Chapter 172 - The Decision

Prince Ji Sheng nodded. "Sure. Wait until they started running before you pick one."

"Yes."

Gao Ling smiled brightly. Her eyes were looking at the new soldiers while her brain was thinking about which one was Wei Liuying. After all, that conversation was simply an act they had agreed together. 

As expected, one of the guards who were sent to accompany Gao Ling didn't like her decision. "Young Miss, they're all only new soldiers who are not very accomplished. If you wish for more guards…."

"Who said that I want him to be my guard?" Gao Ling asked in scorn. "I only want teammates to train together. It's boring when you're all so skilled and I'm so poor."

The guard: "…" poor?

When they were only talking about swords' skill, it was not weird to call Gao Ling's skill to be poor. But when they were talking about archery, no one dared to slight Gao Ling in the slightest bit. They all knew that she was one of the best archer on the frontline because of her precision.

The only weakness she had was her slow reloading speed since holding the bow could be tiring for her. However, it was all good since they didn't really rely on her completely when they were in the middle of the battlefield.

"You can pick anyone you want," Prince Ji Sheng promised.

Gao Ling nodded and clapped her hand. "That's good. I'll pick one man to accompany me on my journey. You're not going to get jealous right?"

Prince Ji Sheng smiled and didn't answer. As long as the one Gao Ling chose was Wei Liuying, there was no way he would be jealous. Besides, it was his plan to have Wei Liuying accompanied Gao Ling in the journey because they have to be cautious in the frontline border in case the tribes were ready to attack.

As they talk, the new soldiers began their training to run on uneven grounds while holding buckets of water on their shoulder. This was not their first time training like this, but it was clear that they still had to try their hardest in order to not spill any of the water.

"Every drop of water meant additional hour of training."

"Yes."

With that, they became even more careful, but their slow speed was simply unbearable to see. Prince Ji Sheng sighed and looked at Commander Zhao, the one he ordered to train the new soldiers for today.

"If they didn't finish in an incense stick time, they have to repeat the same training this afternoon."

"Yes, General."

The new soldiers nearly wailed when they saw Commander Zhao lit up an incense stick and smiled in their direction. "You heard what General said, RUN!"

With that, the new soldiers ran frantically while trying their best to keep the water didn't spill. Wei Liuying was in the middle of the crowd, trying her best to make sure that she could keep up. It was more tiring than what she expected it to be, but it was also fun.

In the end, they somehow managed to finish in time.

Many of them have to get additional punishment for spilling the water, though.

"You did great," Commander Zhao said in a low tone when he passed by Wei Liuying. She didn't stand out more than necessary, but she also didn't do worse than most of them. At the very least, she looked very normal.

Wei Liuying nodded and drank the water. She looked in Prince Ji Sheng and Gao Ling's direction, wondering when they would step up.

At this time, the two of them did have conversation.

"Which one do you want to bring with you?" Prince Ji Sheng asked.

"It's hard to pick," Gao Ling responded. "If only it's possible, I would like to have you be the one to accompany me, General Sheng."

"Unfortunately, I have to stay behind here and watch over the border."

Gao Ling pursed her lips. She also knew that since the safety of the kingdom would depend on her father and General Sheng's performance. They only wished for her to stay safe, so she had to go to a different place during winter since it was the harshest time.

Scanning the crowd, Gao Ling's eyes locked to Wei Liuying. At this time, Wei Liuying didn't look any different from other new soldiers around her. However, the tranquil gaze that she had in her eyes never changed. It was calmly analyzing everything in her surroundings so that she wouldn't lose out in any situation.

'Her gaze is indeed different.'

"Then I'll pick that one who's drinking water," Gao Ling said with a grin. "He looks fairly small and normal, so I'm sure that he'll be able to be a great partner to spar with me."

Prince Ji Sheng looked at Wei Liuying then to Gao Ling. It was then he recalled something. "He's even smaller than you. Are you sure that you won't be the one to bully him?"

"He's your soldier, right? How can he be bullied so easily?"

The guards behind them were helpless when he heard Gao Ling's playful tone. Thinking of the soldiers that Gao Ling forced to train with her back then, they felt that the new soldier was a bit pitiful. Gao Ling would not show any mercy to anyone during training because she enjoyed it greatly.

"Alright. I'll arrange him to come with you tomorrow."

"Thank you, General Sheng."

"Now, shall we go?"

"Yes."

Wei Liuying stayed in the field for a period of time before she returned back to Shi Yan's house. She noticed that Yang Xian was already there with several bamboo strips in his hand. Each of them was filled with some words that she could not read from this distance.

"Strategist Yang?"

"Oh, you're done?" Yang Xian asked and put down the bamboo strips. "For this trip, Lady Gao will be heading to East Temple that's located at two days' travel distance from here to the East."

"Temple?" Wei Liuying was stunned. She thought that they would send Gao Ling to their relatives' place.

"Yes. Double Ninth Festival had just passed, so Lady Gao wanted to visit the temple to pray for her father's safety. As she's a weak lady, she can't help much when it's Winter," Yang Xian replied. "At least, that's what it is on the surface."

Double Ninth Festival was a festival that was held on the ninth day on the ninth month in Lunar Calendar. It was also known as Chongyang Festival and at this time, it was usually the time where everyone celebrated by enjoying chrysanthemum, eating Chongyang cake, and also drinking chyrsanthenum wine.

During this time, people also climbed mountain and enjoyed the time together.

(A/N: the tradition for Double Ninth Festival had started ever since Han Dynasty, but the tradition gradually developed as time passed. For more information, you can search by yourself)

Wei Liuying arched her eyebrows. "Are you sure she's not going there to pray for her successful marriage with Prince Ji Sheng?"

"That should be on different festive," Yang Xian said with a laugh. "This should be enough for her cover to make sure that no one will be suspicious of her when she's visiting the temple instead of staying at the border."

"There are several of General Gao's relatives, right?" Wei Liuying asked.

Yang Xian nodded. "There are several of them, but it's impossible to meet them at this point of time. They're currently under heavy supervision from many other people from the Capital City."

"They live near the Capital City?"

"Yes."

"How troublesome."

Yang Xian sighed. If it was possible, he also wanted to send Gao Ling to another city which was safer with more guards. However, the condition of this place clearly prevented him from doing that. With the war still raging on, it would be hard for them to find a way to send Gao Ling to those areas.

They have to pick other places.

"Battle for succession might start soon, huh?" Wei Liuying muttered in a low tone.

The youngest of the four princes, Prince Ji Shu would be 20 years old in just a few more months. When he reached of age and had his adulthood ceremony, it was clear that he would start making his move. At that time, Prince Ji Sheng's position might be in problem because he held military power of the north area.

If Prince Ji Shu wanted it, it was not impossible for him to try making Prince Ji Sheng got killed in action.

"Will you help Prince Ji Shao Yang?" Wei Liuying asked.

Yang Xian shook his head. "I don't know the overall situation as the information brought here are scarce and late. Besides, I'm not going to do something useless. He had more than enough capabilities to safe himself if he truly wants to. I'm not going to spend so much time just to try helping him."

"I see."

"You should rest. Tomorrow you'll depart early. Also, this is for you."

"Yes?" Wei Liuying took the bamboo strip that Yang Xian handed to her. Upon reading the information on the surface, her face stiffened. She raised her head lightly. "Are you sure they'll be there?"

"Yes."

"Can I back out from this plan?"

"You can't," Yang Xian said while shaking his head. "Don't you think it'll be more suspicious if you back out suddenly? Also, it's impossible for me to be the one to accompany Lady Gao unless you wish to see me getting jailed by Prince Ji Sheng."

That jealous annoying prince…

Wei Liuying looked at the information once more and sighed. "Fine. I understand."

"Good. Now go to rest."

"Yes."