Chapter 159 Brighter Than Moonlight
Qin Yanzhou approached and first glanced at Dai Li. She was dressed neatly with no damage to her clothes, so she was obviously not injured. Then he shifted his gaze to Shi Rongyue.
Like Dai Li, the little girl was wearing a black leather armor, with a black hooded cloak over it. The hood was on her head, and when she lowered her head slightly, the brim of the hood cast a dark shadow.
However, compared to Dai Li's neatness, hers was much more casual; her hat was tilted. The left brim was flatter than the right, so much so that the slightly upturned right side looked like a small horn.
Dai Li was also looking at her son, "Zhouzhou, is everything going smoothly?"
"Everything went smoothly," Qin Yanzhou replied, glancing at Shi Rongyue's hat.
I took one look, and then another.
"Good, let's get out of the city." Dai Li felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. She turned and continued walking forward, unaware that the young man behind her had just raised his hand and lifted the left brim of Shi Rongyue's hat slightly.
With both sides at the same height, it's finally symmetrical.
From the moment he raised his hand, Shi Rongyue stood frozen in place, her amber-colored brown eyes clear as a mirror, reflecting the person in front of her.
First, there was his outstretched hand, which made it appear much larger, and then there was his handsome face, as cool and aloof as a landscape painting.
The hood on her head was lifted slightly, a very light movement, yet it seemed to bring a gentle spring breeze. Her clothes couldn't block the wind, nor could her skin; it blew through her skin to her very bones, making them feel soft and yielding.
"Young lady! We're setting off, we have to keep up." The maid said anxiously, while muttering to herself in confusion, "Why does the young lady suddenly seem like she's drunk?"
Shi Rongyue responded with a soft "hmm" and floated forward.
The maid was stunned.
Was she mistaken? The young lady's face seemed flushed in the moonlight.
Even though everyone was heading out of the city at the same time, the journey was not easy.
For a moment, Dai Li felt like a wildebeest migrating across the African savanna, crossing a wide river teeming with Nile crocodiles.
Nearby, zebras and gazelles huddled together, wary of each other yet trying to stick together. Meanwhile, a giant crocodile with sharp teeth attacked from both sides, its gaping jaws dragging its prey away from the herd.
The air was filled with a strong, nauseating stench of blood.
A deafening clang of a blade beside her snapped Dai Li out of her reverie. She instinctively glanced to the side and saw Qin Yanzhou standing beside Shi Rongyue, having blocked a sneak attack.
Although the young man who crawled out of the pile of corpses did not have the robust physique of a middle-aged man, he was still a veteran of countless battles.
His dark eyes were cold and sharp, and his hand holding the knife was as steady as a mountain. After intercepting the attack, he pressed the knife forward and then swiftly retreated. Taking advantage of the opponent's inability to keep up with the rhythm, he quickly slashed forward with the long knife.
The blood-soaked blade was first wiped clean of its crimson color by the sharp wind, then quickly etched with a dazzling new hue.
Dai Li quickly lowered her eyes.
No, what they faced was not a terrifying Nile crocodile, nor were they helpless prey in the water.
Dai Li kept her distance from him, and after her son clearly gained the upper hand, she looked away.
But Shi Rongyue, who was standing right next to him, didn't react the same way. She watched the attacker fall, blood gushing from his mouth, and her face paled. However, what caught her eye even more was that tall, slender figure under the moonlight.
The young man turned his head to look, his face, illuminated by the moonlight, seemed softer. "Don't worry."
Shi Rongyue immediately regained her senses and nodded emphatically: "Yes!"
One side of the brim, which had just been adjusted not long ago, collapsed again.
Qin Yanzhou glanced at it again, and his long fingers holding the knife twitched.
...
"Stop them! Damn it, ride off to the east gate and warn the guards there. They must not be allowed to leave the city!"
The patrolman received the order and was about to ride around to the east gate to relay it when a long arrow flew through the darkness and struck him squarely in the back.
It's unclear whether the shot pierced the person through, but the person fell straight down.
Lieutenant Zhong Zhuo of the Northern Army was furious; the increasingly out-of-control situation was like a sharp saw, cutting into his nerves again and again.
"Lieutenant, we can't stop them!" The adjutant was in a dilemma.
The saying goes, "A desperate army is bound to win." Tonight, these people know that their only chance of survival is to leave the city, so how could they not muster all their strength to rush out? Moreover, those who can enter the city with the governors of various states are all top talents selected from among the best.
Zhong Zhuo grabbed his adjutant by the collar, his face contorted with rage. "We have to stop them, even if we can't! If they leave the city, tomorrow will be our death day. Now, immediately, send someone on horseback to the east gate to deliver the message!"
On this night when the stars are dim, if you look down at the entire city of Chang'an from high above, you can see a fire dragon moving from the south to the east.
The fire dragon was starving and emaciated, even its body was rather short. It plunged into the black tide, swimming in the dark water, its firelight flickering erratically, sometimes shining brightly on its head, sometimes on its tail.
But no matter what, its goal is clear and it has never stopped.
The fast horse arrived at the East Gate on foot. The guards at the gate had long been curious about the commotion in the city, and upon hearing the reason, their expressions all changed drastically.
"The lieutenant has ordered that the city gate be defended to the death! Men, set up wooden barriers, two lines in this area, one in front and one behind. Shields should be placed behind the second barrier, and a low wall must be built."
"Where are the bows and arrows? Bring them all out! Tonight we must riddle them with arrows..."
The military patrol, which had arrived at the east gate on horseback, quickly made its arrangements. Although orders were being passed down rapidly, the commanders remained uneasy.
The reason is simple: the difficulty of opening a door from different directions is completely different.
When outside the city, the only way to open the city gates is by battering rams or ladders, often using flesh and blood as steps for the siege; but if inside the city, the biggest problem disappears.
"Speed up, they're almost there."
*
The outskirts of Chang'an.
A bright moon hangs in the sky, shining brightly. Its light spills onto the rooftops of thousands of homes, onto the boundless fields, and onto the tree-covered mountains.
Chang Le Mountain, named after Chang Le Garden, is bathed in moonlight. The tree canopies sway gently in the wind, like an old man leisurely fanning himself in the afternoon. But the scene beneath the canopy is far from peaceful.
A bloody chase unfolded in the mountains, filled with the glint of swords and the palpable killing intent. Even the birds and beasts of the mountains fell silent in the face of this overwhelming aura.
After Qin Shaozong and Bai Jianping joined up, they rushed down the mountain.
"Your Excellency's predictions are indeed accurate; there were indeed many ambushes in these mountains. Ah, luckily we were prepared, otherwise we might have been in serious trouble tonight."
"Look at what you're saying, 'shedding a layer of skin' is an exaggeration. Back then, when you were being hunted down by the Wu family alone, you merely circled around in the mountains and wiped out all your pursuers. Now, you are not alone, so what is there to fear?"
"If the situation weren't so dire, we could have gone back immediately."
Feng Feng followed behind Qin Shaozong, not chatting and laughing with his comrades. He noticed that, apart from issuing necessary orders and Nangong Qingzhou taking the initiative to speak, the superiors were almost completely silent.
Occasionally, a few fools would jump out and block the way, but they would be shot dead by their superiors with arrows.
One arrow, one kill; every shot hits its mark.
Each arrow possesses immense force, capable of knocking a person over. If a heavy bow were used, it would surely pierce through and pin a person to a tree trunk.
Your Excellency is in a bad mood.
"Wu'an, why are you so agitated?" Nangong Xiong's mood had calmed down considerably. He knew he'd have to make a choice sooner or later, and seizing the opportunity now wasn't a bad idea.
He and Qin Changgeng fled together, supporting each other, making their alliance more solid than ordinary ones. Hmm, if they could later form a marriage alliance, that would be even better.
Qin Shaozong didn't speak, and didn't even look at Nangong Xiong.
Nangong Xiong continued, "Tonight, Dong Zhou has set a trap to kill you, and I think there will be similar disturbances in Chang'an. However, no matter how bad the situation becomes, I think your wife and children will be safe."
Qin Shaozong gave him a cold look.
Fragments of moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on their ceaseless horseback riding. The man's brown eyes were unfathomable, like a snow-covered blade concealing its sharpness.
Nangong Xiong immediately retorted, "Hey, what kind of look is that? Am I wrong? Back in the day, Emperor Gaozu and the Hegemon-King were locked in a standoff at Guangwu. Emperor Gaozu's family was captured by the Hegemon-King. The latter placed Emperor Gaozu's father on a chopping board, then started a pot of water to boil, declaring that if he did not surrender, he would boil his father alive..."
Nangong Xiong coughed lightly, "Regardless of the final outcome, at least Grandfather's life was initially safe."
Because the value of the living is greater than that of the dead.
If we capture Qin Changgeng's wife and children alive, we can use them as bargaining chips or even threats; they have many uses.
"Noisy," Qin Shaozong said expressionlessly.
Nangong Xiong's face darkened slightly. "You ungrateful wretch! I was just trying to comfort you. My dear daughter is also in Chang'an. When news comes back tomorrow, she might be able to stay in the same room as your wife."
Why are we all staying together? Of course, it's because we're all hostages.
Nangong Xiong continued, "Liu Jingzhou hasn't arrived in the capital yet. I suspect that Dong Zhou, having captured our families, will likely use this to incite us to deal with Liu Zhan. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits; Prime Minister Dong wants to be that fisherman behind the scenes..."
As he spoke, he suddenly sighed with sorrow, "My dear daughter is as beautiful as a flower. I hope she won't be unlucky enough to run into some idiots with their brains stuck in the bottom."
"Whoa!" The horse was suddenly reined in.
Seeing Qin Shaozong stop, Nangong Xiong called out to him in confusion, only to see the man silently pull on the reins, seemingly about to turn back.
"Wu'an, what are you doing?" Nangong Xiong exclaimed in surprise.
He wasn't the only one shocked; Kuang Ye and the others who accompanied him were also greatly alarmed.
Having followed his superior for many years, Feng Feng instantly understood that his superior wanted to launch a surprise attack and return to capture Dong Zhou. He immediately advised, "My lord, you must not! Prime Minister Dong has a large army and is protected by the three provinces of Xu, Yan, and Si. Turning back now is tantamount to walking into a trap. The mistress is still waiting for your rescue. If you go into danger again, I'm afraid no one will be able to save her."
Kuang Ye hurriedly said, "My lord, Dong Zhou can die, but not now! If he dies at your hands, on this mountain, it will be easy for someone with ulterior motives to use it against you, which will be very detrimental to your reputation."
They were invited to the wine tasting banquet.
Regardless of the actual nature of this "Feast at Hongmen," in the eyes of the general public, it was simply a hospitable invitation extended by the powerful prime minister to the governors of various states, who rarely had the chance to visit the capital, to come up the mountain for entertainment.
If the event ends with the organizer being killed by a guest, the perpetrator will inevitably bear the brunt of public condemnation.
“My lord, the mistress has done Qiao Wangfei a great favor, and he will certainly protect her.” Mo Yanyun was not very confident. As a military general, he would be easily killed if he did not surrender. But he still had to persuade him, “The most urgent thing now is to return to the barracks as soon as possible, reorganize the troops, and then make further plans.”
Nangong Xiong gasped, belatedly realizing his mistake, and quickly advised, "Since the negotiations haven't succeeded, they certainly won't harm your wife. Don't be anxious."
*
Chang'an East City.
The wooden railings that had been erected at the East Gate had long since turned to dust and sawdust, and corpses lay scattered haphazardly. Blood meandered and pooled on the bluestone bricks, resembling red snakes mating during the breeding season under the moonlight.
The city gates were wide open, and the corpses hanging upside down on the city walls swayed slightly in the night wind, as if bidding farewell to the travelers who had already gone far away.
Dai Li and Shi Rongyue rode together on one horse, escorted by Qiao Wangfei and others, heading towards the Xuanxiao Cavalry camp.
They didn't bring many horses into the city, especially since Qin Shaozong took a batch with him to the banquet yesterday, so there were very few horses left tonight.
Some were their own horses, some were stolen from the city's military patrols, and others were "borrowed" from the three prefectures of Xu, Si, and Yan.
They borrowed a lot of money from outside, but even so, there weren't enough horses for one person to ride, so it was common to see two people riding together.
The Xuanxiao cavalry camp is located thirty li outside the city.
Normally, a horse can travel at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. A fine steed can reach speeds of 50 or 60 kilometers per hour, or even higher.
For cavalry, this mere thirty li was covered in less than half an hour.
The military camp, lying sprawled on the outskirts of the city, resembled a colossal, slumbering beast. At the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the giant suddenly awoke, as if a ladle of hot water had been poured into a frying pan, causing it to sizzle and pop.
The military professor Jin Duole was left behind at the camp. Hearing the noise, he got up in the middle of the night and rushed out without even putting on his clothes.
Upon seeing Dai Li, Jin Duole's expression changed drastically. "Mistress, what has happened in the city? Why did you return to the barracks in the middle of the night?"
Dai Li stopped her horse, and Shi Rongyue sat in front of her. It would be easier for her to dismount from behind, so she got off first. "Something has happened in the city. The Chang'an military patrol attempted to enter the mansion at night under the pretext of catching thieves. The intruders have ulterior motives, and the Marquis has gone to a banquet. After thinking it over, I decided to bring my men back first."
She spoke lightly, but Jin Duole's heart was in turmoil.
Leaving the city at night is no easy task.
Not to mention that the other party must have a plan and has likely made considerable preparations...
"Many soldiers were wounded tonight, so let's arrange for them to receive medical treatment first." After saying this to him, Dai Li wanted to bring Shi Rongyue, who was still on horseback, down from the horse.
Turning her head, she saw that the little girl had already dismounted, with Qin Yanzhou holding the reins beside her. Shi Rongyue, after dismounting, looked at the person before her, her large eyes brighter than the moon in the sky.
Dai Li paused for a moment, a strange feeling creeping over her, but she was too tired tonight.
First, he couldn't sleep soundly, then he was startled awake in the middle of the night, then he had to deal with the military patrol leader, and then he broke out of the city. His nerves were constantly on edge, afraid that one wrong step would lead to complete failure.
Now back in the barracks, Dai Li, relaxed, just wanted to sink into the fluffy blankets and get a good night's sleep.
Dai Li composed herself and briefly explained to Jin Duole the matter of the temporary alliance with Qingzhou. Then she turned her head and looked at Nangong Zijin, whom she had casually brought back, "...The young lady of the Nangong family has come to visit. Please do not neglect her, sir."
Jin Duole nodded solemnly, "I'll remember that."
After explaining everything, the cooks had just finished setting up her tent. Dai Li immediately went inside, pulled off her cloak and outer garment, threw herself onto the soft couch, and closed her eyes to sleep.
She didn't sleep particularly soundly. Towards the end of her sleep, she seemed to hear cheers, as if someone was being welcomed back. The sound was like rising tides, layer upon layer, surging towards her eardrums, but it was indistinct.
In a moment, the waves crashed against the rocks, surging up and enveloping her completely, wrapping around her, and tightening around her.
And all the intangible sounds gained tactile sensation at that moment; they landed warmly on the tips of her ears, touching them again and again, finally transforming into a single sound:
"lady."
Author's Note: Here I am! [dog head with rose in hand]
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