A Moment of Benevolence
She saw Li Chongyu striding ahead at a brisk pace, and she had to exert herself to keep up.
She caught up with Li Chongyu and walked alongside him, unable to help but complain, "The young general was chatting and laughing with her so happily before, but why does he avoid her like the plague as soon as he hears the name of Lady Huachi? This is probably quite impolite."
Li Chongyu turned around, about to explain to her, but his expression immediately changed.
Only then did Mo Yi Bi Shuang's leisurely voice come from behind: "Perhaps it's because your mother once told you that I was her only rival in the north."
It turned out that Mo Yi Bi Shuang had unknowingly crept up behind them.
Such agility was far beyond Li Lanxiu's expectations, and it made her wary, causing her to instinctively place her hand on her sword.
I had seen glimpses of Lady Huachi's elegance in the palace before, but I only thought that she had a large retinue and elegant manners. I never imagined that she was actually a hidden master.
Li Lanxiu knew that today's matter could not be resolved peacefully, but he did not know where to begin.
Seeing that he couldn't shake off Mo Yi Bishuang, Li Chongyu suddenly stopped and angrily said, "If you're so capable, go find her! What kind of person are you to make things difficult for a child like me here!"
Mo Yi Bi Shuang suddenly stopped in her tracks.
She seemed surprised by Li Chongyu's reply, and was slightly taken aback at first. Then, a bitter smile spread across her lips.
Although she wore a veil, none of her expressions or movements escaped Li Lanxiu's notice.
She felt that Mo Yi Bi Shuang's originally sharp and arrogant expression, which seemed to be in complete control, had been softened by Li Chong Yu's words, or at least it had triggered some deep emotions within her.
She positioned herself between Mo Yi Bi Shuang and Li Chong Yu, wanting to ask Mo Yi Bi Shuang what exactly happened.
But before she could speak, she saw several glints of light reflecting off something in the corner of her eye, heading straight for Li Chongyu. She knew something was wrong, but it was too late to rush forward to protect him.
At the same time, she secretly regretted that she should have let Li Chongyu be led here by Mo Yi Bishuang, completely deviating from the original route set for today.
Li Chongyu was also taken aback by this sudden attack.
Although he was quite agile and quick-witted, dodging several of the silver needles with a series of flips and leaps, he couldn't avoid the final glint of cold light.
Mo Yi Bi Shuang leaped out, but did something no one expected.
She swept out her long black silk sleeves, embroidered with exquisite patterns, and knocked the last silver needle away.
The needle had just reached Li Chongyu's waist; its tip was coated with a potent poison, hence its blue glow.
Not only was Li Lanxiu stunned, but Li Chongyu also stood there dumbfounded.
For a moment, I didn't know whether to thank her or resent her.
Mo Yi Bi Shuang landed on the spot and said calmly, "Let's go. I'll take you back."
For the rest of the journey, all three were filled with mixed feelings and did not utter another word.
Finally, Mo Yi Bishuang escorted Li Lanxiu and Li Chongyu to a willow tree a few dozen steps away from Beining Pavilion, which was already within the guard range of the Imperial Guards.
When the two returned, a group of Imperial Guards on duty came forward to greet them and offer their respects. However, upon seeing Mo Yi Bi Shuang, whose face was veiled behind them, they all showed surprise, but due to their status, they dared not ask any further questions.
Mo Yi Bi Shuang's veil fluttered even without wind, and she stood still, smiling as she said, "I'll leave it here. The clothes will be delivered here in fifteen days."
Li Chongyu glanced at her with a complicated expression, then turned and went straight into the Beining Pavilion.
Li Lanxiu knew that Mo Yi Bishuang's escort was out of kindness, to prevent them from being ambushed again. But this ambush might actually be a scheme orchestrated by Mo Yi Bishuang herself.
She had no evidence at the moment, but she instinctively knew that both she and Li Chongyu had just narrowly escaped death.
At this moment, she had no way of knowing whether Mo Yi Bi Shuang was an enemy or a friend.
But they eventually returned safely.
After a slight hesitation, Li Lanxiu finally turned around, clasped his hands in a deep bow, and said, "Thank you, Madam!"
Then she said in a more concise tone, "Although I don't know why Madam stopped at the last minute, she still saved the young marquis's life, which is tantamount to indirectly saving the Southern Dynasty."
If Li Chongyu were to encounter trouble in Jianzhang Palace, would his father, Marquis Li Mingyuan, still be willing to form an alliance with the Great Huan, thus creating a change in the situation?
Without Li Mingyuan's assistance, the Great Huan would have absolutely no chance of winning the upcoming battle to cross the river.
Li Lanxiu was only a deputy general, and unless Mo Yi Bishuang asked her directly, she had no right to speak in front of Mo Yi Bishuang.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Mo Yi Bi Shuang never glanced at her or uttered a single formal word to her. Whenever she spoke, it was mostly in support of the young Marquis Li Chong Yu, rather than the guard commander Li Lan Xiu. This demonstrated that despite their young age, their social status was still distinct.
Li Lanxiu had no intention of offending or trying to curry favor, but at this moment he felt something and no longer cared about social status, so he took the initiative to greet Mo Yi Bishuang.
Mo Yi Bi Shuang seemed slightly taken aback, and then a bitter smile appeared on her face behind the veil.
She said softly, "What has the child done wrong?"
"What wrong has the child done?"
When those four words came out of Mo Yi Bi Shuang's mouth, Li Lan Xiu realized that her gaze was not directed at Li Chong Yu, who had already entered the hall.
Instead, scattered among the farmland along the moat were a few farmers and peasant women. Some of the peasant women carried infants on their backs, while others had strips of cloth tied around their chests, working freely in the fields, sweating profusely.
If they win the battle to cross the river, when the wheat in this field turns golden this year, they will still be the ones to harvest it, bringing home a bountiful harvest and joy.
If this battle is lost, this place will be a river of blood, the wheat fields will turn into waves of blood, and the tragic scene of no roosters crowing for thousands of miles in the Central Plains will be repeated here once again.
Lady Huachi was a member of a prominent aristocratic family who had migrated south only about ten years ago, unlike the established noble families who had lived in Jianzhang for generations. Li Lanxiu was aware of this as well.
She didn't know if, at that moment, Mo Yi Bi Shuang's gaze had been fixed on a distant land, a land that had once been prosperous but was now desolate and nearly deserted.
This was the only time in her life that she had such close contact with Lady Huachi.
Later, when I heard this name again, it was already at the top of my elder sister Mu Huaying's wanted list after the establishment of Dayan.
She suddenly remembered that she had met Madam Huachi once before.
That fleeting encounter, like a dream come true.
The lady by the Jade Pool, holding a peony, gently walked past her, and with an indescribable sorrow and complex expression, whispered in her ear, "What has the child done wrong?"
In chaotic times, everyone is caught up in their own destiny, swept along by fate and their own choices.
Those who occupy positions of power leave behind the bones and blood of thousands with every step they take.
Lady Huachi must be very aware of these things.
But in that chance encounter, she met them, and out of compassion, she let them go.
They shared a similar fate with her.
The reason is so simple:
The child is innocent.
They are not only innocent, but also the hope for the future of this country.
No matter how illustrious we may have been, we will eventually grow old.
Whether it was because of that remark from his wife back then or not, Li Lanxiu later always treated and cared for every younger person she encountered with kindness and tenderness, almost instinctively. For example, Xie Tiao, who was not her son.
She always remembered that, whether mediocre or outstanding, they would all make up the future of this country.
During this time, Mo Yimingyue's crescent blade trembled slightly and rose several times, pointing at Li Lanxiu.
But in the end, he collapsed and fell.
Mo Yimingyue's gaze shifted from cold and stern to disbelief, and finally became complex and inexplicable.
Li Lanxiu said firmly but resolutely, "Your mother, no matter what choices she made or what she went through, never lost sight of her original aspirations."
Though he died nine times, he still had no regrets.
She said softly, "She would not disregard even a single human life for the sake of so-called grand ambitions. I think it's because she herself was once such a fragile life, able to survive only by relying on the kindness of others."
She continued, "So if you think that your determination to overthrow the Southern Dynasty is to inherit her legacy, then you are definitely wrong."
Mo Yimingyue's forehead veins bulged, and he could no longer answer a word.
Just then, Xie Tiao's voice suddenly rang out at the garden gate.
Who is making such a racket here?
Both Li Lanxiu and Mo Yimingyue immediately changed color.
Li Lanxiu's expression changed because she hadn't expected Xie Tiao to run out on her own at this crucial moment. At such close range, if Mo Yimingyue were to suddenly attack, protecting Xie Tiao would be difficult. And Mo Yimingyue herself was an even more dangerous figure whose movements were difficult to predict.
Mo Yimingyue, however, was unsettled, unsure whether to proceed with the original plan, caught in a internal struggle.
If Xie Tiao were assassinated as originally planned, would he become a sinner who plunged the Southern Dynasty into chaos and suffering, and would it truly be what his mother wished for?
Giving up would be tantamount to the failure of this operation, and given the current situation, Xie Tiao only needs to shout again, and he himself would have trouble even extricating himself. Not to mention the Four Constellations of Heavenly Secrets, the two generations of Flying Phoenix Guards would make him pay, not to mention the large number of Imperial Guards.
Not to mention that his identity as Xiao Yue, the envoy of the Northern Qiang, will be completely ruined.
The palace will inevitably strengthen its security significantly thereafter, making it virtually impossible to assassinate Xie Tiao again.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he must make a decision quickly.
As A Qiu heard Xie Tiao's commotion and gradually approached, she could also hear Xiao Chang'an's voice trying to dissuade her, while Mo Yimingyue's eyes kept changing.
A Qiu immediately made up his mind, leaped out, and rushed to a few feet in front of Consort Chen and Mo Yimingyue, blocking their path. He said loudly, "Your Highness, please forgive A Qiu's offense. It was A Qiu who broke into Huihe Palace at night without permission to return the Ancestral Dragon Sword."
She didn't need to turn around to hear the sound of Mo Yimingyue finally making up her mind and immediately turning around to leave the place.
The reason is simple. No matter how much he hesitated beforehand, whether he should miss this only opportunity to assassinate the crown prince, her appearance made it impossible.
Since there was no other option, escape was the best course of action.
Mo Yimingyue is capable of making this level of rational judgment.
However, A Qiu did not hear Consort Chen leave.
Before she could even think about why Consort Chen hadn't also seized the opportunity to leave, she heard Xie Tiao's surprised and delighted voice say, "Junior Sister! It really is you!"
He rushed over in a few strides and helped her up in the moonlight. He didn't even glance at the Ancestral Dragon Sword on her back, but looked her over several times from head to toe. Then he let out a long sigh and said, "I heard you were injured and chased by bad guys. I was so worried about you! Now that you seem to be alright, that's good, that's good!"
A Qiu glanced at Xiao Chang'an beside Xie Tiao, guessing that these words must have been conveyed to Xie Tiao by Xiao Chang'an. She wondered how much Xie Tiao knew about her forced departure from the palace, so she could only say tactfully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
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