Le paysage est comme une peinture

Chapitre 73

Chapter 245: Tuosang (1)

Hearing his silence, Junyu hurriedly asked, "Sir, are you doubting his identity?"

Seeing her agitated state, Mr. Nongying gave a wry smile: "Junyu, sit down. We must heal your eyes first. I have already found the necessary medicinal herbs. Come, let me examine your eyes..."

Upon closer inspection, he was even more astonished to discover that Junyu's eyes had already been treated with several appropriate medicinal herbs and were well protected. Now, she could vaguely see again, clearly a result of the timely treatment by the person who saved her. He breathed a sigh of relief and was somewhat impressed by the person's medical skills, saying, "That person's medical skills are truly excellent. Junyu, after taking the medicine, your eyes will regain their sight in less than seven days..."

"Sir, Tuosang will definitely come to see me again in the future, right?" Junyu clutched the handkerchief tightly, still looking cheerful, seemingly not having heard what Mr. Nongying was saying.

Seeing that she was so emotionally agitated that she didn't even care about her eyes, Mr. Nongying sighed inwardly, thought for a moment, and then said cautiously, "Perhaps! However, whoever saved you, we should thank him properly. He not only saved you but also took such good care of you..."

“Sir, we don’t need to thank him…” Junyu stood up again, facing the window as if Tuosang were standing right outside. She knew he was worried about his eyes and would only leave after confirming that Mr. Nongying had found the medicinal herbs, so she said loudly, “Whatever Tuosang does for me is what he should do, there’s no need to thank him at all.”

"Whatever Tuosang does for me is his duty, and I don't need to thank him at all." — She would try her best to repay even the smallest favors others did for her. But with her, she took everything she did for him for granted.

The person, silently hidden in the night, smiled silently. Her matter-of-fact tone filled him with happiness and warmth, and for the long years to come, he would always have the obligation and the right to make her feel it was her due.

He looked at the vast darkness, feeling both proud and joyful. Suddenly, the darkness seemed to transform into a sky full of brilliant stars, and he felt no fear even if the road ahead was fraught with thorns.

"Who's outside the window?" A gentle breeze stirred, and Mr. Nongying rushed to the window. The night outside was dark, and there was no one in sight.

“Sir, Tuosang is gone. He just left!” Junyu smiled, but his expression turned somewhat somber. “He must have had some reason for not acknowledging me. I don’t know if he will ever come looking for me again.”

Seeing the man's incredible speed and agility that rivaled his own, Master Nongying realized that, apart from Tuosang, there was probably no one else in the world who could match him. At this point, he was mostly convinced that the man was indeed Tuosang. Seeing Junyu's sudden shift from elation to dejection, he couldn't help but laugh, "If it really is Tuosang, why wouldn't he come looking for you? Didn't he leave you a handkerchief, saying he'd meet you again? He must still have some unresolved trouble. Don't worry, even if the whole world ignores you, he'll still come looking for you."

"Hmm," Junyu blushed and sat down a little embarrassedly when she heard Mr. Nongying's ambiguous smile. Her mood gradually calmed down.

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Chapter 246: Tuosang (2)

The moonlight had faded.

Junyu recounted in detail to Mr. Nongying how she encountered Sun Jia and poisoned him. Mr. Nongying was secretly alarmed, but also certain that the man was Tuosang. Besides Tuosang, who else could have safely rescued Junyu amidst a massive army pursuit?

"That scourge Prime Minister Zhu, even after escaping to a foreign land, still tries to harm you. He's truly despicable!" Mr. Nongying said angrily. "I originally thought Zhu Yu wasn't inherently evil, but I was wrong. If I see that brat again, I will definitely not let him go."

Junyu had never heard Mr. Nongying speak in such an angry tone. She knew that he was distressed by her blindness and, being unaware of the grudges and entanglements between herself and Zhu Yu, he was convinced that Zhu Yu had also participated in persecuting her.

She shook her head and sighed, "Prime Minister Zhu betrayed his country and surrendered to the enemy. Naturally, he wanted to use his last trump card to take me down as a bargaining chip to stabilize his position. But Zhu Yu, alas, I believe he knows nothing about this and would never harm me. Sir, in the future, no matter what happens when you encounter Zhu Yu, please let him go. I owe him a debt of gratitude that I can never repay in this lifetime. His kindness to me far outweighs my kindness to him!"

Mr. Nongying knew that Zhu Yu and Junyu had been at odds since childhood, and that Zhu Yu was a key figure in framing Tuosang, so he always believed that Zhu Yu's actions stemmed from jealousy of Junyu. Now, however, he finally understood the complex entanglement between Zhu Yu and Junyu, and couldn't help but sigh, "If Zhu Yu hadn't had such a father, he wouldn't have ended up like this. It's a pity that such a talented person was used by Zhenmutier; it's a misfortune for the country!"

"Indeed, if it weren't for the court's inhumane practice of punishing entire families, he would never have met such a tragic end."

Both men were silent for a moment. After a while, Jun Yu said again, "Sir, what I'm most worried about now is that Sun Jia will not dare to return to Phoenix City. If that happens, the Phoenix Army will be leaderless and will be taken advantage of by Zhen Mu Tie'er. In addition, Zhu Yu's military power is currently at its peak. If they attack from both sides, I'm afraid the Northwest battlefield will suffer a complete defeat."

"I will try to inform Lu Ling and the others as soon as possible to deal with it. Junyu, don't worry too much. Once your eyes are healed, everything will still be alright."

"If possible, I would like to find Sun Jia first. He is not entirely unforgivable. Besides, it would be such a pity to lose such a talented person."

"Under the current circumstances, finding Sun Jia will not be easy."

"So, what I'm thinking is to spread the news that I'm not dead or blind as soon as possible. Sun Jia's mother is still in Prime Minister Zhu's hands, so she probably hasn't left the Northwest yet. If he knows this news, he won't be under so much psychological pressure, and then we can try to find him. I'll go to Xining Prefecture to wait for news first; I don't think he'll go far."

Mr. Nongying pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Junyu, if you go to Xining Prefecture again, wouldn't that mean you've returned to the Northwest battlefield? Once you go back, it won't be easy for you to get away again."

"Zhu Yu personally led the army and has already captured several cities. Zhenmutier is a man of great talent and strategy. His two sons have led their cavalry westward in the past two years and captured more than a dozen city-states and small kingdoms. He himself was not fundamentally damaged in the several major battles with us in the past two years and has recovered quickly. In a short period of time, he has almost covered the entire northern front."

"I received news on my way here that half a month ago, Zhenmutier's fourth son led 8,000 cavalry to defeat Lin Baoshan, who had been demoted and stationed here, at the Iron Khan. Lin Baoshan led more than 3,000 soldiers in the garrison to fight for two days, but due to being surrounded and lacking reinforcements, the entire army was wiped out, and Lin Baoshan himself died in battle."

It was common for soldiers to die in battle, but Junyu couldn't help but feel saddened when he thought that Lin Baoshan had been demoted because of him and was not tolerated by the newly arrived General Mei.

Mr. Nongying said, "After we take down the Iron Khan, I'm afraid it will be dangerous if they go south and completely control that vast and mysterious land."

Junyu also knew that since Tuosang's "death," the Zanghan Chilahan sect, supported by the Chijin tribe, had been active. If the new "Bokdo" candidate was not careful, that vast and rich land would soon become Zhenmutier's supply space, thus controlling the southwest and it was not impossible for him to drive straight into the Central Plains.

Junyu gazed out the dark window for a long while before saying, "Sir, I held a grudge against Tuosang's death and resigned without permission, refusing to go to the battlefield again. This indirectly led to the death of Lin Baoshan, who had come to Tiema Temple to save me. Fortunately, Tuosang is still alive; Heaven has eyes. Before Tuosang fully regains his freedom, I hope to do my last bit of effort on the Northwest battlefield. At the very least, I must take the head of Zhenmutier's fourth son to offer as a sacrifice to Lin Baoshan. Otherwise, I will never have peace of mind for the rest of my life."

Mr. Nongying nodded: "Once your eyes are healed, I will support whatever decision you make."

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Chapter 247: Can't I even kill myself? (1)

Although the weather was overcast, the surrounding heat was still intense. Seven or eight Crimson Gold Clan soldiers were riding at full speed towards the large camp on the border.

As survivors of the arduous pursuit of "Flying General of Phoenix City," they were all dejected despite their hasty advance. The pursuit had first resulted in the loss of dozens of elite soldiers under Prime Minister Zhu. Zhenmutier, in his attempt to capture Junyu, had specifically dispatched his most trusted archer squad, but this squad had also been nearly wiped out.

Lang Xiong, his scalp mangled and bloodied, and Mongkechi, whose right hand had all five fingers severed, had returned five days earlier. However, Zhu Gang, who had lost an arm, dared not leave first. He and his son had made a boast to Zhenmutier, but now they were returning in such a state. They feared they would have a hard time getting past Zhenmutier.

He sat slumped on the horse, filled with dread. Having suffered a crushing defeat, he feared punishment and waited for his second brother to return together. He looked back repeatedly, seeing Zhu Yu's magnificent Akhal-Teke horse moving unhurriedly, while Zhu Yu's face remained grim.

A strange sound rang out, and Zhu Gang's expression changed drastically. He whispered, "Second Brother..."

Before he finished speaking, a fierce warhorse had already blocked his way.

"Sun Jia! Quickly capture that brat Sun Jia..." Zhu Gang shouted. The soldiers around him exchanged glances. They knew, of course, that capturing General Phoenix would be a great achievement, enough to atone for their crimes. Seeing Sun Jia's bloodshot eyes and murderous aura, they immediately turned their attention to their commander, Zhu Yu.

Sun Jia ignored everyone else and stared at Zhu Yu: "Hand over my mother!"

Zhu Yu sneered: "I'll take your mother's life, but you can exchange it for the head of 'Flying General of Phoenix City'."

Sun Jia angrily said, "Junyu is already blind, and I'm afraid he's in grave danger. I poisoned my friend, and I'm condemned by both gods and men. Now, I only ask that I save my mother and then commit suicide to repay Junyu."

"Then you can wait to collect your mother's corpse." Zhu Yu laughed. "However, taking down General Phoenix is a minor achievement..." Before he finished speaking, he had already attacked Sun Jia with his sword.

Sun Jia was prepared and was ready to fight his former classmate to the death. He attacked with both palms, but just as he reached the halfway point, he suddenly saw Zhu Yu's longsword change direction and he shouted, "Sun Jia."

Sun Jia's heart skipped a beat. In the blink of an eye, two Crimson Gold Clan soldiers had been pierced through the heart by Zhu Yu's sword. He immediately understood and, with perfect coordination with Zhu Yu, his hands moved swiftly and decisively. In a few moments, the remaining soldiers, who hadn't even recovered from their shock, were all killed as easily as cutting melons and vegetables.

In the vast expanse of heaven and earth, only three people and a pile of corpses remained.

Zhu Gang lay dumbfounded on the horse's back, his whole body trembling like a leaf, too frightened to speak.

Zhu Yu stared at Zhu Gang: "Where is Sun Jia's mother locked up?"

Zhu Gang looked at the seven or eight corpses lying haphazardly, and said in a trembling voice, "They're...in a secluded little tent..."

Zhu Yu said coldly, "Sun Jia, did you hear that? Go and take your mother away and run away with her."

Sun Jia stared at him for a long while before clasping her hands in a fist and bowing, saying, "Thank you."

"Junyu is your good friend and has helped you get promoted. Why didn't you think of thanking her when you poisoned her?"

Sun Jia stood there speechless. Suddenly, Zhu Yu raised his riding whip and lashed it hard across Sun Jia's face, drawing blood. "I'll release your mother and give you a lash too, to settle your score with the Zhu family. From now on, we'll be enemies. Get lost."

Sun Jia's face was covered in blood, burning hot. He gave a bitter laugh: "How can I face Junyu again? I only ask to settle my old mother's affairs and do my best to find Junyu's whereabouts. If I can't find him, I will commit suicide to atone for my sins."

"You hypocrite, the sooner you die, the better." Zhu Yu snorted coldly and rode away. Zhu Gang, who was lagging behind, realized what was happening and whipped his horse to give chase.

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Chapter 248: Can't I even kill myself? (2)

Inside the luxurious tent where Prime Minister Zhu and his son lived.

At this moment, although the luxurious tent was brightly lit and filled with singing and dancing, there was no joy at all.

Zhu Gang groaned and collapsed onto the thick carpet, staring at his severed arm with a pained expression. Suddenly, he became violent, grabbing wine cups, daggers, and other odds and throwing them at the dancing women. The courtesans were terrified and retreated in tears.

Prime Minister Zhu stared at Zhu Yu, who was drinking from a large bowl, his face ashen. After a long while, he finally couldn't hold back and roared, "Why did you release Sun Jia's mother? Do you know that this was my last trump card? That ungrateful bastard Sun Jia will never do anything for me again!"

Zhu Yu remained silent, continuing to drink bowl after bowl of wine.

"Even if we can't capture Junyu, forcing Sun Jia to surrender would be a great achievement. Now, it's all for nothing. How am I supposed to hold my head high in front of Zhenmutier in the future?"

This attempt failed, and Zhenmutier suffered heavy losses. However, the cunning old fox did not blame him. Instead, he comforted and rewarded the survivors, saying that although "Flying General of Phoenix City" escaped, blinding him was a great achievement. After all, what is there to fear from a blind man?

After a long while, Prime Minister Zhu muttered resentfully, "Junyu still managed to escape! That bastard is really tough!"

Zhu Yu put down his wine bowl, glanced at him with hazy, drunken eyes, and laughed, "You've been relentlessly hunting Lan Xisi for so many years without any results, why are you still so persistent? Now, how can you possibly kill Junyu? Wouldn't it be better for you to stay here and enjoy fine wine and beautiful women, taking each day as it comes? Why do you have to create so much trouble, acting recklessly and bringing shame upon yourself?"

"Lanxi killed my elder brother, and Junyu cut off my arm. Father, you must avenge this deep-seated hatred for me..."

"If you provoke her again, next time it won't just be losing an arm, it might be losing your head! So many skilled fighters have died by her sword, and you are the ringleader and the main culprit. What merit or right do you have to escape alive? Even now, don't you understand that she showed mercy?!"

Seeing his second brother's fierce gaze, Zhu Gang didn't dare to reply and lay back down on the carpet, groaning softly.

Prime Minister Zhu glared at Zhu Yu, then, helpless, lowered his voice after a moment: "You should go back to your own camp. This time I boasted but failed to win over Junyu, which may arouse Zhenmutier's suspicion and contempt. The best course of action now is for you to maintain a loving and harmonious relationship with the princess. I know you dislike her for her willful and capricious nature, but we are currently living under someone else's roof and have to be mindful of their opinions. Zhenmutier is ruthless, so you must make the princess devoted to you, and ideally, have her bear you a son or daughter as soon as possible. Only then will Zhenmutier truly trust you..."

"Hehe, don't worry, she will never bear me a son or daughter in this lifetime..."

Prime Minister Zhu was greatly alarmed: "What do you mean by this?"

“It’s meaningless!” Zhu Yu stared at his father and said, word by word, “The taste of betraying one’s country and surrendering to the enemy is not pleasant, is it? Even if there is wealth and glory, I am not willing to settle down here and give birth to another bastard to continue my identity as a traitor!”

"You, you..."

"I gave her a special medicine on our wedding day..." Zhu Yu laughed, but lowered her voice, "Zhen Muter blinded Junyu, so he'll never have a grandson. What I did was fair and reasonable, wasn't it? No, actually it's not fair. How can his bastard be compared to 'Flying Marshal of Phoenix City'? Hahaha..."

Prime Minister Zhu was trembling all over, whether from fear or anxiety. Zhu Gang curled up on the carpet, too scared to even breathe.

Zhu Yu stood up, glanced at his father again, and said in a deep voice, "I will do my best to ensure you live a life of wealth and honor for the rest of your life, and I will also secure a future for Zhu Gang. However, I hope that your plot to harm Junyu is the last one! If there is a next time, if you truly want to extinguish my last glimmer of hope in this world—I will definitely make sure you have no descendants..." He laughed again, "If I can't kill others, can't I at least kill myself?!"

As Prime Minister Zhu watched him stride out of the tent, he felt a cold sweat pour down his back. He coughed, unable to catch his breath, and collapsed to the ground. Zhu Gang quickly crawled over and helped his father up, rubbing his chest with his only hand until he coughed up a mouthful of phlegm and caught his breath.

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Chapter 249: Let me see that flower (1)

As the first rays of morning sunlight shone on the roof of the small shop, Mr. Nongying gently removed the layer of herbs covering Junyu's eyes.

Junyu kept her eyes closed, feeling a bit nervous. It had only been a little over ten days since she lost her sight, but it felt like an eternity. After a long while, she slowly opened her eyes. Before her stood Mr. Nongying, still dressed in his elegant robes and hat, handsome and refined; outside the window, a tattered wine flag fluttered in the wind.

Before me stood the people, the dim yellow wine flags, and the dust on the ground; I had never felt that all things were so charming and beautiful.

Mr. Nongying smiled as he looked at those dark, jade-like eyes, which had regained their dazzling brilliance. He suddenly recalled the first time he met Junyu at the academy.

At that time, he had just experienced the agony of seven or eight hundred of his close friends and relatives being killed or exiled, and he was powerless to save them. Even the woman he loved had married someone else. Although he was fortunate enough to be "pardoned" for some reason, he was filled with despair for the whole world and had no choice but to resign from his official post and go into seclusion. That day, he traveled through the night to visit Mr. Zhu at the academy.