Chapter Seventy-Three: Sword Slashes Across the Dust, Eyes Open
A gentle breeze, carrying a hint of spring chill, swept past the flags on the city gate and the willow branches sprouting new buds. Sunlight, tinged with the essence of spring, shone through the curtains into the tent, illuminating the steaming teapot.
“It’s a good thing you didn’t go, brother. Let me tell you,” Zhongli Shuo said excitedly as soon as he entered the governor’s office, sitting down next to Zhongli An. “You have no idea how ruthless that Jie Liang is.”
Zhongli An smiled and looked down at Zhongli Shuo beside him, pouring a cup of hot tea and handing it to him. "Didn't he want to take me hostage to demand the land of Ji and Yu?"
“It’s not as simple as kidnapping,” Zhongli Shuo took a sip of tea and shook his head vigorously. “He called over a bunch of entertainers under the pretext of having some drinks, but they weren’t entertainers at all,” he slapped his thigh, “they were clearly assassins.”
"And then?" Qi Kun looked at Zhong Lishuo with interest. "Yu De, you swung your heel and slapped them all back?"
Everyone burst into laughter. The shadows cast by the sun through the curtains seemed to sway in the breeze as if amused, and the warm sunlight and the dancing shadows of the willow branches swayed above their heads.
“I didn’t have any weapons at the time, and as soon as I saw the dagger that the courtesan showed, I instinctively picked up something to fight back,” Zhong Lishuo gestured wildly. “At that time, my hand was on my heel, so I just swung it up and knocked the dagger out of the man’s hand.”
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao couldn't help but shake her head with a smile, "You're truly a storyteller whose talent has been buried by war."
Zhong Li'an patted Zhong Lishuo on the shoulder with a smile, "It's obviously an exaggeration, but your courage and ability to adapt to changing circumstances still deserve a good reward."
He chuckled and sighed, then looked earnestly at Zhong Lishuo, "This time it was out of necessity, but you must never put yourself in danger again."
"Brother, rest assured. Before I left, you and Tongxi took turns telling me to be careful in everything. How could I forget?"
Upon hearing this, Cen Xun couldn't help but chuckle. "However, your ability to turn danger into safety and cleverly seize Nanyang has truly broadened my horizons."
"Right?" Zhong Lishuo proudly raised his head at Cen Xun. "I told you I was sure I wouldn't have any problems."
“But this time,” Cen Xun said with a smile, walking to Yang Xiao’s side and putting his hand on her shoulder, “I think Ling Yu is more outstanding.”
Seeing this, Yang Xiao looked up at Cen Xun with interest. "Me?" She smiled and pulled Cen Xun to sit next to her. "What did I do?"
Cen Xun sat down beside her, chuckled, and tapped her nose lightly. "Why did you suddenly change your plans and move up Zhao Qing's departure time by an hour?"
Upon hearing this, Yang Xiao frowned and sighed softly, "I'm worried too. That Jie Liang is a cunning man with multiple burrows. He's set up a bunch of back doors in the county seat. I'm afraid that after the cup is smashed, the situation will get out of control, and thousands of soldiers will pour in through the back doors. If that happens, we, a dozen or so people, really won't be able to handle it."
She looked up and smiled helplessly at Cen Xun, "So I drew a picture and sent a message to Zhao Qing, so that when Jie Liang smashed the cup, we could break down the gate and attack the city."
"So you used Zhao Qing's momentum to completely distract the Nanyang soldiers, causing them to lose focus on one thing and thus break the deadlock?"
"Smart," Qi Kun nodded with a light laugh, "Looks like sending you into the city to investigate was the right thing to do."
Bai Ming also turned around and smiled at Yang Xiao and Cen Xun, "Tong Xi's words are true. When I stormed into the city gate, I saw that there were very few guards. In no time, those soldiers swarmed in from the governor's office. After Ling Yu and Yu De completely controlled Jie Liang, the soldiers became leaderless and were defeated without a fight."
“The three of you have done a great service this time,” Zhong Li’an nodded with a smile, then sighed softly, “We should have had a proper rest, but Xiao Yan didn’t give us that time at all.”
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions immediately turned serious. Yang Xiao frowned slightly and looked at Zhong Li'an, "Could it be that Xiao Yan has issued a challenge to us?"
Zhong Li'an nodded solemnly, "That's right. But the person who will go into battle..." He took a deep breath and looked up at Yang Xiao, "You should have heard about him."
The room fell silent, except for the faint golden light streaming through the window.
"This person is none other than Yang Song."
"What?" Yang Xiao stood up involuntarily upon hearing this. She looked at Zhong Li'an in disbelief, stood there stunned for a long time, then took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
"Yang Song..."
"Lingyu," Qi Kun frowned slightly upon seeing this, and walked up to Yang Xiao, "If you don't want to fight, we can tear up the challenge."
Yang Xiao let out a long sigh of relief, then shook her head with a light laugh, her eyes flashing with a cold light that seemed to know everything. "Xiao Yan specifically asked me to go."
“As soon as Nanyang was lost, Xiao Yan sent people to fight, Yang Song and Cheng Feng…” Zhong Li’an also leaned on the table and frowned as he analyzed, “It seems that Nanyang is indeed related to Xiao Yan. However… this kind of revenge-oriented attack is not like Xiao Yan’s personality.”
Cen Xun also stood up and looked up at Zhong Li'an. "Xiao Yan is very cautious in the palace, but he was so abrupt this time. In my opinion, his purpose is definitely not revenge."
The thoughts that had been swirling in her mind before surged back into her heart, and those ideas that she had despised countless times now seemed more and more real.
Why did she send Yang Song into battle? Was it to prove something to her, or... that Yang Song had already truly submitted to her?
That must be it. If she couldn't even reach an agreement with Yang Song after two years, she would probably rather imprison him to death than send him into battle.
Moreover, he was the commander-in-chief.
Could it be that she and Yang Song have reached a point of mutual trust...?
Thinking of this, Yang Xiao's heart skipped a beat. Xiao Yan had placed Yang Zhen under house arrest and was ordering Yang Song around; how could Yang Song possibly trust her so much?
Could it be that Xiao Yan really...
Yang Xiao felt a sudden pang of sadness, unsure whether it was for the increasingly perplexing mystery or for herself. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply, then looked at everyone with a bitter smile, "Why is it that now that you mention it, Xiao Yan doesn't seem as sinister and malicious as I previously thought?"
Zhong Li'an looked up at Yang Xiao with a smile and said gently, "What do you mean by that?"
“Look,” Yang Xiao sat back in her seat, chuckling as she counted on her fingers, “Xiao Yan rose to power through treacherous officials, so why does she need Yang Song to be at her beck and call?”
Bai Ming handed the washed peaches to Yang Xiao, saying, "According to my father, the Yang family has been loyal and virtuous for generations. Could it be that Xiao Yan intends to take this opportunity to change the corrupt practices in officialdom?"
“But that’s too difficult,” Yang Xiao interrupted Bai Ming before he could finish speaking, having taken a bite of her peach. “Her power came from treacherous officials, so how could she possibly allow loyal people to enter the officialdom?” She turned to look at Bai Ming. “Even so, her actions might not even convince her subordinates, let alone win the hearts of the people.”
After a long silence, Zhongli Shuo suddenly stood up as if he had just remembered something. “By the way, brother, everyone,” he said earnestly, looking at everyone, “according to Jie Liang, it is true that Xiao Yan rebuilt the palace and reshaped Chang’an.”
Yang Xiao took a bite of peach indignantly, and said in confusion, "I still don't understand why she wants to rebuild Chang'an... Wait," she paused, and looked up at Zhongli An and Qi Kun, "My lord, who was the person you mentioned who went into battle with my brother?"
“Cheng Feng. He was the military general whom Xiao Yun commanded when he was establishing himself in the officialdom.” Zhong Li’an looked up at Yang Xiao, then looked back at Qi Kun. “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Cheng Feng was the sword that cut down everything for Xiao Yun.”
Yang Xiao frowned as she looked at Qi Kun, who was nodding, and pondered for a long time. "This is not right. Cheng Feng is a treacherous official. During the reign of the tyrannical emperor, he did a lot of things to frame loyal officials. His reputation in Bingzhou has already spread."
“So, Lingyu,” Cen Xun stepped forward, “what you just said about Xiao Yan’s speculation that he wants to establish loyal officials and eliminate treacherous ones is probably more than that.”
“Xiao Yun’s confidant, fighting alongside his brother…” Yang Xiao frowned in thought, then helplessly rested her head on Cen Xun’s shoulder. “Forget it, Xiao Yan is too contradictory. I can’t figure him out in a short time.”
Cen Xun glanced sideways and pondered for a while, then raised his hand to pat Yang Xiao and coaxed her gently, "Perhaps it is because you have been on the battlefield that you have been able to know what Xiao Yan is thinking."
Yang Xiao nodded in agreement to Cen Xun, then stood up, propped herself up on her knees, and looked back solemnly at Zhong Li'an. "My lord," she said, taking a step forward, "we accept Xiao Yan's challenge."
Zhong Li'an nodded seriously, then looked up at Yang Xiao with concern and inquiry, "Have you thought it through?"
Yang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and nodded resolutely. "I must accept this battle. I haven't seen my own blood relatives since I can remember." She looked up at Zhong Li'an. "How can I miss such a good opportunity? Putting Xiao Yan aside, I will go all out in this battle and show him that even if I didn't grow up at home, I am no less capable than him!"
As she spoke, she stood up, her previous doubts and hesitations transformed into boundless motivation. Her eyes sparkled with starlight, and she clasped her hands in a triumphant gesture towards Zhong Li'an. "If my brother has already willingly submitted to Xiao Yan, then this battle is not only a contest between siblings, but also a clash between you and Xiao Yan. Therefore, I must go, and I must win."
“Good,” Zhong Li’an also stood up and nodded approvingly. “With such ambition, how can we not win this battle?” He let out a long sigh, turned around and picked up the command token on the table, and put it into Yang Xiao’s hand. “Go for it. This battle is not only for me, but also for yourself. Regardless of victory or defeat, I only wish that you fight Yang Song without any regrets.”
"Understood!"
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