Chapter 59 The Fog: I Don't Want to Settle Things Off with You So Soon
Qingge did not lead the Yongjia City garrison to the Linxia camp, but instead received orders to remain in place. Chen Liangyu arrived at Yongjia City, gave Qingge a few instructions, and then led a troop of personal guards to continue south.
As they approached the Marquis of Luping's residence, fog rolled in, dusk descended, and endless gray smoke and clouds filled the view.
A faint sense of unease flickered in Chen Liangyu's heart.
Or rather, timidity.
According to Chen Luan, after discussing with other officials, Xie Wenjun concluded that Heng Jinan had no chance of sending troops, but Heng Miao, the eldest son of the Heng family, seemed to be interested.
When working in the same area, it's inevitable to interact frequently. By asking around, one can get a clear picture of a person's background.
Marquis Lu Ping, Heng Jinan, came from a military family. His grandfather was a squad leader, and his father was only a centurion. In Heng Jinan's generation, the Rebellion of the Five Kings took place. He was brave and skilled in battle and made many meritorious contributions, which is why he was enfeoffed as a marquis.
Although both the Heng and Chen families in the north and south were marquis families, the mother of the Marquis of Xuanping was the late emperor's legitimate daughter, a true member of the imperial family. The Heng family had no powerful backing, and their family's glory depended entirely on the emperor's favor. Therefore, they were extremely cautious in choosing a new emperor. Last time, they followed the right master and were appointed generals and marquises. This time, if they were not careful, they would end up with their entire family desolate.
Heng Miao, however, did not think so.
The title can only be inherited by one person, and it has become the norm for the eldest son to inherit the title.
He believed that his strategic planning and decisive actions were second to none, and that Heng Zhao, known as the Young Marquis, was merely relying on his birth, and that his true talents were far inferior to his own.
Before Heng Zhao went to Yongdu, he often swaggered around the city dressed in brightly colored clothes. Once, he had just come out of a restaurant with his cronies, his face flushed red from drinking. He was being flattered by people calling him "Young Marquis" when Heng Miao caught him in the act.
Heng Zhao sobered up a bit immediately. "Big brother."
Enraged, Heng Miao shouted in the street, "When Chen Linjun of the Northern Border was your age, he was already a young marshal in the army, yet you still rely on your family's legacy to make a name for yourself. Look at yourself! Young Marquis? You're not worthy of the title! You're a disgrace! Go home!"
Despite his many grievances, he had no choice but to submit to the dictates of fate. No matter how cynical Heng Zhao was, he would eventually become the head of the Heng family, while he, no matter how talented he was, would only ever be a capable subordinate.
Heng Miao was unwilling to be subordinate to others, so he would risk his life and fortune to gamble.
During the conversation, someone mentioned that they had seen Heng Miao near Linxia on their way here. Xie Wenjun sent Chen Luan to look for him, and they actually found him.
They didn't invite the person to the Prince's residence.
Heng Miao's absence indicated a lack of confidence in the future, prompting Chen Luan to volunteer to act as his persuader.
Chen Luan said, "The saying goes, 'No destruction, no construction.' In times of peace, rules are for maintaining order, but in times of turmoil, even established rules can be broken."
As the winds of change shift and the world turns, the disciplined nature of humanity bares its fangs, tearing and scrambling.
It's a matter of life and death.
A world ravaged by war signifies the destruction and shattering of everything, but it also means the rebuilding of order. Some people decline drastically, while others rise rapidly to great heights.
"There is only one title, and the system of primogeniture is not to be abolished, but it is not unprecedented for a family to have two marquises."
The Xuanping Marquis's Mansion is a family with two marquises.
The title of marquis was hereditary, but Emperor Xuanyuan further conferred upon Chen Linjun the title of Marquis of Wu'an.
"After my father stepped down as the Grand Marshal of the Northern Army, my eldest brother took over the military power in the Northern Border. Those who follow the times prosper, and the eldest son is a smart man. Those who know how to adapt to the times are heroes."
Heng Miao understood Chen Luan's meaning and immediately declared that he was willing to support Prince Shen as emperor and be loyal to the new emperor.
Chen Luan said, "The eldest son should be loyal to the new emperor."
Heng Miao: "What is that?"
"The Eldest Princess."
The more Chen Liangyu listened, the colder his blood felt.
Xie Wenjun wanted to follow the precedent set by the former Crown Prince in dealing with the Xuanping Marquis's mansion, so that Heng Jinan's military power would be rendered ineffective, and Heng Miao would take over the military power in the southern border.
A newborn calf, full of reckless courage, believed that its two horns could kill a border general who had fought on the battlefield for many years and commanded hundreds of thousands of troops.
Didn't Rong Jun and Gu Xie try to dissuade her?
Chen Luan said, "The young lady has performed a divination for the princess, and her journey will be very auspicious."
Great fortune my ass!
Good people are always blessed...
Chen Liangyu originally thought that Xie Wenjun's trip to Lu Pinghou's mansion was only to do some favors and give some benefits, to sit down and discuss things amicably. Whether it succeeded or not didn't matter. After she deployed her troops, Zhao Mingqin would incite his former troops in the southern border to put heavy pressure on Heng Jinan, thus forcing Heng Jinan to send troops.
Xie Wenjun's plan was to undermine his military power by stripping him of his command.
The Heng family has guarded the southern border for several years, and Heng Jinan is a veteran general who has experienced the chaos of the Five Kings. How could there not be any spies in the several prefectures and counties near the southern border, and even in the eight cities of the Eastern Baiyue?
Heng Miao came to Linxia, had a secret conversation with Chen Luan, and visited the Prince Shen's residence. How could Heng Jinan not know or guess his intentions?
Horses galloped swiftly through the mist, and the procession of hundreds and thousands marched with the ferocity of a thousand troops, as if trying to break through the thick fog beneath the sky.
She had been to this city before; the once bustling streets were now deathly silent.
The houses and trees along the street were covered with marks from being hacked and chopped, and there were scattered fragments of broken armor and weapons.
The closer one gets to the Marquis of Luping's residence, the more pronounced the signs of war become.
The fog rolled in thicker into the twilight, and the plaque on the door became somewhat dilapidated and crumbling in the blink of an eye.
Chen Liangyu disregarded everything else and led his troops into the Lu Pinghou mansion.
There is no one.
The desolate silence was shattered by the sudden arrival of armored soldiers. Chen Liangyu drew his sword and shouted, "Search!"
There were no lights.
Her eagle eyes scanned every corner urgently, every shadow startling her, her military boots treading haphazardly on the dusty ground.
Suddenly, startled birds took flight from behind.
Chen Liangyu took off running in that direction, and the soldiers hurriedly followed. She remembered the general layout of the Lu Pinghou mansion; from here, through the back garden, there were four wing buildings, and beyond those buildings was a pond and pavilion. The startled birds had taken flight from there.
By flanking from the wing tower, one could see that the pond was heavily guarded, with soldiers holding torches. They did not draw their swords to meet the intruders. Lanterns were lit on all four sides under the eaves of the waterside pavilion, and there were people under the lanterns.
We've been waiting for you.
There are two pavilions in Fangtang, connected by a short corridor.
Xie Wenjun sat leaning against the vermilion balustrade in the waterside pavilion a little further back, while Heng Miao stood opposite her.
Rong Jun and Zhao Mingqin were also there.
A man shuffled over and said, "General Chen, please."
He then led her onto the flat bridge.
The man held a sword with the character "Heng" engraved on the hilt. Chen Liangyu recognized him as one of Heng Jinan's personal guards. A moment later, he handed over a handkerchief, saying, "General Chen, wipe your sweat."
Thank you.
The flat bridge extends into the water, and the water vapor makes the fog even darker.
Under the lantern's glow, her bloodshot eyes resembled two deep pools scorched by flames. Chen Liangyu's gaze was fixed on the person sitting in the waterside pavilion, chatting and laughing with Heng Miao.
She walked step by step through the fog, and could only see that person.
Everything around was shrouded in white gauze, making it blurry.
The cold snap of early spring had passed, and the wind from the water dispersed the thin layer of sweat on her body.
It wasn't until Rong Jun pushed her shoulder and the soldiers on the shore replaced the torches that she realized how long she had been standing silently in front of Xie Wenjun.
Heng Jinan's military seal and tally.
"The troops in the southern border are at your disposal."
Chen Liangyu said, "I have something to say to the Princess."
Xie Wenjun leaned against the railing, a pool of clear water below. After the others dispersed, she became more relaxed, a smile playing on her lips, waiting to hear Chen Liangyu's compliments.
Chen Liangyu remained silent for a long time.
"Since when has Your Highness become so wary of me?"
Xie Wenjun said, "Never."
Chen Liangyu: "Why didn't you discuss what you're doing today with me beforehand? Why did you put yourself in such danger?"
The tone was normal.
The unspeakable turmoil in his heart was already churning in his eyes.
Xie Wenjun explained to her, "You command a large army. If we wait for you to come, Heng Jinan will be on high alert. Only if I act for you, catching him off guard, will we have a greater chance of victory! Some of Heng Jinan's generals have already advised him to send troops, but he is so hesitant and timid that he has lost the support of the people. I simply had Zhao Mingqin contact Zhao Zhouqing's former subordinates, and Heng Miao took his military seal and tally, turning his personal guards against him. Then he has no one left to use and is just fighting like a cornered beast. I really can't understand how someone with such courage and boldness could be ranked among the twelve marquises of the world during the Ying Tong era. Is he just here to fill a position?"
During the Ying Tong era, the twelve marquises of the world were not true kings or marquises, but rather the chief generals and strategists under the five kings. Chen Yuanqing, Lin Jianshu, Yan Baizhang, and Jiang Bojin were all among them. Whoever's lord ascended the throne would become a marquis of ten thousand households.
After such a chaotic battle where heroes rose up, only Chen Yuanqing and Heng Jinan were truly granted titles.
Chen Liangyu said, "Have you thought about the consequences if you miscalculate?"
Xie Wenjun said, "I can bear whatever the consequences may be."
"But I can't afford it!"
Chen Liangyu finally broke down: "If anything goes wrong with you, how can I explain it to Empress Huixian?"
Xie Wenjun suddenly stood up from the chaise longue, creating a gentle breeze. "In the end, do you want to protect me, or is it just because of what the Empress Dowager said on her deathbed?"
Chen Liangyu: "Why does it matter?"
"It's only that it's not important to you."
Xie Wenjun whispered, as if afraid that no one could hear her, yet also afraid that she could hear her.
That distorted, unspeakable lust grew wildly under Chen Liangyu's increasing indulgence.
She was in great pain.
"Since you hated me so much from the beginning, why didn't you just keep hating me? I don't need your protection, I don't need it at all! I'm not some fledgling bird that can't withstand the storms. I can help you, I can plan with you, I can walk alongside you. Chen Liangyu, open your eyes and see clearly who is the one you can actually use!"
Chen Liangyu: "You're bringing up old grievances from almost ten years ago?"
Xie Wenjun met Chen Liangyu's gaze, which was so clear that it contained nothing at all.
She turned away, her back to her, unwilling to speak anymore.
Chen Liangyu stood silently behind her. After a while, seeing that she really didn't want to speak anymore, she said, "If Your Highness really can't let go, you can hate me. However, don't hate me for too long."
Xie Wenjun remained silent.
Chen Liangyu felt something was wrong. She was supposed to be the one questioning someone, but instead she was the one trying to appease them.
She reached out from behind and gently tugged at Xie Wenjun's sleeve, asking, "Did you include me on your list of those you're settling scores for later?"
Xie Wenjun said, "I remember you more than once."
Chen Liangyu said, "Then remember to calculate slowly. Calculate a little slower."
The surrounding mist hung low over the azure waves, seemingly kissing the calm, mirror-like surface, where fish swam. Xie Wenjun watched the fish swim to and fro at her feet, but the mist obscured her view, limiting her to what was close at hand.
"Why?" She turned around. "Slow down?"
The brocade handkerchief sewn around Chen Liangyu's waist was still firmly attached to her waist, and Xie Wenjun glanced at it casually.
Chen Liangyu said, "I don't want to settle things so quickly."
That's a phrase that comes naturally to me.
If it hadn't come out of Chen Liangyu's mouth in a serious manner, Xie Wenjun would have felt as if she had been deliberately tricked when she first thought about it.
"Now that I'm leaving with my troops, I don't know when we'll meet again, you..."
Suddenly, Xie Wenjun grabbed her arm and bit down hard.
The next day, after the troops were mustered, they were divided into two groups. The infantry moved slowly, while Chen Liangyu and Zhao Mingqin led the cavalry battalion to the front first.
Xie Wenjun followed Heng Miao and the army.
Chen Liangyu rode his horse to an intersection, reined in his horse, said a few words to Zhao Mingqin, and then turned his horse around and galloped off in another direction.
Two groups of men behind her also broke away from the march and followed her.
Liangxi City seemed to have changed its appearance overnight.
Many neighborhood shops have closed down due to financial difficulties. Chen Liangyu arrived at the candy shop, where the mottled and faded wooden door was tightly closed, and the withered leaves were left unswept, creating a desolate scene.
As she lifted her leg to leave, the door opened from the inside.
A woman leaned out from inside, wearing a cloth skirt and cloth shoes, and casually splashed a basin of water onto the steps at the doorway.
This candy shop is run by a husband and wife; the woman is the owner.
Chen Liangyu stepped forward, and the woman caught sight of a figure walking towards her. She looked up and said, "I'm sorry, unfortunately, the shop is closed today."
Why are you closing so early today?
"It's not that we're closing down, it's that we can't keep going. We're going back to the countryside with our husbands and children. If there's going to be a war, the soldiers could come and loot us at any time. Every household is worried about how to fill their stomachs in the future, so where would we find the money or leisure to eat sweets?"
Chen Liangyu lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, then cupped his hands in a bow and prepared to leave.
The woman called out to her, "Please wait, young lady."
Chen Liangyu stopped and looked back.
The woman said, "There's still some sugar left at home, but we'll have to wait a while. Crispy candy tastes best when it's fresh out of the pan."
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"
"No, that's not true. My family makes this kind of business. Now that the shop is closed, we're just sitting around doing nothing. Come in and wait, it's windy outside."
"Thank you, shopkeeper."
"Don't be shy, please make yourself at home."
The woman put on an old but clean apron, took some glutinous rice mixed with tender green wheat sprouts, squeezed out the juice through a breathable steaming cloth, poured it into a pot, lit a fire, and began to work. She also lit a small pot, poured in some sesame seeds and crushed peanuts to dry-fry, and sprinkled some dried osmanthus flowers on top.
The firewood crackled and popped as it burned over the small fire.
"You're lucky! If you come again tomorrow, you won't be able to get this. My family's cooking skills have been passed down from our ancestors, and you won't find them anywhere else."
Chen Liangyu remained silent.
The woman's hands never stopped working, occasionally talking to herself while facing the stove.
"I wonder how long this war will last?"
She opened the pot lid and stirred it continuously with an iron spoon, and the murky white water in the pot slowly turned into a dark reddish-brown color.
Chen Liangyu couldn't answer her; she herself didn't know.
The woman spread a thick layer of roasted sesame seeds and crushed peanuts on the cutting board, ladled out the cooked syrup and poured it over the mixture, then gently rubbed it back and forth with a rolling pin. After repeating this several times, she put the mixed sugar and ingredients into a mold basket, pressed the sugar block firmly while it was still warm, turned it out, cut it into neat square pieces, wrapped them in oil paper, and handed it to Chen Liangyu.
Chen Liangyu took out her money pouch, but the woman waved her hand to stop her, "We're not doing business right now. Consider these few pieces of candy a gift; it wouldn't be worth paying for them. If you're thinking of this, maybe the shop will reopen after the war, and you can come back, young lady."
Chen Liangyu placed two pieces of silver on the stove, saying, "Thank you for making this candy today. These are troublesome times; please take good care of yourself."
She stepped out of the candy shop.
The dilapidated wooden door behind him closed softly again, like a powerless sigh.
Two groups of people who had come with her were waiting at the end of the road.
Xie Wenjun's carriage was also parked here that day. She was physically and mentally ill, barely breathing, and unable to eat anything, except for the extra pieces of candy she had bought.
Chen Liangyu raised one hand and grasped his forearm.
Lost in endless thoughts, she gently rotated her wrist twice.
Without rolling up her sleeves, she knew there was a row of bluish-purple teeth marks hidden under the fabric.
Chen Liangyu handed the paper package containing the candy to a constable and ordered him to ride quickly to the rear of the army's marching area.
She mounted her horse and led the others to take a shortcut to catch up with the vanguard.
In chaotic times, people are like withered leaves on water, drifting with the current. Chen Liangyu pondered Zhai Ji's words again, and their meaning seemed somewhat different.
"With war raging and taxes undiminished, how can we expect to live in peace and prosperity?"
"When the world is unified, wars will cease."
When the world is unified, wars will cease!
Author's Note: This chapter includes an extra half chapter.
Emma, she's fallen back into her old habit of writing half a chapter more than before.
Thank you for reading this far!
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