Chapter Forty-Eight
On the border between Yunxiu Kingdom and Dongliang, in the Yunzhao Army camp, in the middle of the camp, there were thousands of stone targets, no different from those at Mo Yinghuo's residence. Each archer had three dark black iron arrows with a faint red glow stuck in their quiver.
With a continuous whooshing sound, thousands of black iron arrows flew towards the unyielding stone target like ghosts. Some arrows barely managed to stand firmly in the center of the target; some wobbled a couple of times before collapsing to the ground; some didn't even touch the bullseye before arcing off to kiss the ground...
In any case, the vast archery camp, with its soldiers carrying black iron arrows that could cut through iron like mud, strictly followed military orders and practiced their unique archery skills.
A slightly older man, dressed in armor, with a longbow hanging from his horse's back and a knife at his waist, sat upright, his eyes fixed intently on the flying black iron arrows, his brows furrowed, his hands gripping the reins tightly.
"General!" A patrolling soldier was so startled by Mo Yinghuo's sudden appearance that he stood rooted to the ground like a pillar.
Mo Yinghuo glanced at the distance and said, "Have Vice General Shurong come to my tent."
Soldier: "Yes, sir."
Deputy General Shu Rong lifted the curtain and saw Mo Yinghuo and Zhao Shu standing in front of the table. On the table was the same map of Dongliang Kingdom as before, only half rolled up and covered with a few specks of dust. He suddenly felt a sense of disorientation; they were still camped beneath the walls of Chencheng, watching the people of Dongliang with amusement and disinterest.
Gongliang Zhong is still alive.
Shu Rong placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, straightened her body, and slowly walked over. She cupped her hands in greeting and said softly, "General, why have you suddenly returned?"
Mo Yinghuo's lips curled up slightly. "It's nothing, I just came to take a look."
Shu Rong nodded and gave Zhao Shu a nod of greeting.
Mo Yinghuo: "The Yun Zhao army has stationed troops in Fengge, Nan Jin, Xi Jin, Hu Guo, and Dong Liang respectively."
Shu Rong: "Yes, General. The Yun Zhao Army now has only 100,000 troops left. With the addition of the Iron Pagoda troops brought by Colonel Chen and Colonel An, the total is 150,000."
Mo Yinghuo sighed softly, "Thank you for your hard work, Shurong."
Shu Rong smiled faintly, then her expression turned serious. "General, are 50,000 Iron Cavalry troops available?"
Mo Yinghuo nodded. "Shurong, after five years of fighting, even though the Yunzhao army has been invincible and has reported many victories, it has also suffered heavy losses. The countries that have been conquered also need troops to garrison them. The Emperor has given me the Yunxiu Kingdom that can be fought, and the rest are in the hands of the Marquis of Beiding."
Shu Rong pondered for a moment and sighed, "The national treasury is also empty."
Mo Yinghuo suddenly noticed that after not seeing her for several months, Shu Rong had a feeling that was both strange and familiar. She walked over and patted Shu Rong's shoulder forcefully, forcing a smile. "We'll be able to attack the Northern Frontier soon. When that happens, this princess will definitely avenge Gongliang Zhong." Mo Yinghuo spoke calmly, and Shu Rong's body stiffened abruptly. A chill ran down his spine from his shoulder, but he quickly regained his senses.
Shu Rong: "If those 50,000 Ironclad Cavalry could truly submit to Yunxiu Kingdom, they would be a powerful weapon in the attack on the Northern Barbarians."
Mo Yinghuo said calmly, "Yes, Marquis Haitang will make them serve Yunxiu Kingdom wholeheartedly."
Shu Rong nodded.
Mo Yinghuo: "How's the training for the Xuan Tie Arrow coming along?"
Shu Rongyan said, "As the general has instructed, we will practice day and night and soon be able to go to the battlefield."
...
Suddenly, cheers erupted outside the tent.
"A fine arrow!"
"Amazing!"
"Lord Zhao, show the brothers another trick!"
Upon hearing this, Mo Yinghuo and Shu Rong knew that Zhao Shu was outside instructing the soldiers on archery.
Shu Rong: "General, I'm also going out to study. Mystic Arrows are very different from ordinary arrows, and I haven't been able to break through them recently."
Mo Yinghuo's lips curled up slightly. "Alright." She watched as Shu Rong cupped his hands, his hand naturally resting on the scabbard, and slowly turned around. His back was so dignified that she couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth in her heart and unconsciously whispered, "Gongliang Zhong."
Shu Rong suddenly stopped, lowered her head, and after a moment slowly turned around. "General, were you calling me?"
Mo Yinghuo then realized his slip of the tongue, paused for a moment, and then sighed with a wry smile, "Shurong, you are becoming more and more like him."
Shu Rong's gaze was unfocused, fixed on the ground, and she said in a low, buzzing voice, "One who stays near vermilion gets stained red."
Mo Yinghuo turned around and said softly, "Have Marquis Haitang come to my tent."
Shu Rong: "Yes."
...
Mo Yinghuo mounted a white horse. The vermilion mark on her eyebrow, chilled by the border's cold, appeared unusually dim. She unconsciously tightened her wide robes and strode forward. The fearful look in Haitang Hou's eyes flashed vividly before her again, and their conversation echoed faintly in her ears once more. Indeed, everything was exactly as she had guessed.
"My lord, the Queen Mother has settled down in Yunxiu Kingdom. Once Yunxiu Kingdom reclaims the northern border, I, the princess, will reunite you and your family of three," Mo Yinghuo said calmly, tightening her cuffs.
Marquis Haitang clenched his fists and forced a smile, "Your Highness, I don't understand..."
Mo Yinghuo: "My lord, there's no need for us to pretend. Didn't you say in Su Zang before that the royal family of Dongliang is now extinct, with only a three-year-old child remaining? Since there is still a young prince, how can there be no successor? At that time, with so many Iron Pagoda soldiers and Dongliang warriors present, my lord dared not say it outright. If you had, everyone would have mistakenly thought that the young prince was too young to shoulder the responsibility. In fact, you were just trying to reassure me, because that three-year-old child from Dongliang is not the biological son of the old king of Dongliang; he is the child of my lord and the Queen Mother."
Marquis Haitang knelt on one knee. "Your Highness, I, Marquis Haitang, am willing to serve you for life. The Iron Pagoda Army swears to be loyal to the Yunzhao Army to the death! I only ask that Your Highness protect my mother and child. I do not ask for wealth or honor, but only for peace."
...
Mo Yinghuo tightened the reins, chuckling to herself. She had unknowingly ridden her horse back to the peach tree she always saw. The snow on the border was even more abundant than in the capital, a white blanket pressing down on the peach tree branches, yet unable to conceal the out-of-season, chaotic red blossoms. Mo Yinghuo lifted her eyes, broke off a peach blossom, stuck it in her saddle, and teased the petals with her fingers, seemingly utterly bored.
"Your Highness, we should go back now."
Zhao Shu arrived under the peach tree at some point, and stood quietly to the side, watching Mo Yinghuo play with the red flower in his hand.
Mo Yinghuo sat up straight and smiled. "Zhao Shu, do you remember? This is where we first met."
Zhao Shu: "Mm."
Mo Yinghuo: "I didn't expect the peach blossoms here to still be in bloom. Let's go." As the snow fell, she reached out and covered the warm hand that was being offered to him.
"This is..." Mo Yinghuo floated in a vast starry sky, surrounded by twinkling stars that looked up from the ground.
One could pluck the stars from the sky, and a pure dream could overwhelm the Milky Way. [1]
However, only she knew whether her dream was truly peaceful. Mo Yinghuo's ears turned slightly red, and she silently blew and exhaled, gradually returning to normal after a while.
It's so quiet, so quiet that even breathing feels alive.
Standing in this vast expanse of heaven and earth, Mo Ying felt a strange emptiness in her heart. It wasn't loss or sadness, but a sudden realization that human life is fleeting, that life is but a blink of an eye, and that what one seeks throughout life seems to have ultimately become insignificant. How can beautiful scenery compare to the brilliance of the stars? The loneliness that people talk about is nothing more than an emptiness that can be laughed off here.
Mo Yinghuo glanced sideways, secretly observing Zhao Shu intently. He recalled Zhao Shu saying that he had traveled alone through the vast interstellar space for a long time, unsure how to interact with others, and what that kind of loneliness truly felt like. For some reason, Mo Yinghuo suddenly tightened his grip on the warm hand in his own.
Zhao Shu turned his head, glanced at her with a puzzled look, and then said softly, "This is the Milky Way." After saying that, he took Mo Yinghuo's hand and slowly floated forward. Although he said slowly, a single leap here was equivalent to dozens of steps on the ground.
Mo Yinghuo walked as if flowers were blooming beneath her feet, finding it all quite enjoyable. Her previous annoyance was temporarily absorbed into this galaxy, granting her a moment of forgetfulness, and her heart was filled with comfort.
"A white jade coffin." Mo Yinghuo raised his hand in surprise, and then lifted Zhao Shu's hand as well.
In the starry river, a flawless, crystal-clear coffin floated peacefully. Perhaps it held a deep recollection of that experience, for even Mo Yinghuo, reduced to ashes, would recognize it. Zhao Shu had previously said he would keep the coffin for future use, but he hadn't specified where. It turned out he had hidden it in this starry river.
Zhao Shu nodded slightly and said calmly, "Your Highness, didn't you ask where the white jade coffin was? It's right here."
Mo Yinghuo sat on the coffin, his legs dangling and swinging freely. "Zhao Shu, what do you plan to do with this coffin?"
Zhao Shu: "I want to put it in Jietai Temple."
It turns out that he had a premeditated purpose in becoming the host, Zhao.
Mo Yinghuo: "Jie Tai Temple?"
Zhao Shu's gaze fell intently on Mo Yinghuo. After a moment, he explained slowly, "Your Highness, I don't know why it should be placed in Jietai Temple. However, this is what the late Emperor told my mother."
Mo Yinghuo looked completely bewildered.
Zhao Shu: "Actually, it is easy to travel through time in a wormhole, but we have found that almost everyone can only travel to the past."
Mo Yinghuo continued swinging her long legs, "Why is that?"
Zhao Shu shook his head. "The specific reasons are still unknown to the Yelan Star people. However, Your Highness, Mother once told us that she and the late Emperor once experienced a cosmic journey together. Although it was extremely short, they actually arrived in the future. This is one of the two cosmic journeys to the future recorded by the Yelan Star people."
Mo Yinghuo pondered the nature of the relationship between his father and Zhao Shu's mother, but calmly asked, "Does that have anything to do with Jietai Temple and the white jade coffin?"
Zhao Shu: "The late Emperor and Mother saw a scene where Your Highness was leading the soldiers, standing beside the white jade coffin..."
Mo Yinghuo frowned: "The white jade coffin is in Jietai Temple."
Zhao Shu nodded.
Mo Yinghuo: "So, what I'm saying is that one day in the future, I will lead all the soldiers to stand beside the coffin at Jietai Temple. What will we be doing there? Young Master Zhao, you won't tell me that the Northern Barbarians have invaded the capital, will you?"
Zhao Shu: "I don't know. My mother said she only saw these things at the time, and they disappeared quickly. Your Highness, it's already rare to see such a scene. Perhaps it was the intervention of the fifth-dimensional universe. I think they might be helping us."
Mo Yinghuo smiled. "Perhaps."
Zhao Shu: "Your Highness, there's something I don't understand. Actually, the late Emperor must have seen other scenes at the time, which convinced him that one day, Your Highness would lead the soldiers to defeat the people of Shiling Kingdom. So, no matter what happens, he will protect you. But why didn't he pass the throne to you? As far as I know, Yunxiu Kingdom also had an empress who ascended the throne..."
Mo Yinghuo suddenly stood up, interrupting him, "Young Master Zhao, this is a matter for Yunxiu Kingdom. I hope you won't interfere." She paused, tightened her cuffs, and stared unfocusedly at the distant stars, saying softly, "Zhao Shu, from now on, no matter what happens, you only need to follow your original intention and help Yunxiu Kingdom destroy Shiling Kingdom. You don't need to worry about anything else."
Zhao Shu calmly gazed at Mo Yinghuo's profile and said gently, "Your Highness, there is no need to worry. Everything will become clear when the time comes."
Mo Yinghuo nodded.
The two gazed quietly at the twinkling lights around them, each lost in their own thoughts.
After a long while, Zhao Shu spoke, "Your Highness, let's go back. Um, your physical structure is still different from that of the Nightfall Star people. I'm worried that you can't handle traveling through wormholes twice a day, so we..." He suddenly stopped, his gaze falling on the coffin.
Mo Yinghuo roughly understood. She tightened her snow-white robe, feeling as if the clothes were not clinging to her body and would float away at any moment if she didn't tie them tightly. She curled her lips and smiled, "Let's go in."
Zhao Shu: "Mm."
This time, Mo Yinghuo obediently lay down inside.
Zhao Shu: "Your Highness, please bear with me. We will arrive in an hour."
Half an hour passed, and the Milky Way remained calm throughout, allowing Mo Yinghuo to take a short rest. Suddenly, a deafening bang resounded, nearly deafening him. Then came a second, a third, a fourth…
Ignoring the taboo of the person on her body, Mo Yinghuo suddenly grabbed Zhao Shu's arms, which were supporting her, and almost shouted to drown out the violent impact, "What happened?"
"Your Highness, it's alright, it's just a meteorite," Zhao Shu said gently. Although his voice was soft, it was somehow clearer than Mo Yinghuo's loud shout.
Mo Yinghuo: "Meteorite?"
Zhao Shu: "It's a shooting star."
Mo Yinghuo: "Won't the coffin be smashed?"
Zhao Shu: "No. Your Highness will get used to it. This is very common in Xinghe."
After a short while, Mo Yinghuo discovered something terrifying. The coffin was swaying and rocking back and forth. Although Zhao Shu had natural strength, he managed to keep them from touching in the chaos. However, once it was turned upside down, Mo Yinghuo couldn't resist at all and ended up lying on top of Zhao Shu.
With that press, she immediately felt Zhao Shu's entire body go limp, all the strength in his arm vanish. And she herself was in even worse shape.
After going back and forth several times, in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two had bumped into each other repeatedly.
With another jolt, Zhao Shu's entire body pressed down heavily. Mo Yinghuo couldn't help but let out a soft moan. Her breath hitched, and her hands unconsciously tightened. In the dim light, her pupils widened, her eyes moist and red, and the cinnabar mole on her eyebrow almost overflowed with blood.
The sound was both soft and loud; she wasn't sure if the person on top of her could hear it.
In the narrow, dark space, Mo Yinghuo, filled with shame, finally couldn't hold back and blurted out, trembling, "Zhao...Shu, let's...go out."
Zhao Shu thought he had hurt him, so he quickly said softly, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, I... I'm a little weak. Just bear with it, we'll be there soon." After saying that, Zhao Shu suddenly propped himself up again.
Mo Yinghuo did not answer him.
Silence fell.
After a while, the two suddenly fell onto a large couch. Apart from the couch, there was nothing else in the room. Zhao Shu carefully pulled his hand out from under Mo Yinghuo's head and slowly stood up.
After he got up, Mo Yinghuo turned to the side, facing away from him, and curled up slightly.
Zhao Shu: "Your Highness, we have arrived."
Mo Yinghuo responded softly, then seemed to fall asleep, remaining motionless with her back to him, lying quietly on the bed.
Zhao Shu looked at Mo Yinghuo's back, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"Your Highness, are you alright?" Zhao Shu, puzzled, hurried over to check if she was injured anywhere.
Mo Yinghuo buried her head in her arms in shame. Noticing Zhao Shu approaching, she hurriedly shouted, "Zhao Shu, don't come any closer. Get out, I... I want to sleep."
Zhao Shu's expression showed a hint of confusion, but he was not one to pry, which was his nature. Besides, even a stranger could tell that Mo Yinghuo genuinely wanted to rest alone. He took a step back and said softly, "Yes, Your Highness, I'll go out now."
Upon hearing the faint sound of the door closing, Mo Yinghuo clutched her wide robe tightly, feeling utterly hopeless, like a child who had suffered a great injustice. But only she knew in her heart that this was not the case.
After Zhao Shu stepped out of the room, he suddenly remembered something. This room was his room, and the bed she slept on was his bed, though he rarely used it. He stopped, thinking of going back to knock on the door to remind Mo Yinghuo, but his hand stopped mid-air. After a moment of contemplation, he turned and walked back to the courtyard.
"Host Zhao!"
After finding no trace of Zhao Shu in his room, Granny Shen and Zhu Chunhua waited at the door until Zhao Shu returned, at which point they would immediately inform Granny Shen.
Zhao Shu hummed in agreement.
Zhu Chunhua said excitedly, "Granny Shen has something to discuss with the master. I'll go tell him you're back right away."
Zhao Shu hesitated for a moment, then said calmly, "Chunhua, tell Granny Shen that there's no need to worry about His Highness. I'm a little tired, let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?"
"Yes, sir." Zhu Chunhua nodded respectfully. Although his eyes were small, they were sharp. Perhaps he had been following Granny Shen for some time and had learned to read people's expressions very well. Seeing a few strands of hair fall from Zhao Shu's forehead and that he seemed to have an indescribable weariness on his face, he wisely prepared to leave so as not to disturb his master.
Just as she was about to turn around, she seemed to notice something, pointed to Zhao Shu's abdomen and said cleverly, "Master Zhao, your outer garment is a little torn. I'll go get you a new one."
As soon as he finished speaking, he ran into the palace to get his clothes, afraid that his master Zhao would get wet and catch a cold.
Zhao Shu was taken aback after hearing this, and then he remembered Mo Yinghuo's strange behavior earlier. His light-colored pupils immediately filled with a mixture of curiosity and inexplicable heat. He suddenly clenched his fists and walked towards the room where Granny Chen lived.
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