Chapter Ninety: The Moonlit Sky Reflects the Returning Soul
"Mr. Xue Chang rushed here from Jiangnan overnight and is now waiting outside the city."
Yang Xiao stood there for a moment, stunned. "Mr. Xue..." she sighed softly, sat back on the edge of the bed, and frowned as she looked at Bai Ming. "It seems that Jiangnan is in complete chaos as well."
Bai Ming took Yang Xiao's hand and asked, "After that battle, did Jiangnan send reinforcements?"
Yang Xiao shook her head. "No." She pondered for a moment, then looked up at Zhang Ping. "After the ambush in Lujiang was defeated, where did the troops escape to?"
Zhang Ping frowned and sighed, "It's strange, they're all heading towards Sizhou."
“It really is Xiao Yan…” Yang Xiao closed her eyes, clenched her fist, then shook her head. “No, judging from the current situation, it is most likely Xiao Yun.”
She sighed and exchanged a glance with Bai Ming. "However, the military strength in Jiangnan is far more than 50,000. It seems that Jiangnan's inaction is due to the restraint of the Lingyue Pavilion."
“In that case,” Bai Ming frowned and looked at Yang Xiao, “why don’t we invite Mr. Xue into the city for a chat first?”
Yang Xiao nodded, then looked up at Zhang Ping and said, "Take a group of men and go pick him up personally. Tell him I can't leave here and that he should come directly to this place to find me."
"Understood." Zhang Ping clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around, and went out of the house.
-
A series of hurried footsteps, along with the fading sunlight, flooded the room. With the sound of the curtains being drawn, crimson light instantly illuminated the entire room.
Yang Xiao glanced back and saw Xue Chang raising his hand to lift the curtain, his steps halting at the doorway. She then came to her senses, stood up, and bowed to Xue Chang, saying, "Mr. Cheyan."
"Lingyu," Xue Chang nodded to Yang Xiao, then turned to look at Bai Ming, who was struggling to sit up against the pillows. "Zhaoqing." Seeing Bai Ming struggling to get up and bow to him, he quickly ran over and gently pressed his shoulder. "Hey, Zhaoqing, please don't move." He looked at Bai Ming's bandaged upper body with heartache, then looked up at his pale face, frowned and sighed softly, "How much suffering has he endured?"
"Don't worry, sir," Bai Ming chuckled and shook his head, "I'm fine."
“The last time I saw you, you were so elegant and spirited,” Xue Chang patted Bai Ming’s shoulder, then closed his eyes and shook his head. “This time… it’s all my fault.”
Before she could finish speaking, Yang Xiao snorted and handed a cup of hot tea to Xue Chang with a smile. "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Why blame you?" She patted Xue Chang's shoulder and sat down on a stool next to him. "If we make a mistake this time, we can get double the amount back next time. With such a disparity in troop strength, it's truly shameful and disheartening that He Yuan couldn't even win with 50,000 troops against 5,000."
Before Xue Chang could say anything, Bai Ming couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, turned to look at Yang Xiao, and said softly, "Ah Xiao, tone it down."
“No need to hold back,” Xue Chang scoffed and waved his hand. “This time I’m heading north to completely pledge allegiance to our lord. If I stay with He Yuan for even one more day, my reputation will be ruined by him.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Ming frowned slightly, "Sir, if you leave like this, what about He Yuan...?"
"Don't worry, Zhaoqing," Xue Chang sighed with a smile, then looked back at Yang Xiao. "Lingyu has spent a lot of time in Jiangnan, so she should know that in He Yuan's eyes, I am nothing more than an insignificant existence." He closed his eyes in self-reproach and sighed deeply. "Perhaps that is why I am of no use in stopping He Yuan from turning against us and sending troops this time."
He took a sip of hot tea, looked up at Yang Xiao, and said, "You guessed right about the poison tree you mentioned earlier. It was indeed a gift from the people of Nanjun."
"What?" Yang Xiao frowned upon hearing this. "So this rebellion was indeed instigated by Xiao Yan again?"
Xue Chang closed his eyes and gently shook his head. "It's more accurate to say it's her younger brother, Xiao Yun, rather than Xiao Yan." He lowered his eyes and looked at the teacup in his hand. "This rebellion was entirely due to the collusion between Nanjun and Xiao Yun, who also whispered in He Yuan's ear before the troops were dispatched. He concealed all the news of the troops' departure. When I found out, I rushed to Lujiang." He gave a bitter smile and looked up at Yang Xiao. "Even if I ran three horses to death, I was still a step too late."
“It’s alright,” Yang Xiao said through gritted teeth, shaking her head. “At least we won.” She closed her eyes and pondered for a long while, then forced back her anger and looked at Xue Chang. “So, the one who started all this was Xiao Yun again?”
She slammed her fist on the edge of the bed. "First, they colluded with Nanjun to send troops to frame us, and then they sent Yingchuan troops to take advantage of our misfortune." She stood up angrily, crossed her arms, and snorted coldly. "When I fought with my brother earlier, I said that Xiao Yan and Xiao Yun were secretly at odds. Did Xiao Yan know about this? Why hasn't she sent troops and has been secretly plotting against us? What exactly does she mean by this!"
"Ah Xiao," Bai Ming shook his head gently upon seeing this, looked at Yang Xiao with concern, and softly called out, "Don't rush, let's observe slowly."
"How can I not be anxious?" Yang Xiao leaned weakly against Bai Ming's pillow, gently shaking her head. "Ever since the siege of Yingchuan, the situation in Nanyang, and the battle between my brother and me, which one wasn't secretly orchestrated by Xiao Yan? Even this time, she..."
Bai Ming gently squeezed Yang Xiao's hand, stroking the back of her hand in a comforting manner. Yang Xiao then sighed and sat down obediently.
“However,” Xue Chang took a sip of warm tea and looked up at Yang Xiao, “the troops that Lingyue Pavilion has secretly recruited are now enough to cover half of Jiangnan.”
Yang Xiao looked up at Xue Chang and then chuckled, “No wonder He Yuan didn’t send out any more troops after that.”
“Yes,” Xue Chang also shook his head with a smile, “Although I am just an unknown soldier under He Yuan, it is precisely because of this that I can spare the time to secretly manage the Lingyue Pavilion.”
Bai Ming sighed upon hearing this, "You've worked so hard behind the scenes all these years, it must have been really tough for you."
"Compared to you, what am I?" Xue Chang shook his head and looked up at Bai Ming. "It is only because the Lingyue Pavilion's influence has spread throughout Jiangnan and it has enough troops to sideline He Yuan that I dare to head north and join my lord."
Yang Xiao chuckled upon hearing this, "He Yuan probably never dreamed that he could be stripped of his power by such an 'insignificant' civil official."
“He who has brought this upon himself will not escape punishment,” Xue Chang said, putting down his teacup and standing up. “If He Yuan is like this, Xiao Yan will be too.”
“Just wait,” Yang Xiao slapped her thigh hard. “Once we’ve avenged Yu De, we’ll confront Xiao Yan head-on. I want to see whose path is the right one in this world.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Chang froze on the spot. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, "Yu De..." He suppressed his grief and looked up at Yang Xiao and Bai Ming, "Has he been buried?"
“Yude absolutely cannot stay here.” Yang Xiao stood up and looked resolutely at Xue Chang. “Yude is going home.”
Xue Chang closed his eyes and pondered for a while, then nodded to Yang Xiao, "Okay."
“Then…” Bai Ming, standing to the side, also frowned slightly as he looked at Xue Chang, “Sir, Yu De’s coffin…”
Xue Chang turned to look at Bai Ming, "I'll escort him back."
Bai Ming closed his eyes and nodded gently. Then, he took out a delicate little package from under his pillow, held it in both hands, and handed it to Xue Chang. Upon seeing this, Xue Chang quickly walked over and took the heavy package with both hands. "This is..."
"It was Yu De's order, and... the jade bracelet he personally carved."
Upon hearing this, Xue Chang frowned and looked at Bai Ming, suddenly feeling as if the small bundle in his hands weighed a ton. Unconsciously, a hot tear rolled down Xue Chang's cheek and landed heavily on the bundle.
He gently wiped the tear stains off his bundle with his sleeve, then raised his hand to wipe away the remaining tears on his face. He looked up at the inky sky outside the window and took a long breath. "I dare not think about what it will be like to go back and see Tongxi and the Lord."
“We have to meet them eventually, don’t we?” Yang Xiao frowned, turned around and sat back in her previous seat, pinching her brow tightly and letting out a long sigh. She looked up at the sky and gave a bitter smile. “You have to accept it, no matter what. Yu De and Zhao Qing risked their lives and won a battle that seemed impossible to win. Remember,” she turned to Xue Chang, “they were never greedy for credit or reckless; they are the heroes of this world.”
She leaned against the windowsill, letting out a long breath with a trembling voice, "They were all generals in every sense of the word."
As soon as she finished speaking, Bai Ming's warm hand landed steadily on Yang Xiao's shoulder. She turned her head and met Bai Ming's warm and firm eyes.
Bai Ming raised his hand and wiped away the tears from Yang Xiao's eyes. "We all are."
He sighed deeply, turned to look at Xue Chang, and softly comforted him, "Mr. Cheyan, please accept my condolences." He closed his eyes and said with emotion, "I think at this moment, Yude is the most glorious existence in this world."
Xue Chang stood in front of the door, lowered his head, took a long breath with tears in his eyes, and then nodded heavily. "You're right, Zhao Qing." He turned to look at the two people behind him. "It's getting late. I'll set off immediately to take him home."
“It’s so late, you can stay for a meal before you leave,” Yang Xiao stood up and walked towards the door. “I’ll have Mu…”
Before she could finish speaking, Yang Xiao gritted her teeth and exhaled, her fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "Fine, my tent is full of leftovers. You can leave now."
Xue Chang turned around, frowned, and patted Yang Xiao's shoulder.
"Go back and ask the lord when he can send troops to take revenge." Yang Xiao clenched his fist and sighed, raising his eyes to stare fiercely at the rising moon outside the door. "Let's go, sir, I'll see you off."
Seeing this, Xue Chang sighed softly, shook his head, and raised his hand to stop Yang Xiao inside the room. "Getting angry is bad for your health. Take good care of Zhao Qing and wait for the lord's letter."
Seeing Xue Chang lift the curtain to leave, Yang Xiao quickly stepped forward to stop him, "Mr. Xue!"
Xue Chang turned to look at Yang Xiao, nodded slightly, and waited for her to continue.
“When you return to Jizhou, please, please take good care of Tongxi for me,” Yang Xiao said, grabbing his arm and looking at Xue Chang with sincerity and earnestness. “You two have been master and disciple for many years, so you must have a deep bond… Therefore… I’m entrusting this to you.”
Xue Chang faced the moonlight, gently closed his eyes, and solemnly nodded to Yang Xiao. "Don't worry, Tongxi is my only disciple." He sighed softly, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yang Xiao, "Zhaoqing is seriously injured and needs your careful care. I will return to Jizhou first, and I will leave this place to you." He bowed towards the house, "Take care, both of you. Farewell."
Yang Xiao also bowed to him, saying, "Sir, farewell."
Looking up again, I saw Xue Chang nod slightly, then flick his sleeve and walk away in the moonlight.
Yang Xiao stood there with her eyes closed for a long time before turning around and entering the tent. She looked at the warm yellow light and sighed, then lowered her head, shook her head with a bitter smile, and took two steps forward to sit by Bai Ming's bedside.
Still worried?
She nodded noncommittally, raising her hand to feel Bai Ming's forehead. "How could I not worry? But thankfully, you're quite resilient," she breathed a sigh of relief. "Look, your fever has already subsided."
"Really?" Bai Ming also raised his hand and touched his forehead. "In another two days, I estimate that I can go out to practice martial arts with you. That way, we can regroup as soon as possible and avenge Yude."
Yang Xiao sighed and picked up the gauze and medicine powder that had been prepared beforehand. "You should take good care of your injury. How can you go to the battlefield with such a serious injury?"
"Alright, I'll listen to you." Bai Ming leaned back on the pillow, smiled and nodded gently at Yang Xiao. "Before the lord's battle order is issued, I will entrust myself entirely to you."
Yang Xiao nodded gently and raised her hand to stroke Bai Ming's face.
The night was as thick and oppressive as ink, like a cotton quilt, enveloping someone's soul as it traveled towards Jizhou.
Until dawn broke in the east.
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