Chapter 211

Chapter 211: Upheaval in Mo Bei

Shang Xing Yu rode through the night. The smile on Shang Xing Yu’s face cooled little by little in the darkness.

Qi Shu Xian.

Fine. Shang Xing Yu remembered.

The next day, the rumor that Qi Shi Zi had gone bald young spread through every street and alley in the capital.

When Qi Shu Xian went on duty, Qi Shu Xian noticed people glancing at his head again and again. Qi Shu Xian even heard whispers, but every time Qi Shu Xian looked over, they shut their mouths at once.

The atmosphere made Qi Shu Xian feel miserable.

Just then, the city gate area erupted with wailing and shouting.

A few families waiting to enter the city were arguing for some reason. Children cried, women cursed, and several men grabbed and hit each other.

Qi Shu Xian frowned and went over, planning to pull them apart.

A woman saw Qi Shu Xian grab at her man and immediately let out a shriek and lunged at Qi Shu Xian.

When she rushed in, the woman she had been cursing at refused to fall behind and lunged too.

Qi Shu Xian’s martial arts were strong, but facing two farm women, Qi Shu Xian still had to hold back.

In the end, Qi Shu Xian did not even know whose hand reached the hat first.

Rip-

The hat was torn off.

The two women stared at what they had ripped away.

Qi Shu Xian froze in place.

Almost instantly, Qi Shu Xian felt every gaze land on him-no, on his head.

“So it is true!”

“Qi Shi Zi really went bald young…”

“Yesterday my wife even asked why our gate suddenly had such a handsome sentry. But no matter how handsome the face is, with hair like that, it is hard to look at!”

Qi Shu Xian swayed.

Qi Shu Xian forgot that Qi Shu Xian was on duty and turned and fled straight out of the city.

As for why Qi Shu Xian did not run into the city, it was naturally because there were too many wives in the city.

“Ha ha ha! Shang Er!” In a tavern not far away, Pei Yu An watched the whole scene and clicked his tongue. “Your move was vicious.”

Ye Rong laughed loudly. “If I knew, I would have brought my sister over.”

“Why?” Chen Bao Jing immediately looked up.

Ye Rong’s sister had a round face and bright, almond-shaped eyes. Chen Bao Jing had always liked her, but Chen Bao Jing never dared say it. She used to be chubby, and now that she had slimmed down, Chen Bao Jing still did not dare say it.

Ye Rong did not notice his friend’s careful thoughts. Ye Rong snorted. “She used to always say she wanted to marry a man like Qi Shu Xian. She said he was handsome and both cultured and skilled, tsk tsk… With hair like that, it would be better to shave it all off.”

Chen Bao Jing’s heart jolted.

Handsome?

Then did Chen Bao Jing have no chance at all?

Shang Xing Yu snorted.

A grown man like Qi Shu Xian acted in such a dark way. Qi Shu Xian was already divorced, yet still tried to use words to drive a wedge between Shang Xing Yu and the Princess.

Qi Shu Xian brought it on himself. Qi Shu Xian deserved it.

However, the news of Qi Shi Zi going bald young did not stay the hottest topic in the capital.

Because that evening, another message came on fast horses from the Mo Bei army-

The Northern Di army launched a night raid on the Mo Bei camp without any warning.

Six grain storehouses filled with military supplies were attacked. In a single night, Mo Bei lost seventy percent of its grain.

Northern Di and Sheng Kingdom, which had seemed friendly before, fell into a state of war preparation in an instant because of that urgent report.

Northern Di’s Fourth Prince, Lu Chuo, along with the Northern Di soldiers and palace attendants Lu Chuo had brought, were all placed under heavy guard.

“Looks like Governor-General Xu did not take my warning seriously,” Sheng Zhi Wan said after hearing the news, her face grim.

Ever since Sheng Zhi Wan’s connection with Sheng Shi Hall was exposed, Sheng Zhi Wan had sent a letter into the Mo Bei army.

The letter had gone to Governor-General Xu, and Sheng Zhi Wan had even received a reply.

In the reply, Governor-General Xu spoke with certainty. Governor-General Xu said he would guard against Northern Di, and he would move the grain and supplies to rear strongholds and storehouses as much as possible.

But if Governor-General Xu had truly carried out Sheng Zhi Wan’s words, then the Mo Bei Military Camp would not have lost seventy percent of its grain and supplies now.

“Was Northern Di not on good terms with us? How did they suddenly start fighting?”

“Is the news real?”

“The cold disaster in Mo Bei has not even ended. How can there be war again?!”

In the streets and alleys, over tea and meals, even commoner who usually kept their heads down and lived their own lives could not help paying attention.

Not to mention the scholars and great clans who always took it as their duty to discuss the fate of the nation.

Gathering Sages Teahouse was packed every day.

Many famous talents worried over the country and argued fiercely. Qi Shi Zi, who had just returned from Cang Nan with a victory not long ago, was naturally brought up again.

One person said, “The soldiers are exhausted! Governor-General Xu is old. The Mo Bei army has grown lax under Governor-General Xu these years. Fresh blood should have been added long ago!”

Another said, “Qi Shi Zi has strategy in his chest and won with the weak against the strong. If Qi Shu Xian commanded troops, how could the Northern Di nomads ambush them so easily?”

Someone else said, “I heard Governor-General Xu’s fourth concubine is a Northern Di woman. Tell me, could Governor-General Xu have secretly defected to Northern Di?”

Another voice cut in, “Otherwise, how could Northern Di burn seventy percent of the grain overnight?”

Someone said, “Without grain, no matter how strong the army is, it is useless. The urgent matter is to get grain and supplies in place first…”

In the imperial court, it was also chaos.

Emperor Chong Sheng’s face was dark.

Emperor Chong Sheng had thought that as long as Lu Chuo did not die in Sheng Kingdom, Northern Di would not send troops for the time being.

But the cold disaster did not only trap Mo Bei. Northern Di suffered as well.

Now Northern Di struck first, disrupting Emperor Chong Sheng’s original plan.

“Enough.” Emperor Chong Sheng’s voice pressed down the hall. “After all this talk, who do you believe can take charge of transporting grain and serving as Military Commissioner?”

Silence answered.

Pei Ling Yuan swept his gaze around and saw no one willing to step out. Pei Ling Yuan immediately moved forward. “Your Majesty, this minister is willing to go!”

Emperor Chong Sheng glanced at Pei Ling Yuan. “You have courage, but you lack strategy.”

Pei Ling Yuan’s face flushed.

Shang Tian Hao frowned and stepped out as well. This time, Emperor Chong Sheng did not say anything, but Emperor Chong Sheng also did not agree right away.

Sheng Yuan Hao lowered his eyes.

Sheng Yuan Hao naturally knew Imperial Father was waiting for someone to speak Qi Shu Xian’s name.

Qi Shu Xian was someone Imperial Father had cultivated for Sheng Yuan Hao.

But at a moment like this, it should not be Sheng Yuan Hao who said it.

Sheng Yuan Hao stayed silent.

At that moment, Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun and Second Prince Sheng Yuan Qi both stepped out. “Imperial Father, your son has someone to recommend!”

After they spoke, they looked at each other, hostility hidden in their eyes.

“Qi Shu Xian!” Sheng Yuan Qi spoke first. “Imperial Father, your son recommends Qi Shi Zi Qi Shu Xian, who recently returned from Cang Nan with merit!”

The Crown Prince shot Sheng Yuan Qi a hateful look.

Sheng Yuan Qi smiled back in provocation.

Only then did the Crown Prince speak. “Imperial Father, the person your son recommends is also Qi Shu Xian. Qi Shu Xian commands troops like a god and excels at using terrain and timing. If Qi Shu Xian goes to Mo Bei to serve as Deputy General under Governor-General Xu, Northern Di will surely be driven back!”

“Qi Shu Xian…” Emperor Chong Sheng pondered, then nodded. “Good. Summon Qi Shu Xian into the palace to see me!”

Winds shifted fast.

A sudden war threw Qi Shu Xian back into office.

As the Ministry of Revenue gathered grain to send to the Mo Bei army, Qi Shu Xian, newly appointed as Deputy Military Commissioner, did not sit idle either.

Qi Shu Xian returned to the barracks every day, calling roll, drilling troops, and selecting the escort army that would leave for Mo Bei in a few days.

The day before the army departed, Shang Xing Yu intercepted Qi Shu Xian on the road as Qi Shu Xian returned to Duke Residence.

Qi Shu Xian’s face turned iron the moment Qi Shu Xian saw Shang Xing Yu.

Qi Shu Xian had no proof about what happened outside the city gate that day, but proof did not matter. Qi Shu Xian already knew it was Shang Xing Yu.

Other than Shang Xing Yu, who else knew about Qi Shu Xian’s hair loss?