Chapter 182 Resonance: Clad In Imperial Robes (1/2)

In the back garden of the Duke of Anping's Residence, Wax Plant flowers shaped like little stars with specks of red in white were blooming vibrantly, its sight extremely intoxicating. There were also n.o.ble-looking pink and purple Moth Orchids blooming elegantly with orange-yellow Dancing Doll Orchids covering the earth like a gorgeous carpet. The enthralling Lily Magnolias stood their ground against the wind independently, whereas closest to Luodi were cl.u.s.ters of elegant h.o.a.ry Stocks.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps could be heard from behind. Feng Luodi faintly smiled and a few words escaped her vermilion lips. “Your residence seems to have collected all the orchids in the world.”

Situ was clad in majestic black robes with gold-plated ferocious-looking tiger ornaments on his shoulders. His aura was imposing, but it was the kind that made others respect him rather than fear him.

“My father likes orchids.”

His voice was steady as usual, seemingly like there was nothing in this world that could sway him.

Feng Luodi stood beside the h.o.a.ry Stocks and raised her head slightly to see Situ approaching her. With the sunlight s.h.i.+ning on his back, he walked towards her with a radiance that seemingly illuminated the whole world. This was the man she was deeply in love with.

“You also like orchids.”

Her words were filled with certainty and delight.

Situ would never forget his lover's smile which resembled flowers in full bloom in the years to come. The elegant h.o.a.ry Stocks seemed to have lost their colours in her presence. The sunlight highlighted her ethereal appearance, making the scenery before him seem surreal. He felt as if he was in a dream.

“Let's go. Buhui is coming. Let's go see him.”

Situ held out his hand to Feng Luodi. It didn't matter whether it was when they first met, when they were on bad terms and quarrelling, when they were in an ambiguous relations.h.i.+p or when they were confiding in one another, Feng Luodi had never rejected the hand he reached out to her.

Only when he felt her tender hand in his did he feel that everything was real, that she was truly standing beside him.

“Is Buhui the former Northern Army's Rear General?”

“Mhm.”

Situ nodded and explained, “To avoid arousing suspicion, I wasn't able to meet up with him last time at the Dingtao Province. However, now that he was granted a new t.i.tle, I'm afraid that he would have to stay in Chang'an from now on.”

Buhui was formerly one of the four high-ranking military officers of the Northern Army, then he was conferred as the General of the Central Army troops with two hundred thousand soldiers under his command. She should meet this person, who'd stuck by Situ through thick and thin all these years.

When the two of them arrived at the antechamber, the housekeeper was coincidentally leading someone dressed in martial attire towards them.

Feng Luodi sat down and carefully sized up Ji Buhui as he strutted in spiritedly with his head held high.

Ji Buhui didn't have Zhang Xin's imposing, unfettered and candid disposition nor Cheng s.h.i.+fei's ingenious, scholarly and refined temperament. He also didn't look like the seemingly muddled but clear-headed Gao Ming. This Ji Buhui appeared steady and calm like Cheng s.h.i.+fei, possessed the deportment of a great general like Zhang Xin and seemed as sharp and alert as Gao Ming. He was a general who seemed mediocre and ordinary, but he was, in fact, the most erudite of them all.

When Ji Buhui stepped into the antechamber, he smiled to show his respect to Situ, whom he hadn't seen in ages, while sizing up Feng Luodi indiscernibly. Immediately after that, he knelt to Situ and sentimentally said, “General, I haven't seen you in ages. Are you faring well?”

As he was speaking, he actually got a little teary-eyed.

Feng Luodi was stunned by this sight and hastily stood up.

Situ stood up as well and quickly walked forward to help Ji Buhui up. His expression was solemn, but his tone gentle as he responded, “As you can see, I have been well all along.”

Ji Buhui moderated his feelings before he turned towards Feng Luodi and nodded at her.

“Miss Feng.”

“General Ji.” Feng Luodi hastily returned the greeting. Ji Buhui then walked towards the seat opposite her.

After Ji Buhui sat down, he said to Situ in a deep voice, “General, it was indeed as you have expected. The Central Army's new commander isn't the Western Army's Young General.”

Situ instantly sneered upon hearing this.

“Even if His Majesty is already ill beyond cure, he knows that he can't possibly give more military power to the Xue Family. After all, the Xue Family may be the next Situ family, and he doesn't have that much energy to deal with them.”

“But,” Ji Buhui was puzzled, he paused for a second before continuing, “But, when the covert guards sent the news to me, they said that His Majesty has already promised to follow your suggestion in court. If His Majesty goes back on his words, how could he face the officials and commoners?”

Situ shook his head, his expression icy-cold.

“He no longer cares about the views of the people in this world. He's only concerned about one thing now.”

That is to get rid of him, Situ Muye.

This was something that Feng Luodi and Ji Buhui were aware of as well.

“In that case, General Ji,” Feng Luodi intentionally broke the heavy atmosphere in the antechamber and took the initiative to ask, “Who is the newly-appointed Central Army Commander?”

Ji Buhui flashed a gentle smile and replied, “It's the Navy Commander from the Southeast Region.”

“Huh?”

Situ sneered again and added, “His Majesty really doesn't care about anything anymore. A navy commander leading the Central Plains' Central Army? I don't know whether to laugh or cry.”

He then slightly furrowed and turned to Ji Buhui.

“Then, what groundless t.i.tle did His Majesty give to you?”

It was like his 'Duke of Anping' t.i.tle, simply to keep him in Chang'an.

“General of Fast Cavalry.”

Ji Buhui was a little unwilling to accept this t.i.tle, but the Emperor was the supreme ruler, so he had no choice but to comply.

The atmosphere instantly became heavy again. After being at Situ's side for so long, Feng Luodi faintly understood how a military general felt. It was the kind of indignance and feeling of not being able to complain despite having grievances, because he was feared by the Emperor due to his outstanding military achievements.

“Situ, could it be that General Ji can't return to the deserts of the North anymore? The situation at the deserts of the North is certainly much more relaxed.”

Feng Luodi's thoughts were very simple. His Majesty deliberately wanted to reclaim the military power in Ji Buhui's hand as he was afraid that it would be used by Situ one day. In that case, if they were to hand over the military power, they were no longer a threat and could return to the deserts of the North. At any rate, the military power in the deserts of the North had already been secured, so the only difference was another general joining the family.

When Ji Buhui heard what she said, he showed a slightly bitter smile. After casting a glance at Situ, he spoke again, “Miss Feng may only know one part of it but not the other. I'm staying in Chang'an to intimidate the brothers in the deserts of the North and let them know that they're not permitted to act recklessly.”