Princess Promotion

Half a month later, Fu Hongxuan entered the palace again. The sunlight shone through the carved window lattices and onto the magnificent floor, casting mottled light and shadows.

Fu Hongxuan couldn't help but feel deeply moved. These buildings were still there, but the people and things had changed.

Fu Hongxuan walked into the bedroom and saw Yao Chuguang sitting at the desk, the red pen in his hand moving across the memorials with a focused expression.

Hearing the footsteps, Yao Chuguang raised his head and said lightly: "You are here."

Fu Hongxuan was slightly taken aback and asked, "Are you so sure that I will enter the palace?"

Yao Chuguang: "What's the big deal? If you don't come into the palace, I can go out to see you later. Isn't it the same?"

Fu Hongxuan was speechless for a moment. Yao Chuguang's directness caught him off guard.

She pointed to the bed next to her and said in a commanding tone, "Take off your clothes and lie down on it."

Although Fu Hongxuan knew that they were doing serious work, he wondered if Yao Chuguang could have some womanly reserve.

Fu Hongxuan finally sighed, said nothing more, and lay down as he was told.

At this moment, a faint fragrance wafted into his nose. Fu Hongxuan realized that it seemed to be the fragrance of Yao Chuguang, and a blush appeared on his face.

Yao Chuguang carefully examined Fu Hongxuan's wound and nodded with satisfaction: "It's recovering well. As long as you don't do strenuous exercise, it shouldn't be affected on a daily basis."

After saying that, Yao Chuguang signaled Fu Hongxuan that he could get up.

Fu Hongxuan slowly stood up and tidied his clothes.

Yao Chuguang looked at him with a matter-of-fact expression and couldn't help but tease him, "I saved your life, and you don't even say thank you?"

Fu Hongxuan glanced at her and said, "It was you who made it known to the world that we had an affair."

Fu Hongxuan's words were full of certainty. He had originally planned to be imprisoned or demoted by Emperor Zhou, but Yao Chuguang took advantage of his misfortune and spread rumors that the two of them were having an affair.

This confirmed his crime of colluding with the enemy country, which eventually led to his imprisonment. It can be said that Yao Chuguang was half responsible for Fu Hongxuan's injuries.

Yao Chuguang heard this, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes, and he immediately changed the subject and said, "Then let's leave the palace now."

Fu Hongxuan looked at her escaping and snorted in his heart. He knew that this woman really had no bottom line.

Fu Hongxuan didn't bother to argue but asked, "Where are you going?"

Yao Chuguang: "Of course it's where you want to go."

The carriage slowly drove out of the bustling capital and bumped along the rugged road.

A few hours later, Yao Chuguang and Fu Hongxuan arrived at a desolate land.

Bursts of noise came from afar, breaking the silence of the land.

Fu Hongxuan looked around and saw a newly opened open space with various tents densely packed together, interspersed with some simple wooden houses, which looked extremely busy and orderly.

Yao Chuguang led Fu Hongxuan into the camp. Her steps were steady, and she seemed to know everything about the place.

She pointed at the busy soldiers and said, "This is a camp specially used to accommodate surrendered generals. I let them participate in the construction of the road in exchange for the necessities of life."

Fu Hongxuan followed Yao Chuguang's footsteps and went deep into the camp.

He saw groups of soldiers in tattered uniforms. Some of them were waving shovels, some were carrying heavy stones. Everyone's forehead was covered with sweat, but their expressions were not listless.

The atmosphere in the camp was not as depressing and desperate as imagined.

On the contrary, the soldiers here look energetic, with healthy rosy cheeks.

The sounds of conversation and work were intertwined among them.

Yao Chuguang continued to explain, "We provide two meals of thin porridge every day. As for the rest of their food, they rely on the wages they earn during the day to buy it. As long as they are diligent and frugal, they can save some money every month."

Fu Hongxuan carefully observed these surrendered soldiers. Although they were in a prisoner camp, they had not lost their fighting spirit.

They create value with their own hands in exchange for wages so they can live with dignity.

This management style made Fu Hongxuan look at Yao Chuguang with new respect.

On the other side of the camp, several soldiers were building a new wooden house. Their movements were skillful and quick, and it was obvious that they were used to this kind of work.

Not far away, a group of people were sitting around a fire, and there was even a storyteller telling stories.

It seems that Yao Chuguang treats these surrendered soldiers really well.

As the inspection was completed, Fu Hongxuan felt relieved.

He originally thought that the battlefield was ruthless, and even if Yao Chuguang really killed all the Western Zhou generals, there would be nothing wrong from the other party's point of view.

However, Yao Chuguang defied all odds and protected the lives of these surrendered generals. Fu Hongxuan couldn't help but ask curiously, "How do you plan to place them?"

Yao Chuguang did not answer immediately, but took out an exquisitely carved token from his arms and handed it to Fu Hongxuan.

Yao Chuguang: "With this token, you can freely enter and exit any prisoner camp. I'll give you two months to go and see. At that time, whether to go or stay is entirely up to you."

Fu Hongxuan took the token and looked at Yao Chuguang in surprise: "You're just going to let me go like this?"

Yao Chuguang smiled calmly: "If you want to leave, just leave."

Fu Hongxuan: "If I choose to retire to the mountains now, what will happen to these soldiers?"

Yao Chuguang glanced at Fu Hongxuan helplessly, as if dissatisfied with his constant portrayal of him as a bloodthirsty person. "Why do you all think I'm a murderer, threatening people at every turn? I'm a good person, okay? They will naturally continue to work as migrant workers and build the road well. In a few years, when I've secured my throne, I'll let them go home."

Fu Hongxuan asked again: "What if I stay?"

Yao Chuguang replied, "Then they will be your soldiers. You will be the commander-in-chief and will set out to pacify the western border."

Fu Hongxuan asked tentatively, "Aren't you afraid that I will bring my army directly to the Western Territory and then turn around to fight you?"

Yao Chuguang looked directly at Fu Hongxuan and asked, "Do you have money?"

This unexpected answer stunned Fu Hongxuan. He thought Yao Chuguang would say something high-sounding about believing in him, but he didn't expect her to be so practical and hit the nail on the head.

The army is a huge money-eating beast. Without money, it is difficult to survive.

Yao Chuguang: "The current Zhou Emperor has hanged himself. Your only way to reach the Western Territory is to establish yourself as king."

"If you had ambitions to become king, you wouldn't have resorted to such foolish tactics to get yourself into trouble. When you realized the Zhou Emperor was wary of you, you would have begun plotting rebellion instead of obediently allowing the Zhou Emperor to imprison you."

Yao Chuguang stood beside the carriage, gazing deeply into the distance.

Her voice seemed a little ethereal in the wind. "Fu Hongxuan, I asked you to travel all over the country and witness everything I do with your own eyes. This is so that you can understand one thing: I am more capable than the Zhou Emperor to lead the people of the world to prosperity. The sword in your hand should not be a tool for anyone's ambition. It should fight for the people."

She turned around and looked directly into Fu Hongxuan's eyes, her tone revealing an unquestionable determination: "If one day you forget why you wield your sword, then you'd better choose to retire to the mountains. Otherwise, I will end it all with my own hands."

Fu Hongxuan felt inexplicably shocked when he heard Yao Chuguang's words.

Yao Chuguang continued, "I'm not threatening you, Fu Hongxuan. I just hope you understand that our responsibilities are far more important than personal honor and disgrace. The well-being of the people of the world is what we should strive for."

Her voice softened, but her resolve remained undiminished. "I hope you can see with your own eyes and feel with your own heart. When you see what I've done, when you feel how the lives of the people have improved because of our efforts, I believe you will make the right choice."

Yao Chuguang reached out and gently patted Fu Hongxuan's shoulder: "Go, Fu Hongxuan. Use these two months to find the answer in your heart. No matter what your choice is, I will respect it."

Fu Hongxuan clenched the token and silver in his hand, turned around and left without saying anything else, embarking on a journey to the unknown.