Chapter 1290: Surrounded by Enemies on All Sides [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Hibernation is impossible.
Gong Xichou wanted to hibernate and enjoy some peace and quiet, but that depended on his elder brother's approval. He was kicked out that very day by Fang Yan using the excuse of "hospital shortage." This prompted Gong Xichou to complain, "Brother, am I your biological brother, or did you pick me up?"
Ji Moqiu said, "You'll have to ask your parents about that."
Gong Xichou thought of Ji Mocan's urn, munching on a steamed bun with some side dishes, and said, "Hmph, I'm really going to ask him about this when I get back!"
Ji Moqiu knew he was just being temperamental, so he didn't take it to heart.
It's just that it can be a bit mentally exhausting.
Unlike Gong Xichou, who seemed to lack common sense, Gong Xichou was a genuine man in his forties, yet his temperament and behavior remained as unrestrained as a mischievous teenager. Leaving aside everything else, the rumor alone—"My elder brother is about to give birth"—wouldn't have become increasingly outrageous if anyone had been more sensible. His brothers were together day and night; how could he not know whether something was going on?
First, men are normally unable to reproduce;
Secondly, even if one is able to conceive, it takes time.
Gong Xiqiu still felt wronged.
These grievances were instantly replaced by resentment, jealousy, and anger when he saw the little red flower that seemed to be secretly laughing. He pouted sourly, "This flower doesn't belong to my older brother... child, then why are you raising it?"
Forget about Mama, she's a sacred object in the clan.
Why can a flower stand in front of him and bully him?
Could it be that his position in the family is really that of the younger brother?
Ji Moqiu said, "The situation is complicated."
It's not something that can be explained in a few words, especially to Gong Xichou, which would require twice the amount of talking: "It... can be considered a gift from His Highness. In the darkness, it carries the destiny of this place."
Gong Xichou listened, completely bewildered.
"What 'opportunity' here?"
Ji Moqiu pointed to his Adam's apple and said helplessly, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, so I cannot say. However, it was transplanted here by Your Highness and then nourished and grown by my divine power... In a sense, it can be considered an adoptive parent?"
Gong Xichou asked, "Why aren't they my biological parents?"
Ji Moqiu shook his head: "Because it won't work."
Let alone Your Highness's current life of tribulation, even your previous self was unable to conceive offspring. Firstly, Heaven and Earth would not allow it. Your Highness is capable of living as long as Heaven and Earth, and if you still covet offspring to continue the lineage, your insatiable greed will surely incur divine retribution. Secondly, even if you were to use means to have offspring, they would be destined to be mediocre, with short lifespans like ordinary beings, and would face many hardships after reincarnation.
If it's just an adoption relationship, then there shouldn't be a big problem.
Gong Xichou felt a toothache as he looked at the flower.
Did Tan Qu and the others know that their future Crown Princess was still a flower? He wanted to reach out and touch his future nominal niece, but before his fingertips could even get close, he was flung away by a green leaf that suddenly extended from her, and the whole flower circled behind Ji Moqiu.
"Tan Qu and the others...won't admit it, will they?" Despite many remaining questions, Gong Xiqiu absolutely trusted Ji Moqiu; if the latter was willing to tell him, he would naturally do so. Gong Xiqiu was now curious, "Does Mama know about this?"
Ji Moqiu shook his head: "He probably doesn't know."
Giving flowers is something from many years ago.
If His Highness remembers this, he cannot possibly ignore it.
Gong Xiqiu gasped: "Even Mama doesn't know she has an adopted daughter? Won't this child's origins be unclear in the future?"
Ji Moqiu, on the other hand, was not worried at all.
"You'll find out in time."
After His Highness successfully transcends his tribulation, to smoothly settle his karmic ties with the mortal realm, he must have an outstanding successor; otherwise, it will be difficult to let go. This child's identity and origins are just right. He himself is the embodiment of humanity's hopes and obsessions, brought out of the Sacred Land of Mountains and Seas by chance. If he can successfully descend to the mortal realm, he will surely become a wise ruler.
Gongxi Chou hesitated, as if he wanted to speak.
Having spent several years with his younger brother, Ji Moqiu knew his temperament very well. To put it bluntly, he could tell what kind of bad idea his younger brother was up to the moment Gong Xichou bent over.
He then reminded the other party, "Keep this to yourself."
"Don't tell Mama?"
If it weren't Shen Tang but an ordinary ruler, and he rashly approached the other party and said, "You can't have children, so we've arranged one for you. Do you want this cheap daughter?", the two brothers would definitely face dire consequences. But this was Mama, a sacred object of the Gongxi clan, and their relationship was inherently extraordinary. Knowing Gongxi Chou as he did, she would certainly accept it gladly.
Who knows, one morning at the assembly she might suddenly brandish a wooden staff and announce to all the ministers, "Your future crown princess is right here!"
With this, you'll never have to worry about finding an heir again!
As for whether the ministers can accept it?
Why can't we accept it?
The Gongxi clan can turn into plants after death, so why can't a living person give birth to a flower? As long as public opinion is well-managed, it's possible to get away with it. The rest is up to time and Xiao Honghua's performance. If she has seven or eight parts of Mama's governing ability, she can basically secure her position as the Crown Princess! As for why she can't be the Crown Prince? Don't ask, it's just the internal custom of the Gongxi clan!
Gong Xichou: "Tell her, she'll definitely be happy."
Ji Moqiu looked at the little red flower and said, "The time is not right yet."
The secrets of heaven remain shrouded in mystery; this calamity is not yet over.
The memories Ji Moqiu inherited told him that what he had in abundance was time and patience. As long as he waited patiently, the fog would eventually clear and the moon would shine. Moreover, Her Highness was no longer just Her Highness; she was also a mortal, the ruler of a nation, standing at the pinnacle of power.
The issue of succession isn't something that can be easily resolved with a few words from Gong Xichou. If someone finds a loophole, even Ji Moqiu's self-incriminating confession won't be enough. Hearing his concerns, Gong Xichou whispered, "Brother, you're worrying too much..."
Ji Moqiu said, "There are precedents to learn from."
When did this happen?
Is there any precedent for this?
Ji Moqiu suddenly realized and said, "Many years ago."
Gong Xichou: "..."
At times like these, he was glad that he didn't have a strong curiosity or a stubborn temper to get to the bottom of things. Otherwise, if he had encountered an older brother who was full of secrets and spoke in a secretive manner, revealing only half of what he knew, even brothers would break up.
He stretched and yawned: "Will I know later?"
Ji Moqiu looked at his face, which resembled her own, for a long while before saying, "When the time comes, everyone will know."
With this guarantee, Gongxi Chou had nothing to worry about.
The remnants of the Southwestern Allied forces were not as fortunate as him.
Kang Guo adhered to the sixteen-character strategy of "when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue," chasing the remnants of the Allied forces to the point of near collapse. Much of their already meager supplies and provisions were lost en route. Morale wavered, and desertions increased daily.
At first, it could serve as a warning to others.
Use bloody violence to deter soldiers who have thoughts of desertion.
As time went on, hunger, panic, and exhaustion exceeded their limits, pushing the rank-and-file soldiers to the brink of collapse. Staying meant certain death, and fleeing also meant certain death, so they might as well flee! With so many deserters, the Allied forces didn't have enough manpower to capture and kill them all; if they were lucky, who knew they might be one of those who slipped through the net?
Driven by wishful thinking, more and more people are taking the risk.
Mei Meng was aware of this.
She simply doesn't have the time to deal with these deserters right now.
"...Breakout here." Her main focus now is on breaking out. If she can break out, she'll have a chance to use the terrain and fortifications of the nearest military fortress to escape completely. The escape route these past few days has also been paving the way for this. The other members of the allied forces have objections, but they've all been suppressed by the King of Qi. Even though they're full of resentment, they can only suppress it for now, to be dealt with later.
"Those people in Kangguo aren't stupid."
Scouts are everywhere; it's too difficult to fool them.
Breaking out here is not the best option either. If exposed, it is easy for Kangguo to cut off their last chance of survival, which is too risky.
Mei Mengdao said, "I have old friends in the Kangguo camp."
No sooner had she finished speaking than another scarred ally scoffed disdainfully, "I've heard about Mei Xiang's past. Most of the officials in the Kang Kingdom are from the Northwest. If any of them are your old acquaintances, they were probably your close friends in your youth."
Can this kind of relationship be trusted?
The bed's promise is valid only until you put on your pants.
Some people are heartless; once they've been pulled out of the picture, they won't acknowledge it anymore.
He thought Mei Jinghe had some special skills, but it turns out he's just like that?
The simple tent instantly filled with the strong smell of gunpowder. Everyone held their breath, as if even the slightest breath could detonate it.
Mei Meng remained unfazed by this.
She scrutinized the other person's body with the same eye one would use to appraise merchandise, a look that would be extremely humiliating to any person in a superior position: "What do you mean by this?"
Are you jealous? Or are you insecure?
What nonsense are you spouting?
Mei Meng said calmly, "Didn't you start this trouble? Guess why I had countless lovers in my early years, but now I've become celibate? It's because I've tasted the good stuff and can't stand the bad stuff."
"you--"
Mei Meng looked at the scar that ran across most of his face.
His right eyelid was drooping and sunken, his eyeball gouged out, making him look hideous and terrifying. Who would have thought that before his injury, he was a renowned and talented playboy? He had repeatedly tried to win over Mei Meng, both openly and secretly, attempting to truly conquer this woman who was second only to the emperor in Qi State. After being repeatedly rebuffed, his love turned to hatred…
"Who knows if you'll take this opportunity to sell us to your lover so you can climb the social ladder?" Humiliated by Mei Meng, he spoke recklessly in anger. This was something some people were worried about.
Mei Meng has old acquaintances in the Kangguo camp, so it is indeed possible that she might turn against him.
"Ha, you're worried about me? I'm more worried about your disloyal alliance." Mei Meng held the remaining supplies in her hand, while the other families had almost run out of food and had clashed quite a bit over supplies in the past two days.
The appearance of the King of Qi ended the argument between the two.
If Mei Meng is driven to the brink of despair, she is capable of anything.
It was late at night that day.
Lü Jue received a bamboo tube secretly handed to him by his trusted confidant.
He took the bamboo tube, examined the writing on it, and then looked at his trusted confidant of many years. A major reason Lü Jue promoted this man to a confidant was that he was an old man who had been freed from slavery by the Mei family years ago; his father had assigned Lü Jue chores like trimming flowers and plants in the backyard. Although called chores, the work was actually quite easy, and for Lü Jue at the time, it was a generous favor.
Lü Jue always remembered this kindness.
Later, he returned to Sibao County and revisited the old place, where the two sides recognized each other.
Seeing the family's impoverished circumstances, Lü Jue took it upon himself to take their youngest son as a guard and brought him to the battlefield. However, Lü Jue never expected them to come looking for him with this item. He paused for a moment, stunned: "Did anyone else see it?"
"Reporting to the general, there is no one here."
When he replied, his body trembled like a leaf.
From the moment he helped pass the bamboo tube, he revealed the truth that his family had always been in contact with the Mei family. Lü Jue might have killed him to cover his tracks for the sake of his future, but the expected death did not come. Lü Jue crushed the bamboo tube and took out the note inside.
Lu Jue ordered his men to prepare horses and leave the camp: "I hope that by the time I return, you will have figured out how to explain this to me."
However, no sooner had he left than his trusted aide hanged himself.
Remnants of the Southwestern Allied Forces.
Mei Meng, wearing a faded white cloak, gazed at the moon in a daze.
What was that sound?
Is there a mournful, plaintive sound carried on the wind?
At first, the sound was faint and indistinct, and she thought it was wild beasts and birds of prey disturbing her. Just as Mei Meng was about to listen more closely, a scout came to report that there was unusual activity outside the camp. The Kang Kingdom had sent people to sing loudly nearby, singing nostalgic folk songs from the southwest.
After her initial surprise, Mei Meng couldn't help but chuckle.
He said magnanimously, "This is the treatment that Xiang Yu, the Hegemon of Chu, received."
Surrounded by enemies on all sides and isolated without any help, it's quite fitting for the situation.
She said, "Order the military scribes to set up the battle formation."
As long as they couldn't hear it, it posed no threat. They could sing all night long, even until their voices were hoarse. With the battle formation in place, the homesick tunes were indeed gone from the wind. As the night drew to a close, Mei Meng smelled the aroma of food wafting through the air.
Glug, glug.
The soldiers, who had endured hunger to fall asleep, couldn't stay awake any longer and woke up one by one.
The smell made me even hungrier.
Scouts reported that several groups were cooking in the windy area, the air filled not only with the aroma of rice but also the tempting scent of meat. Heaven knows how long it had been since the Allied soldiers had tasted any real food? Just the smell alone made their mouths water uncontrollably.
Even if they can't smell the fragrance, the soldiers can still tighten their belts and endure it.
The pain of smelling the food but not being able to eat it was like someone stuffing a handful of worms into their stomachs. The stronger the aroma of the food, the more active these worms became, gnawing at their internal organs. As time went on, the once relatively quiet camp gradually became noisy. No matter how the squad leaders and centurions shouted at them, it was no use. The noise not only did not subside but grew louder, causing unrest among the people.
Hungry……
I'm so hungry.
The night seemed to last forever.
The next day, many soldiers looked dejected.
The warrior soldiers with martial prowess fared somewhat better, but the ordinary soldiers suffered greatly and were all listless. Even though they received more food today than yesterday, it couldn't bring a smile to their faces.
As night fell, a familiar tune drifted on the wind.
The sounds were much clearer today than yesterday. Before the Allied forces took measures to block out the sound, some soldiers couldn't help but hum along, tears streaming down their faces as they sang, their pent-up grievances and longing overflowing. This emotion spread like wildfire, like a virus.
The aroma of food brought this emotion to its peak.
Mei Meng listened to the continuous stream of news: "Those people from Kangguo... really like to use psychological warfare. How are the preparations going over there? Tomorrow morning, let another batch of people escape... Since they want to undermine our morale, then let them have their way."
(ω)
Another friend has started a new book!
Bao Bao's "Wasteland Scavenging: A Chubby Girl Leads Her Sick, Weak, and Disabled Family to Success"
Synopsis: A hellish start, but a destiny defying fate.
[Actually, the description provided by the bag was a different version, but, well, I cut off the beginning and end _(:з」∠)_ I think this version is more concise.]
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
