Смертная любовь в эпоху Северной Сун

Глава 98

Tuoba Jie was actually concerned about her? Startled, she looked up at the wrinkle between his brows. A gentle warmth welled up in Rongyue's heart. Her lips curled slightly, her eyes crinkled, and she gave him a grateful smile: "Thank you."

That pure and innocent smile was like a white lotus in midsummer, pure, elegant, and untouched by worldly dust, causing his eyes to momentarily lose focus.

Shaking the strong liquor in the jar, his phoenix eyes habitually slanted upwards: "Don't misunderstand, I'm just afraid of getting into trouble! If the General gets drunk here, I'm afraid the Second Prince will not let it go, and will inevitably unleash his nameless rage on me, making me look bad for nothing!"

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, touched her slightly flushed cheeks, and smiled noncommittally. Shaking her slightly dizzy head, she swiftly snatched the wine jar from Tuoba Jie's hands.

Holding him close, she took a large gulp of the strong liquor, the pungent fumes rushing to her nose and mouth, quickly filling her eyes with a misty haze. Blinking hard to clear the mist, Rongyue grinned broadly, a wide smile spreading across her face: "Drawing a sword to cut water only makes it flow more, raising a cup to drown sorrow only makes it more! Haha, Li Bai really is a wise man, a wise man indeed… But looking around this world, how many truly wise men are there? A drunken stupor can dispel a thousand sorrows; perhaps, being a little muddled isn't such a bad thing after all…"

In his eyes, Rongyue had always been confident, proud, and arrogant. But now, the faint sorrow and helplessness that Rongyue inadvertently revealed made Tuoba Jie feel as if he were experiencing the same thing, and he felt an inexplicable sense of oppression and irritation. He snatched the wine jar and threw it behind him with a thud. The large wine jar shattered into pieces, and the wine splashed all over the ground. The strong smell of wine spread throughout the small military tent.

"The General wishes to drink and confide in someone, and I believe His Highness the Second Prince will be happy to keep him company! Tomorrow we will depart for the capital, and as the Prime Minister of the nation, I bear great responsibilities and naturally have many matters to attend to! Therefore, please forgive me for not being able to keep you company, General!"

Ignoring Tuoba Jie's order to leave, Rongyue, slightly drunk, leaned back heavily in her chair, tilting her head back and glancing at Tuoba Jie with somewhat unfocused eyes: "I understand the principle that a tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind, but I have no choice. Fate has forced me to push myself step by step into the limelight... Actually, I know that many of you wish me dead, because I am too unconventional and too mysterious. This makes me unpredictable, unsettling, and like a thorn in your side, something you can't get rid of, but you worry about the adverse effects of removing me..."

As if oblivious to Tuoba Jie's taut facial muscles and ever-changing eyes, his expression seemed to pierce through Tuoba Jie, reaching towards a distant, ethereal void: "Actually, the life I want is very simple, really very simple. It doesn't need to be spectacular, it doesn't need to be extremely wealthy, and it certainly doesn't need to be remembered in history or leave a lasting legacy. Tuoba Jie, let me tell you, you might not believe it, a small plot of land, a wife and children, a warm bed—that's the life I long for... Very simple, isn't it? Ha, but even such a simple life is a luxury for me, one I'm afraid I'll never achieve in my lifetime... I always knew life had many frustrations, but since coming into this world, I've truly felt that kind of helplessness that leaves one feeling utterly powerless..."

Holding onto the square high table, Rongyue swayed slightly as she stood up, her slender finger pointing at Tuoba Jie as she chuckled, "Tuoba Jie, isn't it strange? We're not even that close, and sitting next to you makes me feel so oppressed, yet I've poured my heart out to you like this… Ah, humans really are strange creatures…" Taking a few steps, Rongyue staggered out of the military tent, leaving Tuoba Jie with only a slender and lonely silhouette…

The faint echo of Rongyue's giggling laughter seemed to still linger in my ears, clear yet tinged with melancholy, a melancholy tinged with desolation. Each sound reached my ears, yet remained ethereal, sometimes near, sometimes far, like something shrouded in mist. Could it be that even the mere smell of alcohol had made him drunk…?

Rongyue did not return to the military tent all night. Tuoba Chen sat alone on the cold, hard wooden bed, vexed all night.

As dawn broke, the eastern horizon was tinged with a pale, fish-belly-like gray. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and a thin, white fog swirled between heaven and earth, hazy and ethereal, making one feel as if they were in a fairyland.

But on this beautiful morning, no one paid attention to this delightful scene. The bugle sounded, and about ten thousand soldiers, selected the night before, lined up in neat rows, awaiting Rongyue's instructions.

Fathers and sons together stepped forward, brothers together stepped forward, only sons stepped forward, and families with fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters also stepped forward… A careful count revealed that about ten thousand men stepped forward. These ten thousand soldiers were the lucky ones now awaiting their journey back to Ziye. Yes, they were indeed lucky. These ten thousand lives were pulled from a pile of sixty thousand men by Rongyue, akin to escaping from the gates of hell, leaping from the depths of death to the depths of life…

Pulling Fan Luo aside, Rong Yue lowered her voice: "Did you hear everything I said clearly?"

The seven-foot-tall man's eyes reddened, and he quickly wiped his face with his sleeve, nodding heavily: "Yes."

"Fan Luo!" Rong Yue's voice rose slightly, filled with warning: "What are you doing! You look like you've lost your parents, what are you thinking! Harden your heart, put away your pointless sadness, don't give yourself away in front of the Second Prince. If he notices even the slightest thing, I'll haunt you even in death!"

“General…” The word “ghost” triggered Fan Luo’s nerves, causing him to grieve deeply, and his rugged face was filled with painful sorrow.

"What kind of behavior is this!" Rongyue spat angrily, then turned her back with her hands behind her back. "The time is almost up, what are you dawdling for? Hurry up and go and invite the Second Prince out!"

"General!" With a loud thud, Fan Luo's knees slammed heavily into the ground. "General, your strategies are extraordinary, your wisdom exceptional, truly a remarkable general of our time, a genius for all ages! Despite your high position, you are neither arrogant nor haughty, treating your soldiers like your own brothers. Throughout the entire army, everyone who speaks of you gives you a thumbs up and sings your praises! I, Fan Luo, was once impetuous, but the General was magnanimous and did not punish me, patiently pointing out my shortcomings and offering earnest guidance, which I will never forget! Now that the General is in trouble, how can I, who have received so much kindness from the General in the past, abandon you? Although I, Fan Luo, am not comparable to those great heroes who have gone down in history, I pride myself on not being a coward! The General is a hero, the person I admire most in my life. I, Fan Luo, hope to stay by the General's side, serving him faithfully and at his service! I hope the General will grant my request!"

"We are willing to follow the general, to serve him faithfully and at his beck and call! We hope the general will grant our request!" As soon as Fan Luo finished speaking, a dark mass of soldiers behind him knelt down, their voices echoing through the valley and stirring Rong Yue's calm heart.

Her eyes welled up with tears. At this moment, Rongyue wanted to cry, to sob out loud to express her feelings. In her most desperate, helpless, and painful moment, so many people risked their lives for her. What could she complain about? What resentment could she hold? Nothing. This moment washed away all the resentment, sorrow, and hatred in her heart, leaving only a heart-stirring emotion.

She was moved, but rationally she knew she wouldn't change her plans because of it, much less risk losing so many lives for the sake of being moved. At this moment, saving even one person from this hellhole was a matter of…

The turmoil in her heart cooled down in an instant. With a cold face, Rongyue hardened her heart and slapped Fan Luo across the face: "Nonsense! You're disrupting morale, are you trying to rebel?! Think of your elderly parents! Go now! Bring out the Second Prince!"

"General..."

"Fan Luo! Go quickly!"

Rongyue's unequivocal tone made Fan Luo understand that their general, Shi, was determined to send them back to Ziye. Suppressing his grief, he wiped away his tears, stood up, and staggered towards Tuoba Chen's tent…

Having witnessed everything, Tuoba Jie gazed at Rong Yue, who stood before the army with an aloof and resolute expression. Xin Xuan seemed to be subtly touched in some way. His hands clenched tightly, he resolutely turned and left, his stern and cold face etched with ruthlessness. He would rather betray the world than let the world betray him! Since they could not be used by him, so be it!

The army returning to Ziye had been marching for seven days and seven nights. During these seven days and seven nights, almost no one spoke, let alone laughed. The ten thousand-strong army was silent and lifeless. The soldiers hung their heads, as if they had suffered a defeat, and their faces were full of sorrow.

Inside the imperial carriage, Tuoba Chen, still seething with anger, was completely oblivious to the tense atmosphere. He kept thinking about Rong Yue's outrageously heartless words before he left, his teeth clenched, so angry that he felt like he was about to explode!

Volume Two: The Resolute Heroines' Chronicle, Chapter Thirty: Mad for You

"The Second Prince is not in good health and has had a bumpy journey. He needs to be well taken care of, which may delay the army's progress! You know, the imperial decree has been issued, and the Emperor is urging me to return to Ziye as soon as possible to discuss important matters!"

"How about we do it this way? We'll split into two groups, assigning ten thousand men to accompany the Second Prince and take good care of him, while also preventing any petty thieves from appearing on the road. Meanwhile, I will lead the main army back to Ziye at top speed to report back!"

"Of course we won't take the same route as the Second Prince. The official road is indeed smooth, but it's still a relatively long journey. To save time, we'll naturally take shortcuts and take the back roads!"

"Your Highness, please don't joke. With your health, we can't afford to take responsibility if anything happens to you!"

...

He didn't understand. Even if the injury wasn't for her, let alone the fact that it was caused by her, she wouldn't say such hurtful and heartless things! He didn't understand what he had done wrong to provoke such disgust and loathing from her!

With both hands pounding angrily on the crossbar of the imperial carriage, Tuoba Chen felt increasingly frustrated and resentful. Suddenly, he kicked the sandalwood railing that was lying in front of his knees and snapped it in two: "Stop!"

Upon hearing the Second Prince's roar, Fan Luo, who was leading the procession, hurriedly spurred his horse forward and tightened the reins a few steps away from the imperial carriage: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

Still seething with anger, Tuoba Chen gripped the crossbar tightly with both hands, his face grim, and turned his lifeless eyes toward the direction where Fan Luo had spoken: "Fan Wuwei, do you know which path the General took?"

"Which road…?" Fan Luo paused, then a deep sorrow spread across his rugged face. His thick hand gripping the reins tightened, and he bit his lip, hesitating to speak. Remembering Rong Yue's instructions before his departure, he struggled to suppress his grief, replying in a hoarse voice, "This subordinate… doesn't know…" The general has… perhaps it's a road of no return…

Despite his best efforts to suppress it, he still revealed a slight abnormality, as he was not good at hiding his emotions.

Doubts arose. His anger gradually subsided, and he furrowed his brow, his mind replaying the scene of his argument with Rongyue that day, pondering it repeatedly…

Tuoba Chen's heart skipped a beat; in that instant, he seemed to realize something.

"Fan Luo, are you hiding something from me? Speak!"

His body trembled, and meeting Tuoba Chen's stern gaze, Fan Luo hurriedly replied, "Your Highness is overthinking it. How could I dare to deceive Your Highness..."

Crack! The horizontal supports on both sides were violently cleaved in two, producing a sharp and ear-piercing snapping sound. His face was like a cold, sharp blade, as cold as ice and iron, exuding a chilling aura! Although it was the warm and cozy early summer season, Fan Luo, standing half a zhang away, seemed as if he were in the depths of a desolate winter.

"Are you courting death! Fan Luo, are you trying to deceive your master just because I'm not good at seeing?!"

He slid off his horse in one swift motion and prostrated himself before Tuoba Chen, saying, "This subordinate would never dare to have any disrespect for His Highness the Second Prince!"