Chapter Nine: Zuo An, the Match for Ten Thousand Section Fifteen: Fulfillment

Section 15: Fulfillment

"You should understand the value of the Son of Heaven even better than I do. Anyone with any foresight would fight to have him in their grasp."

"That may be so, but when the moment actually comes, it always feels like the Emperor's title is just an empty concept, while the lives of our soldiers are real. It makes one confuse the trivial with the important." Baiyue handed the torn, dirty clothes to a maidservant to take outside. She then undressed, sat by the edge of the bath, and began helping to wash the dried blood from Bu Jingxian's dark hair.

"By the way, I heard the Grand Luobi coughed up blood and fell from his horse?"

"How could he not be furious? He set out to flaunt his might, only to end up utterly humiliated. Over two hundred thousand were killed or wounded today, mostly the men of the other Luobis. The casualties of his own Black Wolf Tribe were even fewer than ours," Bu Jingxian said, an amused look on his face.

"Speaking of which, the Deputy Sect Leader said you ordered Gui Jianchou to warn the Grand Luobi? Wouldn't it have been better for us if the Black Wolf Tribe suffered heavy casualties?" Baiyue was thoroughly perplexed, unable to fathom his intentions.

"If there were no external threats, I would certainly have acted that way. But the Black Wolf Tribe faces a formidable enemy from without. Internal strife must not disrupt the grand scheme! If the Black Wolf Tribe suffered devastating losses, coupled with the shame of today's defeat, what do you think the other Luobis would do? They would inevitably band together to turn on the Grand Luobi. While we might benefit from their infighting, what would we do if the Zheng army invaded? Could we resist Zheng's army of a million on our own? As long as the Grand Luobi's forces remain intact, the other Luobis won't dare to act rashly and will still obey his command, which also deters the Zheng army from attacking. The time for our next step has not yet arrived. For now, we must keep a low profile and bide our time. As the saying goes, 'align with the heavens'; fighting against the tide of time only yields half the result for twice the effort."

Having said this, Bu Jingxian smiled again. "However, there is some good news that will surely make you happy."

Baiyue shrugged it off. "What good news could there possibly be at a time like this? We can't replace the Grand Luobi, and we've lost so many men. My heart is still aching for them. If it's just sweet talk to coax a woman and make her laugh, you'd better not say it. It will only make me angry."

"I don't know if it counts as that. Fine, then I won't say it."

Since Bu Jingxian remained silent, Baiyue waited a moment before she couldn't help but ask, "You should tell me anyway. Guessing is making my heart itch with curiosity."

"I originally thought the Zheng army merely plotted to lure the Black Wolf Tribe into attacking the Zhou capital, and then used petty tricks to provoke the Grand Luobi into slaughtering the city. I didn't expect the chain of schemes set by the Zheng army to be so vicious, resulting in the current situation. I had previously mentioned that I intended to persuade the Grand Luobi to spare the Zhou Emperor's life in order to establish a nation, having Ao Pan enfeoff the Grand Luobi as a king. But the current situation has given me a different plan."

"What plan?"

Baixing also chimed in impatiently, "Can't you just finish it all in one go? Sister can usually guess your plans, but I certainly can't!"

Bu Jingxian laughed for a long moment, only raising his hands in surrender when Baixing pushed his head underwater. After catching his breath, he continued, "Now, the other Luobis harbor dissatisfaction, even resentment, toward the Grand Luobi. They no longer respect him as they used to. Meanwhile, the Emperor was rescued by us; it has nothing to do with them. In fact, their own troops relied on us for rescue. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they owe a debt of gratitude to our Sunset Tribe, and they likely think so themselves. Thus, is it not only natural that our Sunset Tribe receives the greatest reward?"

"Of course it is!" Baixing agreed readily, but Baiyue caught his meaning. She slipped entirely into the water, hugging Bu Jingxian tightly as she asked eagerly, "Husband, are you saying... are you saying... we can accept the Zhou Emperor's decree to be enfeoffed as rulers?!"

Only then did Baixing realize what the good news was, and she exclaimed joyfully, "Really?"

"Exactly. I believe..." Before Bu Jingxian could finish, Baiyue leaned in to kiss him, holding him so tightly as if wishing they could merge into one. Seeing this, Baixing mischievously splashed water on them. Baiyue closed her eyes to dodge, saying crossly, "How annoying!" Then she quickly pressed him, "Are you serious? You're not just saying this to make me happy?"

"Since receiving the title is only natural, I certainly won't refuse it out of caution. As for the Grand Luobi, I will also petition the Zhou Emperor to enfeoff him as a king. My plan now is to make Beiyin City the new Zhou capital—the capital of the Zhou Emperor. In other words, the territory of our Sunset Tribe will be the territory of the Zhou Kingdom."

"Why would we do that?" Baixing was utterly baffled. She was naturally unwilling to hand over the domain the Sunset Sect had fought so hard to build to the Zhou Emperor.

"Silly sister, Husband's plan is brilliant," Baiyue explained. "By doing this, the Sunset Sect naturally becomes a state, and no one in the world can deny or criticize it. If the territory of the Zhou Emperor is not a state, then the Seven Powers are even less so. In this way, it is as if we have usurped the Zhou Kingdom, rather than the Zhou Kingdom occupying our land. On the Sunset Tribe's territory, who would care about the Zhou Emperor, Ao Pan? Everyone will only listen to us. We will build an imperial palace in Beiyin City, place the Zhou Emperor and the escaped civil and military officials inside, and let them hold court every morning. In any case, we will be the ones to decide which decrees can be issued and which cannot."

Bu Jingxian nodded and smiled. "Precisely. Relocating the Zhou capital cannot be rushed; we must wait for the right moment. Otherwise, the Kingdom of Zheng will send troops under the guise of protecting their sovereign, and the Grand Luobi might also attack us. However, we do not need to wait to receive the title of King." Turning to Baiyue, he added, "Now that your wish to become a Queen has been fulfilled, won't you tell me why you wanted it so badly? Even as a Queen, you will still be in Beiyin City, and the same people will still obey us."

Baiyue hugged him tighter, blinking her eyes for a while before saying softly, "Because in my heart, you are my king. But youth fades quickly, and I was afraid of waiting too long. By then, my beauty would have withered, and I would no longer be able to stand by your side as the beautiful Queen who brings you glory... I wanted to become your Queen while I am still young. Even if I grow old later and can no longer add to your splendor, and even if other women take my place, I will have once shone with beautiful radiance for you, and people will always remember that you had such a beautiful Queen. Isn't that so?"

"Just for that reason?" Bu Jingxian was caught between tears and laughter, finding the workings of a woman's mind truly incomprehensible.

"Is that reason not enough? You are a man, so of course you aren't afraid of waiting. But I am a woman, and I fear the passing of time!"

Bu Jingxian kissed her, then turned to Baixing with a smile. "Look at your sister, who knows what is going through her head." He then lifted Baiyue halfway out of the water, kissing her chest as he said, "No matter how much time passes, you will always be my Queen, and Baixing will always be my Consort. How could any other woman ever replace you? When I had nothing, you were the only ones who did not look down on me, the only ones who followed me with trust. Youth and beauty may fade, but this devotion will never perish."

Baiyue held him even tighter, her heart overflowing with joy at his words.

The bath had been built directly over a geothermal spring, with a channel on one end to drain the water, and the spring source covered with multiple layers of cloth to block silt and any impurities in the water. After washing him for a long time, Baiyue saw that he was clean. She leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You're clean now. Dry yourself quickly. And then... let your Queen comfort you with her tenderness to reward you for all your hard work..."

Sometimes, a woman's tenderness can be exhilarating; other times, it can feel like a burden.

Bu Jingxian was indeed exhausted at this moment. Yet he knew that for his wives, who had been unable to fight alongside him on the battlefield, this moment of joy made them want to do something to reward him for his hardships. Offering their tenderness was the only way they could hope to bring him some pleasure. He could not bring himself to reject such devotion.