Chapter 45: Behind the Scenes
After watching Xue Xiyang leave, Qiandeng, Li Yingshang and Cui Fufeng were all silent.
After washing away the injustice that had weighed on him for so long and finally seeing the light, Qian Deng did not feel relieved at all, but only felt exhausted.
When I walked out of the palace, I saw that it was already dark.
The daytime heat has subsided, and bright lights are lit on the streets of Kucha. People come out of their homes in the gentle evening breeze, making the scene more lively and bustling than during the day.
This most prosperous city on the Silk Road is bustling with merchants from all over the world with different accents, a wide variety of goods gathered, and laughter and chatter of young and old.
Amidst the haggling of the Hu merchants and Tang people, there were also raps from Chang'an, magic tricks from Persia, and songs and dances with the characteristics of Kucha...
They even discovered that under the light in the corner, a group of people were gathered around a chessboard to watch the game. Two men in the middle were playing Go, and the style of play they used was exactly the same as that of the Tang Dynasty.
Soon, the younger one was obviously defeated. He screamed in panic and almost pulled out all his sparse beard.
The man opposite clapped his thigh and laughed. "See? I'm not called the 'Northwest Chess Saint' for nothing. You think you can challenge me?"
Hearing his boastful remarks, Qian Deng, who had never been particularly interested in chess, also became interested. He leaned over to Cui Fufeng and whispered, "I've heard that Cui Shaoqing is the best at chess. Now that we're in the northwest, why not let this number one chess master see what it means to be a master?"
Cui Fufeng couldn't help but laugh. He walked behind the man and looked at the chessboard. After a moment's thought, he murmured four words: "Top five, left three."
The man's eyes fell on the place he pointed, and after thinking about it for a while, he felt it was wonderful, and immediately took the step according to his instructions.
With one move, the overall situation was in full swing. Soon, it was the turn of the Northwest Go Master to scratch his head and glare at Cui Fufeng angrily, shouting, "A true gentleman watches chess in silence. Go away!"
The people around him started to jeer, "How can a chess master be afraid of being told what to do?"
"Yes, he blocked your path with just one move. I think he is a thousand times more skilled than you, the chess master!"
The chess master slapped the chessboard and shouted at Cui Fufeng, "If you have the guts, sit down and play a proper game with me!"
Cui Fufeng was a well-mannered man, so he naturally didn't bother arguing with ordinary people. He smiled at him and said, "No need. I'm used to watching the game from behind the scenes, not playing chess in person."
Leaving the corner where they were playing chess, they all smelled the mixed aroma of sesame cakes and barbecued meat in the air, which made them very hungry.
Following the aroma of barbecue, I saw an old man with a little girl setting up a stall. Next to them was a small wooden table and a few stools.
They sat down casually, and the little girl skillfully put soup noodles in the pot for them. The old man sliced the brown and shiny mutton, looked at them, and asked them in unfamiliar Chinese if they liked spicy food.
Li Yingshang asked him to add more Sichuan peppercorns and dogwood; Cui Fufeng wanted a lighter flavor, and if pepper was available, a little bit could be sprinkled in; Qiandeng said, "I don't know what people here like, so let's try something that everyone generally likes."
The old man responded without hesitation, and soon three bowls of soup noodles were served. Li Yingshang's bowl was spicy and delicious, which made people's mouths water; Cui Fufeng's soup was clear and delicious, of course, there was no pepper that was worth more than gold on the stall; and Qiandeng had never expected that the taste of people in the northwest was much heavier and more stimulating than that of the Central Plains. The salty, fragrant and spicy taste made her breathe in while chewing.
Cui Fufeng called the lady at the stall next to him and brought three cups of yogurt, and gave her one first to relieve the salty and spicy taste.
Qiandeng scooped up the yogurt with a spoon and drank it, wiping the sweat from his forehead: "It's okay, you will get used to it slowly."
"I see you're not used to it yet. After all, girls from Northwest China don't use spoons when drinking yogurt. They just pick up the bowl and drink it whole," Li Yingshang said. He then asked, "It seems you've decided to stay in Qiuci and not return to Chang'an?"
Qian Deng nodded. "Yes, this is where my grandfather grew up, and it's also the home my mother told me to return to before she died. Even though it's surrounded by powerful enemies and in turmoil, it's precisely because of this that now is its most difficult time, and I cannot abandon it."
Hearing her firm words, Cui Fufeng smiled with relief under the lamp: "The county lady has finally come to her senses and is willing to accept my previous suggestion and take over Kucha?"
"No, I will promise the king that after he passes away, I will help Princess Zhaosu ascend the throne and do my utmost to help her become a queen who will be remembered in history like our great-grandmother."
Cui Fufeng frowned slightly, exchanged a glance with Li Yingshang, and asked, "Is the county lady worried that she can't suppress those civil and military officials in Kucha?"
Qian Deng shook his head slightly. "The civil officials of Kucha are headed by the Grand Commandant, and the military commander is General Yuchi. They have all been in contact with me and are well aware that I have the support of you and the Tang Dynasty. They will definitely assess the situation and will most likely choose to follow the crowd tactfully and not go against it."
As she spoke, she raised her eyes to look at the bustling street in front of her.
Thousands of lights dot the night, making this ancient city on the Silk Road even more mysterious and brilliant.
She seemed to see her young grandfather running happily through the old streets in front of her sixty years ago, and seemed to see her father riding back hurriedly from the military camp after receiving the news of her birth seventeen years ago, and giving her this name after seeing the lights all over the city.
Kucha should not be a turbulent place that has been engulfed in war for many years. This is the place that her ancestors have guarded all their lives. It will prosper and be glorious forever on the Silk Road.
"However, even though the people of Kucha still sing praises of my grandfather, he was, after all, the young prince who fled the palace fifty years ago. To them, I'm just a newly arrived stranger, raised in seclusion in Chang'an. The rightful heir to the throne is Bai Zhaosu, the princess of Kucha. Only rebels seeking to sow chaos and overthrow the regime would choose to support a distant relative like me as a puppet to achieve their goals.
"But I will never make such a choice. I cannot allow Kucha to plunge into turmoil again for the sake of power and fame. It has just experienced war and the loss of its royal family. What it needs most now is a smooth transition of power in this turmoil, handing it over to the most suitable and deserving person to take the throne."
In the bustling city, she spoke in a low voice, but her resolute attitude and voice were enough to make them deeply feel the determination she had made long ago.
Li Yingshang was naturally pleased with her decision: "Don't worry, County Lady. Whether it's Beiting Anxi or the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty, no matter where you decide to go, you will have a smooth and worry-free journey ahead."
He didn't say much, but Qiandeng already knew that he agreed with his decision and would definitely help him.
Just as he had said after her mother's death, "Li Yingshang will definitely help you", he did what he said and did his best.
She pursed her lips slightly and nodded slightly at him.
Cui Fufeng remained silent, just waiting for her to finish eating, and then walked out of the street with them and said goodbye to each other.
After three o'clock in the morning, the sky was as dark as ink.
A dark shadow came out of the Anxi Protectorate, sneaked out, and headed towards the east of the city.
In the dark streets outside the east prison, he waited quietly.
All important interrogations in Kucha were held here, and Xue Xiyang, the important criminal, was naturally among them.
It was almost dawn when light footsteps came from afar and several blood-soaked warriors appeared at the corner hurriedly, supporting a body.
Seeing the people waiting here, they immediately stepped forward and said, "Sir, the people have been rescued!"
The black shadow looked at the person they were supporting, and after confirming that it was Xue Xiyang, he nodded slightly and motioned them to follow him.
Although he was imprisoned after the failure of the plot, Xue Xiyang had a different identity after all. He was a descendant of the Sunali family and the Minister of Music of the Tang Dynasty. Naturally, he would not be tortured.
But he was in a depressed mood, no longer as energetic and charming as before. When he looked at the person in front of him, his eyes were a little dazed.
Although the other party covered his body and face with a wide cloak and was hidden in the darkness, Xue Xiyang still felt a strange sense of familiarity in a trance, and subconsciously turned his inquiring gaze to the rebel soldiers who came to take him away.
"This gentleman was once a benefactor of the Sunali family, and he has been helping us from behind the scenes. It was thanks to his advice that we were able to successfully steal the three sacred treasures. Now that we have rescued the young master, it is also thanks to his help."
Xue Xiyang nodded to him as a greeting: "Thank you, sir."
He did not answer, but just waved his hand slightly, indicating that they should leave with him as soon as possible.
The other party was indeed very powerful, and no one knew how they operated behind the scenes. In such a critical situation, all the joints in the royal city were open. They carefully avoided the patrolling soldiers and came to a remote gate that had been bought out long ago. They left the city safely through the small path.
In the wilderness ahead, there were several people who came to support him. Judging from their attire and behavior, they were the Western Fan Army that had been defeated by the Kucha Allied Forces.
"The Tang Dynasty and Kucha are so cunning and hateful that they have caused us to suffer such a great loss. It seems that we can only make plans after returning to Xifan." Although the leader swore like this, Xue Xiyang found out that they were badly injured this time and only two or three tenths of their troops remained. They may have to accumulate and operate for many years before they can make a comeback.
The situation was urgent and there was no time to elaborate. They had to set out immediately to meet up with the Western Fan Army.
Xue Xiyang led the horse over, and when he was about to jump onto the saddle, he turned back and looked at the distant Kucha City. It seemed as if the scene of his family rebelling against Kucha many years ago appeared before his eyes again.
What kind of feelings must have been in my father's heart when he looked back at his homeland? Was it the same as he is now?
Of all the relatives who left home in a hurry at that time, he was the only one left who wandered around in this world for many years, but because of one step, he failed to realize his wish.
He stared blankly at the city standing under the brilliant starry sky, and the slender and tough figure seemed to appear before his eyes again.
Who would have thought that the plan he had been planning for many years would be vulnerable in front of her.
When he accepted the rebels' suggestion and entered her backyard, he thought that with his charm, he would be able to capture this naive girl easily.
But in the end he realized that from the beginning to the end, he had never occupied an important position in her heart.
Even though she had been lurking in his backyard for so long, the person in her heart had never been him...
When he thought of the person in her heart, a faint wave suddenly passed through his heart, and his eyes subconsciously turned to the man in the cloak behind him.
He hid in the deepest darkness before dawn, quietly watching him and the Western Fan army, and then turned to leave.
Xue Xiyang blurted out: "It's you!"
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