Chapter Twenty-Eight
Even Xiang Niangzi, who was bound hand and foot, with half an arrow stuck in her hand and half a stinky rag stuffed in her mouth, lying not far from the two with a bruised and swollen face, could tell that Shu Rong's honest smile was so forced that it would make a rooster crow at night. Not to mention Gong Liangzhong, who saw Shu Rong's lips twitch and immediately understood.
Gongliang Zhong leaned closer and whispered, "It was the general who told you."
Shu Rong nodded slightly, admitting without being asked, "She taught me."
He confessed without being asked, and even gave a gift. If Mo Yinghuo knew, he would definitely say something in his eyes. He is truly loyal and affectionate.
"I taught you that!" Gongliang Zhong exclaimed in surprise. He leaned closer to Shurong and whispered until only the two of them could hear him, saying each word clearly, "You've done it too."
Shu Rong winked at him and nodded.
Gongliang Zhong was suddenly alarmed, thinking, "This general is too... Although she is the emperor's elder sister, a princess, secretly manufacturing gunpowder is a capital crime in Yunxiu Kingdom, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family! Of course, the emperor wouldn't punish her and her entire family, but if anyone in the court finds out, they will definitely make a big fuss. Also, if the emperor really finds out, not to mention the imperial court's fury, the royal family has its own set of methods, and how they will be dealt with then is another matter. Now, the princess has been leading troops for several years and has already subdued the surrounding forces in the east, west, and south. Enemy troops all tremble at the mention of the Yunzhao army, and the people all talk about the rise of the Yunzhao army. But how many famous generals throughout history have been able to retire peacefully and retire after achieving their goals? In the end, they all died because their achievements overshadowed their lord. Moreover, the general has another identity, the princess, making it even more difficult..."
"Gongliang Zhong." Shu Rong saw his melancholy expression and knew he was worried about the Princess again, so she called to him softly and whispered, "You don't need to worry. The Princess knows what she's doing. In the past few years, when have you ever seen her do anything she wasn't sure of? The Emperor had just ascended the throne when the surrounding countries were eyeing him covetously, and war could break out at any moment. It was the Princess who, a mere woman, was appointed as the Grand General. The Emperor relies on her, and the people rely on her even more. The fate of Yunxiu Kingdom is in the hands of our Princess."
Gongliang Zhong stared at Shurong for a long while, then sighed deeply and said, "Shurong..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shu Rong whispered again, "Gongliang Zhong, I know what you're going to say. I understand."
In the distance, two soldiers, holding blue boxes, hurled them into the air in an open, deserted area. An archer, wielding a flail, aimed and tossed it into the air, striking the box hard. In an instant, with a loud "bang," the box exploded in mid-air, sending splinters flying. The two soldiers, with the air of professionals, methodically raised their hands to cover their ears and heads, avoiding being cut by the falling splinters.
It seems that these two were mainly arranged by Shu Rong to be responsible for frying Xiang Niangzi's □□ box.
Gongliang Zhong's eyes showed approval. After the explosion, he suddenly sighed, "I know, General, it must have been difficult. Ever since I followed the Princess, I've always felt that although she is a princess, she should live a poetic and carefree life in the future. That's her nature. When I went to the battlefield with her, I was only ordered to do so in a time of crisis. The first time I killed the enemy, I was right behind her. I saw her pick up her silver spear and thrust it straight into the enemy's chest. Blood splattered onto the corner of her eye, and I noticed that her body trembled slightly. But it was only for a moment. She recovered and continued to pick up her silver spear, killing hundreds of enemy soldiers without expression."
Gongliang Zhong paused, looked at the spot where the explosion had just occurred, and continued, "After that incident, I realized that the Emperor's reliance on her, and the calm and composed smile she always wore off the battlefield, were nothing more than the coldness she had been forced out of her by bloodshed. Everyone calls her Princess or General, but who still remembers the woman with the pure and untamed spirit before she went to the battlefield?"
Shu Rong patted Gongliang Zhong on the shoulder, and the two remained silent for a while. Then, Shu Rong spoke with a smile, "Gongliang Zhong, only the Princess can make you talk so much at once, which makes me quite jealous."
Gongliang Zhong gave a slight wry smile and said, "It's an honor to have you recognized and appreciated. Let's go back to the camp and reunite with the general."
Shu Rong: "Yes, if we go back now, we can arrive the next day. By the way, Vice General Gongliang, do you know what day it is tomorrow?"
Gongliang Zhong was taken aback, frowned, and, unable to figure it out, asked, "What day?"
Shu Rong leaned forward and smiled, "Tomorrow is Gongliang Zhong's birthday."
Gongliang Zhong was stunned for a moment, then slowly smiled and said, "Even at this point, you still remember."
When I was a child, my mother would always cook me a bowl of longevity noodles on my birthday. The broth was made from bones without any meat, with a few slices of lean white meat and four or five stalks of green onion. It didn't cost much money, but for young Gongliang Zhong, it was an exceptionally delicious bowl of noodles. Then, my mother would say with boundless love, "Bless my son with health, peace, and a long life."
Since the deaths of his parents, he had lived a life of dependence on relatives, never having a proper meal. He was beaten and forced to do backbreaking labor like an animal, day and night, and never celebrated his birthday again. Then, he escaped and wandered the streets, where he met the Princess and Shu Rong. One day, for some reason, Shu Rong suddenly asked about his birthday, and without thinking, he told her. From then on, every year, unless there was war and Shu Rong was on a different battlefield, she would always celebrate his birthday properly.
Shu Rong said in a serious tone, "Gong Liangzhong, your birthday is such an important matter, how can it be treated lightly?"
“Your Highness, the Princess, you also never celebrate your birthday…” Gongliang Zhong naturally continued, but before he could finish speaking, he immediately realized that he had said something he shouldn’t have, and immediately fell silent, his face solemn.
Shu Rong smiled, waved to the soldiers not far away, and bent down to give them a few insignificant instructions.
Unlike Gongliang Zhong, Shurong, as a young marquis, was pampered and spoiled from childhood. He was the marquis's only son, and everyone in the household doted on him. Shurong's temperament was also very compatible with that of the young princess. The princess never had as much fun with her other brothers, including his own, as she did with Shurong. The two were of similar age, with Shurong being slightly older than Mo Yinghuo. When he and the princess truly played together, they sometimes caused quite a stir both inside and outside the palace, their youthful audacity and recklessness making them quite popular.
Fortunately, the late emperor favored the eldest princess the most, and he never questioned the trouble they caused. Of course, although the eldest princess was playful by nature, she also learned from a young age to have moderation in everything. Her behavior was like that of a highly skilled and exquisite embroiderer, who could always skillfully navigate within a certain range while holding a fine needle in her hand.
Therefore, he grew up with Mo Yinghuo, born a young marquis, born to be the most favored, and able to get whatever he wanted without ever knowing what it meant to not get what he wanted. As for Gongliang Zhong, when his mother was alive, all he looked forward to each year was a bowl of the simplest longevity noodles; when his parents were gone, all he asked for day and night was a full meal and a good night's sleep.
In those days and nights, he had long forgotten about his birthday; survival was the only thing he needed to think about. After escaping, he encountered the Princess and Shu Rong. It was only after that Shu Rong celebrated his birthday that he began to miss the taste of that bowl of longevity noodles again.
Unlike the scions of noble families, Gongliang Zhong, a commoner, naturally celebrated his birthday in a simple manner with a touch of celebration. Shu Rong, however, celebrated her own birthday in a way that rivaled the weddings and celebrations of wealthy families. The first time, back in the capital, Shu Rong celebrated Gongliang Zhong's birthday in such a grand manner, leaving him terrified, his face turning pale and then red.
That time, if it weren't for the fact that Her Highness the Eldest Princess was also present, holding a wine cup with the air of a triumphant son's wedding, he would have immediately turned and left. Gongliang Zhong had once again witnessed the two men's shared interests; birds of a feather flock together. Sometimes, he truly wondered how he could still associate with these two noblemen. Thinking back, he hadn't known how many things he had cleaned up for them.
However, despite their bickering, these two never made things difficult for the poor or powerless, and sometimes even stood up for the weak, ultimately proving themselves to be chivalrous individuals.
However, one thing he still couldn't understand was why the two of them had suddenly gone to the front lines to fight, knowing that swords and spears were merciless and deadly. At first, he wondered if they were just looking for a change of scenery and some new excitement. But when he stood beside the Princess and saw her commanding presence, her fair skin concealing a ruthless resolve, and how Shu Rong, on the battlefield, had shed her spoiled young master persona and gained a more stern and arrogant air, Gongliang Zhong realized he had underestimated them.
Seeing that Gongliang Zhong's brows were tightly furrowed, Shu Rong couldn't help but frown as well. She nudged him with her elbow and asked, "What are you thinking about, Deputy General Gongliang?"
Gongliang Zhong snapped out of his reverie. “It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered the first time you celebrated my birthday. The Princess and you treated it like my 80th birthday, practically inviting everyone in the capital.”
Shu Rong listened to his account of his time in the capital and couldn't help but laugh. Five years had passed, yet it felt like a lifetime had gone by. He had always believed that one day he would inherit his father's title. Shu Rong still couldn't understand why the Eldest Princess had suddenly become a general.
He asked, but she remained silent. However, since Her Highness the Princess wanted to be a general, he would naturally be her deputy. Some things have changed, some things have remained the same, like this.
Shu Rong laughed, "Ever since that incident, you haven't let us celebrate your birthday. The next day, you even solemnly lectured me for being too frivolous. You really meant well but were completely ungrateful. By the way, why didn't you go and educate Her Highness the Princess back then? She was involved too; she was half the one who came up with the idea."
Gongliang Zhong gave a wry smile, thinking to himself what kind of person the Princess was, and what kind of person he was. Even though the Princess had never mentioned the distinction between master and servant in front of him, and always acted casually and comfortably, it was he who often reminded the Princess of her status. However, with so many eyes watching from the court and beyond, now that he had become her personal bodyguard, he had to do his best to avoid and eliminate any crises for the Princess.
Perhaps this is the difference between him and Shu Rong.
"Let's just stick to the old way," Gongliang Zhong said.
Shu Rong nodded slightly, "Alright, alright, I'll cook you a bowl of longevity noodles to bless our Deputy General Gongliang with a life as steadfast as a mountain, as majestic as a hill, and as boundless as a mausoleum, and wish him a long and happy birthday."
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