Chapter 223: Thinking of Home
"Mep!"
This was the first time Shen Yuexi got angry at a dead person.
Mei Pu's Xiliang army was originally going to Nanping to support Qiu Liming and his men. She had been worried and had even asked Mei Pu about it. Mei Pu had agreed without hesitation.
Only now did she realize that the Xiliang Army was actually going to help Xiao Beiheng.
It would be fine if Xiao Zhuo had already captured Yongwei, but now he has been forced into a desperate situation.
She turned and stared at Maep's body, looking left and right for something to hit.
Mei Dai rushed over from behind, hugged her arms and said, "Don't be angry. My brother did something wrong, but he is dead. Why are you angry with me?"
Shen Yuexi struggled left and right but couldn't get free.
I'm not pretending, I really can't break free, I'm just a born weakling.
"Why would he do this? My husband has clearly done nothing wrong to him."
"Don't get excited, sister," Mei Dai held her shoulders and asked her to turn around, "My brother has his own difficulties."
"He promised it all back then," Shen Yuexi shook her head vigorously. "I was afraid he might make a mistake, so I went to ask him. He said he would never go back on his promise to the King of Xiliang."
Mei Dai shouted, "No matter what promises we make, brother will never hand Xiliang over to someone like Xiao Zhuo, who has no status or position!"
Shen Yuexi's body stiffened and she asked, "Does he know the true identity of my husband?"
Mei Dai lowered her head in shame and said, "Sister, I did it. I heard Xiao Zhuo's secret in Emperor Yongde's sleep, so I wrote a letter and asked Zhang Song to take it to my brother. At that time, I thought Xiao Zhuo had the intention of seizing Xiliang, and I wanted to stop him, but my brother attached great importance to status. When my brother rescued me from the palace, he told me about this. He said that if we still handed Xiliang to Xiao Zhuo as promised by our father, it would be an insult to the ancestors of the Mei family, and he would rather die than do it."
Shen Yuexi covered her face with her hands and said, "If you don't want to give it to me, then don't give it to me. Just explain it clearly. Why are you trying to hurt us?"
"Xiao Beiheng promised my brother that if he was allowed to pass Nanping, he would not touch Xiliang..."
"He actually believed even Xiao Beiheng's words." Shen Yuexi was about to cry, but after hearing Mei Dai's words, she was so angry that she almost jumped up on the spot. "Fool, idiot, fool... That cruel man is capable of anything."
Mei Dai was surprised, let her go and asked, "Sister, do you know Xiao Beiheng well?"
"He was the kind of man you had no idea what he was thinking. He could greet you with a smile and then imprison you. And when you thought he was going to kill you, he gave you a horse and sent you away safely."
The more Shen Yuexi spoke, the more frightened she became.
She had an inexplicable fear of Xiao Beiheng. Xiao Beiheng crossed Nanping, and Xiao Zhuo was attacked from all sides and injured. How could she fight him?
"No, I have to go back to my husband," she jumped out of the carriage in a panic, "my husband is in danger."
She hadn't been terribly alarmed by Xiao Zhuo's injury. After all, the Yongwei city wall had collapsed due to the gunpowder explosion, and Xiao Kai hadn't gotten away with anything, having even been seriously injured. But Xiao Beiheng's arrival at this point was a different story.
"Sister, you can't go."
Mei Dai stopped the carriage, jumped out, ran a few steps, and reached out to grab Shen Yuexi's wrist: "I understand. If what my sister said is true, Xiao Beiheng is a very cunning person, you can't go back."
"Let go, I want to go back to my husband," Shen Yuexi used her other hand to pull Mei Dai's fingers, "I can't just leave like this."
She thought Mei Dai would hold her tightly, but unexpectedly, Mei Dai suddenly let go, causing her to stagger and almost fall.
"Go ahead," Mei Dai turned around and said coldly, "The army suffered a crushing defeat, and the rebels are rampant. Have you ever thought about what would happen to a beautiful woman like your sister when she encounters a rebellious army?"
Shen Yuexi turned a deaf ear, flexed her wrists twice, and walked away.
After taking a few steps, she stopped again.
It was pitch black, and I couldn't even see the road. The last time I came to Longsheng Town, I rode in Mei Dai's carriage along the main road. I didn't pay attention to the route back then, and now walking back alone would be impossible. I'd probably die in the middle of the night.
Besides, there is not enough time to rely on feet alone.
She turned around and ran back to Mei Dai, holding her hand and said, "Sister Mei, please take me back."
"No," Mei Dai answered bluntly, "Women like you and me shouldn't be on the battlefield. If we fail and are kidnapped by the rebels, our lives would be worse than death. Do you want that outcome?"
"My husband is still in Yongwei. I want to go find him." Shen Yuexi held Mei Dai's hand tightly, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.
"Why do you still care about him so much?" Mei Dai looked at Shen Yuexi in confusion. "He is no longer the crown prince. He can't even keep his title as King Zhao. He has nothing. Why are you still looking for him?"
"I don't know, I don't know," Shen Yuexi sobbed, "I just want to find him."
She was in a state of confusion, knowing only that Xiao Zhuo was in great danger and that she had to go find him. As for why, she hadn't figured it out yet.
Mei Dai still shook her head: "If we encounter a rebellious army, you and I will both end up in a miserable situation. Do you understand?"
"Then take me to a nearby place and I'll walk there myself." Shen Yuexi pleaded.
Mei Dai turned her gaze towards the carriage and gritted her teeth, saying, "No, I can't go back until my brother is buried."
"Sister Mei," Shen Yuexi bent her legs, knelt in front of Mei Dai, and hugged her legs: "Sister Mei, please."
"Why on earth?" Mei Dai couldn't help but ask again, "You knew that going back would mean a life-threatening situation, and you knew that going back wouldn't save him..."
"I can help him," Shen Yuexi cried, "I'm not a vase."
"Sister, what nonsense are you talking about?" Mei Dai sighed and reached out to wipe her tears. "Don't cry. Our Mei family has repeatedly received great kindness from your husband, and your prescriptions have saved my brother's pain. After his hand was severed, you made a prosthesis for him. I, Mei Dai, will repay these favors on behalf of my father and brother."
Shen Yuexi looked up in surprise: "Sister, did you agree?"
Mei Dai nodded. "Longsheng Town is deserted. Let's bury my brother here first. Although it's disrespectful, my brother wouldn't blame me if he knew about it. Then I'll take you back to Yongwei immediately."
"Okay, okay." Shen Yuexi wiped away her tears and stood up.
She also knew that this was the biggest concession Mei Dai could make.
If he took Meipu back to Yongwei, he would probably have already rotted by the time he got there. Furthermore, there was a large-scale battle going on beneath the city walls, and the situation was chaotic. Even his body might be lost. Meipu was Xiao Zhuo's friend after all, and he had saved him in the past. He definitely didn't deserve to be treated like this after his death.
The two women, holding torches, searched for a burial site in Longsheng Town. Although the night wind was cold and the cries of night owls could be heard from time to time, they had no time to be afraid.
After finding a suitable place soon, Mei Dai took the lamp hanging on the car and placed it on the ground. She then found two shovels from a nearby house and handed one to Shen Yuexi.
Shen Yuexi was anxious, so she picked up the shovel and stepped on it, using all her strength to press down.
Dig up a piece of soil the size of a palm.
I thought I was working really hard, but I only managed to dig up a tiny piece of dirt. If I really wanted to dig out a tomb, it would probably take me a whole day without eating or drinking.
She looked up at Mei Dai somewhat embarrassedly and saw that Mei Dai was kneeling on the ground with her hands clasped together and talking in a low voice.
"Brother, the war in Yongwei is raging, and I cannot return to the clan ancestral hall. However, the green mountains are vast, and loyal bones can be buried everywhere. Brother, you will stay here temporarily. When the war subsides, I will offer sacrifices to your soul and call it back. Then we can return to the clan and reunite with our ancestors."
Shen Yuexi felt that it was inappropriate for her to stand aside. After all, Mei Pu had saved Xiao Zhuo before, and there was a reason for his later misdeeds. So she clasped her hands together and said in her heart:
"Prince Mei, I asked Sister Mei to take me back to save my husband. I had no choice but to bury you here. Please don't blame Sister Mei, and don't come to me in your dreams."
She didn't believe in ghosts or gods, but at this moment, there was a strong sense of yin energy around her, so she said a few words to give herself courage.
While she was praying there, Mei Dai had already stood up, inserted the shovel into the ground, pressed it down with both hands, and shoveled up a full shovel of soil.
"Sister Mei, you...you can still use this?" Shen Yuexi asked in surprise.
"Grandpa taught me," Mei Dai said sadly, shoveling aside the dirt. "Grandpa said that although I'm a woman, I bear the heavy responsibility of the Mei family's success or failure. Not only must I master the six arts, but I must also be proficient in every musical instrument and song. Ever since I can remember, I've practiced day and night...Grandpa said that one day you might have to dig your father and brother's graves yourself. I never thought his words would come true."
Shen Yuexi fell silent.
The old King of Xiliang was a man of extraordinary talent, foresighted and predictable. Unfortunately, his son failed to live up to his expectations. His grandson, who could have been a successful man, contracted leprosy. Ultimately, all the burdens fell on Mei Dai's shoulders.
It is incredible that Mei Dai has managed to hold on until now without collapsing.
"No more talking, let's dig quickly." Mei Dai waved the shovel again.
Shen Yuexi also picked up the shovel, but before she could dig, Mei Dai suddenly threw down the shovel and rushed over, grabbing Shen Yuexi's hand and running: "Run, someone is coming."
Shen Yuexi was not as alert as Mei Dai, but after throwing away the shovel and running two steps, she also heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance.
A great battle is raging beneath Yongwei City, and the people are fleeing and dispersing. There's no sign of life for a hundred miles. If I hear the sound of horse hooves now, it's either bandits or thieves.
When she thought of the result of the two of them being caught by the bandits, her heart began to pound and her legs seemed to go weak.
Mei Dai dragged her into an abandoned farmhouse nearby, closed the door, and hid on either side of it. Mei Dai placed her finger on her lips, signaling her not to make a sound, and pulled out a sharp dagger from her waist.
Shen Yuexi looked at the dagger and swallowed.
This dagger almost stabbed her, but fortunately Mei Dai was not a reckless person.
The sound of horse hooves stopped outside the courtyard, and a man's voice said, "The lights are still on here, so they must still be here... There's still steam coming off the shovel handle, so they're nearby!"
Another male voice said, "Spread out and search."
Shen Yuexi felt horrified when she heard this. The other party was really smart. He could tell from the shovel that she and the other two were nearby. This kind of brain was not something an ordinary bandit could have. Could it be that a rebel army had escaped here?
Her face was pale as she looked at Mei Dai who was standing opposite her. She found that Mei Dai's eyes were tightly closed and her hand holding the dagger was shaking violently.
It turned out that Mei Dai was not much less frightened than her.
Just when I was getting nervous, there was a loud bang and the door was kicked open.
Mei Dai opened her eyes, rushed out from the darkness, and stabbed the onlooker with a dagger.
With a clang, the dagger spun through the air and vanished in a flash. Then, a sword gleaming with a cold light pointed at Mei Dai's throat.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com