# Chapter 1: The Invincible General
Snow had fallen only once in Jinjing of Yu Kingdom, five years ago. Weiyang only remembered the thin snowflakes melting the instant they touched her palm. Though it hadn't created much of a scenic view, it was her first time seeing snow—cold, slippery, and making the sky sparkle. She always wished it would snow every year, and heavier, so she could hold it in her hands.
Weiyang let out a soft sigh. At that moment, the palace maid Ying Shan knocked on the door and came in to report: "Your Highness! His Majesty is occupied with pressing state affairs and will be staying the night at the Yaoji Hall."
Weiyang pouted and said to Ying Shan, "Look at him. I've been in Yuantiao for over a month now, and how many times have I even seen him? Is he really that busy?"
Ying Shan quickly offered comfort: "I heard from someone at the Yaoji Hall that His Majesty has always been like this, toiling over state affairs day and night. It is precisely because Yuantiao has such a new sovereign that it has been able to bring all the surrounding kingdoms under its rule."
Weiyang sulked, "Then does he never need to rest? It's not like the Yaoji Hall is far from here!" Though her words were full of complaints, a trace of worry showed on her face.
Ying Shan giggled and gave Weiyang a gentle push. "Your Highness must be worried about him, aren't you?"
Weiyang smiled gracefully, scolding, "Of course, who else would I worry about? You, why can't you break the habit of calling me that?"
"Alright, alright, Your Majesty the Queen," Ying Shan said, covering her mouth as she smiled softly. "Please get some rest early then."
Ying Shan attended to Weiyang as she retired for the night, but Weiyang remained worried and sighed repeatedly.
Thinking about this newlywed husband, she really didn't know what to make of him.
She remembered the first time she saw him, last year, on the martial arena in Jinjing. He was dressed in crimson armor, heroic and spirited, wielding two gleaming silver swords. None of Jinjing's generals and warriors could last more than a few exchanges with him before being defeated. Even her father had praised him profusely. At the banquet, he spoke eloquently, and there was an extraordinary air of authority between his brows. All the women of Jinjing whispered about him, each thinking he would make an excellent husband.
But ever since she married into his household, he had been so absorbed in managing state affairs that he forgot to eat and sleep. Even when he occasionally returned home, he was inattentive, responding to whatever she said with a perfunctory reply and a perfunctory smile. Even their marital intimacy seemed like completing a task. Every time she reached out in the darkness and felt the furrow between her husband's brows, she felt completely at a loss. It had been over a month since their wedding, and she still didn't know what he was doing or what he was thinking.
Ah well, perhaps that was simply his temperament.
"Your Majesty, the Wei Zhen Army has returned to the capital. They will arrive at Yuantiao City in a few days," Prime Minister Lei observed King Zhangzhou's expression and reported. "Although the Wei Zhen Army quashed the rebellion with ease this time, they burned, killed, looted, and committed atrocities wherever they went. The four prefectures of Xiongzhou are filled with complaints…"
Zhangzhou let out a noncommittal grunt, offering no comment.
Prime Minister Lei immediately fell silent. National Uncle Qu Zhenlie spoke up: "Your Majesty, before the Wei Zhen Army set out, you ordered the Commander to discipline the troops, yet he treated your command like wind in one ear. Now the entire Wei Zhen Army is in complete disarray and has earned a notorious reputation…"
General Chang Jinlu of the Wutao Army coughed dryly and shot Qu Zhenlie a warning look.
Qu Zhenlie shot him an angry glance, about to continue, when he noticed Zhangzhou's face had already grown dark.
Zhangzhou glanced at Peng Hong almost casually, seeking his help.
Peng Hong understood and said, "Your Majesty, the rebel forces in Xiongzhou were formidable. They had already seized Fengmu. Had the Wei Zhen Army not rushed there to suppress them, GUIDU would surely have been lost…"
Zhangzhou nodded.
Peng Hong continued, "The bad habits the Wei Zhen Army has cultivated over time cannot be changed in a day or two. Now that they have returned triumphant, their merit certainly outweighs their faults. You needn't pursue this matter further."
Chang Jinlu also hurried to agree: "The Prince is absolutely right!"
The remaining ministers and generals all shook their heads and sighed, but Zhangzhou seemed not to notice, casually shifting the topic.
Weiyang arrived at the residence of Marquis Guangling Shen Kang. The serving girls were already familiar with her and, after greeting her with smiles, said: "Your Majesty the Queen, the young lady and the madam are in the inner courtyard."
Weiyang smiled and followed the girl toward the inner courtyard.
Marquis Shen Kang's younger sister Shen Mu, one year her junior, was a delicate beauty with a round face. She was clever and quick-witted, especially skilled at chess. Weiyang had lost to her repeatedly and admired her greatly. The Marquis's wife, Yuan Ning, was gentle and refined, and Weiyang got along well with her too.
Weiyang and Ying Shan passed through the front hall and saw Shen Kang, Chang Jinlu, and Peng Hong all present. The several men rose immediately and bowed upon seeing her.
After Shen Kang returned her bow, he smiled and said, "Your Majesty the Queen, have you come to play chess with Xiaomu? In the future, just send Master Fu the steward to summon her to the Rongxi Garden. There's no need for you to go to such trouble. She was just here a moment ago, but her sister-in-law called her away to do embroidery."
After returning his courtesy, Weiyang said, "I enjoy taking walks in my free time. I hear that Sister Yuan Ning is deft and skillful with her hands. I'd like to go watch them embroider and perhaps pick up a few tricks."
Shen Kang demurred, "My wife has clumsy hands, Your Majesty. You're too kind." He then turned, smiling, to Peng Hong. "Now that the city has the Princess Consort, what woman would dare boast about being deft and skillful?"
Peng Hong smiled. "You're too generous."
Weiyang knew that Princess Xiuyi of Dudong Kingdom was precisely Prince Peng Hong's wife, and she had gone to visit her relatives in Dudong and had not yet returned. This Prince had married Princess Xiuyi at the age of eighteen, and over the past ten-plus years had never taken a concubine, which was celebrated throughout the city. Now, hearing talk of his wife, she saw a soft, tender expression appear on this man of grand bearing.
Weiyang had long believed it was normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines, and hadn't all her brothers been dissolute? At this moment, she glanced at this devoted man and couldn't help but feel a slight shock. Just as she was about to say something, Shen Mu came bouncing out, laughing: "Oh, Your Majesty Sister, I heard you were here and rushed out! The inner courtyard is so boring, and my sister-in-law has come out too. Your Majesty Sister, thankfully you came, otherwise I'd be stuck embroidering some peony pattern all afternoon."
"You rascal, won't learn this, won't learn that—how will you ever get married?" Shen Kang teased with a smile. "You might as well marry Jinlu. He doesn't need you to embroider anyway, hahaha…"
Jinlu also burst out laughing: "She's useless. I don't want her."
Shen Mu pouted. "How dare you! Who would ever want to marry you? Even if you divorced your general's wife and those concubines of yours and got down on your knees to beg me, I still wouldn't!"
As she spoke, she came over and took Weiyang's hand.
Weiyang covered her mouth, laughing.
Jinlu teased, "You sharp-tongued little devil, you've only gotten more sharp-tongued over these years! There aren't many men in this city worthy of you, yet your standards are so high. I say you'll never get married!"
Shen Mu curled her lip. "Mind your own business!"
Shen Kang's concubine Tang Xin supported Yuan Ning, who walked carefully with her slightly enlarged belly. After exchanging bows, Yuan Ning smiled and said, "General Chang, please stop teasing our Xiaomu. She's already got someone in her heart."
Weiyang smiled as she looked at Shen Mu. Shen Mu stamped her foot. "Sister-in-law, don't say such things!"
Tang Xin gave a bewitching smile. "Oh my, how did the young lady's face turn so red?"
Weiyang笑着问申穆她那心上人是谁，眼角却瞥见彭鸿与进禄神色古怪地对望一眼。
"呵！"申康发笑，道："王后娘娘，我们家申穆眼光倒是很好，喜欢的是威名远扬的护国将军呢！"
"哪有！"申穆跳了过去揪了哥哥一把。
申康怪叫，笑着连连躲避。
蔚阳疑惑地扫了眼进禄和彭鸿，他们俩已若无其事地笑着，彭鸿一脸的慈爱，道："申穆，你看走眼了，成忠善你可嫁不得。"
申穆脸红到了脖子根，拉上蔚阳撒娇道："王后姐姐，你快叫他们别说了。人家哪有喜欢那个黑小子啊！"
唐心咯咯娇笑，"王后娘娘，都说女孩儿家口是心非，我们的大小姐就是这样了！你问问元宁姐，小穆可是天天都在巴望着威震军快些回来呢！"
申穆无可奈何，几欲哭出来，"唐心姐，我都快被你气死了！"
元宁这时出来打了圆场，劝道："好啦好啦，你们别再逗她了。"申穆向她投去感激的目光，哪料元宁又说："若把她逗哭了，忠善又不在，谁能哄她呀！"
"嫂嫂！"申穆一跳老高。
蔚阳笑弯了腰。
那个护国将军成忠善的名字早已如雷贯耳，据说他在战场上勇悍无匹，人称鬼神无敌，但在城里却是个孩子王，更有人叫他笑脸将军。
申穆怒道："不和你们呆一块！"说着拉上蔚阳就走，"王后姐姐，我们到凉亭那下棋去。"
蔚阳随她去了凉亭，余下几人坐进了前殿，丫鬟伺上茶水，进禄道："申康，你不是真想把宝贝妹妹嫁给忠善吧？"
"有何不可，忠善也就是风流了点罢了。"
彭鸿欲言又止，哑了许久，道："成忠善什么女人没见识过？怕是不稀罕你家的黄毛丫头。申穆好歹也是我们看着她长大的，若是吃了亏后悔就来不及了！"
申康与元宁对视一眼，正疑惑彭鸿的话为何说得如此重，却见唐心媚眼一弯，道："不若去求大王将小穆指给夏将军……"
话没说完，申康就喝止道："唐心，别乱说话！"
进禄干笑两声，"那还真不如嫁给忠善罢。"
唐心低眉顺眼地垂下了头。
申康缓声道："唉……你刚来圆辽多久？你懂什么？满城近年来越发喜怒无常，残暴凶戾，这城里哪户人家愿把女儿往火坑里推？"
彭鸿苦笑。申康又道："他这回在雄州镇压叛乱之时又滥杀无辜了，威震军所到之处强抢民女，放火虏掠，无恶不做。唉……大王怎么还是睁一眼闭一只眼啊！"
进禄叹道："大王也没有办法，如今威震军日益强大，还是不要随意触怒为好。若是哪天满城一个心血来潮想坐坐那王位，就是抢不到，也会闹得圆辽天翻地覆。"
元宁见申康一脸忧虑，便插上嘴道："我听巫将军的夫人说，大王每回重赏夏将军，那些赏赐夏将军没有过手就全部交给巫将军，叫他全部分下去犒劳威震军兵卒。我看夏将军也不是那种谋权谋财的人。"
申康道："他那叫收买人心，他就是这样让人看不透，才让人觉得他什么事都会做出来！"
"你们别乱猜了，"彭鸿淡淡道："满城不会造反的。他又不是没做过大王，早就腻了那张龙椅。"彭鸿说着，心里更是悲哀：他怎么会让人看不透啊？这世上最简单的人就是他了。