It had been a while since Jin Qing had ever had to step into the war room, but she was glad that nothing had changed while she was gone. With generals' inputs and reassurances, Jin Qing was beginning to feel confident that her promise to win the war was going to be more than just talk. Of course, she didn't share everything with them. There were a few things she wanted to do that would surely provoke their opposition and they must not know about under any circumstance.

She has only been back for less than a week, but she could already feel the immense amount of pressure that was being put on top of her shoulders. It wasn't even this bad when she was just the Xue Xian. It wasn't like she hadn't expected this-- she was practically the ruling monarch. of this kingdom now, and she was determined not to let it fall because of her cowardice.

Jin Qing was the first one to leave the war room after the briefing and wasn't surprised to see Xi Jian lingering by the door. He flinched when she turned her head to meet his eyes, realizing that he had been caught eavesdropping. She narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Xi Jian straightened immediately, his height far greater than Jin Qing's and yet she didn't feel afraid. "You're only here temporarily," he reminded her. "I have the right to at least know what you're putting my country through."

"For as long as I am here, this isn't your country," Jin Qing said cooly. "It is mine, and it should be your brother's if you know what's best for this country."

"Why, because you had feelings for him?" He asked as if his statement gave him any sort of leverage over Jin Qing. "You charged out into enemy land to save him, risking your own life when you could have stayed back and sent reinforcements. I know you dislike me, but you shouldn't lean that much into your emotions." Unfortunately for him, he was wrong.

Jin qing knew just where to hit. "So you would admit having feelings for Huan Le? Gossip claims that you had defended her with every last thing you had when she committed treason. You still tried to protect her reputation even if it was doomed from the start." She watched in delight as his face turned pink, and she was sure it wasn't because of the wind. "You turned out to be wrong and I turned out to be right, as usual."

"What does this have anything to do with my brother ascending the throne?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. You were the one who brought up emotions into official business. I had no choice but to retaliate." She looked away from Xi Jian and stared into the horizon in front of her, fully aware of the daggers that were being stared into her skull. "You couldn't manage your country as an emperor, so I will be the empress in your stead. You won't manage the country as an emperor in the future, so your brother should be the emperor instead. It's just that simple."

"But why?" He asked bitterly. The angry tone in his voice disappeared as quickly as the sun as the clouds began to blanket the world. "I once asked you to be my empress so I know the country would be in good hands even if I stepped down. Why my brother? You know what he's like. He's spineless and can't do anything without the backing and support of someone powerful. As an emperor, he is a powerful person. What can he do?"

It was a question Jin Qing had asked herself over and over again. Why did she prefer Shang Ye over Xi Jian when both of them had taken a liking to her? The answer was simple, and it had always been. "Because he understands the humility of bowing down and the importance of listening to those who are better than him." She answered simply. "He has the capability to show respect to those beneath him, to those who had bested him. You, on the other hand, do not."

Xi Jian had nothing else left to say. The world was silent except for the sounds of a servant's footsteps heading their way, and Jin Qing judged by their expression that the message they carried was for her. 

"Mull it over yourself. I'll give it to you that you're a man with some common sense. I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out." Jin Qing walked ahead of him, leaving him to sulk and wallow in his thoughts behind her. Whatever he wanted to do now was none of her business. She nodded at the servant, who bowed respectfully in front of her. "Yes?"

"The person you had asked the army to search for has been found. We've sent him to your quarters as you've instructed, and he should be arriving there soon."

Jin Qing nodded. One of her goals in returning to the capital as the Xue Xian was to find Hai Lin and stop him from getting sent to the front lines. After all, the plan she had conducted with the generals will likely cause many casualties, and she hated to see another brother die on the battlefield because of her incompetence. "I'll be in my chambers for the afternoon then. If anything happens that requires my attention, notify me immediately."

The servant nodded. "Of course. Speaking of which, there is a group of people in the front hall requesting your audience."

"Hm?"

"A group of civilians has shown up claiming to be your acquaintances. Two of them did hold up your seal, but..."

Jin Qing frowned. "How many of them are there?"

"Nine. Two of them are elders and--"

Jin Qing didn't wait and began to walk away before Xi Jian could get another word in-- she had other things on her mind now. "Send them all to my chambers. They're my guests."

"Yes ma'am!"

<>

For all the things she had figured out before in her life, she couldn't guess why they had all decided to follow her into the Wei. It wasn't even like she had left the countryside home without warning. She had told everyone that she had made up her mind and was returning to the Wei to help them out one last time, but she had made it very clear that none of them were to follow her into the Wei.

And yet here they were. Everyone she had left behind in the countryside home, waiting for her impatiently at her chambers by the time she got there. Even the two elders were there with a small sack across their shoulders, and all of them were smiling at her and awaiting her reaction.

Jin Qing stared at them. "You-- you all... None of you were supposed to be here."

Bai Yan spoke first. "We know that, but we couldn't let you come back here all alone. Yu Qi was convinced that they would kick you out again, and kicked up a fuss for us to--" Yu Qi pressed her hand against her mouth. "Hrumph!"

"I did not do that," Yu Qi argued back. "I was simply worried for her highness' safety, but it seems like I've greatly underestimated her." She nodded at Jin Qing "I suppose that everything is alright here?"

"Of course it is," Jin qing held out her arms to Xiao Wen, who had run up to her and given her a hug. She lifted him up in her arms-- goodness, he was quite heavy now-- and nodded her head at Nian Zheng. "You've even brought the children. There was no need to bring even them..."

Nian Zheng lifted her head up. "Everyone wanted to leave. What were we going to do in that old house alone?" she asked matter of factly.

"Everyone?"

The old woman nodded. "Everyone. Even this old knucklehead here--" she nodded her head towards the old man, who had made himself at home and was already pouring himself tea at her table. "wanted to break his little self-imposed exile to come and support you."

The old man wheezed, probably attempting a laugh. "I was once a general. though the times have changed, the nature of war cannot. I think I'll still be of some assistance."

"But—"

He'd already moved on from the conversation. "Besides, the quality of tea at the imperial palace sure is different from whatever is being brewed at home!"

As much as she wanted to, Jin qing didn't dare roll her eyes at him. "But the Capital will be dangerous once winter hits," she reasoned with them. "The Song is close by, and food shortages are inevitable in wartime. It'll be more comfortable at home than here in the capital-- even in the imperial palace."

"And leave you here all alone?" Ye bing held onto her hand. "Miss, even though you like to believe that you can do everything on your own, you can't. And you've complained to us before about how incompetent some people are. Wouldn't it be better for us to stay here and help?"

As much as Jin qing wanted to argue, she knew she was right. She would need them-- both on the battlefield and at home. "As long as you all promise that you'll leave at any sign of danger, I don't mind--"

"Father! Mother! Everyone!"

Jin qing turned around with a smile. "How lost did you get in the palace for you to just arrive here, Hai Lin?"

Hai Lin playfully patted her arm as he rushed over to give his mother a hug. "I expected a servant to guide me here, but apparently they weren't allowed to step foot in your yard so they left me at the door. Xin er, how much room do you need to live by yourself? Mother, you can stop looking me over now, I'm fine--"

Jin qing scoffed. "I didn't choose this room. Ask the emperor."

"You mean the ex-emperor?"

Jin qing frowned as everyone looked up at the statement. "What?"

"You really think the scene you caused at the palace court wouldn't reach the army's ears?" Hai lin asked. "It's spread like wildfire-- and the army is all for it. I knew you had a presence in the army, but I didn't think you would have them at such a hold."

"I expected as much. But ex-emperor? He hasn't abdicated yet!"

"The army has long referred to you as the real brains behind it all; the true empress. They'll follow you to the ends of the earth if you told them to."

Jin qing tilted her head, a small smirk playing across her lips. "And how would you know?" she asked. "You've only been in the army for about two or three weeks. How would you know what the army has been thinking about me?"

"Let's say... the army folk has taken a liking to my quick wit. They aren't all that bad."

"you can stay in the army if you like."

The old woman (and everyone else) looked up in surprise.  "Xin er," the old woman said gently. "Did you say that you were going to bring your brother out of the army because of the war?"

Jin qing shrugged. "I was going to do that until I found out how well Hai Lin was thriving in the army. I won't be sending him into the front lines, of course, but he can stay in the army and make a career for himself if he wants." It went against everything she wanted to keep him in the army, but she could see potential in her brother. "It would be a pity to keep him from where he might thrive."

The old woman looked up at Hai lin, who looked back at Jin qing with a look of determination in his eyes. "Keep me in the army," he said firmly. "I'll be alright in there."

"If that's what you want, then I'll make arrangements for you—"

"No, Xin er. I don't want you to interfere."

Jin qing frowned. "Even if you are in the army, I'm not sending you to the front lines when you're this inexperienced." She couldn't help but think about her deceased little brother, who died defending her honor. "You'll die on the battlefield. You need time."

"It'll be winter soon," Hai Lin reasoned. "I'll have at least half a year to train before any battles happen. Wars cannot be fought in the winter, Xin er. I'll be alright."

The old man noticed Jin Qing's hesitation before she could say anything else. "Don't underestimate your sister, Hai Lin." He warned him. "If she wants to fight a war in the winter, then she'll fight one. Am I right, Xin er?"

Everyone stared at her in horror, and Jin qing let out a heavy sigh.

"It's not impossible," she said. "It'll be difficult, but I do believe it's the only way to end the war quickly. Hai Lin, you won't have those six months to train."

"How long will I have?"

"If everything goes right, the last battle will occur before the lunar new year."

"That's all I will need. I won't be able to look at my fellow brothers in the army in the eye if I got pulled out and left them out alone."

Jin qing didn't answer.

"Please."

She hated her answer.  The stakes for the victory of the battle had just multiplied, and she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to handle it. "Fine," she gave in. "Stay alive, Hai Lin. I hope you don't make me regret my decision."

<>

Uh, hello o/
It's been a while. Eight months, to be exact.
A mix of life, mental health, and writers block hit me like a truck after the last update, and I couldn't bring myself to write a chapter that I was happy with.
But I feel bad for only returning with one chapter after so long, so have a few more. Regular updates should continue from now on until the end of this book. Thank you for sticking around :D