Chapter 53: Setting Sun
The Prince of Changhua knew there must be a reason, but he was busy with war, and now the battle near Huangsha Valley was imminent. How could he have too much time to care about a mother and son in the wilderness? He waved his hand and said, "Anyway, you can go."
The woman, wearing Meng Changshan's clothes, stood up blankly, staring at the child, at a loss as to what to do.
Meng Changshan was scared and confused, his heart was beating fast, and somehow he grabbed the woman's hand.
And she kept trembling, as if she was also waiting for a shoulder to lean on.
So he supported her, she leaned on him, and the two strangers staggered and fled away from the bloody and terrifying place.
From a distance, he could only hear the child gnashing his teeth and saying, "You're a general, you should kill them all!"
"I can't kill him." The Prince of Changhua turned his horse around and prepared to go to the next pass for inspection. "There are people in the army who are responsible for the law and discipline. The laws must be judged and strictly enforced according to military law."
"Will military law kill them all?"
"Won't."
In times of war, military discipline is often lax, and burning, killing, and looting can only be controlled with all possible efforts. Furthermore, with a major war imminent, and personnel needed at a critical juncture, the ringleader has already been killed, and the accomplices will likely receive lighter sentences.
Just as the Prince of Changhua was about to leave, the child rushed forward, grabbed his horse's bridle, and demanded harshly, "Aren't you soldiers guarding the Tang Dynasty? Why are you considered bad people? Why are you helping bad people?!"
The Prince of Changhua, who was anxious to patrol, reined in his horse, paused, and finally said, "Don't worry, the bad guys will be severely punished according to military law. My Bai family army will not tolerate these people."
I watched as a group of people took away those disorderly soldiers and rode away on horseback.
The child was left alone standing in the desert, staring at the soldiers they had taken away. The blood-red setting sun dyed his whole body red.
Meng Changshan thought of how he had just killed someone and felt terrified. He grabbed the woman who was still numb and trembling and quickly fled from this terrible place.
When he passed by the corpse of the Uighur, he kicked something. In panic, he looked down and saw that it was the priceless jade covered with blood.
He subconsciously picked it up, stuffed it into his arms along with the blood and dirt, and fled from this horrible place.
This happened eighteen years ago, and Uncle Meng heard it from the drunk Meng Changshan, so many details were unclear.
But Qian Deng had listened to the first half of the story told by the group of soldiers and bandits, and later understood many key points in it, so he pieced together the content roughly.
Aunt Meng listened to these unbearable past events and couldn't hide the gloating expression on her face: "Oh, my sister-in-law is so pitiful. She has such a miserable fate that even her own children disdain her and refuse to acknowledge her. County Master, tell me, how can there be such a cruel child in this world!"
Qiandeng ignored her. Perhaps she was the only one in the world who knew the pain and sorrow that child felt when he made the decision.
She guessed correctly that he must have come from a prominent family in Shuofang City, and his father must have been an important figure under King Linhuai.
In the inner house of a large family, after a humble concubine was humiliated, the outcome can be imagined.
Even if he could travel thousands of miles to bring his mother home, the Prince of Changhua and many soldiers had witnessed it with their own eyes. If they had the chance to meet in the future, his mother's experience would be impossible to hide.
No noble family could tolerate the existence of such a stain, just like a stain of dust falling on a house full of gold and jade. Someone would wipe it off as soon as possible to avoid offending the nobles.
The only ending she faces is to disappear silently from this world.
So, even though he would never be able to return to his mother's arms for the rest of his life; even though he had to face the endless storms of life alone from the age of six, the six-year-old boy still chose to let go with tears and blood, saying, "I don't know her."
——From now on, life is far away, the north and the south are separated forever, and the next time we meet will be at the moment of death.
Seeing that the county lady was holding her breath and hadn't spoken for a long time, the Meng couple became anxious, wondering if Meng Lanxi's life experience was too terrible and that it had annoyed the county lady.
Uncle Meng asked tentatively, "So, County Lady, you see... Given Meng Lanxi's status, our Meng family originally let him replace my son Yongshun. We truly felt guilty towards the court! Now that the truth has been revealed, County Lady, do you think we should recall my son to the capital..."
Qian Deng slowly put down the teacup in his hand and said, "I just told you that Meng Lanxi is in grave danger. So, do you still dare to send your son to the palace to compete for my husband?"
Upon hearing this, the two people who were originally eager to send their son to the palace felt a little uneasy and hesitated for a moment.
Finally, Uncle Meng replied, "Well, County Lady, please read my son's letter. He's seeking a famous teacher, and I'm afraid he'll need to concentrate on his studies for a year or two. When he returns after completing his studies, can we send him here? County Lady, you're deeply devoted to mourning for your mother, so I'm sure there's no rush..."
This family chose the right time, wanting to wait until she had defeated all the other men, or until other men had fought to the death first, and then their son would come and take advantage of her.
Qiandeng was too lazy to speak and raised his hand to signal them that they could leave.
As he stood up, Uncle Meng hesitated for a moment, then cautiously inquired of Qian Deng, "Although there are doubts about Lanxi's background, our clan has raised him after all. I wonder... has he ever mentioned the Northwest trade to the county lady?"
It would have been better if he didn't mention this matter. Once he mentioned it, Qiandeng felt a flame burning in his heart.
She thought about the moment when young Ling Tianshui abandoned his mother, the moment when Madam Meng carried Meng Lanxi back from the cowshed, and the night when she passed away with paleness, worried about her child...
This heart-wrenching separation of life and death has only been met with scorn and ridicule from others, and has even been trampled upon by them for their own profit.
With a fire rising in her heart, she pointed coldly at the seats and motioned them to sit down first: "Please wait a moment, I almost forgot about this."
Then she ordered someone from the mansion to come to the Jin family and invite Jin Baoyi.
When the two Meng family members heard what she meant, they thought that she wanted the Jin and Meng families to share this trade route to compensate for the losses of their children, and they were immediately overjoyed.
Soon, Jin Baoyi arrived at the Changhua Palace.
The fat man who was so fat that he was panting after every three steps a few days ago has become much thinner in a few days. Layers of flesh folds hang down from his round cheeks, making him look twenty years older.
"I wonder what the county lady wants me to do?" Jin Baoyi's voice was hoarse and dim. Qiandeng didn't know how to start for a moment. Jin Tuantuan was already jumping around under the eaves, calling out, "Dad, Dad! Old man!"
The parrot, which had originally belonged to Jintang and was naturally very familiar to him, hopped around on the shelf, mimicking his voice, just as it always had, with a hint of Jintang's accent in its voice.
Jin Baoyi was in tears. He raised his hand to wipe away the tears that seeped out of his eyes. Like Qiandeng, he was unable to utter a word.
After a long moment, Qian Deng finally took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Uncle Jin, your son once told me that before the unrest, the Jin family had caravans traveling to and from the Hexi Corridor year-round, reaching as far as Anxi, Beiting, and Tubo, and as far as Tianzhu, Persia, and Fulin. However, the unrest destroyed the trade routes, and it's likely that trade will be difficult to restore for a year or so."
Hearing her mention this, Jin Baoyi nodded and said, "Indeed, we have also thought that if we could get some help from the court and the army, it might be better... But Sanlang is a playboy by nature, so I don't expect much from him. It turns out that he really wants to share the burden of the family."
Qian Deng said, "To reach the northwest, we need the assistance of three parties—Kucha, Uighur, and Shuofang. The Shuofang army is currently searching for a trustworthy merchant caravan in Chang'an. I've already sent someone to contact them, and I have connections with the Uighur prince and the Kucha royal family, so I believe it won't be difficult. I believe the Jin family is one of the most powerful and reputable merchants in Chang'an, so I'm willing to help your family reopen the corridor from the Tang Dynasty to the Western Regions. If you're willing, please select a few trustworthy individuals, bring samples of your goods, and accompany His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on this border tour with the Changhua Palace to establish good relations in the northwest. What do you think?"
This is what the Jin family has always dreamed of, and since the county lord has made such a promise, there is no reason why this matter will not come true. The problem that the Jin family currently needs to solve is thus solved.
Jin Baoyi choked up and stood up, thanking Qiandeng profusely. He promised, "Thank you, County Master! My Jin family will definitely send our most trustworthy people with the best goods to accompany you!"
Seeing that the county lady entrusted the matter to the Jin family and left the Meng family aside without saying a word, the Meng couple became very anxious.
Uncle Meng interrupted, "The Jin family's silk, porcelain, and medicinal herbs are indeed very well-reputed, but my Meng family's tea is also top-notch. County Lady, rest assured, the Meng family will also provide the best quality tea, and take advantage of this opportunity to accompany the County Lady to the northwest..."
"You can't borrow this east wind," Qian Deng interrupted him coldly, saying mercilessly, "I promised to help the Jin family because it was Jin Tang's long-cherished wish. Jin Tang treated me sincerely, so the Changhua Palace naturally offered his full assistance. But some people treated my husband candidate poorly during his lifetime, and now they're trying to profit from him. Don't they even consider whether they're worthy enough to step into the palace? Such wishful thinking and shameful behavior. Never appear before me again!"
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