Небо над реками и озерами очень чистое - Глава 32
“I know you are no ordinary person.” Jiuwei smiled, his eyes shining brightly without a trace of drunkenness. “You never asked about my background; we are brothers after all.”
He smiled in response. Many things were buried deep in their hearts and never explored. They understood each other without saying a word. Years of tacit understanding had long since dispelled any suspicions, and they both tacitly tolerated each other's secrets.
Jiuwei lowered her eyes, then suddenly struck her bowl with her chopsticks and began to sing. Her voice was bold and stirring, like a war song, and it could be vaguely discerned as an ancient language from the desert, simple and fierce, with a mournful tone. The delicate jade bowl could not withstand the blow and shattered.
"Great song," he exclaimed.
As if triggered, Jiuwei laughed heartily, "This is the first time in many years that I have felt so good. When you go down the mountain tomorrow, consider it as helping you on your journey."
"I'll drink with you when I get back."
“There will definitely be an opportunity.” Jiuwei gave him a deep look. “If you don’t come to Meiyuan, do you think I won’t come to find you? Next time, let’s find another place to have a good drink.”
"I will certainly accompany you to the end."
The words hit the ground, and the two looked at each other and laughed. Jiuwei was serious for a while, then started to joke again.
"Oh right, I remember you said you were engaged."
"So many years ago." Memories are worn away by time, like a sheet of lightly washed rice paper.
"If you return to the Central Plains, you can rekindle your past relationship." Jiuwei began to fantasize.
He couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm afraid she's already found someone else, why would she have dragged it out until now?"
"Is it pretty?"
"A little while, it's been ordered at home."
"She must be a lady from a respectable family," Jiuwei teased. "She and you would make a truly boring couple."
He kicked the chair without hesitation, hitting the side of it squarely. Jiuwei nimbly leaped up and flipped onto the soft couch a little further away, her mischievous nature unchanged.
"I'm not saying this to be mean, but you're only suited to this kind of person. Jia Ye is just as rigid. No wonder Zi Su tried so hard to seduce you but you were unmoved. It's a pity you don't know anything about charm."
He gritted his teeth, his hands starting to itch.
Even after dodging his flying attack, Jiuwei's mouth still wouldn't stop.
"You've been up in the mountain for so many years and haven't been near any women. I've never dared to ask, but you wouldn't still be... um..." He was so engrossed in his banter that he was suddenly kicked and crashed into a carved table, knocking things over with a clatter.
He scrambled to his feet, clutching his back, and waved to Yan Rong, who had come running at the sound of his voice.
"Go outside, I have something to discuss with Shuying."
As soon as Qingying disappeared, Jiuwei lunged forward, blocking the wine jar that was about to be thrown at her.
A fierce battle unfolded in the enchanting village deep in the Tianshan Mountains.
Rubbing the bruises on her arm, Jiuwei glared at the window where he had left.
This kid has really improved a lot.
Yan Rong obediently tidied up the messy house, sweeping the broken porcelain into a pile. Bored, Jiu Wei watched the slender and graceful beauty clean up the mess and suddenly spoke.
"He's never touched you?"
Yan Rong stopped what she was doing, a look of resentment welling up in her bright eyes, and it took her a long time to reply.
"Perhaps it is... that my appearance is not to your liking, young master."
Glancing at the slightly melancholy beauty, Jiuwei lazily kicked aside the table and crossed her legs. "It's not necessarily her appearance."
“Yanrong doesn’t understand.” She finally spoke the words that had long been hidden in her heart. “Which man who comes here isn’t… Even if Xue Shi is as beautiful as an angel, she’s still just a child. How come so many people can’t forget her?”
Jiu narrowed her eyes, not answering, but continuing, "Could it be because she's always cold and aloof, that..."
"You're half right," Jiuwei interrupted her, but without any intention of blaming her.
"Who is the Moon Envoy?"
“The more unattainable something is, the more you want it; that’s just how people are.” He chuckled mockingly, his gaze sweeping over her face. “If Jia Ye were from Qingjia Pavilion, she would be nothing special, but now she’s high above everyone else, and no man can get close to her, not even the Pope. Not every woman has that kind of skill.”
Yan Rong remained silent, but Jiu Wei became more talkative.
"In terms of looks, you may not be much worse, but in other aspects..." Jiuwei shook his head. "She arouses men's interest even more, and her prickly nature makes conquerors more eager to get close to her, regardless of the cost."
"Is Young Master Shuying the same?"
“That guy…” Jiuwei understood why she was conflicted. “It’s different. He truly fell in love with that woman, not to conquer her. Although I think he’s a little foolish.”
So… this arrangement is good, otherwise it would be difficult to fight with Jia Ye in the future. Jiu Wei breathed a sigh of relief, lightly lifted Yan Rong's chin, and kissed him in a frivolous manner. "He won't hug women he doesn't like, I quite admire that about him."
free
The matter in Shache went extremely smoothly. After the general's entire family was secretly executed, no one dared to disobey the king's decree. His personal involvement in handling the matter was already exceptional, and it was hardly necessary to bring his four wings. He began to speculate about the nature of the affairs in Dunhuang that had prompted Jia Ye to be so cautious.
I rode at full speed and arrived in Dunhuang several days ahead of schedule. Subconsciously, I was still worried about her unusual behavior and couldn't put my mind at ease.
Dunhuang was a strategic city connecting the Central Plains and the Western Regions. It was exceptionally prosperous, with people of all kinds constantly coming and going. There were wealthy people who could spend money like water, as well as people who were destitute. Any imaginable form of entertainment could be found here, making it the most luxurious and affluent place in the Western Regions.
Following her instructions, we found the meeting place, a luxurious and spacious private residence.
Upon seeing the secret mark, the Kunlun slave guarding the gate immediately bowed and humbly led them into the inner room. What surprised him was the person who appeared next: dressed in fine clothes, with deep-set eyes and a thick beard, and although he spoke Han Chinese, he was clearly a Shule person.
Although Shule paid annual tribute, they harbored rebellious intentions in secret. Jiaye forbade any rash action, and he was happy to pretend ignorance. Such important news was actually relayed by the people of Shule; if he hadn't been certain that her instructions were accurate, he would have seriously doubted its authenticity.
The Shule people respectfully waved to their guests, leading them into the guest rooms. As the mechanism creaked and turned, an ingeniously designed secret room appeared before them. With such a secluded arrangement, this mansion, strategically located in the Western Regions, was hardly a private residence; it was likely a cover used by Shule for intelligence gathering.
He secretly exchanged a glance with the Black Hawk Blue Owl, who remained outside the secret room on guard, while the Silver Swan and Jade Falcon followed him inside. In the empty room, a rosewood box about half a person's height stood out conspicuously in the center.
"Open it."
The man paused slightly as the guide was about to leave, then obediently stepped forward and opened the box.
The dazzling light instantly filled the secret room.
The box was neatly divided into three compartments. One compartment was filled with high-quality gold beads, another was stacked with sparkling jewels, and the smallest compartment contained a simple jade vase.
Judging from the size of the wooden box, the various rare jewels alone could rival a nation's wealth, and among them was even a complete set of emerald jewelry bestowed upon Jiaye by the Pope.
The silver swan and the green falcon stared at each other, mouths agape, utterly bewildered.
He never imagined such a scene. He composed himself and took out the jade bottle. There was a plain note under the bottle. When he unfolded it, he saw that it was Jia Ye's handwriting.
They divided the gold on the spot, fled far from their religion, and lived a life of boundless freedom, forever severing ties with the Western Regions.
Below the lively handwriting is a line of smaller characters: "The medicine in the bottle can cure the poison of the Red Pill. Leave quickly and do not linger."
Holding the antidote he had longed for in his hand, he felt a sudden pang of fear.
What is Jia Ye arranging?
After standing there dumbfounded for a while, the two people behind him couldn't contain their surprise.
"What does this mean? It looks like we're being told to fend for ourselves." Bi Jun leaned closer, scanning the lines of text repeatedly; his curiosity had long since overwhelmed his reason. "We were expelled from the sect by the Snow Envoy?"
"If it's really that rushed, why go through all this trouble?" Silver Swan shook his head blankly. "And you even have to pay a bunch of gold beads?"
The Demonic Sect has strict rules and there is no such thing as leaving the sect. Leaving the sect without permission is considered treason. Incompetent subordinates are usually thrown into slavery, and many are silenced. Looking at the pile of gold and silver, the two were not overjoyed, but rather more cautious and fearful.
Pulling open the bottle, a dark-colored pill rolled into the palm of the hand, emitting a delicate fragrance, quite different from the antidote taken daily. The true secret medicine was in the possession of Qianming. How did Jiaye obtain it?
Having driven away the Shadow Guards and his elite troops, how can he respond to the Pope's questioning?
That night, after the restrictions were lifted, she said the Pope wouldn't know. If she truly went far away, how could the Pope remain indifferent? Jia Ye's actions were meticulous; she would never walk into a trap herself, unless…
"By sending us all away, isn't Xue Shi afraid of angering the Pope?"
"Unless they don't want to live, even the Four Envoys wouldn't dare to let their subordinates go unpunished."
What is Jia Ye thinking?
By giving others ammunition for no reason, are they truly not afraid of the Pope's wrath? Such leniency suggests only one possibility... the Pope no longer poses a threat.
Why is it specified that we must arrive before the Ghost Festival (July 15th of the lunar calendar)? What will happen after the Ghost Festival?
Is there another rebellion arising within the church?
What role did Jia Ye play in all of this?
Treasonous plot... Why do you have to send away your allies again?
She wouldn't be foolish enough to take on this challenge alone; who else would she choose?
He tried his best to recall everything before he left the church.
The secret conversation with Qianming, the release of the inner force restriction, the vague instructions, the Shule people... Jiuwei... War Song, the unusual words... The key that I hadn't noticed before suddenly surfaced, Jiuwei must have known about it too.
Qianming, Jiaye, Jiuwei... and perhaps Zisu...
The four envoys joined forces... to assassinate the emperor.
His chest tightened suddenly, and he took a deep breath, almost doubting the correctness of his deduction.
She chose to stand idly by during the rebellion years ago, so why is she getting involved this time?
What does she hope to gain by taking such a risk?
Fragments of memories scattered, too fast to grasp. Beneath the mask of cold indifference and aloofness, what was she chasing, risking her life for?
She said she didn't care about life or death.
She said that one day he would get what he wanted, and now it really has...
His gaze lingered on the letter in his hand, his thoughts were scattered and fragmented, and he felt flustered and confused.
The hasty handwriting was shocking.
The handwriting is... very messy...
She said... she hadn't practiced writing since she was four years old...
She... was four years old... after that?
His gaze flickered, and he instantly sensed something amiss.
Jiuwei said she had forgotten everything, but she knew she had practiced calligraphy before she was four years old.
Never mentioned, yet never forgotten.
"Boss, what do we do?" Bi Jun asked impatiently. "Are we really going to leave the Western Regions as Xue Shi ordered?"
"What if the King issues a kill order..." Silver Swan hesitated. The severity of the sect's laws was unimaginable to ordinary people. Having lived under its shadow for so long, no one dared to harbor any ill intentions, no matter how harsh or dangerous the missions were. If one made a mistake, the King would surely search the entire Western Regions and eradicate them completely. Under his shadow, there would be no place for anyone to hide.