Not Your Typical Villianess

The Emperor's war room.

"I am willing to protect the north," Lu Yaozhu said from his position behind the minister of Wars, minister Tian. Everyone turned to him, they wide.

"That is a death sentence!" The Crown prince said looking at Lu Yaozhu with narrowed eyes. The Emperor called in all the adult princes to seat in the meeting, even if both the fifth and sixth prince initially intended to just dribble his thumb throughout the meeting. 

The Crown Prince followed every intelligence that had come in. He understand what was at stake but even though he did, he didn't support sending one of their best generals on a suicide mission. He opened his mouth to say more but Lu Yaozhu beat him to it.

"Your highness, my main duty is to protect the people and last I checked the people in the north are also our citizens. We can't write them off because it seemed risky if the enemy takes the north. We can just consider the war ended. That is where a majority of the military weapons are made, letting them take the north is like supplying them without treasures".

His argument was reasonable, there was nothing Zhongshan Ling could say to challenge him. He could only shut his mouth and walk forward, stopping a few steps away from his father. "If General Lu heads north, we will be short of a general to guard in the west border. I would like to be permitted to lead the soldiers north and_"

"No!" Emperor Zhong shouted before he could finish his statement. "You are the Crown Prince of Northern Wei, the next Emperor! You should remain in the capital."

"Imperial father is right, I should remain at the capital and I would if this was not an emergency. We cannot allow the enemy to breach our borders, if General Lu goes north, we will be short on a general. For that, we need someone with military training and with no available general in the capital right now. I am the only one who can do that"

"No, you are not!" Emperor Zhong walked closer to him and held up the crown Prince's Chin, "there is Duke Wu and unlike you, he has a little experience something you, my dear son lacks" he dropped Zhongshan Ling's chin. "Leave the protection for people who know what they are doing. Just focus on being a good helper".

Zhongshan Ling suddenly felt like burrowing the ground and burying himself underground in embarrassment. He had hoped to finally get acknowledged by his father but his father refused to budge and just destroyed his confidence. Lu Yingjie noticed the change in the Crown Prince's mood, he understood that the crown prince wanted to contribute. 

However, like the Emperor, he also thinks that it was safest for the crown Prince to stay back in the capital. If the crown Prince had asked for his opinion, he would have advised the Crown Prince to stay back at the capital. This battle was bound to be difficult, it is not the best battle for the Crown Prince to try to get experience.

All eyes would be on him and if he didn't come back successful or worse injured, public opinion with turn against him. Lu Yingjie didn't know who gave him such bad advice but whoever that was does not have his best interest at heart. While he understood where the Emperor's rejection came from. He still found the Emperor's tone a little too harsh.

Lu Yingjie wasn't the only one with thoughts regarding the exchange between father and son. Everyone has their thoughts but pretended to be invincible. However unlike the rest of the occupants of the room who felt sympathetic to the crown prince. The sixth prince was far from sympathetic, of anything he was enjoying the crown Prince's embarrassment.

He suddenly felt that even though there was a little inch in his plan to get rid of the crown Prince, seeing the Crown Prince treated like a stubborn child made the loss worth it. He rubbed below his lips to hide his smile while thinking, 'those advisers of Zhongshan Ling needed a little bonus. They pulled it up a lot better than had expected'.

The Sixth Prince caught the eyes of the maritime official and nodded. The maritime official a plump man can forward, "Your majesty, why don't you station his highness at the seaport close to the capital. Although we could consider the land borders all covered, it is not wise to leave the seaport unprotected. In case of a sudden attack".

The seaport was only a day's trip from. The capital, which to Emperor Zhong was a preferable distance compared to the western border that was over four days away. He glanced at the Crown Prince and nodded, "get ready to lead a team down there".

"Yes, father"

At the end of the nearly 12 hours meeting, it was already mid-morning. The Emperor had issues over ten military edicts and tallies to the Generals. Among them was Lu Yaozhu and Lu Yingjie, the two brothers rode straight to the military Garrison located by the entrance of the capital to round up their team. 

Military Recruitment notices were already being written and would be announced before the end of the day. That day while everyone went back home grim-faced, the Sixth prince arrived at his mansion in good spirits. Not even the steward's report of Zhu Feifei attempting to harm herself while he was away ruined his mood. 

This wasn't her first attempt, she had tried to take her online non-stop since she had been confined to her rooms. Not that he would let her, he didn't like this wife of his and fully intended to let her suffer. To him, she did not deserve even an easy ending. Her death would be painful and preferably after he took over the throne. 

He went straight to her courtyard, which was lined with his guards, as expected it was very quiet that even a sound of a pin drop would be heard. The men bowed in greeting as he walked to the door, opening the door and stepping aside to let him in. He was greeted by the metallic smell of blood as he walked in, he glanced to the bed and saw his principal wive tied up to a pole. A bandage wrapped around her wrist, the three muscular female maids standing guard bowed as he walked closer.

He glanced at the fresh bandage on her wrist, "how did she get to a knife?" He walked to her and raised her chin.