Chapter 124 The Blazing Starlight Disturbs the Larvae
"You are the one who breaks the formation, and the one who breaks the deadlock."
Xiao Yan put his arm around Yang Xiao's shoulder. "Whether you're with me or with Zhong Li'an, you're the variable that can overturn everything. With me, you can single-handedly manipulate the entire situation, using the so-called mutual restraint between us to lead Chixiao Palace to overthrow the treacherous faction; and with Zhong Li'an, you're the key to penetrating the enemy camp and finding a way to break the deadlock. In this battle formation, you are the eye of the formation, the key to sweeping everything away."
Yang Xiao closed her eyes, lowered her head, and took deep breaths. Xiao Yan gently patted her shoulder, "As for this Chang'an Formation, it is ostensibly used to defend against enemies, but in reality, it is for purging internal forces. When the pure and impure forces are locked in a fierce battle within this formation, it will become utterly vulnerable."
"You used the Chang'an Formation in the third battle back then, didn't you?" Yang Xiao sighed softly, feeling helpless.
Xiao Yan glanced at her and nodded.
"At that time I knew that this formation could not be broken from the outside. We had to wait for it to fall into internal strife before we could take it down in one fell swoop."
“Yes,” Xiao Yan said with a smile, “Actually, you had already broken my formation at that time.”
Yang Xiao glanced at Xiao Yan, "Such a grand formation is just a rough draft you set up to test its power on the battlefield. You deliberately arranged the long snake with wings to wrap me up before turning it into the Chang'an Formation, didn't you?"
Xiao Yan tilted his head and looked at Yang Xiao, "How did you know?"
“Bai Ming couldn’t break through from the outside no matter what, but I tore it open after only a few blows from the inside,” Yang Xiao looked back at Xiao Yan, “How do you think I knew?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan smiled and shook his head, "I never dared to imagine that you would, just like on the battlefield, personally enter the fray and become the key to the formation."
Yang Xiao smiled weakly, "Perhaps it is fate."
“What you just said is true. The wise man I’ve been waiting for is Zhongli An.” Xiao Yan leaned back in his chair and said easily, “Now that the method to break the formation has been spread, all I can do is stir up this mess, step by step crush those treacherous officials, and then wait for Zhongli An to lead his righteous army to quell this chaos. Finally, as the leader of the traitors and the minister who murdered the emperor, I will plead with Zhongli An and then die at your hands.”
Yang Xiao frowned and shook her head. "You know perfectly well that I won't kill you."
“I know,” Xiao Yan smiled at Yang Xiao, “but it’s impossible to please everyone, and I will inevitably die. When that time comes, I ask that you grant me this long-cherished wish, so that my soul may peacefully return to the heavens.” She picked up the jade carp on the table and placed it in Yang Xiao’s hand, “My name is Yili, and yours is Lingyu. Such a jade pendant, is it not also a kind of fate?”
Yang Xiao also leaned back in her chair, holding the jade carp up to the sunlight, "It appears turbid when viewed in stillness, but clear when reflected in the sun."
“You should carry it with you,” Xiao Yan said, looking at the crystal-clear jade pendant in the sunlight. “With it, those treacherous officials won’t be able to touch you in the slightest.”
Yang Xiao looked up at the jade. Under the sunlight, it was like a clear pond where two carp swam together, endlessly thriving.
The outcome is decided, and people's hearts are at peace. And yet, the endless snow continues to fall without ceasing.
The roads were slippery, and to avoid inconvenience in transporting grain, Xiao Yan decided to return to the capital after only two days.
Xiao Yun returned to Chang'an first, while Yang Xiao put aside her grudges and waited by Xiao Yanzhen's side.
“Let’s go, Yang Xiao,” Xiao Yan said, helping Yang Xiao onto the horse and looking back at her. “We’re going back to Chang’an.”
Yang Xiao nodded and walked towards Chi Lian, who was standing to the side.
The heavy snow continued to fall, with snowflakes fluttering down like willow catkins, landing on the double carp jade pendant hanging from Yang Xiao's waist.
Yang Xiao pulled on the reins, mounted her horse, and followed beside Xiao Yan. The officials behind her were quite dissatisfied, but they glanced timidly at the jade pendant on her body and dared not say anything.
“It’s snowing quite early in Hedong County,” Xiao Yan said, raising his hand to catch the snowflakes falling from the sky. He looked back at Yang Xiao. “In previous years, people hadn’t even added winter clothes by this time.”
“Yes,” Yang Xiao nodded, keeping pace with her, “What goes around comes around. Perhaps Heaven also values this battle highly, which is why it sent some snowflakes down to help.”
"Oh?" Xiao Yan turned to look at Yang Xiao with interest. "When did you become so poetic?"
Yang Xiao looked up at the flying catkins, "Perhaps I was infected by a few old friends."
Xiao Yan smiled, spurred his horse and looked at the smooth, soft snow road in front of him and the rolling hills and villages in the distance. "Speaking of which, it was around this time when I met Song Lan and her daughter."
The crisp sound of the horse's bells echoed continuously in the vast天地 (heaven and earth). Yang Xiao stroked the horse's mane and saw Chi Lian raise its head, its breath turning into a cloud of white mist that dissipated in the air.
“Song Lan…” Yang Xiao also sighed, looking at the white sky, “She is similar to you but also different. She does not have your courage and momentum to overturn the world, and this person… has a very heavy mind.”
"You have a good eye for people," Xiao Yan turned around and smiled at Yang Xiao. "She said she wanted to become your apprentice, but you refused?"
"Hmm." Yang Xiao lowered her head and gave a bitter laugh. "Yes, I can't teach her."
"Is it because you don't trust her?"
“In this situation,” Yang Xiao turned and looked solemnly at Xiao Yan, “I don’t trust anyone.”
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, then turned back to look at the road ahead, and said with emotion, "On the third anniversary of the emperor's death, we happened to meet that mother and daughter. Isn't that a kind of fate?"
"Fate?" Yang Xiao glanced at Xiao Yan. "I didn't expect that you, Xiao Yan, could be controlled by your emotions."
What do you mean?
“Three years,” Yang Xiao looked up at the sky, “What can’t be accomplished with dedication? In these three years, the Yanzhou strategy, the Nanyang plan, the rebellion in Jiangnan,” she sneered, “all ended in failure. Even if he finally sowed discord and brought me in, wouldn’t it still be a case of his clever scheme backfiring?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan frowned and looked at Yang Xiao, "Could it be that you mean..."
"Do you really believe that heaven will cast a shadow for you without bias three years from now?" Yang Xiao tugged at the reins and looked back at Xiao Yan tentatively.
Xiao Yan shook his head, reined in his horse, and stood there stunned for a long while before giving a bitter smile. "Human hearts are treacherous. This time, I was careless."
“It’s alright,” Yang Xiao sighed softly. “I understand.”
-
The two chatted all the way, making even the most difficult roads seem much easier, and they returned to Chang'an in less than two days.
It's that familiar city gate again.
Looking at the bustling street scene before him, Xiao Yan casually pulled on the reins, turned around and smiled at Yang Xiao, "How about it, do you want to dismount and ride around with me for a few laps?"
"Now?" Yang Xiao also reined in the horses. "You want to lead your troops around Chang'an?"
“How could that be?” Xiao Yan chuckled and shook his head, then raised his hand to beckon his deputy general behind him. “Xiao Yun is already at the military camp. You take the rest of the men back to find him.”
"Yes, sir." The lieutenant clasped his hands in a fist salute and led his troops toward the city.
Yang Xiao glanced back at the departing deputy general, then looked at Xiao Yan with a puzzled expression. "Xiao Yun is already in the Imperial Guard camp? When did he leave?"
"Are you still half asleep?" Xiao Yan shook his head, both amused and exasperated. "After you finished fighting with Bai Ming, I sent him back to Chang'an immediately. Haven't you noticed that you haven't seen Xiao Yun since the victory celebration banquet?"
Yang Xiao gazed at the sky for a long time, then chuckled and sighed, "Yes, I've been sleeping too much." She spurred her horse forward two steps and looked at the bustling streets of Chang'an, which were as lively as ever. Only then did she realize that the Chang'an city she had been longing for was right in front of her.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Yan spurred his horse forward and stood beside Yang Xiao. "You've been in Chang'an for a year and haven't seen the city?"
Yang Xiao remained seated on the bridge, gazing intently at the street scene before her, and gently shook her head.
This was her first real visit to Chang'an. Just as she had imagined in her dreams, Chang'an, nestled behind the mountains of Bingzhou, was incredibly prosperous and bustling, as if the chaos of the world had nothing to do with the people here. Yet, they couldn't help but mention the recent war situation in their conversations.
This is what it means to live and work in peace and contentment while still being concerned about national affairs.
Seeing the two warhorses standing at the city gate, the people of the city surged forward. To Yang Xiao's surprise, they showed no fear or timidity towards Xiao Yan. Instead, they greeted her and congratulated her in a relaxed manner, as if they were old friends exchanging pleasantries. Before long, they dispersed in all directions.
She felt like she had seen this scene before, yet it also seemed like she had never seen it before.
The people of Ji and Yu provinces surrounded Zhongli An more than once, their enthusiasm and gratitude evident, yet they seemed to lack a certain spontaneity. Each gesture of respect was imbued with deep affection, but it lacked the carefree spirit of the people of Chang'an.
Perhaps it was because Zhongli An was too gentle and refined in nature that the people were as humble and polite as he was.
After chatting with the common people, Xiao Yan turned her head slightly and saw Yang Xiao still sitting on the saddle bridge, lost in thought. She couldn't help but chuckle softly, "The common people have all gone about their own business, what are you still thinking about?"
Yang Xiao then came to her senses. The streets and alleys in front of her were still as noisy as ever, as if nothing had happened.
She turned to look at Xiao Yan, only to find his gaze gentle and inquisitive, yet clear as a mirror, reflecting her heart directly. Yang Xiao gently shook her head, then sighed with a smile.
Presumably, it is because of her sharp and unassuming nature, and her focus on the cause rather than the result, that she has cultivated the local people to be just like her, so unconcerned with formalities and acting on their own whims.
"What," Xiao Yan chuckled lightly, teasingly asking, "Never seen a scene like this before?"
"How could that be?" Yang Xiao looked ahead, then glanced back at Xiao Yan. "Do you think I had lost the support of the people to you before?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan burst into laughter. She raised her hand and patted Yang Xiao's shoulder, "Sure enough, you can't expect me to be so tactful."
Yang Xiao chuckled and shook her head, "I didn't expect it to be so popular with the people."
“I’ve said it before, so-called public opinion has nothing to do with your so-called stance. What they care about is what you do and how you act.” Xiao Yan said, her gaze pausing slightly. She raised her chin. “Oh, is the old lady waiting for you?”
Yang Xiao followed Xiao Yan's gaze and looked to the side. There she saw an elderly woman with white hair looking in their direction. She was hunched over and had a large, cloth-covered basket in her hand. She looked up at Yang Xiao.
Her eyes, weathered by time, were filled with hope, nostalgia, and a hint of hesitation. She looked at Yang Xiao as if gazing at a long-lost friend, yet her feet remained firmly rooted to the spot, hesitant to move forward.
"Judging from her expression, it seems like she knows me."
"Who in Chang'an doesn't know you?" Xiao Yan joked with a smile. "Don't keep her waiting, go and take a look."
Yang Xiao nodded, dismounted, and walked over with Xiao Yan, holding the reins.
Sure enough, as Yang Xiao approached, the woman involuntarily took a few steps forward. She glanced at Xiao Yan beside Yang Xiao, put down her basket, and was about to kneel in obeisance.
"Oh, ma'am, wait a minute," Xiao Yan said, quickly running forward to help the old woman up. "Although I am of a different status, I am still just a junior. You don't need to be so polite."
The woman nodded quickly and bowed to Xiao Yan, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Auntie," Yang Xiao called softly as she bent down, "you were just now..."
"Is that General Lingyu?"
The woman looked up at Yang Xiao and asked her kindly and inquiringly. She took Yang Xiao's hands in hers, her calloused hands gently stroking the back of Yang Xiao's hands with her rough fingertips.
Yang Xiao was taken aback for a moment by this sudden enthusiasm. She nodded and looked back at the old woman's gentle, amber eyes with a friendly expression. "It is I."
"It really is you... It seems they were telling the truth..." The old woman's eyes immediately showed a hint of pity, and she tightened her grip on Yang Xiao's hand. "Fifty lashes, does it hurt?"
Yang Xiao was taken aback again upon hearing this. She smiled and sighed, gently shaking her head, "It's all in the past, I'm fine."
"How could I not be in pain, being so old and senile..." The woman frowned and shook her head, but when she looked up and saw Xiao Yan's puzzled yet interested gaze, she quickly clasped her hands in a fist salute to Xiao Yan, "Your Highness, I... for the time being..." She took a long breath, slightly nervous, "May I be so bold as to invite Your Highness and the General to my humble abode for a chat?" She turned around and pointed, "It's right there."
Xiao Yan followed the old woman's hand and saw a very simple courtyard at the corner.
She smiled and nodded, then leaned down to look at the old woman. "Then I'll trouble you, ma'am."
"You agreed?" The old woman looked at Xiao Yan with delight, then gestured to the side, "Please come in, gentlemen."
Yang Xiao nodded and followed her into the courtyard.
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