Chapter 115 Fate is like flowing water, its path never ending
"Although I didn't send a single letter, it's still a token of your affection." Yang Song dodged Yang Zhen's hand and looked at Yang Xiao in front of the table with a smile. "Xiao, although your father hasn't been by your side all these years, he has always truly cared about you."
Yang Xiao looked up at the letters in Yang Song's hands, and carefully held them on her lap.
"I originally wanted to send it to you, but I didn't know where Qi Xian was living in seclusion." Yang Zhen sighed with emotion. "Back then, when I was in the Northern Border with Song'er, you were always on my mind when I had nothing to do. Whenever I saw Song'er and Xiao Fan practicing martial arts, I wondered what it would be like if you were here."
Yang Xiao stared at the mountain of letters on the table, her hand holding a thin sheet of paper trembling involuntarily.
"Alright, Xiao, we'll see when we get back." Yang Zhen chuckled and put his hand on Yang Xiao's shoulder. "At least give me some face."
Yang Xiao chuckled softly upon hearing this. She carefully arranged the letters in front of her, then looked back at Yang Zhen. "When I get back, I will read them one by one and hang them in the house to constantly remind myself."
"You silly child," Yang Zhen chuckled and shook his head, gently tapping Yang Xiao with his finger. Looking into Yang Xiao's bright eyes, he sighed with emotion, "If your mother saw you like this, she would be overjoyed."
Yang Xiao put away her joking expression and looked up at Yang Zhen seriously, "Mother?"
“Yes, she always complains that I’m too old-fashioned, and Song’er is just like me,” Yang Zhen said with a smile, looking into Yang Xiao’s eyes. “But fortunately, you are very much like her. Whether it’s your temperament, your figure, or the unspoken frankness and valor in your every move, you are very much like her.”
Yang Xiao looked into Yang Zhen's loving eyes and listened quietly, only to see him pat his leg as if he had made up his mind.
"In the past few years, I have never been by your side, but from this day forward, I will never allow any unscrupulous person to harm you in the slightest." Yang Zhen looked at Yang Xiao with great conviction. "Although I am powerless to reverse the situation, with me and Song'er, with our Chixiao Mansion, we can absolutely protect you from being harmed by treacherous people in this situation."
“Thank you, Father,” Yang Xiao grasped Yang Zhen’s hand and nodded to him gratefully. “However, some things that go with the flow cannot be accomplished without getting involved. I know your good intentions, but I have my own considerations regarding temporary gains and losses.”
“It’s that reckless fighting style again,” Yang Zhen nodded and shook his head with a light laugh. “Fine, we support whatever you want. But don’t forget,” he raised his hand and stroked Yang Xiao’s head, “Chixiao Mansion is your eternal home.”
Yang Xiao felt a lump in her throat and looked solemnly at Yang Zhen, "Thank you, Father."
After a few cups of tea, Yang Xiao suddenly recalled the scene when she passed by Chixiao Mansion. Her heart sank, and she turned to look at Yang Zhen. "Father, I heard that Xiao Yun summoned you to the palace. Did he make things difficult for you?"
“It’s not so much that you’re making things difficult for me, but for you, child,” Yang Zhen put down his teacup, frowned as he looked at Yang Xiao, and sighed, “You fell for his trick and came to seek refuge, but he keeps saying that your intentions are not pure. He probably sees that Xiao Yan is giving you important positions, which is not good for him.”
Yang Xiao frowned slightly upon hearing this. "If it's not in his best interest, why is he interrogating you behind my back instead of confronting me?"
“Don’t let the fact that Xiao Yan and Xiao Yun are siblings fool you; they’re worlds apart,” Yang Zhen sighed with a smile, patting Yang Xiao’s hand. “Xiao Yan is quite a character; I can’t quite figure her out. Although her words and actions can be a bit extreme at times, she’s always been sensible.”
“But Xiao Yun is different,” Yang Zhen frowned. “This man is cunning, extremely violent, and ambitious. If we don’t advise him in time, he will not only fail to achieve anything, but will also be a scourge to the people.”
Yang Xiao nodded approvingly. “Father is absolutely right. I originally thought that Xiao Yan summoned you back to the palace to place you under house arrest and order your brother to do as he pleases. But today, it seems that she has not done anything to mistreat you, so I am relieved.”
"So what are your plans in the palace now?"
Yang Xiao closed her eyes and sighed deeply. "Who caused our fate to be like this has always been one of the reasons why I became a general. As someone who was used to revitalize Chixiao Mansion, Xiao Yan has always owed me an answer. As for the so-called current situation, I will wait for Xiao Yan to make a name for himself."
"What about Xiao Yun?" Yang Zhen frowned as he looked at Yang Xiao. "Last time in the palace, you rebuked him so badly in front of all the officials that he lost all face. If we let this go, he will definitely try to trip you up behind your back. If all the officials think that your intentions are not pure, even if Xiao Yan fully supports you, it will probably be of no use."
"Father, rest assured," Yang Xiao looked back at Yang Zhen with relief, "In the next battle, I will personally lead the troops into battle and make all the generals convinced of my superiority."
Upon hearing this, Yang Song felt a pang of unease. He stepped forward and sat down next to Yang Xiao. "You... really want to fight Bai Ming?"
"Bai Ming?" Before Yang Xiao could reply, Yang Zhen laughed heartily as if recalling something from the past. "He's Bai Yao's son, isn't he?"
"General Bai Yao?" Yang Xiao turned to look at Yang Zhen, poured a cup of tea, and listened quietly.
"Back then, we were brothers who would risk our lives for each other. Who knew that after the new emperor came to power, he demoted or killed all of us old ministers. Bai Yao was proud and couldn't stand this injustice, so he resigned and went back to Yuzhou to guard it."
Recalling his old friend, Yang Zhen's eyes lit up. "Back then, he advised me that staying in the court would lead to trouble sooner or later, and that I should go with him instead of clinging to the reputation. I was stubborn back then and wouldn't give up, which led to the trouble that followed." He closed his eyes and sighed sadly. "After that, I never saw him again."
“Everyone has their own choices,” Yang Song looked up at Yang Zhen and comforted him, “Don’t feel bad about it anymore.”
Yang Zhen chuckled and waved his hand, "Back when you were just born, Song'er, that guy Bai Yao kept saying that he would have a daughter in the future so that she could marry Song'er. But who knew that fate would be so cruel, he only had one son, Bai Ming."
Looking into Yang Zhen's eyes, Yang Xiao felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart. She sighed deeply, then smiled at Yang Zhen, "How can the connection between people be so shallow?"
Yang Zhen turned to look at Yang Xiao and immediately understood. He raised his hand and ruffled Yang Xiao's hair, saying nothing more.
A moment later, he patted Yang Xiao on the shoulder and said, "You know how to behave, and I trust you."
Yang Xiao nodded solemnly, "Thank you, Father. The day of battle is approaching, so I won't stay any longer..."
"Hey, wait a minute," Yang Zhen raised his hand to stop her, then picked up the liquor jug next to him, poured a cup of liquor for Yang Xiao, and held it out to her with a burning gaze, "Drink this cup, and then go ahead and do what you want to do."
Looking into Yang Zhen's eyes, Yang Xiao took the wine glass from his hand without hesitation. "Thank you for the wine, Father."
She tilted her head back and drank it all in one gulp, immediately feeling a burning sensation slide down her throat and burn intensely in her chest.
"Father, elder brother," Yang Xiaochao said solemnly, clasping his hands in farewell, "I take my leave."
"Miss, let me see you out." Seeing Yang Xiao about to leave, Fan Kun quickly picked up his cloak and walked towards the door.
"I'm sure I can find my way along this short stretch of road." She smiled and shook her head at Fan Kun, then clasped her hands in a fist salute to the crowd. "No need to see me off, see you later."
Having said that, she turned around and stepped out the door, leaving only a glimpse of her crimson dress, like a flowing sunset, burning across the sky.
Despite facing the wind all the way, the effects of the alcohol still overwhelmed him.
She ran all the way, enduring her dizziness, and entered the tent while holding onto the door. Seeing the maid coming, she gritted her teeth and pinched her arm, then forced herself to wave, "Please make some mung bean soup, thank you."
Seeing that Yang Xiao was not in good spirits, the maid quickly stepped forward to support her, saying, "General, there's no need to be so polite. I'll go and prepare it right away."
Yang Xiao nodded and gently pushed away the maid's hand. "Go ahead and do your work. I'll go back and rest for a while."
Watching the maid's worried departure, Yang Xiao collapsed and sat down on the couch, leaning against the wall.
How could her alcohol tolerance be so low? She sighed and smiled wryly, the scene of her first time drinking alcohol and her crazy outburst at Bai Ming flashing through her mind.
She lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling that cast afterimages. A fleeting image flashed before her eyes: Bai Ming seeing her helpless and disoriented after getting drunk, his tender expression. She placed her forearm on her forehead, trying to use the coolness of his skin to rouse her remaining consciousness.
The mung bean soup was already cooked, but the look of her old friend lingered in her eyes. Yang Xiao picked up the hot soup and drank it down in one gulp, the warm sensation sliding down her throat. She gazed at the long spear leaning against the door, gleaming in the sunlight, and felt a pang of oppression in her heart.
The gun remains, but where are the people? The wine may be hard to drink, but the feelings endure.
Yang Xiao let out a long sigh, her nose stung, and her vision blurred with tears.
She gently stirred the mung beans in the bowl with a spoon, resting her chin on her hand and smiling as she gazed at the ripples. How was Cen Xun now? She couldn't help but wonder, perhaps he was studying formations? Or perhaps he was practicing his sword... Her gaze was then unconsciously drawn to the silver spear by the door, and the spirited figures of her companions immediately appeared before her eyes.
The dizziness in her mind suddenly dissipated, and she resolutely laid out the military manual, pointing out the gates of life and death for the Chang'an Formation in the diagram.
She had to break this formation completely before the battle began.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yun, her sworn enemy, was desperately trying to steal her man.
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