My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 84: Ending (Part 1)

　　“I can't sleep,” Xie Jue said.” “As soon as I close my eyes, I worry that I might accidentally roll over and press on you in my sleep.”

　　Yun Ling paused, the corners of her eyes curving upward. “I'm not that delicate. Your Highness is just too worried.” 

　　He was treating her like a fragile porcelain doll. 

　　Xie Jue's warm hand rested on her belly, his gaze fixed on her. “You're pregnant, and I'm both happy and worried, reluctant to leave your side.” 

　　At a time like this, how could he possibly leave her? 

　　Yun Ling also looked up to meet his gaze, her slender white fingers covering the back of his hand, gently and earnestly saying, “I'm fine.”　　

　　“Husband, don't worry. Even though I'm pregnant, I can protect myself. Don't you trust me?” 

　　“Of course, I trust you.” Xie Jue lowered his head and kissed her rosy cheek, silent for a moment. “It's just that now that you're pregnant, I can't stay by your side.” 

　　Although Yun Ling had a premonition, her heart still skipped a beat. 

　　As expected. 

　　His early mornings and late nights these past few days, his comings and goings to the Military Camp, it was likely related to Yunze. 

　　“Did something happen to Yunze?” 

　　Xie Jue: “Do you remember the strategist by Qin Yi's side, the one who plotted to seize the silver? He wasn't from Great Jin.”　　

　　Yun Ling's brows furrowed slightly. “Who is he?” 

　　“The third prince of the Che Luo Kingdom, Su Le, who ended up in Great Jin. Born to a peasant woman, he was unseen by the King of Che Luo for twenty years. To return to Che Luo,” Xie Jue explained, “he first used Qin Yi as bait, attempting to seize two hundred thousand taels of silver. After his failure, he used Yunze's witchcraft to commit murder, then used the witch doctor to frame me as a tyrannical ruler.” 

　　“He formed a rebel group in Yunze, and I ordered their extermination. But among these rebels, besides bandits, there were also unarmed elderly people and children he had placed there, causing widespread resentment in Yunze.” 

　　Yun Ling was puzzled. “But since he's from Che Luo, not Great Jin, even if he incited unrest in Yunze, it shouldn't cause the people of Yunze to rebel against Your Highness. And since he was living in hiding in Yunze, without soldiers or power, how could he start a rebellion?”　　

　　Xie Jue said, “Besides Su Le, the King of Che Luo has two other sons, but they are incompetent. Su Le boasted to the King of Che Luo that he could conquer Yunze. This King of Che Luo is ambitious and has long harbored the desire to conquer Yunze; Su Le's words perfectly suited his desires.” 

　　Yun Ling was shocked. “Che Lou is going to send troops?!” 

　　For decades, Che Luo had been a tributary state of Great Jin, always showing respect and paying tribute yearly. 

　　It was unexpected that they harbored such ambitions. 

　　“Then Su Le must have been painstakingly planning this for a long time, perhaps even several years ago.” After much thought, Yun Ling still couldn't understand. If Su Le was from Che Luo, what was the point of inciting rebellion?　　

　　Unless… 

　　A thought just flashed through her mind. 

　　Xie Jue's thin lips curled into a slight smile. “Unless he colluded with someone from the Great Jin imperial family, giving him a legitimate reason.” 

　　That's right!　　

　　If Su Le were to attack Great Jin, he would either directly lead the Che Luo army to invade. But Che Luo and Great Jin have a twenty-year peace treaty. If Che Luo initiates the invasion, they would first lose the moral high ground; they wouldn't be a righteous army.

　　Throughout history, invaders always raise a banner of righteousness, claiming a just cause. 

　　Emperor Jingning's ascension to the throne was legitimate; there's no reason to find fault with him. Therefore, the point of entry is… Xie Jue! 

　　Yun Ling's guess was correct. 

　　Xie Jue said in a low voice, “Su Le, together with the posthumous son of Prince Ping (the third prince), claims that I am tyrannical, illegitimate, and destined for divine punishment. He intends to gather one hundred thousand Che Luo troops to invade Great Jin!”　

　　Xie Jue, as the sixth prince, was not favored by Emperor Jingning. Originally, the seventh prince and the third prince were the most likely candidates to inherit the throne. 

　　However, after the Palace coup a few years ago, the third prince and the seventh prince were killed for their attempted coup. Emperor Jingning, in a fit of rage and grief, fell ill. Xie Jue saved the Emperor and was crowned Crown Prince for his merit. 

　　At that time, there were many dissenting voices in the court, both from the Prince Ping's faction and the seventh prince's faction. It was Xie Jue who invited the venerable Grand Tutor Xiao, a pillar of the civil officials, to step forward and quell the rumors. 

　　The seventh prince had no heirs, and the third prince had one son, who was also killed. 

　　At that time, all the women of the Prince Ping's manor were exiled. No one expected that there would be a posthumous son. 

　　Su Le must have had secret agents in the Capital for a long time, plotting for many years.　

　　This battle is unavoidable. 

　　Although she had known that the missing silver case was not simple, and Qin Yi was just a scapegoat, Yun Ling still didn't expect such a grand conspiracy behind it. 

　　Yun Ling tightened her grip on his hand. 

　　“Don't worry,” Xie Jue turned her hand and held her fingers in his palm. “Su Le's plan was secretive, using witchcraft to deceive people and claim I was tyrannical. I simply turned the tables and saw through his scheme.” 

　　He had secretly assembled an army, remaining inconspicuous, and was ready to strike him with a surprise attack.　　　

　　Yun Ling shook her head. “I'm just afraid... that those rumors about your illegitimate claim to the throne will affect you.” 

　　“Fear what?” Xie Jue's eyes lowered, filled with killing intent. “Since I've done it, I'm not afraid of what history will say. It's just a name, after all. Che Luo has ambitions, and I've long intended to subdue them.” 

　　Xie Jue knew full well of Che Luo's ambition. 

　　But one must first secure the inside before dealing with the outside. When he ascended to the throne, he first faced the rebellion of the Prince Ping, then the covetous eyes of the King of Dingyang. He was surrounded by wolves, and the Court was unstable. On top of that, Emperor Jingning had been extravagant and indulgent during his reign, imposing heavy taxes and undertaking massive construction projects. Great Jin was exhausted from internal strife and couldn't withstand a war. 

　　Over the past few years, Xie Jue had held the reins of power, implemented new policies, purged the rebels, and disciplined the army. Great Jin was able to recuperate, its economy flourished, and its National strength increased. It was no longer the same, and it could now endure this war.　　　　

　　Yun Ling suddenly understood. No wonder he had started looking at maps and records of Che Luo so long ago. She had thought his interest was merely in Che Luo's geography and customs, but he had actually foreseen the King of Che Luo's ambition long ago. 

　　Che Luo had been strengthening its military for years, harboring ulterior motives. Che Lou's envoys had visited several times probing the situation. But Xie Jue's reputation was too strong and ruthless; his methods were too harsh. His swift and decisive actions in eliminating the rebels and killing the King of Dingyang had deterred the King of Che Luo from acting. 

　　The Crown Prince's wedding was imminent, followed by his ascension to the throne. This was the King of Che Luo's last chance. 

　　“Since they're coming for me, I will personally lead the troops to boost morale,” Xie Jue gazed at her and said in a low voice, “In this war, I will ensure that Che Luo does not dare to invade for the next few decades.” 

　　His tone was calm as he spoke these words. 

　　But Yun Ling still sensed the intense, wild excitement of the hunt beating beneath his skin.　　　　

　　The battlefield, where swords clash and soldiers meet, is destined to be a river of blood, littered with corpses. 

　　But Yun Ling also knew that this war was unavoidable; it had to be fought. 

　　Meeting her worried gaze, Xie Jue gently stroked her cheek. “I only feel guilty that I cannot be by your side while you are pregnant.” 

　　“I've given the Imperial Medical Office a secret order to prioritize your health above all else,” Xie Jue took a military token from his sleeve. “While I'm away, use this to command the Shadow Guard; they will protect your safety.”

　　“Lin Ying has deployed Hua Mei, Xi Que, and the rest of the Shadow Guards to remain hidden around you. I only want you to be safe.” 

　　So his anxiety stemmed from his impending departure to war. 

　　And he had carefully arranged everything for her before leaving. 

　　Her eyes welled up. 

　　“I will take care of myself,” Yun Ling suddenly threw herself into his arms. “I'll be right here, waiting for my husband's safe return.”

　　……　　　　

　　The preparations for war kept him incredibly busy. 

　　His decision to personally lead the troops was met with both opposition and support. But since Che Luo had accused him of being ‘tyrannical and illegitimate,’ only his personal involvement could refute these rumors and reassure the people. 

　　The usually prosperous and peaceful Capital seemed infected with this tense atmosphere. The Minister of Revenue, the Minister of War, and various civil and military officials continuously entered and exited the imperial study to discuss the war. 

　　The lights burned brightly until dawn. 

　　For several days, Yun Ling woke up to find the bed beside her cold. But whenever he had time, no matter how late, he would return to be with her.　　　　

　　Such moments were always fleeting. The troops were assembled, and General Shen led the main force ahead. 

　　The next morning, he rose before dawn. Yun Ling hadn't slept soundly the previous night, and she woke when he moved. 

　　He leaned down and kissed her cheek, then gently kissed her belly. “Ah Ling, I have to go.” 

　　“I promise you, I will be back before you give birth.” 

　　Yun Ling wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded haphazardly. “Though I can't share your burdens on the battlefield, the Shadow Guard and my brother are stationed in the Capital. Everything will be fine. The baby is very well-behaved. Don't worry about me while you're at war.” 

　　The battlefield was dangerous; he couldn't afford distractions.　　　

　　Xie Jue gazed at her one last time, his eyes lingering with reluctance. From outside the hall, Grand Eunuch An's voice echoed, “Your Highness, it's getting late. Lord Chen sent word that the army is waiting outside the City. Please, Your Highness, put on your armor!”

　　Xie Jue closed his eyes, leaned down, and kissed her forehead deeply. Then he got up and left.

　　……　　　　

　　Yun Ling stood on the city wall, watching the army flags flutter below, the assembled troops a powerful and majestic force, their voices thundering. 

　　The sky was dark and stormy. 

　　The army marched off. Yun Ling watched his figure gradually disappear into the distance, as if she could smell the coming bloodshed. 

　　All she could do was wait in the Palace for his victorious return.

　　——　　　　

　　The speed of the Great Jin army's arrival took Su Le completely by surprise. 

　　Only recently had he issued a proclamation in the name of the Prince Ping's son, denouncing Xie Jue's illegitimate claim to the throne and declaring his intention to attack Yunze. A few days later, he received intelligence that the Crown Prince of Great Jin had personally led a large army, and was only a few hundred miles from Yunze. 

　　They were about to reach the border of Yunze. 

　　Su Le had been completely caught off guard. According to his calculations, even if Xie Jue decided to attack Che Luo, it would take at least a month.　　　　

　　At this point, Su Le still hadn't fully gathered his supplies. But this wasn't enough to throw him off balance. 

　　What truly alarmed him was that the witches he had killed, the ones who had issued warnings, were still alive. In just a few days, they had overturned the so-called ‘divine warning’ and directly pointed out Che Lou's ambition. 

　　The Lin family, one of the four ancient families of Yunze, was the first to donate half their wealth to the Crown Prince, setting an example and stabilizing the hearts of the people of Yunze. 

　　Everyone in Yunze knew that the lineage of witches originated from the Lin family. 

　　Su Le wasn't a fool. By now, he realized that what he thought was a flawless plan had been seen through by Xie Jue from the start. Xie Jue had led him step by step to this point—it was a trap.

　　Che Luo, harboring great ambitions, had long chafed under its status as a vassal state of Great Jin, but had been biding its time, concealing its intentions. Xie Jue had long planned to attack, and he had waited until now because…　　　　

　　To have a justifiable reason for war. 

　　Understanding this, Su Le's heart sank. It was a terrifyingly clever strategy. 

　　As the saying goes, “To win the hearts and minds is superior to conquering cities.” 

　　To lose confidence before the battle even began was not a good sign. 

　　Su Le strictly forbade any discussion of this matter within the army. Even without the Yunze incident, with his years of planning, he might not necessarily lose in a direct confrontation.

　　——

　　Che Luo had assembled an army of a hundred thousand, stationed outside the Yanlan Pass. 

　　The two armies were on the brink of battle, ready to clash. 

　　At the front lines, Su Le rallied his troops, proclaiming, “Our Che Luo warriors can take on ten foes each! This battle will ensure that you, who act without justice, will have no way back!” 

　　“When we capture Yunze, our Che Luo men will drink to their heart's content and enjoy the company of beautiful women!” 

　　The Che Luo army responded with a thunderous cheer. 

　　Xie Jue smirked slightly, his thin lips curling into a mocking smile. “A mere illegitimate son of a peasant, devoid of wit and strategy, dares to lead troops?”　　　

　　“¹Defeat! (败矣!)” 

　　Xie Jue drew his bow, the arrow flying with deadly accuracy towards Su Le's forehead. 

　　Su Le, unprepared for such precision amidst the chaos of battle, barely managed to dodge the arrow, his movements clumsy and panicked. 

　　With that single arrow, Xie Jue demonstrated his skill to both armies. 

　　The Jin army's morale soared. 

　　After a fierce battle, the Che Luo army retreated ten miles. 

　　Su Le, having lost the initiative, was severely rebuked by the Che Luo Crown Prince, Bā Liè, whose words were like daggers to the heart, emphasizing Su Le's lowly origins as the son of a peasant woman.　　　

　　Su Le, eager for revenge, dispatched a crack team of elite soldiers to launch a night attack. Xie Jue had set ambushes on both sides outside the city. When the city walls were breached, boiling oil and rocks were unleashed, and General Shen, leading his troops, launched a pincer movement from both flanks, engaging the Che Luo forces in fierce combat. The Che Luo army suffered heavy casualties and retreated in disarray. 

　　Su Le's plan again failed, and he returned in defeat. 

　　A month later, Che Luo received reinforcements of fifty thousand troops, their approach menacing. The Jin army, initially on a roll and having conquered a city on the Che Luo border, was advised by General Shen to temporarily halt their advance, retreat back to Yunze, and reassess the situation. 

　　The sudden arrival of fifty thousand Che Luo reinforcements was unexpected by Xie Jue. 

　　With a numerical disadvantage, caution was paramount.　　　　

　　The court could send reinforcements, but not quickly enough to prevent them from falling behind. 

　　General Shen paced back and forth in the military tent. “Right now, Che Lou's army outnumbers ours, and their morale is high. If we continue this stalemate, the harsh weather will work against us.” 

　　“A direct confrontation isn't the best strategy. We need to come up with a plan quickly.” 

　　Xie Jue studied the military map, lost in thought for a long time, before finally saying softly, “In that case, let's cut off their supplies.” 

　　General Shen asked, “How?” 

　　Xie Jue explained, “Che Luo's sudden increase of fifty thousand troops has boosted their morale. Bā Liè is ambitious, arrogant, and careless. He'll be eager to counterattack. But Che Luo's preparations were hasty, and their supplies are already insufficient. They'll want to capture the city quickly to secure their supplies.”　　

　　“I will lead a small force in a feigned attack to lure Bā Liè into action. General Shen,” 

　　Xie Jue's long, slender fingers pointed to a spot on the map, “will lead another force to burn their supplies.” 

　　General Shen clapped his hands repeatedly. “Excellent! Excellent!” 

　　To make Bā Liè believe the attack was real, Xie Jue himself had to lead the charge. Xie Jue, therefore, would lead from the front. 

　　That night, Xie Jue led ten thousand elite soldiers out of the city to launch a surprise attack on the Che Luo camp. 

　　Bā Liè, enraged, immediately ordered a counterattack to pursue and capture Xie Jue. Su Le sensed a trap, but his warnings were ignored, and he was forced to follow Bā Liè. Bā Liè pressed the attack, driving Xie Jue back into a narrow, mountainous forest—a defensible position. 

　　An arrow grazed Xie Jue's arm, drawing blood.　　　　

　　The officers around him cried out, “Your Highness!” 

　　Bā Liè, confident and triumphant, laughed. “Today, I will kill you here. Watch—” 

　　Suddenly, a soldier, his eyes wide with fear, pointed towards the camp. “No good! No good, Crown Prince! The camp is on fire!” 

　　Bā Liè turned to see a raging inferno engulfing the camp in the darkness, staining the night sky crimson. His eyes widened in disbelief—that was where the supplies were stored! 

　　At that moment, a rain of arrows, unleashed by archers hidden in the forest, rained down. Bā Liè was struck in the lower abdomen, spitting blood, and retreated in disarray. 

　　With Che Lou's supplies decimated, and before Bā Liè could recover, Xie Jue seized the opportunity, leading a renewed assault and capturing Che Luo city! 

　　Victory followed victory, and the battle was almost won. 

　　More than four months had passed since the war with Che Luo began.　　　　

　　The night was dark as ink. 

　　A biting cold wind whipped across Xie Jue's face, bringing a stark clarity. 

　　The battlefield was a scene of carnage—thousands of soldiers locked in brutal combat, blood flowing like rivers, corpses strewn across the ground. 

　　Even now, the heat of battle still surged within him. 

　　A military doctor approached with a medical kit, saying respectfully, “Your Highness, your arm wound has reopened. May I bandage it for you?” 

　　Xie Jue glanced at the wound on his arm—not deep, but significant— and said, “No need. Leave.” 

　　The pain was a stark reminder of reality. 

　　“Yes.”

　　After the doctor left, Xie Jue slowly closed his eyes. 

　　She's seven months pregnant now. Her belly must be quite large. He wonders how she's doing in the palace, if she's comfortable, if she's suffering. 

　　He must return before she gives birth.

________________

Glossary:

¹The translation of ‘败矣!’ is ‘Defeated!’ 

Here's why:

- 败 (bài) means ‘to be defeated’ or ‘defeat.’

- 矣 (yǐ) is a particle used to express a completed action or a definite statement. It adds a sense of finality. 

Therefore, ‘败矣!’ expresses a definitive statement of defeat.

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