Waiting that never comes
Just past the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the sky was a deathly gray-blue.
In the courtyard, Qi Yuning's figure was already wielding a long spear in the morning mist. The spear's wind was sharp, yet it could not dispel the silence of the entire courtyard.
Qi Yuheng, dressed in court robes, stopped in his tracks under the eaves, quietly watching the red figure leaping and bounding in the courtyard.
His gaze was so calm that Qi Yuning didn't realize how long her brother had been watching her until she finished practicing a set of marksmanship.
"Brother?" Her heart tightened inexplicably, and she approached with her gun in hand.
As usual, Qi Yuheng used his handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, his gaze sweeping over her calloused fingertips, his eyes filled with heartache: "His Majesty summons you. You... stay home and take good care of yourself." He wanted to remind her as usual not to wander off, but he swallowed the words back.
Qi Yuning grinned: "Don't worry! By the way, your lieutenants all say that my gun has a style reminiscent of yours back in the day!"
Qi Yuheng smiled and gently pushed her forehead: "Yes... the student surpasses the master." Then he gently rubbed her slightly cool cheek with his knuckles: "Let's go."
As Qi Yuning watched his retreating figure, she suddenly called out, "Brother! I want to eat your roast chicken tonight!"
Qi Yuheng did not turn around, but simply raised his hand and waved, his figure gradually merging into the dim morning light.
Meanwhile, Wen Zhibai was still asleep when she was startled awake by a rapid knocking on the door. She pushed open the door, and in the dim morning light, Jiang Yu stood expressionless outside.
"After you've washed and dressed, come to the east courtyard to see me." Jiang Yu's tone was cold and firm, brooking no argument.
Stepping into Jiang Yu's room, a cool sandalwood scent wafted towards her. The sharp sound of the abacus slamming heavily onto the table was particularly jarring in the quiet room, startling her so much that she hurried to Jiang Yu's side, not daring to linger for even a moment.
"Look at the mess you've made!" Jiang Yu shoved the account book in front of her and mocked, "You spent all your wealth to help Liangchuan, and what did you get in return? A mere, insignificant praise from the imperial family? And now you dare to accept that death warrant of ten thousand bolts of cloth! Wen Zhibai, do you have a death wish, or do you want to drag the entire Jiang family down with you?"
“Aunt, I…” Wen Zhibai’s face turned ashen.
"What? Why don't you go to a temple? My Jiang family can't tolerate someone as important as you!" Seeing Wen Zhibai's tearful face, Jiang Yu showed no mercy: "What, do you feel wronged?"
"Aunt, please listen to me—"
Jiang Yu had no intention of listening to her explanation. She stretched out her hand to block her and shook her head: "Last night at midnight, your cloth warehouse in Shangjing was completely burned down."
"W-what!" Upon hearing this, Wen Zhibai instinctively asked, "Is anyone injured?"
"No. It's just that all your cloth has turned to ash."
Fortunately, she stumbled backward, and Jiang Yu instinctively grabbed her arm.
“You can’t take this anymore. Not only that, I also want to tell you that all of this was at His Majesty’s behest! Otherwise, the Crown Prince would have already warned Qian before you returned to the capital. Don’t you think that even after all this, someone would still dare to target you like this?” Jiang Yu helped her sit down and handed her a cup of tea that had long since gone cold. “This fire burned not only the fabric, but also all your escape routes.”
Wen Zhibai's hand holding the teacup trembled uncontrollably as he tried to calm his resentment. He swallowed hard and placed his palm over Jiang Yu's hand, saying, "Aunt, don't worry, I will find a way to make up for the deficit and will never implicate the Jiang family."
After saying that, she prepared to leave.
"Stop!" Jiang Yu shouted from behind, "Even if you go now, you can't do anything."
“If Aunt doesn’t believe Zhibai, Zhibai will leave and never admit his relationship with Jiang.”
"Who told you I don't trust you, Wen Zhibai? You are a child of the Jiang family, and the Jiang family is your backer." Jiang Yu stepped forward, wanting to reach out and tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, but at the moment of touching her, he lowered his hand and returned to his cold demeanor: "Now that you're back, don't pretend to be strong anymore... Don't forget, we also own shops. Since you received the imperial decree, we've been working hard to weave."
Wen Zhibai's eyes widened in surprise, and tears welled up in her eyes. Her emotions were incredibly complex, and she couldn't utter a single word: "Thank you..."
"I'm doing this not for you, but for the entire Jiang family. Today, I just want to tell you: don't be overly kind. In any situation, your priority is to protect yourself. Do you understand?"
“Hmm… Zhibai remembers.” As she spoke, Wen Zhibai was about to step forward and hug Jiang Yu, but Jiang Yu dodged her: “Auntie…” She looked at Jiang Yu with a wronged expression.
Jiang Yu avoided her gaze and coughed twice: "I might as well tell you the truth. Although Jiang Xuwan and I are sisters, I don't like her, and naturally... I don't like you either, so don't try to get close to me."
Looking at Jiang Yu's proud expression, Wen Zhibai couldn't help but burst into laughter through his tears. Regardless of whether she refused or not, Wen Zhibai still forcibly hugged her.
"Wen Zhibai, you—" Jiang Yu blinked in surprise.
"Aunt...you smell like my mother. Yesterday, the person I most wanted to hug was you. Hug me, just like my mother used to hug me..."
Wen Zhibai's voice choked with emotion as he hugged Jiang Yu even tighter: "Aunt... I miss my mother..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu's heart trembled, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her hand, which had been hovering in the air, finally touched Wen Zhibai's back, patting him gently, just as she had comforted the little sister who always followed behind her many years ago.
In Jiang Yu's eyes, all that her younger sister left behind was the receding figure of her sister as she got married, and the living, breathing child in front of her.
She hesitated several times before trying to comfort Wen Zhibai, because the words she wanted to say couldn't comfort herself.
...
When they finally separated, Wen Zhibai asked the question that had been on her mind: "Aunt, what exactly is the relationship between Pei Qinzhou and the Jiang family?"
Jiang Yu's voice was as calm as an ancient pool as he slowly explained: "He is neither human nor demon, but a 'spirit' formed from the condensation of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. He is the state of a newly born dragon, the purest wisp of spirit in this world." "My ancestors of the Jiang clan were once saved by the Spirit Lord. Since then, they have made a blood pact to be the guardians of the spirit for generations, using blood as a guide, offering sacrifices every year to nourish the spirit's consciousness and protect it."
Therefore, Pei Qinzhou is a Spirit Lord, not a demon.
“Well, how can demons and evil spirits compare to the Spirit Lord… However, a year ago, the Spirit Lord fell into demonic possession.” Jiang Yu looked at Wen Zhibai with a complicated expression: “You know the price he paid for it.”
“Yes…” Wen Zhibai lowered his eyes, wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes: “His hearing is gone…”
Jiang Yu closed her eyes and sighed helplessly: "And that's not all... Falling into demonic possession is already defying the heavens and changing one's course, so one is bound to suffer a backlash. Losing all five senses is just the beginning."
"He...he never told me any of this..." Wen Zhibai panicked and immediately grabbed Jiang Yu's wrist, his eyes full of pleading: "Aunt, you know how to save him, right?"
“Zhibai, we are just guardians of spirits. We can’t defy fate or defy destiny… I know you’re arranging your wedding. But it’s too late now, nothing can be changed. As your family, I hope you… let go, let him go. This is the best outcome for you… Your meeting was a mistake from the very beginning.”
Jiang Yu's words were like sharp knives, cutting through every inch of her skin.
Wen Zhibai bit his lower lip hard until a distinct metallic taste filled his mouth, barely managing to suppress the pain in his throat.
“I’ve already lost him once. In this life, even if it means death, I will never leave him alone. I will definitely find a way to save Pei Qinzhou…”
...
Almost simultaneously, a silent massacre was unfolding in the Xuanzheng Hall.
The floor was paved with gold bricks, and jade pillars were adorned with coiled dragons. The smoke from the incense burner swirled, and all the civil and military officials stood silently at the emperor's feet. Only Qi Yuheng, whose body had not yet fully recovered, knelt in the very center of the hall.
His figure appeared particularly lonely in the empty hall.
On the dragon throne, the emperor's gaze swept over Qi Yuheng: "Qi Qing," his majestic voice broke the silence, and everyone pricked up their ears in surprise: "You have guarded Liangchuan for me for ten years. How should I reward you?"
Without waiting for Qi Yuheng's reply, he went down the steps and Wang Shuhuai bowed and presented a golden tray with a clear cup of imperial wine on it.
The emperor personally picked up the golden goblet and handed it to Qi Yuheng.
"Your subject..." Qi Yuheng's Adam's apple bobbed as he tried his best to endure the unhealed wound on his leg, his voice hoarse, "It is my duty to defend the territory and borders of Great Xia, and I dare not ask for any reward."
"Is it that you dare not, or that you are unwilling?" The emperor chuckled, but the smile did not reach his eyes. "I have heard that your 50,000 Qi Family Army soldiers only recognize the general's flag, not the dragon flag. The people of Liangchuan only know General Qi, not me, the emperor."
He leaned down, his voice extremely low: "Tell me, is my rule over this empire still secure?"
Qi Yuheng kowtowed deeply: "Your Majesty! I am willing to return the military tally to prove my loyalty!"
The Emperor stared at Qi Yuheng for a moment: "I've heard that General Qi has a younger sister with extremely high martial arts skills. Last time, she performed a heroic act, leading the army to a great victory over Naqi in place of her brother. Now, everyone in the army is saying that even if you're not here, she, Young General Qi, can lead the troops into battle." Then, he turned to Wang Shuhuai and angrily said, "Wang Shuhuai, this wine shouldn't just be given to General Qi alone; Young General Qi should also have a cup. Why was only one cup prepared?"
Wang Shuhuai immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
"Then hurry up and summon General Qi!"
"Your Majesty!" Qi Yuheng's forehead was covered in fine sweat. "How can my younger sister accept such a precious wine? She is just a woman. I will accept this cup of wine."
The emperor sneered, turned around and handed the cup of wine he had been holding to Qi Yuheng: "Qi Qing, I grant you permission to recuperate well in the capital and there is no need for you to return to Liangchuan. This cup of wine is a token of my gratitude to you and to my Great Xia for your service."
The wine in the glass is no longer a reward, but a final ultimatum.
Qi Yuheng looked at the cup of wine, but his mind was filled with images of fierce battles on the battlefield. He took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly, and accepted the golden goblet that weighed more than a thousand pounds.
"Your Majesty..." His voice trembled with barely suppressed emotion, "Thank you... for your great kindness!"
Raise your glass, tilt your head back, and drink it all in one gulp.
The liquor burned his throat, just like his heart at that moment.
Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; seeking a way to survive under the emperor's nose is fraught with peril, and a moment's carelessness can lead to certain death.
Qi Yuheng walked home alone, his steps halting in front of the General's Mansion. He looked up at the plaque, dark blood trickling from his ears and nose.
Unable to bear the pain in his legs any longer, he knelt on one knee a step away from home.
The image of the wind and snow in Liangchuan flashed before his eyes, as did the image of drinking cheap wine with his soldiers. Finally, his gaze settled on Qi Yuning's radiant smile.
Several dark figures appeared silently, and sharp blades pierced his body.
Moments later, General Qi, who had once been a formidable figure on the frontier, fell not on the battlefield, but just a step away from his home.
He wasn't discovered until half an hour after his death.
When Qi Yuheng entered the capital from Liangchuan after achieving military merit, he chose the cheapest piece of land in the capital to build his house, and distributed the remaining money to the soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield.
As long as he and his sister have a place to stay, that's fine.
All I need is to find a home for my sister...
Before he died, he seemed to hear a distant bird's song, which made him feel as if he had returned to the free sky of Liangchuan.
...
Qi Yuning's hand, which was wiping the spear, suddenly trembled, and a sudden, inexplicable pang of pain shot through her heart.
"Miss!!" the maid cried as she rushed into the backyard. "The General... he's in trouble!"
Clang—
The spear, which she regarded as her life, slipped from her suddenly weakened hand and crashed heavily onto the bluestone slab.
Outside the mansion, a heart-wrenching wail finally broke through the throat.
"elder brother!!!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
