These words were not empty words. The assassination groups of the Datong Guild hidden in various places in Daxia were dispatched one after another, and cut off the heads of the county magistrates and governors who had participated in the large-scale strangulations. Within two days, the death list of first-level officials reported to the empire from various places had more than 30 people.
In an instant, the scouts and pursuers sent out from all over the place withdrew one after another. Yanbei’s powerful strength made everyone feel terrified. He, Yan Xun, may not have the strength to fight against the entire Da Xia, but he definitely has the ability to destroy a province, an army, and a county, and even the ability to kill him without anyone noticing. God knows whether the empire will stand idly by like it did when the disaster is imminent. Who can guarantee that the blind fortune-teller at the door, the aunt selling pancakes at the corner of the street, the new strong man in the house, and the concubine who has just been taken in on the bed are not assassins sent by the Datong Guild to take his head?
It is better to have less trouble than more. It is good to achieve success, but compared with this, your own life is more important.
Of course Chu Qiao didn't know that the situation in the rear had changed so drastically at the moment the ship set sail. She lay quietly in the cabin, waiting for her injuries to heal, thinking hard about what kind of political disadvantages the Tang-Xia marriage would bring to Yanbei. She hoped that after the fleet entered Tangjing, they would turn south and return to Yanbei quickly by water so that she could discuss the matter with Yan Xun.
She didn't know what kind of storm was waiting for her. The prosperous and splendid thousand-year-old capital was like a huge net, slowly opening its huge mouth to trap all the forces in the world. A huge storm gradually invaded, and a warm breeze mixed with the scent of Bian Tang's pollen and rouge slowly blew from the south, making people feel numb and addicted without realizing it.
Two days later, Zhuge Yue reorganized his troops, left Xianyang City, entered Baizhi Pass, and set foot on the land of Bian Tang.
At the same time, a group of people quietly left Yanbei and quickly headed towards the southeast of Simon Continent, with horses' hooves rolling and dust flying.
The drama in the capital of Zhenhuang, which was interrupted because of Yanbei's independence, will finally be restarted and continued in the capital of Bian Tang.
As night fell, lights were lit on the ship, and from afar the entire ship was brightly lit. The cliffs on both sides are as sharp as knives, with towering steep cliffs. Occasionally, a hawk with huge wings spread out would fly away from the night sky, making a sharp and clear cry, and then fly away into the distance.
In the dark and narrow cabin, the girl's shallow breathing was right beside his ear, with only a narrow aisle between them. Liang Shaoqing tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his elbow and hit it heavily against the cabin wall with a thud.
"Are you too excited to sleep?"
The girl's voice sounded faintly beside his ear. Liang Shaoqing rubbed his elbow and said defensively, "I'm hot and can't sleep."
Chu Qiao chuckled and didn't expose him. She leaned against the head of the bed and said, "I can't sleep either, nerd. Lift the curtains. It's so stuffy here."
Hearing this, Liang Shaoqing sat up and lifted the curtain in front of the window. The moonlight outside the window was like silver, pouring in quietly, making the girl's thin cheeks look snow-white. Chu Qiao leaned out and looked outside. Her eyes were dark and her eyelashes were long, like butterfly wings. Liang Shaoqing stared at her and was stunned for a moment.
"Nerd, what are you looking at?"
Chu Qiao frowned and scolded lightly. Liang Shaoqing's face flushed immediately, and he mumbled for a long time before finally saying, "I'm thinking, thinking, thinking about where you are from."
Chu Qiao raised her eyebrows, squinted her eyes at him and said, "How long have we just met? You're asking questions about others. Are you very familiar with me?"
Liang Shaoqing was stunned for a moment, then said, "We are friends for life and death, so what's the big deal about asking where you live?"
"Well then," Chu Qiao turned over and lay back on the bed, closing her eyes and smiling faintly, "You can introduce yourself first."
"I am from Shangyu, Chaoyang County, Great Xia."
"Chaoyang Shangyu?" Chu Qiao frowned slightly and said slowly: "Your last name is Liang, so who is Liang Zhutang to you?"
Liang Shaoqing was immediately overjoyed and said, "It's my father. Why, have you heard of him?"
Chu Qiao opened her eyes, turned around, looked Liang Shaoqing up and down, frowned and asked: "Is he really your father?"
"Yes," Liang Shaoqing smiled happily when he met an old friend in a foreign land, "Why, don't you think so?"
Chu Qiao shook her head: "Not really."
Liang Shaoqing touched his head and smiled innocently: "Haha, my mother said so too."
"Your father was a smart and tactful person. He made great achievements in his post in Shangyu. The small Shangyu County is an important grain trading town in the south. The Liang family in Shangyu is also very wealthy. With his intelligence, how could he give birth to a son like you?"
"Everyone has their own specialties. It's not surprising that my father and I have different hobbies." Liang Shaoqing frowned slightly and looked over in confusion: "How do you know so much about my father? Xiao Qiao, who are you? Where are you from? Why are those government officials chasing you?"
Chu Qiao said calmly, "I just heard it from others and just remembered this. Although we are not close friends, you know my character. I have offended the government and have to hide my identity. During this time on the ship, I need you to help me cover up."
Chu Qiao's polite words made Liang Shaoqing feel a little overwhelmed. He patted his chest and assured, "Don't worry, I promise I won't say anything."
The night breeze blew softly, the curtain of the small window fluttered slightly up and down, the moon was as cool as water, the river was surging, and the big ship moved slowly forward on the river, swaying gently. Chu Qiao leaned on the bed, half-closed her eyes, and looked outside silently. Her nerves that had been tense for many days slowly relaxed. She had forgotten how long it had been since she had such leisure and quietness. After leaving Zhenhuang City and the huge cage, even on the road of escape, she felt that life was getting brighter and brighter. Even the wind blowing around her was warm.
"Xiao Qiao?" Liang Shaoqing called softly, "Xiao Qiao?"
"Hmm? What's up?"
"What are you singing?"
Chu Qiao was stunned: "What am I singing? Did I sing?"
"You sang it, and it sounded very nice. I've never heard anything like it before."
Her cheeks suddenly felt hot. This girl, who had never changed her expression even when she was on the battlefield, was caught humming unconsciously. She was a little shy and said softly, "It's a tune from my hometown."
Liang Shaoqing happily raised his upper body, lay on the bed, and said with a smile: "Can you sing another song for me?"
Chu Qiao shook her head and declined, "I don't sing well."
"It sounds nice," Liang Shaoqing continued stubbornly, "Why don't you just sing a song?"
"It's all slang, you won't like it."
"How do you know I don't like it?" Liang Shaoqing frowned and came up with a unique excuse: "Just consider it as your apology to me. You caused me to lose my luggage and clothes, and now I'm being captured and used as a slave. Can't you just sing a song to compensate me?"
Chu Qiao frowned: "You are such a grown man, and you can come up with such an excuse."
"Xiao Qiao, sing a song. I can't sleep anyway."
Chu Qiao took a deep breath, a little nervous, and whispered, "Then, then I sing?"
"Sing, sing." Liang Shaoqing encouraged her quickly.
Chu Qiao opened her mouth several times, but still couldn't sing. She frowned in frustration: "I haven't sung for more than ten years."
Liang Shaoqing curled his lips: "More than ten years, how old are you this year?"
Chu Qiao knew she had said something wrong and became angry: "Are you going to listen or not?"
"Listen, isn't this waiting for you?"
"Then I'll sing." The girl cleared her throat, and then her hoarse voice slowly sounded, as gentle as mulberry leaves in autumn, sounding softly in the silent night.
“I know, I always knew, you were there.
In the darkness of the lights, in the silence of all things, on the high cliff coast where the waves are splashing.
We said we would walk hand in hand in the dark together.
Providing us with sunshine amidst the contempt and contempt of the whole world.
There are white pigeons and horses grazing on green grasslands.
There are mountains, rivers, lakes, seas, and high blue skies.
The sunlight there is never blinding.
The night there is full of stars.
I know, I always knew, you were there.
On the top of the green mountains, on the green grass fields, you are waiting for me to come back to you.
You once said that I should be brave and open my eyes.
Look ahead, the sun is rising and the sky is bright.
I know the future is full of twists and turns.
I understand that there will be constant hardships in the future.
No matter how strong the wind and rain are, I am never afraid to close my eyes.
Because I know you are over there.
As night fell, a light breeze blew through the cabin. Chu Qiao's voice was like warm spring water, slowly washing the cold cabin. Liang Shaoqing didn't speak for a long time. The young man opened his eyes wide in the darkness and looked over here, thinking quietly, without saying a word for a long time.
Outside the window, there was the sound of wheels rolling across the deck, creaking. Chu Qiao looked out, but saw only a white shadow flash by at the corner of the cabin.
The night falls, covering the whole area, the river flows slowly, and all sounds are silent.
The doctor of the Zhan family was indeed very skilled. Within three days, Chu Qiao's wound had healed. The old doctor had applied medicine and felt her pulse, so he naturally knew that she was a girl. The old man was very considerate and did not say it out loud. He also secretly gave her a bottle of skin-growing and scar-removing ointment and carefully instructed her how to use it.
That day, when the ship arrived at Meicheng Wharf, it was not completely dark yet. The boatmen all got off the boat to rest. Many local officials gathered on both sides of the river, apparently to welcome the Zhan family's fleet. There were crowds of people and it was very lively. Chu Qiao looked out the window for a while before slowly frowning. Liang Shaoqing knelt on the bed and asked in confusion, "Xiao Qiao, what's wrong?"
Chu Qiao stretched out her hand, pointed at the crowd in front, and said, "Look, the people who came here are either minor officials below the eighth rank or the staff and advisors of various families. Meicheng is an important port for water transport, how could it not even send a decent delegation? It seems that the background of our new master is not very optimistic. At the very least, it is far from the point where he can take hundreds of servants with him when he travels casually."