Chapter 54 Volunteering for the Mission

The news of the northern expedition spread throughout the capital, and the streets and alleys were abuzz with discussion. Some said that Zhao Ang was young, frivolous, and ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth; others claimed he was merely a puppet of the Zhao family, pushed onto the battlefield to serve as a scapegoat.

In the imperial palace, Princess Zhaohao sat by the window, holding a letter in her hand.

The flickering candlelight cast complex and unreadable shadows across her expression.

"Qingzhu, tell me, is he truly going on the expedition to the north?" Princess Zhaohao's voice was cold and clear, yet tinged with an involuntary tremor.

Her personal maid, Qingzhu, replied softly, "Yes, Your Highness. News came from the palace last night that the Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo volunteered to lead the expedition with only a detachment of the Black Tiger Army."

Princess Zhaohao froze slightly, her fingers gently brushing the edge of the letter paper.

Seeming somewhat disbelieving, she asked, "Volunteered? Isn't he usually just a good-for-nothing playboy who lives off his family?"

Qingzhu smiled with pursed lips, cautiously probing, "Your Highness, the Heir may appear to be a playboy, but perhaps he possesses extraordinary qualities unknown to others."

Princess Zhaohao let out a cold snort, her tone laced with mockery. "Extraordinary qualities? Aside from drinking, making trouble, and visiting brothels, what else is Zhao Ang capable of? Volunteered? I'd wager eight tenths of it is just a scheme to escape this marriage of ours, fleeing as far as he can!"

Qingzhu lowered her head to hide her smile. After a moment, she whispered, "Your Highness, the Heir sets out on his expedition tomorrow. Would you... like to go see him off?"

Princess Zhaohao was momentarily stunned, then replied coldly, "See him off? What makes him worthy of a send-off from this princess?"

Qingzhu raised her eyes to look at the princess's face, noticing that despite the disdainful words on her lips, her eyes held a subtle trace of unease and inner conflict.

"Your Highness, you are the Heir's betrothed after all. Such a major event as the Heir departing for the border—if you do not go to see him off, I fear it will reflect poorly on your reputation should word get out," Qingzhu persuaded gently. "Besides, going to bid him farewell is merely a formality."

Princess Zhaohao's expression shifted slightly. Her lips parted as if to retort, but she realized Qingzhu's words were unassailable. After a brief silence, she gritted her teeth and said coldly, "Fine, this princess will go see him off tomorrow, lest he later accuse me of being heartless and unfeeling!"

Qingzhu could no longer hold back her smile, pressing her lips together as she said, "As you wish, Your Highness."

Early the next morning, outside the Estate of the Duke of Zhenguo, the Black Tiger Army stood ready. Amidst the biting wind, Zhao Ang stood at the front of the formation clad in silver armor with a long saber hanging at his waist, a lazy smile lingering at the corners of his lips.

The onlookers among the commoners cast varying gazes—some filled with respect, others with suspicion. Zhao Ang paid them no mind. His gaze swept over the neatly arranged military formation, and he suddenly raised a hand to yawn, speaking in an indolent tone, "Lads, it's quite cold today. Once we reach the northern frontier, it'll likely be even colder. Remember to pack extra clothes, don't freeze yourselves, and don't let those barbarians look down on our Black Tiger Army!"

Hearing this, the soldiers of the Black Tiger Army could not help but chuckle, yet they shouted in unison, "Understood!"

Zhao Ang's gaze drifted casually, catching a familiar slender figure in the distance. It was Princess Zhaohao, clad in an embroidered cloak with a white fox-fur hat, accompanied by her personal maid Qingzhu, watching him from a moderate distance.

Zhao Ang raised an eyebrow, the smile on his lips deepening as he strode forward, dragging his long saber behind him.

"Well, if it isn't Her Royal Highness the Princess?" Zhao Ang stopped in his tracks, deliberately adopting an exaggerated tone. "With the wind blowing so hard today, Your Highness actually came personally to bid this humble son-in-law-to-be farewell. I am truly flattered!"

Princess Zhaohao's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly masked it, saying coldly, "This princess is merely here to show respect to His Majesty by sending you off. Zhao Ang, you need not read too much into it."

Zhao Ang laughed heartily, though a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. "With Your Highness putting it that way, how could this humble subject dare to read too much into it? Still, my heart is moved. Rest assured, on this northern trip, even if I fail to achieve great merits, at the very least I will return alive, sparing Your Highness from a life of widowhood."

"Zhao Ang!" Hearing this, Princess Zhaohao's expression instantly chilled as she gritted her teeth and rebuked in a low voice, "Have you no sense of propriety at all?!"

Zhao Ang remained completely unfazed, the smile at the corners of his mouth growing even broader. "Propriety? If I, Zhao Ang, truly cared about propriety, I fear Your Highness would find even catching a glimpse of me an annoyance."

Princess Zhaohao was momentarily at a loss for words, her chest rising and falling slightly with suppressed anger, yet she knew not how to retort.

Seeing this, Qingzhu, who stood nearby, hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over. "The Heir is only joking. Her Royal Highness is truly concerned for your safety. With you journeying far away on a military campaign, you must take good care of yourself."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ang cast a meaningful glance at Princess Zhaohao, then abruptly shifted his tone with a touch of seriousness. "Your Highness, the northern winds are fierce and the snow is deep. This humble subject fears hardships await me on this journey. When I return, I pray Your Highness will reserve a cup of hot tea so we may converse at length."

Princess Zhaohao was slightly startled by his gaze, then turned her head away, her tone remaining cold. "We shall speak of that when you return."

Zhao Ang said nothing more. With a faint smile, he turned and walked back to the front of the formation. Standing firm, he drew his long saber and raised it high, its cold gleam sending a jolt through the hearts of the onlookers.

"Lads! Today we set out on the expedition, and in days to come we shall return in triumph! Though the northern frontier is perilous, our Black Tiger Army fears nothing! The sons of the Zhao family are iron-boned men who lay down their lives for this realm!"

"We swear to fight to the death without retreat!" the soldiers of the Black Tiger Army shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

The biting wind howled, permeating the earth with an aura of solemn slaughter before the gates of the Duke's estate, where the Black Tiger Army stood in formation awaiting the order to march.

Clad in silver armor, Zhao Ang sat astride a tall, powerful steed with his long saber slung diagonally at his waist. His lazy smile felt entirely out of place amidst the solemn atmosphere.

His gaze swept over Princess Zhaohao, who stood at the edge of the formation in the distance, a trace of playful mischief still lingering in his eyes, as if the satisfaction of teasing her just moments ago had not yet fully faded.

At that very moment, a loud cry echoed from afar: "His Majesty has arrived!"

The shout reverberated through the streets. The commoners immediately dropped to their knees to kowtow, while the soldiers of the Black Tiger Army collectively fell to one knee in salute.

Only Zhao Ang dismounted leisurely, curling his lip as he thought to himself, "How rare. The old emperor actually deigned to come and send me off in person?"

Clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, Emperor Jing sat upon an eight-bearer imperial sedan, approaching at a slow pace.

A dignified expression rested on his face as his gaze swept across the ranks of the Black Tiger Army.

He could not help nodding slightly, thinking inwardly, "Truly deserving of being called the blade of the Zhao family."

As Emperor Jing stepped down from the sedan, however, his gaze was caught by a familiar, graceful figure.

"Zhaohao?" Emperor Jing's voice carried a hint of surprise. "Why are you here?"

Princess Zhaohao bowed her head in salute, her voice cool and clear. "Imperial Father, this daughter heard that Heir Zhao Ang was setting out on the northern expedition today, and came specially to bid him farewell."

A complex emotion flickered in Emperor Jing's eyes before he offered a faint smile. "It is rare for you to have such thoughtfulness. Zhao Ang is fortunate indeed."

Hearing this from the side, Zhao Ang immediately chimed in, grinning with an unbridled, roguish charm.

"His Majesty speaks the truth. Thanks to the princess coming to send this humble subject off, my resolve for this northern campaign is far stronger than it would have been otherwise."