Chapter 171 Though separated by vast distances, I don't want anything else, as long as you're here...
Despite Xiao Daozun's various remedial measures, Nan Yin was still unable to withstand the overwhelming gunpowder attack and had no choice but to retreat.
The enemy's weakness is our strength. Taking advantage of this, Beiye drove its three armies to advance even faster into the heart of Nanyin.
The soldiers on both sides fought and clashed repeatedly, leaving behind a trail of corpses and blood, before continuing their advance to other battlefields.
As the commander of the central route, Huan Xun abandoned all detours and considerations, and attacked head-on in the most violent way.
What he wanted was not to repel or occupy, but to utterly destroy.
Xiao Daozun struggled to hold on, relying on the terrain and his remaining troops, but the defensive line could not withstand such a frenzied offensive.
The closer they got to the capital, the more excited Huan Xun became.
Every time he returned from the front lines, he carried an overwhelming stench of blood, but his eyes were burning bright.
He will come to Yu Nie's camp, still in his armor and covered in dust, and he will cup her face in his hands and kiss her.
In the brief moment between their intertwined lips, he would pull back slightly, gazing at her with unusual intensity, and ask her if she had any questions for him.
Looking into his eyes, she could feel the burning emotion in his eyes as he was about to touch the enemy's blood.
He seemed to be expecting her to ask about the battle, how he had driven Xiao Daozun into a corner, and to touch the darkest, most passionate corner of his heart, enticing her to explore and prompting her to speak.
He stared intently at her, not missing a single subtle change in her expression.
She thought he was just too happy, so she tilted her head back and accepted his conquering kiss.
After he asked that question, she would take the initiative to meet him with a deeper and longer kiss, and say no.
He simply smiled at her compliance, holding her tightly in his arms as if she might leave him at any moment.
When I officially set foot on the land of Nanyin, it was January. The end of the year was approaching, and there was no warmth in the air that should have been there on New Year's Eve. There was only a cold wind carrying fine snowflakes that hit my face, chilling me to the bone.
Unfamiliar with ancient times, Yu Nie assumed that it would not snow in the Southern Yin at that time.
Historically, it often snowed in the south, which would cause rivers to freeze over.
That is why Beiye did not need to worry about how to cross the river, because all the rivers except the Fujiang River were frozen.
The hundreds of thousands of troops in Beiye could easily cross the river.
Upon entering Nanyin, they set up camp in a small town several hundred miles from Shangjing.
After days of fighting, supplies have been depleted and the soldiers are exhausted.
Huan Xun ordered the army to rest there for five days.
She had been busy refining alcohol for some time. After checking the remaining alcohol and medicine with the physician, night had already fallen. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and returned to the temporary residence.
There were guards in the courtyard. After passing through the corridor, we arrived at the main hall, where the lights were on.
Huan Xun had a military order not to disturb civilians, and the residence was the place where the generals of Nan Yin had lived before.
Upon arriving outside the main hall, Yu Nie saw him discussing the next phase of the battle with several of his lieutenants.
She saw him silently making arrangements, his finger pointing at a spot on the map, his lingering aura of killing intent barely perceptible even through the thin paper window.
Originally intending not to disturb him, Yu Nie planned to quietly circle back to the inner courtyard from under the corridor.
As I passed through the window, I heard his voice calling from inside the hall: "Qiqi".
Hearing the sound, she stopped in her tracks and turned around.
Huan Xun gave a few brief instructions to the generals, who then filed out, bowing their heads in salute as they passed by her before leaving.
Soon, only the two of them remained in the courtyard.
Huan Xun also came out.
He wasn't wearing armor, only a dark casual outfit. He lacked the grimness of the battlefield, but possessed a more refined and aloof air, suggesting a lofty and unassuming demeanor.
He walked up to her through the thin snow, his figure enveloping her.
Cuiwei bowed to him and took a few steps back.
A cold wind swept through the courtyard, and he reached out to help her pull her cloak tighter.
"Where did you go?" he asked in a low voice, which sounded much warmer than his cold and stern voice in the hall just now.
Yu Nie raised her eyes and replied with a smile, "I just went to the physician's office to check on the remaining herbs and alcohol." Her tone was crisp and light.
He took her slightly cold hand and led her into the brightly lit bedroom.
"It's cold outside, let's go inside and talk."
Yu Nie let him lead her, and said as they walked, "We don't have much usable alcohol left. I was thinking that after everyone has rested for a couple of days, I'll bring some more people to make some more, just in case."
Huan Xun's bedroom was very close to the main hall, and there was a charcoal fire burning inside. As soon as they entered, the warmth inside quickly dispelled the chill from their bodies.
After helping her sit down on the couch, he sat down in front of her, picked up a white porcelain teacup, and poured her some tea.
"There's no rush in a day or two." He said, accompanied by the sound of tea being poured. "New Year's Eve is approaching, and the army will be resting. You should rest too. We can talk about preparing alcohol after New Year's Eve."
With less than four days left until Lunar New Year's Eve, a time for families to reunite and bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new, it is a luxury for the entire army to be able to celebrate this festival on foreign soil under the shadow of war.
He mentioned "New Year's Eve," and these two words imbued the smoke-filled dwellings beneath the battlefield with the warmth of human warmth.
He placed the teacup in front of her and asked, "What do you want for New Year's Eve?"
"I don't want anything." She stretched out her slightly cool hand and placed it on the back of his hand, which was resting on the table. "As long as you're here, that's enough."
Seemingly satisfied with her answer, he took her hand in return: "You can't do nothing; you have to let me do something."
He spoke with a touch of solemnity: "No matter what, this is the first New Year's Eve we've spent together."
"Really, no." She insisted, she just wanted him to be with her: "New Year's Eve is a day for family reunions, and being with the most important person is the most important thing."
Hearing her say that, he didn't press the matter further, but instead asked her, "So how did you usually spend New Year's Eve?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Nie lowered her eyes.
A brief silence fell over the room, broken only by the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire and the flickering candlelight on the table.
She curled her lips slightly and said slowly, "In previous years, I spent New Year's Eve with my Uncle, Aunt Liu, my Junior Sister, and Senior Brother Ahui. We would cook New Year's Eve dinner together. I would usually just add firewood, while my Uncle and Aunt Liu would be the head chefs, and my Junior Sister and Senior Brother would put up paper-cut window decorations."
“We would also set off firecrackers together and make candied hawthorns with melted sugar water, but I often couldn’t get the syrup to stick. My junior sister and brother were very good at it. My uncle and Aunt Liu would watch from the side and give us three little ones pointers.”
“But this year we’re separated by vast distances…” she murmured, her voice filled with melancholy.
Those lively and heartwarming scenes from the past flashed through my mind: the hearty laughter of everyone, their busy figures, Langxi's cheerful chatter, and Ah Hui...
He would always quietly put food into her bowl, encouraging her to eat more and grow stronger.
Especially when she thought of Ah Hui, her junior brother who always protected her and treated her so well, now that they were separated by death, they could no longer spend the New Year together or see each other again.
Suddenly, a sour feeling welled up in her nose, her heart ached, and warm tears streamed down her face without warning.
He had seen her gentle side, her resilient side, and her hearty laughter, but he had never seen her silently shed tears.
Her suppressed grief tugged at his heartstrings.
He got up, walked to her side, bent down, and pulled her into his arms.
His arms were strong and powerful, conveying a sense of protection.
Yu Nie nestled against his chest, feeling the warmth and steady heartbeat emanating from beneath his clothes.
Once suppressed emotions break free, they become difficult to control.
She sobbed in his arms, "I don't know when I'll be able to see my senior uncle and junior sister again, and I don't know if my senior brother Ah Hui is doing well over there."
Like a lost child, she longed for her deceased and separated relatives amidst the festive atmosphere of the approaching Lunar New Year's Eve.
Huan Xun didn't speak, but tightened his arms around her, stroking her back repeatedly with one hand. His chin rested on the top of her soft hair, letting her tears soak his clothes.
After a long while, once she had calmed down a bit, he spoke softly, "It will be alright."
His hand, stroking her back, carried a reassuring warmth and strength.
"Once this battle is over and Zhao Yunfu is dealt with, I will order the removal of your martial uncle's arrest warrant. At that time, your martial uncle can return to your side."
Yu Nie nodded in his arms, her lingering tears rubbing against his clothes as she hummed in agreement, her nose sounding a little stuffy.
The two embraced for a while before she finally calmed down.
Huan Xun helped her sit down and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips.
"Since it's the New Year, we should at least make it look like the New Year." He deliberately changed the subject: "What would you like to eat? I'll have someone prepare it."
The atmosphere eased, and she stopped dwelling on her earlier sadness. She cheered up and discussed the dishes to be prepared for New Year's Eve with her, her round almond-shaped eyes shining brightly once again.
She talked on and on about the fun times she had prepared for the New Year with Langxi and the others in previous years, and he listened attentively.
New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye. The snow stopped, but the sky remained gloomy.
The courtyard, which was temporarily used as a residence, was simply swept inside and out, and red paper-cut window decorations were pasted on, finally adding a bit of festive atmosphere.
In the evening, the charcoal fire in the flower hall burned brightly, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Several exquisite dishes were laid out on the round table, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat, making it a sumptuous meal.
Huan Xun, Yu Nie, Cuiwei, Xie Cheng, and the others sat around the table. After raising their glasses in a toast, they began to eat.
This brief moment of reunion was truly precious to them.
Outside the window, night was deepening, and a cold wind was blowing.
The flower hall was warmed by the fire and the dishes on the table.
All the hardships and separations melted away in this moment, settling into a peaceful smile in each other's eyes.
After the meal, the cups and plates were removed and replaced with tea.
Cuiwei and Xie Cheng set off firecrackers with several guards in the courtyard.
Amidst the lively sounds, she turned to look at him, the firelight dancing in her eyes: "Happy New Year's Eve, Huan Xun."
"Happy New Year's Eve?" There was no such greeting at the moment, and he looked somewhat puzzled.
“Yes.” She explained, “That’s what we say on New Year’s Eve where I’m from, so I wish you a happy New Year’s Eve.”
After saying that, she took a red paper envelope from her sleeve and handed it to him: "A New Year's gift."
Huan Xun took the square, red object, opened the seal, and felt the soft fabric inside with his fingertips. He took out the purse, which had a dark blue base and simple, unrefined embroidery: a round, plump little rabbit trying to appear fierce, with a few crooked little flowers beside it.
"The rabbit on it is a snow maiden, but I embroidered it a little ugly." Her voice lowered, tinged with shyness. "I'm not good at needlework, please don't mind."
He stroked the rabbit, looking down at it, as if he could see her frowning as she threaded the needle under the lamplight through the rabbit. "No," he said, carefully accepting the purse. "I like it very much."
He immediately fastened it to his waist; the dark blue ornament blended harmoniously with his robes. He looked down at it, his smile deepening: "Very beautiful."
Before she could recover from her shyness and joy, Huan Xun said, "I also have something for you."
"What?" she asked, looking at him curiously.
He took something out of his pocket and handed it to her.
It was a bright white, crescent-shaped beast tooth with a sharp tip, its root polished smooth, and tied with a black rope.
Huan Xun: "This is the wolf king that I hunted and killed alone when I was a child."
He said, "This is its tooth, and it has always been with me. People often say that the wolf king's tooth can ward off evil and protect peace."
He took her hand and placed the wolf fang in her palm.
The object in his hand carried his warmth, heavy and bearing the weight of his unspoken past.
“I’m giving this to you.” He looked at her, his gaze as deep as the night: “May we live peacefully year after year, free from worries.”
As his voice trailed off, Yu Nie's eyes flickered, and he clenched the wolf fang in his palm.
The hard texture collided head-on with the softness in her heart.
The firecrackers continued to crackle, but in this small space, only their silent gazes met, and a prayer more solemn than any vow remained.
She nestled into his arms.
They both firmly believe that, both now and in the future, they will always be each other's strongest support.
Absolutely no changes.
*
The early spring wind, carrying the smoke of gunpowder and the fragrance of flowers, swept across the charred city walls.
Sitting on his horse, Yu Nie gazed at the wildflowers quietly blooming by the roadside. This war, which had dragged on from the depths of winter until now, when the mountain flowers were blooming again, had lasted far too long.
Despite the defeat of Nan Yin, Xiao Daozun still ordered all Nan Yin soldiers to resist.
However, with the increasingly sophisticated gunpowder refining technology in Beiye, they would only collapse even faster. They persisted for three months, from the depths of winter to the blooming season, but the result was far from satisfactory.
At this time, the army of Beiye had reached a point a hundred miles outside of Shangjing. Before long, Beiye would launch its final assault.
Once they entered the city, they stayed in the government offices, just like before.
After settling in, it was just evening. Cuiwei had already prepared dinner.
The hot meal dispelled the fatigue from days of travel.
Although the meal was not lavish, in the midst of frequent wars, having a peaceful meal was already a rare treat.
Yu Nie fiddled with the rice in her bowl, eating with relish, and asked about Yan Yue's situation during the meal.
A month ago, Yan Yue wrote to say that his old injury had relapsed and his cough had worsened, so he had to temporarily leave the front line to recuperate.
During this period, Huan Xun was busy with many battles and had no time to write back home.
Now that things have reached a critical point, she felt that Yan Yue would probably write something over.
"Yes." He picked up some food for her: "It's a military report that just arrived today. My godfather has been recuperating in Jiangling for some time and has largely recovered."
"He has now returned to the army and made an agreement with me in a letter that ten days later, we will launch a three-pronged attack on the capital simultaneously."
The atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly changed, but it wasn't tense.
Yu Nie slowed down his chewing.
Ten days later, this long battle is finally coming to an end.
She felt a sense of relief; if unification of the world could bring peace, that would be a good thing. However, with no news from Jian'an for a long time, she couldn't help but worry about what would happen after unification.
Just then, someone came in from outside. She turned her head and saw Deputy General Sun walk into the hall with a solemn expression, clasping his hands in a salute.
Huan Xun picked up a chicken leg, placed it in Yu Nie's bowl, and asked directly, "What brings Vice General Sun here?"
Deputy General Sun glanced at the others, then solemnly said, "General, someone outside the mansion requests an audience."
"Who?" Huan Xun put down his chopsticks.
Deputy General Sun said no more, took something out of his pocket, and presented it with both hands.
It was a heavy, golden token, engraved with the emblem and title representing the identity of the Southern Yin royal family.
Huan Xun took the token, and frowned when he saw the words on it.
Noticing the change in his expression, Yu Nie followed to look, and the three characters "Xiao Chengyan" appeared in her eyes.
The heavy golden token lingered on Huan Xun's fingertips for only a moment before he placed it on the table with a "knock".
He didn't look at Yu Nie again, but waved his hand at Deputy General Sun: "Tell him to wait for me in the main hall."
Vice-General Sun understood and immediately turned around to go out and greet the guests.
At this moment, Xiao Chengyan handed over the token, and Yu Nie pondered his purpose.
Why did he only appear at this point?
She was puzzled, but Huan Xun already understood why Xiao Chengyan had come.
He said a few words to her, told her to wait there for her to eat, and then got up and went to the main hall.
Gazing at his departing figure, Cuiwei's voice rang in Yu Nie's ears: "Where did the Prince Consort go? Who came, my lady?"
Xie Cheng, also curious, pressed for more information.
He didn't let her go, but Yu Nie was very curious about Xiao Chengyan's purpose in coming.
She shook her head, and then, unable to sit still any longer, she got up and went to the main hall.
Steady footsteps echoed outside the main hall, followed by a slender figure appearing at the doorway.
Upon arriving outside the main hall, Xiao Chengyan untied his belt, took off his cloak, and handed it to Han Jie: "Wait outside."
Han Jie bowed and accepted the cloak, glancing at the situation inside the door: "Your Highness, are you sure you don't need me to come along?"
"No need, I can go in and talk by myself."
Seeing his resolute attitude, Han Jie stopped talking and retreated to the corridor.
Xiao Chengyan followed Sun Fujie into the room.
Huan Xun did not get up to greet him, but remained seated.
Looking at Huan Xun sitting in the grand chair, Xiao Chengyan remained calm.
Huan Xun held a military book in his hands, not even fully raising his eyelids.
He tapped the armrest casually, his voice as cold as ice: "What brings the Prince of Guangning here at this time?" His hostility was obvious.
Since Xiao Chengyan first proposed the strategy of "negotiating peace," even at the cost of being called a "coward," he has tried several times to contact the Beiye side to send messages, but he has never been able to meet Huan Xun.
Tonight, he risked crossing the buffer zone between the two sides and handed over the token once again. He had no hope, but to his surprise, Huan Xun agreed to meet him.
Xiao Chengyan was unaware that Huan Xun met with him solely because Yu Nie had seen the token he had handed over.
If he doesn't appear, given Yu Nie's personality, she will definitely try to reconcile them.
I might as well meet him directly and make things clear, so he won't be bothered by me anymore.
Xiao Chengyan remained calm in the face of Huan Xun's cold words.
He stood in the hall, his figure appearing somewhat solitary and upright in the candlelight.
"I dare not offer any guidance," he said. "The Red Armor Guards are now so formidable that Cheng Yan would not dare to offer any advice."
Even though they were once close and he had treated him like a brother, at this moment they were strangers, as if they had never met before.
Huan Xun didn't waste any words with him and asked directly, "King Xiao has come at this crucial moment, is he planning to surrender?"
Xiao Chengyan met his gaze and said, "No, it's not surrender."
He paused slightly before continuing, "I have come here to negotiate peace."
"
"Oh?" Huan Xun seemed intrigued.
Judging from his tone, Xiao Chengyan felt there was hope, and then stated their conditions.
“Our Southern Yin is willing to offer the fourteen prefectures north of the Huai River, with an annual tribute of hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, in exchange for the general ceasing hostilities and ensuring the preservation of our Southern Yin ancestral temples.”
The fourteen prefectures north of the Huai River occupied nearly half of the territory of Nan Yin, and their annual tribute was astonishing.
Such a concession of territory and tribute was already a painful one for the Southern Yin.
Huan Xun tapped his finger on the armrest: "To submit to the emperor?"
Sure enough, we couldn't escape this link.
Xiao Chengyan stood upright, his hands clenched tightly in his sleeves.
The silence froze in the air, broken by the soft crackling of the candlelight.
"Submitting as a vassal..." He raised his eyes again and met Huan Xun's gaze directly, saying indignantly, "General Huan, I have come here to preserve the bloodline of the Xiao family and continue the lineage of the Southern Yin Kingdom. If we abandon the imperial title and adopt the calendar, how is that different from the fall of a country? At that time, how will I face my ancestors in the afterlife?"
Huan Xun's face was cold and his tone was flat, but his words were like knives: "It seems that the Prince of Guangning has not yet realized the current situation. What right does a defeated general have to talk about conditions? When your brother decided to put up a last-ditch resistance and launch a northern expedition, the Xiao family should have thought that this day would come."
Grief and indignation overwhelmed his reason, and Xiao Chengyan seemed to be provoked by the words "defeated general".
He took a sudden step forward and demanded, "Huan Xun!"
"Do you insist on annihilating everyone in Nan Yin, slaughtering them all, and turning this land into scorched earth before you are satisfied? My Xiao family has already yielded so much, why are you unwilling to give Nan Yin a way out?!"
"Isn't doubling the annual tribute from the thirteen prefectures of Huaibei enough?!"
Outside, Yu Nie listened to the faint sounds coming from inside through the back window, and a sense of unease inexplicably rose within her.
She didn't know why Huan Xun wouldn't agree to these peace terms.
In her view, they should agree to avoid further loss of life in the ears.
Inside the room, Huan Xun was not angered by Xiao Chengyan's words. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his unfathomable eyes surging with undisguised murderous intent.
"Not enough." He uttered these two words softly, but they carried immense force, shattering Xiao Chengyan's last hope.
"Wasn't I clear enough to you back then? If I want Xiao Daozun dead, the Xiao royal family must also perish."
Having said that, he leaned forward slightly and spoke each word as if delivering a verdict: "You ask me why? This is the answer."
Xiao Chengyan's face turned completely bloodless after Huan Xun said, "The Xiao royal family must also perish."
His chest heaved violently, as if he were bearing an immense weight.
He knew he was in the wrong, but could only reveal another reason for his visit.
"Yes, my brother is utterly wicked. He shouldn't have done that back in Xuzhou, for his own selfish desires, he conspired with Zhao Shuhuai to slaughter the Red Falcon clan. He deserves to die a thousand deaths."
His eyes were filled with pain and struggle: "But the rest of the royal family are innocent. They know nothing about this. Huan Xun, I beg you, let them go."
“I will pay for the sins my brother committed. If you must take a life to quell your anger, then take mine. I only beg you to spare his life!”
"Heh." A very soft, cold laugh escaped Huan Xun's throat, carrying endless mockery.
He stood up, his tall figure exuding a fearsome and oppressive aura.
The candlelight flickered behind him, casting shifting shadows on his face, but his eyes burned with an intense, bloodthirsty intensity.
“Innocent?” he repeated the word. “You’re telling me you’re innocent?”
He took a step forward, closing in on Xiao Chengyan.
"Twelve years ago, Xiao Daozun was hunting in Xuzhou. Just because my elder sister refused to submit to his tyranny and resisted him, he killed her entire family on the spot, which led her to commit suicide. That was not enough. In order to seek justice from him, the entire Chi Falcon tribe, together with Zhao Shuhuai, massacred nearly a hundred people, including men, women, and children."
"What did they do wrong? They were slaughtered and their blood flowed like rivers just for justice."
Huan Xun's eyes were bloodshot as he said, word by word, "Now, tell me, who in your Xiao royal family is worthy of the word 'innocent'? And what right do you have to stand here and beg me to let him go? To let you go?!"
Yu Nie, standing outside the window, suddenly gasped for breath, instinctively raising her hand to cover her mouth, stopping the gasp that almost escaped her lips. Her eyes widened instantly, filled with disbelief and horror.
She knew that Yan Yue was involved in the annihilation of the Crimson Falcon Clan, but she didn't know that the culprits who caused the Crimson Falcon Clan's destruction were Xiao Daozun and Zhao Shuhuai.
Zhao Shuhuai... At this moment, she finally understood why he had acted first and informed her later in Huaiyuan.
She recalled his excitement when he forced Xiao Daozun to back down.
She thought of his exhilaration every time he returned from the battlefield, and the destructive heat of his kisses.
I recall the undisguised murderous intent he displayed when he spoke of Xiao Daozun.
At that time, she thought he was just happy, but now she finally understood why he was happy.
Huan Xun.
She heard Xiao Chengyan's voice coming from inside the hall, a hoarse voice that sounded like he had completely given up trying.
She turned her head and peered inside through the crack in the window frame.
Xiao Chengyan lifted his robe and, under Huan Xun's icy gaze, knelt down with a thud.
Then, he bent down and slammed his fist heavily on the cold ground.
“It was my brother who wronged you. I dare not ask for forgiveness. I only beg the general to spare the lives of the women and children of the Xiao family. I am willing to bear all the general’s anger and offer my life.”
He knew that words were powerless in the face of such a bloody hatred, and only action might be the solution.
To perform such a grand gesture of prostration before the enemy commander undoubtedly shatters the dignity of the royal family.
But at this moment, Xiao Chengyan was no longer doing all this for himself, or even for Xiao Daozun, but to leave a trace of the Xiao family's bloodline.
Huan Xun lowered his eyes and looked coldly at Xiao Chengyan, who was kneeling at his feet.
His humble, downtrodden demeanor did not evoke the slightest pity in him; he sneered, "Begging me is useless."
“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Xiao Daozun deserves his punishment, and so does your Xiao royal family. Go back now.”
After saying that, he walked past Xiao Chengyan, who was kneeling on the ground, and headed out of the hall.
"Huan Xun!" Xiao Chengyan called out to him unwillingly, "Why must you be so ruthless as to kill them all?"
Upon hearing this, Huan Xun stopped in his tracks.
He didn't turn around; with his back to him, he uttered his final judgment:
"Cherish these last days, Your Highness Prince Guangning."
"Your good times are numbered."
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