Chapter Forty-Three
The snow fell heavily, blanketing the entire capital in white. The fallen leaves had long since returned to their roots, and with the snowflakes swirling around, they were nowhere to be found.
During the reign of Emperor Zhaoming, after the new emperor ascended the throne, a series of sweeping reforms finally began to bear fruit. The people lived in peace and contentment, and Yunxiu Kingdom enjoyed a period of tranquil prosperity. In addition to praising Emperor Zhaoming, the people talked about the eldest princess, who had made great contributions in pacifying the five kingdoms. In particular, the period when the eldest princess returned to the capital to recuperate became a topic of conversation among the people of the capital.
"The eldest princess is truly a hero among young people. At such a young age, she personally led the army into battle and conquered five countries in five years."
"Yes, what a spirit it was to wipe out 200,000 Western Jin troops in one fell swoop! The news was so inspiring that everyone in the court and the country was greatly encouraged!"
"And there's Dongliang, which we just conquered. I heard that Yun Zhao's army didn't lose a single soldier."
"That's right. I suspect the reason our Yunxiu Kingdom never dared to send troops was because we were so lacking in generals."
"Yes, after General Long, the late emperor held back his troops and bided his time, waiting for our eldest princess to grow up."
“I disagree. Marquis Beiding has also guarded the northern frontier for many years, keeping the barbarians at bay. He is an indispensable general for Yunxiu Kingdom. Yunxiu Kingdom is now prosperous and strong, and the Marquis has also made great contributions.” An old man in the tavern stroked his meticulously groomed beard and said.
"That's right, the Princess has made great contributions in battle, and the Marquis has made great contributions." Everyone cheered and clinked their bowls of various sizes together.
"And also, the First Prince's assistance is invaluable." A young master who looked like a son of an official squeezed into the crowd and spoke loudly.
"By the way, have you heard of the Iron Pagoda?" asked a handsome, refined man. He stood in the middle of the group, carefully holding a bowl of wine, his face radiating an air of erudition and drunken smugness.
"I've heard of it. Wasn't it incorporated into the Yunzhao Army?"
"Let me tell you, the Princess is truly capable. This Ironclad Cavalry will definitely be a powerful weapon for conquering the various demon kingdoms of the Northern Barbarians in the future, but..." he said drunkenly.
"But what..." The others kept urging him on, it seemed that this person was quite respected among them.
"But human nature..." The well-read scholar, unable to hold his liquor, slammed his head on the table, his handsome face flushed.
"..."
"However, I heard that the eldest princess seems to be in poor health. She was sent back to the capital due to a sudden serious illness and was escorted back by a general on an urgent mission."
"No way, it's said that the eldest princess hasn't married yet, it can't be..."
...
Meanwhile, in the imperial court, civil and military officials were also busy, and the number of times they met to discuss official matters after court sessions and in the evenings was gradually increasing.
Whether the discussion was about official business or the eldest princess, the officials each had their own factions and their own agendas.
While the court and the public were busy with their own affairs, the person in question was completely innocent and stayed in the palace all day, not even attending the morning court, saying that he had accumulated many injuries from the war and needed to recuperate properly.
To this day, some officials only caught a glimpse of the Princess on the day she returned to the capital, and have never seen her beautiful face again. They deeply regret not having immediately rushed to her side like the Emperor's brother-in-law, to greet her and leave an impression.
The eldest princess did not attend court, and the fourth prince, bearing the title of "Carefree Prince," remained oblivious to worldly affairs, spending his time composing poems and essays, and took a year off from court. The eldest prince, however, was different; the common people called him "Wise Prince."
The title, given by the common people, carries significant weight, and even the officials in the court know they must weigh it carefully. As soon as the title reached Emperor Zhaoming's ears, he immediately ordered the chief steward to convey the imperial decree, bestowing upon the eldest prince the title of "Wise Prince."
As for the Seventh Prince, there's no need to say more. Sending him back to the capital would be like taking his life, and we can't keep him on the road all the time.
However, in principle, even if the eldest princess does not need to attend court every day without fail to share the emperor's burdens like the wise prince, she should not be absent from even half a day of morning court.
The imperial physician reported that the princess had always been physically weak and prone to illness, and after five years of fighting, her old ailment had relapsed, so she definitely needed to rest and recuperate. It was quite strange, really; she had returned that day looking radiant and elegant, how could she have fallen ill so suddenly?
During the war a few years ago, I never heard any soldiers rushing to report that the Princess was unwell. Why is she suddenly ill after returning to the capital? No, she must be suffering from acclimatization problems. The delicacies of the capital are not as nourishing as the yellow sands of the border.
This time, the words were neither particularly hurtful nor problematic.
However, since the emperor tacitly approved, the officials naturally remained outwardly silent, praising the princess for her hard work and great achievements, while secretly gossiping among themselves.
The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea: Various speculations.
In the courtyard of the Princess's residence, Mo Yinghuo held a blood-red longbow that appeared light but was actually quite heavy, dense and hard, and without any scars or marks. It was something that no ordinary person could pull.
This longbow was delivered by someone from the Military Affairs Office.
"Your Highness, what is this longbow made of? I can barely draw it." Zhu Chunhua stood beside Mo Yinghuo, faintly smelling a fresh fragrance, wondering if it came from the princess or the bow and arrow. She asked with curiosity.
Since returning from the bamboo forest that night, Zhu Chunhua has accompanied the Princess to the mansion for a temporary stay and has become Mo Yinghuo's bodyguard; while Li Zhong was arranged by Lord Wu to stay at Jietai Temple, with two Star Guardians disguised as monks to take care of him.
Li Zhong was clearly an old and frail man. The Emperor had even sent the imperial physician to examine him personally. At best, it was estimated that this veteran would only live for another year or two. Who knew when his life would end, and he would pass away peacefully in a temple. With such limited mobility, he certainly couldn't accomplish anything significant. If anything truly turbulent were to be stirred up, only Zhu Chunhua would have the strength to do it.
However, no matter how you look at Zhu Chunhua, you can't see anyone who's capable of hiding any schemes. Sometimes, you even worry that she's too talkative and might accidentally reveal your secrets. But if she really was a lowly soldier back in General Long's time, then the "senior" who was of the same generation as Granny Shen back then would be the one.
Sometimes, when Mo Yinghuo looked at this guard who was supposed to be a senior but was actually a junior, he always felt a strange unease in his heart.
Granny Shen stood to the side, hands behind her back, and spoke slowly and deliberately, "This long-range technique, Abbot Zhao said, is called the Mysterious Bow, specifically used to launch mysterious arrows. It is powerful and strong, and the arrows released from the bowstring have the force of a thunderclap. It is made of sandalwood, which is harder than steel yet extremely light. The bowstring is made of exceptionally tough animal back sinew, which is extremely cold and impervious to ice and fire, as well as swords and spears, making it a perfect match for the mysterious arrows."
Zhu Chunhua listened in amazement and kept asking, "What kind of animal is it?"
Granny Shen shook her head. "I don't know. Anyway, the Emperor took out all the rare treasures that the countries had previously presented as tribute, just to make these Xuan Bows."
Zhu Chunhua: "Since the Xuan Arrow is made of Xuan Iron, why isn't the bow made of Xuan Iron?"
Just as Granny Shen was about to speak, she felt a gust of cold wind rush past her, and the sharp sound of metal pierced her ears. She looked in the direction of the sound and saw three dark black arrows embedded in the middle of the target in front of her. Under the sunlight and snow, they faintly glowed red.
The target was no ordinary target either; it was forged from special stones. These stones were also no ordinary stones. Throughout history, meteors have sometimes brought strange stones, which ordinary people considered a gift from heaven, an auspicious omen, and would secretly collect as a mark of honor.
The Star Bureau, through some unknown method, managed to gather all sorts of auspicious omens from the heavens collected by the common people in less than a month and send them to the Military Affairs Department.
Mo Yinghuo frowned as he looked at the three black arrows that were embedded in the middle of the stone target but were slightly scattered. He tossed the longbow to Zhu Chunhua, rubbed his wrist which was a little numb from the impact, and said with a wry smile, "Zhu Chunhua, if the bow was also made of black iron, then only someone with the arm strength of Abbot Zhao could probably shoot these black arrows."
Zhu Chunhua took the longbow and nodded very seriously, "Your Highness is right." After saying that, she ran to the target with great effort and pulled out the black arrow. The black arrow was made using a secret method, which was complicated and time-consuming. The number of them was extremely limited. There were only three in the Mo Yinghuo Mansion, so she could only shoot and pull out the arrow at the same time.
Early in the morning, Mo Yinghuo practiced using the Xuan Tie Arrow here. Even with the north wind and snow falling, Mo Yinghuo, who was often chilled to the bone, had beads of sweat on her forehead. Granny Shen took out an extremely soft and delicate white handkerchief and handed it to Mo Yinghuo.
Watching His Highness gently wipe away her sweat, no matter how she looked at it, Granny Shen felt that she shouldn't be the one wearing armor and going to the battlefield to kill enemies, but rather sitting in the capital, holding a book, discussing politics in the court.
Mo Yinghuo noticed her melancholy expression and couldn't help but chuckle, "Granny Chen, what's wrong? Are you worried about this princess's short life again?"
Her words were just a joke, but they reminded Granny Shen of her serious business.
“Your Highness, should we plan to find a consort? Since Your Highness left, some guards have also resigned, and the manor is now nearly deserted…” Granny Shen earnestly advised.
Mo Yinghuo: "No, this is fine."
Zhu Chunhua, with her thick eyebrows strikingly expressive, said, "Yes, Granny Chen, that's good. I'll protect His Highness by his side."
Granny Shen glared at him, thinking to herself, "You're by His Highness's side, do you think you can get her to give birth to a little princess or a little prince?" She sighed with difficulty, her old face weathered, and continued, "Your Highness, you're not young anymore..."
Before he could finish speaking, a figure dressed in black, with impeccable bearing, strode across the snow-covered ground of the Prince's mansion, his expression calm and extremely handsome, approached them. The newcomer was none other than Zhao Shu. Since returning to the capital, Mo Yinghuo had inexplicably learned that Zhao Shu had become the abbot of Chengtai Temple and also a minister of the Grand Council.
As for how he became the abbot of Chengtai Temple and a Grand Councilor, Mo Yinghuo didn't ask. She knew it was just a nominal title. After all, this person would be staying in the capital and always hanging around the dignified Princess. The Emperor would also issue decrees from time to time to summon Zhao Shu to the palace for an audience. So, he had to have an identity, and this identity had to be extraordinary.
However, although Mo Yinghuo did not inquire about it, this matter always became a thorn in her heart for some reason, forcing her to speak softly and become somewhat wary. As a result, the two of them did not get along as freely as they had at the border, and there was a hint of estrangement and respect that was not easily noticed.
Granny Shen instantly abandoned her old maid's mindset and adopted the respectful expression of a strategist. She bowed slightly and called out methodically, "Master Zhao."
Zhu Chunhua had been glared at by Granny Shen and dared not utter a sound, but upon seeing Zhao Shu approach, she perked up again and excitedly said, "Abbot Zhao, His Highness just praised you. He said you shoot arrows better than her. Would you like to show us your skills?"
Zhao Shu nodded slightly and accepted the longbow and black arrows handed over by Zhu Chunhua. Mo Yinghuo crossed his arms, took a step back, and watched with great interest.
Zhu Chunhua thought she was going to help him with the arrows, but Zhao Shu actually took all three black arrows with one hand and tucked two of them into his belt. Mo Yinghuo gradually realized that Zhao Shu not only disliked having too much contact with people, but also rarely bothered others with anything he could do himself, always doing it himself.
With the bow drawn and arrow nocked, and his thumb lightly resting on the bowstring, three clear notes echoed in the white expanse of heaven and earth. Mo Yinghuo vaguely saw the falling snowflakes, which seemed to be intercepted and paused in mid-air for a moment.
The bow is drawn as if the autumn moon were traversing the sky, and the arrow flies like a shooting star falling to the ground; this is the true power that the Xuan Tie Arrow should unleash.
It was rare for Zhu Chunhua's small eyes to open slightly wider with admiration. He hurriedly ran to the stone target, where three black arrows obediently stuck in the very center of the target.
Mo Yinghuo rubbed his chin with his fingers, raised the corners of his lips, and clapped his hands in praise, "Good!"
Zhao Shu: "The Xuanjian is different from the bows and arrows used in the army. If the general had adjusted his posture slightly just now, it would have been twice as effective."
Mo Yinghuo nodded solemnly, "I would also appreciate any guidance from Abbot Zhao."
Zhu Chunhua immediately handed the black arrow that she had painstakingly pulled out to Mo Yinghuo.
Remembering that Abbot Zhao always disliked large crowds, Granny Shen gave Zhu Chunhua a meaningful look. Zhu Chunhua didn't understand, but she knew that Granny Shen in the Princess's residence was worldly-wise and experienced, so she happily followed her away.
Mo Yinghuo drew her bow again, and Zhao Shu carefully walked to her side, his hand gently resting on the longbow. It was as if her white fur coat was being embraced by someone dressed in black.
Mo Yinghuo's fingers trembled slightly without her noticing.
Zhao Shu: "Your Highness, the bowstring should be drawn more fully than usual, like this."
Mo Yinghuo gave a soft "hmm".
The branches of the large trees in the Princess's residence were already drooping low under the weight of the first snow in the capital. The flowers and plants were not even desolate; they were all shyly hidden in the snow, waiting to sprout again next spring.
Mo Yinghuo wondered if it was because she had been away from the capital for too long, or if her health was truly deteriorating, but this winter felt even colder than it had been five years ago. The border was much warmer and more comfortable than here.
As soon as Zhao Shu approached, she immediately felt a warm embrace, more effective than a heater. When Zhao Shu walked over earlier, Mo Yinghuo was surprised to find that he was still wearing only a thin black robe.
This person is truly not afraid of the cold.
Mo Yinghuo exhaled softly, instantly turning into white mist that inexplicably blurred her vision. She had originally intended to have Zhao Shu guide her from the side, but she hadn't expected him to be so hands-on—it was both his usual style and not his usual style.
However, as the archer approached step by step, the student panicked. Mo Yinghuo swallowed two or three mouthfuls of saliva with great difficulty, trying to dodge but his head was spinning and he remained rooted to the ground, unable to move an inch.
It's so painful.
Mo Yinghuo gripped the bow, trying to control his strength, his trembling body, and his fingers, but no matter what he did, he couldn't muster the strength to release the black arrow.
The white mist increasingly blurred her vision. Since returning to the capital, Mo Yinghuo had discovered that she would have a dream every few days.
In her dreams, the locations frequently shifted: a bed, the Milky Way, a table, a meadow, a moonlit pond… Most often, it was the place she saw in the wormhole, the place where Zhao Shu rested. She knew it was interstellar space; Zhao Shu had once said he often traversed the vast expanse of stars. That place, like the land of the Nightfall Star People, was a place unimaginable to the people of Yunxiu Kingdom.
However, the person in my dream has never changed.
These days, whenever Mo Yinghuo saw Zhao Shu, he felt increasingly guilty, always feeling that he was a bit... a rogue. However, the two of them lived in the same mansion, and he had even specially asked Granny Shen to prepare a room for Zhao Shu near his own. The two of them often saw each other, and Mo Yinghuo was in a daze several times.
It's true, she dug her own hole, jumped in happily, and even brought a handful of dirt with her. The cycle of karma is so swift, leaving a silent fire burning in her heart, a fire of burning resentment, anger, and shame.
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