Chapter 4: How can you trust a man's affection?
Early orioles compete for warmth, and new green leaves sprout on the branches.

In the imperial enclosure outside the capital, the sage was surrounded by court officials, riding on the imperial horse. He looked around among the crowd and asked, "Where is Shouzhi? Why can't I see him?"

Shouzhi is Lu Ji's name.

The eunuch hurriedly replied, "General Lu just caught prey and is following behind."

"Let him come over here," the saint ordered.

Although Lu Ji is young, he has made great contributions this time and is currently in the limelight. When the sage came to see him, all the ministers made way.

After a while, Lu Ji came riding a horse. He was as tall and straight as a pine tree. He was dressed in a dark tight-fitting suit with golden soft armor on the outside. The spring sun was bright and the armor was flashing a cold light. He was the most dazzling among the crowd.

The saint sat on his horse, squinting at the majestic man. When he approached, before Lu Ji could dismount, the saint stopped him and said, "Forget it, no need to be so polite."

Although Lu Ji did not pay lip service, he still clasped his hands respectfully in front of the saint with military etiquette: "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

"I've already said it, no need to be so formal." The saint smiled, sat on his horse, crossed his arms, looked at Lu Ji leisurely, and said, "General Lu is so majestic that I feel my blood boiling."

Lu Ji said: "Your Majesty conquered all over the world in those days, and your majesty's reputation was known to the world."

The saint was not a legitimate son, but when he was still a prince, he was also a capable and skilled military general.

The saint smiled and waved his hand when he heard this, saying, "That was all in the past."

In the past few years, the Great Zhou has suffered natural disasters year after year, with powerful enemies outside and emptiness inside, and it is very unstable. Half a year ago, the saint's first queen unfortunately passed away. Although the saint is just over 40 years old, due to external and internal troubles, his temples have already turned gray.

The saint smiled and said, "Come on, accompany me. I haven't ridden a horse for a long time."

Lu Ji rode forward, a horse's head away from the saint, and stayed beside him. The saint turned his head and saw a small object in the bag on his saddle, and asked casually, "What did you catch?"

Lu Ji casually patted the moving little animal in the bag and replied, "Just now, I followed His Majesty to chase an elk. On the way, I saw a little rabbit and caught it."

"This is something girls like." Then the saint teased, "Could it be that Shouzhi has someone in his heart?"

Lu Ji said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, please don't tease me. I just caught it and brought it back to my sisters at home to play with."

"I see. I am really afraid that you have someone in your heart. If that is the case, my Seventh Sister will be very sad."

The saint made a joke, and when he saw Lu Ji frowned slightly, he stopped harping on the subject and talked about serious matters.

"Shouzhi, to be honest, I didn't expect that the Sixteen Continents of Hexi could be recovered."

Twenty years ago, the imperial power changed and the court was unstable. The governor of Hexi took advantage of the chaos to rebel, and Western Qi seized the opportunity to seize the Sixteen Continents of Hexi. Over the years, the Great Zhou has always wanted to regain its homeland, but has failed after several military campaigns.

Five years ago, the sage gathered his strength again and ordered the general Han Ke Dang to lead the army, mobilize the whole country's troops, and attack Hexi directly, intending to retake the sixteen continents. This time, the war was originally going well, but in the third year of the war, the general Han Ke Dang was careless and the Qi people cut off the food supply. Hundreds of thousands of troops were trapped in Hexi. General Han was filled with remorse and anger, and unfortunately died.

With the death of the commander-in-chief and the occupation of the grain supply route, the army was thrown into chaos. Even the sage and court officials in the court were at a loss as to what to do.

Unexpectedly, Lu Ji's soldiers acted cunningly and successfully robbed the Qi army camp with 10,000 soldiers under his command, and took back the grain route unexpectedly.

At that time, he was just in his early twenties. Although he had been on the battlefield many times, he was still young and only a third-rank general. Yet he was able to turn the tide in such an extremely unfavorable situation.

The sage immediately recalled Lu Ji and questioned him in person. With his sharp eyes, he concluded that this young man was extremely talented. So, against all odds, he appointed Lu Ji as the commander-in-chief to retake the Sixteen Continents of Hexi.

Sure enough, Lu Ji lived up to the Saint's expectations and successfully recaptured his homeland in less than two years. In the past twenty years, countless famous generals had been defeated in Hexi. The most difficult problem that gave the Saint a headache was solved by this young man who was just in his early twenties in less than two years.

“It’s really like the waves behind pushing the waves ahead.”

The sage sighed, then turned to look at Lu Ji, with a probing look in his eyes, and asked: "Shou Zhi, you have made great contributions to the recovery of Hexi. Tell me, what do you want me to do to you?" After a pause, he continued: "With such achievements, it would not be an exaggeration to make you the Grand Marshal of the Army of the World."

The Grand Marshal of the Army, in charge of all the troops in the world, is the pinnacle of military command.

Lu Ji rode on his horse, clasped his fists towards the sage, and said, "Your Majesty has also said that I am still young and need experience. I really don't deserve such a reward."

The Saint looked at Lu Ji calmly, nodded secretly, and walked for a while. Then he turned his head again and looked at the imperial concubines' carriage following behind. He smiled and said to Lu Ji: "Shu Fei also came out this time. She complained to me yesterday, blaming you for not coming to see her after returning for so many days."

Lu Ji replied: "Your Majesty is so precious, how can this humble minister see you whenever he wants?"

The saint laughed out loud and said, "Although she is my concubine, she is also your elder sister. It's rare for her to come out, so it wouldn't hurt to meet her."

Lu Ji said: "Thank you for your majesty's kindness, but the rules cannot be broken."

Upon hearing this, the saint smiled again, but this time, the smile appeared in his eyes.
-
After the prince went out, he did not return for several days, and the people in Qingsong Garden could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Qin Xiaoning was even more fortunate. Ever since Lu Ji came back, he had been finding fault with her. This time, after being away for a few days, he should be feeling better when he comes back.

He was not a stingy person. She had annoyed him before, and no matter how angry he was, it would only take three to five days at most and then it would be over.

That day, just after noon, Amber came to Qingsong Garden.

Give everyone monthly money.

When the master was away, the maids felt less restrained and were very happy to receive their monthly wages, especially the new ones. They had only been there for a few days but the mansion had already paid them according to the standards of senior maids. The maids were grinning from ear to ear and kept calling Qin Xiaoning "Sister Qin" to express their gratitude.

Qin Xiaoning was naturally happy too. She had two more taels of monthly silver, which, if kept outside, could be enough to buy rice for nearly half a year.

Amber looked at Qin Xiaoning's happy expression and joked with her: "Miss Qin is the favorite of the prince. She has seen all kinds of good things. It's just two taels of silver, and you are so happy."

She had always been living a life of luxury by Lu Ji's side. Outsiders believed that she must have received a lot of rewards from Lu Ji. However, they did not know that Lu Ji only treated her well in terms of food and clothing, but never gave her any money.

He was obviously recognized as the most generous master in the mansion, rewarding servants with silver coins like throwing steamed buns, but he never gave her any.

Is it infuriating?

Qin Xiaoning smiled bitterly: "You may not believe me if I tell you, but I don't have much money."

Amber naturally didn't believe it, but she didn't ask any further questions. She just smiled and teased her, "Compared with the favor of the prince, those yellow and white things are nothing."

Qin Xiaoning subconsciously retorted: "How can a man's favor be relied upon? At the critical moment, money is more practical."

"My Lord——"

Several people were talking here and never expected Lu Ji to come back suddenly until a little maid screamed in surprise, and then everyone noticed.

(End of this chapter)