His Majesty And I ✔️

Noble Lady

Chapter 33

Bai Shen Hong
The Dragon Palace Study Room

"Forgive this servant for having less understanding, Your Majesty." Zhi Peng sat across the emperor behind the study table.

"What is it that you want to ask?"

Shen Hong folded the map that traced the land of Huticah. Lashes of ink scribbled the paper after a day of strategizing with his team. They were taking a great amount of time in preparing General Feng.

The generals, although disappointed  about the announcement that General Feng would carry out the assassination mission, still did their best to fairly participate in the tactical discussion. Everyone had hoped to be the chosen one.

"Your Majesty, you insist that General Feng must leave in a couple of days. Isn't it too rushed?"

Shen Hong grinned, his finger toiling around the candle near him. It flickered bright and strong, yet with one press of his fingers, the flames switched off into nothingness.

General Feng was like this candle among many other candles lighting this room. The same way one candle blown off did not result in the dimness of the room, the loss of one general would not take from Nevoria's glory,

"You are not expecting him to come back, are you... Your Majesty." Zhi Peng was smart to understand his master. "Because in this case, you are sending him off with a few military servicemen."

"They are the best servicemen," Shen Hong said. Playing dumb.

"Yes, Your Majesty, but why can't this servant shake off the feeling that this is all rushed?"

Because it was.

Zhi Peng went on. "It can't be... it can't be that you are using General Feng as the answer to your problems."

Why not? He owed no one.

"Very good. You understand my way of thinking. With General Feng, I can kill three birds with one stone. This will silence the scholars from taunting me as I will tell them that when General Feng comes back he will be their Grand General. The Wang clan will also relax. Imagine their happiness when they start to think they will have a son-in-law who will give them military power. Lastly, this will test the South clan's loyalty. I want to see how they will respond to all this."

Shen Hong pulled in and out his weighty jade ring on his thumb. "Actually, it's four birds. I get to also test Huticah's responsiveness to my attack. Even if Chang An fails, we get to find out where their king currently resides and terrorise their security system. Isn't that good?"

"Surely, His Majesty is wise. But... " Zhi Peng hesitated.

"Go on."

"This servant doesn't understand whether His Majesty wants General Feng to succeed or not. General Feng is not being given enough back up or time to prepare. Your Majesty doesn't want General to come back, it seems, as there is no willingness to give up the Grand General seat on your part. While on the other side, His Majesty does wish King Tobba to die." Zhi Peng shook his head. "This servant doesn't understand. Please teach him your thoughts."

The emperor smirked. "To die or not to die? Some things, shouldn't we let the heavens decide?" He chose not to reveal his true mindset on this issue.

That was Shen Hong. Who could truly know all of him. He revealed different facets of himself to not the same person. People would only understand him completely if they all came together and put the pieces of him that he gave them in conjunction, like a puzzle. Just maybe, that way they would understand a bit about him.