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"Is that you?" The man's voice came again.

Xiaoxuan slowly raised her head and looked over. Standing in front of her was the man who had asked her for love at the nunnery when she was in Tokyo.

Her lips trembled involuntarily, and Xiao Xuan asked, "Are you Zhao Kuangyin?"

"How dare you!" came an angry shout from nearby.

"Enough," Zhao Kuangyin interrupted, then looked at Xiao Xuan and said, "Yes, I am Zhao Kuangyin, and I don't think you are Xiao Xuan'er, right?"

"My name is Xiao Chuo!"

Looking at Xiao Xuan, Zhao Kuangyin said, "That day I heard you say that your home was very far away. I often wondered how far away it could be. I never expected that you were a Khitan. It is indeed very far away." Looking at Xiao Xuan who had been pushed to the ground, Zhao Kuangyin said, "We are old friends, after all. Get up."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxuan slowly stood up, sighed deeply, and said leisurely, "The things of this world are truly unpredictable. Since childhood, I have admired Zhao Jingniang and never dared to dream of meeting the person who escorted Jingniang back to her hometown. That's why I traveled thousands of miles to Tokyo. At that time, I thought that even if I couldn't meet that person, as long as I could live in the same city as him, I could still feel his spirit and his boldness. I never expected that what I wanted to see had already been seen, but things have changed."

After hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Zhao Kuangyin was even more astonished. He asked, "You know Jingniang?"

Xiao Xuan shook her head, and a hint of disappointment appeared on Zhao Kuangyin's face.

"I've only heard the story of escorting Jingniang a thousand miles. I've never understood why, since Jingniang was so beautiful and the journey home was so long, the man refused to marry her after escorting her home. Did he really not have any feelings for her along the way? If the journey was destined to be heartless, why bother to escort her?"

Zhao Kuangyin listened to Xiao Xuan's words, his expression changing inscrutable. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "You must have had a hard journey. Go and eat something, wash up, and then get some rest."

Upon hearing his order, someone immediately came and helped Xiao Xuan out of the military tent, taking her to another tent. With Zhao Kuangyin's personal instructions, they did not make things difficult for Xiao Xuan, but simply brought her some delicious food as instructed, and then guarded her outside the tent.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 41: Old Wine

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:05 Word Count: 3840

Unexpectedly, he met Zhao Kuangyin in such a muddled way.

He was now a middle-aged man with graying temples, no longer the Brother Zhao from her picture book. The woman beside him, named Hua Rui, was also no longer Zhao Jingniang from the picture book. After a long sigh, Xiao Xuan ate a little something and lay down to rest. The bumpy journey and the fear she had endured left her exhausted, and she quickly fell asleep.

We met again three days later in the evening.

She was led to the military tent and walked towards a high slope near the small town. Upon reaching the top of the slope, she found a table already set up with food and wine, and Zhao Kuangyin was sitting there.

Upon seeing Xiao Xuan appear, Zhao Kuangyin beckoned to her and said, "Come sit here."

Xiao Xuan walked to the table and sat down opposite Zhao Kuangyin.

"Eat whatever you like, don't be shy. It's not like we'd run into old friends on the battlefield. Let's just be like we were in the nunnery that day, and do whatever we want. You don't need to be reserved, let's just treat this as a casual chat and reminisce." Zhao Kuangyin said, "Our first meeting was in the evening, so I've chosen to meet you again in the evening."

Xiao Xuan was at a loss for words when she heard this.

Zhao Kuangyin looked at Xiao Xuan and saw the shimmering gold hairpin in her hair.

"You still have her hairpin with you," Zhao Kuangyin said, looking quite saddened.

Xiao Xuan gently touched the gold hairpin and asked, "Is she alright?"

Zhao Kuangyin gazed at the distant city of Jinyang in silence. After a long while, he suddenly said, "She is dead."

"What?" Xiaoxuan couldn't believe her ears. She was perfectly fine back then, how could she suddenly die? Could she have been seriously ill?

"She was hit by an arrow," Zhao Kuangyin said slowly.

"What? How could she have been shot?" Xiaoxuan asked, puzzled. "How did you protect her? How could you let her put herself in danger?"

Zhao Kuangyin narrowed his eyes and said in a low, hoarse voice, "The person who shot her was an accident; that person didn't really want her to die."

Xiao Xuan sighed. She didn't understand what he meant by "accidental injury." She only remembered that he had been very fond of the woman named Hua Rui that day. Could it have been just a fling? Are men really so unreliable? Xiao Xuan looked at Zhao Kuangyin, hoping to find the answer in his face and in his expression.

"Xiao Chuo, tell me, did she really worry about my safety that day in the nunnery?" Zhao Kuangyin asked.

"Is this important?"

Nodding, Zhao Kuangyin said, "It's not important to her, but it's very important to me."

Xiao Xuan gave a soft, cold laugh and said, "The person is already dead, so talking about what's important is just empty talk. Men's love is always so fragile. Jingniang was like that back then, and now Huarui is no different."

Zhao Kuangyin was taken aback, then laughed and said, "You are a woman, you wouldn't understand. A man's ambition lies in all directions, how can he be preoccupied with matters of the heart and children and have his ambitions extinguished?"

With a faint smile, Xiao Xuan replied, "How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed? That saying is indeed true." A cold laugh rippled through her. "How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one's bed?" Wasn't that a famous line from Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin? Looking at the distant city of Jinyang, Xiao Xuan thought: Now, I finally understand the true meaning of that line. "One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand," Zhao Kuangyin's famous saying, yet the price he paid was many times greater.

Zhao Kuangyin was very surprised. These were exactly what he was thinking and what his ambitions lay in. How could Xiao Chuo say such a thing? He frowned and stared at "Xiao Chuo".

“I used to think I could never compare to you in this lifetime. You were a legend, high above, revered by thousands, while I was just an ordinary person chasing after your legend. Now I realize that you are just a mortal too. We are all mortals. Even gods wouldn't dare to claim perfection, let alone mortals.” Xiao Xuan said, “If I hadn’t seen you and Hua Rui at Luoxia Nunnery in Tokyo, witnessed your intimacy, you would still be the legend in my heart. But now it’s different. You can like her so much, yet you can forget her just as easily. Jing Niang and Hua Rui are just flowers you planted in your courtyard. You look at them and play with them when you like them, and when you get tired of them, weary of them, and no longer like them, who cares if they bloom again in the future?”

He thought his words would anger Zhao Kuangyin, but to his surprise, he was met with silence.

After a moment of silence, Zhao Kuangyin said, “Even the most heartless gardener will occasionally plant a flower that he never tires of looking at. The flower was shot by an arrow while picking it. As for Jingniang, I still remember her, but my feelings for her are far from what you think. Back then, I was young and wild, my heart yearning for the world. Saving people was only for a moment of pleasure; I never thought of any romantic feelings. Now, thinking back, I truly owe Jingniang a debt. I left without caring about her future; that was truly rash. I also have someone I love, and my favorite is that flower that was accidentally shot by an arrow while picking it.” Having been sitting in his chair, Zhao Kuangyin stood up, gazing at the distant horizon, and softly said, “Xiao Chuo, when I first met you, you were watching the sunset. Yes, that sunset was truly beautiful, like that early-blooming peach blossom on the mountainside—unforgettable.”

Xiao Xuan looked at Zhao Kuangyin and saw that he seemed to be deep in thought. She softly recited: "The king raised the surrender flag on the city wall, how could I, a concubine in the deep palace, know?"

"One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms; was there not a single man among them?" Xiao Xuan recited in response.

Zhao Kuangyin turned to look at her, his eyes full of surprise, "You know this poem too?"

Xiao Xuan nodded and said, "I've read this poem before and know it was written by a woman about the fall of her country, but I didn't know who wrote it. So you know it too."

Zhao Kuangyin smiled slightly and said, "You've met the person who wrote the poem; it's Hua Rui, who was with me at the nunnery that night."

"It was her?" Xiaoxuan asked in disbelief. This poem was actually written by that woman.

Zhao Kuangyin smiled slightly and said, "She was originally a concubine of Meng Chang, the ruler of Shu. She was skilled in singing and dancing, and most importantly, she could compose poetry. I heard her name before Shu was destroyed. But what interests me is not her beauty, her singing and dancing, nor her poetry. Meng Chang had countless beauties in his harem, but she was the only concubine who advised him to focus on state affairs. I heard that she came from a brothel and was later chosen by Meng Chang to enter the palace, where she was greatly favored. It's rare that she didn't take advantage of his favor; instead, she kept advising Meng Chang to concentrate on state affairs, but unfortunately, it was like talking to a brick wall. Fortunately, although Meng Chang didn't concentrate on state affairs, he doted on her immensely." I loved her, so I wasn't angry with her for her advice. I'd heard of such a beauty and was very curious, so after the fall of Shu, I summoned her and Meng Chang to come to Tokyo to pay their respects. In the court, she was breathtakingly beautiful, captivating my heart and soul; my thoughts were completely on her. After Meng Chang's death, I summoned her to the palace and asked her to compose a poem to display her talent. The first poem she recited was one she had written while being escorted to Tokyo, passing through Jiameng Pass: "Leaving the Shu road, my heart is broken; the sorrow of parting is endless; spring days feel like years; on horseback, I constantly hear the cuckoo's cry. Three thousand palace maids, all beautiful as flowers, vie in beauty; their hair styled in the imperial court; who knows today this is a prophecy?" She recited... After finishing the poem, she told me that she had written it on her way to the capital after the fall of her kingdom with Meng Chang. I was surprised to hear this; she wasn't afraid of my punishment and had specifically chosen this poem to recite to me. My feelings for her deepened, so I asked her to recite another one, which resulted in this poem about the fall of a kingdom. "The king's flag was lowered on the city walls, how could I, in the deep palace, know? One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms, not one of them a true man." What a poignant line: "One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms, not one of them a true man." Meng Chang indulged in daily revelry and pleasure, ultimately leading to the downfall of his kingdom. The line "One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms" is a sigh from Hua Rui. This revealed his sorrow and helplessness. For a monarch of a fallen kingdom, to have not a single soldier willing to shed blood and sacrifice their life for him was a profound disgrace. After hearing this poem, I admired Hua Rui even more—her talent, her courage, and how, even during my time in the Song Dynasty, she still cherished her former kingdom. I had imagined that one day, after conquering this vast land and achieving peace, I would take Hua Rui with me, letting her see my empire, my people, and how I differed from Meng Chang. Alas, her heart belonged only to Meng Chang; though I kept her in the palace, I could never win her heart.

As darkness fell, the two men on the high slope continued their reminiscing. Unbeknownst to them, the crescent moon had climbed into the night sky, illuminating the entire earth.

“Every time I see a flower bloom, I think of her. I never imagined that she could stay in my heart for so long.”

"Is there a pot of aged wine where the first sip allows you to savor the traces of time, the second sip evokes memories of the most precious things in your heart, and the third sip allows you to forget everything in the world?" Xiaoxuan said thoughtfully.

“Even if such wine truly existed, you must not drink it,” Zhao Kuangyin said.

"Why?" Xiaoxuan asked, puzzled. "Wouldn't it be better to forget everything? Wouldn't it be better to be free from worries and troubles?"

“Some things, even if they make you sad and upset, you can’t bear to forget them, so it’s better not to drink that kind of wine. Xiao Chuo, I feel suffocated. Would you like to drink a cup with me?” Zhao Kuangyin said.

Xiao Xuan laughed and said, "I don't drink alcohol, but I must drink this time. Let's have a drink for the woman who wrote '140,000 men laid down their arms, not one of them a true man.'"

Zhao Kuangyin smiled, picked up his wine cup, and drank with Xiao Xuan.

A spicy sensation spread through her throat, and Xiaoxuan's face immediately turned bright red.

When Zhao Kuangyin saw this, he laughed and said, "You can't drink, so why make things difficult for yourself?"

The spiciness hadn't faded yet, and Xiaoxuan frowned and shook her head vigorously.

"Xiao Chuo, I will send someone to take you back to Xijing tomorrow. No matter who you are, I will not harm you."

Xiao Xuan was secretly delighted when she heard Zhao Kuangyin say he would send her back to Xijing, but looking at Jinyang City so close at hand, she felt anxious. It was so close, if she left, she might not be able to see him again.

Empress of Khitan - Empress Dowager of Khitan Chapter 42 Farewell

Updated: 2008-09-20 16:54:05 Word Count: 3796

"You seem unhappy? Did you have a falling out with the King of Liao, which is why you ran away on your own?" Zhao Kuangyin asked, seeing no joy on Xiaoxuan's face. "I was also wondering how a royal consort of Liao could be so careless. There was a battle going on in Jinyang, yet you ran to such a nearby place, giving me an opportunity to capture you."

Xiao Xuan looked at Zhao Kuangyin, sighed, and said, "I didn't quarrel with him. He's just as good as you. He didn't know I was coming here at first. And the reason I appeared in Xijing is very simple: my goal was Jinyang."

Upon hearing Xiaoxuan's words, Zhao Kuangyin frowned slightly.

"My friend is in Jinyang City. I heard that Jinyang City was besieged, so I rushed here, hoping to sneak into the city and help my friend escape." Xiaoxuan decided to tell the truth.

"What kind of friend would make you take such a risk for him?" Zhao Kuangyin asked, puzzled.

“I met a companion on the road who loved listening to stories, so I told him stories. Because of that story, we went from strangers to friends and became close friends.”

"Is it Liu Yanyu?" Zhao Kuangyin asked. He remembered the belt that was placed in front of the Buddha shrine in the temple.

Xiao Xuan nodded.

"You two have such a deep affection for each other, why don't you wear a belt with his name on it? If you did, wouldn't it protect you?" Zhao Kuangyin said with a smile.

"Yes, I do! I always keep the belt inside my clothes so it doesn't get wet or damaged," Xiaoxuan replied.

"Hahaha!" Zhao Kuangyin laughed loudly: "It seems that his name cannot protect your safety."

Looking at Zhao Kuangyin's smiling face, Xiao Xuan said, "You protected me. If you hadn't protected me, how could I still be standing unharmed in front of you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin's smile vanished, and he looked at Xiao Xuan with a gaze colder than the moonlight. After a moment's thought, he said, "You told him a story, and it actually deepened the affection between you two. I really don't know what kind of story it was. Now that the moon is bright, you should tell me the story too."

"You don't need to hear that story," Xiaoxuan said calmly.

"Oh?" A hint of anger flashed across Zhao Kuangyin's face. "What story is it that I can't bear to hear?"

Standing up, Xiao Xuan looked towards Jinyang City in the distance and said, "Because the story I told him was about a man who used a dragon-patterned staff and escorted a woman named Zhao Jingniang home."

After a long while, a voice came from behind: "Is that so?"

Xiao Xuan nodded.

Turning around, Zhao Kuangyin picked up his wine cup and drank it down in one gulp. He then returned to the table, and Xiao Xuan picked up her chopsticks and began to eat the food on the table.

"The food is getting cold. I'll have someone heat it up for you," Zhao Kuangyin said.

"No need," Xiao Xuan said, "Eating it with the night breeze has a unique flavor." After saying that, she and Zhao Kuangyin looked at each other and smiled.

Two days later, at dawn, Xiao Xuan was summoned to Zhao Kuangyin's tent.