Три мандариновые утки и полторы пары

Глава 40

“Perhaps you are the one who truly saved him.” Ke Luoqi glanced at her. “The assassin who escaped that night was poisoned with E'qing and should not have survived. Even if he was saved, he would have to be able to suppress the poison. Given that the Fourth Young Master has lived among foreign tribes for a long time and has a delicate relationship with Nanyuan, he is also very clear about the Eastern Region. Is it even necessary to ask who saved the assassin and suppressed the poison of E'qing?”

"The princess seems to know a great deal about my background." Su Shaochu seemed to have confirmed something. "The Azure Rainbow can give you influence within the Demon Sect and a more important position, right? Are you planning to return to the Eastern Region now, or inform Meng Yansi to come and seize it!"

"Regarding baseless accusations, Qi Zhen still maintains that she has nothing to say in response."

"It was your suggestion that the 'Dharani Bead,' a miraculous pearl for warding off poison, be presented as tribute to the Central Plains. It was also your instigation that Yan Si and Elder Poji from the Eastern Region came to snatch it, because these two were gradually discovering your secret. It seemed like the best way to use someone else to do your dirty work by inviting them to the Central Plains to die."

"What secrets does the Fourth Young Master think Qi Zhen has?" Ke Luo Qi Zhen's expression was also strangely amused.

"Why don't you remove your veil and tell me the answer, Princess?"

"presumptuous!"

With Ke Luoqizhen's angry shout, the lightning-fast force of his palm strike shook the riverbank, startling his companions not far away!

"Princess!"

The group of servants from the Eastern Region hurriedly tried to find the source of the sound, but saw three swordsmen dressed as Taoists leap down to block their way.

"Please remain where you are."

Who are you?

The Taoist Three Profound Swords faced off against the burly foreign men before them!

The powerful palm strike slammed into the opposite bank like a turbulent river. The maple trees on the riverbank, which had been welcoming the attack, were shaken and nearly fell by the sudden surge of the waves. Countless leaves fell like rain, but the snow-white figure on the opposite bank was nowhere to be seen!

Ke Luoqi looked around cautiously, and when he felt the gaze fixed on him, he suddenly looked up and saw a familiar figure standing tall in the maple tree.

Su Shaochu unfurled the long cloth covering his sword, revealing the blade, which gleamed with a chilling blue light.

"Lanqing Xuanhong?!" The eyes on the beaded gauze-covered face were shocked!

"Kroqi Zhen—Xuanhong Zhaicheng—"

The exquisite swordsmanship, accompanied by the swirling, tumbling figure, unleashed a barrage of blue sword light and sharp, penetrating force—

Ke Luoqi Zhen Jing suddenly retreated, and a tiny glint, almost invisible to the naked eye, brushed past the beaded veil covering her face. Instantly, the beads shattered like sparks and scattered all over the ground.

Without the veil covering her face, she had a very handsome face with bright blue eyes, and the prominent contours of her nose and lips were visible, as well as a light red birthmark on her left cheek.

Just then, another cold light flashed. Ke Luoqizhen, also a Xuanhong Zhaicheng, hadn't even had time to recover from Su Shaochu's attack when a powerful beam of light shot through the air from different directions. He turned around and blocked it with his sword, but the overwhelming force deflected the sword, causing it to explode into starlight. In his dazed state, two more sharp beams had already grazed his shoulder and knee respectively, forcing him to drop his sword and stagger to his knees!

"Silence! Silence!"

The wounded Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng sneered knowingly when he saw the swordsman who had come before him, "Did the Third Prince order you to kill me, or to protect this Fourth Young Master Su?"

Feng Yan, with his usual cold expression, merely glanced at him and walked to Su Shaochu's side.

"Is the Third Prince afraid that I will hurt his little snow goose?"

Facing Su Shaochu, Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng, whose true colors had been exposed, showed no panic, but simply retorted.

"I'm afraid the Third Prince is being too cautious. Bingyue Zhiyan is skilled in light footwork and her swordsmanship is also quite good."

"Why?" Su Shaochu asked.

"The things that can be done and the status that can be established by the two identities are greater power."

That's what I'm asking!

She removed another cloth from her body, and a red drum flew and embedded itself into the big tree in front of Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng.

"Jun'er loves you so deeply, yet you want to take her life!"

Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng Ning stared at the red drum, remaining silent.

"You can choose not to accept her feelings and stay away from her. Jun'er can't possibly get in the way of your power struggle, Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng—why did you kill her!" she demanded angrily. "You know her life is finite, every day more precious than anyone else's, yet you ruined her like this. How could you bear to do this to her—"

Despite his injuries, Xuan Hong and Zhai Cheng got up and closed their eyes in response to the barrage of accusations.

"Why did you take her life—Xuanhong Zhai Cheng!" The blue-green Xuanhong in her hand was pointed angrily at Xuanhong Zhai Cheng again. "If Jun'er didn't love you deeply, with her talent in music, how could she not have known that the sound of this drum would take her life!"

“Yes. How could she not realize that the sound of that drum could kill her!” Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng suddenly turned to her: “Do you understand, Su Shaochu!”

The sudden question left Su Shaochu speechless.

"Do you understand the feeling of falling in love and longing for someone day and night? Do you understand that your heart is only focused on being with the one you love, and you can no longer think about the entrustment and expectations of your people, or your own mission? All you want is to give up everything and just stay with her—do you understand that feeling?" Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng laughed and roared at her.

"You wouldn't understand. Compared to Zhu Yu, who seeks affection but doesn't know how to reciprocate in order to win the person she wants, you, Su Shaochu Wu, are truly heartless and ruthless. You, overflowing with tenderness, are full of accusations. How much more do you know than Zhu Yu?"

Pain distorted his expression.

"Jun'er and I cannot be together. Besides Jun'er's disability, the Xuanhong clan of the Eastern Region and the Qushao clan of the Southern Source have been sworn enemies since ancient times. The Xuanhong clan in the Eastern Region appears to be peaceful and dedicated to healing their people, but secretly they are researching and making poisons and studying various musical notes that can destroy and kill people."

"Nan Yuan Qu Shao developed various life-saving medicines, using music to help the medicines work. The people my clan killed, they saved; the people they saved, my clan killed. This cycle repeated itself endlessly. The two clans regarded each other as sworn enemies. We each inherited the mission of our clans and were destined to be apart."

"You killed her for that?" she couldn't believe it.

“Hehehe…” Xuanhong Zhaicheng laughed, a laugh of relief. “After she died, I can finally sever all ties in my heart and focus on the hopes of my people.”

“You don’t need to do this. Jun’er’s life is almost over, and you still want to ruin it…” She couldn’t accept it.

"Do you understand love, Su Shaochu?" He asked the question again. "Do you know the fear of not being able to be with her day and night, and not knowing when she will pass away? Do you know what it feels like to see her suffering from heart disease while you have to completely cut ties with her?"

Gazing at the red drum on the tree, Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng was lost in memories of the past.

"This drum, guided by the sound of her flute, slowly seals her blood vessels. When she falls, she will feel no pain, only beautiful dreams. And I will finally no longer be tormented by the fear of losing her, and the inability to be with her."

It was as if he were back at the moment he saw her collapse, standing outside the window. In that instant, he pressed his hand to his heart, feeling an intense, unbearable pain that gripped and twisted his heart!

Until he saw her peacefully sleeping face again, so beautiful and serene, it strangely comforted his heart. At least she was freed from pain, and his Jun'er no longer had to suffer the torment of separation and illness.

"Can the heart and feelings be separated?" he asked Su Shaochu. "At least in Jun'er's case."

“Separate heart and feelings…” Su Shaochu’s heart was filled with excitement; she understood.

"Jun'er gave her feelings to me, but her heart to you. You are the one who understands her best and knows her thoughts best. The dependence that accompanied her has turned into admiration. You can roam the world freely, while she, who is often ill, can only stay in Nanyuan, smiling and waiting for you to come back, listening to you tell about the world. You have the life she most wanted. No matter how you interpret it, Jun'er has indeed left her heart to you."

Too many mysteries will make you remember me. If I really leave in the future, you will keep thinking about the things we did together, about me, and about my words. That's what it means to stay in your heart forever.

Recalling the past, Su Shaochu couldn't shed a tear, but the pain tore deep into his heart and lungs.

"Many of the young people in Ranliu Xuanhong are orphans whom you raised yourself. They regard you as their teacher and father. How could you deceive them and take advantage of their feelings to give your life for them!"

“After I killed the person I loved most, I decided to have no more attachments.” Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng smiled bitterly, recalling the mutilated corpses he had witnessed in the halls of the Three Emperors’ Palace. “These children, I gave them a chance to leave, but they didn’t.”

"Are the hopes of your people so important to you? So important that you'd abandon those closest to you?"

"The Xuanhong clan is like the four great families in the Central Plains. Their abilities are valued by those in power but also suspected by them. As a result, my parents were poisoned by another faction in the Moxi Cult. Keluo Qizhen is my only twin sister. Her title of princess was bestowed by the royal family, and her real name is Xuanhong Qizhen."

It all started with the death of his only sibling. Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng was silent for a moment before saying, "Five years ago, in order to save me, she fell into the trap set by Yan Si of the Eastern Region and Lord Po Ji. Although it was said to outsiders that she escaped this calamity, in fact, she died. The elders asked me to impersonate her and support the Xuan Hong clan's business."

Su Shaochu lowered his eyes, no wonder that the Eastern Region Yan Si and the Po Ji people died in the Central Plains, and the prince "Kro Qi Zhen" never inquired about it.

“I have said my piece. Now it’s time to do what you want to do!” Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng looked at her. “With Feng Yan and Bing Yue Zhi Yan here, I can’t escape. Whoever you want to avenge, whether it’s for Jun’er or for those children who sacrificed their lives, you can begin.”

Su Shaochu sheathed the Blue-Green Profound Rainbow in his hand and walked towards him.

“I cannot accept your thoughts and ideas, but I know that you did not kill Jun’er.” She already knew very well why Jun’er died. “How could someone so skilled at using music to heal wounds not know the meaning of the drum you gave her?”

"Whether she knew her intentions or not, Jun'er did indeed die from the drumbeats I sent." There's no need for her to find a reason not to kill him.

“You said that Jun’er gave her heart to me. I am the one who understands her best. If she were here, she would want to fulfill your choice and wish.”

Su Shaochu handed the Blue Azure Rainbow to him.

"If this sword can bring you greater prestige and power, then it is yours!"

"Fourth Young Master!" Feng Yan, who was standing guard to the side, frowned.

“I will explain to the Third Prince,” she said. “Young Master Xuanhong, I do not wish to see you, Keluo Qizhen. Do you still remember the exchange of music on Songyan Mountain? What I want to see is Xuanhong Zhaicheng, who can drink and make merry. But I know how much helplessness is reflected in the world.”

The wind blows the withered leaves on the ground, but it cannot blow away the vicissitudes etched in my heart.

Picking up the Azure Rainbow Sword placed in his hand, and watching the departing figure escorted by Feng Yan, Xuanhong Zhai Cheng smiled sadly.

"Su Shaochu, your gentleness is the most ruthless killer!"

Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng suddenly threw the small drum on his body out, which embedded itself in the surrounding trees. He took the Blue-Green Xuan Hong sword, channeled his energy into the sword, and opened all his meridians to welcome the approaching death.

Hearing the chilling, murderous drumbeats, Su Shaochu turned around in surprise and saw a figure in the woods kicking stones, striking the drum, and wielding a sword to let the drumbeats resonate through his body—

"Xuanhong Zhaicheng—" She hurriedly turned around and rushed over.

"Fourth Young Master—don't go over there!" Feng Yan stopped Su Shaochu even faster.

"Step back—"

"Fourth Young Master, that was his choice. Saving him would only cause him pain, making it difficult for him to face his dead clansmen and for him to return to his surroundings. Let him... go and see Miss Feng in peace!"

"Feng Yan, if you don't back down, don't blame me for taking action." Su Shaochu shouted angrily, but Feng Yan remained resolute and unmoved.

"The Third Prince has decreed that Ke Luoqizhen's choice be granted, but Fengyan forbids the Fourth Young Master from passing through."

"you--"

As the drumbeats ceased and Feng Yan finally moved aside, Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng, covered in blood, pierced the red drum opposite him with his Blue-Green Xuan Hong sword. The powerful and awe-inspiring echo of the exploding red drum struck Xuan Hong Zhai Cheng's raised head directly—

Su Shaochu suddenly grabbed Feng Yan's shoulder, closed his eyes in pain, and his body trembled.

"Fourth Young Master, you don't need to feel guilty or sad. He had planned this all along. Ever since Miss Sai died, he has had no motivation to live. Otherwise, he could have taken the red drum that was given to Miss Feng without leaving any evidence. He knows about you and Su Xuechu. He summoned the Ice Moon Goose to kill himself and prevent himself from falling into the abyss of madness that he couldn't control."

Chapter Nine

Colorful butterflies flutter among the lush flowers and greenery of Butterfly Maple Garden, melodious music plays in a small pavilion by the lake, and a zither player sits on a stone table surrounded by wisps of smoke.

Upon seeing the figure approaching amidst the gentle breeze and dappled sunlight, Zhu Yu stopped playing the zither, a smile spreading across his handsome face beneath his elegant and radiant appearance.

"How does my beloved brother view this struggle in the Eastern Region?"

"I've come to understand your perverse interests even more," Su Shaochu said calmly from outside the pavilion.

"Doesn't my beloved brother feel at all moved that I, the prince, am exposing a falsehood for you?"

"All I see is your cruelty in manipulating human nature and then enjoying it." Back then, when Keluoqizhen instigated Yan Si of the Eastern Region and Elder Poji to come and seize the Dharani Beads, Zhu Yu must have been one of the accomplices.

"Cruel!" Zhu Yu laughed. "I, the prince, do not intervene in the struggles between foreign tribes. I only care about which power rises and is still beneficial to my Central Plains. Who swallows whom, who deals with whom, is not something I can influence. I merely lent a helping hand to the rise of Keluoqizhen. In recent years, Keluoqizhen has gradually lost control over the other dissidents within the Moxi Sect. Dealing with the Moxi Sect and even the Eastern Region is only a matter of time. However, due to my prior promise to Keluoqizhen, I have no choice but to resolve this promise."