Chapter 110 A Long-Standing Homesickness That's Hard to Be Expressed
Xiao Yan sat up abruptly, dressed neatly, and walked towards the door.
Pushing open the door, she saw a cold light pierce her vision from the side courtyard. Then Yang Xiao flew forward, swinging her spear. With each move, she drew in the wind, and the yellow leaves falling on the ground floated up with the force of the spear before falling back down.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but stop and watch. The spirited Yang Xiao in front of him was completely different from the wary one he had been yesterday. Her hair, tied up, rose and fell with the yellow leaves, fluttering in the air. Her figure seemed to be one with her silver spear. Every attack she made was powerful and agile.
Yang Xiao seemed to notice Xiao Yan's gaze. She turned her spear and stopped, then clasped her hands in a fist salute to Xiao Yan, saying, "It is my great honor to have Your Highness grace me with your presence."
Xiao Yan smiled and walked towards her, "You got up quite early."
"It's alright, I'm used to it." Yang Xiao put away her gun and looked at Xiao Yan. "Your Highness doesn't even have a maidservant by your side?"
“I never keep idle people here.” Xiao Yan sighed softly. “It is precisely because there are no idle people that I was woken up early this morning by the sounds of fighting and had no choice but to come out and see what was going on.”
Yang Xiao smiled upon hearing this, "It seems I'll have to switch to practicing boxing tomorrow."
“It’s alright,” Xiao Yan shook her head. “Just practice your shooting. If I get up early, I can even come out and observe.” She paused, then looked up at Yang Xiao. “How’s your injury?”
"Thank you for your concern, I'm almost fully recovered." Yang Xiao nodded and smiled again, answering Xiao Yan's question without fully comprehending it.
"That's good then." Seeing that Yang Xiao was unwilling to say more, Xiao Yan did not press further. She stood beside Yang Xiao, watching the rising sun slowly emerge, "Go to Zhu Yang Palace and wait for me for my meal. I will be there shortly after."
Yang Xiaogang nodded and turned to leave, but suddenly stopped. She turned back to look at Xiao Yan, "Where is Zhu Yang Palace...?"
"This is the place where the banquet was held last night." Xiao Yan said as he tidied his hair and walked into the house.
"Xiao Yan," Yang Xiao called out to her, "I can't find it. I don't know the way."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan paused in his actions.
"You don't know the way?" Xiao Yan turned around and looked at her in shock. "Weren't you quite good at using the terrain when you were fighting?"
Yang Xiao looked at her helplessly, "It's just that the guide is excellent."
Xiao Yan nodded and shook his head. "Alright, alright, you go back to your room and rest first. I'll have Fan Kun take you around the area to get familiar with it."
With that, she turned and walked into the bedchamber. Yang Xiao watched her retreating figure, shook his head with a smile, turned around, put down his spear, steadied himself in a horse stance, and began practicing a set of fist techniques.
Before long, Fan Kun arrived as promised. Yang Xiao followed him, looking around as he talked on and on about the layout of the buildings, and couldn't help but yawn.
She rubbed her eyes and saw Fan Kun walking forward without looking back, so she gradually slowed down and took the opportunity to turn into a side road, groping her way in on her own.
Zhu Yang Hall is located slightly east of the center of the palace. Judging from the layout of the palace, there should be three main halls standing in a tripod formation. Yang Xiao strolled around, pondering this. If Zhu Yang Hall is in the east, then the remaining two halls should be located in the northwest and southwest.
Yang Xiao looked up at the distant blue eaves, which contrasted with the golden eaves beside them, and nodded to herself.
It seems her idea was correct.
As she walked along, looking at the houses echoing each other everywhere, she couldn't help but sigh. These concentric circles of houses surrounded the three main halls like stars around the moon, severing the original straight dragon vein of the palace. The palace seemed to have changed from the stable square shape she had heard of to a chaotic circle.
The entire palace seemed to come alive, with each building responding to the others, and people coming and going, creating a chaotic chessboard in swirling clouds, endlessly breathing in and out.
Yang Xiao frowned, caught in the middle of the situation, unable to see the truth clearly. She paced towards the edge of the Chang'an formation; the vast imperial palace seemed endless. She looked up at the sun high in the sky, then looked back at the deserted streets behind her. Everywhere she looked, there were houses, houses, and more houses—houses everywhere. The three main halls she had just passed were hidden behind layers of rooftops, and the hazy mist made them appear even more unfathomable.
If they went any further, it would definitely arouse Xiao Yan's suspicion. No matter how bad one's sense of direction is, it's impossible for them to run out of the main hall.
Thinking this, Yang Xiao turned around and headed back. There didn't seem to be a straight road ahead, but the central axis ran through it all the way, never being obstructed in the slightest. In this Chang'an Formation, newcomers would be led astray by the formation's layout, turning left and right without finding their way, never noticing the central axis hidden among the roads.
The winding road became the main road, and the central axis became the shortcut. Yang Xiao nodded and smiled, taking the "shortcut" towards the three main halls.
That's not right.
Yang Xiao stopped in her tracks.
If someone who doesn't know the way gets lost in this Chang'an Formation, how could they find the main hall so quickly? Yang Xiao suddenly shivered as if she had thought of something, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on her back, making her wounds sting with pain.
The three main halls are used by the council members, so Xiao Yan and her brother, along with the important officials, will definitely reside around them. However, the two have conflicting ideologies, and the officials are divided into two factions. Xiao Yan's subordinates are still unaware of this, and treacherous officials are always good at sticking together for mutual support... Thinking of this, Yang Xiao pondered for a moment, then walked towards the east side.
She knew that the Chixiao Palace had been located east of the palace from the beginning by the late emperor and had never changed.
The Yang family could never be neighbors with treacherous officials, and Xiao Yan desperately needed the help of the coerced Yang Song when he was just establishing his power. Perhaps… he should head over there first, and the rest…
Yang Xiao stopped in her tracks again, and before she knew it, the Crimson Cloud Palace had appeared before her eyes. She looked up at the magnificent building in the distance and froze in place.
This place is the Yangzhen residence, Chixiao Mansion, which she has longed for for sixteen years.
"Chixiao Prefecture..." Yang Xiao couldn't help but read the words on the plaque aloud. The so-called "Chixiao" was the title of General Yang Zhen. In those days, he guarded the border, pouring his endless youth and blood into the lands of the Han and Qiang peoples. In order to fulfill his dream of returning home and to spread the admiration and longing of the people of the world for Yang Zhen, the late emperor named the city after the sky above it, attaching the name of the country to this wanderer who went on a distant expedition, just as the scenic beauty of Chang'an and the name of the general will be passed down for eternity.
Her father, whom she hadn't seen for twenty years, was in this mansion. Her blood relative, whom she hadn't seen for twenty years, was only separated from her by two walls. Yang Xiao's heart trembled. She couldn't wait to rush into the mansion, but her legs felt like they were made of lead, and she couldn't move an inch.
She wanted to go, yet dared not. Her heart seemed unable to bear such a weight. She stood before the mansion, unsure whether to go in or back. She knew she couldn't go to Zhu Yang Palace, but going any further would only bring disaster.
Just as they were hesitating, they heard the sound of someone running in the courtyard.
"Lingyu!" A moment later, Yang Song, accompanied by a soldier, rushed from the courtyard to her, his clothes warm. "This is the first time we've met here." As he spoke, he took Yang Xiao's hand and gently put his arm around her shoulder. "Did His Highness send you?"
Yang Xiao was taken aback at first, then smiled and shook her head, "No, brother, His Highness originally asked Fan Kun to lead me to Zhu Yang Palace, but I accidentally got separated from General Fan halfway there..."
Upon hearing this, Yang Song frowned regretfully, "I thought His Highness had allowed you to come... but unfortunately, Father is not home at the moment."
"What?" Yang Xiao was taken aback.
"Father was summoned for questioning by Xiao Yun." Yang Song smiled wryly and patted Yang Xiao's shoulder.
"Does he suspect that my intentions in surrendering are impure?" Yang Xiao looked up at Yang Song's helpless eyes and said angrily, "He forced me to surrender and then questioned me in every way. Since I'm here, I'm determined to assist Xiao Yan wholeheartedly. How can I be considered disloyal?"
Yang Song sighed and patted Yang Xiao's back soothingly. "That's just an excuse. Zhongli An's power is extremely pure, as you should know. There is never any infighting between civil and military officials. They always treat each other with sincerity and are united as one... But it's different here, Xiao. The chaos here is far greater than you can imagine. You have been an envoy to Jiangnan before. I can only say that this place is much more chaotic than Jiangnan."
He bent down and said to Yang Xiao earnestly, "I assure you, what you are guessing, or what you are struggling with, will surely be answered in the days and nights to come. This is also why I am wholeheartedly assisting Your Highness."
Looking into his sincere eyes, Yang Xiao nodded solemnly, "Okay, I believe you."
Yang Song smiled and nodded, "In that case, I will go with you to Zhu Ming Palace. When His Highness allows you to see your father, our family will be truly reunited."
The brother and sister set off towards Zhu Yang Palace, while Fan Kun, who had lost Yang Xiao halfway there, was already in a daze. After searching the surrounding area to no avail, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and run back to Zhu Yang Palace to report the situation truthfully.
"So... you abandoned her halfway and came here by yourself?" Xiao Yan looked at Fan Kun, who was at a loss, and Fan Kun looked at him with the same bewilderment.
"Your Highness, please forgive me. This is my dereliction of duty. I will send someone to bring her back immediately." Fan Kun bowed with shame and turned to leave.
He had just turned around and taken two steps when he saw a young eunuch rush forward and kneel before Xiao Yan. "Your Highness, General Yang Song and General Yang Xiao are requesting an audience outside the palace."
"Oh?" Xiao Yan suddenly became interested. "Quickly, invite them in."
"Yes, Your Highness." The young eunuch responded and stepped back outside the door, lifting the curtain to let the two in. Yang Song nodded to the young eunuch, strode towards Xiao Yan, and then bowed, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Yang Xiao stopped behind Yang Song and nodded to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan sat up and smiled at Yang Xiao, "How could you get lost while following Fan Kun?"
Yang Xiao smiled and shook her head. "The palace buildings are indeed exquisite and magnificent. I didn't pay attention for a while and that's how I got separated from General Fan."
Upon hearing this, Fan Kun, who was standing nearby, quickly clasped his hands and said, "This humble subject has failed in his duties, and I hope Your Highness and General will forgive me."
"It's alright, it's alright." Yang Xiao turned around, smiled, and shook her head at him before meeting Xiao Yan's inquiring gaze.
"You could say I stumbled into your home by accident," Xiao Yan said with a smile. "So, have you met your father?"
Yang Song shook his head and said helplessly, "My father was summoned by your younger brother, General Xiao, early this morning. I don't know what it was about."
"Such a thing is true?" Xiao Yan's expression gradually turned cold. She looked up at Yang Song. "Call Lu Qi to go find him and bring the old general back to the manor. His seniority is not even higher than mine, so what right does he have to summon the old general!"
Yang Song nodded and clasped his hands in greeting, "Understood." He then nodded to Xiao Yan and Yang Xiao, before turning and leaving with Fan Kun.
Xiao Yan, with a somber expression, watched the two walk out of the hall before turning to Yang Xiao. "Xiao Yun may be trying to find fault with you, but don't worry about it. Since I've kept you here, it's because I completely trust you."
"Thank you for your kind words." Yang Xiao also composed herself and looked earnestly at Xiao Yan, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile. "I've heard that General Yang Xiao under Zhong Li'an's command is quick-witted, lively, and exceptionally energetic. Why is he so quiet and reserved around me?"
“Your esteemed place is certainly different; it truly tests one’s character.” Yang Xiao chuckled and said, “With such a complex web of power struggles, and the palace shrouded in intricate mazes, how can one not be cautious?”
Xiao Yan smiled upon hearing this. "In the current situation, you are in the open, while we are in the dark." She nodded and pondered for a moment. "How about this, let's play this game, and we will naturally see through this game within a game."
"Someone come here," Xiao Yan clapped his hands, "Bring out the chess set."
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