Третий брак

Глава 44

"Send word to prepare catapults; the attack on the city will begin immediately at dawn tomorrow!"

The general issued the order, and the entire army immediately began preparations for tomorrow's battle. At that moment, a troop of soldiers clad in the armor of the Shushan Army entered the bustling camp. The Shushan Army was the private imperial guard of the Liao Dynasty's empress or empress dowager; their presence here filled the soldiers with curiosity, and they constantly wondered who these people were.

This small group of people arrived directly in front of the main tent. Surrounded by the crowd, a white horse emerged from the group, and Qin Zhen, wearing a lake-blue cloak, nimbly dismounted and strode towards Yelü Huan, who had come out to greet them.

"Zhenzhen, what brings you here?"

Qin Zhen looked unwell, whether from the journey or something else, she didn't know. She took Yelü Huan's hand and said, "Let's go inside and talk."

Yelü Huan instructed his soldiers to arrange accommodations for the Shushan army, and then led Qin Zhen to the main tent.

"Sixth Senior Brother, I rushed over immediately after hearing the news of Maple Leaf's death. What exactly happened? Who did this?"

Yelü Huan sighed before saying, "At that time, Yue Fei led the vanguard to escort Ji Wushuang back. Fengye volunteered to go with them. When they arrived at the city gate to bid farewell to Ji Wushuang, she suddenly rushed out of the ranks to chase after Ji Wushuang for some reason. Immediately afterwards, the two of them fell off their horses. Gao Yongchang then led his men to charge out. Yue Fei only found out that Fengye was dead in the midst of the chaos. Because it was already dark at the time, none of our soldiers could see what exactly happened. I have been wondering about this ever since."

Qin Zhen clenched her fists, her mind a jumble of thoughts. If she hadn't gone to find Ji Wuhuan earlier, Fengye wouldn't have been sent here, nor would she have died so mysteriously. She asked apologetically, "Has Fengye been buried yet?"

Yelü Huan said, "Three days ago, Zhao Yong and Shuihen took away Fengye's body, saying they were going to send Fengye back to where she belonged. They were not my subordinates, so I couldn't stop them and let them go."

While the two were talking in the tent, news of Princess Dingguo's departure for the front lines spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the entire military camp. Upon learning this, Yue Fei naturally rushed to see Qin Zhen without delay.

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky 081 A Shocking Pain

Having spent nearly a month honing his skills in the army, Yue Fei now appeared even more resolute, with a touch of fierceness in his eyes. This month of military life had not been smooth for him, so when he saw Qin Zhen, it was as joyful as seeing sunlight shining through a gap in the clouds.

Inside the tent Yelü Huan had arranged for Qin Zhen, Yue Fei asked, both pleased and somewhat worried, "Why did you come here? Did you sneak away?"

Qin Zhen said, "No, Father Wang and Zhao Gou both know. If Zhao Gou's status weren't so special, he would have come with me. Don't worry, elder brother, the Emperor personally sent people to protect me, and the journey has been very smooth."

"I'm naturally very happy to see a girl here, but a great battle is imminent, and tomorrow the war will break out. It's not safe for you to stay here."

Qin Zhen said dismissively, "Could it be that I've been too obedient in front of my elder brother, making you think of me as a weak and helpless woman?"

Yue Fei suddenly realized that he had unknowingly treated Qin Zhen as a little sister who needed to be taken care of, but why should he worry about Qin Zhen's strength? Thinking of this, he couldn't help but laugh.

"It is my foolishness, elder brother. Since we are here, let's work together to quell the war and end it as soon as possible."

Qin Zhen nodded, then, remembering that Yue Fei was an eyewitness to Maple Leaf's death, asked, "Brother, can you tell me about Maple Leaf? Did you notice anything unusual?"

Yue Fei frowned and said, "I've been thinking about this matter lately. Everyone thinks the rebels deliberately provoked the incident, but I personally heard Ji Wushuang's cries. The sound was genuinely sorrowful, not feigned. Moreover, Fengye asked to go along herself and suddenly broke away from the group. How could the other side have known she would do this and made arrangements in advance?"

Qin Zhen listened intently to Yue Fei's account, his expression growing increasingly somber. Was there truly more to this story?

As Yue Fei finished speaking, he added uncertainly, "However, these are all just my guesses. If it wasn't the Beacon Fire Sect, then who was it? At that time, Maple Leaf was nearly a hundred feet away from us, so it certainly wasn't one of our people who did the harm."

"Were you and the people from the Beacon Fire Sect the only ones at the time? Is it possible that it was done by a third party?" Qin Zhen asked decisively, voicing his doubts.

Yue Fei exclaimed in surprise, "A third party? The Jurchens? It was dark at the time, and the only things that could be clearly distinguished were the large guards on the city wall and our vanguard. If there were any individuals lurking nearby, it would have been very difficult to notice them! Could it really have been the work of the Jurchens?"

Qin Zhen did not answer the question. Without evidence, she could not judge: "I heard from my senior brother that Fengye was poisoned by an arrow. Do you know what kind of poison it was? And where is that arrow now?"

"These questions will likely need to be asked of Zhao Yong and Shuihen. When I saw Fengye's body, there were no arrows in her wounds, and she was taken away the next day without any investigation into what kind of poison she had been poisoned with."

Qin Zhen rubbed her forehead, her head throbbing with pain. How could they have missed such a crucial clue? Where should she go to find Zhao Yong and Shuihen now?

"Girl, don't worry too much about this. Investigate slowly. The truth will eventually come to light."

"Fine, I don't want to think about it anymore. I've been running around all day, I'm going to sleep now. You should sleep early too, brother, who knows what we'll be facing tomorrow."

After the brother and sister said goodbye, Qin Zhen tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She felt as if something was about to emerge from her mind, but she couldn't grasp it no matter what she did.

She wasn't the only one suffering from insomnia; Zhao Gou was also unable to sleep. He anxiously awaited news from Liu Qi in his room, when finally, a sudden knock came at the door in the darkness.

After lighting the lamps, Zhao Gou led Liu Qi into the room and asked anxiously, "Where is he now?"

Liu Qi reported the gathered information to Zhao Gou: "The people sent out to investigate reported back that the last news of Zhao Yong was in a small town near Xijing, which is Fengye's hometown. He and Shuihen buried Fengye there, and the two of them disappeared afterward."

Zhao Gou paced anxiously in the room, feeling quite uneasy. Should he take a gamble? A gamble on Zhao Yong's loyalty to him. If he won, everything would be fine; if he lost, he feared Qin Zhen would also blame him!

He calmed his anxiety and asked, "What about Qin Zhen? How is she?"

"Based on the information that came back, she should have arrived safely at the military camp by now."

"Alright, I understand." Just as Zhao Gou was about to order Liu Qi to leave, he added, "Keep a close eye on Ji Wuhuan's movements, but don't let him notice anything. Be extremely careful."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Alone with a lamp and a cup of bitter tea, Zhao Gou sat facing these two things until dawn. Finally, at daybreak, he hardened his heart and summoned Wu Shaofen, giving her a difficult task.

At the moment the sun broke through the darkness, the battle horns sounded, and archers, cavalry, infantry, and dozens of catapults stood ready, arrayed in neat formation.

They were lined up below the city of Liaoyang.

Three horns sounded in succession, but the enemy's city wall remained empty. Everyone was filled with suspicion. What kind of trick had the enemy set up?

Yelü Huan calmly ordered, "Catapults, prepare!"

With a series of loud rumbling sounds, the archers who were originally at the head of the column put away their arrows and retreated. The huge catapults were pushed to the front, loaded with boulders, and then at the sound of "launch!" the boulders were thrown into the air, some hitting the city walls, some hitting the city towers, and some even flying into the city. In an instant, dust and smoke flew everywhere.

After dozens of attacks, the city walls were severely damaged, and a corner of the city gate was smashed. Upon receiving orders, ten thousand infantrymen rushed forward, some carrying logs to storm the gate, others using ladders to scale the walls. The heavily armored cavalry, unable to see the enemy, remained completely idle.

The first batch of soldiers who climbed the city wall were overjoyed. They had captured the city so easily, and their achievement was enough to give them a period of peace and comfort. However, when they looked out from the city wall and saw the scene inside the city, their joy had long since vanished.

Soldiers continued to scale the city walls, but without exception, they all froze at the top. Yelü Huan noticed this and, thinking it was some kind of enemy trick, hurriedly led his cavalry to the city gate. The moment the gate was breached, he finally understood why the soldiers were so stunned.

Behind the collapsed city gate lay hundreds of corpses, all civilians who had tried to escape the city but were killed by a hail of arrows. Inside the city... the phrase "rivers of blood" was insufficient to describe the horror before our eyes. Piles of corpses were everywhere, and the stench of decay created a true hell on earth!

After the soldiers cleared a road into the city, Yelü Huan rode forward. The city was deathly silent, as if no life existed there. But... how could this be?! How could more than 40,000 households in the mighty capital of Tokyo have all died unjustly in just a few days? How could this be?

Qin Zhen, who was following closely behind Yelü Huan, finally couldn't help but vomit when he saw the sight of insects and flies swarming around the corpses on the street. Yelü Huan said worriedly, "Go back to camp first, and we'll bring you over after things are settled in the city."

Qin Zhen, her face pale, stubbornly shook her head and said calmly, "I'm fine."

Just then, a group of soldiers ran up to report: "General, remnants of the rebel army have been discovered inside Tianfu Palace!"

Tianfu Palace was the Liao emperor's detached palace in Tokyo. It was well-prepared for both offense and defense. If it encountered stubborn resistance, there would be another fierce battle to be fought. It seems that the matter is not over yet!

"Pass down the order: archers, proceed immediately to Tianfu Palace to prepare for battle; all infantry battalions, assemble and await orders; cavalry, follow me!"

With a deafening roar, the cavalry swept through the city streets like an armored torrent, shaking the entire city.

The closer one gets to Tianfu Palace, the clearer the strange noises become, like the howling of a mournful wind or the wailing of demons from hell.

The gates of Tianfu Palace were wide open, eliminating the need for a fierce siege, but this only made things more difficult for Yelü Huan. The dark mass blocking the city gates was made up of innocent civilians, bound one after another in iron shackles. Upon seeing the Liao army drawing their bows and arrows, their cries for help immediately echoed through the sky!

Using the people of Liao as a shield—what a vicious heart!

Yelü Huan was enraged. The sight of mountains of corpses piled up outside the city overlapped with the scene before him. He could no longer harbor any goodwill towards the enemy because of his connection with Ji Wuhuan and the Beacon Fire Sect. At this moment, his blood was burning like fire!

"Ji Wushuang, how can you face heaven and earth with such cruelty towards innocent people? How can you face your ancestors of the Bohai clan? If you do not repent, do not blame me for being impolite!"

The loud voice reached Ji Wushuang's ears from behind the crowd. Her long hair was disheveled and draped over her shoulders, and her dark, sunken eyes made her appear ghostly. After a long while, she laughed silently. Heaven and earth in conscience? What is that?!

Her unique, low voice rang out, reaching the ears of the remaining thousand or so followers: "Heaven is going to destroy me, and I, Wushuang, am powerless to resist. However, the road to the underworld is long, so let us take more companions with us on the journey, so that we will not be lonely. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all went to hell together!"

When the believers saw the dark mass of Liao troops outside the palace, they knew they were doomed either way. So when they heard Ji Wushuang say this, they were filled with a mixture of despair and excitement, and they lit their torches and cheered loudly.

"Oh no!" Qin Zhen sensed something was wrong and quickly said, "The people have been doused with oil!"

Thousands upon thousands of people are chained together; if they were burned, the whole thing would be over!

Yelü Huan's eyes were blazing with anxiety, but he was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat. Qin Zhen cried out even more urgently, "Sister Wushuang, no, no!"

Wushuang, whose heart had already been corrupted by demons, could not hear Qin Zhen's cries. Just as she was about to frantically order the fire to be lit, a clear and melodious flute melody pierced through the earth-shaking cries of the people, overpowered the frenzied shouts of the Beacon Fire Cult, calmed the flames in everyone's hearts, and gently nourished everyone.

Following the sound of the flute, everyone looked up and saw a man dressed in dark red brocade robes standing gracefully atop the corner tower on the right side of the palace.

Facing the wind, his dark red robes fluttered, and the bright red ribbon on his headdress caught everyone's eye. Music slowly drifted from the flawless white jade flute in his hand, stirring the soul.

Qin Zhen and Yelü Huan exchanged a glance, both marveling inwardly: Third Senior Brother's "Clear Sound Technique" has improved again!

Volume Two: Eagle Soars Through the Sky 082 Zhao Gou's Heart Was Severely Wounded

Ying's eyes were filled with tears. Ji Wushuang looked at the man on the corner tower and choked with sobs. "Oh, the person I've met again!"

"Brother Fei..."

The lingering sound of the flute echoed in the ears of millions. Sobbing softly, Ji Wushuang collapsed to the ground, the weapons in the hands of the Beacon Fire Cult members falling to the ground, their expressions blank.

Qin Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and looked at his third senior brother, Su Mufei, with admiration. The crisis just now had been resolved by his single tune. The minds of the Beacon Fire Cult members were captivated by the flute music, unable to extricate themselves. Yelü Huan made a hand gesture, and the soldiers behind him stepped forward to seize the rebels' weapons and orderly rescued the bound civilians.

Seeing Su Mufei fly down from the height to Ji Wushuang's side, Qin Zhen leaped onto her horse and soared over the heads of the crowd towards Yiqu. Her light green robe swept low through the air, eliciting gasps from the Liao soldiers and civilians. They never expected that Princess Dingguo's martial arts skills were so extraordinary.

Su Mufei helped the delirious Ji Wushuang up. When Qin Zhen arrived, he handed Ji Wushuang over to Qin Zhen and said, "Take her to Wuhuan's side. She has another layer of demons in her heart. You all need to put in more effort."

Qin Zhen asked in surprise, "Third Senior Brother, aren't you coming with us?"

Su Mufei glanced at Ji Wushuang, then said with a wry smile, "No, now that Wuhuan has finished the task she asked me to do, I should go back."

"Did Fifth Senior Brother send you?" Qin Zhen had been wondering how Su Mufei knew about the affairs in Tokyo when he met him. It turned out that Ji Wuhuan had asked him to handle it.

Seeing Su Mufei nod, Qin Zhen pressed on, "Then why don't you come back to Zhongjing with us to see Fifth Senior Brother?"

I vaguely heard Su Mufei sigh. He leaped into the air and said, "I have things to attend to. I will visit you another day."

Qin Zhen's eyes were filled with regret. Her third senior brother had come and gone in a hurry. They hadn't even had a proper conversation. Helpless, she brought Ji Wushuang to Yelü Huan and said, "Sixth senior brother, Sister Wushuang's condition is not good. I have to take her back to Zhongjing first."

Unexpectedly, Yelü Huan replied curtly, "No, you can't take Ji Wushuang away."

"Why?"