Chapter 144 A Not-Too-Late Embrace A month? Three months? Or perhaps...
Lingnan is thousands of miles away from Jian'an. Since ancient times, in the struggle between the North and South, where the regimes were either weak or strong, Lingnan has not been a very important lifeline.
Geographically located on the periphery, the area was historically a small, independent regime for most of its history.
It was far from the Central Plains, and although it was close to Nanyin, the two sides were separated by natural barriers.
This area is occupied by the north. The reason why the south has always been able to rest easy is that, in their view, the natural barrier that stretches across the towering mountains is enough to deter any large-scale military operation, making it impossible for large armies to pass and even more difficult for supplies to cross.
If they attack from the north from here, it would be tantamount to courting death.
Therefore, the southern forces only used conventional troops to guard the passes, firmly believing that the north would never take such a desperate action.
When Bei Ye occupied Lingnan, it was not to expand its territory. Rather, the ruler of Lingnan had provoked Bei Ye, which angered Emperor Taizu, who then led his army south and destroyed the country. After that, Lingnan remained under Bei Ye's control.
This can be considered an unintended consequence; today, Lingnan has become the closest point of contact between the soil of Beiye and Nanyin, while the rest of the region is separated by a river.
Historically, the important battlefields of the Northern Expeditions have been in the Jianghuai and Jingxiang areas in the east. Lingnan, with its natural barriers, was not as heavily guarded in the south.
Outside the city gate, banners fluttered in the wind, and the Imperial Guards and the Feathered Forest Guards stood in solemn silence to see them off.
As the sun rose, golden rays pierced through the clouds, illuminating the endless armor and reflecting a chilling light.
Perhaps to emphasize the importance of Huan Xun's trip, Zhao Yunfu and his entourage of imperial relatives did not stand on the city wall, but instead came to the entrance of the Moon Gate.
However, Zhao Yuntuan and his family were not among these relatives.
Ever since he used the "substitution of the crown prince" trick to release Xiao Chengyan, Zhao Yunfu stripped him of his title and imprisoned his entire family. Even the Empress Dowager's pleas on his behalf were to no avail.
Zhao Yunfu was dressed in a black robe with a crimson skirt, a dragon robe that was only worn when offering sacrifices to Heaven and the ancestral temple. He wore a twelve-tassel crown on his head, and the patterns of the sun, moon and stars on his robe all displayed the majesty of an emperor.
Yu Nie stood behind the emperor and empress, gazing intently at Huan Xun, who was dressed in black armor and had a high-tailed golden crown.
The Taotie reliefs on the shoulders of his armor were incredibly ferocious, and a red shawl was prominently displayed below his left shoulder. He had a horizontal sword more than a meter long hanging at his waist, and his quiver was full, revealing the white feathers at the end.
Beneath her fluttering eyelashes, her gaze was filled with concern and reluctance.
The armor encasing him gave him an air of heavy killing intent; he himself seemed to have transformed into a sheathed blade, waiting to drink blood, poised to strike.
As she looked at him at this moment of parting, her thoughts drifted back to the small boat that had gently swayed with the waves on the river the night before.
"...If one day I were to...kill my father, would you leave me?" His earnest and solemn words, mixed with the sound of water, rang in her ears once again.
She remembers being so shocked that she forgot to breathe and where she was.
He laughed during her long, shocked silence.
He casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his tone light as he deflated his words: "Scared? I was just kidding, just joking, kidding you. Look at you, your face is all pale."
joke?
His initial look told her that he wasn't joking.
His threat to "kill his father" was not a test, nor was it a joke.
In this dynasty that ruled the world with "filial piety" and revered "the ruler and father" as the core of social order, the words "patricide" represented an extreme evil that could change the face of heaven and earth and arouse the wrath of gods and men.
This is not merely killing one person; it is a blatant challenge to the very foundation of human ethics. The consequence is utter destruction from top to bottom, from the yang to the yin.
Moreover, this was under the circumstances that Yan Yue had shown him great kindness.
If he really killed Yan Yue, then he would no longer be a meritorious official with outstanding achievements, nor a refined and elegant nobleman.
He will be stripped of all human qualifications and glory, becoming a heinous criminal condemned by law and utterly despised by morality.
He will be cursed for all eternity.
Aside from these consequences, at this moment, Yu Nie was thinking more about why he had killed his father.
She recalled everything that had happened yesterday. Could the destruction of the Red Falcon clan be related to Yan Yue? Did Yan Yue kill those people?
She needs to find out the truth about all of this.
The cool morning breeze rustled through the horse's mane and the banners.
Led by Huan Xun, the hundred light cavalry, lightly armored and equipped with swords and bows, were unstoppable.
These one hundred men were the ones he brought back when he was transferred back to Jian'an. This time, they will become the vanguard force for the surprise attack on the flank of Nan Yin, and will accompany him to Lingnan.
With the sound of wind, Zhao Yunfu spoke: "My dear minister, your journey concerns the safety of the nation. I await your good news in the capital." Zhao Yunfu's voice was gentle yet dignified, just as he always was, a seemingly lenient monarch.
Upon hearing this, Huan Xun bowed respectfully, his black armor rustling softly with each movement: "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail in your trust. I will surely pacify the Southern Yin and unify the world for Your Majesty."
"Good, good, good..." Zhao Yunfu smiled with satisfaction and said "good" repeatedly.
Then, he personally straightened the straps on his arm armor: "With Huan Qing, I have a treasured sword. I have no fear of not being able to conquer the Southern Yin."
At that moment, Feng Changshi, who was standing by, bowed and stepped forward, raising the wine on the tray above his eyebrows.
Zhao Yunfu first took a cup and handed it to Huan Xun. Then, he picked up another cup for himself: "This wine is not for a farewell banquet, but for a celebration."
"Xiao Daozun's talent cannot be compared with yours. You and your father, one in the south and the other in the north, allow me to rest easy. You are my indispensable right and left arms."
"I place high hopes on you and your father, and my trust in you is unparalleled. This wine is not only for you, but also for your father. I await your triumphant return."
Zhao Yunfu's words were nothing but honey laced with poison.
To outsiders, it might seem that the emperor had shown them great favor, and that no one trusted them more than he did. But those in the know understood that this high regard was not a genuine reliance, but rather a temporary measure to ensure that the emperor needed them to serve him at this crucial time.
The southern border needs his sharp sword to sweep it away, and the northern frontier needs Yan Yue, this mountain, to guard it. At this moment, the favor and praise from his right and left arms are nothing more than the cheapest praise to drive his subjects to their deaths.
Once the world is at peace, the trust and confidence that no one could match will instantly turn into suspicion and distrust due to the ruler's overwhelming power.
This celebratory drink, ostensibly meant to be relied upon, is actually meant to be used.
But Huan Xun didn't care what would happen to Zhao Yunfu in the future.
When Yan Yue died, his own death was also imminent.
As soon as Zhao Yunfu finished speaking, Huan Xun remained calm and replied in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace and will surely return in triumph to repay your special favor!"
Then, he and Zhao Yunfu raised their glasses together and drank the spicy liquor in one gulp.
As the wine went down his throat, he maintained a warm smile on his face.
After drinking, Zhao Yunfu placed the wine cup back on the tray.
His gaze shifted and landed on Yu Nie, who had been standing quietly behind him, lost in thought: "Hua Yan..."
He called to her, "Come forward and say a few words to your husband. The journey to Lingnan is long and arduous; it will be some time before you see each other again."
She looked at Huan Xun and obediently lowered her head in response: "Yes, Your Majesty."
She moved forward with light, graceful steps, her gaze briefly meeting Lang Xi's, whose concern was evident in his eyes.
Having grown up together, they both felt a vague unease, wondering what Zhao Yunfu was trying to prove.
As she walked over, Zhao Yunfu, along with his attendants and concubines, calmly stepped back a few paces, leaving them some space.
When she arrived in front of Huan Xun, the high-hanging sun outlined his extremely handsome features, reflecting her lightly made-up, clear eyes.
Compared to yesterday, she wore her hair in two buns, and the pink flower ornament on her forehead was lifelike. The silk skirt embroidered with red water chestnut flowers made her even more beautiful and dazzling.
He specially picked out this outfit for her in her bedroom this morning, and it really suits her.
To make Zhao Yunfu "get his wish," he deliberately stayed at her residence last night after returning from Jinyue River, not leaving until the end of the Yin hour.
Presumably, in Zhao Yunfu's eyes at this point, they had already consummated their marriage.
Their eyes met, and a thousand words choked in her throat, so heavy that she could hardly breathe.
Countless images from the past flashed before her eyes.
She knew his journey would be fraught with peril, but the safety of the people was at stake, and he could not refuse.
"What's wrong?" The boy leaned forward slightly, his voice laced with a teasing tone: "You're reluctant to part with me?"
She didn't answer, but just stared at him, her clear eyes seeming to be soaked with water, gradually becoming flushed and moist.
All the forced composure crumbled at this moment.
The playful smile on his handsome face vanished instantly when it touched her expression, replaced by a serious one.
He looked at her hands clasped in front of her abdomen; the white knuckles betrayed her intense inner strength.
With a hint of unease at being brushed aside by her, he took her hand and enveloped it in his warm palm: "I'll be back soon." He whispered reassuringly, his fingertips gently stroking the back of her hand: "Not long."
"How long is 'soon'?" she asked, tilting her head back, her voice trembling with a sob she hadn't yet realized, and tinged with stubbornness. "A month, or three months? Or a year?"
This question is naive, even somewhat unreasonable. Everyone understands that Lingnan is far away, the war is unpredictable, and no one can easily promise a return date.
Huan Xun was taken aback when she asked that question.
As soon as she finished speaking, she realized that her question was far too irrational.
She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing all her turbulent emotions, and murmured, somewhat incoherently, "I'm sorry, I didn't think it through. Who can say for sure about such things? I just... I just don't know what to say, my mind is a bit of a mess."
Before he could speak, she raised her face again, forcing a bright and beautiful smile, her tone becoming more relaxed: "Just pretend you didn't hear what I just said. It's getting late, you should hurry up and leave, otherwise, you'll be late."
They were so close, how could he not see the barely concealed emotions beneath her forced calm? This unusual behavior was impossible for him to ignore, and it instantly stirred a pang of pity in him, a feeling of reluctance he had never experienced before.
At this moment, his suspicions and inquiries about whether she loved him seemed meaningless.
All he wanted was to touch her, smooth her furrowed brows, wipe away the moisture from the corners of her eyes, and soothe her anxious heart.
Amidst the astonished gazes of those around him, and under the emperor's deep and unreadable stare, he took her hands in his own, brought them to his lips, and gently kissed the back of her hands.
This was a public display of behavior, exceeding the bounds of propriety before the emperor. Everyone watched Zhao Yunfu's expression, seemingly wanting to see his reaction as the emperor.
Only Empress Wang and Langxi remained unmoved. Etiquette was set for others. How could someone who allowed their sister to consummate the marriage before marriage, just to leave a handle on the other party, care about such a small action?
While others were still speculating about Zhao Yunfu's thoughts, only the two of them knew that Zhao Yunfu was probably overjoyed at that moment.
The moment Huan Xun's kiss landed, Yu Nie remained calm.
He wiped away the tears from the corner of her eye with his thumb. His hand was dry and warm, and the warmth of his hand seeped into her heart through her skin.
Looking into her eyes, he made a vow as if swearing an oath: "I promise you, as long as there is even the slightest chance, no matter how far away, I will definitely come back to see you."
Yu Nie forced a smile and nodded, all the unspoken words and worries lingering in her eyes.
"Take care of yourself." She tried to keep her voice steady, lowering her tone. "Promise me."
At this moment of parting, she finally chose to follow her feelings and her heart.
"I promise you," he replied.
Huan Xun was not one to make promises lightly, yet he repeatedly made exceptions for her.
Just then, a deep, long horn sounded from the front of the column, one after another.
Following the sound, she looked in the direction he was looking.
The time has come, and military orders are absolute.
There was no time to lose. He touched her cheek and said, "I'm leaving now. Remember to write to me if anything happens."
She nodded, and then, without lingering, he resolutely turned and walked toward his warhorse, deftly stepping into the stirrups.
Just as he was about to mount his horse, a voice rang out behind him: "Huan Xun..."
He stopped what he was doing and turned around.
Before he could even see clearly, her soft body, carrying his familiar scent, rushed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him tightly.
Huan Xun froze, his mind going blank.
This was an embrace he had never imagined; he never expected her to hold him like this.
Her avoidance last night was still fresh in my mind, yet this embrace was so forceful, as if it had used up all her courage.
He felt her body tremble slightly against his chest, and through the cold armor, he felt her burning emotions.
His arm stiffened for a moment, then he raised his hand to embrace her back, greedily savoring this heaven-sent tenderness.
She said in a very soft voice, "I will work hard to develop gunpowder in Jian'an. You must wait for me safe and sound."
Upon hearing this, he tightened his arms around her, almost as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones. A thousand words churned in his chest, but in the end, they all condensed into a single, weighty word: "Okay."
"General, it's time. We should go." Fearing that they would be late, Xie Cheng had to step forward to remind them.
After the embrace, he had no lingering feelings and could only let go of her, his movements so swift they created a gust of wind.
After glancing at her one last time, he grabbed the saddle with one hand, mounted the horse, tightened the reins, and bid farewell to Zhao Yunfu.
After the others bowed in farewell, he cracked his whip, turned his horse around, and rode away. His figure quickly merged into the black torrent of iron, the mighty procession's hooves thundering and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Amidst the swirling dust, Yu Nie stood still, watching the departing procession recede into the distance until it disappeared from sight.
Watching her retreating figure, Lang Xi and Zhao Huashu stepped forward and urged her to go back.
Yu Nie did not refuse; she boarded the carriage, turning back every few steps.
Langxi and the others were returning to the palace, so she had to return to Hongzheng Pavilion.
Zhao Yunfu was very satisfied with her actions so far. Before she got into the carriage, Zhao Yunfu instructed her to go to the palace for a gathering the next day and sent Gu Xiangzhi to escort her back.
When she returned, her martial uncle Cui Miaochang was not there.
For some reason, Cui Miaochang has been leaving early and returning late more often these past few days; sometimes, she can't be seen at all for a whole day.
Yu Nie had asked Cui Miaochang several times, both openly and secretly, about what her martial uncle was doing, but Cui Miaochang always brushed it off with excuses like listening to music or asking questions.
There were very few Taoist temples in Jian'an, so Cui Miaochang didn't specifically look for one. Instead, she went to Yongxing Temple.
From her, Cui Miaochang learned that Dugu Loujun had stayed here, and she became curious about the place. She often stayed overnight here and discussed Buddhist and Taoist practices with Master Huiran.
At least that's how it appears on the surface.
Knowing where she was, Yu Nie felt much more at ease.
Stepping into the backyard, Gu Xiangzhi saw the things in her yard and asked curiously, "Has there been any progress with the gunpowder these days?"
"Yes, there are some, but progress has been slow, they lack stability, and they cannot be used as weapons on the battlefield."
She led him to the desk: "However, we are very close to success now. As long as we solve the stability problem, it will come in handy."
Recalling her farewell to Huan Xun just now, Gu Xiangzhi picked up a packaged gunpowder: "You've been working day and night to refine this thing because of him?"
For a moment, Yu Nie didn't realize who he was talking about, but soon she understood that he was referring to Huan Xun.
"It's because of him, but not entirely." She replied frankly, "I don't want to see more people die in this war. I want more people to live. That was my original intention in developing gunpowder."
Others might have sounded high-sounding when they said this, but Gu Xiangzhi felt that she wasn't like that at all. In his eyes, her words were sincere and came from the heart.
He put the things he was holding back on the table: "No wonder you don't even have time to deal with the enemies who hurt you in the past."
The enemy he was referring to was her uncle. From the day he handed over the Rong family's residence to her, she only went there once by carriage, but the gate was closed, and she did not go in.
The person who almost killed her was right in front of her, yet she was able to endure it.
This is not because Yu Nie intends to forgive that family.
With her current abilities, repaying kindness in kind would be a piece of cake.
When the time comes, she will naturally take action and make them pay the price they owe.
Now, she's not in a hurry to deal with them, simply because she's pressed for time and doesn't have the time.
Hearing his words, she smiled and said, "Anyway, they can't run away, so there's no rush."
Gu Xiangzhi smiled knowingly: "You're right, they can't escape in the end. You can do whatever you want whenever you want."
At this point, as if remembering something, he said, "I'm afraid you don't know, but someone is already keeping an eye on them for you."
"Who?" she asked, puzzled.
Huan Xun.
"Huan Xun?"
His answer left her completely bewildered. How did Huan Xun know where her uncle lived? When did he go to investigate? He had never mentioned this to her before.
Gu Xiangzhi: "I only found out when I was planning to ask someone to keep an eye on those people for you. It seems he had people following them all along. He didn't tell you immediately, probably thinking of giving you a surprise after everything was resolved."
"As for... you'll have to ask him directly when he actually does these things."
For a moment, Yu Nie was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
How much more is there that he hasn't told her?
Gu Xiangzhi: "This person is really interesting; he doesn't like to tell people what he does."
Hearing this, she said, "Who says it isn't..." At that moment, she always felt that he might be hiding something else from her.
However, this was not the time to ponder this matter deeply; she wanted to ask Gu Xiangzhi about something else.
She turned her gaze to him: "Xiao Chengyan...hasn't he been found yet?"
A few days ago, Xiao Chengyan escaped. The Imperial Horse Administration and the Martial Guard Camp joined forces and searched Jian'an almost from top to bottom, but they still couldn't find him.
Everyone assumed that Xiao Chengyan had already escaped, but Gu Xiangzhi didn't think so. He said, "Although we haven't caught him, I'm certain he's still in Jian'an City."
"They'll catch them eventually," he added.
Having said that, he stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over him: "Now that we have delivered the goods, it is time to go back and report."
"Aren't you going to skip lunch before you leave?" She hadn't even come to her senses when she heard him say he was leaving, before she could even react to his insistence on catching Xiao Chengyan.
Gu Xiangzhi said, "The Emperor has been in a bad mood lately and has a poor appetite. I must capture him quickly. If Xiao Chengyan runs back to Nanyin, we will have a hard time explaining ourselves."
He studied her features and took a small half-step forward.
Just as he was about to speak, Lu, the attendant behind Yu Nie, coughed twice, which was quite abrupt.
Lu Jinshi, seemingly unintentionally, reminded him: "Lord Gu, this is Hongzheng Pavilion, where Her Highness the Princess resides. It's not appropriate for an outsider like you to stay any longer."
The sound reminded Gu Xiangzhi that although Huan Xunren had gone to Lingnan, he had left behind his most trusted attendant.
It's not entirely true that Jian'an is currently very peaceful. To be precise, no one in the vortex of power is absolutely safe.
Everyone knows what Huan Xun's intentions are.
Gu Xiangzhi ignored Lu Jinshi and said to the person in front of him, "I'll come to see you again later. I'll be going now."
"Okay, you go ahead and do your work, don't worry about me, I don't have anything to do here anyway." She spoke to him casually, almost like an old friend.
Gu Xiangzhi half-closed his eyelids, responded, and then walked away.
Watching Gu Xiangzhi's figure disappear outside the door, Yu Nie withdrew her gaze and turned to Lu Jinshi beside her.
She smiled faintly and said, "Gu Shaojian and I are just friends. He has no other intentions. Attendant Lu, you don't need to be wary of him."
Upon hearing this, Attendant Lu, clutching his sword, remained silent without replying. After glancing at her, he turned and stepped aside to continue his duty.
Compared to before, Lu Jinshi's attitude towards her has improved significantly. If this had happened during the Huaiyuan period, he might not have been so harsh on her.
Now that times have changed, even Lu Jinshi has changed his mind, which is inseparable from Huan Xun. Overall, it is a good thing.
Seeing his posture, knowing that words were useless, Yu Nie sighed and went about her own business.
As the shadow of the sun slowly slid from the east wall to the west corridor, she repeatedly adjusted the proportions of gunpowder and conducted experiments.
This continued repeatedly until dusk. Aunt Liu couldn't help but urge her to rest several times. She agreed verbally, but her hands didn't stop moving.
At midnight, when even the palace servants who had helped her had gone to rest, she finally felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her and decided to go to bed.
Upon entering the inner hall, Cuiwei prepared hot water.
Song Ai helped her untie the ties of her outer garment, intending to change her into her nightgown.
Suddenly, a soft creaking sound came from the window near the outer wall.
The three of them exchanged glances and immediately became alert.
Soon after, a familiar male voice, deliberately lowered, rang out: "Qiqi...it's me."
Upon hearing this sound, Yu Nie, as if in disbelief, tiptoed and quickly walked to the window.
The person outside the window called out softly again, "Qiqi..."
Judging from the voice, she could roughly guess who it was, and opened the window directly.
Under the moonlight, the people outside the window wore straw hats and simple clothes.
His once handsome and dashing face now looked tired and gaunt.
The face beneath the bamboo hat belonged to none other than Xiao Chengyan, who was wanted throughout the city.
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