Qin Xuan stared at the butcher knife held high, his eyes wide open to the extreme. Only at this moment did he really believe that he was going to die.
In this brief moment, his eyes flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern, and he began to mutter as if possessed: "It shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be like this..."
Since he was a child, his father and mother have been very kind to him.
When my father mentioned my eldest brother, he always shook his head and often said that he was more like him than my eldest brother. My father also had high hopes for him. Not only did he personally teach him martial arts, he also invited famous teachers to teach him.
In order not to disappoint his father, he worked so hard, getting up at the crowing of the cock and usually not going to bed until midnight. Over the years, he tried his best to become the second son of the Nanyang Palace who was known by everyone as a talented man in both civil and military affairs.
He wanted to be his father's pride, and he wanted his father to see that he was far better than his older brother.
He thought he had a chance to replace his elder brother and become the crown prince, until the end of last year, when he heard his father mention his elder brother and said he would submit a petition to allow his elder brother to return to Nanyang.
At that moment, he felt as if a bucket of cold water was poured over his head, and his whole body went cold.
He suddenly understood that his father had never considered passing the throne to him.
The eldest brother is the eldest son and is destined to be nobler than him. No matter how outstanding he is or how hard he works, it is useless. The throne of King of Nanyang will never belong to him!
It turns out that in his father's eyes, there has only been one son, Qin Yao.
He is unwilling to accept this, he is unwilling to accept this!
Even so, he had no intention of attacking his father.
However, his father happened to discover his collusion with Lin State.
His father severely punished him, dismissed him from his military post, and told him that he would never have to go to the barracks again.
He knelt down and admitted his mistake to his father. He cried bitterly, but his father remained indifferent.
The father said: "I am so disappointed in you!"
These words stabbed him in the heart like a knife.
He knew that no matter how much he fought or snatched, it would be useless.
He will never have the chance to achieve anything, let alone the throne, let alone make any achievements in his official career.
He could only kill his father! And now, he had also met his death! For a moment, Qin Xuan seemed to see his father staring at him quietly in the distance, his eyes like a dark vortex, as if to suck him in...
The sword rises and falls, and the soul is cut off with one blow.
Qin Xuan didn't even have time to scream before his head fell off like a leather ball.
Fresh red blood gushed out from the broken neck, staining the executioner's knife and face red.
The surroundings became even quieter, as silent as death.
The soldiers looked at this scene with different expressions, without looking away.
Some people frowned, some sighed in their hearts, some couldn't bear to look at it, and more people felt that he deserved it.
In any case, Qin Xuan's death also means that the matter has come to an end.
Mu Lin, General Cheng and others all felt relieved. Now that Qin Xuan was dead, the matter of his collusion with Lin Guo was over.
After a while, the square gradually became noisy again.
Qin Yao gave an order, and the soldiers dispersed in twos and threes. One young general walked back to the central tent to report to Gu Jue: "Your Majesty, the second son of Qin has been executed."
Gu Jue did not go to watch the execution. To him, Qin Xuan was insignificant.
This is Qin Yao’s business!
Gu Jue waved his hand casually, and the young general retreated respectfully.
Seeing that it was almost time, Gu Jue took out a small blue and white porcelain bottle from his sleeve pocket and swallowed a pill with warm tea.
Gu Jue was nonchalantly playing with a crescent-shaped sachet. The bright green lotus-colored material made his fingers look as white as jade.
Chu Qianchen gave him this sachet along with some pills before he left, saying that wearing it every day would help calm the mind and help with sleep.
Gu Jue lowered his eyes and looked at the orchid embroidered on the sachet. A familiar fragrance wafted into his nose, like the fragrance of orchids falling in the snow.
A bright face appeared in his mind.
She had an oval face the size of a palm, and bright phoenix eyes with upturned corners. When she looked at herself, her eyebrows were always curved, and her dark pupils were like the most dazzling gems, shining brightly.
Cool as the moon, elegant yet cunning.
I don't know what she is doing now...
Gu Jue smiled slightly, and his handsome features took on a softer hue, warm and gentle.
Time slowly passed in silence, and the sounds outside the tent seemed to come from near and far, as if they came from another world.
About an hour later, the curtain of the tent was lifted again.
This time, the person who came in was Qin Yao.
The servant pushed Qin Yao's wheelchair in. Qin Yao's usually cynical face now looked a little solemn.
Gu Jue raised his eyebrows, clenched his right hand, and put the crescent-shaped sachet into his sleeve pocket. He asked, "What happened?"
Qin Yao said in a deep voice: "Brother Jiu, I just received a military report that 5,000 Lin people have attacked the border."
After a pause, Qin Yao explained the whole story in an orderly manner.
Just now they had found some letters from Qin Xuan's study that showed he was collaborating with the enemy Lin State. In the letters, Qin Xuan agreed to cede Xizhi County to Lin State.
Originally, Qin Xuan's plan was to take advantage of the fact that the King of Nanyang had just died and the morale of the army was uncertain. When the Lin State army attacked, he would deliberately retreat and let the Lin State naturally obtain Xizhi County.
As he spoke, Qin Yao's eyes became deep, "Now Lin Guo probably doesn't know that Qin Xuan is dead..." So, they invaded according to the predetermined plan.
"According to the news, there are another 5,000 Lin Guo troops heading to the border. Brother Jiu, they have big ambitions this time."
The people of Lin have always been ambitious and have been coveting the Great Qi. Obviously, given the number of troops they have sent, their ambitions are definitely not limited to Xizhi County.
The servant spread a sheepskin map on the general's desk.
The State of Lin was also on this map. It was located in the northwest of the Great Qi. It had been established for only over fifty years, and its territory was only the size of two states of the Great Qi.
Gu Jue pointed to several places on the map with his slender fingers. "The Lin people want to advance eastward from Xizhi County and take over Huajing County and Chenxi County in one fell swoop."
Qin Yao nodded. He thought so too. He said, "The 5,000 troops of Lin State have already reached Shazhi Mountain. The army travels 300 miles a day. In another day, they will reach Xizhi County."
The Lin people are cunning and greedy. From the very beginning, they were not just after the Xizhi County. Qin Xuan is trying to get the skin of a tiger!
The two exchanged a meaningful look.
Now the people of Lin still don’t know that Qin Xuan is dead. This is an advantage for Da Qi.
They could just take advantage of the situation and take down the Lin people.
Gu Jue made a prompt decision and said, "I will lead the troops to Xizhi County immediately, and you stay here to guard the rear."
Qin Yao stroked his chin. On the one hand, he felt sympathy for Lin Guoren for meeting Gu Jue, but on the other hand, he felt a little regretful. He said, "Brother Jiu, how about I go with you?"
It would be too boring to let him wait for news in Nanyang.
Gu Jue didn't say anything, just smiled slightly.
Mo Chen gave him a cold look, almost saying, "With your broken leg, do you still want to fly?"
Qin Yao raised his hand and touched his nose, feeling that Mo Chen was too disrespectful to him.
In fact, he also knew that Gu Jue's arrangement was the most appropriate.
During this period, the Nanyang Army had been in a state of being leaderless. The emperor's body was still cold, and Qin Xuan had just been executed, so the army was unstable. And he had been away from Nanyang for many years. To be honest, how many people in the Nanyang Army were truly loyal to him?
The Lin people came with such force that he had no time to stabilize the morale of the troops.
But Gu Jue was different! "Brother Jiu, when do you plan to leave?" Qin Yao asked, implying that he agreed with Gu Jue's proposal.
Gu Jue said: "An hour later."
So, an hour later, three thousand armored soldiers of the Nanyang Army and the elite Beidi Army brought by Gu Jue were on standby in the square, forming a black mass.
Each of these soldiers stood tall and straight, with swords and spears at hand. Their bright eyes were looking at the platform in front of them, at Gu Jue and Qin Yao on the platform.
Qin Xuan's body had been cleaned up long ago, but there seemed to be a faint smell of blood lingering in the air, reminding everyone what had happened here before.
"Greetings, His Majesty!" All the soldiers knelt on one knee at the same time, saluted Qin Yao with their fists clasped, and shouted in unison.
Thousands of people all stood a head shorter, and their shouts were so uniform that they seemed to come from the same person, rumbling like thunder.
Most people were immersed in the aftermath of the Second Young Master's patricide, and their hearts were still somewhat agitated.
It was only less than half a day, but earth-shaking changes had taken place in the camp. It seemed short, yet very long. So much had happened...
Finally, good times have come after bad times have been overcome, and the prince has finally been vindicated! Qin Yao, sitting in a wheelchair, looked around at the soldiers below, raised his hand with a smile, and said loudly: "Everyone, get up!"
"Thank you, my Lord!"
The voices of the soldiers rang out again in unison, and they stood up.
秦曜环视下方的众将，拔高嗓门道：“众位将士，我秦家自先祖起便与戎马为伴，追随太祖皇帝驰骋疆场，才有了南阳王府，有了现在的南阳军！”
“蔺国人对我大齐一直野心勃勃，现有五千蔺国骑兵突袭我西北边境，来势汹汹。为保西北百姓安危，我们南阳军责无旁贷！”
“犯我西北边境者，必诛之！”
沐浴在阳光下的紫袍青年意气风发，虽然坐在轮椅上，却毫无一丝病弱的气质，反而是那么张扬，那么狂傲，那么自信。
随着秦曜的一句句，下方的将士们受到了感染，心中激荡起伏，脸上全都是一副义愤填膺的样子。
“蔺国人已进入我西北境内，局势危急，刻不容缓，各位将士且听本世子号令！”秦曜接着道，手里高举他的世子令牌。
那代表南阳王世子的金色令牌在阳光下闪闪发光。
“在！”众将士齐齐地应和道。
这一喊气势凌人，喊声震天，整片营地之中，锐气四射，杀气腾腾。
穆凛等老将看着这一幕，也是心有感慨：从前世子在京城，他们也听闻了一些关于世子的传言，只以为世子是个纨绔子弟，此刻才明白，他们看轻了这个世子。
几个老将长长地吐出一口气，心头酣畅淋漓，目光灼灼地看着秦曜。这次南阳虽然经历大变，但是只要世子还在，只要世子能撑得起南阳，那么南阳王府势必能浴火重生。
这五千蔺国军虽来势汹汹，只要他们南阳军应对及时，不仅可以将敌军驱逐境内，更可趁此震慑西北其他小国，免得他们以为南阳王死了，他们西北就无人了！ 在场所有的南阳军将士，无论是穆凛、程老将军等老将，还是下方的数千将士都认为世子现在腿伤未愈，势必只能坐镇后方，这一次恐怕会让穆凛等老将为主将，披挂上阵。
不想，却听秦曜接着宣布道：“大军于今日即刻出发，由宸王殿下亲率南阳军出征！”
由宸王殿下亲率南阳军出征？！ 这句话令得周围的空气似乎都微微震动了一下。
直到此刻，站在下方的这些普通将士才知道原来前方这个站在秦曜身侧、俨然与他并肩的陌生青年竟然是鼎鼎大名的宸王顾玦。
程老将军等几个老将简直不敢相信自己的耳朵，世子爷竟然要把南阳军的一部分兵权交到宸王手中，世子爷的心未免也太大了吧！ 老将们神情各异，有人觉得世子如此太过轻率，不妥；有人觉得宸王确实是一个比穆凛更合适的人选；有人还在揣测世子与宸王之间到底是何关系……
就在这种诡异的气氛中，后方传来一阵隆隆如雷的步履声，身着玄甲的北地军将士步履整齐地朝这边而来，很快在南阳军旁边立定，静止不动。
雷声止。
广场上再次寂静无声。
6◇9◇书◇吧
从高台上望下去，下方的士兵们一半人着红甲，一半人着玄甲，泾渭分明。
望着这支训练有素的北地军，那些老将们不由想起了兵书上的一句话：疾如风，徐如林，侵掠如火，不动如山，难知如阴，动如雷震。
这是一支军纪严明、令行禁止的军队，也是一支从尸山血海里披荆斩棘走出来的精锐！
而他们已经领略过这支北地军精锐的厉害，穆凛等人在敬畏之余，不由在心里感慨：不愧是名震天下的北地军。
由北地军与南阳军一起出兵，势必可以达到事半功倍的效果，这一点毋庸置疑。
在北地军的威慑下，所有的南阳军将士都是哑口无言。
气氛凝重，似要凝固起来。
上方高台上的秦曜与顾玦似是毫无所觉。
阳光下，两人都在笑。
前者笑得意气风发，后者笑得云淡风轻。
前者形貌昳丽，气质张扬，犹如烈日炎炎；后者举止高贵雍容，风仪出众，宛如月白风清。
这两人气质迥异，却又有种莫名的和谐感。
“参见宸王殿下，千岁千千岁！”
一个老将识趣地第一个单膝跪了下去，紧接着，其他南阳军将士们也再次单膝跪拜在地，异口同声地高喊起来。
数千道喊声重迭在一起直冲云霄，之后，伴着呜咽的号角声，大军启程出营，纷纷上了马。
阵阵夹着黄沙的风中，两面旌旗招展飞舞，这数千骑兵气势汹汹地出了大营后，一路往西席卷而去，铺天盖地，那如同雾气般的尘土在大军所经之处漫天飞扬。
高台上的秦曜在原地许久许久，小厮也不敢催促，他知道自家世子爷更想亲自上战场的。
小厮琢磨着是否该安慰一下主子，就见秦曜突然笑了，笑容灿如桃花，摸着下巴道：“元宝，你说我们要从蔺国那里挖些什么宝贝过来！”
“他们胆敢在老虎嘴边拔毛，怎么也得让他们出一层血是不是？”
“听说蔺国虽然位处那等鸟不拉屎的地方，不过王室有些私矿，富庶得很，应该可以出得起不少赎金吧？”
“……”元宝默然，觉得自家世子爷这贪财得未免也太明目张胆了点。
他下意识地望了望左右，心道：幸好这里没别人。
秦曜说是风，就是雨，打发元宝回去南阳王府，把那些个关于蔺国的书籍全都找来。
元宝自是领命，带着几个将士跑了一趟南阳王府，等他回来时，已经是黄昏了。
他不是一个人回来的，还带来了另一个来自京城的熟人。
来人是一个二十出头、着墨蓝衣袍的俊朗男子，瞧着风尘仆仆，显然是一路快马加鞭、餐风露宿地赶来的。
“唐御初，你怎么来了？！”秦曜微微睁大眼，没想到唐御初竟然从京城赶来了。
莫非是京城那边出了什么事？！ 这是秦曜的第一直觉。
他和顾玦离开京城前，顾玦吩咐过，一旦王府有什么事，可以赶来西北找他们。
“王爷呢？”唐御初见顾玦不在营帐中，便也随意，自己找了把椅子坐下，又给自己倒水，整个人垮在那里，坐没坐相。
他这一路简直快要累死渴死了。
瞧唐御初这副随意的样子，秦曜倒是松了口气，看来也不是什么大事，就道：“九哥带兵去边境了……”
他大致地把前因后果都说了一遍。
唐御初：“……”
这时，唐御初已经喝到了第二杯茶，差点没被茶水呛到。
他用袖口擦了擦嘴角，有些懵，用一种相当微妙的口吻问道：“王爷刚出发去边境了？”
亏他一路至少累垮了三匹千里宝马，居然就这么巧和王爷错过了？ 秦曜点头道：“出发也有快三个时辰了吧。”
秦曜对着元宝比了个手势，示意元宝去给他弄些吃食来，瞧这一路把孩子给瘦的。
在秦曜慈爱的眼神中，唐御初起了一身的鸡皮疙瘩。
唐御初在追与不追之间犹豫了一下，放弃了。
王爷都启程三个时辰了，就是他现在追，那一时半会儿也追不上了。
唐御初默默地又给自己到了一杯茶水，这时，元宝先给他上了两碟热气腾腾的包子，又说：“唐校尉稍等，伙房那边正在给您下面。”
唐御初抓着一只肉包子咬了一口，那又香又软的口感让他简直快要流泪了。
秦曜问道：“老唐，是不是王府出事了？”
唐御初眼角抽了抽，觉得自己生生被叫老了十岁。想到自己此行为何而来，他的脸色又不免有些复杂，“是有件事。”
秦曜更好奇了，再问：“老唐，你倒是说啊，别吊人胃口！”
唐御初懒得跟这不靠谱的南阳王世子计较，一口咬着包子，嘴里含糊道：“皇上刚给王爷赐了婚，说是要给王爷冲喜。程林华让我来给王爷报个信，看到底该怎么办。”
饶是秦曜自觉见了不少世面，也惊得目瞪口呆。
他嘲讽地勾了下唇角，“皇上的脸也太大了。”
皇帝以为他可以随便塞一个女人给顾玦吗？！
唐御初咽下了嘴里的食物，又拿了一个包子，接着道：“赐婚的对象是永定侯府的二姑娘……”
最后一个字又变得含糊其辞，他继续美滋滋地咬起了他的包子，心道：这南阳军伙房的厨子手艺不错啊，只这肉包子就做得香嫩松软，还多汁。
Should we send the cooks from the army mess in Beidi to learn skills here, or simply invite the cooks here to Beidi? Tang Yuchu was eating buns while thinking about random things, and didn't notice that Qin Yao was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped.
Qin Yao put down his teacup, his curious heart burning in his chest, and asked anxiously: "What happened? Tell me the details."
Tang Yuchu just thought that Qin Yao was curious, and started from the day when the emperor personally came to the military training ground, and said that he took people to the Prince Chen's mansion, and then invited Taoist Xuan Jing to tell the fortune for the Prince Chen. He calculated that Chu Qianchen had a good horoscope and could bring happiness to the Prince Chen, and talked all the way until the emperor issued the imperial decree to bring happiness to the Prince Chen.
Qin Yao: “!!!”
Qin Yao was completely unable to get a word in. His emotions were so complicated that it was difficult to describe in words: It had only been a short time since they left the capital, how come so many things had happened!
He then asked: "How is the situation in Beijing now?"
Tang Yuchu ate four buns in a row and felt his stomach was a little better. He drank two sips of tea and said, "Cheng Linhua and Su Mubai managed to delay the wedding date for a month, waiting for the prince to make a decision."
Qin Yao finally calmed down a little from the shock in his heart, and asked curiously: "What did Miss Chu say?"
Even if others called him a playboy, Qin Yao knew that marriage was an important event that would affect a girl's entire life. Delaying the wedding would not affect the prince at all, but would be very disadvantageous to the girl.
A bowl of fragrant mushroom and shredded chicken cold noodles finally arrived.
Tang Yuchu couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks and felt that he was ready again.
He picked up a handful of noodles and shredded chicken and said, "This is what Miss Chu Er meant."
"She said that the prince is not in Beijing right now, so this matter cannot be leaked out, so we just have to put it off for now."
Tang Yuchu ate the noodles with shredded chicken and asked Yuanbao to get him some vinegar without any hesitation.
Qin Yao: “!!!”
Qin Yao had a strange expression on his face. Although he had long known that this Miss Chu was not an ordinary person and did not walk the ordinary path, he was still shocked by her unexpected behavior.
Tang Yuchu took the vinegar bottle that Yuanbao brought him, then put down his chopsticks slightly and asked, "Which route did the prince and the others take? I will chase them after I have eaten my fill."
Qin Yao shook his head, "I don't know either."
What?! Tang Yuchu almost choked on the cold noodles in his mouth. He raised his head and stared at Qin Yao in astonishment.
Qin Yao was not joking with Tang Yuchu. He raised his hand and pointed at the map on the general's desk. His fingertips stopped at a desert and he said, "Ninth brother is walking in the Helan Gobi Desert. There is a wasteland stretching for hundreds of miles."
"The Khlang Gobi Desert is complex and its terrain is perfect for ambushes and sneak attacks."
According to his and Gu Jue's plan, they were going to set up an ambush in the Helang Gobi Desert and wait for an opportunity to surprise attack the Lin people, so as to end the war quickly.
Qin Yao touched his chin thoughtfully, with the corners of his lips slightly raised.
After the initial shock, he felt that this arranged marriage was actually quite interesting.
When he was in the capital, he saw that this little girl and Ninth Brother had a chance! Haha, it turned out to be a chance.
However, the emperor was out of his mind, right? How could he think of giving Chu Qianchen to his ninth brother? Absolutely, it was simply too absolute! Thinking of this, Qin Yao really wanted to grow wings and fly back to the capital to watch the show, and said cynically: "Oh, in my opinion, this is a marriage destined by heaven!"
"Since Ninth Brother is not around, we might as well just accept the marriage. Ninth Brother is already old, and it would be nice for him to have a Ninth Sister-in-law when he returns after a trip."
"Old Tang, don't you think so?"
There was a hint of joking in Qin Yao's tone, and he spoke half-truthfully.
(End of this chapter)