Sixty-one
Three days passed swiftly in a stifling stillness. Inside Xiaoyou Courtyard, everything seemed normal, yet something was subtly different. Yin'er silently packed Xuanyuan Tianyi's belongings, her movements slow and gentle, a deep worry etched on her brow. She carefully packed simple changes of clothes, various bottles and jars of medicine, and jade talismans inscribed with intricate runes—a concise yet comprehensive baggage.
Xuan Yuan Tianyi spent most of her time meditating and regulating her breathing. Her body, in the later stages of pregnancy, needed more rest, and her journey to Ailao Mountain to repair the seal required her to be in peak condition. However, the increasingly frequent fetal movements and the faint feeling of pressure in her abdomen constantly reminded her of the burden on her body. Occasionally, she would stroke her belly and murmur softly, as if talking to her unborn child, her gaze gentle yet firm.
Zhan Zhao was almost always by her side. He turned down all unnecessary official duties to spend as much time as possible with his wife. He no longer mentioned his objections, but only showed his concern through his actions. He would carefully serve her food, paying attention to changes in her tastes; when she took a nap, he would sit quietly beside her and read her soothing poems or travelogues; when she had trouble sleeping at night due to fetal movements, he would clumsily but patiently massage her swollen calves and back.
On this sunny afternoon, Zhan Zhao helped Xuan Yuan Tianyi take a slow stroll in the courtyard. Autumn was in full swing, and several maple trees in the courtyard were dyed a brilliant red, which complemented the red clothes worn by Xuan Yuan Tianyi.
"Have you thought of a name for the child?" Xuan Yuan Tianyi suddenly spoke, his voice particularly clear in the slightly cool air.
Zhan Zhao paused slightly, turning his head to look at her. Sunlight outlined her delicate profile, her long eyelashes drooping, concealing the emotions in her eyes. He was silent for a moment, then said, "If it's a boy, how about 'Nianchen'? 'Nian' means 'to miss,' and 'chen' means 'North Star.' May he be like the North Star, guiding his heart, resilient and bright. Also... to remember the imperial radiance of his mother." "Chen" is often used to refer to an emperor, subtly reflecting Zhao Zhen's protectiveness towards his mother and the child's special bloodline.
“Nianchen…” Xuan Yuantian repeated in a low voice, a barely perceptible smile curving his lips. “Zhan Nianchen. Very good.”
She stopped, turned to face Zhan Zhao, and took out a slender brocade pouch from her sleeve, handing it to him: "Inside are three 'Crimson Sun Heart-Protecting Pills.' If you are invaded by evil spirits or are critically injured, taking them can protect your heart and keep you alive until you are rescued." She paused, her gaze calmly meeting his eyes. "Zhan Zhao, take good care of yourself while I'm gone. Bianjing is a treacherous place; the Black Witch Cult and the remnants of the Liao Kingdom are ruthless. Be careful in everything you do."
Zhan Zhao took the brocade pouch, still warm from her body, and held it tightly in his palm. He nodded emphatically, "I promise you." He reached out and took her hand in his, transferring his warmth to hers. "You too, you must return safely." All his words, in the end, were reduced to this simplest yet heaviest expectation.
On the morning of the third day, before dawn, a seemingly ordinary yet magnificent carriage with a green canopy pulled by a fine horse was already parked outside Xiaoyou's villa. Leng Moyan was still dressed in white, his light blue hair fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. He leaned against the carriage shaft, his posture relaxed, but his sharp eyes scanned his surroundings.
The moment of parting finally arrived.
Zhan Zhao personally helped Xuan Yuan Tianyi out of the courtyard. She had changed into a dark red outfit that was easy to move in, with a large black cloak over it to cover her protruding belly, but her face appeared somewhat pale in the dim morning light.
Without saying much, Xuanyuan Tianyi stopped in front of the carriage shaft and glanced back at Zhan Zhao.
"Wait for me to come back," she said softly with a smile.
Zhan Zhao's Adam's apple bobbed as he suppressed all his surging emotions, and he said in a deep voice, "Alright."
He helped her carefully board the carriage. The carriage was lined with thick, soft cushions, clearly prepared with care. Once seated, Xuanyuan Tian nodded slightly to him.
Leng Moyan glanced at Zhan Zhao, unusually putting aside his teasing tone, and said in a calm but somewhat promising tone: "With me here, she will be fine."
After saying that, he gently flicked the reins, and the carriage smoothly drove off, quickly disappearing into the still-sleeping street, leaving only the rumbling of the wheels as it drove away into the distance.
Zhan Zhao stood motionless, as if frozen in stone. The chilly morning wind ruffled the hem of his official robe, bringing a biting cold. He clutched the Qilin jade pendant and the Crimson Sun Heart-Protecting Pill tightly in his bosom, remaining motionless for a long time until the carriage completely disappeared from sight.
Yin'er stood behind him and couldn't help but sob softly.
After a long while, Zhan Zhao slowly turned around, his face regaining its usual calm. However, deep within his eyes, as if a pebble had been thrown into a cold pool, a deep, unyielding melancholy rippled outwards. He instructed Yin'er, "Take good care of the house." His voice was calm and unwavering.
Then, he strode towards Kaifeng Prefecture. His back was as straight as a pine tree, his steps firm, burying all his tenderness and worries deep beneath his red official robes. His battlefield was Bianjing.
Once the carriage left Bianjing, its speed gradually increased. Leng Moyan was an excellent driver; although the carriage was fast, it remained exceptionally smooth, minimizing any bumps or jolting.
Inside the carriage, Xuan Yuan Tianyi leaned back on the soft cushions, closing her eyes to regulate her breathing. Far from the hustle and bustle of Bianjing, her senses of the demonic energy emanating from the direction of Ailao Mountain were much clearer. That chilling, malevolent feeling, like a leech clinging to her bones, made the child in her womb restless again. She gently stroked her belly, slowly calming it with her own gentle spiritual energy.
"How are you feeling?" Leng Moyan's voice came through the car wall.
“It’s alright.” Xuan Yuantian opened his eyes, his gaze clear. “However, the situation with the seal is worse than we expected. The Black Witch Cult must have been active near the core of the seal for quite some time.”
“Hmm.” Leng Moyan replied, “I sensed it. Besides demonic energy, there is also a strong aura of bloodlust over there. I’m afraid they have started using human blood sacrifices to accelerate the corrosion of the seal.”
Xuan Yuan Tian's expression darkened slightly. Blood sacrifice was one of the most evil yet most effective means of communicating with the demon realm and corrupt spiritual energy. She had to act faster.
"Faster," she ordered.
Leng Moyan didn't say much, but with a soft shout, the two horses pulling the carriage increased their speed again, like two arrows released from a bow, galloping along the official road towards the southwest.
Five days after Xuanyuan Tianyi left Bianjing, Zhan Zhao received an urgent intelligence report.
The Black Witch Cult's "Crimson Nightmare Venerable" and several of his core subordinates, who had been on the run, have appeared near the Guanyin Pavilion, an abandoned manor thirty miles west of the city! Intelligence suggests that they seem to be planning an important gathering, possibly related to the missing "Eclipse Moon" artifact.
Upon receiving the news, Zhan Zhao immediately assembled a team of elite troops from Kaifeng Prefecture and, together with Bai Yutang, prepared to go and investigate and capture them.
Gongsun Ce stroked his beard, his face showing worry: "Guard Zhan, there may be something fishy about this. That Crimson Nightmare Venerable is as cunning as a fox. He has escaped from our encirclements several times before. Why would he expose his whereabouts so easily this time? I'm afraid it's a trap to lure you into a snare."
Zhan Zhao remained calm; he was well aware of the risks involved. However, the "Crimson Nightmare Venerable" was the leader of the Black Witch Cult in the Bianjing region and a key figure in the search for the "Eclipse Moon." Capturing him would not only severely damage the Black Witch Cult but might also provide crucial information to prevent them from breaking the seal. The opportunity was fleeting and could not be missed.
“My lord, Mr. Gongsun, I understand the risks involved,” Zhan Zhao said, bowing. “But this man is extremely dangerous. If we can take this opportunity to eliminate him, it will benefit both the country and the people. I will act carefully, and if things don’t go well, I will not linger in battle.”
Bao Zheng pondered for a moment, knowing Zhan Zhao's character and responsibilities, and finally nodded: "Put your own safety first. If things become unworkable, withdraw immediately and reconsider."
"Your subordinate obeys."
Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang exchanged a glance, both seeing the solemnity and determination in each other's eyes. They led their men out of Kaifeng Prefecture, mounted their horses, and galloped towards the Guanyin Pavilion in the west of the city.
The autumn wind whipped up dust, brushing past Zhan Zhao's resolute profile. He subconsciously touched the jade pendant with the unicorn design in his pocket, silently chanting, "Tianyi, once I've dealt with this matter, I will surely cleanse Bianjing and welcome you back."
Little did he know that this journey would lead him down a path of no return, fraught with thorns and despair. Meanwhile, far away in the southern borderlands, Xuan Yuan Tianyi would soon experience that heart-wrenching agony.
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