The Empress’ Livestream

The pitch-black darkness was like an unlimited pool of ink. The only exception was the moonlight shining down on the ground.

Jiang Pengji’s soldiers and officers had left under the cover of darkness. Yang Jian’s side had taken similar action.

All the other lords and their men were still busy immersing themselves in corporal pleasure as if they were honoring the established tradition of the new alliance. At night, the whole alliance acted like there had not been any fiery arguments during the day.

Before she left, Jiang Pengji let Liu She know about the plan so he could cover for them in case someone found out that two camps had somehow evacuated.

“It’s so cold and dark, yet Yang Jian’s men still insisted on fighting against the current of the river…”

Wearing an extra warm overcoat and holding a newly-made coal brazier, Feng Zhen still looked like he was freezing. He couldn’t imagine how Yang Jian’s men could go through the river upstream. No matter how good they were at swimming, in the turbulent and icy cold water, it would still be likely for some to lose their lives.

Simply picturing jumping into the cold water naked and going against the current made Feng Zhen’s thin, delicate frame shiver. His lips turned even paler.

Jiang Pengji laughed. “Who told you they have to jump into the water?”

“Say what?” Feng Zhen looked puzzled. “But Yang Jian picked the water route. They don’t have enough boats. They don’t have tons of men, but it’s still about 15,000. How can they go across the river then? Or does Yang Jian have some other tricks up his sleeve?”

Jiang Pengji smiled. “What’s important is they can make it across the river. We need to work hard on our side, too.”

With all the paths snaking around all over the hills of their mountainous path, people without a good sense of direction would find it quite easy to get lost.

“We are lucky that it’s so freezing cold and still winter. If it was warmer and there were harmful mists, wild animals, and poisonous bugs and snakes to contend with, things would be way tougher for us.” Meng Hun took off almost half of his armor to make it easier on the road. The remaining pieces were only enough to protect the most important body parts. “Now that it’s cold, things are much easier. It would be even better if we were climbing during the day, we would be able to see our way more clearly.”

Marching in the dark could cause a lot of problems. Due to malnutrition, many soldiers suffered from night blindness. Their vision was compromised significantly. Even though Jiang Pengji had improved their diets a lot and arranged a torch for every 50 men, marching on this route remained difficult.

Jiang Pengji adjusted their marching strategies and sent the stronger soldiers with better vision to the front to clear a path for the rest. Weaker soldiers with weaker night vision stayed in the back. Stronger soldiers in the front also had their back up teams, meaning that the guys could take turns to guarantee speed and efficiency.

“…If it were bright out, neither Yang Jian nor we could hide the mission from the other forces.” Li Yun and Dian Yan were both at the front of the group. Their usual enemy-killing, silver-headed spears had become their exploring tools and walking sticks. They didn’t even feel bad about it. “As long as we can hide from Prince Changshou, we’re in a good spot. As for the other lords and their forces, perhaps they won’t even guess that we’ve gone this way to avoid Jiamen Pass completely.”

The route was extremely rugged. Yang Si and Feng Zhen had each gotten off their horses to walk. It had quickly exhausted them so much that they were sweating and panting.

Li Yun looked back at Yang Si and said, “If you feel tired, how about I carry you on my back, mister?”

Yang Si didn’t jump at the offer. Li Yun was their major officer who would lead the charge. It was important to reserve his energy.

On a mountainous path like this, even Yang Si was on the brink of passing out walking this far. If Li Yun had to finish the rest while carrying him, wouldn’t that kill him?

So Yang Si politely declined. However, someone else had way less shame and consideration.

Feng Zhen said, “Hanmei, how come you play favorites like this? I’m tired too! Why didn’t you offer to carry me?”

Li Yun blinked innocently, then repeated, “If you feel tired, how about I carry you on my back, mister?”

Feng Zhen nodded his acceptance about a hundred times within a second. “Let’s go go go!”

Jiang Pengji hesitated and attempted to finish his sentence. “Ole ole ole?”

Feng Zhen was confused. What was that?

Yang Si signed and guessed, “Perhaps she’s referring to your shamelessness.”

Watching the two scholarly advisors prepare to start fighting, Li Yun didn’t know what to do.

“Just pick him up unless you want to give them time to keep arguing,” Jiang Pengji said as she walked past Li Yun, patting his shoulder. “Alas, their combined ages make them almost 60, yet they still argue so loudly like this. So embarrassing!”

One of Li Yun’s virtues was his honesty. Just as Jiang Pengji instructed, he picked Feng Zhen up and continued walking.

Yang Si was speechless.

The whole team was unbelievable!

Even though it was late at night, the streaming room was full of nigh-oil-burning audience members. Everyone watching this part laughed.

Hua Zhuozhuo: Haha! Li Yun and Feng Zhen are so cute together!

Flying Dragon: You capricious little monsters! I remember you all saying the same thing about Yang Si and Feng Zhen. Things change too fast!

No Explanation Needed: No, no, no. Streamer, please let us see more girls of different types! It’s been only guys recently. Are you not worried that they are getting too close to each other? We finally got Li Yun, and he’s such perfect husband material. He is not to be turned!

Reading the bullet screen, Jiang Pengji had nothing to say.

It occurred to her that she could really impress them.

“Hanmei?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“How’s it going with you and Wan’er?”

What?

Both Jiang Pengji’s men around to look. The 150,000 member audience in the streaming room was intrigued by the potential of gossip.

Li Yun looked away with his face flushed.

“Lady Wan is doing well… How come you mentioned this, my lord?”

The bullet screen was filled with “wow wow wow” comments.

“Lady Wan? Isn’t she the leader of the women’s department of government office?” Feng Zhen asked. “Hanmei taught her some fighting skills. Was that how you two became a thing? Single ladies from higher-up families in Wanzhou are limited. You’d better make it a done deal while you still can. Otherwise, someone else might get in front of you.”

Li Yun smiled bitterly. “Mister, we are not a ‘thing’ yet.”

Feng Zhen smacked his head while draped across his back. “Not a thing!? How about you do something to make it a thing?”

Yang Si smiled in agreement. “That’s something! Maybe in a few months, we can witness a nice ceremony in Wanzhou!”

Half of Jiang Pengji’s men were single.

Yang Si was not that young anymore, but his standards were too high. He’d rather go to brothels than formally get a wife to take care of his life and place.

Ever since his wife passed away, Feng Zhen had no willingness to remarry. He also resorted to going to those romantic places.

Of course, now he was busy with work and fighting. He didn’t even have time to pleasure himself, nevermind go to brothels.

“By that time, I will pay you guys in advance by several months. Hanmei, the standards for the wedding gift red packets should be based on how much they get.”

Everyone kept teasing Li Yun. Soon, he barely remembered how to walk.

Listening to them talking about his personal life, Li Yun wished he could just disappear.

Eventually, he gave up. Fine. He’d entertain them by self-sacrifice.