Chapter 66
The sound of flesh being pierced.
Hit the target!
The scene suddenly became chaotic.
Zhao Congyun's mind went blank as he stared blankly at his hands covered in blood and the person lying in front of him.
His royal brother, Emperor Zhaoming, blocked the fatal arrow for him!
Song Liang's eyes were red as he led his Iron Eagle Guards to attack the rebels, frantically strangling them. Surrounding Emperor Zhaoming were the panicked eunuchs, the grief-stricken Qilin Guards, and the bewildered and helpless Anian.
Someone was already shouting for the imperial physician, but Zhao Congyun only took one look at the injury and realized it was too late.
Emperor Zhaoming clutched the arrow lodged in his chest, his face pale, yet his expression surprisingly calm. His gaze, still tinged with authority, pierced through the wailing crowd and rested firmly on Zhao Congyun.
"...Come here." Emperor Zhaoming called softly.
Zhao Congyun trembled all over and pushed everyone aside, kneeling heavily beside Emperor Zhaoming: "Royal brother...how could you..."
He couldn't say any more.
Emperor Zhaoming chuckled softly, "We are brothers... Is it possible that you are the only one allowed to go through fire and water for me, but I cannot sacrifice myself for you... How can this be justified?"
"But you are Jun..."
Emperor Zhaoming raised his hand to interrupt him, twisting his neck with difficulty, as if trying to take another look at the battlefield. In the end, he gave up due to exhaustion and could only mutter: "We are brothers... We are brothers..."
Zhao Congyun kept nodding his head, feeling that the hand he was holding was getting colder and colder. His heart was also covered with frost and snow inch by inch, white and empty, and he didn't know where to go.
Chaotic fragments of the past flashed through his mind. The Emperor Zhaoming in the picture sometimes acted like a brother and doted on him, and sometimes turned into an emperor who was suspicious and scolded. Over the long years, Zhao Congyun could no longer tell what kind of feelings he had towards Emperor Zhaoming - was it more of a brotherly love, or more of the etiquette between a monarch and his subjects.
Whenever he was about to have a quarrel, he would always tell himself that his lifelong loyalty and filial piety depended on this person, so he would not hesitate to travel thousands of miles to help him save the country.
Never thought about giving back.
What’s more, the reward is so tragic!
"We are brothers...we can't let him win..." Emperor Zhaoming finally said to him.
Emperor Zhaoming was concerned about Lord Fan's instigation of discord.
"Your Highness, remember this!" Zhao Congyun leaned over and whispered in Emperor Zhaoming's ear, "He can't win now, and he won't win in the future."
I will not seize the throne. I will diligently assist Anian. Those stories of fratricide in history books will never happen to you or me.
The moment Emperor Zhaoming stopped breathing, Zhao Congyun silently swore in his heart. He knew that Emperor Zhaoming would understand what he meant, and only then would they truly win the battle against Lord Fan.
*
The rebellion in the capital did not end until dusk.
Palace lanterns lit one by one, and eunuchs, donning plain white mourning attire, silently swept the battlefield. The Iron Eagle Guard replaced the Kirin Guard in charge of the palace's security. Song Liang and Shen Zongwu roamed the city, redeploying defenses. The six important officials, having received Emperor Zhaoming's will, were preparing for both the late emperor's funeral and the new emperor's enthronement.
Everyone is busy in an orderly manner.
Everything seemed to be back on track so easily.
Only Zhao Congyun sat in front of the empty Chaohua Palace, staring silently into the distance.
The setting sun is as red as blood, hanging in the sky where light and darkness meet, and it is slow to leave, as if it is an ominous hint.
Zhao Congyun's face was so quiet that it was almost compassionate. No one could tell that he was almost on the verge of collapse at this moment.
Wave after wave of emotions tore at him. The grief over Emperor Zhaoming's passing, and especially his act of blocking the arrow, plunged him into a deep abyss of guilt and shame. But he didn't dare indulge in his sadness. Ah Nian wasn't ready to become the new master of this vast palace, so he had to hold him together.
Beneath these emotions, there was also a fatal fear hidden. He tried his best to suppress it and constantly persuaded himself, but the uneasy thoughts always bypassed those reasons and filled his entire heart.
He didn't know whether Yue Mingming was alive or dead.
Uncle Dong has already contacted them personally, and it will take another three days.
Three days of extreme suffering.
Zhao Congyun gritted his teeth, a trace of blood seeping from the corners of his cracked lips. He sternly ordered himself, "Don't think about it, it will be fine!" He and General Mu had already deduced all the situations in Lingzhou in advance, and Mu Yunqing was personally carrying out the task. With so many experienced people present, she shouldn't even be able to touch the battlefield.
She will be safe, will come all the way to reunite with him, and accompany him on this most difficult journey.
Thinking of that smiling face, Zhao Congyun buried his face in his palms and exhaled deeply.
I miss her so much.
He did not look up again, so he did not see that after the sunset, the moon rising in the sky was also blood red.
*
A few days later, Mu Yunqing and Zheng Rong hurried to Beijing. Although they rushed all the way, they still missed a lot.
The throne changes hands. Emperor Yongxi ascends the throne.
The separation from Lingzhou seems like a lifetime ago.
Mu Yunqing and the other person did not go to the post station, and did not even have time to drink a sip of water. They went straight into the palace to meet the Regent.
It was not Emperor Yongxi Zhao Huan, but Regent Zhao Congyun.
The lights in the warm room were dim and the incense was curling. Zhao Congyun was sitting in the deepest part with a pen in his hand. When he heard the two people kowtow, he didn't even raise his head.
Mu Yunqing and Zheng Rong did not stand up either.
Mu Yunqing reported the results of the Lingzhou battle one by one. The Red Armor Army was completely wiped out, and the commander Datuo was killed. The casualties of the Mu family army were less than 3,000. It was such a hearty victory, but no one present showed joy on their faces.
After Mu Yunqing finished speaking, he was silent for a moment, and finally came to the topic that could not be avoided.
Zheng Rong whispered, "Let me tell you..."
The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Zheng Rong looked up anxiously into the room. Zhao Congyun's eyes were still fixed on the pile of memorials, as if he was contemplating something. His hand holding the pen was suspended in mid-air, not moving.
Just as he was hesitating whether to continue, Uncle Dong, who was standing beside him, nodded slightly at him.
Zheng Rong then began to slowly recount everything that had happened that day. Although he couldn't discern Zhao Congyun's attitude, he did his best to describe every detail he could recall. He figured that since Zhao Congyun wasn't present, perhaps if he told more, it would leave Zhao Congyun with a deeper memory.
Mu Yunqing took over the part after Zheng Rong fainted. The two of them talked for half an hour in total. Zhao Congyun said nothing and asked nothing from beginning to end.
No matter what you say, it won't change the result.
Yue Mingming is missing.
The wooden board was pierced by the rain of arrows and shattered into pieces in mid-air. At that moment, Yue Mingming disappeared out of thin air.
The Mu family army on the city wall and the Red Armor Army below the city wall all looked at each other in confusion. Datuo thought he was dazzled and immediately ordered his men to search in the water, but in the end they found nothing.
This inexplicable moment became the last straw that broke the camel's back for the Red Armor Army. The barbarians, who already believed in miracles, were completely defeated and their army was completely routed.
Afterwards, Mu Yunqing also searched the entire city and even sent people to wait under the city wall until the flood receded, but there was still no sign of Yue Mingming.
Just like that, she left this world without saying goodbye.
His wrist was stiff and numb, and Zhao Congyun mechanically wrote a line of words, but his mind was blank.
Is this how it happened?
In fact, Mu Yunqing did not hide anything and sent him a letter immediately. Before Zhao Congyun could even hear the results of Dong Shu's investigation, he had already learned this unbelievable news.
Missing.
Disappeared out of thin air.
He couldn't even understand the words at first.
Despite everyone's objections, he immediately saddled his horse to return to Lingzhou. All officials were shocked, Song Liang was furious, but only Anian remained silent. Finally, the Minister of Rites ordered his men to carry Emperor Zhaoming's coffin to the palace gates, begging him to stay and preside over the situation. Only then did Zhao Congyun slowly release the reins.
He sat in Chaohua Palace all night and gradually came to his senses... Yue Mingming was not missing, but had left this world.
Just like she said before.
Zhao Congyun couldn't let go of this, and it was even harder to accept. Hadn't she agreed to stay? Why was she going back on her word... Tired? Had she had enough? Didn't she love him anymore?
Reason told him that perhaps it was too dangerous at that moment and she had no choice, but there was still a voice in his head chattering - why didn't you take her back to Beijing? Who put her in danger?
Damn them all!
The Red Armor Army, Huo Lianying, and even Zheng Rong and Mu Yunqing...
Of course, the one who deserves to die the most is himself!
The emperor's brother died because of him, and so did Yue Mingming.
Arrow, it’s another fucking arrow! Zhao Congyun felt a splitting headache. Mu Yunqing seemed to be still saying something, but he couldn’t listen to anything. The unspeakable anger in his heart was rekindled, and it seemed to burn everything.
"Get out." He whispered.
Mu Yunqing was suddenly interrupted and was slightly stunned. He looked at Zhao Congyun, but found that he still had his head down and had not stopped writing.
He almost thought he was hallucinating. Uncle Dong looked gloomy. Mu Yunqing said nothing more, nor was he angry at Zhao Congyun's rudeness. He slowly stood up and walked out.
The bright sunshine outside contrasts sharply with the dark and gloomy atmosphere inside the hall.
Mu Yunqing stopped and turned around. "I'm sorry for you. You can do whatever you want with me... But I hope the reconstruction of Lingzhou and the repair of the dam won't be delayed. Don't give the Red Armor Army a chance to make a comeback."
There was complete silence.
Then suddenly there was a loud bang, the desk was overturned, and the memorials were scattered all over the floor, immediately soaked with ink.
This scene alone is a serious crime punishable by death.
But Zhao Congyun didn't care. He stepped on the memorials on the ground and walked towards Mu Yunqing step by step.
He is the regent, and being second only to the emperor is just a humble statement. He can trample on all the rules and kill anyone with just one word.
For example, Mu Yunqing and Zheng Rong in front of us.
"What qualifications do you have to make demands on me now?" Zhao Congyun asked in a hoarse voice.
Zheng Rong stepped back in horror, but Mu Yunqing did not move.
He quietly looked at the emaciated man in front of him. He was once a handsome man, but now his face was pale and he was hiding in the last shadow in the hall as if he was afraid of the light, refusing to take another step forward.
There was only a cluster of fire burning in his eyes, floating faintly, just like the white lanterns of national mourning all over the streets, which made people feel frightened.
"You promised me!" Zhao Congyun growled.
"sorry."
The sincere guilt in Mu Yunqing's eyes suddenly burned Zhao Congyun. He pursed his lips and coldly threw down one word: "Get lost!"
In full view of everyone, he walked across the messy ground and fell onto a soft couch deep in the hall, never to get up again.
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