Chapter 245

Chapter 245: Even a Soldier is Enough

When Tian Meng Nian arrived, Yang Jun Nan was in the study.

This younger brother-in-law of his was nearly twenty years younger, and Yang Jun Nan was rather helpless around him. Hearing him ask about Shang Hang Yu, Yang Jun Nan frowned slightly. “Did you provoke him?”

“He was the one who provoked me!” Tian Meng Nian insisted. “By the way, Brother-in-law, I heard Shang Hang Yu took first place at the Winter Hunt in the Training Field. How can that be? Isn’t he just a useless playboy?”

“It’s true.”

With just these two words, Tian Meng Nian froze.

“This Shang Hang Yu isn’t simple. You’d best keep away from him.”

He’d saved the Princess, won glory at the Winter Hunt, and become the Prince Consort. Though each time he’d seemed merely clever in minor ways, such cunning, when used skillfully, was perhaps his hidden strategy.

To ensure Tian Meng Nian heeded the warning, Yang Jun Nan briefly explained what had happened at the Training Field.

As Tian Meng Nian listened, his face grew paler and paler. At last, he sank to the floor helplessly. “It’s over… If he goes to Northern Desert, then what about my land and my country estates? Won’t they all belong to him?”

“What? He’s going to Northern Desert too?!” Inside the palace, Emperor Chong Sheng was already deeply troubled.

These past few days he’d been trying to decide whom to send as reinforcement to Northern Desert.

Initially, he’d chosen Shang Tian Hao. It was all set, but unexpectedly, Shang Tian Hao had fallen ill at this critical moment. The emperor himself had several Imperial Physicians check—it wasn’t fake.

That left only Pei Ling Yuan…

Pei Ling Yuan could fight bravely, but when it came to strategy and tactics, he was lacking. However, aside from him, there was no one else suitable.

Just as he was feeling troubled, Shang Hang Yu came to cause more chaos! What could a useless young master like him, who had never fought a single battle, accomplish in Northern Desert? Was he planning to deliver himself straight to the Northern Di’s hands?

Emperor Chong Sheng was about to send someone to drive Shang Hang Yu out when Crown Prince Sheng Yuan Jun, who’d been silent until now, suddenly spoke.

“Imperial Father, why not invite Second Young Master Shang inside? Have you forgotten how he cleverly schemed against those two Northern Di generals at the Training Field?”

“Perhaps Second Young Master Shang volunteered to go because he has a brilliant plan to handle the Northern Di!”

Sheng Yuan Jun smiled, but his eyes were filled with hidden malice.

Though the incident with Ming Jia had little to do directly with Shang Hang Yu, it was still because of him that Sheng Yuan Jun had suffered great humiliation.

Therefore…

Since Shang Hang Yu sought death, he’d gladly help him along.

A useless fool like him dared to volunteer for Northern Desert. Did he truly believe he had great skills after winning just once at the Training Field?

Did he think he was capable, like Qi Shu Xian, of taking the battlefield?

Foolish.

After speaking, Sheng Yuan Jun hadn’t truly expected Emperor Chong Sheng would accept.

Yet, Emperor Chong Sheng paused thoughtfully, then unexpectedly called Shang Hang Yu inside.

He was simply desperate enough to try anything.

Perhaps…? After all, no one had expected Shang Hang Yu to lead a group of spoiled youths to victory that day.

When Shang Hang Yu entered, he saw several imperial princes and court ministers present, though Shang Tian Hao was absent.

He wasn’t surprised at all.

After all, it was his people who personally sold that medicine—Shang Tian Hao, who had earned glory on the battlefield in his youth, now had a beloved woman by his side. Ironically, love had made him lose his courage. To avoid going to the border, he’d truly made himself “ill.”

How laughable.

But Shang Hang Yu didn’t reveal his thoughts. He respectfully knelt, bowing formally.

Emperor Chong Sheng spoke, “I hear you want to go to Northern Desert?”

“Yes!” Shang Hang Yu replied with determination. “Your Majesty, your humble subject wishes to go to Northern Desert to kill the Northern Di soldiers!”

Not to command troops, nor to fight a war, but simply to kill Northern Di soldiers.

Anyone who heard this might think he had a deep grudge against the Northern Di.

Ministers around him exchanged strange glances.

Then Shang Hang Yu pulled out a sheet of paper from his chest, indignantly presenting it: “Just now, someone actually said the Northern Di army is strong and our Sheng Kingdom has no equal! Your humble subject couldn’t bear it, so I made a bet. He said if I could kill ten Northern Di soldiers, these things would all be mine!”

His indignant expression quickly turned sheepish. “Your Majesty knows I’m short on money, and with the wedding to the Princess approaching, your subject wanted to gather a bit more for the betrothal gift.”

As he finished speaking, the ministers’ lips twitched.

Indeed, a spoiled fool remained a spoiled fool.

Could he seriously bet on such matters as going to war?

Kill ten Northern Di soldiers? He’d probably be the first one to flee in panic when the battle began…

Even Emperor Chong Sheng’s eyelids twitched as he looked at the document presented by Su De Yun.

Two country estates, over three hundred acres of land—all in Ting Prefecture. He wagered his life in Northern Desert for such trivial gains?

Indeed, he shouldn’t have had any expectations for such a playboy.

Emperor Chong Sheng angrily tossed the paper aside.

Shang Hang Yu quickly crawled forward on his knees to retrieve the paper, carefully tucking it back into his robe. Raising his head cautiously, he asked, “Your Majesty, could you please grant your humble subject’s request? If nothing else, even a common soldier will do!”

A common soldier?

Emperor Chong Sheng narrowed his eyes, giving him a cold smile. “Fine. Since you’re not afraid of death, go ahead! Pei Ling Yuan, you’ll take him along!”

Pei Ling Yuan’s eyelids twitched violently. “…Your Majesty, perhaps we should first seek Grand General Shang’s opinion? If Second Young Master Shang truly meets with misfortune on the battlefield, this subject fears he cannot justify it to Grand General Shang.”

“General Pei, rest assured. Just this morning, Father said he was deeply troubled by his inability to go to Northern Desert due to illness. If he learns I can replace him on the battlefield, he’ll surely be extremely pleased!” Shang Hang Yu said, offering a gentle, obedient smile.

Pei Ling Yuan felt deeply moved by his sincerity.

Thus, when Shang Hang Yu exited, he had officially become part of the great imperial army heading toward Northern Desert.