Chapter 78 Kyoto is about to get into chaos
Northwestern frontier.
The yellow sand of the desert was dyed red by the splattered blood and coagulated into lumps. Corpses fell one after another, war horses neighed, and shouts of killing shook the sky.
Wei Fengyan wiped the blood off his face carelessly. The blade of the knife in his hand was already blunt, but the enemies kept coming. His eyes were bloodshot and he fought with gritted teeth. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he knew that there were corpses all over the ground under his feet.
But in the end, the blood-stained flags of the Wei family of the Li Kingdom were still flying in the desert.
This battle was a tragic victory.
Collect the bodies of the soldiers, pick up the weapons and shields that can still be used on the battlefield, and bring back the seriously injured horses...
Wei Fengyan sat in the tent, unable to even wash himself because there was a water shortage in the desert and the clean water was only used to cook food. So even though he was smelly, he would at most use a towel dipped in dirty water to wipe his body roughly, and then change into clothes washed with the same dirty water, and that would be considered clean.
In his hand he held a piece of wheat bread that was so rough that it was difficult to swallow. He chewed it hard, but his eyes were very bright as he looked at the letter in his hand.
Letter from the Wei family in Kyoto.
Next to him stood a half-grown young man, also wearing armor and covered in blood. His young eyes and brows still hid the spirit of a young man. Seeing this, he also moved closer to read the letter.
"It's a handwritten letter from my mother!" He recognized it at a glance!
Wei Fengyan's expression softened a little. He spread out the letter and read it with his son.
"My mother said that everything is fine at home. My grandmother is in good health. My sister survived the cold winter and has not had a relapse of her cough recently..."
Wei Jinan was a chatterbox and he couldn't stop talking while reading the letter, but when he saw one line of words, his joyful voice stopped abruptly.
After a long while, he repeated in a daze: "Mother also said... that you found your brother?"
Wei Fengyan's eyes also fell on this line of words.
The next few pages of letters were almost entirely about how the child was found and how he was doing now.
After reading the thick stack of letters, Wei Jinan scratched his head in confusion and turned to look at his father, "Dad, didn't you say that the emperor was afraid of my uncle and suspected that he had harmed my uncle and my brother? Why is it that this brother in the letter is so close to the emperor? And he was directly given the surname of the emperor?"
Small head, big question mark.
Wei Fengyan remained silent, but his eyes were fixed on the last few lines on the paper.
He was given the surname Li Jinyuan.
Li.
Then what is his Wei family?
Wei Fengyan never thought that it was an honor for his children to be given the surname of the emperor. On the contrary, he thought that the emperor was a treacherous person and was afraid that the deaths of his father and brother were related to him!
As for him, the reason why he resolutely resigned from the position of Shaoqing of Dali Temple and came to the bitter cold frontier to lead troops to fight was ostensibly because the front line was in emergency and lacked reliable generals, and also because of his family background of inheriting his father's business.
In fact, in order to find out the real reason why his father and brother were killed on the battlefield and to stay away from the vortex of Kyoto, he brought himself and his son, the only two male members of the Wei family, to the battlefield, so that the emperor, who was afraid of murder, would focus his attention on the father and son, and thus protect the three women in the family.
His mother, his wife, and his daughter who was born weak and almost died.
Wei Fengyan didn’t know if what he was doing was right or not, but he had to do it. If his father and brother were still alive, they would definitely make the same choice.
But what he never expected was that the child that his brother lost on the way back to Kyoto... was actually found.
"Let me see the stone on your neck." Wei Fengyan reached out to his son.
Wei Jinan let out an "oh" and took off the stone pendant he had been wearing around his neck and gave it to his father.
"That child also has this stone on him. Your uncle put it on him on purpose." Wei Fengyan stroked the small stone in his hand, and gradually dispelled his doubts about the child's identity.
But, are there really such coincidences in this world?
His brows were still furrowed. Wei Jinan didn't know what his father was thinking, but he said in distress: "Why does this brother want to be so close to the royal family? Even if he doesn't know the hidden truth, grandma and mother should remind him, right? Dad, if he keeps getting close to the emperor, then if we have any plans in the future and find out the truth, can we still tell him?"
The young man seems careless, but he is actually very meticulous. When this question was asked, both the father and the son already had their own answers in their hearts.
Wei Fengyan said in a deep voice: "Keep it a secret for now, don't tell him anything."
"I think so too. I guess my grandmother and mother think so too." Wei Jinan grinned.
Then his father glanced at him inexplicably: "How do you know?"
Wei Jinan's eyes were bright and he reached out to take the letter from his father's hand. He shook it nonchalantly, and laughed as the paper rubbed against each other, "Because in this family letter of several thousand words, there is not a single word or sentence mentioning that this kid went to worship his father, let alone entered our Wei family's ancestral temple. I guess my grandmother and mother are on guard against him. They probably have already made up their minds."
Hearing this, a satisfied smile flashed in Wei Fengyan's eyes.
The brat is quite perceptive. In this way, even if he dies on the battlefield like his father and younger brother one day, as long as this kid is still alive, there is no need to worry about the Wei family having no successor.
"But, Dad, I still want to go back to meet my new brother and observe the current situation in Kyoto. What do you think?" Wei Jinan rubbed his father's shoulders and back in a fawning manner, his words full of flattery.
He is actually only fourteen years old this year, but he has been to the battlefield a long time ago. Now he is tall and long-legged and has already become a young general with high spirits. Even if he returns to Beijing alone, Wei Fengyan does not have to worry too much about his safety.
On the contrary, after he returned, the situation in Kyoto became very treacherous...
Perhaps seeing Wei Fengyan's hesitation, Wei Jinan hooked his father's neck, acting like a good brother, but he leaned close to his father's ear and whispered quickly, "I'm going back to the capital to test the boy's strengths and weaknesses, to see what his character is like, whether there are other people behind him, whether he can be a man of my Wei family, and whether the emperor is flattering him or really doting on him. By the way, I'll also visit my grandmother, mother, and sister. I haven't seen them for two or three years, and I don't know how they are doing."
"Dad, be careful here after I leave. This is also a good opportunity to catch the spies in the army. If someone is really trying to trip you up, the time when I'm away is the best time. How about we kill two birds with one stone?"
The boy's eyes were deep. He had shouldered a lot at such a young age. He had come far away from Kyoto to a desert full of wind and sand, where he couldn't even get a sip of clean water. He was definitely not as willful as he appeared to be.
He has a father who was able to rise to the position of Shaoqing of the Dali Temple through his literary talent in a family of military generals, and he was also brought up carefully since he was a child. On Wei Jinan's young shoulders, he bears the lives, honors and disgraces of the Wei family army in the entire border area and everyone in his Wei family.
However, the situation is changing rapidly. Wei Jinan has been lying dormant since he was very young. Now he has finally decided to return to Kyoto to stir up the muddy water and see how many big and small fish he can catch.
"Be careful on your journey." This was the only reminder Wei Fengyan gave his son.
Both father and son will have their own battlefields to fight on.
-
Kyoto.
Xingxing and her brother were sitting at the dining table. The one in charge of cleaning and cooking was named Li Fang. He was cheerful in the past because he had a stable life. But today, when the food was served on the table, even though he tried hard to maintain his expression, he still looked a little sad.
Xiaowu asked curiously.
Li Fang looked at the two children, one big and one small. He didn't want to say anything, but under their equally curious and concerned gazes, he sighed bitterly and shook his head, saying, "I'm fine. I just feel that... the world seems to be getting more and more difficult."
Times are tough. Even if you are just a servant living in a small corner, you can see one chilling scene after another of chaos when you go out to buy groceries.
Hearing this, Xiao Wu silently clenched his chopsticks and asked calmly: "What did you see?"
What did Li Fang see?
He saw a soldier in charge of guarding Kyoto slashing a civilian who was carrying a load of vegetables with a knife, just because the horse he was riding lowered its head and ate the civilian's vegetables. The old man felt sorry for the vegetables and knelt down to beg the horse not to eat them.
How absurd and ridiculous is that?
He also saw a pair of parents with miserable faces, who sent their young daughter to a brothel with tears in their eyes but with great anticipation. The daughter was not afraid, but kept saying that if she was sold she could find a good marriage for her younger sister, and that by going to the brothel she could finally have enough food to eat and no longer had to worry about starving to death.
This turned out to be an excellent way for their family to survive.
Thinking about myself again, if I hadn't been bought back by these two young masters, I would have no idea where I would be now.
Seeing that the two children were listening attentively, Zhong Yan beside them also shook his head and sighed, "The court officials are not doing anything. You may not know that more refugees have appeared near Kyoto a few days ago. Don't run to the outer city if you have nothing to do. The outer city is already very dangerous, and it's even more chaotic outside Kyoto."
Epidemics were rampant. There was no good way to deal with them in this era. The only way was to immediately trap and kill all living things in the entire village within the range of the epidemic whenever an epidemic was discovered. At worst, they would be gathered together and burned together.
Buried alive or burned.
Whether they are already infected, have symptoms, or are normal living things that are not infected, all will die.
Only in this way can we control and eliminate the source of infection.
However, as more and more people died, the bodies that could not be buried rotted away and only bones remained. The diseases also spread wildly along with animals such as rats that ate the corpses.
Not only that, there was also the onset of a severe drought, locust eggs everywhere in the fields and grass, and banditry everywhere...
All I see is the scene of chaos.
Even the mass graves outside Beijing had burned corpses at least three times in just half a month, because if they didn't do anything else, there wouldn't be enough space to pile them up, so they had to burn them.
The burning mass grave was filled with the stench of decay and burnt smell.
"Kyoto is going to be in chaos too." Li Fang said hesitantly, "I went out to buy vegetables and grain this morning. The price of vegetables has tripled compared to the past, and the price of grain... has increased by more than ten times. Those grain stores have also started to limit purchases at high prices."
He did not bring enough money in the morning, so there was no sumptuous meal on the two children's table, and even the staple food had become porridge.
Li Fang couldn't imagine, if even the price of food in Kyoto was so expensive, what would the people in other parts of Li eat to survive.
If Kyoto were to fall into chaos one day, wouldn't the whole world be in chaos soon?
Nowadays, the people of Kyoto are all in a panic. The only ones who are not affected are the princes, nobles, and wealthy merchants.
The two adults' eyes were filled with worries about the troubled times. Xingxing picked up a piece of slightly wilted green vegetable with chopsticks, chewed it slowly and swallowed it, then said to his brother who also had no appetite: "Brother, let's eat first."
The stars have seen the end of the world, but they have never seen troubled times.
He did not understand the horror of the spread of epidemics, the damage that locusts caused to food, or the meaning of those uprisings under the banner of "Are there any kings, princes, generals, or ministers of the same race?"
Xingxing is a very focused child.
He only knew that his first priority was to take back the luck that belonged to another little star that was taken away by Li Jinyuan.
He didn't have a heart big enough to accommodate the troubled times; he was only concerned about his brother and that little star.
The same goes for Qiuqiu.
The ball can see more and farther than the stars, but the ball doesn’t care. Who is the emperor? What is the chaos of the world like? What does it have to do with it and the stars?
As long as the stars are alive and well, it will be enough.
But Xiaowu is different.
Xiaowu, Xingxing and Qiuqiu are all different.
While Xingxing was sleeping, Xiaowu found an excuse and ran out.
He wanted to see it with his own eyes. He wanted to see with his own eyes what everyone was talking about as the chaotic world.
But this was destined to be an unpleasant journey alone.
He had the dagger given by Xingxing hanging on his waist. He was a small man and was very inconspicuous in the crowd.
He walked slowly, taking in every person he passed.
An old man wearing patched linen clothes, a hungry child licking his fingers, a beggar kneeling on the roadside and begging for mercy from passers-by, a vegetable farmer sitting on the roadside with his vegetable basket for half a day...
The sky gradually darkened.
The waiter in the restaurant raised his voice to serve the rich diners with dishes and wine, the officials sitting in the carriage closed their eyes and enjoyed their leisure time listening to the noisy officials on the roadside, the scholars smiled and bowed to each other and walked into the teahouse together, and the prostitutes who were fragrant and fragrant were welcomed and sent off...
Xiaowu slowly stopped.
He looked into a dark corner.
There sat a little beggar.
A child who was about his age, or maybe a little younger, just sat there blankly, with a dirty, broken bowl in front of him...
It is very similar to Xiaowu who lost the protection of the old beggar and had no stars to accompany him.
I walked over unconsciously.
But after taking a few steps closer, Xiaowu stopped suddenly and his pupils shrank slightly.
There was another person sitting behind the little beggar.
To be precise, it was a corpse. Not very old, but... a child.
The little beggar was not waiting for pity from passers-by, but was guarding the corpse.
Perhaps there is still some residual warmth in this corpse, and when it gets dark, it will become the little beggar's hope to continue living.
Xiao Wu stared blankly at the little beggar and the corpse with eyes closed that could never be opened again. He pursed his lips and could not take even one step forward.
The ball of light, urged by the stars to catch up with Xiaowu, silently turned gray.
This is Xiaowu’s mood now, gloomy.
Qiuqiu wondered whether Xiaowu would come forward, but before it could use the data to calculate the most likely answer, Xiaowu had already closed his eyes, walked lightly and turned away.
What is a chaotic world?
In troubled times, everyone is in danger.
Xiaowu could not save the young corpse, nor the little beggar.
Xiaowu even had a hard time protecting himself.
So, in Xiaowu’s eyes, the chaotic world consists of him, the little beggar, the corpse, and three children, each with their own destiny.
At night, Xingxing got a depressed brother.
Xingxing tilted her head and looked curiously into her brother's eyes, which were completely dim and without any light.
His small figure was reflected in Xiaowu's dark and clear eyes.
Xiaowu was still in a daze, his mind full of the scenes he saw after going out in the afternoon.
When Xingxing reached out to hold his hand, Xiaowu came to his senses, and his first action was to reach out and hug his brother tightly.
"Xingxing, you must let me accompany you when you go out next time." Xiaowu reminded seriously.
He saw the little beggar and the tiny corpse behind the little beggar.
What I was thinking about then was not the troubled times, the cruelty of the little beggar, or the ruthlessness of fate.
There was only one thought in his mind: Fortunately, the body was not a star.
Luckily that wasn't my star.
So that little beggar is not the Xiaowu of the past, and the corpse behind the little beggar will never be Xingxing.
Xiao Wu had no intention of exploring the story between the little beggar and the corpse. He only knew: he had to protect the stars.
Everyone said that the world was in chaos. Xiaowu lived in the outer city, so he certainly knew how chaotic the world was. Once it reached the most chaotic time, no one could afford the sky-high prices of food. When people were extremely hungry, tender children were the best food.
So he must stay by his brother's side all the time!
From today on, from this moment on, even in troubled times, if he has to die, he must die before his brother.
It's getting dark.
The sky was grey, there was no moon or stars, and it was quiet and dark all around.
Qiuqiu was telling Xingxing about what Xiaowu saw and heard when he went out today.
Finally, Qiuqiu whispered, "Boy, if your brother really wants to go to the battlefield to be a general, will you go with him?"
Xiaowu has been very self-disciplined these past two days. He exercises, practices martial arts moves, learns to lay the basics on his own, and studies and spends time with Xingxing every day. Today, he took out an afternoon to go out for a walk and saw the chaos in the inner city.
Therefore, both Xingxing and Qiuqiu felt the burning fire in Xiaowu's heart. He said that he wanted to become stronger to protect Xingxing, and that he wanted to go to the battlefield to kill enemies and get promoted. These were definitely not empty words.
Xiaowu is working hard towards his goal, but what about Xingxing?
Do you want to stay with Xiaowu all the time?
Qiuqiu is a little curious about Xingxing’s choice.
Xingxing answered without any hesitation: "No."
“No?” Qiuqiu was stunned.
This answer is a little different from what it expected.
Xingxing nodded and explained softly: "Going to the battlefield with my brother will only hinder us."
Xingxing has supernatural powers, but unless there is no other choice like before, Xingxing generally doesn't think of using his supernatural powers.
But if Xingxing didn’t use his superpowers, he would now be a burden to his brother.
"But Xiaowu will definitely want to take you with him." Qiuqiu whispered to him about the future.
Xingxing shook her head, her tone still soft and firm: "Brother won't do that either~"
"Why?" Why is it so hard for humans to understand? And why do stars know it?
Could it be that the stars have now become cubs that can understand humans?
In the confusion of Qiuqiu, the child held it, huddled in his brother's arms, and slowly answered: "Because my brother can't bear to let it go~"
Qiuqiu: “…”
Okay, I understand.
Xingxingzai doesn't want to be a burden to his brother.
My brother also didn't want to take Xingxing to the frontier battlefield to suffer.
"But in this case, you are destined to be separated." Qiuqiu decided to put the blame on the sweet pear that was not separated that day.
The child smiled and said, "It's okay~"
My brother has a goal, and Xingxing has a ball.
Qiuqiu stopped talking and found a cartoon to tell the children a bedtime story.
Only after Xingxing fell asleep did Qiuqiu turn off the screen and sighed softly with a bit of worry.
For children, the future is so long and so far away. I guess there will be some movement in Anqing Marquis’ Mansion tomorrow, right?
I don't know what the hell is following the koi-life hero, and it even dares to impersonate the system! I'm so pissed off. When I catch it in the future, I will definitely put it in the time and space prison to serve a thousand years!!!
-
The sun was shining early on the dark blue tiles. Xiaowu had been exercising under the jujube tree for more than an hour before Xingxing slowly got up from the bed. Then he moved a small stool and, accompanied by Zhong Yan, gulped down medicine from a medicine bowl that was bigger than his face.
The medicine is bitter.
Xingxing misses the time when she had no sense of taste.
But as soon as he finished drinking the medicine, the candied fruit that was immediately brought to his mouth made him give up this longing.
Candied fruits are sweet. Qiuqiu has persuaded Xingxing to save many different kinds of candied fruits in space, so that they can be eaten as snacks when they arrive in other worlds in the future.
When Xiaowu stopped to take a shower and change his clothes, Xingxing had already put on her shoulder bag and was waiting for her brother to take her to school.
But as soon as Xingxing went out today, she found that her brother had taken another route.
"Let's go find Master's Wife. She sent me a message last night, asking me to take you home today. The old lady from the Anqing Marquis's Mansion will also be there."
After Xiaowu finished speaking, Xingxing nodded and did not refuse.
In order to take care of Xingxing's health, Xiaowu did not walk fast. Later he even squatted down and wanted to carry his brother on his back, but Xingxing shook his head and refused.
Xingxing was afraid that her brother would carry too much and become shorter than he actually was.
It was said in the cartoon that carrying heavy objects will prevent children from growing taller. In the future, the older brother will become a general, so it would be more impressive if he grows taller.
The thoughts in the children's heads are weird, but no one knows.
Xiaowu could only walk slower with his brother holding his hand. When they arrived at the master's grandmother's house, they found that not only her, but even the master was at home!
Facing the curious gazes of the two children, Liu Peili smiled and touched the heads of the two children, saying gently: "Don't be afraid. No matter what the outcome is, Master and Master's Wife will support you and will not let you be bullied or wronged."
He knew that both of them were good kids, so he and his wife were willing to believe what the two children said and were willing to wade into the muddy waters of Anqing Marquis' Mansion for them.
With these two old guys around, no matter how the situation changes, at least they can provide support and backing for the two children.
I'm just not sure what plans the Anqing Marquis' Mansion will make.
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