Chapter 107
On that day, Lin Qingyu had been a widow for less than a year after Lu Wancheng's death, and Gu Fuzhou was already trying to marry her, completely ignoring the rumors that the man's wife was not well-known. After marriage, the two lived in harmony and peace of mind. The eunuchs and maids in the palace often saw Gu Fuzhou going to the Imperial Hospital to pick up his wife, and occasionally they would see Lin Qingyu waiting for her husband outside the palace, which shows how deep their love was.
Now, when they suddenly heard the tragic news that Gu Fuzhou had died on the battlefield, even Xiao Songzi shed tears for him, but Lin Qingyu did not shed a single tear, but only said calmly, "I know."
Except for Jiang Xing, everyone was still immersed in the bad news. When they heard Lin Qingyu say this, no one reacted and their red eyes widened again.
Especially Shen Huaishi, who was entrusted by Lin Qingyu to go to the northwest to protect Fuzhou's safety. He had been with Gu Fuzhou for a year and knew very well how deeply Gu Fuzhou loved Lin Qingyu. He thought that Lin Qingyu would be furious, completely collapse and lose all hope. He was also prepared to die as an apology, but he didn't expect Lin Qingyu to give him a reaction he had never imagined.
Jiang Xing looked at Shen Huaishi's bruised forehead and the stunned expressions of the others, and sighed silently. Lin Qingyu had already collapsed once and almost lost his mind. Lin Qingyu now doesn't even have the energy to act, and can only hide everything under a calm surface as he did in the past.
Lin Qingyu never exposes his vulnerable side to others, he is the only exception.
Finally, it was the Queen Mother who broke the strange silence: "General Gu is a highly skilled warrior, a skilled commander, and the leader of an army. How could he have died in battle after conquering Yongliang?"
Shen Huaishi came back to his senses and whispered: "The defense of Yongliang City is strong, and our army has been unable to capture it for a long time. In order to reduce the casualties of his soldiers, General Gu did not hesitate to... take risks and lure the enemy out of the city.
When Shen Huaishi said this, everyone present was moved, and the sound of sobbing continued. Xiao Songzi was crying so hard that she was out of breath and seemed about to faint.
"General Wu Youyuan had set up an ambush in advance. He and General Gu should have attacked from both inside and outside and besieged the enemy. Who would have thought..." Shen Huaishi closed his eyes and took a break before continuing, "Who would have thought that General Wu encountered an avalanche on his way to support and was blocked outside the pass. General Gu waited for reinforcements for a long time but they didn't arrive, Wan-"
A light cough interrupted Shen Huaishi. Jiang Xing pulled the Queen Mother's sleeve and said, "Mother, I'm hungry."
The Queen Mother said in a hoarse voice: "Xiu Jiao, take the Emperor downstairs for some snacks."
Nanny Xiujiao wiped the tears from her face and was about to take Jiang Xing away, but Jiang Xing said, "We should eat here and accompany mother."
The Queen Mother felt comforted and smiled with tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty also knows that he should be filial to his mother... General Gu was a pillar of the country, loyal to the emperor and patriotic. He died in battle, and Dayu lost an arm. Your Majesty is also sad for General Gu, isn't he?"
Jiang Xing's intention was too obvious, so Lin Qingyu temporarily gave in to his wishes and let the matter go. He asked Shen Huaishi: "Where is the general's body now?"
Shen Huaishi stared up at Lin Qingyu blankly, and after a while he said, "Three days after I left, General Shi Peishi personally escorted General Gu back to the capital, and General Wu stayed in Yongliang to wait for orders."
Lin Qingyu nodded and said, "I will personally take care of the general's funeral."
"Qingyu," the Queen Mother couldn't help but say, "If you feel uncomfortable, don't hold it in. Be careful not to hurt yourself."
Lin Qingyu said: "Thank you Queen Mother for your concern."
The Queen Mother sighed, "You can go now. Call the Ministry of Rites to jointly take care of General Gu's funeral."
Lin Qingyu looked at Jiang Xing and said softly, "I...will not go."
Jiang Xing raised the corners of his lips slightly when he heard this. Lin Qingyu is really clingy, he likes her so damn much.
The Queen Mother thought she had heard it wrongly: "What?"
Lin Qingyu said, "Just summon the Minister of Rites to Xingqing Palace. Huai Shi, you must have worked hard on the journey day and night. Xiao Songzi, take Master Shen to the side hall to bathe and change clothes. I have something to ask him later."
After finally waiting for the Queen Mother to return to Ci'an Palace, Lin Qingyu dismissed everyone else and asked Jiang Xing, "Why didn't you let Shen Huaishi continue talking just now?"
Jiang Xing smiled and said, "Misunderstanding." He had been speaking more and more normally in front of Lin Qingyu these days. "I was really hungry just now."
Lin Qingyu looked at him with a hint of accusation: "You lied to me again."
"What do you want to hear from Shen Huaishi? How did I die?" Jiang Xing said helplessly, "I've already told you, Qingyu."
“In that case, why not let me listen to Shen Huaishi again?”
Jiang Xing was speechless for a moment, and seeing that he could not stop Lin Qingyu, he suddenly smiled and said, "Chen Huaishi is tongue-tied, so he must not be able to express my miserable state before death. So, I will act it out for you."
Lin Qingyu frowned: "How do you want to play?"
"You play Shen Huaishi, and I play Gu Fuzhou." As he said this, Jiang Xing's face suddenly changed. He covered his chest and vividly recreated the expression he had when he was shot by an arrow that day. He just let out a "hmm" sound and fell towards Lin Qingyu.
Lin Qingyu caught him subconsciously, and they both knelt on the ground. Jiang Xing lay in Lin Qingyu's arms, holding his hand, and said with difficulty: "Save me, I wrote him a letter of guarantee, he is still waiting for me, I can't lie to him..."
Lin Qingyu hesitated.
Before Jiang Xing died, all he thought about was the promise he made to himself. He should have been deeply moved and cried bitterly, but why was he moved and yet... a little bit wanting to laugh?
Jiang Xing looked at Lin Qingyu affectionately: "Don't let me die, he will cry."
Lin Qingyu: “…”
"Please, save me, you must save me...ah." Jiang Xing uttered the last "ah" before loosening his hand. He fell into Lin Qingyu's arms with his eyes open, lying motionless.
Seeing that he had no reaction, Lin Qingyu asked, "Then what?"
"And then I died." Jiang Xing didn't get up after he finished acting. He took the opportunity to lie in his wife's arms and play with Lin Qingyu's long hair. "What I acted out is true. If you don't believe me, go ask Shen Huaishi."
Lin Qingyu laughed: "I believe it."
"Then why don't you look touched at all?" Jiang Xing stared at him, "Not even your eyes are red, that's too much."
Lin Qingyu said honestly: "I really don't feel like crying."
Jiang Xingmu's achievement was achieved, but he teased, "No way, Qingyu. I'm so affectionate, but you don't even want to cry? So love will disappear, right?"
Lin Qingyu touched the boy's short hair: "Love will not disappear, it will only transfer from the general to the emperor."
Jiang Xing smiled and said, "That makes sense."
Even though Jiang Xing acted so clearly, Lin Qingyu still called Shen Huaishi to his side. Shen Huaishi had been waiting for a long time and thought he had finally gotten the chance to talk to Lin Qingyu alone. However, as soon as he entered the palace, he discovered that Lin Qingyu had indeed sent away all the irrelevant people, leaving only the emperor.
Shen Huaishi only learned about the change of ownership of the country after entering the capital. He didn't know much about the new emperor. He only knew that the new emperor was mentally retarded and had been raised in Jinyang Garden. Therefore, although he grew up in the palace, he had rarely seen this legitimate prince. Today he had the opportunity to see the emperor, and even though he was burdened with a heavy burden and was in a heavy mood, he still noticed that the emperor's appearance was extremely outstanding, three points better than General Gu, and he had his own merits compared to Lin Qingyu.
But what shocked Shen Huaishi the most was not the appearance of the emperor, nor his strange short hair, but the look in Lin Qingyu's eyes when he looked at him.
Lin Qingyu is so cold and indifferent. How could there be anyone else who he could treat so gently except Gu Fuzhou?
Shen Huaishi was just daydreaming when he heard Lin Qingyu say, "Last year, when I asked you to go to the northwest, I said I only wanted you to do one thing well, which is to protect the general and ensure his safe return."
While Lin Qingyu was talking, Jiang Xing sat beside him, listening to their conversation while playing with the memorial books stacked high.
Shen Huaishi lowered his head and said, "I failed Lord Lin's trust. I am sorry to the general and Lord Lin. I will accept whatever Lord Lin wants to do to me."
Lin Qingyu asked: "Did you try your best?"
Shen Huaishi gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "I only hate that I can't die for the general."
Every moment after Gu Fuzhou's death, he was thinking how great it would be if he was the one who died. He was single, without any ties, and no one would feel sad for him if he died. It was worth it to exchange his life for Gu Fuzhou's life and Dayu's arm.
Lin Qingyu said calmly: "You can do so much for him and Dayu, how can I blame you?"
Shen Huai suddenly raised his head and looked at Lin Qingyu as if he was looking at a stranger.
Lin Qingyu asked again: "What are your plans after this? I know you don't want to stay in the capital. If you want to go back to the border, I will make arrangements for you."
"I..." Shen Huaishi swallowed, "I want to stay in the capital for a while and see General Gu off for the last time."
Lin Qingyu nodded slightly: "It's up to you. In addition, I will give an explanation to the Northwest soldiers about the food and grass being robbed."
Having said that, it’s almost time to end. Seeing that Shen Huaishi was still standing there in a daze, Lin Qingyu asked, "What else do you want?"
Shen Huaishi hesitated for a long time and said, "Master Lin, General Gu told me a lot before he died..." Shen Huaishi clenched his fists, "He was begging me to save him. He said he promised you that he would come back to you. I'm useless, I can't save him... I can only watch him die with his eyes wide open, I can't do anything..."
By the end of his speech, Shen Huaishi's eyes were blurred and he couldn't stop crying.
Lin Qingyu still said those three words: "I know."
Shen Huaishi was stunned: "...Master Lin?"
"Because he promised me, he tried desperately to stay alive, but he never came back. So I will still blame him and resent him." Lin Qingyu smiled coldly, "I will resent him for the rest of my life."
Shen Huaishi fell silent, tears falling from his cheeks and dripping on the back of his weather-beaten hands.
He originally thought that no matter how cold-hearted Lin Qingyu was, she would always treat Gu Fuzhou differently. He had misjudged Lin Qingyu.
Or maybe, I never understood him.
Shen Huaishi could no longer bear it and asked, "How can Lord Lin be worthy of the pain that the general suffered when thousands of arrows pierced his heart that day?"
Lin Qingyu opened his eyes wide and suddenly looked at Jiang Xing. Jiang Xing thought to himself that it was terrible. The house he had spent half a day building using memorials collapsed.
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