Chapter 43p2: Farewell [cont] |
[February 3, 2021] . . .
The street was bustling with activity. The demon lord and nearly all the officials were there to personally see the trio off, but Shěn Lí used her hangover as an excuse to not go. She was holed up in her room looking at Parrot.
“How long has it not opened his mouth and eaten anything?” Shěn Lí looked at the emaciated bird in distress. “Is it dying?”
Ròu Yā was distracted by all the hullabaloo outside on the street when she answered, “It hasn’t opened it’s mouth since it came back from the palace. Jaw is so tight I can’t budge it.”
Shěn Lí raised an eyebrow. She tentatively pressed her finger over Parrot’s beak. Its mouth immediately popped open with a loud "gack!" The voice that streamed out was as loud as ever, even if its body was just skin and bones. “God hurt me! God is bad! Bad Your Highness!”
“Oh? How did he hurt you?”
“He pulled my feathers! He cast a spell on me! He’s a bastard Your Highness!”
Parrot’s feather? Oh. So he hadn’t forgotten. He’d remembered everything from the beginning but had kept it a secret from her. He even cast a spell on Parrot and nearly starved it to death. She ought to be angry, but she wasn’t, instead she found herself laughing out loud.
“Bullying a shrew bird is something only someone as despicable as High God Xíng Zhǐ would do.”
He was finally gone.
Shěn Lí suddenly realized they’d gone through many things together, side by side. His absence nudged uncomfortably at her. That was OK, life would go on.
. . .She continued going to court and stayed up to date on current events. Border news wasn’t as spotty as it used to be. The soldiers were doing well, in fact even better than those in the capital. It reminded Shěn Lí of when she and Xíng Zhǐ repaired the seals, the mountain, the Ruins, just the two of them . . .
“Shěn Lí.” The emperor called out to her.
Shěn Lí came back to her senses. She coughed. With all eyes on her she said, “What is it Your Majesty?”
“The people of the North Sea have been behaving strangely. Each general will nominate someone to go and investigate. It will be a good opportunity for up and coming commanders to sharpen their skills since there shouldn’t be any fighting.”
Shěn Lí had done this a few times, essentially chaperoning new commanders to hone their skills and gain experience on the front lines. She thought for a moment before deciding. “Since it’s a reconnaissance mission we should send someone who is careful.” She looked around the room and settled her gaze on Mò Fāng.
After what happened that day, she had been uncomfortable having him by her side. She had wanted to apologize but didn’t want to say the wrong thing, so whether consciously or not, she had been avoiding him since.
“General Mò Fāng is careful and a good strategist. He would be the best choice to lead the mission.”
Even if her motive was selfish, it didn’t change the fact that the was the best man for the job.
The emperor nodded. “Does anyone object?”
No one did.
“Since no one objects, let us end the meeting here.” He turned his head to Shěn Lí. “Shěn Lí, stay.”
Shěn Lí was anxious, thinking she was going to be scolded. She accompanied the emperor as they walked across the stone walkway to the pavilion. He sat down at a table across the lake. Picking up a chess piece he said, “Play a few rounds with me.”
The emperor was the clear victor after just half an hour of play.
“You weren’t thinking clearly and became disoriented after seeing your attacks fail. Your troops were left in disarray. This is not your usual style Shěn Lí.”
Shěn Lí lowered her head without saying anything.
The emperor tapped a finger against the stone table. “You’ve been distracted since Lord Fú Róng left.”
Shěn Lí was shocked. Just thinking about that guy’s personality made her mouth twitch. “Your Majesty misunderstands.”
The emperor silently collected the chess pieces off the board. With a sudden smile he said, “Be it as it may, I have been tired recently and have not had the will to move around much. For the Hundred Flower banquet, you go on my behalf. You will be married into the Immortal realm soon, so it will be good for you to familiarize yourself with the order of things in that realm.”
In shock, Shěn Lí could only say, “Your Majesty . . .”
The emperor stood up and patted her head. “This is an order. You can’t refuse.”
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