Chapter 102: Twins "Okay... stop crying."
He had his own name, but it was not given by his parents. He was called Shuanzi because when he was a child he was tied up with cats and dogs to play with, so he was called Shuanzi.
"I don't know who was born first, you or me..." The young man leaned against the edge of the couch and smiled slightly, his brows as gentle as spring. "Since that's the case, please allow me to make the decision on my own. Call me brother, please."
He forced himself to smile, suppressed his anger, and obediently called out, "Brother."
Outside the hall, the sound of rain was dripping, stopping and starting again. He stood in the hall, his whole body cold and stiff, as if he had fallen into an icy cave.
It turned out that all these gorgeous clothes, golden delicacies, and slaves should have been his share. It turned out that he was not born a slave, nor was he a Qing person.
He was born in the distant country of Daying, but Ying considered twins to be ominous, so his mother sent him away.
I don't know how many times I have been displaced and have taken root in Qingzha.
Shuanzi tried to move, slowly raised his empty eyes, and looked at the real Jiang Zhi sitting on the edge of the couch.
The man's fingers were clean, and his nails were trimmed smooth and round, unlike his nails which were gnawed and uneven, with dirt hidden in the cracks.
...Why wasn't he the one sent away that year? Why was it me?
If he was born with a lowly fate, he would have accepted it, but fate played a trick on him, allowing him to glimpse the light of day and then taking it away again.
...Fortunately, fortunately, the person on the couch is about to die.
His brother, who had appeared out of nowhere, wore a vain smile. He stroked his forehead and said gently, "I've been ill since I was a child, and I was destined to die soon. The nanny who served in Mother's palace was kind enough to tell me about you on her deathbed... Mother passed away early, and the nanny had secretly inquired about you over the years. She knew you were in Qingdi. Since the two countries needed to send their princes as hostages, I asked to come here... but I was already on the verge of death."
"Shuanzi... yes... we are sorry for you, but looking at the twins, they were all sold into slavery or executed. Mother had no choice but to send you and me away..." At this point, a trace of embarrassment crossed Jiang Zhi's gentle face. He asked, "So, I want to exchange you back. What do you think? This is also the reason why I came here as a hostage."
"...As for Father, I have already lied and claimed to have recovered. You don't have to worry... When the time comes, you will return home in my place."
He originally thought that he finally had a home to return to and was loved by his loved ones, but in the end, he found that he had to rely on someone else's skin and name to return home.
He lived in a dark corner, hoping day after day that the man would die soon, rot into dry bones, and disappear completely.
During the days of waiting, he came here almost every day, acting out a good show of brotherly love and respect. The man, on the other hand, told him about the affairs of the Ying Palace, about his father and mother, who were completely strangers to him, about the three of them, and about the blood relationship between him, his elder brother, and his younger sister.
Finally, Jiang Zhi paused slightly as she stroked his hair, then placed a plate of sweet cakes in front of him and explained softly, "I'm not saying this intentionally... but if you return to Yingdi someday, you must be familiar with Yingdi, so as not to be exposed by others."
Shuanzi nodded, picked up a piece of sweet cake and handed it to Jiang Zhi, raised his lips and said, "Brother, I know."
Jiang Zhi's slightly solemn expression softened as before. He spoke softly about how he had been wronged and suffered over the years.
He pretended day by day, suppressing the urge to vomit in his throat, and finally waited for the day when the man was about to die. At this time, a report came from Ying country, saying that they not only wanted to welcome the hostage back to the country, but also to make his son the crown prince. Upon hearing this news, Daqing treated the hostage with even more courtesy and respect, waiting for the envoy to come and choose a day to hold a banquet to send him back to Daying.
Jiang Zhi once again summoned him to the bedside, grasping his hand weakly but solemnly, and admonished him word by word, "Shuanzi... upon your return, you must ask our father for permission to remove the crown prince. My eldest brother should be the ruler of the Eastern Palace. He is also the most capable ruler among all our brothers. Moreover, you are the most honored because you were born a legitimate son... Since ancient times, the separation of legitimate and illegitimate children should not be easily disturbed. This time, our father... I think he is thinking of me and my eldest brother as a hostage for the country for five years, and he wants to compensate me... But this is ultimately not the right way."
"What's more..." Jiang Zhi pursed his lips, but continued, "Although you were born in Ying Palace and have the blood of the Ying Kingdom, you grew up in Qingdi. You are unfamiliar with the country's conditions and it is difficult for you to handle such a great responsibility."
After hearing this, Shuanzi nodded obediently as usual and responded softly, "Brother, I understand."
But he couldn't help but sneer in his heart. Then, who would compensate him?
However, Jiang Zhi treated him very well. He had no parents and no relatives to rely on since he was a child. The first time he tasted family love was from Jiang Zhi. A trace of pity grew in his heart, and he didn't want to see this man die like this.
The envoy from Ying Palace has arrived, but something unexpected happens on the eve of his return.
I really don't know where this doctor came from, but he has some knowledge of how to treat Yu Jiangzhi's chronic illness.
He stood by the bed, watching the man's pale face turn bloody bit by bit. Shuanzi couldn't help but clench the dagger in his sleeve. The warmth that had grown over the years and the bit of reluctance he felt a few days ago were all gone with the wind.
Shuanzi took advantage of the fact that no one was around and pushed the dagger into Jiang Zhi's heart. When he pulled it out, the blade was a glaring scarlet.
What do you mean, go home for him? Isn't the Ying Palace in Yingguo his home?! Those splendid clothes, the golden dishes, the slaves and maids, don't they belong to him too? He will take back everything his brothers have. The woman who gave birth to him and abandoned him is dead, but fortunately, the man who is so high and mighty, who thinks he loves his children, is still alive. He will make these people live a life worse than death. He will ascend to the throne and crush the country they are so proud of and who have worked so hard to build into dust.
He ran wildly on the palace road with a bloody dagger in his hand, not knowing where to go.
The footsteps behind him were dense and close, surrounding him, just like a few years ago, and he really stood out from the crowd.
There was no scolding, no punishment, he just held the snow fox and stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled.
He really ordered someone to force-feed him a bowl of medicine, and when he woke up, he was already on the carriage returning home.
Upon closer inspection, it was not a medicine, but a strange poison that erupted once every three months. Anyone who drank it would feel a fate worse than death, as if being tortured by slicing, and there was no medicine that could cure it. Although someone would send him a pill to cure it every three months, it was only used to relieve the symptoms. His body had been deteriorating day by day, and within a few years, he would join his brother in the underworld.
Who would have thought... Jiang Zhi is still alive?
The past is like the wind blowing past my eyes, blowing the bolt back to the present.
The moon is bright in the sky and the thin clouds have dispersed.
In front of the Zhenggan Palace, no one dared to speak. Everyone held their breath. Jiang Zhi, who was just a few feet away, was no longer as gentle as he remembered. Instead, he asked in a cold voice, "How dare you ask this, big brother?"
Big brother? Ah, yes, Ling Wang Jiang Ji.
This man must have been a close friend of Jiang Zhi. He had only been back in Ying for a month when he repeatedly revealed his true colors in front of Jiang Ji. Jiang Ji had already noticed this and was testing him everywhere. He had no choice but to secretly leak the map of Ying, causing the Qing army to win a great victory in the battle, and luring Jiang Ji to lead the expedition.
...I thought he must have died on the battlefield, but he disappeared for no reason. Shuanzi thought about it and the only possibility was that he really had tampered with it.
But how can one teach a prince of an enemy country to willingly take off his armor and sword and step into the enemy's position?
Shuanzi suddenly came back to his senses and set his eyes on Jiang Zhi. Naturally, he was using his favorite brother as bait.
"My eldest brother is deceased."
Shuanzi's body, which was lying on the ground, froze.
The man's voice was as cold as water as he continued, "I used myself as bait to lure Big Brother and General Yu away from the military camp. To prevent you from attacking me again, I told them all our past grudges. After that, Big Brother and General Yu were severely injured on their way back by assassins you sent to spy on us. I asked Military Advisor Huanzhen to take care of the assassins. Knowing you wouldn't let Big Brother and General Yu go easily, I had no choice but to bring them back to Qingdi to recuperate... Big Brother didn't make it."
After hearing this, Shuanzi suddenly realized that it was no wonder that among the several groups of death squads sent out that year, several teams had not returned yet and were killed here.
Jiang Zhi lowered his eyelashes. Over the past few years, thanks to Huanzhen for helping him out in times of trouble.
But he was Qing's military advisor, so why did he repeatedly offer his assistance? And if he did, why didn't he stop the Qing Emperor from attacking Ying? In many of his decisions, it seemed as if he wasn't leaning towards either side, more like a detached observer...
This person is really hard to understand, and no one knows what he is looking for.
"...Since you ascended the throne, you've been tyrannical and unjust. How many loyal ministers and generals have died in vain under your rule?" Jiang Zhi's voice trembled as he sighed, "It's you who caused my elder brother to be buried in a foreign land."
The crowd, which had been silent for a long time, began to stir.
"You... from the beginning to the end, you've only been pointing fingers and lecturing me from your unparalleled heights. Ha, you are the royal family, descendants of the dragon, and what about me?" Shuanzi trembled as he pushed himself to his feet. His face was as pale as paper, veins popped on his neck, and he vomited a few mouthfuls of dirty blood, laughing wildly. He pointed at Jiang Zhi in front of him, at everyone else who was crowded on the platform, "Since that's the case, there's no distinction between you and me, friend or foe. Tonight, we'll die here together! If you have any grievances, tell them all to the underworld and let the King of Hell make the final decision! Wouldn't that be satisfying?"
"A bunch of good-for-nothings! What are you still standing there for?! Kill them all! Anyone who kills one will be promoted to a higher rank!"
After that, the two sides started fighting. Jiang Zhi and Mei Lianqing were obviously outnumbered, and Shuanzi tempted them with titles, so they were quickly defeated.
Mei Lianqing frowned and raised his voice, "You all just turned a deaf ear to what I just said, didn't you?! The emperor you all obeyed was nothing but a sham! Even now, you still don't know who you should be loyal to! Now that the country is in crisis, you are actually killing each other and wasting our national strength?"
The sound of fighting died down in an instant, and everyone looked at each other with hesitation.
Shuanzi saw that the situation was not good, so he pointed at Mei Lianqing and said to the guard captain beside him, "What are you standing there for? Put him in jail!"
The captain looked left and right, and seeing that the situation was unclear and the outcome was undecided, he hesitated for a long time but still agreed.
Mei Lianqing was shackled in public and taken away, but he was still reciting an impassioned speech, every word of which was powerful. Upon hearing this, Shuanzi just sneered, with ridicule in his eyes.
Shuanzi glanced at Jiang Zhi and suddenly smiled, "By the way... do you think it was Li Qingrang or Mei Lianqing who started the fire in the Imperial Medical Bureau? No, it was me."
Jiang Zhi sensed something was wrong. He looked towards the Imperial Medical Bureau, but saw only the dust and smoke from the fire. He heard the man continue slowly, "I will throw all of you and my brothers and sisters... into the fire... They must be roasted to a crisp by now... Oh, and all the officials who didn't attend the Li family wedding tonight, but participated in this treason..."
Jiang Zhi's expression of indifference gradually crumbled. He pulled a dagger from his sleeve. Shuanzi stepped back upon seeing this and shouted, "Lan Yuan!"
Before I could move, I heard the noise of banging iron tools and smashing cups and plates coming from far away. When I listened carefully... I heard the same shouting as in the market.
For some reason, at this moment, countless people, holding iron pots, kitchen knives, and even branches they broke off, and carrying brooms, pushed into the palace gate like a tide. The remaining guards in the palace had to divert their attention and guard in front of the second gate, but they were unable to disperse the crowd.
Of course, civilians must not be killed.
Seeing this, the people became even more fearless. At first, only one or two people broke into the forbidden garden, but soon there were countless people, shouting in unison like a thunderous voice: "Return the tyrant to the people! Restore the orthodoxy of the Ying Dynasty! Tyrants should not be kings!"
Finally, it goes straight to the Zhenggan Hall.
All the palace rules and order completely collapsed at this moment. The people who were once docile and obedient and allowed themselves to be bullied by the powerful now had sharp eyes and refused to retreat.
The embolus retreated.
At this time, in a corner of the high platform that no one noticed, Song Xieqing was already standing quietly on the platform. It was also from the place where the corpse had just been dragged. The princes and princesses who were supposed to have died in the fire, and a group of ministers walked out either quickly or slowly.
Song Xieqing still maintained his demeanor as calm as the wind and bright moon. He swept towards Shuanzi and Jiang Zhi, and after a brief mental reflection, he saluted Shuanzi as usual and said, "Your Majesty."
But in this situation, the word "Your Majesty" sounded like a mockery to Shuanzi's ears.
As early as an hour ago, after Song Xie Qingyin had a guess, he and Li Qingrang passed by and went to the Imperial Physician's Office, secretly rescuing the royal heirs and court officials. As for the people who were causing trouble this time, it was also his doing.
There is no curfew in Yingguo. At this time, the streets are bustling with tourists and shops. Although he has a bad reputation, he is the imperial teacher of this dynasty. Moreover, he brought up the well-known and virtuous Prince Ling. The people have long been resentful of the emperor and are furious. Why should he worry about his plan not being accomplished?
Word spread from one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, and it eventually became the overwhelming force it is today.
Only the chaos in the environment delayed time until she appeared.
Moreover, no matter how loyal the Imperial Guards and the Flying Dragon Guards were to the emperor, they would never dare to harm the people in the slightest.
Jiang Zhi and Song Xieqing's eyes met and they nodded to each other.
Shuanzi's eyes were bloodshot, his heart was pounding, and the violence hidden under his skin was like wildfire, almost bursting out.
He suddenly spread his arms wide and shouted, "Kill them! Kill them all! It doesn't matter who they are! As for the civilians! Kill them all."
Under the platform, no one moved, and no one stood in line.
Also, before the real trend of winning or losing is seen, whoever moves first will be the first to stick his head out and will often be the first to get into trouble.
Just as the situation became tense and the people were gathering below in panic, everyone was in chaos. Suddenly, the sound of neat, efficient and heart-shaking footsteps exploded in their ears, accompanied by the solemn sound of armor rubbing against each other and weapons clashing.
Everyone looked up and saw flags fluttering in the wind, on which were clearly painted the emblems of the Ying Kingdom and the Li Family Army.
At this point, the outcome has been decided, but everyone is puzzled as to why the army that was supposed to be marching for Marquis Cangping's wife actually appeared in the palace?
Moreover, the person leading the troops was actually Princess Yun Wei, and beside her was a woman - her bun was disheveled, her skirt was stained with dust and mud, and she looked very disheveled, but it could not hide the bright and energetic look in her eyes that was as tough as a green bamboo.
Across thousands of troops and millions of civilians, Zhu Hao and Song Xieqing met eyes. They looked at each other from a distance and smiled.
Two hours ago——
At that time, the march started again, with sand and wind blowing everywhere. Zhu Hao just stood there in a daze for a moment, then pulled the reins and ran forward again.
She galloped behind the army, pursuing Mei Lianjun relentlessly, but she knew clearly in her heart that everything A Yin said just now was reasonable, and it was she herself... Her previous view was too narrow. She should not have stood on Song Xieqing's side, nor on the Ying Palace, and tried to persuade A Yin with emotion and reason at the critical moment of life and death of the royal family. She should have stood on the side of the people of Xiayang, the five thousand soldiers and A Yin to make plans.
So, Zhu Hao calmed down and thought again, carefully sorting out the pros and cons of all parties, and then said: "Ayin, I'm sorry, I was in a hurry just now and was not considerate enough..."
"Ayin... let's think about this from another perspective. You're going this time without any imperial orders to the prefectures along the way. Your advance will inevitably be hindered. The people of Xiayang can't wait... Besides, five thousand soldiers are unlikely to hold their own against the numerous small nations of Xiayang." Zhu Hao's tone was gentle, but every word was clear. She asked, "Ayin, am I right?"
Mei Lianjun reined in his horse and stopped, retorting, "So? What do you think?"
Zhu Haoqing knew the situation was urgent and neither side could afford to delay. She continued, "Although five thousand soldiers aren't enough to pacify Xiayang, they're more than enough to contain a palace coup. Pushui is only a day's journey from Xiayang. I hold the Jade Order bestowed upon me by the late emperor, and you possess the Flying Eagle Order, inherited from the Li family. We can borrow these two orders to write a letter to Pushui. There are two loyal and brave generals stationed at Pushui. They've long been determined to come to Xiayang's aid. Therefore, even without the military order or tiger seal, upon seeing these two orders, they will certainly not sit idly by and watch the people of Xiayang suffer."
"Since ancient times, when a general is on the battlefield, he may not obey the orders of the emperor... Moreover, our dynasty has always had a precedent of deploying troops first and then issuing orders. Naturally, although the two generals Pu Shui cannot repel the other tribes in one fell swoop, it is not difficult for them to temporarily stabilize the situation and hold their ground until reinforcements come."
Seeing the general's expression slightly moved, she continued, "Ayin, think about it. If we leave now, how long will the army's rations last? Well, even if we collect food along the way...wouldn't that just delay our opportunity?"
"If we return to Yingdu and help His Highness stabilize the government, once the situation is settled, we won't have to be controlled by a tyrant anymore. Once things are settled, we can openly request permission to march to Xiayang." For some reason, at this point, Zhu Hao's eyes filled with tears. "I know the country is short of food and supplies, but no matter what, it's better than the 5,000 soldiers we have now... We only need General Pu Shui and the other two to hold out until we can return... and then..."
She raised her eyes, which were shimmering with water but still full of longing, and said, "Besides, the one leading the troops is you, Ayin."
Mei Lianjun was stunned, and her face felt a little hot.
Across the vast expanse of heaven and earth, the wind died down, only to be followed by a whirlwind of dust and sand, like an army marching. Mei Lianjun gazed at the young woman before him, who looked like she was shedding pearls, and said bitterly, "Alright... stop crying."
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