At that moment, Li Su walked in with a face full of shock. "Your Highness Consort, Miss Chi woke up at some point. The subordinates below said she ran to Shen Qingzhou saying she wanted to join the army."
Lu Qingwan raised an eyebrow. "Join the army?
What army is she joining?"
Li Su shook her head. "She only said to let Shen Qingzhou allow her to train with the brothers below, and that she would never ask for special treatment.
However, Shen Qingzhou already told her that the Xuanjia Army needs your and His Highness's permission to enlist new soldiers. She is now on her way to see you."
"I understand."
Lu Qingwan's eyelids drooped slightly. After a moment of thought, she asked again, "Where is Chi Jingchuan now?"
This person who had been forgotten by everyone for a long time was suddenly brought up. Li Su froze for a moment before remembering Chi Jingchuan.
"After His Highness decided to withdraw the Xuanjia Army from Beixiao Pass, he took the initiative to request to serve under Prince Shao. I heard he is now a Tongzhi of Ningzhou under Prince Shao. His promotion is quite fast."
With ancestors who worshipped countless Grand Academicians and a grandfather who was the Minister of Personnel and a father who was a Grand Academician of the Wenyuan Pavilion, Lu Qingwan was not surprised by Chi Jingchuan's promotion.
She was just a little puzzled. "Since he wants to enter officialdom, why did he come to the military in the first place?"
Li Su chuckled and shook her head. "Your Highness Consort, you misunderstand Young Master Chi. He came to the Xuanjia Army to learn.
I heard that during his time under Prince Shao, Prince Shao entrusted him with the entire military training in the Northwest. Judging by the situation, he intends to train an Xuanjia Army for Prince Shao as well!"
Li Su's tone carried a hint of amusement and a touch of disdain.
It was clear that in her eyes, no one could create another Xuanjia Army with strict discipline and formidable combat power like Feng Xiwu.
Not even Chi Jingchuan, whom she once admired.
Lu Qingwan did not mind her occasional impetuousness and was somewhat curious.
"After His Highness returned to Daqin, there were not many people in the Daqian army who could lead troops in battle. Logically speaking, Prince Shao is in the Northwest, and he is the most suitable person to garrison Beixiao Pass.
Although Prince Nan is in Shangjing, he can be dispatched. If not, Lord Wen Tan can also lead the army.
However, so far, I have not heard news of these people rushing to Beixiao Pass. Therefore, who is currently leading the troops to resist the Northern Wei iron cavalry?"
After speaking, Lu Qingwan slapped her forehead.
The war had been going on for so long, and she only now remembered to inquire about the identities of the leaders of both sides. She had indeed underestimated the enemy.
Reflecting on this, she quickly added, "And on the Northern Wei side, Cheng Jiuxiao is dead. Who is leading the troops on the Northern Wei side?
Nie Wuming's ambition lies in the Three Kingdoms, and he has just returned to the Northern Wei court. He should not be personally leading the expedition, right?"
"That won't happen."
Li Su stood tall and proud.
"If His Highness and the Xuanjia Army were here, he might personally lead the expedition. But now that the Xuanjia Army is not here, why would he bother?"
"So?"
Lu Qingwan helplessly steered the conversation back. "Who is currently commanding the armies on both the Northern Wei and Daqian sides?"
"On the Northern Wei side, the commander is a cousin of the King of Wei, Prince Shen, Nie Jintang. He was a fierce general in his youth, but was later suppressed by the King of Wei and became a prince with no real power. Now Nie Wuming has reinstated him.
However, the deputy general is Nie Wuming's cousin, Cheng Nanliu. In my subordinate's opinion, he was sent by Nie Wuming to monitor Nie Jintang."
Although Li Su's thoughts sometimes diverged, she still managed to gather quite complete intelligence.
"As for Daqian, the original commander was the State Grandfather, Yue Yuanting. As you have seen, the defeat was a total disaster.
After Yue Yuanting was dismissed, the new appointee was the Minister of War, Xue Liangchen. He is capable, but he cannot overcome the huge mess left by Yue Yuanting.
So far, they can only defend and not attack. If no one causes trouble, they should be able to hold the Jade River, but that's about all.
After all, Nie Jintang and Cheng Nanliu are quite formidable fighters."
Lu Qingwan was quite satisfied with Li Su's judgment of the situation. "The standoff at the Jade River is also good. It can spare the people south of the Jade River from suffering and also put pressure on Feng Qingheng. That's good."
Li Su squinted and smiled. "Yes, my subordinate also believes this is the best win-win situation that the current situation can create."
As the master and servant were talking, Chi Yaoyao appeared at the door.
She was wearing a qipao with large floral prints in a Xiangfei color and high platform shoes.
With her hair styled in two small buns and adorned with kingfisher-inlaid hairpins, she looked like a Manchu-Mongolian beauty who had stumbled into this era.
Although winter had arrived, Tianxuan City was hidden within the cloud forest and was not particularly cold.
However, she was already wearing a fluffy white fox fur collar, yet her face was still alarmingly pale.
But at this moment, her eyes no longer held the playful liveliness she had when Lu Qingwan first met her. Instead, there was a disturbing stillness, like ripples on a dead pond.
She skillfully walked forward in her high platform shoes and curtsied to Lu Qingwan. "This subject greets Your Highness Consort."
Lu Qingwan waved her hand. "Li Su, go and prepare some food for Miss Chi and me."
Li Su, with great perceptiveness, withdrew. Lu Qingwan then gestured for Chi Yaoyao to sit. "Come and sit."
Chi Yaoyao was not coy. With light steps, she walked over and sat opposite Lu Qingwan, the long ruby tassels on one side of her hairpin barely moving.
Lu Qingwan felt a pang of sadness. She swallowed the words she wanted to say. "What made you think of wearing a qipao?"
"Didn't you say it was a divine artifact for cultivating etiquette? I saw the noble ladies in Shangjing using qipaos to correct their posture, so I wanted to try it too."
Chi Yaoyao smiled, but the faint smile did not quite fill her small, palm-sized face.
"My mother always says I'm too impetuous and not like a lady from a noble family. I want to try and see if I can satisfy her one time."
Lu Qingwan's brow twitched. She feigned calmness and said, "Even if you don't change anything, the old madam has always been very satisfied with you."
Chi Yaoyao's tone clearly indicated that she was aware of the Chi family's situation.
If it were according to her usual style, she would have been clamoring to return to the capital long ago.
Yet, she sat here so calmly. Lu Qingwan had to admit that in just half a year, Chi Yaoyao had truly changed.
Chi Yaoyao did not refute her words. "Yes, my mother, she is always satisfied with me.
But I cannot accept her satisfaction with me with a clear conscience if I have always done things that forced her to be satisfied!"
Her gaze was fixed on Lu Qingwan. "Just now, in the Cloud Pavilion, you saw me, didn't you?"
Lu Qingwan did not answer. Chi Yaoyao continued on her own. "In your eyes, isn't it particularly shameless for someone like me to chase a man around so willfully?"
"Don't talk nonsense."
Lu Qingwan, knowing she was emotionally unstable, could not tolerate her demeaning herself so much.