Chapter Eighty-Five: Royal Secrets of the Kingdom of Nanyang

After hearing this answer, Dongfang Qing finally felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

At that moment, Qi Mo also arrived at the city tower from outside, first offering a respectful salute to the dignitaries gathered atop the walls, then stepping before Shen Hezhi.

"Your Highness, your strategy was truly brilliant. The army of Nanyang has already withdrawn, and judging by their demeanor, they seem to be setting up camp not far away, preparing breakfast..."

As he spoke the latter half, Qi Mo couldn't help but laugh aloud, though he quickly stifled his laughter, realizing such behavior might be unbecoming.

Shen Hezhi, naturally, would not fault him for such a trivial matter. He too felt a surge of joy within. In truth, he had confided in no one about this plan—it was a gamble.

He was not entirely certain the Third Prince, Nan'an, would retreat. If Nan'an had chosen to persist here, and the soldiers of Beiao only began battle after breakfast, even if the morale of Nanyang's troops was low, they would still utterly defeat the Beiao army.

But fortunately, his gamble paid off, and he had, in a sense, been holding his breath for himself.

"Well, although we have prevailed this time, there is no guarantee Nan'an will not return with renewed force. We won without true valor; it is best we return and properly train the troops. Qi Mo, I entrust this promising force to you. I hope to see them reclaim their former glory."

Shen Hezhi stood and patted Qi Mo's shoulder. Qi Mo nodded solemnly and said, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will ensure this army shines again as it once did. I will not disappoint your expectations."

Shen Hezhi smiled and said nothing more, taking his leave. Dongfang Qing followed closely behind. Though they had won this battle, there remained much he wished to discuss with the Ninth Prince, so he stayed by his side.

Shen Hezhi and Dongfang Qing returned to the barracks and began to deliberate on how best to train the troops and how to respond should they face another confrontation. Along the way, they also discussed matters concerning the royal family of Nanyang.

From Dongfang Qing, Shen Hezhi learned that the kingdom of Nanyang was far from peaceful.

The Dongfang clan had long been stationed at the frontier, so they had a clear understanding of the events unfolding in these regions. Though Nanyang was not their immediate neighbor, intelligence gathering sometimes yielded unexpected information—perhaps not always useful, but still intriguing.

Dongfang Qing told Shen Hezhi that the Nanyang royal family was, in fact, rather tumultuous.

In the beginning, power in Nanyang was not held by the emperor, but by the empress. Her family was exceedingly influential, and the ministers of court were loyal to her clan.

The empress wielded overwhelming authority in the palace, and her family dominated the court, rendering the emperor little more than a puppet.

It was said that a perplexing incident had occurred in those days: the emperor’s favorite concubine gave birth to a daughter, who reportedly fled the palace.

Yet she had no reason to escape, as she was the cherished child of the favored consort, and the emperor’s most beloved daughter.

Thus, rumors arose that the princess had not fled, but was murdered by the empress, who would not allow the favored consort’s child to survive.

But this rumor seemed not entirely credible; if the empress truly wished to prevent the favored consort’s child from living, how would one explain the existence of the Third Prince, Nan'an?

Nan'an was the child of that favored consort, who bore two children—one son and one daughter. The son became Nanyang’s Third Prince, Nan'an, and the daughter was the kingdom’s eldest princess, Nan Su.

Nan Su was a lovable and gentle girl, never displaying the airs of royalty. She treated everyone, even the servants, with kindness, earning not only the emperor’s favor but also the affection of others in the palace.

Yet one day, she vanished without a trace, and no one knew where she had gone. Many rumors ensued, some claiming the emperor hid her to protect her from the empress, others saying the empress killed her, though the emperor dared not reveal it, as the empress’s power remained unchallenged.

It was only after Nan'an grew up and gained military authority that the emperor gradually reclaimed power. With the Third Prince’s help, the emperor was able to replace many of the court officials loyal to the empress’s family.

Still, even after such fierce struggle, the court remained divided—half under the emperor, half under the empress’s clan. The rivalry persisted without pause.

After hearing Dongfang Qing’s account, Shen Hezhi was less concerned about the princess’s whereabouts and more interested in the upbringing of the Third Prince, Nan'an.

To defeat Nanyang, relying solely on soldiers in direct combat was unlikely to succeed, given the rigor of their training. They needed to seek another path, to find alternative solutions.

Now, hearing about this prince’s formative years, perhaps it was possible to exploit this knowledge—perhaps, from outside, they could achieve victory over his army.

Furthermore, with the royal family of Yang Kingdom in such disorder, perhaps two agents could be sent to stir the waters. If the royal household were thrown into turmoil, their attention would be diverted from the frontier, granting ample time to nurture and train the troops.

Shen Hezhi considered many strategies in his heart, but he needed careful deliberation to decide which was best. If they truly sent someone into the royal household, the choice of candidate would need to be exceedingly cautious.

“Lord Dongfang, you do seem to know a great deal—who would have thought you’d be privy even to such royal secrets?” Shen Hezhi teased.

Dongfang Qing blushed at Shen Hezhi’s jest, for as an official, it was somewhat improper to pry into the secrets of another royal family.

He cleared his throat and replied, “Well, it is part of knowing the enemy as well as ourselves. Only by understanding their circumstances can we win victories more easily. Would you not agree, Your Highness?”

Shen Hezhi smiled and nodded, thus signifying his agreement. “What you’ve told me is indeed useful. I suddenly have a new strategy in mind, though I must take time to refine it. When you have spare time, keep a close watch over their training on the parade ground. I fear Qi Mo alone may not be able to manage the situation, especially given these veterans.”

“Yes,” Dongfang Qing replied.

Shen Hezhi nodded, stood, and departed.

He returned to the courier station.