The sun broke through the morning mist and gradually rose. Country peddlers and market goers kept passing by, shouting long tunes and selling all kinds of cute little items.
Gradually, the sun rose to the middle of the sky, and groups of people passed by, including the carriages of young ladies from official families who went out to pray to the gods, bodyguards traveling around the world, and the white-clothed knights often seen in martial arts novels. Seeing her standing in the pavilion, some people even came up to say hello.
But she could not see anything. She just stood there quietly, as the surroundings became increasingly noisy and increasingly deserted. The sun rises and sets, and the cold moon is like a silver hook, just like a mother's kind face.
The world was desolate and empty, with only her left. Her hands and feet were numb, the sky was getting darker and darker, and she could not see anything. There was only a pool of clear light attached to the wormwood, and everything was pale. All traces of the way home and the way forward disappeared.
She took a deep breath, lowered her head, and shook her stiff neck. All the hardship in her heart turned into a sigh, but she did not utter it out loud. She just swallowed it deeply in her heart.
The breeze blew across the wilderness, and the grass waves made a rustling sound. Her heart was so empty, and many past events flashed through her mind. Everything was far away from her, leaving only a white field. In the past ten years, life and death are in vain. Everything is hazy and bleak, like the wind passing through your fingertips, you can't catch it, and it's all in vain.
Turning around, she grabbed the reins.
The horse leaned over docilely, gently brushed Chu Qiao's cheek, and looked at her with concern and pity.
“Hehe.” Chu Qiao felt a little itchy. This was Meteor, who had been raised by Zhuge Yue for many years. Now that he had been returned to her, he was still as close to her as ever. She reached out to push it, her voice still a little hoarse, and whispered: "Meteor, stop it."
However, as he reached out his hand, the back of his hand accidentally brushed against his face, which was actually hurt by the wind and had tear marks all over it.
She was suddenly stunned and turned to look at the meteor. The horse turned hard to the north and snorted at her, as if it wanted to take her to chase someone.
"Good shooting star." She stroked its head tenderly, her face against its neck. The horse is already old, just like her heart, full of holes and scars.
"Let's go." She stood up, pulled the horse, and walked silently towards the south.
The moon shone on her, casting a long shadow on the pale ground.
The jackdaws that were sleeping at night were startled and flew across the post road with fluttering wings. The figure of the girl gradually went away and finally turned into a pale shadow.
Perhaps any storm will begin in an unusually peaceful way.
It was the seventh day of the first lunar month, and the New Year had just passed, but the entire Zhenhuang City was still immersed in joy and laughter. A heavy snow covered the city in silver. Under the frozen ground, a group of soldiers and horses quickly rushed into the city gate. The heavily guarded city guards saluted the team from a distance until the horses' hooves disappeared at the end of the long street.
Zhuge Yue entered the mansion through the back door, and all those who came to inquire about the news were turned away. The servants of Qingshan Court had made preparations many days in advance. Zhuge Yue walked into the courtyard without changing his expression, tore off the fur coat from his back and threw it into Huan'er's hands, and said in a deep voice, "Where is the person?"
"Inside, I have been waiting for the young master for a long time."
The door was pushed open, and the scent of fine sandalwood wafted out. A man in a black robe stood tall, with a handsome face, tough features, and eyes like sharp swords. His power was restrained, yet he was graceful.
The two men's eyes met and they paused slightly. A faint smile suddenly appeared on Zhuge Yue's usually cold and indifferent mouth. He took a step forward, and the two of them patted each other's shoulders, so hard, and then, there was a manly hug.
“Did you have a smooth journey?” Zhuge Yue took off the sword from his waist, sat on the chair, took a sip from the man’s teacup, and asked.
Zhao Che smiled. Years of experience at the border and the ups and downs of life had made him look unrestrained and carefree, with a calm temperament and deep eyes. He was no longer the arrogant and domineering prince of the empire.
"It's OK, but I'm not used to the smell of powder in Zhenhuang. I sneezed several times when I passed by Shihuafang just now."
Zhuge Yue sneered and said, “That’s just what I heard. If it were someone else, I’d probably give you a good beating.”
Zhao Che snatched back his teacup, squinted his eyes at him, and said calmly: "You can still talk and laugh so calmly at this time. It seems that you really don't take Yan Bei's tricks to heart."
Zhuge Yue raised his eyebrows slightly, "Do you also think that's the one causing trouble over there?"
"Obviously."
Zhao Che sneered, "During the first Northern Expedition, Huai Song secretly supported Yanbei with food and military supplies, using Bian Tang's southern border waterway to take a detour from the northwest; during the second Northern Expedition, Huai Song repeatedly cooperated with Yanbei to conduct military exercises in the east of our country to attract our attention. Yanbei and Huai Song definitely have a secret connection that is unknown to the public, but I don't know who could convince Princess Nalan to come forward and cooperate with Yanbei in this double act."
“It’s not necessary to know who they are. As long as we know their true intentions, it will be easy to deal with.” Zhuge Yue said calmly, as if he didn’t want to waste time on this topic. He turned around and asked, “What’s the situation in the Northeast? How are your preparations going?”
Speaking of the situation in the Northeast, Zhao Che's face showed a bit of pride involuntarily. He said sternly: "You don't have to worry. The Northeast is now under my jurisdiction. The Roulan trade road has been opened. The Western Regions of Hu and Russia are fertile and have countless good farmland. The people are simple and have a strong folk character. We have been secretly building for two years. Now a large area of Donghu land is under my command. With your commercial support, it has begun to prosper. I believe that in another three to five years, the Donghu area will be no less prosperous than our Great Xia mainland."
"You secretly relocated the people. Didn't the higher-ups notice?"
"Thanks to Wei Shuye, he has been negotiating for me in the court. In addition, Donghu is too far away, and there is Baicang Mountain as a barrier. The people there are originally mixed races, so they have never attracted the attention of the higher-ups."
Zhuge Yue nodded and said in a deep voice, “That’s good.”
Zhao Che sighed, patted his shoulder, and his eyes were full of vicissitudes. He smiled and said, "You have done your best for Donghu. If you have time, you might as well go and take a look. You and Arou haven't seen each other for a long time."
The charcoal fire crackled, and the room was filled with warmth. Time flowed like running water, and two years passed quickly. The two people who once had nothing and were looked down upon by the world gathered here again, and they couldn't help but feel that life was like a dream.
When Zhao Yang's Northern Expedition failed and Zhao Qi died tragically, Zhuge Yue and Zhao Che resolutely rushed to the battlefield when the imperial army was in decline, and led the defeated remnants all the way to Yanming Pass to launch the second Northern Expedition counterattack.
In a year, they went from being political enemies who disliked each other and schemed against each other all the time to becoming close allies and comrades-in-arms. One bloody battle after another forged a friendship between the men as strong as steel, and ultimately forged the strongest alliance of interests on the Simon continent. The two people who had experienced many ups and downs in their careers easily reached a consensus. From the initial testing, speculation, and caution, they gradually evolved to surprise, appreciation, and trust. In the meantime, they had gone through too many bloody storms and experienced too many life and death experiences.
It was not until Zhuge Yue was defeated and fled to Yuegong, his life or death unknown, and Zhao Che was stripped of his military power and taken back to Zhenhuang, that they temporarily lost contact.
After returning to Zhenhuang, Zhao Che did not immediately clear his relationship with Zhuge Yue. Instead, he led his own troops to conduct a carpet search and rescue operation in Yanbei, and tried his best to clear his name and restore his reputation in the court and the public.
However, all this eventually angered the civil and military officials in the court. With the entire court and the public unanimously condemning Zhao Che to be punished for his misfortune, Zhao Che was also tragically affected and was exiled to the cold and barren land in the northeast to guard the border.
The fleeting warmth and coldness of human nature once again made Zhao Che see clearly the dirty face hidden behind the corrupt dynasty of Daxia. His parents and brothers all wanted to abandon and kill him. He set out on his journey in despair, but when he was about to reach his destination, he met Zhuge Yue who had come all the way to catch up with him.
Two noble sons who equally lost everything, in the midst of ice and snow with the north wind howling, vowed to save the country in a roundabout way.
As a result, they actively ran around in unnoticed corners, one in the north and one in the west, supporting each other and fighting for the passion for their homeland in their bones. Zhao Che knew, however, that the reason why Zhuge Yue had always supported Daxia and helped Daxia overcome difficulties in the battles between Yanbei and Daxia was mainly because of his kindness to him.
He is a person who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Even if he receives a small favor from others, he will remember it in his heart.
"How is the emperor's illness?"
Zhao Che couldn't help but raise his eyebrow slightly, and said lightly: "He is seriously ill, I don't think he will last long."
Zhuge Yue frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "We still need some time."
Zhao Che nodded, then chuckled and said, "But it's hard to say. Many years ago, the imperial physician said that he was terminally ill and didn't have much time left, but after all these years, he still lived longer than anyone else. A king of ten thousand chariots will not die so easily."
Zhuge Yue turned around, frowned and said, “He is your father after all.”
"Forget it. I'm afraid he and I are only father and son in name only, and the relationship between king and subject is just that. If it weren't for Wei Shuye's plea, I might not even have the chance to be exiled, but would have been beheaded directly on the Jiuyou Terrace. Everyone knows it well, and pretending to be worried is really disgusting."
Two years of fighting in the frontier regions had made Zhao Che more upright as a soldier. He looked at Zhuge Yue and said in a deep voice, “What about you? How are you going to deal with this matter?”
Zhuge Yue raised his eyes to look at him, "What do you think?"
"If you ask me, you might as well just agree to Princess Huai Song and see how they react. Didn't they expect you to refuse the marriage? It just doesn't go as they wish."
Zhuge Yue frowned slightly. This was indeed the best way to deal with all kinds of changes with the same attitude. However, he smiled slightly with a calm expression, but did not respond.
"As the saying goes, heroes are short-tempered, while young men are long-lasting in love. I'm afraid this is what is meant by you. At this point, are you still not giving up?"
Zhuge Yue avoided answering and said, “It’s not the only way. Since they want to play, I will play with them. This will attract their attention and create an opportunity for you.”
Zhao Che said in a deep voice: "They are coming with such force this time, do you have any loopholes to exploit?"
“No loophole?” Zhuge Yue raised the corner of his mouth and laughed coldly, “Then tear open a loophole.”
Zhao Che nodded, and stood up with a whoosh. He held the hilt of the sword, and his dark robe carried great pressure and majesty. He spoke slowly in a low voice: "The conspiracy and intrigue are meaningless. In the end, it is still the sword that speaks. Fourth brother, we are not the same as before. If something cannot be done, there is no need to be patient. Show your strength, and no one will dare to force you."
Zhuge Yue smiled and said, “You make me sound like a weak woman being forced. I appreciate your kindness. You have to be careful about where you go as you enter the city without thinking about anything.”
Zhao Che said: "I have to come to see you anyway."