Luo Qi organized everything alone and decisively. Luo Wei obeyed his command and took ten thousand soldiers to be stationed in the small city of Ye Qie. The battle ahead seemed to have nothing to do with them any longer.
Three days later, news came from the front of the progress of war, describing how the army of Northern Yan had retreated a hundred miles.
Five days later, a prison wagon slipped into Luo Wei’s military residence under the secrecy of night.
Si Ma Qing Sha had fought a hopelessly stupid war this time. No matter how, he wasn’t able to understand why he had suffered such losses. The army of Greater Zhou seemed to know exactly what his soldiers were going to do, the traps they’d set were so perfect that even he had nothing to say about them.
“Third prince,” This was the first time that Luo Wei has met Si Ma Qing Sha. He cut an impressive figure, and yet his face was adorned with a pair of peach blossom eyes(1) with upturned corners. Even though he’d been taken prisoner, he still had the bearing of a jade tree ready to face the oncoming storm. This sort of man was rare in the world indeed.
Si Ma Qing Sha was also looking at Luo Wei. This person was obviously the master around here, but he didn’t expect him to be a teenage youth. At first glance it was hard to tell if he was a man or a woman, but the boy could be described as exceedingly beautiful, enough to overthrow a city or a kingdom. “Who are you?” Si Ma Qing Sha asked.
Luo Wei answered, “My name is Luo Wei, and my style name is Yun Qi.”
Si Ma Qing Sha quickly said, “The emperor’s disciple, and senior chancellor’s third son?”
Luo Wei smiled, “I didn’t think that the third prince would know who I was.”
Si Ma Qing Sha’s face remained cold, “What are you going to do with me?”
Luo Wei answered, “Right now, the soldiers of Northern Yan are probably wearing their funerary clothes for you, the third prince is as good as dead to them.”
Si Ma Qing Sha huffed, “If you’re going to kill me, then do it, we don’t have to play games.”
Luo Wei kept smiling as he spoke, “The third prince doesn’t seem to value his life, but does he also not want to know why he lost?”
Si Ma Qing Sha looked at him, “So tell me why I lost.”
Luo Wei answered, “Naturally it’s because someone wanted you to die more than we did.”
This was the answer that Si Ma Qing Sha dreaded. Si Ma Zhu Xie’s troops were the ones who were operating in the light, his soldiers were supposed to operate under cover. Even if the army of Greater Zhou was going to set traps, they should have been targeted at Si Ma Zhu Xie’s troops, how would they have targeted what they didn’t know?
Luo Wei watched as the expression on the third prince’s face changed time and time again, but Luo Wei never lost his smile, “Perhaps the third prince would like to hear what our strategy was before things changed.”
Si Ma Qing Sha listened to Luo Wei describing their original tactics without so much as raising his voice. The description rendered him wide-eyed and speechless. If things had gone according to what they had planned, Greater Zhou would have also suffered tremendous losses. The result would have been a draw.
“So, there are people who’re also hoping for my older brother’s death.” Luo Wei said, finally.
“Who are these people?” Si Ma Qing Sha asked.
Luo Wei answered, “Two people with ambition to become emperors.”
“Long Xuan?” Si Ma Qing Sha only thought about it for a moment before he realized the answer.
Luo Wei poured him some tea, “Crown Prince Zhu Xie might be overthinking everything, I think. He’s your empress’ eldest, rightful son. As long as he doesn’t make any wrong moves, the transition from crown prince to emperor was only a matter of time.”
Si Ma Qing Sha looked at the steaming cup of tea in front of him with indifference.
Luo Wei asked, “Does the third prince wish to become emperor too?”
Si Ma Qing Sha didn’t accuse Luo Wei of speaking impertinent nonsense. He already knew that the youth in front of him might be his ally in claiming the throne of Northern Yan. Like Si Ma Zhu Xie and Long Xuan were allies, the enemy of his enemy is his friend.
Luo Wei saw by Si Ma Qing Sha’s expression that they were about to be fast friends, and chuckled, “Crown Prince Zhu Xie sees your highness as a tiger at his side, even with a transgression this severe, he would have you die. Looks like there’s a good reason that he won’t succeed.”
Si Ma Qing Sha replied, “We Northern Yan have taken notice of the emperor’s thirteen year old disciple a long time ago. The fact that Long Xuan hasn’t taken care of you seems to me that his abilities are only so-so.”
Luo Wei laughed out loud and responded, “I could make your highness return with victory in hand.”
Si Ma Qing Sha said plainly, “Then I’m all ears.”
FOOTNOTES:
1. Peach blossom eyes – Original text translates to peach blossom phoenix eyes. Peach blossom eyes are eyes roughly shaped like a single peach blossom petal, with the end turned slightly upwards, and a pink hue around the edges of the eyes. Phoenix eyes refer to the corners of the eyes which are upturned.