon musk fragrance remarkably endearing…

 

No wonder later generations speculated that Ying Changchuan had a cleanliness obsession.

 

He really was out of place in the army…

 

Though the soldiers of the Zhenbei Army were rough, their camp was fully equipped.

 

Jiang Yuxun originally planned to use the public bathhouse…

 

But recalling the earlier conversation, he ultimately resigned himself to going to Ying Changchuan’s quarters for a bath, as advised by the Xuanyin Office.

 

Perhaps prior instructions had been given to the guards.

 

Jiang Yuxun walked into the Emperor’s area of the camp with surprising ease.

 

Unlike the bustling atmosphere elsewhere, this area was silent.

 

The soldiers standing guard outside the tent were clad in black armor, their silence making them seem like ghosts standing watch.

 

The atmosphere made Jiang Yuxun subconsciously lighten his steps and hold his breath.

 

While Ying Changchuan ate and lived with the soldiers during wartime, as the Emperor, and with the current state being peacetime, his living arrangements naturally had some degree of refinement.

 

The Zhenbei Army’s camp was vast, and for safety reasons, Ying Changchuan occupied an entire section of the camp alone.

 

Previously, Jiang Yuxun had only been to the tent where Ying Changchuan worked. He hadn’t visited other areas.

 

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yuxun steeled himself—

 

I’m not here to steal or sneak around, so why am I so nervous?

 

Ying Changchuan went to the military horse grounds; he probably won’t be back until midnight.

 

Just get this over with quickly!

 

Carrying his clothes, Jiang Yuxun followed the direction indicated by the guard at the entrance and walked slowly to the southwest corner of the camp.

 

The gravel lightly shifted under his feet as he carefully lifted the felt curtain of the tent and peeked inside.

 

Spring was the season when grasslands were most prone to fires.

 

Zherou tents didn’t use lamps inside, and Great Zhou’s tents only had a single candle placed in a water-filled tray to provide minimal lighting.

 

Only the office tents were brightly lit as usual.

 

In this tent, the lighting was rather dim. Just as Jiang Yuxun was about to step forward, he suddenly noticed—

 

It seemed there was a figure standing not far away?

 

Jiang Yuxun was startled.

 

Unconsciously, he took another step forward to get a clearer look at who it was.

 

The silver armor glinted coldly under the dim light.

 

The faint glow outlined the figure clearly.

 

Sculpted by countless battles, the muscles were smooth and powerful, the shoulders broad, and the waist slender…

 

Jiang Yuxun hastily averted his gaze.

 

Moments later, under the flickering candlelight, he caught sight of a pair of smoky gray eyes.

 

What the—!

 

…It was Ying Changchuan?!

 

The Emperor’s daily loose-fitting attire had never revealed how well-built his physique was.

 

The well-defined lines of his arms, honed by years of sword practice, exuded overwhelming strength even when resting quietly at his sides.

 

There were wild accounts in unofficial histories of Ying Changchuan strangling a man to death with one hand.

 

Seeing this, Jiang Yuxun suddenly felt those accounts weren’t exaggerated in the slightest.

 

He could absolutely do it.

 

…Now’s not the time to think about such nonsense!

 

Jiang Yuxun immediately stepped back, intending to find another tent in the camp.

 

Wasn’t Ying Changchuan supposed to be at the horse grounds?

 

When did he return?!

 

But before Jiang Yuxun could leave the tent, Ying Changchuan’s voice rang out from nearby: “Who’s there?”

 

Jiang Yuxun: “…”

 

He stood still and replied honestly, “It’s me, Your Majesty.”

 

As he spoke, Jiang Yuxun glanced tearfully at the guard outside… Seriously, the Emperor’s inside, and you didn’t stop me?

 

What if I were an assassin? Would you just let me wander around like this?

 

Before Jiang Yuxun could figure out how to make a quick escape, Ying Changchuan spoke again: “Come in.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty…”

 

Great Zhou’s tents were rectangular in structure, with screens separating the front and back sections.

 

With just one glance, Jiang Yuxun could tell that this tent’s front section was the Emperor’s dressing area, lined with various armor and even weapons. The back section was where he bathed.

 

Having just returned from the military horse grounds, Ying Changchuan was here removing his armor and changing into casual clothes.

 

As soon as Jiang Yuxun entered, the lights in the tent suddenly brightened.

 

Instinctively, Jiang Yuxun lowered his gaze, not daring to look around carelessly.

 

“Apologies, Your Majesty. I didn’t know you were here,” Jiang Yuxun quickly explained. “I’ll go find another bathhouse right away.”

 

“No need for the trouble,” Ying Changchuan replied, seemingly indifferent. “The other tents haven’t been set up yet.”

 

…So that’s how it is.

 

The guard at the door hadn’t pointed him in the wrong direction after all.

 

As they spoke, a soldier entered carrying a bucket of water.

 

With the sound of splashing, steaming hot water poured into the bath barrel, filling the tent with a faint mist.

 

Ying Changchuan, now calmly dressed in his usual dark robes, casually placed his silver armor to the side.

 

After a moment, Jiang Yuxun finally regained his composure.

 

It’s just a bare upper body. Such things are common in both ancient and modern times.

 

We’re all men here. Why was I so nervous just now?

 

Recalling how he’d often seen his roommates change in the dormitory in his past life, Jiang Yuxun took a deep breath and slowly raised his eyes.

 

Although the Zhenbei Army camp had all necessary facilities, conditions at the frontier naturally couldn’t compare to Zhaodu.

 

What they called a “bathhouse” was essentially a public tent filled with large ceramic vats.

 

Worried about encountering others, Jiang Yuxun had always gone to the bathhouse late at night, and he still hadn’t gotten used to these ceramic vats as a bathing tool.

 

The Emperor’s tent, of course, was entirely different from the common bathing areas.

 

The most obvious difference was that there was no ceramic vat here but a regular bath barrel instead.

 

Seeing this, Jiang Yuxun felt relieved.

 

Ying Changchuan slowly removed his wrist guards and set them aside.

 

Although he had changed into casual clothes, his collar hadn’t been fastened as meticulously as usual.

 

It was all because of Princess Lianyi’s story.

 

Jiang Yuxun’s gaze unconsciously fell on his collar, instinctively searching for the scars left behind back then.

 

However, instead of any trace of cat scratches, he saw a gruesome knife wound spanning Ying Changchuan’s chest.

 

The scar was incredibly precise, dangerously close to the heart, as if inflicted in a single swift strike.

 

…Ying Changchuan had sustained such a severe injury?

 

Jiang Yuxun suddenly felt a wave of tension.

 

On the battlefield, injuries were inevitable.

 

But perhaps because no historical records mentioned it, Jiang Yuxun had never associated the concept of “serious injury” with someone like Ying Changchuan until this moment.

 

The candlelight in the tent flickered and dimmed over time.

 

Soon, the water barrel was filled, and the heat from the tent became more intense, the mist thickening within.

 

As they spoke, Ying Changchuan walked over to Jiang Yuxun. “What’s wrong?”

 

He lowered his gaze slightly, looking at the man before him.

 

“I was looking at Your Majesty’s scars…” Jiang Yuxun raised his eyes and cautiously asked, “When did Your Majesty sustain this injury?”