“Father, brother is right. I also think it’s not the best time to send out the army now. There is a flood in Jiandu this year. In previous years, most of the military food was sent from Jiandu to the frontier. Now that it’s still a problem for the generals and soldiers at the frontier to have enough food and drink, if they need to fight again, our army must be greatly harmed. Also, after this war, the emperor of Xiling must have a lingering fear of us Dongling. The vitality of Xiling was sapped during this war, which can’t recuperate in a short time. When the right time comes, our army can conquer Xiling with the smallest loss. Won’t it be a better choice?” Hearing Chushi Weiming’s words, Chushi Lanfu, the crown prince standing beside him, looked at him and hurried to say right after Chushi Weiming.

Chushi Youtian looked at Crown Prince at that moment and nodded, “Well, your words really make sense.”

There was a guard walking in and kneeling down.

Chushi Youtian asked, “What?”

“Your Majesty, Marquis Shuo is waiting at the gate of the main palace.” The guard said while bowing his fists.

Hearing the guard’s words, the officials couldn’t help smiling and saying, “Marquis Shuo is back.”

“Hurry to call him in!” Chushi Youtian said immediately.

The guard took the order and walked outside.

Then all the officials looked towards the gate.

At that moment, Shuo Ling walked into the main palace in a black robe, looking travel-worn and weary.

Then he walked to the center of the main palace and kneeled down, bowing his fists, “My greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Please stand up, Marquis Shuo.” Chushi Youtian said quickly.

Shuo Ling bowed his fists again and said while standing up, “Your Majesty, thank you.”

“You must have had a hard trip. Bring a chair for Marquis Shuo!” Chushi Youtian ordered.

Immediately, a chair was moved to the back of Shuo Ling.

Shuo Ling nodded and sat down.

“Shuo Ling, what’s the current situation at the frontier?” Chushi Youtian asked Shuo Ling right after he sat down.

At that moment, Shuo Ling replied with bowing his fists, “Thanks to the command of General Cheng and General Li, all the soldiers at the frontier have defeated the Xiling army with joint effort. They really played a decisive role!”

“I have never judged them wrongly. What is the number of soldiers died and wounded in our army?” Chushi Youtian said with a smile.

Shuo Ling nodded and said, “Our army had some soldiers died and wounded because of the attack at night by the Xiling army. However, there aren’t many died and wounded in this battle.”

“Good. That’s good!” Chushi Youtian couldn’t help laughing and saying loudly.

Chushi Youtian asked again, “How much food is there for the generals and soldiers at the frontier?”

“Your Majesty, no need to worry. Xu Qing, the new prefect of Jiandu, has sent food to soldiers at the frontier. It’s also an important reason for the victory this time that the soldiers have no disturbance in the rear due to that.” Shuo Ling said again.

Hearing that, Chushi Youtian couldn’t help frowning slightly and asking, “Has Jiandu sent food to the frontier?”

“Your Majesty, you may not know that. When I was in Jiandu to relieve the victims of the flood, Infanta Qingcheng had taught people there to plant potatoes. The growing circle of potatoes is extremely short. Only after a few months, the potatoes were mature. Not only could people in Jiandu use it to relieve hunger, but they could also sell the surplus potatoes to other places in exchange for what they needed.” Shuo Ling said.

Chushi Youtian couldn’t help nodding with a smile, “I have never thought that Xu Qing can help relieve my difficulty so soon after he took office.”

“Father, it was because Marquis Shuo went to aid the frontier that we could defeat Xiling so quickly. Marquis Shuo is the blessing of Dongling. Father, you should award him.” Chushi Lanfu, the Crown Prince, bowed his fists and said to Chushi Youtian.

Chushi Youtian nodded, smiling. Then he asked while looking at Shuo Ling, “Of course, I’ll give you the prize. The title and money are too ordinary to be your prize. I promise to satisfy one of your requirements today. Is it okay?”

While saying, Chushi Youtian looked at Shuo Ling. His promise seemed to be a prize, but in fact, it was Chushi Youtian's attempt to sound Shuo Ling out.

He wanted to know whether Shuo Ling was ambitious or not!

At that moment, Shuo Ling stood up from his seat. He then bowed his fists and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty. There happens to be one requirement.”

“Tell me about it then.” Chushi Youtian sat up straight, frowning slightly and asking while looking at Shuo Ling.

Shuo Ling said, “Your Majesty, I only have one requirement. Qingcheng has gone to Beiling all by herself. I’m worried about her, so I want to go there and check if she is alright.”

Duke of Mu, who had been standing aside without speaking, couldn’t help relieving himself when he heard Shuo Ling’s words.

It seemed that Shuo Ling cared about Qingcheng in his heart. He might be overthinking previously.

He didn’t know why Shuo Ling had agreed to marry Infanta An Qin. However, judging from Shuo Ling’s eyes when he spoke just now, he knew that Shuo Ling loved Qingcheng.

“Qingcheng must have arrived in Beiling now. If you leave now, maybe when you reach there, she has already returned. Anyway, if you really want to go there, I won’t stop you.” Chushi Youtian frowned slightly and said to Shuo Ling.

Chushi Youtian was thinking in his heart that if Shuo Ling was not in Jing City, it would be convenient for An Qin to take her time to research.

Hearing that Chushi Youtian agreed, Shuo Ling curtseyed to him, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“You have just come back from the frontier. I was confused about whether to attack Xiling just now. What about sharing your opinion with us?” Chushi Youtian asked while looking at Shuo Ling.

Hearing that, Shuo Ling said, “Your Majesty, I’ve heard the words of Crown Prince and the Third Prince outside the gate. Their words are reasonable. After the two battles with Xiling, although our army has won, there are also wounded soldiers. It’s getting cold now. It will be slower for soldiers to recover from their injuries. While they have food, it’s not so good. Therefore, it’s not good to attack right now.”

“Judging from your words, it’s really me who has been reckless.” Chushi Youtian said, smiling.

Then he said again, “Time to end the morning meeting. You shall leave now.”

“Long live Your Majesty.” All the officials curtseyed, bowing their fists.

At the moment, Chushi Youtian looked at Shuo Ling and said, “Shuo Ling, please stay. There’re still some issues I want to discuss with you.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Shuo Ling answered, bowing his fists.

Chushi Weiming and Chushi Lanfu glanced at each other and walked out.

Duke of Mu walked to Shuo Ling and said, “You have endured a hard journey to the frontier, Marquis Shuo.”

“Father, this is what I should do as an official.” Shuo Ling looked at Duke of Mu and said.

Duke of Mu continued to say, “Be careful on the way to Beiling this time.”

“Father, thank you for your concern.” Shuo Ling bowed his fists and said.

“Hurry to go there. Don’t keep His Majesty waiting.” Duke of Mu sighed and said.

Shuo Ling nodded.

When all the officials were gone, Shuo Ling walked directly to the Imperial Study.

Chushi Youtian was sitting at the table, reading the memorial to the throne.

At this moment, Eunuch Li walked in from outside. He walked to Chushi Youtian and said, “Your Majesty, Marquis Shuo has come.”

“Okay. Come in.” Hearing that, Chushi Youtian put down the memorial and said.

Shuo Ling walked into the Imperial Study. He was about to curtsey when Chushi Youtian said, “No need to curtsey.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Shuo Ling bowed his fists and said.

After Shuo Ling sat down, Chushi Youtian glanced at Eunuch Li, who understood the hint, walked outside, and closed the door of the Imperial Study.

Chushi Youtian said, “Shuo Ling, you’ve won the victory for me at the frontier. I’m happy about it.”

“Serving the country is what I should do as an official.” Shuo Ling said this time.

Shuo Ling knew why Chushi Youtian asked him to come here and what he wanted to ask. Previously, when the frontier was attacked by Xiling secretly, General Li mentioned “weird people” in his top-urgent report. Now perhaps Chushi Youtian was going to ask what the “weird people” were.

After all, in the top-urgent report, it wrote that these weird people had endless power and could resist swords and spears.

Shuo Ling guessed right. Chushi Youtian said again, “You are really the son of Senior General Shuo. It’s Dongling’s blessing to have you here.”

“Your Majesty, you’ve overpraised me.” Shuo Ling sneered in his heart but revealed nothing on his face and said.

Chushi Youtian stopped smiling, looked at Shuo Ling, and asked, “In order not to make all the people panic, I didn’t mention the message about weird people reported from the frontier at the morning meeting. What’s going on?”

“Your Majesty, these weird people were actually no difference from ordinary people. The reason why they could resist swords and spears was that they had learned special skills. In addition, they were so tall and strong that they looked different from others. That’s why they were called weird people.” Shuo Ling said right after Chushi Youtian’s words.

Chushi Youtian frowned slightly and asked, “Oh. Now that they can resist swords and spears, how did you defeat them exactly?”

Hearing Shuo Ling’s words, Chushi Youtian clearly had doubts and continued to ask.

Shuo Ling knew that Chushi Youtian wouldn’t believe him so easily. However, he had already come up with words to deal with Chushi Youtian. He said, “I had read a secret book by coincidence. Although those who learned the special skills could resist swords and spears, they had their own weakness, which could even be used to kill them. After discussing with General Li and General Cheng, we cooperated with each other on the battlefield. That’s why we could kill them.”

“I got it. I was worried previously. Now it seems that I have overthought.” Chushi Youtian said with a smile. However, it was clear that he didn’t believe Shuo Ling completely.

Shuo Ling also knew that. However, even though Chushi Youtian wanted to investigate, he could find nothing in the end.

Now that Zhan You had died and his apprentice had followed the king of witchcraft back to the Witchcraft Mountain, Emperor Xiling would certainly not reveal the information of men with nightmare worms. He must know better than everybody else about the emperor’s ambition.

In order to make Chushi Youtian believe him, Shuo Ling said again, “Your Majesty, don’t worry. There are only a few people who can learn the skill. No need to worry about it.”

“Since this is the case, I’m relieved.” Chushi Youtian smiled, but he felt disappointed in his heart.

When the news about the victory over Xiling came from the frontier, he had expected it previously. If those weird people of Xiling were really so powerful as what the top-urgent report had described, Dongling would certainly be much stronger after subduing and controlling them.