Chapter 1239: The Duke's Daughter [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Wu Xian was disappointed in him.
"You said you shouldn't mention it, so you really won't?"
How could he not know that these people would be so obedient?
Wu Xian gritted his teeth, his jaw muscles taut, and squeezed out each word from his throat: "The Southwest is putting on a show of fighting Shen Youli to the death. If I had known this would happen, would I have come here on my trip? I might as well have gone to the Northern Polar Region to look at the Sky Eye!"
I've heard that north of Mozhou, in this land of ice and snow, various colorful lights often appear, their brilliance only subsiding between the hours of Yin and Chen.
Some of the colored lights resembled the Heavenly Eye.
Wu Xian had only read about it in folk travelogues and was very curious.
The former scout shrank back after being reprimanded, while the other retainers exchanged glances before turning to Wu Xian, hoping their father could make a decision. The girl mustered her courage and stepped forward to gently pat Wu Xian's arm: "It's too late now, Father's scolding is useless."
Upon seeing her appear, the former scout grinned broadly.
He said, "Don't worry, Master. I'm sure this scout group isn't very powerful, and the number of troops that have sneaked over is probably not large. We discovered them early, so if we're careful and avoid them, we're sure we won't be discovered."
Her daughter's comforting words quickly extinguished her already small anger.
Wu Xian's eyebrows twitched: "So confident?"
The former scout said somewhat embarrassedly, "Ahem, I've been a little lax these past few months and not as sharp as before. To be able to spot them ahead of me like this... well, you can imagine."
The active-duty scouts are not as wary as he is of a retired scout.
As for your level, figure it out for yourself.
Wu Xian carefully rubbed the hammerhead in his palm, pacing back and forth hesitantly. The former scout gave the others in the group a wink, and they in turn gave Wu Xian's daughter a wink—Wu Xian was alright in other respects, but his indecisive and lukewarm style was really frustrating.
Upon receiving a signal from her uncle, the girl timidly grabbed Wu Xian's sleeve.
Those clear, black and white eyes were filled with filial piety, as if the purest light in the world had fallen into them. Being stared at by such eyes would melt even the hardest steel, let alone the fact that the girl also had a face that resembled her birth mother by six or seven points.
Especially those eyes, they're almost identical.
Wu Xian's love for this daughter surpassed that of all his other dozens of children combined. She didn't need to say or do anything; just standing there, she could easily calm Wu Xian's temper. He said, "I'm wondering whether we should turn back."
The girl's movements froze for a moment.
The appearance of scouts indicates that the enemy is not far away.
In this situation, is there still any need to hesitate about whether to go back?
Wu Xian didn't miss his daughter's reaction, assuming she was frightened by the situation. He patted her hand to comfort her: "Shen Youli bestowed upon me the title of First-Rank Duke, and promised to ask you for the title of Heir Apparent. It will be passed down to you in the future, but she..."
Wu Xian's face twisted at this point.
If it were merely the ambiguous mention of the four prefectures of "Chen, Wu, Tang, and Di," it would at most cause Wu Xian some annoyance. In fact, for him, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks—only the parties involved knew that the "deep affection between the two prefectures" was a lie, while everyone else believed it to be the most genuine thing imaginable. Even historians were generous in praising this friendship, so one can imagine how future generations would sing its praises. Upon closer examination, Wu Xian actually came out ahead.
His main reason for dissatisfaction was this first-rank duke—Shen Youli posthumously conferred the title of first-rank duke on Gu Ren and also on Wu Xian. Considering that she had been stingy for a long time, Wu Xian had never thought that she would give him any special treatment—but why was it that Gu Ren's descendants were granted the title of first-rank duke after three generations, while he himself did not receive this additional privilege?
Don't say that in chaotic times, the lineage might not even last to the third generation. Whether or not there is a "three generations before the next generation" rule, it's all the same. Is it the same whether it exists or not? Is Wu Zhaode less politically significant to her than a dead person? Wu Xian felt chest pain from anger just thinking about this.
However, Wu Xian couldn't bring it up directly.
He requested that his daughter be granted the title of Lady of the Nation, but the man surnamed Shen made no offer, simply agreeing to Wu Xian's request without hesitation. Wu Xian received the imperial edict from the inner court and, after repeatedly probing and confirming that there was no further indication of his intentions, finally gave up. In a fit of temper, he asked Shen Tang for leave and, taking his son, daughter, and trusted retainers, embarked on a spontaneous trip.
Wu Xian didn't believe that Shen Tang could sit still like this.
As it turned out, this guy actually sat down!
They didn't even budge an inch!
Wu Xian, the warlord who once rivaled her, was still a first-rank duke of Kang Kingdom after his defeat. He traveled around Kang Kingdom with his troops, and she didn't even react! Wu Xian thought she would be nervous and ask a few questions. He thought he could take the opportunity to back down, play the victim, cry about how pitiful parents are, and then Shen Tang would be "moved" by him and make up for the "three generations of descendant" treatment he received. Wouldn't that make the matter a perfect end?
But the one surnamed Shen didn't see the hint.
I don't know if they're blind or pretending to be ignorant.
As one of only two dukes in Kang Kingdom, Wu Xian's initiative to request the establishment of a crown princess was of great political significance. Why wouldn't it be worthwhile to "degrade the title after three generations"? If the title were to be passed down to his daughter in the future, as the first crown princess in the history of Kang Kingdom and even the continent, how could Shen Youli, as the ruler, look good if she inherited the title at a lower level? Wu Xian really couldn't understand it.
Upon hearing this, the girl's face fell.
The matter Wu Xian mentioned was also something that pained her.
She had many half-siblings, some of whom possessed considerable talent in cultivation. Everyone assumed that Wu Xian would choose one of them as the heir to the title to ensure the continuation of the family line, but to everyone's surprise, Wu Xian defied all objections and chose her.
A daughter who has no aptitude for cultivation.
This decision made his siblings envious and resentful. They knew Wu Xian was biased, but they never expected him to be so biased. Some of them simply switched sides and joined their maternal family.
The remaining children could only accept reality; there was nothing they could do if they refused. Wu Xian was in his prime, and although he had lost to Shen Tang, he still retained a considerable portion of his family fortune. If even a little slipped through their fingers, it would be enough for them to live a life of luxury and ease.
The girl, however, was not as open-minded as they were.
She lacks the aptitude for cultivation, and she won't be able to protect the title of heir in the future.
She wasn't willing to be a carefree, wealthy idler. She couldn't very well pin her hopes on the next generation, expecting one of them to turn things around. Her father, as a man, could father dozens of children; surely he'd find a worthy one. She, as a woman, couldn't do that. The "human wave" approach was a dead end…
This only intensified his inner turmoil.
These thoughts cannot be revealed to outsiders, especially Wu Xian.
She knew why her father favored her so much; it was simply a way for him to make amends by remembering their deceased mother, Mi Kui. To maximize this favoritism, she naturally had to leverage her inherent advantages. A similar appearance wasn't enough; their personalities also needed to be as similar as possible. Whether it was genuine or feigned, personal gain was paramount!
A faint glint of water appeared in the girl's eyes.
Feeling dejected and blaming herself, she said, "It's all because my daughter is so disappointing..."
If she had the aptitude for cultivation, she could have retained her first-rank dukedom even without the "three generations descending" technique, without needing any extra preferential treatment. Wu Xian felt sorry for her upon hearing this: "Talent is not something that can be solved by striving. Blame your parents."
Wu Xian added, "It's my fault, Father."
Mi Kui is intelligent and quick-witted, and she is indeed far superior to him.
The girl didn't dare to continue speaking, only biting her lip, moved and on the verge of tears. Seeing her like this, Wu Xian's heart melted: "Sigh, leave the matter of making her proud to your father."
A few words contain a wealth of information.
The girl was speechless with astonishment: "Father?"
Wu Xian narrowed his eyes slightly as he pointed towards the direction of the enemy scouts' movements, deftly toying with the mace in his fingers: "You heard it too, these guys down there aren't any elites, they're not very dangerous. We're in the open, they're in the shadows, we can still gain an advantage if we make a move."
The enemy has already reached the vicinity of the border. Whether Wu Xian sends someone to deliver the message or takes a few heads while delivering the message, and regardless of the size of the contribution, Shen Youli has to accept it! Wu Xian's hesitation just now was to weigh the benefits of both options!
The girl grabbed Wu Xian's arm.
War is no joke.
Wu Xian had been idle for two years, and as a pampered ruler, it was long past his prime when he actually led troops into battle. Now, if he were to rashly go to the battlefield, she feared for his life. This worry stemmed from the loss of her support, but also from a deep father-daughter bond. Years ago, when the capital of Gao Kingdom was engulfed in flames, her mother had sent her and her siblings out beforehand. Although they survived, the fear and hardship of the journey left an indelible mark on her.
"Father!"
The girl's voice trembled slightly.
Wu Xian remained unmoved, but turned to look at his son. He said sternly, "A real man stands tall and protects his blood relatives. I set a bad example in the past; don't follow my example."
The young man's back stiffened for a moment, then relaxed.
He nodded solemnly: "My son will."
The mother gave birth to two sons and two daughters, but now only the two of them remain.
Wu Xian assigned ten people to follow his children, while the rest stayed with him.
He watched the twelve people disappear around the bend in the plank road, leaping down from behind the mountain and vanishing into the vast sea of trees. Wu Xian felt no more lingering attachments. He swung his mace, the head pressed against the mountain wall. Martial energy surged from his dantian, and he donned his full martial armor once more!
In that instant, my back became even straighter.
A long-lost sharpness burst forth from his eyes.
His entourage and confidants all looked at him with excitement in their eyes.
"Brothers, your knives aren't rusty, are they?" Wu Xian said with a smile, raising his hand to conjure a mask that covered his entire face. He exhaled a breath of stale air, discarding the laziness he had cultivated over the years!
Everyone was so excited that their eyes turned red, and they all responded in unison.
"No rust!"
"Grind it three times a day, and it won't rust!"
Wu Xian was very satisfied with these answers, but he felt a little guilty. Compared with these old men, he had indeed become too lax in recent years. Fortunately, martial artists are not prone to gaining weight, so his waist did not swell to the point where his original size was no longer visible.
"As long as it's not rusty!"
"It doesn't matter if it's rusty, just grind it with a bone!"
"Gentlemen, follow me!"
Wu Xian took the lead, leaping down the plank road and landing steadily in a few bounds. Behind him, dozens of people followed in his footsteps. Despite their small number, they were all martial arts experts! In terms of combat strength, they wouldn't be afraid of hundreds!
Meanwhile, Wu Xian's children are also working hard.
The girl ordered, "Quickly inform the garrison commander of the message!"
They weren't sure how many enemies had arrived!
Is it the vanguard or a reconnaissance outpost?
In an instant, all sorts of thoughts flashed through her mind. She could even hear the restless pounding of her heart, and her hands and feet were ice-cold. She felt as if she had been pulled back to the time when she fled the capital, and she could almost smell the lingering stench of burning.
The young man noticed her hesitation and fear.
"Don't be afraid, your brother is here!"
Those few words gave her immense courage.
She took a deep breath and nodded emphatically.
As time passed, her complexion did not improve. When she relayed the message to the garrison commander, her face was deathly pale. She still managed to say, "...That's what happened. General Yang, please send troops to support my father immediately!"
The death of a first-rank duke on the front lines is no small matter.
Even if Wu Xian had sneaked to the front lines on his own, happened to discover the enemy's tracks, and then, driven by greed, led a few dozen men to raid the enemy's outpost, resulting in his death, the world wouldn't believe it. They only wanted to believe what they already knew! Compared to so-called coincidences, the intricate plots and power struggles were far more captivating.
Surely the ruler of Shen Kingdom wouldn't want his reputation to be damaged?
The garrison commander was not surprised by the enemy's presence, but he was helpless that Wu Xian would be involved. If Wu Zhaode died on his own territory, he would be in deep trouble: "Please rest assured, Your Highness, I am aware of this matter. I will immediately muster the troops to support Duke Lu and the others."
Duke Lu was none other than Wu Xian, the Duke of Lu.
Originally, the title was to be chosen between "Gao" and "Wu," since both were usable and it would save the trouble of addressing her. However, considering that Wu Xian might be so ashamed and angry that he would smash his head against a pillar in front of her, Shen Tang had to change the title to "Lu," and only then did Wu Xian stop.
The girl was moved to tears: "Thank you so much, General Yang!"
General Yang did not accept her greeting: "Miss, there is no need for such formalities. If we were to consider this carefully, Duke Lu would also be considered my benefactor."
The girl was taken aback, unaware of this connection.
General Yang sighed, "That was something from many years ago."
During the Battle of Xiaocheng, this young lady was likely just born and naturally unaware of this past event. This General Yang was also an acquaintance; he was the former Commandant of Sibao County, General Yang. In the defense of Xiaocheng, he bravely fought Gongxi Chou to the death, even self-immolating…
The result was predictable: he suffered a crushing defeat.
He was originally doomed to die, but Shen Tang forcibly saved him.
In the years that followed, his will waned, and he became an ordinary person. During the time of Heyin County, he helped Shen Tang train soldiers, but as an ordinary person, there was only so much he could do. Later, he went to work in a shop. During the time of Longwu County, he switched to guarding the salt depot and reunited with his daughter, Yang Ying. He became increasingly content with his life. As Shen Tang rose higher and higher, Yang Gong became increasingly insignificant and unnecessary.
He was content to live a life of luxury as a wealthy man.
only--
This body eventually deteriorated too much.
Burning his dantian was a desperate gamble, a risky gamble with everything at stake; the many years he lived were stolen. In recent years, his body became increasingly weak, and the medical professionals who came to treat him were all helpless. Doctors can only treat stubborn illnesses; they cannot snatch lifespan from the heavens.
He told himself he should be content.
Yang Ying is already capable of managing the household, so we don't need him.
But no matter how he tried to comfort himself, the voice of resentment grew louder and louder, reaching its peak in the days when he thought he was on his deathbed! He still had too many regrets! He couldn't entrust his broken body to the battlefield, and he couldn't see his daughter Yang Ying get married, start a family, and have children.
Are you willing to accept this?
I'm not reconciled!
(﹏)(︿)
I'm never buying funds again; if I do, I'm a dog.
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