Jeune Premier ministre, un ermite

Chapitre 136

"Fourth brother, are you surprised?" Nangong Que looked up at her.

"Should I call you Nangong Que? Or Dayan Mangjiebo?" Wei Zijun's horse took another step forward.

"Whatever my fourth brother likes, I don't mind." Nangong Que smiled like a spring breeze.

"Nangong Que—why did you abduct my mother? Is it because Zijun has offended you in some way?" Wei Zijun's cold eyes shot towards that person. She tried her best to calm herself down, her mind racing to think of a way to save her parents. However, given Nangong Que's martial arts skills, there was obviously no direct way. No matter how fast her bow and arrow were, Nangong Que could kill her parents the moment the arrow hit them.

Nangong Que laughed heartily, “Fourth brother, this matter has nothing to do with you. It’s just a grudge between your father and me. I’m just using this to coerce you. Just let go and let us leave the Western Turks smoothly.”

“Nangong Que, people say that a son pays for his father’s debts. What my father owes you, I will repay. Don’t make things difficult for my mother.” Wei Zijun’s eyes were cold, but the hand holding the bow was trembling slightly.

"I'm afraid Fourth Brother can't afford it. What can Fourth Brother use to exchange for the hatred of killing his father and the hatred of the destruction of his country?" Nangong Que's smile, which was as gentle as a spring breeze, turned somewhat cold.

"Since ancient times, there has been no right or wrong on the battlefield. Your father, Khan Fuyun, also had blood on his hands and tore countless families apart. Did you ever blame him? My father was merely fulfilling his duty as a soldier. He was fighting for the country. What crime did he commit? If you want to blame someone, you should blame the late Emperor Li Luan of Dayu for ordering the conquest of Tuyuhun and for causing Tuyuhun's downfall. Such a deep hatred for the destruction of a country should be directed at him. What kind of skill is it to capture someone who cannot control himself?" Her chest heaved slightly as she passionately questioned him.

Nangong Que smiled again, "The hatred of killing my father must be avenged, and the hatred of the destruction of my country must be avenged even more. When Tubo sweeps away the Western Turks and crushes Dayu, that will be the day I avenge my great grudge. At that time, my Tuyuhun Kingdom will be restored, and I will definitely dote on my fourth brother. However..." Nangong Que stared straight at Wei Zijun, his eyes burning with an inexplicable gleam, "However, fourth brother... do you know how many times I have failed because of you?"

“My numerous plans have all been ruined by you. Because of you, our assassination attempt on Ashina Yugu failed. Because of you, Ashina Buzhen failed repeatedly. Because of you, Tibet lost hundreds of thousands of troops. Because of you, our alliance with Khotan failed. Because of you, we were unable to obtain the Four Garrisons of Anxi. Because of you, we gained the land of Jiannan Tianfu but then lost it all… It’s all because of you.” A rare hint of agitation appeared on Nangong Que’s face, tearing away his usually elegant and charming veil.

"As long as you relinquish your grip, withdraw from the battlefield, and cease interfering with my grand plans, your mother will be safe and sound. Otherwise, I will ensure you never even see her remains." Nangong Que's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I presume that Fourth Brother, the most filial son in the world, would not stand idly by and watch his parents die because of you? Since Fourth Brother was willing to surrender to his father and become Khan, shouldn't he also be able to abandon this bloody struggle for power for his parents? Fourth Brother, you are more suited to enjoying tea and admiring the moon at Juyun Tower, not to this bloody war. What do you think?"

Wei Zijun stared intently at the man before her, her thoughts churning. Did he want her to abandon her country for her family? To give up fighting for the people of the Western Turks, to abandon planning for the people of Dayu, and to stand by and watch them trample on her land without lifting a finger?

How could she do that?

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 122: Falling

Torn between national interests and familial bonds, she was torn apart. If she retreated, she would be branded as someone who disregarded the greater good. How could she face the soldiers who fought to the death to catch up, or those who died for this moment? How could she face the people whose lives were trampled under the iron hooves? But if she advanced, her familial bonds would perish.

That hesitation lasted only a moment. "Retreat—" she raised her hand, her resolve so firm and resolute. "Geshufa, order Fang Gu to push out Aksai Chin—"

"Zijun—don't be foolish! Releasing them will be a great calamity for our Great Yu!" Wei Shulan cried out, thinking of Wei Zijun. "With 100,000 troops at our feet, such a golden opportunity—how can we not eliminate these traitors now, Zijun—"

"Father—" Wei Zijun cried out in anguish, "Can you bear to leave Jun'er behind?"

Upon hearing those words, Wei Shulan froze on the spot. Instantly, tears streamed down his face. Faced with the bond of blood, the words of his most beloved youngest daughter, so full of profound righteousness, were now impossible to utter. He wasn't afraid of death, but he was terrified that they would be separated forever, and he would never see her again.

Wei Zijun gazed at the two figures for a long time. They were her biological parents, the people she wanted to protect with her life. Even if she had to give up everything, even if she lost everything, she could not lose them. It would mean betraying the world, betraying everyone.

Her throat tightened, and she held back the tears that threatened to spill over. She turned to look at Nangong Que, her gaze intense. "Nangong Que, are you satisfied now? Can you release my mother?"

"No! Still not satisfied!" Gongsong Gongzan stared at her intently, his long sword pointing at Wei Shulan. "I want you to come here personally as a hostage. If you come here, I will release your mother."

Nangong Que's bright smile returned, the sharp tip of his sword pressed against Mu Xiaoya's back. "If you surrender, the revenge for your father's murder will not be taken against your father."

"Alright!" she replied without hesitation, and was about to spur her horse forward. At that moment, a strong wind swept across the snowfield, the flying snowflakes hitting her face, her robes fluttering, and her face, as white as the cold moon, was devoid of any color.

“Feng—” He Lu rushed out and grabbed her clothes tightly.

"He Lu, let go." After saying this twice, seeing that he still wouldn't let go, Wei Zijun had no choice but to try to pry his hand open, but no matter what she did, she couldn't.

“Wind—let me go, I’ll go in your place.” He Lu looked at her anxiously, his eyes filled with the fear of loss.

Wei Zijun's heart softened. She reached out her long fingers and touched his face. She looked at him tenderly, her eyes glistening. "He Lu, listen to me. Let go. If I go, I can escape back. If you go, it's not certain. Besides, they don't want you." Then she resolutely pressed his pulse point and pushed him behind her.

"Wei Zijun—you stand right there—" Mu Xiaoya shouted sternly.

"Zijun—don't come any closer—don't fall into their hands, they'll bully you!" Wei Shulan shouted anxiously. He couldn't let her come any closer; she wasn't a man, she was a woman! If they discovered her true identity…

Wei Shulan was frantic with worry. A tremendous force erupted from him—the power of paternal love. Driven by this force, he broke through his pressure points. He loosened the ropes binding him, turned, and drew a sword from a man in black, thrusting it towards Nangong Que. Unexpectedly, his sudden resistance caused Gongsong Gongzan's longsword to instinctively thrust forward. Wei Shulan didn't dodge; instead, he stubbornly pushed the sword tip towards Nangong Que's throat. But the longsword pierced straight into Wei Shulan's back. All of this happened in an instant.

"No—" A heart-wrenching cry pierced the air. The world seemed to darken. A biting wind swept across the snowfield, and the figure who had collapsed slowly, slowly fell to the snow. In that instant, he turned and gazed deeply at his youngest daughter. At that moment, the world turned upside down, and the raging blood spread like sharp, winding snakes, piercing his heart and tearing it apart. Seeing him watch her fall straight to the ground, the excruciating grief numbed Wei Zijun, leaving her numb and unresponsive. She forgot to rush forward, forgot to cry, forgot to scream. All that flashed before her eyes were details of her time with her father: him carrying her as she crawled on the ground, the sword he had carved for her, his calloused hands, the two sets of clothes he had bought for her—she remembered, she hadn't liked those clothes, and when she threw a tantrum and demanded he change them, he had taken her clothes to exchange… He had bought them twice, and both times he had changed them…

Tears finally fell.

Mu Xiaoya looked at the man who had fallen to the ground, the man she loved so deeply. He collapsed at her feet without crying. She couldn't bear to abandon Zijun, but she couldn't let him take her place; that would be humiliating for him. "Zijun—I won't be a burden to you. I will never let you fall into enemy hands. Remember, avenge your parents—" Mu Xiaoya leaned back forcefully, and a sharp sword pierced her body in an instant.

"Mother—" This cry was uttered with all the strength of a lifetime.

Everything in the world is collapsing and disintegrating, and everything is turning into nothingness.

A biting wind howled across the snow-covered plain, the setting sun on the horizon, like blood, gradually sank, and smoke filled the sky, the endless howling sound like a sorrowful weeping.

Why—why—if you're going to take all of this away, why did you give it to her in the first place? And if you gave it to her, why take it away—the only emotion she wanted to protect with her life.

Finally, a mouthful of blood gushed out—staining the sunset, the sky, and the entire heavens red.

The dazzling splendor on horseback drifted down...

"Wind—" That exquisite face seemed to shatter, and the broken cry seemed capable of destroying the world.

"Zijun—" The figure that had rushed over from ten thousand miles away let out a desperate roar, its exhausted body seemingly dying instantly.

The wind of despair howled across the snowfield, whipping up white robes that fluttered wildly, gradually chilling her snow-white face, and causing her disheveled hair to dance wildly, entwining with her blood-stained, bright red lips.

I never want to wake up again... I don't want to wake up from this fall, I never want to wake up again.

...

Outside, the wind howled in the frigid outdoors. The palace where the emperor was staying in Qiepantuo was heavily guarded, and the Dayu guards kept all those who were anxiously trying to visit him from the outside. "The Wind King has not yet woken up, so it is not convenient to disturb him. You can come and visit him after he wakes up."

As everyone gradually left, only a solitary figure remained, standing there amidst the howling wind and swirling snowflakes, refusing to leave.

"It's been two days, Imperial Physician Lin, why hasn't she woken up yet?" The large, calloused hand gently stroked the face of the person on the bed, again and again, anxious and worried.

Why does he always make the wrong move? Would things have been different if he had acted a little earlier?

"Your Majesty, Prince Feng is no longer in serious condition. He is just tired and should sleep a little longer. He is suffering from internal and external pain due to his injuries, and the immense grief makes him unwilling to wake up."

"Minister Lin, are you sure she's alright?" Li Tianqi gripped his large hand, losing the composure expected of an emperor.

"Your Majesty, I am certain she is alright. If she wishes, she can wake up now; if not, she may have to sleep for some time." Alas. If she truly cannot wake up, there is nothing he can do.

"Zijun—wake up, wake up and see your second brother." His throat was hoarse, and his face was pale and ashen from exhaustion.

Looking at his haggard face filled with deep sorrow, Lin Huajing sighed inwardly, "Your Majesty, please go and get some sleep. It has been two days; you cannot continue like this. Please preserve your health for the sake of the people of Dayu."

“I need to stay with him, otherwise he’ll be sad when he wakes up and there’s no one by his side.” He wearily rested his head on her shoulder. “Zijun, wake up quickly, wake up so your second brother can take you back to Lucheng, back to Lucheng to see your master.”

Looking at the person deeply immersed in love, Lin Huajing thought for a long time before finally saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister has something to report."

"Speak." Li Tianqi gently raised his head, his mind completely focused on the unconscious face. He gently cupped the face in his large hand, completely disregarding the other people around him.

"Before I speak, Your Majesty, I humbly beg your forgiveness," Lin Huajing bowed respectfully.

"Speak freely, I'll forgive you." The deeply buried face lifted slightly, but remained fixed on that face.

"This old minister dares to beg Your Majesty to pardon King Feng's crime." The voice was calm, but the listener's heart skipped a beat.

"Is this related to the Wind King?" Li Tianqi straightened up.

"yes."

"Speak, I will not punish the Wind King for anything he did." He gently grasped her fingertips, his tone unusually firm.

"Yes, as the old minister said, just now when the old minister examined the pulse of the Wind King, he found that the pulse of the Wind King was abnormal."

"How is she?" Li Tianqi's heart skipped a beat, fearing that he might say something that would mean she would never wake up.

"The Wind King's pulse is... a woman's pulse!" Lin Huajing said, bowing his head. In fact, he had already discerned it when Wei Zijun fainted, but he didn't say anything to protect the Wei family father and daughter. But now, seeing him in such distress as he hesitated, he couldn't bear it any longer.

His hand suddenly trembled, gripping Wei Zijun's hand tighter and tighter. Trying to calm his wildly beating heart, his voice trembled slightly, "Are you... sure?"

"This old minister has practiced medicine for many years and has never made a mistake in examining pulses. The medicine used for male and female pulses is different. This old minister's prescription contains snow ginseng. If this medicine is used on a male with a yang constitution, it will definitely cause fever symptoms. However, after the Wind King took this medicine, he felt very comfortable, which indicates that the Wind King is actually a female with a yin constitution. Moreover, there is something else that makes this old minister even more certain..."

I didn't hear a single word that followed; all I could hear in my mind was screaming, "She's a woman!? She's a woman!?"

Was it shock? Joy? Anger? His heart pounded like a war drum, faster and faster, almost shattering his chest. The shock lingered in his mind, leaving him unable to recover for a long time. Then, he started to laugh, a silly laugh.

That ecstasy was like fire, instantly igniting something deep within my heart, burning and spreading throughout my entire body.

No wonder, no wonder... From that moment on, my mind became clear, and all the little things we had spent together filled my heart. A sweet feeling overflowed my chest, the long-standing repression dissipated, and a satisfied smile appeared on my lips.

Just thinking about it, laughing, I forgot everything.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

Li Tianqi snapped out of his daze, suppressing a smile, and said, "My dear minister, you didn't finish speaking just now. Is there anything else you're certain about?"

Seeing his joyful expression, she pondered whether to continue. After thinking it over, she decided to tell him. If she didn't, he might find out one day, which would be bad for the Wind King. So she simply told him, hoping to dissuade him from his thoughts. His feelings were heartbreaking to witness.

“Your Majesty, my student said that General Zuo Xiaowei was poisoned by the incurable Western Turkic aphrodisiac a few days ago. This poison requires sexual intercourse with a woman, and since there are no women in the army, he would surely die. However, after the Wind King locked the general in a tent for an afternoon, the general was cured. Afterwards, the Wind King said that she had a secret technique to cure it, but I know that this poison is indeed incurable except by women.”

The joy on his face just moments before gradually froze. Lin Huajing looked at him and continued, “Upon hearing your words, although I have never heard of any internal energy that can cure this poison, I dared not doubt it too much because I know very little about the martial arts world. It was only today, after examining your pulse, that I dared to be certain. Last time I examined the pulse of the Wind King, he was still a virgin, but today I have discovered that he is no longer a virgin.”

His face, which had been unusually pale from days of exhaustion, regained its color, and a fierce flame ignited in his handsome eyes. His hands, which were clenched with long, slender, white fingers, trembled slightly.

Li Tianqi stood up abruptly and rushed out the door like a whirlwind.

Outside the door, the snow-white figure stood before the palace like an ice sculpture. Due to the constant erosion from the cold, worry, and anxiety, it finally collapsed.

Li Tianqi rushed towards the man who had collapsed from exhaustion and anxiety. He grabbed his collar and shook him violently, "Get up, get up like a man, get up and fight me."

"Get up, I told you to get up." The person lying in the snow did not move.

He lowered his raised fist, took a deep breath, and said, "Take him to the hospital for treatment."

He smashed his fist against a tree trunk, blood dripping down his face. The intense pain eased his heart, and he rushed anxiously into the house. "Zijun—" He couldn't leave her, not even for a moment.

Back indoors, she walked to the couch, her hand involuntarily caressing her silky hair, her alluring brows, her gentle eyelashes, her soft red lips, and she murmured, "Zijun... Zijun... how can I punish you?"

He lowered his head, pressing his lips firmly against hers, gently swirling and sucking, softly holding them in his mouth, kissing them with abandon. No more suppression, no more concealment, no more inner turmoil, no more pain; finally, he could release his instincts, drawing upon those red lips, his hands unconsciously caressing that soft body…

But then, untimely footsteps approached. He jumped up like someone caught in an affair, his heart pounding, and hid behind a screen. Once inside, he realized that he, the emperor, was afraid of two maids. He was acting like a young man in first love, as if afraid of being discovered for his shameful deeds. Yet, the feeling was so sweet, his heart pounding wildly—a feeling he had never experienced before, a passion he had never felt before, a sweetness he had never known. He was truly in love.

This must be his first love.

Volume 3, Dayu Chapter 123: Awakening

Five days have passed, and she still hasn't woken up, as if her life has vanished. Only the slight rise and fall of her chest reminds one that she is still alive.

The man who had collapsed in the snow seemed to know she was still unconscious, and he too remained unconscious, muttering repeatedly, "Wind—don't cry...don't cry..."