Chapter 231
One younger, hot-headed commander could not prevent himself from asking, "And what if we are provoked first by their scouts, Your Majesty?"
Cassian answered with icy calm. "Defend yourselves with full force. But do not pursue them past the boundary line."
The young commander bowed immediately. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Just as the meeting was wrapping up...
A high-ranking palace guard entered the hall, bowing swiftly. "Your Majesty."
Cassian turned his sharp gaze toward the door. "What is it?"
"Head Gardener Edwin has formally requested immediate permission to replace several uneven, damaged stone paving slabs in the eastern courtyard walk," the guard reported.
General Darius blinked in sheer bewilderment, staring at the guard. "...He is interrupting a top-level military war council for garden paving stones? Now?"
The guard nodded awkwardly, lowering his head. "The gardeners are deeply worried that Lady Lin might trip while taking her morning walk."
The grand council hall became strangely, profoundly quiet.
Cassian answered without a single second of hesitation or annoyance. "Approve the request immediately."
"Ensure they use the highest quality craftsmen in the Citadel," Cassian added smoothly. "And order them to finish every single repair before sunset today."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the guard bowed deeply and exited the hall.
After the heavy double doors closed shut...
General Rowan looked at Cassian with a soft, knowing expression. "You have truly thought about every single detail regarding her safety."
Cassian looked back at his general, replying simply, "She nearly collapsed from physical exhaustion yesterday. I will not tolerate any carelessness from the staff."
The weathered old general nodded slowly. "I understand completely, sire."
Cassian dismissed the formal council meeting soon afterward.
As he walked down the wide stone corridors toward his private study, Captain Ronan caught up to his side, adjusting his pace to match the Sovereign’s stride.
"Your Majesty," Ronan greeted.
Cassian slowed his steps slightly. "Report."
"Lady Lin is currently walking in the eastern garden," Ronan reported softly. "She appears to be enjoying the morning air immensely."
Cassian asked in a quiet, low tone, "Were there any problems or complications?"
"None at all, sire."
"She spent a considerable amount of time speaking pleasantly with Head Gardener Edwin beside the winter trees."
Cassian’s dark eyebrows lifted slightly. "Edwin?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ronan confirmed. "The old gardener."
Cassian gave a small, subtle nod of his head. "That old man always did enjoy talking far too much."
Captain Ronan smiled faintly. "He seemed extraordinarily happy to speak with her."
Cassian paused beside a grand arched window overlooking the vast courtyard far below.
From where he stood high up in the corridor...
He could just barely see Lin Wan’s slender figure draped in white, standing beneath the delicate, blooming winter trees.
She was laughing brightly as young Mira pointed excitedly at something blooming among the snow-covered rocks.
For several long, completely quiet moments...
Cassian simply stood by the glass, watching her bright, genuine smile from afar.
Then, without making a sound, he turned his body away from the window. "Do not disturb her rest."
Captain Ronan bowed deeply. "As you command, Your Majesty."
Far down below in the quiet garden...
Lin Wan gently rested one hand over her swollen stomach once again.
Inside her, the three unborn babies gave another simultaneous, tiny kick.
She smiled brightly, her dark eyes filled with pure love. "It looks like all three of you like these beautiful winter flowers too."
None of them noticed the single pair of striking golden eyes that had quietly lingered on her from the high tower window just moments before.
The Silver Leopard camp was already bustling with activity long before the first golden rays of sunrise broke over the mountain ridges.
Thick streams of pale smoke rose into the crisp morning air from hundreds of crackling campfires as breakfast was carefully prepared for thousands of hungry soldiers.
Across the sprawling tent city, battle-hardened warriors sharpened their steel blades with rhythmic scraping sounds, fed their patient mounts, and thoroughly inspected their heavy leather armor.
Yet, unlike the frantic days that had preceded the great parley, there was no sharp rush or sudden urgency hanging over the encampment today.
The official order issued by the Patriarch to strictly hold their defensive positions still stood firm.
Not a single soldier dared to question the command openly.
Even so, quiet, anxious whispers traveled from tent to tent as the men gathered near the fires.
"When will our lines finally move?"
"Are we truly just going to sit here in the snow and wait?"
"How much longer must we remain idle while our enemy sits safe behind stone walls?"
Near the very center of the grand camp, Patriarch Wang stood before a large, carved wooden table completely covered with detailed strategic maps of the northern valley.
Wei Xiang pushed aside the heavy fabric of the tent flap, walking inside while carefully holding two steaming cups of hot tea in his hands.
"You skipped your morning meal again," Wei Xiang noted softly.
Wang did not even look up from the parchment maps. "I am not hungry, Wei Xiang."
Wei Xiang set one of the steaming cups down right beside his leader’s resting hand. "You have said that exact same sentence three mornings in a row now."
"I will eat something later," Wang replied calmly, his eyes tracing the boundary lines drawn in dark ink.
Wei Xiang folded his broad arms across his chest, shaking his head. "You always say you will eat later. And then later slowly turns into midnight."
Wang finally lifted his golden gaze, a helpless, warm smile appearing on his face. "You are beginning to sound remarkably like Lin Wan."
Wei Xiang offered a faint smile of his own. "I will gladly take that comparison as a compliment."
Wang picked up the cup of tea, letting the warm steam rise against his cheek. "It was meant as one."
Just then, the heavy tent flap was pushed open once more.
Captain Bren entered the space first, followed closely by Elder Marcus and a tall, middle-aged man wearing heavy, polished silver armor that clanked softly with every step.
Wei Xiang immediately straightened his posture, greeting the newcomer respectfully. "General Orion."
The tall officer returned the greeting with a firm, respectful nod of his head. "Young Master."
General Orion had loyally served the Silver Leopard Clan for many long decades, standing alongside previous generations of leaders.
A long, faint scar crossed the left side of his weathered face, giving him an intimidating look at first glance.
However, every single warrior in the clan knew that beneath his stern exterior, Orion was a remarkably patient, steady, and fair man.
He bowed his head deeply to Wang.
"Patriarch."
"The senior field commanders have all assembled as requested," Orion reported.
Wang gave a single nod. "Let us begin."
Everyone gathered closely around the wide wooden table.
General Orion spoke up first, pointing a broad finger toward the logistical ledgers. "Our current food supplies remain more than sufficient to sustain the entire army for another full month without issue. The winter grain stores brought from the southern territory remain completely stable."
Captain Bren chimed in next, delivering his scouting report. "The western patrol unit reported absolutely no unusual troop movements along the mountain ridge."
"And what of our eastern scouts?" Wang asked softly.
Elder Marcus stepped forward to answer. "They are still keeping a constant watch over the main gates of the Citadel. There has been no suspicious troop movement from inside. No hidden reinforcements have been spotted along the high valley roads."
Wei Xiang looked toward Wang, his tone thoughtful. "It seems Cassian fully intends to keep his word regarding the ceasefire."
Wang gave a slow nod of agreement. "So far, he has."
General Orion rested both of his broad, calloused hands on the edges of the table, his expression turning serious. "Patriarch... there is another pressing matter we must address."
"Speak freely, Orion," Wang invited.
"The younger officers and lower captains are becoming increasingly restless," Orion explained honestly. "They do not fully understand why we have suddenly halted our advance after marching all this way. Many of them strongly believe that this standstill is our absolute best opportunity to launch a surprise attack."
A heavy silence filled the spacious command tent.
Wei Xiang was not at all surprised to hear the general’s report. The army had marched across half of the Upper Realm through brutal winter storms to reach this valley.
Thousands of eager warriors had fully expected to engage in a decisive, bloody battle to free their Patriarch’s mate. Sitting quietly in the snow tested their discipline far more than a direct charge ever would.
Wang remained completely calm, his golden eyes steady. "What do you think of their restless mood, Orion?"
General Orion answered with complete, unvarnished honesty. "I think that regular soldiers become deeply dangerous to themselves and their allies when they do not truly understand the deeper purpose behind their orders."
Captain Bren nodded his head in agreement. "I share the general’s concern, Patriarch. The men will obey your commands out of loyalty, but they are beginning to quietly question the strategy among themselves."