Chapter 24: Right and Wrong

After not getting any sleep for many days, the Anxi Protectorate cleaned up the room for Qiandeng, and she fell asleep as soon as she touched the pillow.

It’s just that my thoughts are too tense and confused, and my dreams are still complicated and uneasy.

Even with her eyes closed, the three blood-stained holy vessels were always superimposed in front of her eyes. They emitted a dazzling but strange light in the firelight, which made her eyes hurt as if she was looking directly into the sunlight, and she shed tears in her dreams.

She dreamed that her grandfather, grandmother, father and mother were riding horses with her on the lush land of Kucha. The family was chatting and laughing like when she was young. Then, her horse became slower and slower, and no matter how she urged it, it still could not catch up with her relatives.

In the end, she could only watch in confusion and sadness as they moved further and further away from her, rushed into the dense forest, and disappeared into the snow-capped mountains.

She heard familiar gentle words, whispering in her ears: "Don't worry, County Master. I will walk with you, conspire with you, and return with you..."

She turned around and saw Cui Fufeng's usual gentle and concerned eyes. She suppressed the panic and anxiety in her heart, but was overwhelmed by unspeakable guilt.

A pair of strong arms behind her held her in his embrace, and his scorching lips were hotter than the sunlight in Kucha, making her dizzy and suffocated, but she couldn't help but tremble. She hugged him tightly, like a drowning person hugging a piece of driftwood that he had lost and found.

"Ling Tianshui... Li Yingshang, no matter who you are, please... don't abandon me like they did..."

When I woke up, it was almost dusk and the weather was still hot.

She raised her hands in a daze, covering her eyes that were about to open.

"County Lady, you're finally awake!" Daimao had been waiting by her bedside. Seeing her awake, she quickly got up to fetch some water and wipe away her tears and sweat. She explained how she had been placed here since she and Qiandeng had escaped the palace and been separated. She had been worried about the County Lady's situation, but now that she knew she was safe, she was relieved.

Listening to her chatter, Qian Deng responded casually and felt that the pressure in his heart seemed to be relieved a little.

Just as he was getting up, he heard a sudden noise outside. Someone strode into the courtyard and knocked on the door. "Xianzhu! Xianzhu, you're back?"

Who else but Mingjiu could shout this name so happily and heartlessly?

Daimao opened the door helplessly, and the next moment Mingjiu rushed in: "Xianzhu, I heard that the Kucha people bullied you! They also said that you are a fool and a fire-fighting person (murderer and arson)..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw Qiandeng's modified appearance and was stunned: "Xianzhu? Who made you like this? Why are you so ugly?"

Everything else he said was a mess, but the word "ugly" was pronounced clearly.

Qian Deng was helpless and motioned Daimao to leave first, closing the door behind him. "I'm in Kucha right now and it's not convenient for me to show my true face to others. Please don't spread the news casually."

"Then you should give Kucha women some dignity. How did it become like this?"

"I think this is good, it makes things easier."

Mingjiu grumbled in dissatisfaction, raising her hand to pull her hair for confirmation. "I told you you should have listened to me earlier, didn't you? If you went to Huihe to be a princess, would Qiuci still dare to bully you?"

Qiandeng opened his hand and said, "It's impossible for me to go to Huihe. I am only focused on solving the problems in Kucha now. I don't have time to care about other things."

"They treat you like this, and you still want to care about them?" Screech Eagle sneered, then sat down in front of her and said, "Actually, I have a good suggestion. If you just agree, you will be the queen of the northwest!"

Qiandeng felt helpless and absurd.

In such a short period of time, she had two opportunities to become queen, and the people who proposed them seemed to be able to help her do it.

"What does Queen of the Northwest mean?"

"The King of Kucha and his family have wronged you anyway, so why don't you be wronged too? I, the Huihe, will send troops to help you fight him. From now on, you, Kongzi, will control Kucha, and I, Kongzi, will control Huihe. Then we can get married. Wouldn't the northwest be completely under our control?"

Qian Deng was not only too lazy to discuss Ming Jiu's absurd idea with him, he even drove him out.

But he was confident and tried to persuade her through the closed door: "Xianzhu, don't be silly. You will definitely be able to live a glorious life with me. What's wrong with that?"

After a long time, there was no response from Qian Deng.

He pressed against the door unwillingly, hoping to hear her movements, but Cui Fufeng's voice came from behind him: "Prince Mingjiu, it seems the county lady has no interest in this. You don't need to waste your breath."

Ming Jiu glared at him, trying to find an expression of gloating on his face so that he could take the opportunity to have a quarrel and vent his anger.

Unfortunately, Cui Fufeng had a cheerful appearance, and his aloof demeanor looked even more outstanding and otherworldly under the scorching sun of Kucha, which made it impossible for him to vent his anger.

Although he considered himself to be an extraordinary fighter, and Cui Fufeng seemed to be recovering from his injuries every day and was frail in his opinion, he somehow felt that this man was not someone he could easily mess with.

Looking at the still silent room, he could only leave in disappointment, too lazy to argue with Cui Fufeng - after all, he had no confidence of winning in this regard.

After he left, Daimao quickly opened the door and invited Cui Fufeng in.

"Did the county lady rest well?" Cui Fufeng asked, handing her a few files. "In the rush, I only found a few minor developments. I'll send them here to discuss with the county lady first."

Hawksbill Turtle cleverly served the meal and left, closing the door for them and guarding outside to prevent the eagle from coming back.

Qiandeng took the file and looked up to see Cui Fufeng's concerned gaze, just like in his dream. Suddenly, he felt a deep sense of guilt and self-blame in his heart.

After she expelled Ling Tianshui, she was most confused and helpless, and she relied on Cui Fufeng to support her.

As the most outstanding son of the Boling Cui family, the head of the clan, she could imagine the hardships and efforts behind his having his name on the list of candidates for her fiancé.

But now that Li Yingshang has returned, she has fallen into confusion and almost forgotten everything Cui Fufeng has done for her. Isn't this tantamount to being ungrateful?

Because of the guilt in her heart, Qiandeng didn't dare to look at him. She just lowered her head and drank the yogurt while taking the file to look through it.

Cui Fufeng always took her words to heart and acted quickly. The first thing he did was to investigate Xue Xiyang's whereabouts.

"Xue Xiyang is proficient in ten musical styles, including songs and dances from the Western Regions. I went to the Kucha customs office and checked the customs documents from ten to seven years ago. He did indeed visit Kucha in his youth and also spent time in the northwest." Cui Fufeng explained the basic situation to Qiandeng and showed her the details. "According to him, he learned the pipa and xiao in Kucha, the vertical konghou in Shule, and the Huxuan dance in Kangguo, etc. ... As a result, he became a huge star at various banquets after arriving in Beijing, and was widely sought after by the kings. With their recommendation, he won the imperial examination."

Qian Deng looked at it carefully and said, "Could it be that he only learned music and dance in the northwest, and there is no sign of him being involved in the disputes between the countries in the Western Regions?"

"Yes, he only studied the music and dance of various countries, mingling with all kinds of people, and never interacted with any prominent people. He was from Pei County, not as prominent as the Xue family of Hedong, so his family often sought to be famous and knowledgeable. Those who indulged in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, like him, were considered absurd and unfilial descendants. Therefore, he never returned to his hometown after entering the capital. Perhaps he was often ostracized by his family, which led to the discord."

"Where are his parents and brothers?"

"His father suffered from diabetes, his hands and feet were ulcerated, and he was blind. His mother died young, and his stepmother came into the family after he went on his travels. It was impossible for her to abandon her husband and biological children and go to Beijing to find this strange eldest son."

Qiandeng nodded slowly and looked at Xue Xiyang's recent whereabouts.

Earlier today, before the tolling of the knell, he was seen near the palace gates.

"Near the palace gate?" Qiandeng asked subconsciously, "Has he been close to the bell tower?"

"Probably not. Actually, the timing of his appearance there was quite fortuitous. The morning market outside the palace was always bustling, and while he was strolling there, he saw someone catching a croaker. He thought it was beautiful enough for a painting, so he bought it and borrowed a basin from a nearby temple to take it away."

I bought a fish and went home to paint it... No matter how I think about it, this action has nothing to do with the automatic ringing of the death knell.

"Did you bring the fish back?"

Cui Fufeng nodded. "When I went to see him just now, he was painting a fish."

Qiandeng carefully recalled the scene when the bell rang. The soldiers guarding the palace gates were immediately stationed at the gate. Although there was a commotion outside, it was broad daylight and the important figures of Kucha and the Tang Dynasty were gathered to discuss important matters. It was impossible for any outsiders to be allowed into the palace.

What's more, Xue Xiyang, holding the fish in his hand, was even more eye-catching. How could he possibly enter the palace gate and go up to the bell tower?

With no clue what to do, she could only put aside Xue Xiyang, who had no suspicion or suspicious behavior, and turn to the next file.

Her expression suddenly grew serious as she read the above. She suddenly raised her head and looked at Cui Fufeng: "Are there any unusual movements by the Western Fan army sixty miles outside the city?"

"This is news from the outposts. General Yuchi has led his troops there to investigate." Cui Fufeng spread out the simple map he had brought and pointed out the specific location. "It seems the county lady's guess is correct. Although we don't know the specific actions of the Western Fan people at this time, they were able to organize a response so quickly after the county lady exposed them as the mastermind behind the attack on the Kucha royal family. I believe they must have accomplices hidden within the Kucha court or palace."

Qian Deng's suspicions were confirmed, and the weight of his heart grew heavier. "Now that the Western Fan have revealed their true intentions, I wonder if Kucha is capable of resisting. And how will the Anxi Protectorate respond?"

"That's all their business. County Lady, it's better for you to wait and see what happens. After all, Qiuci is so suspicious of you. If this action by Xifan can teach them a lesson, perhaps it will even awaken them."

"The misunderstanding and suspicion against me are the work of someone behind the scenes. After all, Kucha is my grandfather's homeland, and I can't just stand by and watch." Qian Deng shook his head. "Besides, the suspicion of my collusion with Xifan has not been cleared due to the disappearance of the three sacred national treasures. Why not take this opportunity to investigate the truth? It will benefit both me and Kucha."

"Then how does the county lord plan to investigate?"

Qian Deng said naturally, "I asked Ji Linyou to gather my father's old subordinates to investigate the situation first."

"I'm afraid that's inappropriate." Cui Fufeng said, "County Lady, don't forget, we used those same people when we entered the palace to pick you up last time."

Although they were all former subordinates of King Changhua, time passed quickly and no one could guarantee what had happened in the past four years.

Qian Deng hesitated for a moment. If her father's and grandfather's old troops were no longer available, what other forces could she rely on? Was she really only able to turn to the imperial army brought by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?

"However, the Tang Dynasty's most elite troops have come all this way to protect the Crown Prince. Do you think the Western Fan would dare to take action and seize Kucha at this time?"

"I don't think their intention is to attack directly, but to bring about a change in Kucha," Cui Fufeng analyzed. "In other words, with the Kucha royal family now nearly wiped out, the time has come for a change of leadership. Regardless of what the crown prince does, whether the imperial army deploys or not, the situation has been stirred up, and Kucha is bound to be in turmoil. It's now in a precarious position."

"So, since the turmoil was caused by me, a county lord from the Tang Dynasty, I must work hard to crush the Xifan conspiracy. I have no choice but to do my best."

Seeing her insistence, Cui Fufeng could only say, "In that case, perhaps we can seek help from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. However, has the County Lady considered the Crown Prince's conditions?"

Qian Deng was silent for a long time before hesitantly saying, "Let me think about it again. Perhaps... there are other ways."

Cui Fufeng was incredibly perceptive and naturally knew what she was planning. However, he hesitated for a moment and didn't try to stop her. He simply said, "If the Beiting army came to Anxi for no apparent reason and clashed with the Xifan people, I'm afraid the court would inevitably become suspicious. However, the county lady has already told the Crown Prince that they happened to help you outside the city. Therefore, if they happened to discover the Xifan while helping the county lady, and pursued them for military merit, that would be perfectly reasonable. I believe the court and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would certainly not hold Beiting accountable."

"Okay, thank you, Shaoqing Cui, for finding a clear path for us." Qian Deng felt a complex mix of emotions, gratitude and guilt, just like the moment in the dream, which was indescribable.