Jeune Premier ministre, un ermite

Chapitre 117

A sudden emptiness filled her heart, a profound and overwhelming melancholy washing over her like drifting leaves, like the ebb and flow of the tide. Lost in thought, she seemed to awaken, gazing out the window. The moonlight was like water, and outside the window stood a figure—her second brother. "Second brother, where have you been? I waited for you all night, but you didn't come..."

The people outside the window remained silent.

"Second brother, why are you forcing me? The second brother I used to know trusted me and would discuss things with me. The second brother I used to know would never force me. Why do you always hurt me? I don't want to see you again. I'm going back to Lucheng..."

She recalled all the moments they had shared. Why did such deep affection earn her such treatment? From beginning to end, she had never betrayed him. Even after he abandoned her, she waited for him through a long, agonizing night. Perhaps, becoming emperor would make all these questions disappear.

"Bang—bang—" Four drumbeats sounded outside, and the person in the dream suddenly woke up, sat up, and looked out the window with tears still in their eyes.

Moonlight streamed through the window, and a breeze rustled through the treetops, as if that figure had just been there, as if the rustling of the leaves were the footsteps of that person leaving.

My mind was filled with the dream I had just had, faces flashing by one after another, freezing in a certain moment: "I will defend Shu County for you, I will defend Shu County even if it costs me my life."

Should they risk their lives? A sudden thought struck him, and he quickly got up, told Chun Tao to find his court robes, put them on, got into the carriage, and headed towards Daxing Palace.

The wide street was deserted, the moonlight illuminating it with exceptional clarity. The lanterns in front of the carriages swayed, casting dark shadows on the ground.

When they arrived at the court, it was too early and there were hardly any people inside. They saw Minister Wei Xiaozhong and several others discussing something. Without considering how much face they had lost in the past, they walked straight toward Wei Xiaozhong.

After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Zijun asked, "Minister Wei, how is the war with the Tibetans going recently?"

Wei Xiaozhong replied humbly, "Alas, has the King not heard? I only received the news yesterday that Changjun and Wenshanjun have been captured. Now the Tibetan army is gathered in Shujun and is attacking the city."

Her heart skipped a beat. Was it really true? To defend Shu County for her? Wei Zijun felt a chill run down her spine, followed by a surge of anxiety. She hoped nothing bad would happen to him.

As the call to begin court commenced, Wei Zijun stood before the officials and slowly ascended the white marble steps. To everyone's surprise, Li Tianqi was already seated on the dragon throne. When his gaze fell upon her, he trembled and actually stood up from the throne. A mixture of disbelief and delight mingled as he stared straight at her, forgetting to sit down.

"Your Majesty, the Tibetan army has captured two of our towns and is now besieging our Shu Commandery. Our land of abundance has a rugged terrain, and if it is breached, it will be difficult to recover." Grand Secretary Zou Wenguang was very worried about the crisis in Shu Commandery.

"Well, my esteemed ministers, the Tibetan army of 100,000 has besieged my Shu County, and Tibetan reinforcements will arrive soon. Our army urgently needs to send a large force to rescue and intercept the Tibetan reinforcements, and at the same time relieve the siege of Shu County. My ministers, please consider who is the most suitable candidate to lead the army."

"Your Majesty, Wei Feng is willing to lead the army there." Wei Zijun stood up and requested the order, his tone calm.

Li Tianqi's hand trembled, and he glanced at her with his deep black eyes, but said nothing.

"King Feng is brave and invincible. In my opinion, he is indeed the right person to go. If King Feng goes, he will surely be victorious." The ministers beside him echoed.

"Yes, King Feng's repeated victories over Tibet must have instilled a certain degree of deterrence in them. The Tibetan army must be terrified at the mere mention of King Feng's name. I also believe that King Feng is the best candidate." The ministers echoed in unison.

Zhang Shi, standing to the side, frowned slightly. He glanced at the ministers who were speaking, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Li Tianqi glanced at the assembled officials, his gaze settling on Wei Zijun. “Although the King of Feng is skilled in battle, he doesn’t need to lead the army himself. I still need the King of Feng by my side to offer advice and strategies.”

"Your Majesty, please send Wei Feng to defend against the enemy. Wei Feng is willing to sign a military pledge. If we fail to win, I am willing to accept military punishment and atone for my sins with my own body." Wei Zijun spoke calmly, but his tone was unusually resolute.

A sharp pain slid across his chest, spreading and stretching in the pre-dawn darkness, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. To avoid him, would he rather sign a military pledge? Would he rather die than not be by that person's side? He knew Ziju didn't want to see him, but how could he bear to send him to the chaotic battlefield? How could he tolerate even the slightest mishap on his part?

The court was silent for a long while before Li Tianqi's voice rang out, "Wind King—stop fooling around—" His voice trembled slightly, as if it came from a very far place.

"Your Majesty, please grant me permission." Wei Zijun stood there motionless, not looking at him, but he could feel the determination in her eyes. If he didn't agree, would she distance herself from him even further?

Just then, Zhang Shi, who was standing to the side, slowly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I am familiar with celestial formations. I am willing to accompany King Feng to defend against the enemy."

Li Tianqi's face suddenly turned cold. "One is not enough, all of you are making a scene—Zhang Shi, it's time for you to set off for Xingyang to control the floods. You should depart soon."

Turning to Wei Zijun, he suppressed the tearing pain in his heart, took a deep breath, and said, "King Feng wishes to go to Shu County to defend the country... I... grant his permission..."

In August, amidst a thousand peaks, the bright sunshine remains, and fallen petals silently rise from the eaves.

In the height of summer, the loneliness was so profound that time seemed to stand still.

The quiet training ground was filled with the metallic stench of armor and horses, mixed with wisps of unknown floral fragrance. Summer, nearing its end, remained as intense as ever.

Looking up, a flock of wild geese swept across the flat eaves of the Taiji Palace, past the black roof tiles, and gradually rose into the boundless blue sky.

Fifty thousand Dayu garrison troops gathered at the palace's drill ground, their armor gleaming, their swords flashing, a vast, black tide of menacing menacingly silent, the only sound the occasional snorting of horses.

Suddenly, I remembered those days in the Western Turkic Khaganate.

Under the blazing sun, the man with black hair and a jade crown, dressed in a thin white riding outfit, sat upright on a white Akhal-Teke horse that shimmered with gold. He was as radiant as the moon, with a graceful and elegant demeanor. Behind him, banners fluttered and halberds stood tall, with the large "Wei" character embroidered on the commander's flag being particularly eye-catching.

With a deep horn blast, a group of silver-armored guards surged forth, surrounding the graceful figure as they stepped from the training ground onto the horse path beside the palace steps, slowly making their way onto the main road leading out of the palace. Behind them, the black iron tide began to flow gently, shimmering with a crystalline light in the sunlight.

"Zijun—" A suppressed, trembling cry rang out from behind.

Wei Zijun turned to look and saw him standing on the steps, his thin robe casting a faint shadow. His face held a mixture of panic and loneliness, like a lone goose, utterly alone. Disagreement, forbearance, agonizing pain, obsession, and longing were all intertwined in his eyes.

She gazed at him intently, her long eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings. After a long while, a smile bloomed on her face, set against the blue sky, like the gentle spring light in the distance, like the intertwining of light in the mortal world, with a dazzling halo.

The past, it seems, ended before it even began; the fleeting years, like flowing water, will never return; all that remains is a deep, etched longing…

At that moment, she remembered the years in Lucheng, the years they had spent together, and how he had covered her with all the straw...

However, before we knew it, time had passed.

A mist of water rushed towards him, blurring the sky and earth. The figure in front of him dissolved into a white ball of light. That smile as he turned back was deeply etched in his heart, causing a crimson color to flow from it, blooming into a flower of blood... Why couldn't he keep him? Even with the deepest longing, he still couldn't hold on...

He gently covered his face with his sleeve... letting the clatter of hooves fade into the distance...

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 104: Verbal Battle

A gentle breeze swept across the woodland, rippling the plain, cool and still. A hazy glow of light fell upon the woodland, and looking up, one could see the azure sky through the leaves. A stream meandered through the woods, extending upwards and across the woodland, shimmering in the sunlight.

We chose to rest here because it's convenient to get water.

"Your Highness, it has been two days. The army has been traveling day and night. By then, the men and horses will be exhausted. How will we fight?" General Yan Jingguang of the Left Guard expressed his concerns over the past two days. Although His Majesty had entrusted the garrison troops in the imperial city to Prince Feng, these 50,000 garrison troops were all trained by him personally, so his worries were inevitable.

Wei Zijun pulled out a military map and walked towards the generals. Although she had been appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the Jiannan Road Army for this campaign, these people did not address her as "Military Commander" but still called her "Your Highness."

"General Yan, look at this marching map." Wei Zijun sat cross-legged casually on the ground, waving his hand, and all the generals gathered around. "After days of attacks, our Shu County's plank roads have been destroyed. Therefore, the Tibetan reinforcements will inevitably pass through Mantianzhai①, the only gorge. Firstly, this gorge is the fastest route, and secondly, there is no other way. This gorge is surrounded by mountains, with a treacherous terrain, and is the throat of the road into Shu. This natural barrier of Bashu is difficult to cross, easy to defend and difficult to attack. However, with Shu County besieged, most of the troops stationed here will rush to relieve the siege. Even the most difficult and dangerous road can be easily breached if the garrison is insufficient. Therefore, we must reach Mantianzhai before the Tibetan army. If the Tibetan army occupies Mantianzhai first, our Shu County will be lost."