Lan Qingyi felt her heart clench suddenly. Her eyes, which always carried a hint of calculation and composure, suddenly widened, and Cheng Muyun's young but arrogant face was clearly reflected in her pupils, filled with undisguised disbelief.
He unconsciously clenched his sleeve, his knuckles turning slightly white.
These days, he has been investigating Cheng Muyun openly and secretly. The records in the files and the news sent back by his informants all tell him that this young marshal, who has commanded a large army at a young age, is an extremely arrogant person who can never tolerate the slightest imperfection and will not allow others to have any objections.
But only now did he realize that he had underestimated Cheng Muyun’s deep-seated confidence, which was not confidence but an arrogance that looked down on everything.
Lan Qingyi's Adam's apple bobbed, her heart churning with turbulent emotions.
What kind of immense power and omnipotent authority could enable this young man, barely in his early twenties, to utter such treasonous words without batting an eye?
He took a deep breath, and the shock and anger that had been building up in his chest finally broke through his restraint, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "You are simply too arrogant!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Muyun seemed to have heard an amusing joke. His thin lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile that carried a hint of nonchalance and a touch of mockery that others could not understand.
“Outrageous?” He raised an eyebrow, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather. “I’m more used to being described as crazy than that word.”
Lan Qingyi's brows furrowed instantly.
Previously, he had always thought that Cheng Muyun's "madness" was just a smear campaign deliberately launched by his political enemies or those who were wary of him, and a rumor fabricated by the outside world to smear him.
After all, someone who can break through the complex power struggles at a young age and firmly sit in the position of young marshal must be extremely meticulous. How could he really be a crazy person who doesn't care about the consequences?
But at this moment, listening to Cheng Muyun's words and seeing the completely indifferent expression on his face, Lan Qingyi's previous thoughts completely collapsed.
He no longer thinks that way.
The fact that Cheng Muyun dared to openly utter such words, which were tantamount to provoking the entire system, in this kind of setting and in front of someone like him, was enough to prove that he was truly insane.
Lan Qingyi felt a chill run down her spine.
In this world, no one dares to openly challenge the government, and no one would be like Cheng Muyun, so straightforward in admitting their position that contradicts the official stance. This is tantamount to putting oneself on the hot seat, waiting for the higher-ups to send troops to eliminate them.
He stared intently at Cheng Muyun, his eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions, while only one thought lingered in his mind: Or perhaps, this young marshal simply doesn't want to live anymore?
Lan Qingyi's gaze fell on Cheng Muyun's face, which had a cold, hard line and an unyielding determination. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her fingertips unconsciously tapped lightly on her knees.
Silence hung in the air for a moment, then a flash of realization crossed his eyes, as if he had grasped a crucial clue.
He is all too aware of the current situation.
The strength of the Dongzhou Army is unfathomable. Under Cheng Muyun's tutelage over the years, it has become an unbreakable force, and its combat power is second to none among all armies.
Even if he mobilizes more troops to suppress him, he probably won't gain any advantage. In the end, he will only suffer heavy losses and end up losing both his wife and his army. It may even shake his foundation in the government.
The Dongzhou Army was too strong, and Cheng Muyun was too crazy—crazy enough to dare to confront the entire government with a small corner of the land, crazy enough to disregard any consequences.
A direct confrontation is clearly the worst possible strategy. After much deliberation, Lan Qingyi felt that perhaps the only card left to play was emotion.
He composed himself, softened his tone, and tried to make his voice sound more earnest: "I have long heard of Marshal Cheng's reputation. But in my opinion, your outrageous actions are mostly because you miss your deceased wife too much."
As she said this, Lan Qingyi's gaze was fixed on Cheng Muyun's face, and even her breathing became lighter.
He knew perfectly well that Cheng Muyun's deceased wife was an inviolable taboo, a taboo that no one dared to mention easily. To bring it up now was tantamount to walking on a knife's edge, and every word he uttered was uttered with extreme caution.
“The dead are gone, and people should always look forward.” He paused, and seeing that Cheng Muyun did not immediately react, he mustered his courage and continued, “The enemy who killed the late Madam is dead. Young Marshal, you are still so young and have a bright future. You really shouldn’t do such foolish things that risk your life.”
Cheng Muyun lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes casting a light shadow beneath them, his heart as calm as a still pond.
He could clearly sense that if Xu Zhuohua hadn't been there right beside him, rekindling his world, Lan Qingyi's words, which touched a raw nerve, would have made him instantly draw his gun and turn the person in front of him into a wronged soul under his blade.
Lan Qing's translation was undoubtedly fortunate.
Cheng Muyun slowly raised his eyes, his dark eyes devoid of any warmth, as cold as solid ice in the dead of winter, and his voice was also chilling: "Secretary Lan, you don't think that I, Cheng Muyun, am fighting against the government to seek death, do you?"
Lan Qingyi felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze, but she suppressed her unease and showed a hint of doubt: "Otherwise what? The young marshal's letter to his wife, which spread throughout the streets and alleys, was filled with sorrow beyond measure and despair. Doesn't that mean you have no will to live anymore?"
The three words "Letter to My Wife" were like a tiny needle, piercing Cheng Muyun's heart. A sharp pain flashed by, so fast that it was almost an illusion, yet it still betrayed his deeply buried emotions.
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