Chapter 78 078 "The old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) deserves the title."
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Just as Zhang Xu and Zhang Liangxiang's knees were about to touch the ground, Jiang Ling'er firmly grasped Zhang Liangxiang's arms and steadily supported him.
"Lord Zhang..."
Jiang Ling'er looked up and met a pair of eyes filled with tears. Zhang Liang grabbed Jiang Ling'er's arm in return.
"Your father suffered this calamity because of my unreasonable request... It was me... I harmed Xu Fu, I harmed your father!"
Jiang Ling'er was stunned and stood there dumbfounded.
"The late emperor had no sons, so he adopted a member of the imperial clan, who is now His Majesty Zhao Huai. For thirty years, His Majesty lived in fear under the late emperor's suspicion, even before he was formally adopted as a prince. Until six years ago, when the Dowager Consort became pregnant, His Majesty was terrified that if she gave birth to a child, the late emperor would kill her and exterminate her entire family. Therefore, he sought out me, asking me to protect his only son and send him safely out of the capital. This son is the little-known, long-lost Crown Prince, Lian Sheng."
Jiang Ling'er frowned upon hearing this.
Even though she was young at the time, she knew what happened next. The late Empress Dowager had not been able to give birth to a son, but instead gave birth to a stillborn child. In the following years, she gave birth to several daughters, but they all died young. The late Emperor died in despair, unable to achieve his ambitions. His Majesty was finally able to be formally adopted as a prince and eventually ascend the throne.
Everyone knows that His Majesty ascended the throne at the age of thirty, when he was still a member of the imperial clan. He had a twelve-year-old child who died young, and since then, he has had no offspring for many years…
Unexpectedly, the child who was supposed to die young did not die, but instead—
"I entrust the important task of escorting the Crown Prince out of the palace to Daoist Xu Fu and your father, Old Escort Jiang. Only Daoist Xu Fu and your father are capable of undertaking this responsibility!"
Jiang Ling'er's long eyelashes suddenly trembled, and her hands clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms.
"To put the late emperor's mind at ease, Xu Fu left the capital under the pretense of seeking the elixir of immortality, taking a group of celestial children to Mount Ling in search of the medicine. The twelve-year-old Crown Prince Lian Sheng was hidden among the thirty-two boys and girls accompanying him. At the same time, to evade the royal family's pursuit, Xu Fu, on his deathbed, used the 'Longevity Manual' as bait, dividing it into four parts and tattooing them on the backs of four children. To protect the Crown Prince's life, the most crucial part was tattooed on the back of Crown Prince Lian Sheng."
"These four boys, each possessing the 'Longevity Manual,' were hidden among the other boys, divided into four groups, each protected by one of the four major sects appointed by the old镖头 (head镖师, a powerful镖师, often referred to as 'the Elder Escort'). To prevent leaks, the four sects did not know each other's identities, and the Elder Escort secretly negotiated among them, swearing an oath by slaying a white snake to never reveal the oath or the boys they were escorting. We schemed and plotted, but unexpectedly, the news leaked out. What we didn't expect was that the royal family colluded with the Demonic Sect. Six years ago, the four groups were ambushed by the Demonic Sect's seven assassins... Few survived, the 'Longevity Manual' fell into the hands of the martial world, and the Crown Prince disappeared without a trace, his fate unknown..."
Jiang Ling'er remembered. She remembered six years ago, on her eighteenth birthday. The old镖头 (bodyguard) had promised her long ago, but in the end, he was three days late.
During that secret mission, the old镖头 (head镖师, a term referring to a powerful镖师, a skilled镖师) and his fourth uncle Zhao Ji led a group of skilled镖师 from the镖局 (镖局 is a type of镖师, ...). In the end, only the old镖头 returned covered in blood...
From that time on, the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) often wore a worried expression, and from that time on, he began frantically arranging her marriage...
"After Xu Fu's death, only the old镖头 (head镖师) knew who had made the White Snake Covenant. In other words, only the old镖头 knew who might have gotten the 'Longevity Manual,' and only the old镖头 knew the whereabouts and fate of Crown Prince Lian Sheng... It was precisely to protect the Crown Prince that the old镖头 chose... to commit suicide in front of the world."
[My dear child, what will you do after Daddy dies? Who will take care of you?]
Jiang Ling'er shuddered, her eyes suddenly reddening.
So, from that time on... Father had already prepared for his death?
“Child…child, don’t cry…” Zhang Liangxiang sighed deeply, his back hunched, as if he had suddenly aged ten years. “Damn me, I’m the one who ruined Old Hero Jiang…damn me…”
“My father… my father…” Jiang Ling’er choked back tears and shook her head, stopping Zhang Liangxiang from blaming himself. She took a deep breath to calm herself, stared intently at Zhang Liangxiang, and said each word with red but firm eyes, “My father… didn’t do anything to betray the Song Dynasty, did he?”
Zhang Liangxiang was taken aback upon hearing this. Not only Zhang Liangxiang, but also the sect leader and Pei Xuanjun paused and turned to look at Jiang Ling'er.
Pei Xuan, who was usually quiet and reserved, raised his phoenix eyes, and the light in his clear phoenix eyes locked onto the slightly pale yet beautiful profile of the woman in front of him.
Jiang Ling'er had heard far too many insults directed at the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) along the way; every word was unbearable to hear...
She used to feel angry, indignant, and even want to fight to the death, but later she became numb. Whether it was due to her circumstances or because she had heard it so much that she became numb, she could ignore it even if others insulted the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) to her face, calling him a treacherous villain and a lackey of the Jurchens.
But now—x
Her thin, pale face made her eyes appear even redder, as if they were painted with powder. Her hands, clasped tightly at her sides, were so clenched that her knuckles turned white and fine veins stood out on the back of her hands. She was like a bowstring stretched to its limit, trembling slightly as she stared intently at Zhang Liangxiang.
Even though her eyes were already misty, she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Zhang Liangxiang straightened up and looked back at Jiang Ling'er with a serious expression:
"The late emperor was cruel and inhumane, allowing the Jurchen cavalry to invade and occupy the territory of our Great Song! Now His Majesty is seriously ill and bedridden, with no heir. Above him is the Empress Dowager who holds power behind the curtain, and outside he is surrounded by Jurchen and Mongol wolves. The old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) was appointed to this critical mission, enduring humiliation and hardship. He is not only protecting His Majesty's only legitimate heir, but also the future of our Great Song!"
Zhang Liangxiang's words were resounding and powerful, each one striking Jiang Ling'er's heart like the sound of metal and stone.
Its clear and melodious sound, its powerful and resonant tone, echoed throughout the hall, resonated in everyone's hearts, and lingered in the mountains.
Even the sect leader, Master Wuyazi, couldn't help but have tears welling up in his eyes.
Pei Xuan lowered his long eyelashes and silently watched everything, his phoenix eyes deep and unfathomable.
"You refuse to accept my kneeling, but this bow is on behalf of the common people, on behalf of all those who suffered under the Jurchen cavalry. This bow—"
Zhang Liangxiang lifted the hem of his robe and bowed to Jiang Ling'er with utmost solemnity.
"The old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) deserves the title."
Jiang Ling'er trembled, her lips trembled, and the tears she had been holding back finally burst forth.
Before Zhang Liangxiang, whose hair was gray and who was bowing down before her, she burst into tears like a child for the first time.
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Author's note: Goodnight~
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