Double update to celebrate 10k reads!
Enjoy!
<><><>

What was this feeling?
Wonder? Excitement? Curiosity?

Jin qing suddenly had the urge to know more about what An ru had meant that Shang Ye And Xi Jian fancied her.
The want to know more was driving her a little insane.

She has always known that such gossip was part of a lady's life. But never has she ever thought she would be a part of it.
But her biggest question was why she wanted to know so much. Usually she wouldn't be concerned about this matter, but why did she care?

Another meeting was called later that afternoon, and no meeting was complete without the Xue Xian.
So once again dressed in pale white robes and her majestic cape, she and her maids hurried to the meeting so they won't be late.

The generals did the courtesy greeting and bow, which Jin qing replied with a small nod.

"I assume you called me here for a reason?" She said aloud. Her maids were waiting outside until the meeting was done. All this information must be kept at secrecy, nothing can be exposed.

"Yes." Xi Jian nodded, "we have come to update you with our successes... and a few of our failures."

Jin qing nodded, indicating for him to continue.

"First, we have managed to secure an alliance with the Qi as they have a rivalry with the Song before. We also managed to raise up an army for each  of the four generals." Xi Jian looked around the room as he said this, his gaze lingering upon Jin qing for just a split second longer. "Our failures... we have not found the assassin Yu Qi and word had come from spies saying how the Song had managed to recruit many of the gangs and mercenaries from the Liang against us."

Jin qing nodded. With that man on the Song's side, she'll be surprised if they didn't join him. This was all expected, nothing out of the ordinary. "All that is fine. We just need to be more careful on assassination attempts... and spies among us. What about the trade routes with the land beyond and with the natural cities?"

"The land beyond the valley hasn't done anything in favor of neither side, and we believe they are using this to their advantage to gain more coin."

Jin qing stared at the map of all the cities and known trade routes for all cities of all the kingdoms. Most of the trade routes are carefully planned during peacetime to that each city is interlinked with another with a few cities on the border connecting to other kingdoms. This was done to ensure good trade between the cities and the spread of influence and military campaigns. "It will be too difficult to cut off an entire trade route as it will affect us too, the best we can do at the moment is shut off the roads to the Song and protect our own."

Jin qing took a piece of wood and placed it perpendicular to some of the trade routes of the Song that leads to the land beyond. "The land beyond will be protected by the valleys, meaning their production will be the highest in terms of weaponry and food. War will disrupt all source of production in the land affected, so if we cut off emergency lines, we should be able to weaken them in the long run."

"Just those lines?" Someone asked. "What about the others?"

"Just a few main ones. We want to leave the other cities alone for us unless we want to anger them."

"I see." An older general nodded and moved a piece that represented a fleet of ships toward the river. "The river flows downstream from the land beyond. I'll take the navy to take the Song cities by the water to stop them from utilizing the water as a trade route."

"We can safely assume this area-" another stepped forward and marked off an area with his finger "will be the places where war is most heavily waged. The land in the back and nearest to the river will be the most fertile, and we need to keep production strong there."

A younger general whom Jin qing thought was quite good at his job, looked at the older general who was in charge of the navy. "You need to be careful with our own cities. The land surrounding the Wei cities near the river are all marshes, places perfect for hiding and ambushes."

"Of course, but the garrison there is strong enough to hold off any attack." The older one countered "we have a more strategic spot, being on the mouth of the river."

"Xue Xian, would it be possible to skirt around the Song and burn or loot their crops from behind?" Xi Jian asked, pointing to the river that looped toward the right side of the Song land.

"Of course. But that will be difficult for messages and men would be difficult to send around if you're that far. I suggest we take the cities by the river first to ensure communication." Jin qing nodded. The water was an excellent source of travel and is much faster than land, which will be an advantage when requesting backup.

"That's all we need for the updates on the war front." Xi Jian clapped his hands twice. "I'll talk with the Xue Xian on matters on the home front. You are all dismissed."

Jin qings heart skipped a beat. Never had Xi Jian ever dismissed the generals like so. Was he planning anything?

When the generals left, Xi Jian turned to Jin qing. "I heard my sister told you about my brother and I."

Jin qing managed to keep her composure. "Yes. She did."

"I hope what she told you won't interfere with our work, would it?"

"Of course not."

Xi Jian stepped over so he was next to her and leaned over the table. "So as I said, home front. The shortage of this year's harvest will put us at a greater- what's with the smile?"

Jin qing placed a hand over her mouth and started to laugh. "Nothing... you're terrible at acting."

"What do you mean?"

"You're trying to act all nonchalant about the fact that you fancy me, but you're failing."

He straightened his back and turned to Jin qing with a mischievous smile. "And how so? Xue Xian?"

"I saw you staring at me a few too many times earlier and the fact that you had to come over to me made it very clear."

"Perhaps I want to make myself clear."

"And why would you want to do that?"

"Because I want you to know I have feelings for you."

Jin qing rolled her eyes,"How long have you had feelings for me?"

"Not until recently, after I got to know you better." Xi Jian smiled, leaning closer to her.

Jin qing, in response, leaned back to create distance between them.
She absolutely hated situations like this. To be precise, situations she wasn't taught how to react to.
All her life she was taught how to respond to military actions, a punch to the face, some question from a book. But never was she told what to do now.

"Why do you fancy me?"

"Why are you asking so many questions?"

Jin qing pushed him back on his chest so they were an arm's length away from each other. "If you're going to keep me here to do things unrelated to what I'm here for, I'm leaving. Now, can you Continue about what you were saying about the home front?"

Xi Jian laughed out loud, cheerfully. "Well! Alright. Even if I did continue, I doubt you're in the mood to start planning and all that. Your cheeks are red."

Jin qing put her hand to her face and turned around, walking out without another word.
She wasn't red from anger, but rather from embarrassment.

Was Jin qing, the legendary Xue Xian, flustered?

<><><>

Ye bing held up a spoon full of brown liquid to her miss' mouth "Miss, I know it's bitter, but it's going to help you."

"I already drank that for goodness knows how many days, do I really?"

"Yes."

"But I don't want to-"

"Miss, you have to. Bai yan had gone to wash your clothes, and it's time for you to drink your medicine."

Jin qing sighed and took the bowl and slowly drank the bitter liquid.

"I'll get some sweets for you to eat to wash the bitterness down." Ye bing handed her miss a napkin. "Here, be careful."

"Thank you..." Jin qing muttered, taking a small pause from the strong medicine. The process of drinking it isn't too bad. It's the after taste that she hates.

"How was the meeting?"

"Oh, it was average."

"The emperor requesting to see you alone and you storming out with a flushed face isn't normal."

"Well, you aren't hearing anything from me, that's for sure."

Ye bing took the empty bowl from her miss and placed it onto the side, aware of the fact that her miss reached for a few too many sweets. "It's quite the gossip among the servants of the royal family that there is this lady the emperor fancies, and Bai yan And I think that lady Is you,"

"Why would you say that?"

"A feeling." Ye bing paused and then smiled at her miss. "Why, who else do you think it could be? The first sister?"

"They are childhood friends, but the fact that princess An ru told me that both brothers likes me is a little overwhelming." Jin qing sighed, rubbing her face with her hands.

"Wait, both? Shang Ye And Xi Jian?!"

"Yes."

"As in the military official and the second eldest son Shang Ye and the emperor Xi Jian?"

"Why, do you have wax in your ears-" Jin qing mumbled under her breath. "Yes."

Ye bing let out a cheerful but quick laugh. "My! How the tables have turned!"

"What do you mean?"

"Huan les maids are all boasting how they're serving the future empress! Now truth be told, Bai yan And I is serving the Xue Xian and the future empress of Wei!"

"Don't count the chickens before they hatch." Jin qing reminded her maid. "Even as I am the Xue Xian, I am still the illegitimate daughter of advisor Li. As great as I am, nothing will change what I was born as."

"But the possibilities! If you two marry, the great Wei will be even more prosperous!"

Ye bing continued to talk, but Jin qings attention was diverted to a tall figure standing behind the paper screened door.
The figure was too hazy and too far away for Jin qing to get a proper look at who it was.
How long has the person stayed there? Why hasn't she noticed before? Did the poison dull her senses too?
Before Jin qing can say anything, the figure noticed her watching and left, quietly.

Ello!
So we hit 10k reads, a number I couldn't even DREAM of when I first started.
I'm so glad so many of you enjoy this book! Thanks again!

I also made a new cover to be a little celebration, here it is!

Do you like it? Should I replace it? Feedback is encouraged!

Anyway, the next chapter is up and ready for you to read! Continue on!