Смертная любовь в эпоху Северной Сун

Глава 136

Turning her gaze to Tuoba Jie, Rongyue looked at him earnestly, making her expression appear sincere: "A person cannot decide their birth, but they can decide the path they will take in the future. Tuoba Jie, why are you so fixated on the past, or more accurately, your childhood? After all, one must look forward. Constantly dwelling on the past will only exhaust you! Life is for yourself; live each day to the fullest. After all, life is short, just a few decades, gone in the blink of an eye. If you spend your days consumed by hatred, when you are nearing the end of your life and look back, won't you feel regret? You haven't lived for yourself; all you have is the burden of hatred and bloodthirsty killing. Isn't such a life comparable to hell on earth?"

"Have you said enough?" Tuoba Jie stared at her fiercely, his expression a mixture of embarrassment at being exposed in public and uncertainty about his own situation. He used a sinister look to mask the turmoil in his heart.

"I'm sorry, I haven't said enough. Tuoba Jie, when will this cycle of revenge end? Why don't you try to let go? Fine, fine, I admit I was wrong, I admit I was talking without understanding the situation. Yes, I can't understand the pain unless I'm in your shoes. Like drinking water, only the drinker knows if it's hot or cold—I understand that principle. But even if you want revenge, there should be a rightful perpetrator and a rightful debtor. You can't transfer the seeds of hatred to others, can you?" Rong Yue appealed to his emotions and reasoned with him, secretly praying that they could temporarily get through this ordeal tonight. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Tuoba Chen, who was watching her intently from a distance, her heart filled with worry: Had that palm strike damaged his internal organs...?

"But that old hag didn't even wait for me to take revenge before she met her demise! The sins of the mother are visited upon the son, I don't see anything wrong with that!" Suddenly realizing something, Tuoba Jie stared coldly at Rong Yue, making her scalp tingle: "What do you know? And where did you find out?"

He smiled and said, "I know nothing. I only know that you, Tuoba Jie, are a man with great ambitions. You want to dominate the world, look down on all living beings, and survey the entire land! Moreover, I also know that in order to accomplish your great cause, you will devote your life to gathering heroes and talents from all over the world to help you devise strategies, conquer magnificent lands, and help you ascend the Nine-Story Pagoda to command the world!"

Seeing Tuoba Jie's excited expression, Rongyue continued, "The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; the next best is to disrupt their alliances; and the worst is to attack their cities. This shows the importance of strategy in the entire process of accomplishing a great undertaking. Tuoba Jie, how about I devise a strategy for you?"

The hand on Rongyue's neck loosened slightly: "So, you've agreed to help me accomplish my great task?"

"Even if I had this intention, you might not believe my sincerity, would you?" Besides, she doesn't even have that sincerity.

"Indeed, I don't believe in your sincerity. But if you become my woman, things will be different." Tuoba Jie's deep voice, devoid of warmth, seductively stroked Rongyue's elegant neck: "Once you bear me a son, you won't have no choice but to show your sincerity!"

Her heart leaped into her throat. She knew he wasn't just saying it casually; Tuoba Jie was a man of his word.

Forcing herself to remain calm, Rongyue smiled faintly and changed the subject: "Would you be interested in hearing about the Eighteen Stratagems of War? Legend has it that if you know these eighteen stratagems, you can use your troops like a god, conquer the world, and become a hegemon!"

A flicker of suspicion crossed his blood-red eyes: "Really? I've never heard of that before?"

How could you possibly have heard of that! You certainly don't know eighteen of the Thirty-Six Stratagems!

"The first strategy is to deceive the heavens and cross the sea. When preparations are thorough, vigilance will wane; what is commonplace will not be suspected. The hidden lies within the open, not opposite to it. The sun, the moon..."

When Rongyue started talking about military strategy, she became completely absorbed, engaging in eloquent discourse, quoting classic texts, and speaking fluently and passionately. Her voice rose and fell with emotion as she spoke, captivating the listeners. Her small face, bathed in the soft moonlight, shone brightly, like a pearl glittering in the darkness, dazzling all the more.

Listening to Rongyue's detailed explanation and the battle examples she cited, although he didn't know who Emperor Taizong of Tang or He Ruobi were, Tuoba Jie's face gradually brightened. His gaze lingered on Rongyue's confident and radiant face, growing brighter and brighter. The rising temperature made Rongyue notice the source of this light.

Realizing she had spoken too 'vividly,' Rongyue lowered her voice, trying to make it sound as even as possible: "Intrigues cannot be carried out in secret. Stealing at night or murdering in a secluded alley are foolish and vulgar acts, not the work of a strategist..."

"Why did you stop talking?" Tuoba Jie asked, puzzled, when he saw Rongyue stop.

Taking a deep breath, Rongyue met Tuoba Jie's gaze, her eyes filled with unwavering determination: "Release them."

"They" refers to Tuoba Chen and Chu Xuyao. Chu Xuyao was overjoyed, looking at Rongyue in disbelief. She was worried about him too? So, she still had feelings for him, didn't she?

Unable to bear the intense heat emanating from above, Rongyue moved her head away: "Will you agree or not? The remaining seventeen strategies are worth exchanging for two lives. Tell me, is it worth it?"

"It seems it's worth it." It seems she really cares about them! Realizing this, Tuoba Jie felt inexplicably irritated again.

Seeing Rongyue's eyes gradually brighten after hearing his words, Tuoba Jie suddenly curled his lips into a wicked smile, his large hand sliding down her neck: "Plus one of my children, plus this condition, how about it?"

Xing Tong stared wide-eyed at Tuo Jie, who was grinning wickedly, and forgot to react.

Tuoba Chen and Chu Xuyao, looking furious, shouted in unison, "Don't listen to him!"

She dared not refuse him on the spot, because his ruthlessness truly made her take notice.

Her eyes lowered slightly, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow on her fair face: "Give me some time."

Rongyue's relenting was something Tuoba Jie hadn't expected.

He felt increasingly uncomfortable because he clearly understood that the more she compromised, the more it showed that the person she cared about held a significant place in her heart.

"Okay, I'll give you some time! But I hope it won't take too long!"

Volume Two: The Resolute Heroines, Chapter Fifty-Six: A Restless Night

"Bite down." He took a piece of ironwood and stuffed it into Chu Xuyao's mouth without saying a word.

Chu Xuyao's eyes narrowed, and he glared at Rongyue.

With disgust, Chu Xuyao pulled the ironwood out of his mouth and tossed it aside, saying coldly, "I, Chu Xuyao, have no need for that kind of thing!"

Rongyue heated the sharp dagger under the candlelight to disinfect it, then blew on the gleaming blade. Her gaze swept over Chu Xuyao's wound, and she said calmly, "Even the strongest body isn't made of iron. Don't be reckless. Now is not the time for you to show off. If you start crying and begging for mercy later, no one will listen to you."

These verbal attacks were nothing short of an insult to Chu Xuyao's personality and a trampling of his dignity to the proud and arrogant Chu Xuyao.

Enraged, Chu Xuyao flipped his iron hand, gritted his teeth, and gripped the exposed arrow shaft tightly, intending to use brute force to pull the arrow out of his body.

Rongyue swiftly grabbed Chu Xuyao's wrist, her face extremely grim: "Are you out of your mind?!"

"Whether Liu Rongyue lives or dies is my business, why should you interfere!" Chu Xuyao's expression was cold and stern, his indifferent face keeping people at arm's length.

Tonight's whole mess was caused by that cold-faced jerk. She hadn't even thrown a tantrum, but he was the one who started it all! Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, her face growing increasingly gloomy, like a storm brewing.

"Don't pay any attention to him, mistress. As he said, whether he lives or dies is his business, what does it have to do with us? He's ungrateful for our kindness. This kind of person should just be left to fend for himself!" He was already extremely displeased to see her 'touching' a naked man's body. Now that Chu Xuyao was unwilling, it was exactly what he wanted, saving his mistress from having her slender, smooth fingers tainted with that man's scent.

“That’s true.” Releasing Chu Xuyao’s wrist, Rong Yue said coldly, “Since Master Chu is so capable, then pull it out yourself! It’s perfect timing. I’ve been tormented for half the night and I’m exhausted. I should get some rest! Master Chu, please make yourself at home!”

She turned to leave, but her hand was suddenly gripped by a broad, iron hand, which pulled her closer to Chu Xuyao.

"Pull it out for me!"

The domineering tone of the command was extremely unpleasant to hear. However, unwilling to stoop to the level of the injured and sick, Rongyue held back the harsh words she wanted to utter.

After calming herself down by regulating her breathing, Rongyue glanced at the congealed blood around the wound and realized something was wrong. Her expression grew increasingly serious.

If this arrow remains inside the body for too long and is not removed soon, it could be truly dangerous!

He half-squatted in front of Chu Xuyao, supporting the exposed part of the arrow with his left hand, and quickly cut it off with his right hand using a dagger. With a slight sound, the exposed part of the arrow was cleanly severed.

Discarding the arrow, Rongyue gently parted the wound with the tip of her knife, tentatively probing inside. Feeling Chu Xuyao's muscles tremble, she raised her head and said solemnly, "I'm about to begin. Bear with it."

Her heart trembled at Rongyue's casual, gentle words.