Never admitted
Chu Huaiming raised his head and said with some difficulty, "General Chongyu is indeed the son of General Li Mingyuan, but his mother is the leader of the Yinyue Clan, Su Rouhua."
Gu Yi's face had turned ashen.
No matter how brilliant his plans were, he would never have considered Li Mingyuan's family affairs, and he never expected this turn of events.
Xiao Chang'an, who was always carefree and irresponsible, changed his expression at this moment.
Because it was he, representing Gu Yi, who persuaded Li Chongyu to lay down his heavy troops and only bring his personal guards to cross the river for the imperial audience. For this, he even agreed to the condition that Li Chongyu would use underworld methods to obtain Pei Yuanli's head as a gift.
If Li Chongyu was not a Han Chinese at all, this move was tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house and destroying one's own Great Wall.
However, A Qiu recalled Su Rouhua's answer to the Emperor's question: Why did the Hidden Moon Clan Chief, who was always open-minded about relationships and only used people without any real feelings, refuse to let Li Mingyuan go?
She replied quietly, "Of course, it's because he's different."
Now A-Qiu finally understands just how different Li Mingyuan can be to her.
As the most powerful clan leader and holy maiden of the Hidden Moon Clan, she insisted on giving birth to Li Chongyu, a son of Li Mingyuan, who was a Han Chinese, even after Li Mingyuan repeatedly refused her.
Gu Yi always respected other people's privacy, but at this moment he had to ask, "Why did General Li and Madam Yao make this decision?"
Even if Li Chongyu is Li Mingyuan's son, they can simply take him home and raise him. The Shuofang Army, numbering over 100,000, doesn't care about having one more mixed-race soldier.
However, Li Mingyuan and his wife, Lady Yao, made the decision to let Li Chongyu inherit the title of Marquis of Guannei as the eldest son, which was tantamount to handing over half of the Central Plains to unpredictable variables.
Chu Huaiming had never spoken of his general's private affairs to outsiders in this way, but now he had to answer: "Because Madam Yao has never had a child. She is worried about the future of the Li family line and the Shuofang Army. General Li, on the other hand, is worried that if he dies on the battlefield one day, there will be no one to leave him behind, and his wife will even have to return to her parents' home to seek the protection of her children and nephews in order to live out her days in peace."
Upon hearing this, both Gu Yi and Xiao Chang'an understood.
Li Mingyuan and Madam Yao had no choice but to do this. On the one hand, it was for the sake of the Li family line and the couple's old age; on the other hand, it was also for the future of the Shuofang Army.
If no one succeeds Li Mingyuan after his death, the Shuofang Army will inevitably fall apart.
Having a son with Li Mingyuan's bloodline is better than having none.
A Qiu was recalling the conversation between Su Rouhua and Princess Wansui in the stone hall. At this moment, she suddenly interjected, "But from what Su Rouhua said, if necessary, she wouldn't mind if Wansui killed Li Chongyu. Therefore, from beginning to end, we never thought that Li Chongyu was her biological son."
Although she herself did not have a mother, she found it hard to imagine a mother talking about her son in such an indifferent tone.
Chu Huaiming said in a deep voice, "That is indeed the truth. The reason I am willing to speak frankly with you all is that I hope you will not have any misunderstandings about General Chongyu. General Chongyu grew up among the Xianbei people until he was seven years old. After he turned seven, my mother took him to live with Madam Yao and raised him as her own son. From beginning to end, Su Rouhua never once visited him, and he always understood what kind of person Su Rouhua, the leader of the Yinyue Clan, was."
He said decisively, "In short, the Marquis of Guannei is indeed the son of the Hu woman, but in his heart, he has probably never admitted this fact. Now that things have come to this, he is even less likely to admit it."
A-Qiu asked, "Why?"
Chu Huaiming's expression once again overflowed with uncontrollable sorrow.
"Because of my mother's death."
He covered his face with his hand and said, "My mother was the person he was closest to and trusted most besides Madam Yao. Before I was born, my mother helped Madam Yao raise the Marquis of Guannei until my birth when my mother was too busy to help anymore. He always called my mother Aunt Miao."
Ah Qiu felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
Therefore, it is no wonder that when Consort Chen wrote a letter requesting the return of Hu Miaorong, a former dancer of the Southern Dynasty, Li Chongyu immediately dispatched a vanguard battalion of three thousand men, and also sent Hu Miaorong's husband and son to join the army.
It was to test the Southern Dynasty's attitude, but it was also to protect Hu Miaorong.
Consort Chen, as one of the former Flying Phoenix Four Guards, known as "Golden Goblet Moonfall," wielded the Xiuyi Sword, which was famous throughout the land. With her vouching for her and personally making the request, there shouldn't have been any problems.
However, Hu Miaorong still perished in Jianzhang Palace, and was killed by the "Qianji San" poison of the Southern Dynasties.
If it weren't for A Qiu and Gu Yi being present at the time, leaving words in Chu Huaiming's mind to remind him, and Gongye Fusu delaying to reveal that it was the poison "Qianji San", the Shuofang army in the capital would probably have already mutinied by now.
After a long pause, A Qiu said with difficulty, "Young General, you must not take such risks again. The knife technique you used to assassinate Su Rouhua this time has probably exposed your identity. If Su Rouhua eliminates you and your father before the Marquis of Guannei arrives in the capital, the court will find it difficult to clear your name of the crime of killing you."
Before Chu Huaiming could answer, Gu Yi said decisively, "If the young general can live to stand before the Marquis of Guannei and testify for us, and expose Su Rouhua's conspiracy, he will have already made a great contribution to the Southern Dynasty."
Chu Huaiming said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, I won't be stupid enough to throw my life away. This time, I only attacked because I saw that Miss A Qiu was very skilled and I thought there was an opportunity. I originally wanted to take advantage of her, but I didn't expect that Su Rouhua's martial arts were so amazing."
The three were talking in the boat when they suddenly felt the boat shake violently and stop moving forward, coming to an abrupt halt.
Xiao Chang'an's clear voice had already risen and traveled far.
"Xiao Chang'an, the 'Azure Hawk' of the Eastern Palace Flying Phoenix Guard, is on official business. May I ask which of the city's flood control officers you are questioning here?"
A Qiu immediately realized that boating in the moat at the crack of dawn would surely alert the inner city's naval defenses. Because whether it was a passenger boat or a cargo ship, those that set out from outside the city early in the morning would never be returning from outside to inside.
An unexpected, melodious yet slightly menacing female voice calmly replied: "Greetings, Lord Xiao. Pei Yu, 'Sword Falcon' of the Flying Phoenix Guard, is on night patrol here. I did not mean to disturb your business, sir."
When A Qiu and Chu Huaiming heard that the person in charge of the naval patrol on the inner city moat at night was Pei Yuanli's daughter, Pei Yu, who was now a member of the Flying Phoenix Guard along with Xiao Chang'an, they both changed color.
Neither of them had a good impression of Pei Yu. A Qiu had been nearly forced to drink poison by her mother, Madam Pei, in the imperial prison; Chu Huaiming, on the other hand, had seen Pei Yu obstruct and harass them when the Shuofang army entered Jianzhang City.
A Qiu even immediately realized that the Flying Phoenix Guards seemed to be taking turns overseeing the city's defenses. The last time she was besieged by the Thirteen Shadows outside the West Market, she happened to encounter "White Feather" Shangguan Yuqi, who saved her life. If she had encountered Pei Yu, she would have been lucky not to be killed, and would definitely have tried to investigate her background with the Lanling Hall afterwards.
Then Xiao Chang'an laughed and said, "So it's Miss Pei, what a coincidence. Since we're all so familiar with each other, can you let me pass?"
They were considered close because they were both members of the Flying Phoenix Guard and served in the Eastern Palace, making them very close colleagues. However, in reality, Xiao Chang'an and Pei Yu's familiarity was limited to a brief encounter at the Eastern Palace on the day of their investiture. Afterward, Xiao Chang'an was taken by Gu Yi to Jianzhang Palace to cross the river and persuade Li Chongyu, and only returned to the capital tonight.
Pei Yu's voice rang out unhurriedly: "Lord Xiao, your ship has a very heavy draft. I'm afraid there's more than just you on board."
If it were anyone else, they would be colleagues, and the Flying Phoenix Guards are royal confidants; no matter what Xiao Chang'an brought, there would be no need for further investigation. But Pei Yu, being in the capital, didn't need to give face to anyone. She herself was a member of the Flying Phoenix Guard, and could investigate whatever she wanted.
Xiao Chang'an's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes deepened as he said, "Chang'an went out of the city on behalf of the Junior Tutor, and everyone knows that. Shouldn't you report to Miss Pei first, instead of informing the Junior Tutor and the Emperor, after accomplishing something or bringing anything back?"
Upon hearing this, A Qiu seemed to suddenly realize another side of Xiao Chang'an. It turned out that he only addressed his own sister as "sister" and had always been very easy to talk to and always smiling when he was in the troupe of dancers.
She assumed he was always so kind and gentle to all the young men and beautiful women, but now she realized that wasn't the case.
His subtle defiance surprised even Pei Yu, who was used to being arrogant. However, Pei Yu's stubbornness stemmed from the fact that no one dared to go against her wishes in her father's military camp.
She had only noticed that the boat was overloaded, which meant it must be carrying people or cargo. Xiao Chang'an was alone, yet he was returning with such a large load, which seemed suspicious. Therefore, she questioned him as usual.
If Xiao Chang'an doesn't want to talk about it, that's perfectly reasonable. The Flying Phoenix Guards never report their actions to another Flying Phoenix Guard.
Although Pei Yu was arrogant, he was not confused. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Let them pass."
It seems that although Xiao Chang'an's defiance surprised her, it did not particularly arouse any desire for revenge in her.
But A Qiu thought that it might be because Xiao Chang'an was a handsome young man. Although he did not give an inch when speaking, his signature smiling expression would not disappear. Even in a heated debate, his carefree attitude would not be diminished in the slightest.
Sure enough, the small boat started moving again, but it had only moved about ten feet when Pei Yu's voice came to stop it.
"Xiao Chang'an!"
Xiao Chang'an poled the boat to a stop, remaining vigilant while asking with a smile, "Is there anything else, Miss Pei?"
Suddenly the boat swayed, as if the weight had increased.
Before A Qiu and the others knew what had happened, they heard Pei Yu's voice coming from the stern of the boat.
"You were also ordered by the Junior Tutor to enter the palace and reach the Pear Garden of the Music Bureau before tomorrow morning, weren't you?"
Gu Yi frowned slightly. What he saw was that Pei Yu had actually jumped onto the small boat.
Xiao Chang'an, being both courteous and wary, replied, "That's exactly right." Pei Yu had boarded his boat, and he wished he could send her off. His eyes were fixed on her, afraid she would lift the curtain and enter the cabin, yet he dared not make any rash moves that might arouse her suspicion.
Pei Yu said loudly, "This is my last inspection before dawn. You can take me to the palace along the way, which is perfect."
Xiao Chang'an was immediately at his wit's end and exclaimed, "You want to join the Music Bureau too?"
Pei Yu rarely saw him lose his composure, and his voice was even a little playful: "Why can't I? This order from the Grand Tutor means that all four of us from the Four Guards must go." Then a sound was heard from the stern of the boat, indicating that Pei Yu had calmly half-reclined on the gunwale to watch the Milky Way set in the west.
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