Can you stop being so unreasonable

Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan was thoroughly displeased at being interrupted.

He was just about to lose his temper when Ruan Fei hurriedly said, “Oh, Brother Mengyan, please don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health. You mustn’t let it damage you.”

“Little Fei is the only one who knows how to care about me.”

“I don’t think Shen Moyan said anything wrong…” Ruan Fei changed tack. “At the very least, let him give it a try. If he fails, then so be it—we won’t lose anything. But if he succeeds, we could bring back Lu Chaosheng.”

“Brother Mengyan, didn’t you say before that General Lu Chaosheng is an exceptionally rare talent? As long as Marquis Jingyi Pei Wugou knows how to make good use of him, the Jiangbei fortress complex will definitely hold. If Shen Moyan can truly bring General Lu Chaosheng over, you’ll have far less to worry about.”

“You won’t have to stay up every night making plans, and your hair has already gone gray in several places. Little Fei’s heart aches just seeing it.”

When she said the words “my heart aches,” a few tears welled up in the corners of Ruan Fei’s eyes at exactly the right moment. Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan’s heart immediately melted with sympathy.

His attitude toward Shen Moyan underwent a complete reversal. He said, “Very well. Since Little Fei has put it that way, then…”

“I suppose I can give you a chance.”

“Cross the river.”

“If you can bring Lu Chaosheng back to me, it will count as an unparalleled achievement.”

Shen Moyan was overjoyed and immediately moved to kneel and thank him.

Just then, another voice rang out from beyond the tent.

“No!”

As the word fell, the tent flap was thrown open once more, and a woman entered. She was dressed in luxurious, dignified attire, with a suit of armor specially made for women draped over her.

The woman appeared to be in her forties or fifties, but thanks to her excellent care, she still looked like an incomparable beauty. Combined with her valiant bearing, the long sword at her waist, and her imposing presence, she was so intimidating that no one dared meet her eyes.

Ruan Fei immediately rose from beside Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan and hurriedly stood to one side, bowing respectfully. “Madam!”

The newcomer was none other than Zhou Mengyan’s first wife. The moment she entered, her gaze fell upon Ruan Fei. Her pupils contracted sharply, and anger surfaced on her face, but only for an instant before she forced it down.

Her expression once again became calm and composed as she said, “Grand Commander, Lu Chaosheng pledged himself to Ren Tianye because he had lost faith in the Jiangbei fortress complex and even the entire capital, Yunjing. We are guarding the Yangtze defensive line—why would he be willing to surrender to you again?”

“Besides, even if we wanted to try, we should not entrust such a matter to a scoundrel like Shen Moyan. Sending Shen Moyan there would be deliberately provoking Lu Chaosheng, would it not?”

“So…”

“Your subordinate boldly requests that you rescind the order.”

The Madam clasped her fists and bent forward slightly in the standard salute of a subordinate.

Yet the sharp, commanding aura she gave off was something no ordinary subordinate possessed.

Faced with such an aura, the two naval commanders, Zhao and Qian, hurriedly retreated, not daring to challenge her. But Ruan Fei… spoke up instead.

“Madam, you’re mistaken.”

“Since Lu Chaosheng refuses to surrender anyway, sending someone to try is better than doing nothing.”

“I may not know much about military affairs or how to wage war, but I do know that it’s better to take the initiative than to wait passively.”

“At a time like this, Shen Moyan should be the one to give it a try.”

Upon hearing this, the Madam flew into a rage. “Ruan Fei, you are merely a clerk in the army. We are discussing matters of military strategy. What right do you have to speak?”

“Shut up!”

The thunderous shout reverberated throughout the entire military camp. Ruan Fei immediately pouted, her eyes filling with tears.

Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan grew angry at once. “Madam, what are you doing?”

“Why pick a fight with a mere young girl?”

“Little Fei meant well. She was only trying to help us come up with a plan. Isn’t she doing it to help us hold the Yangtze defensive line?”

“Why must you speak to her so harshly?”

The Madam’s chest heaved violently, but she still did her best to suppress her temper. “Zhou Mengyan, our army has always maintained strict discipline. That was something you and I established together. It is precisely because of our strict discipline that we have come this far.”

“But now…”

“A mere clerk dares to behave outrageously in the army and spout reckless nonsense, disturbing the troops’ morale. What does that have to do with good intentions?”

“And another thing…”

The Madam stared into Zhou Mengyan’s eyes. “You know perfectly well that we should not send anyone to persuade Lu Chaosheng to surrender. Even if we were to attempt it, we should choose a more suitable candidate. It absolutely cannot be Shen Moyan.”

“Otherwise, if disaster follows, neither you nor I will be able to bear the consequences!”

At those words, Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan’s expression changed slightly. Having served as Grand Commander of the Yangtze defensive line’s navy for so many years, he possessed the basic instincts of a battlefield commander.

He knew very well that this matter was indeed ill-advised.

He was just about to speak when Ruan Fei, standing beside him, was already in tears.

“Brother Mengyan, don’t you believe me?”

“Are you afraid that I’ll steal Madam’s credit?”

“Little Fei was raised with the support of you and Madam from the time I was a child. I have always followed your teachings and wanted to help you, but you kept saying that I was too young. Now… now I’ve grown up. I can help you.”

“Brother Mengyan, are you really unwilling to give Little Fei a chance?”

Zhou Mengyan’s blood surged instantly, and his pride swelled. He declared, “We’ll proceed according to Xiaofei’s suggestion.”

“Shen Moyan, go and bring Lu Chaosheng here!”

Shen Moyan had just breathed a sigh of relief and was about to accept the order when the Madam’s furious voice rang out again.

“Zhou Mengyan, have you gone mad?”

“You’re destroying your own defenses!”

Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan’s temper flared as well. He shouted, “Madam, understand this clearly: I am the commander of this army now. What I say is a military order!”

“You are my subordinate. You must obey!”

“I have already settled on this strategy.”

“If you have an objection, keep it to yourself!”

“Enough. It’s getting late. Go back. There’s no need for you to remain here. This army has no use for you.”

His words were utterly heartless. The Madam’s chest heaved even more violently with anger, and sorrow filled her heart.

Back then, Zhou Mengyan had relied on her family’s influence to rise step by step. Yet after serving as Grand Commander of the navy for only a few years, how had he become like this?

Obstinate and self-righteous, disregarding major military affairs for the sake of personal matters—how could a man like that defend against Ren Tianye’s army of wolves and tigers?

Her gaze involuntarily shifted toward Ruan Fei.

It was all because of this woman. She had seemed so pitiful back then that they had softened and supported her all the way to the present. Who could have imagined that they had raised a vixen right under their noses?

The Madam was still grieving when Ruan Fei looked over as well. But unlike her pitiful appearance from moments before, her eyes were now filled with provocation.

Blatant, unrestrained provocation!

The Madam was so furious that she was about to speak, but Ruan Fei beat her to it.

“Oh!”

“What is it?” Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan asked nervously. “Little Fei, what’s wrong?”

“I… I think my skirt is… stained with blood!”

Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan’s expression changed dramatically. He immediately scooped Ruan Fei up in his arms and hurried toward the sleeping quarters.

Naturally, the Madam would not allow it. She stepped in front of him at once and blocked his path.

“Zhou Mengyan, I’m still standing right here! Even if you’re keeping a mistress, shouldn’t you at least have the decency to avoid doing it in front of me?”

Grand Commander Zhou Mengyan was growing increasingly anxious, his temper flaring hotter by the moment. “What nonsense are you talking about? Little Fei and I are completely innocent. Didn’t you see that?”

“She wasn’t feeling well, so I was only taking her home.”

“Can you stop being so unreasonable?”

……