Before the emperor knew it, three weeks had passed. Through the days, he would request reports on Rin's progress. When he wasn't attending court matters, he would personally go and inspect the training grounds.
One evening, he came to barracks. Everything was silent, empty. Not a single person was seen in sight, causing the emperor to frown. However, the moment he entered the training grounds, his eyes widened.
Lines upon lines of soldiers, long wooden staffs gripped in hands, engaged in a mock battle in uniformed unison. On the other side were archers, consistently shooting arrow after arrow at a target of trees.
There were a thousand new recruits training under the melting sun with not a single whisper of complaint. This was a rare sight to see.
The emperor glanced over to see a rather short figure observing the troops with roving eyes as they intently watched the recruits' every movement. The young man would look up then lower his head to record something in his notebook.
This had only been three weeks into the training. In only a short amount of time was the northern strategist able to show his abilities.
More often did the emperor quickly finish his work before going to the training grounds to see Rin's improvement. Each time, a lingering of hope would fill his heart.
On the first day of the fourth week, the emperor would visit again.
"Come on! Faster! Move!"
Rin shouted at the troops running across the field. Every day, the recruits ran thirty miles around the field by noon.
"For someone so young, he's quite impressive isn't he?" General Donghai watched alongside the emperor.
"Yes..." The emperor nodded. "But he's still someone from the north. All his efforts have shown he's capable. But not trustworthy. However..."
The emperor's eyes followed Rin's movements with a profound gaze.
"I can't help but be hopeful."
General Donghai glanced at him before looking back at the young strategist on the training grounds. When the troops finished their laps around the field, they all lined up in a row, waiting for their following commands.
"Well done. Now that you've completed your warmups, you may all go to eat your meals for today. When you finish, return here and commence your training."
"Yes, sir!"
Holding back a smile, Rin turned to greet the pair of eyes observing her from a distance. From the beginning, she sensed the emperor's stare on her. Not just today but for the last few weeks now. Every few days, he would come and watch her train the recruits. After they finished, he would leave without saying a word.
Except for today that is.
"Come to my study for a drink."
A little surprised by his offer, Rin just smiled and nodded her head to the emperor's request. Inside his study, Rin stood with her hands behind her back while she watched the emperor pour a glass of red wine into a cup.
"Please, have a seat." He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk before turning to a table of liquors. "I have to say, I'm impressed by your abilities. From what I've heard so far, the new recruits are doing exceptionally well."
"I'm honored my techniques impress you, your Majesty," Rin replied as she took her seat.
The emperor chuckled dryly. "May I ask who taught you?"
His words were as sharp as his eyes that looked upon her. Rin accepted the cup of wine passed to her and looked up to stare into his piercing gaze.
"I was trained by my grandfather," Rin said in a regular tone.
"Oh? Who is he?"
The beautiful eyes of the youth met his own, and a sweet smile appeared on Rin's face, revealing her intoxicating dimples.
"Your Majesty would not know him."
The emperor didn't buy it.
"You dare lie?" He rumbled, and his deep voice was dark, almost harsh.
There was still that perpetual smile on Rin's face as her glazed eyes stared at him for a moment, "If that's what your Majesty believes."
When the emperor heard this sentence, he couldn't help but furrow his brows, his face revealing he was in a bad mood. Despite the man's powerful, cold glare, her demeanor was calm. Inwardly, however, Rin's heart was beating fast.
The main goal was gaining authority in the western palace, all without involving the Bai family. Even if hiding her origins heightened the emperor's suspicion, she wasn't willing to risk the safety of her family.
Rather than growing angry, the emperor distastefully swept his eyes over her face, then pursed his lips. Rin could feel his eyes gazing at her intensely as if he were trying hard to find someone else within her.
"Your eyes...Does everyone else in your family possess that color?" The emperor's tone suddenly became solemn.
This question caught Rin off guard. She blinked her eyes rapidly before shaking her head.
"No. It's just me, your Majesty."
"Why is that?"
Looking down at her lap, Rin touched the rim of her cup with an unclear smile.
"Unfortunately, they're no longer among the living."
The study fell quiet. The emperor stared at her strangely. He suddenly thought of something, and the blackness of his eyes slowly withdrew, returning to their usual appearance. He didn't say anything, he just gazed at Rin's quiet expression, with no other thought in his mind.
Just at this time, there came a panicked voice from outside the study.
"Your Majesty! A message has just arrived from the western provinces. It's urgent!"
The air within the study shifted as the emperor set down his cup.
"You, come with me." He glanced at Rin coldly before walking out of the room.
Rin blinked before standing up from her seat and followed behind him. A strange feeling arose in her heart.
...
"What?"
Inside the imperial office, the emperor, General Donghai, and other officials gathered around the room. After hearing the scouts report, the room fell into a deadly silence.
The emperor looked at the report with eyes trembling from rage.
"Explain!"
The scout tensed but still replied, "Two of the western provinces have been overrun by an unknown group of men. The governor and cities were all burned down...there were no survivors."
Following the soldier's words, the entire room fell silent – everyone's complexion whitened, their eyes widening.
The emperor knitted his brows even more fiercely. His tone couldn't help but become a bit harsher, "Who are these men? Bandits?"
"It's unclear, your Majesty."
Everyone, the soldiers, generals, and commanders within the room fell into a cold silence. The empire was already having a dispute with the Eastern Empire, and now they were confronted by an unknown enemy. A strong one at that. Standing on the side, Rin's eyebrows furrowed. She looked down at the report and quietly thought to herself.
The emperor leaned back in his chair with a ghostly expression. Bearing his head in his hand, he looked up tiredly.
"How many reinforcements do they need? And how quickly?"
The scout stared at the report and wearily looked back at the emperor.
"Both provinces requested two hundred fifty thousand soldiers. It seems the enemy is moving fast, thus, they asked for them to arrive within three days."
Even though they had more than enough soldiers to offer, supplies were their biggest issues. Already, they used an adequate amount to defend against the Eastern Empire. Five hundred thousand soldiers to travel within three days...The number of supplies would not be enough, not to mention the additional soldiers in the provinces.
All the men went quiet upon analyzing the situation – their anxious faces turning grimmer by the second. When the emperor's sight fell upon the figure standing on the side, his eyes lit up.
"Strategist...what do you think?"
His question shocked many within the room.
"Your Majesty?" One of the generals looked at him with bewilderment.
The general had overheard of the emperor and northern strategist's arrangement. Every so often, he would hear his own soldiers talk about the young strategist's training methods. The boy was rather good from what he heard. But frankly, the general didn't believe a young boy was capable of such skill. It took years to gather knowledge and experience.
"Your Majesty, I don't—" The general had been about to speak when the emperor held up his hand to silence him. He felt the emperor's eyes coldly glance at him, forcing him to shut his mouth.
"Well? Do you have anything?" The emperor looked back at Rin.
When she heard the emperor's voice, Rin lifted her head slightly, revealing a subtle and bright smile. It made her face all the more enchanting.
"From what we've been informed, the enemy is not weak in numbers or strength. As of now, they've seized two provinces, meaning they have more supplies and bases." Rin explained. "We should proceed to send reinforcements to the provinces but also dispatch troops to the ones overrun."
"You...You want us to send troops to the provinces they already destroyed? What good will that do?" The general couldn't help but ask.
The dimples on Rin's cheeks gradually deepened, but there was not even half a smile at the bottom of her eyes.
"Of course, I mean taking down their headquarters. When their headquarters are down, the others will be forced to return to protect their supplies. That is after we gather enough information on them to issue an attack."
"How will you do that? With what men?" Hearing the emperor's voice, Rin shifted her gaze.
"Naturally, we'll use the new recruits I trained."
"You're confident in them?"
"I'm confident in my teachings," Rin replied with a calm grin.
The moment Rin finished speaking, something within the emperor's eyes sparked. There was silence as two pairs of eyes stared at one another, fixed in their own thoughts. When it was clear he couldn't interpret Rin's expression, the emperor let out a small sigh.
"In that case, we'll do as you say."
"Your Majesty, you can't—" The general from before began in a quick, urgent voice, but a raised hand cut him off, and the emperor's deadly eyes froze him into silence.
"We will carry out the province's requests for reinforcements and mobilize the new recruits to attack the enemy's headquarters."
"But—" The general began once more, then closed his mouth with a click at the emperor's glower.
When everyone was dismissed, the emperor stood beside Rin and said in a low voice only the two of them could hear: "Don't disappoint me."
Glancing at the emperor who stared at her with cold, distrusting eyes, Rin just smiled.
"Don't worry, your Majesty. I won't."