Liu Shuang Shi stood quietly at the door of the side gallery. He saw the mysterious look of tragedy and sadness on Luo Wei’s face as Luo Wei watched Long Xuan walk away. He also saw the frigid coldness in Luo Wei’s eyes as the youth stared at Long Xuan’s back, and it shocked him to the core. Did Luo Wei hate Long Xuan? Liu Shuang Shi asked himself as he watched. If there wasn’t the sort of hatred that cut straight to the bone like this, then why would a youth of thirteen watch Long Xuan with this sort of an expression?
“Father,” Liu Wu Sheng had just exited into the side gallery, and saw that his father was standing there quietly, so he called out to him.
Upon hearing Liu Wu Sheng’s voice, Luo Wei turned around and smiled at the father and son, and very respectfully bowed to them.
Liu Shuang Shi watched Luo Wei’s face change in the space of an instant, and felt his body go numb. Did he make a mistake just now in judging Luo Wei’s expression, or was this kid too good of an actor?
Emperor Xing Wu did not allow Long Xuan to leave the capital, but Liu Wu Sheng had gotten his wish. He was to lead out the emergency diversion of troops from the capital to assist in Yun Guan. What surprised everyone was that this time, Emperor Xing Wu did not name a military supervisor, but instead sent Luo Wei to act as a supervising imperial envoy, with an imperial edict to go and supervise the military. Luo Wei had not become a part of the court as of yet, but he was the emperor’s disciple. Just because of that, the emperor could give him whatever title or role the emperor wished. However, Luo Wei was only thirteen, and war was not child’s play. A thirteen year old youth was being given the responsibility of supervising the military? The rest of the imperial envoys quickly made noises of dissatisfaction at the emperor’s decision, and the missives about their opposition fell on the emperor’s desk like snowflakes. For a stubborn and strong emperor such as Xing Wu, however, the comments from the imperial envoys could go in one ear and out the other at his discretion, so the emperor pretended to not even see these messages.
It was actually the empress, Luo Zhi Yi, who started to worry for Luo Wei after she’d heard the news. She especially asked Shang Xi to go and summon Luo Wei to her Hall of the Gracious Phoenix.
“Auntie,” Whenever there were no other people of note in the hall, Luo Wei would change to calling the empress as his auntie, and of course, this time was no different.
“Wei Er,” Luo Zhi Yi beckoned Luo Wei closer to her, worry bubbling up in her chest as he spoke, “War is made for generals. You’ve never studied martial arts or military strategy, how could you go on the battlefield? If this is a job given to you by the emperor, there’s no shame in denying it.”
“Auntie,” Luo Wei snuggled in close as he sat next to Luo Zhi Yi, “My eldest brother is there, do you really think he’s going to let me get anywhere close to the fighting?”
“I’m worried no matter if you go and fight face to face with the enemy or not,” Luo Zhi Yi sighed, “What if you got injured? Your eldest brother won’t know how to face our family.”
“So… it sounds like auntie cares about me a lot more than she cares about my eldest brother, huh,” Luo Wei joked as he smiled.
“Nonsense!” Luo Zhi Yi poked at Luo Wei’s forehead with her finger, “How could I not care about him? But your eldest brother is very skilled in martial arts, do you think you could compare?”
“If I don’t go, then His Imperial Majesty will send someone else,” Luo Wei said, “If he sent someone who wasn’t friendly to us, do you think they’d compare with me standing side by side with my brother? Auntie, don’t worry, my eldest brother is going to make sure I’m safe, and I’ll be very, very careful too!”
“So that’s why you want to go so badly!” Emperor Xing Wu was grinning as he entered, “You’re afraid I’m going to send someone who’d meddle in your brother’s business!”
“Your Imperial Majesty,” The two seated relatives quickly rose and paid their respects to the emperor.
“Both of you may rise,” Emperor Xing Wu reached out to help Luo Zhi Yi up himself, “Empress, now do you know how clever and mischievous your little nephew is?”
Luo Zi Yi smiled, “I didn’t know he would think about things this deeply, he really wanted to go and help his older brother.”
Luo Wei grinned, “Nothing in the world stronger than brotherly love! Your Imperial Majesties, Northern Yan is going to be defeated for sure!”
The emperor and empress both chuckled, and Luo Zhi Yi asked her imperial husband, “Your Imperial Majesty, Wei Er is still young, could he really take on the role of military supervisor?”
Emperor Xing Wu answered, “Wei Er needs the experience in order to grow into the man he will one day be. Empress, don’t worry too much about him, I believe in Wei Er, and the fact that no harm will come to him.”
The emperor’s words were as good as gold, with this, Luo Zhi Yi couldn’t have said anything else more even if her worries were not alleviated.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” Zhao Fu announced from outside the hall, “Consort Liu of the Hall of the Blossoming Beauty is here to request audience.”
“What does she want?” Emperor Xing Wu didn’t call her in, only asking for her intentions.
Zhao Fu loudly announced back, “Your Imperial Majesty, Consort Liu’s illness has had some developments.”
“Then call the Imperial Physicians to attend to her,” Emperor Xing Wu said, “Let her rest and recover well.”
“Your Imperial Majesty?” Luo Zhi Yi sounded like she wanted to say something.
“That’s quite enough, my empress,” Emperor Xing Wu interrupted her thought, “Let’s dine together tonight, you, me, and Wei Er.”