Chapter 140 A Heart at Peace, Human Kindness
"You...could it be..." Yang Xiao pointed at the girl, her eyes filled with excitement and disbelief. She met the girl's expectant gaze and called out, "Chen Zhu?"
"General! You still remember me!" The girl jumped up with joy upon hearing this, and tugged at Cen Xun's sleeve. "Master, look, the general really remembers me."
The atmosphere in the room immediately became cheerful. Yang Xiao raised her hand and pulled Shen Zhu to her side. "Are you perhaps Tong Xi's apprentice now?"
Shen Zhu glanced back at Cen Xun, then smiled and nodded at Yang Xiao, "Yes, General. I owe my success to you."
"Indeed," Yang Xiao smiled and reached out to touch Chen Zhu's face, "He looks much better in women's clothing."
Shen Zhu nodded and chuckled softly, then gently cupped Yang Xiao's injured wrist in his hands, afraid that she would hurt it again. "If it weren't for General introducing me to my master, I'd probably still be worrying about how to disguise myself."
“I introduced you to Tongxi for a reason.” Yang Xiao put down her hand and led Shen Zhu to sit on the edge of the bed. “It’s not that staying in the barracks is bad, but I don’t want you to hide your identity anymore.”
Shen Zhu's joking expression vanished, and he looked at Yang Xiao with serious eyes, listening intently to what she had to say next.
“No one has ever stipulated that the battlefield is a man’s domain. As long as you want, women can also carve out their own niche.” Yang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Shen Zhu with care and satisfaction. “When I met the lord, I already had the strength to fight, while Tong Xi had status and knowledge, so she didn’t have to climb up from the bottom of the barracks.”
“But you are different, Shen Zhu,” Yang Xiao looked up at her sincerely, “You went to the military camp alone with a heart full of passion to fight for the country and learn skills to prove yourself. You really want to learn a skill in the camp, and as a woman, you want to break through your own path in the midst of thousands of troops, and prove to the world that men and women are no different on the battlefield.”
Shen Zhu grasped Yang Xiao's hands in both, her eyes filled with hope and certainty. She nodded firmly. "General, I understand." She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh, then looked up at Yang Xiao with a smile. "You know, General, it is precisely because of this that I admire you, and that is why I joined the army. Your existence is like a role model for me..."
She didn't know what to say for a moment, but simply held Yang Xiao's hand and looked at her with emotion, "Anyway, it's so good that you're back safe and sound."
"I'm sorry to have troubled you all during this time." Yang Xiao smiled and reached out to rub Chen Zhu's head, then looked up at Cen Xun and teased, "Tong Xi, don't be jealous that Xiao Zhu is praising me like this."
“How could that be?” Cen Xun shook his head with a smile, and patted Yang Xiao’s shoulder. “Although you introduced her to me, she has not missed a single step of the way. She trains with your Eagle Team every day, even more diligently than I do.”
Yang Xiao looked at the two people in front of the bed with a smile in her eyes, nodded with emotion, and then looked at Shen Zhu in front of the bed, "And now? What position do you hold in the army?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhu smiled and exchanged a glance with Cen Xun, then leaned closer, saying, "I am now my master's deputy."
"A deputy general?" Yang Xiao sat up abruptly upon hearing this, staring at Shen Zhu in disbelief. "You're almost on par with Zhang Ping now?"
“It’s not like I got in through connections,” Cen Xun chuckled and crossed his arms. “Just two days before the troops were to be deployed, Shen Zhu went to spar with Zhang Ping to prove his strength.”
"Really? What was the result?"
Bai Ming, who hadn't spoken for a long time, smiled and said softly, "Zhang Ping won by a narrow margin."
Yang Xiao was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then patted Chen Zhu's hand with delight, "I knew it! I was right about you. I only knew that Tong Xi had made rapid progress in the past two years, but I didn't expect you to have grown so much as well."
"Don't you even know whose apprentice you are?" Cen Xun chuckled and tilted his head. "The military has undergone tremendous changes in the past few years, and you're just waiting to witness them all."
"Okay." Yang Xiao nodded with a light smile. "Thank you for waiting for me to come back."
"Alright, why are you still going on and on?" Cen Xun chuckled and playfully pinched Yang Xiao's nose. "You should rest and recover. Shen Zhu and I won't bother you anymore."
Seeing this, Shen Zhu quickly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yang Xiao, and said, "General, I wish you a speedy recovery. My master and I will take our leave now."
“Okay,” Yang Xiao nodded to Cen Xun, “You should also take a break from work these days, don’t overwork yourselves.”
Cen Xun walked to the door, chuckled, and nodded, "Don't worry." Then he pushed the door open and left.
Watching the two figures leave, Yang Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Bai Ming, "They've really impressed me these past two years."
Bai Ming chuckled and sat down on the edge of the bed, taking Yang Xiao's hand in his. "Before I met you, I really couldn't imagine what it would be like for a woman to be in a military camp. Until..."
"Until?" Yang Xiao looked at Bai Ming, tilting her head with a smile.
"Until I saw a young girl holding a spear, tightly protecting her companions behind her; a warrior fighting for his heart's desire, never retreating even when facing a formidable enemy; a general guarding the pass, single-handedly cutting off three thousand enemy soldiers, and..." Bai Ming's eyes shimmered with the starry sky of ten years, "Heroes broke through the enemy lines with their own bodies, stirring up the winds and clouds of the world."
Yang Xiao stared into Bai Ming's eyes, stunned for a long while. She then smiled, "Without you, where would I be today?" She rubbed Bai Ming's knuckles and said freely, "However, women can hold up half the sky. Think about it, even in the most brutal military camps, there are women. In the future, all walks of life will surely emerge one after another."
“Shen Zhu is the best example,” Bai Ming said proudly, looking into Yang Xiao’s eyes. “She came to the military camp under your influence and has now made great achievements. She has also become Tong Xi’s disciple. She will definitely become a pillar of society with both literary and martial talents in the future.”
“Yes,” Yang Xiao nodded with a smile, then sighed as if she had thought of something, “I introduced her to Tongxi as her apprentice. A few months ago, I was also taken on as an apprentice by a young girl.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Ming looked at Yang Xiao with interest and asked, "Really? You accepted her?"
Yang Xiao gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "This person has ulterior motives. When I sent you the map, he was instructed by Xiao Yun to use me, but I ended up outmaneuvering him."
Bai Ming also lowered his eyes and sighed, squeezing Yang Xiao's hand tenderly. "People's hearts are unpredictable. How rare it is to find pure-hearted people like Mu Fei and Shen Zhu."
“Mu Fei…” Yang Xiao leaned back on the couch, pondered for a while, then looked up at Bai Ming, “Why don’t we go to Lujiang after everything is settled, make some crescent-shaped wontons ourselves, and visit Mu Fei?”
Bai Ming nodded heavily. "Okay, I'll listen to you."
-
The locust trees in the courtyard, sprouting new buds, rustled gently in the breeze, and the Chang'an Formation regained its former majestic aura. However, the dark clouds and thick fog had finally disappeared above it, leaving only a few wisps of light clouds and cooking smoke.
Yang Xiao's injury was improving day by day, and the members of the Chi Ying team couldn't wait to come and visit him in batches.
The Chang'an battle formation had been completely quelled and was operating smoothly again. Zhongli An, who was far away in Jizhou, also rushed to Chang'an without stopping, while Qi Kun, whose injuries had not yet healed, had to stay in Anping and wait for Zhongli An to ascend the throne before setting off for Chang'an.
Zhong Li'an rushed over as fast as he could, and as soon as he arrived in Chang'an, he hurriedly rushed into Yang Xiao's tent, eager to see her.
The lord and his minister reunited and had a long talk. The hardships of the past three years filled the room with the rising and falling of teacups, and the bitterness and grievances of the Chang'an battle were also revealed to the world, imbued with that eternal infamy.
As a new dynasty approaches, countless rivers rush into the sea, and sinners wait in prison, hoping someone will vindicate them.
A wise ruler has never tolerated criticisms based on a lack of understanding of the full picture, and all shadows have nowhere to hide when the light of day arrives.
He wanted to sacrifice himself to restore peace to the world after so long.
It happened right at the time of the coronation ceremony.
The dazzling golden light illuminated the three palaces, and horns and war drums resounded all around the Chang'an Array. The entire city's people flocked to the palace gates to wait, their joy and jubilation not concealing their solemnity.
The gate creaked open, and a shadow fell onto the golden scales scattered on the ground.
As the horn sounded, Zhongli An slowly raised his head, gazing up at the imposing, towering stone steps. A magnificent, golden palace filled his vision, and officials, both civil and military, stood in orderly rows, all craning their necks in anticipation. He closed his eyes, exhaled to steady his mind, and resolutely took a step upwards.
The palace gates were wide open, and Zhongli An stepped onto the stone steps, solemn, grand, and yet filled with sorrow. Each step, each pause, represented the final culmination of all things in Chang'an; each step, each pause, symbolized the heroic souls departing for Lujiang.
He tilted his head back, his eyes brimming with tears, gazing at the Tenglong Palace, yet the unwavering resolve in his brow was unmatched. His long, trailing robes conveyed a sense of peace and tranquility, while the embroidered dragons symbolized the loyalty of his advisors. Carrying the spirits of countless righteous men and the hopes of the loyal subjects, he ascended step by step, together building a peaceful and prosperous court.
Following Zhong Li'an's footsteps, the people in the palace knelt down like waves, bowing in unison to Zhong Li'an with reverence, chanting, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
A deafening roar of shouts filled the air. Zhong Li'an lifted his foot and slowly stepped onto the last step. He paused on the high platform, then turned back to gaze at the magnificent view of Chang'an.
The sunlight shone brightly on his dragon robe, and flowed down the stone steps like gold, into the magnificent Chang'an.
He closed his eyes, overwhelmed with emotion, then looked away at the five people kneeling before him, a warm feeling washing over him. Without thinking twice, he quickly stepped forward, knelt down in front of them, and gently helped them up.
The newly established emperor kneeling down to help his founding minister was unprecedented. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Zhongli An pulled the group behind him and took a few steps towards the front of the stage.
"The chaos has ended, and the world is unified. I am Zhongli An, courtesy name Lunhong. I have been chosen by the will of the people and officials to lead the world and establish my dynasty." Zhongli An solemnly looked at the crowd below the stage, his voice booming as he gently clenched his hands behind his back. "The world is at such a stable state today, which is by no means something I could have achieved alone."
He glanced at the five close friends standing to the side, smiled and nodded, then turned to the crowd below the stage. "The victory in this battle is due to the unity of our army, the cooperation of all units in defeating the enemy, Lingyu's valiant attempt to reconnoiter the enemy and her selfless act of breaking through the enemy lines, and the righteous act of the Qiang King in helping us." He clasped his hands in thanks to the Qiang King, who was wearing a brocade hat and sable fur coat, and said, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Qiang King for his assistance."
Upon seeing this, the Qiang King stepped into the hall, knelt on one knee before Zhong Li'an, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "I am honored by Your Majesty's praise. I merely did what I was supposed to do."
Zhong Li'an stepped forward and helped the Qiang King up. "Your Majesty is too modest. The people of the world will remember your righteousness."
"I owe my military expedition to Your Majesty's strategist," he gestured towards Qi Kun standing to the side, his gaze lingering on Yang Xiao for a moment before he nodded approvingly. "Of course, my assistance is also due to Your Majesty's benevolence and virtue in governing the people, and your integrity in employing people, which I have long admired. Furthermore, my grandson, whom I have never met, is facing danger alone, hence my decision to send troops to help."
The Qiang king spoke with praise, while the girl behind him looked at the Qiang king with a puzzled expression, then at Zhongli An, seemingly tired of the back-and-forth formalities.
Zhongli An smiled and glanced at the crowd beside him, then looked up at the Qiang King. "You have done me a favor this time. I wish to restore the good relations between the two dynasties and the Qiang King, and exchange goods and resources in the border areas. What do you think?"
"If that's possible, that would be wonderful." Zhongli An of the Qiang Dynasty bowed and said, "On behalf of future generations, I thank Your Majesty."
Before he could finish speaking, the Qiang King seemed to have thought of something and took a step towards Zhongli An. "By the way, Your Majesty," he glanced back at Qi Kun and then nodded approvingly at Zhongli An, "I greatly admire this civil official of yours. Please do not be reserved when bestowing his honor upon him."
Zhongli An followed the Qiang King's gaze to Qi Kun, his eyes immediately filled with smiles. He nodded, "Gu Fan has been with me for so many years, always doing his best to offer advice and strategies. Not only did he devise a clever array of generals, but he was also willing to risk his life to go to the Northern Qiang alone for the sake of the country. Both for the public and for the private, I should reward him handsomely."
Upon hearing this, Qi Kun also stepped forward and knelt before Zhong Li'an, saying, "I thank Your Majesty for your kindness. It is my honor to have served you for so many years."
"The ground is cold, get up quickly." Zhong Li'an bent down and gently helped Qi Kun up, then raised his hand to press on his shoulder.
Qi Kun turned his head and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Qiang King, saying, "I also thank the Qiang King for sending troops and speaking kindly to me."
“It’s alright, it’s alright,” the Qiang king shook his head heartily, “I truly admire you.”
Qi Kun's crane-feather cloak shimmered with golden light under the sun, reflecting like shimmering pearls in Qi Lu's eyes. Below the stage, Qi Lu looked up at her brother whom she hadn't seen for so long, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart.
After seeing off the Qiang King, Zhongli An turned to look at the former officials of Chang'an beside him, closed his eyes briefly, and walked towards them.
"With numerous warlords vying for control of the land and constantly carving up the territory, only Xiao Yan and I remained locked in a stalemate. Now that the decisive battle is over and the dust has settled, I do not believe that the so-called struggle between two heroes is necessarily a matter of the victor taking all."
Zhongli An looked at Xiao Yan, who was tied up to the side, and said, "Chang'an remains prosperous under your leadership. You even built the Chang'an Array to secure the city. Your Highness has made great contributions to the peace and stability of the people."
Xiao Yan stood in the wind below the stage, his hands tied behind his back, but instead of showing any sign of defeat, he appeared more gratified and carefree.
Just as Yang Xiao breathed a slight sigh of relief, Zhong Li'an suddenly changed the subject, stepping forward and saying, "However, your brother has always aspired to become emperor, repeatedly sowing discord among other forces, and harboring hatred towards the people. He has single-handedly turned what should have been a fair and square confrontation into a bloodbath. I have heard that you, along with Lu Qi, the Chixiao Prefecture, and my general Lingyu, are fighting against Xiao Yun and his cronies in the Chang'an camp. So, after everything is over, where do you all wish to go?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com