#705 - spring
“Young master.”
“What should we do now?”
“.”
The last stars faded, and dawn broke, the glow piercing the final haze of night, enveloping the earth in a bright freshness.
At this moment, everything in Liangzhou City was so full of hope.
However, Wei Changtian’s expression was as cold as a winter night.
Just now, the “Heaven's Secret Institute”, responsible for information transfer in Shuzhou City, had successively received two messages from Xin Feng.
One was from Shen Ran.
The other was from Xu Sui Sui.
Almost simultaneously, the Zhan Shi Office in the capital of Da Ning also received a “secret letter from the Emperor” from Da Qian.
It was from the current Emperor of Da Qian, Jing Guoqing.
Therefore, in just a short hour, three people related to the situation in Xin Feng had sent secret letters to Wei Changtian.
As for the content of these three letters...
“Huff.”
Taking a deep breath, Wei Changtian never expected that the situation in Xin Feng, which had been very stable since the start of the war, would change so quickly.
In just one night, the scales of victory suddenly tilted towards the Qian-Hui allied forces, and Xu Sui Sui and her Xin Feng fell completely into the abyss.
And the reason for all this was --
The Buddhist Sect had betrayed them.
Raising his head to look at the golden sunrise in the sky, Wei Changtian's eyes gradually became calm.
In fact, it was not entirely accurate to say that “the Buddhist Sect had betrayed them”.
More precisely, a portion of the Buddhist Sect had betrayed them, accounting for about 30% of all those supporting Xin Feng.
But that was enough.
Three prefectures and nine cities.
Overnight, all the cities of Xin Feng that were fighting against the Qian-Hui allied forces were lost, and countless soldiers died in battle.
Because these cities were broken too quickly and too unexpectedly, it was difficult for the other cities in the hinterland of Xin Feng to organize effective resistance in a short period of time.
Therefore, Xu Sui Sui could only make the same decision as Li Qi had made in the beginning --
Give up all other cities and defend the last isolated city to the death.
That was Fengyuan, which had changed from the capital of Da Feng to the capital of Xin Feng.
The above was the general content of the information Shen Ran sent back.
As for why a portion of the Buddhist Sect had betrayed them, what the attitude of that group of second-rank high monks was, and how many soldiers Xu Sui Sui currently had, Shen Ran might not have known, or he might not have been able to explain it in a few words, but in short, he did not mention it in the letter.
Compared to him, Xu Sui Sui and Jing Guoqing's letters were even more “economical with words”.
The latter was considered a deal with Wei Changtian, and also a threat.
Jing Guoqing said in the letter that if Wei Changtian did not send troops to reinforce Xin Feng, then the two countries of Qian and Hui would never touch Da Shu at all, and even the territory of Da Ning could be discussed.
But if Wei Changtian did not do this and insisted on sending troops to save Xin Feng, then no matter what the cost, the two countries of Qian and Hui would definitely destroy Da Shu within a year.
To put it simply --
We admit the matter of Dajue, but don't interfere in the matter of Xin Feng.
You better be sensible, otherwise I will kill you at all costs.
Threats and inducements, both soft and hard.
Since the attitudes of the two countries of Qian and Hui were so tough, and they sent a letter to warn Wei Changtian at the first time...
Then what Xu Sui Sui said in the letter was obvious.
In fact, she only sent two words.
【Save me】
Save me.
The two words echoed repeatedly in his mind, and Wei Changtian turned his head to look around.
In the distance, Liangzhou City had become lively, with people coming and going outside the alley.
Closer, a dozen carriages were still parked in place, and the maids and coachmen standing by the carriages were all curiously looking this way, wondering what had happened.
Beside him, Chu Xianping, Yang Liushi, Liang Qin, and Zhang San were all looking at him with serious expressions, waiting for him to speak.
Looking at it this way, the current situation was actually somewhat familiar.
More than a year ago, he had just destroyed the Liu family and thought he could take a breath and live a stable life for a while.
Thinking about it this way, the two were really similar.
It's just that Wei Changtian took nearly half a day last time before making the decision to save Liang Zhen and his daughter.
And this time, he only took about a hundred breaths.
“Brother Chu, three things.”
Under the gaze of Chu Xianping, Yang Liushi, and the other two, Wei Changtian said calmly:
“First, immediately notify Uncle Liang, General Han, and Brother Du, and discuss matters at the state government office in half an hour.”
“Second, send a letter to Shen Ran and ask him to explain all the information he knows in detail.”
“Third, send a letter to the Zhan Shi Office and order them to tell Jing Guoqing --”
Speaking of this, Wei Changtian's tone finally became cold, and the expressions of Chu Xianping and the others suddenly became astonished.
They even thought they had heard wrong.
At this moment, everyone only felt a chill down their spines, and all the noise in their ears disappeared, only Wei Changtian's voice echoed word by word.
“Just say that if the two countries of Qian and Hui immediately get out of Xin Feng, then I can let bygones be bygones and let them go.”
“But if they don’t appreciate it, within a year, I will definitely destroy Da Qian and Da Hui.”
“Tell the Zhan Shi Office to pass on the original words, without changing a word.”
“.”
The sunrise was dazzling, but it could not make people feel a trace of warmth.
If they don’t appreciate it, within a year, I will definitely destroy Da Qian and Da Hui.
Chu Xianping and the others may have anticipated the various decisions Wei Changtian would make, but they certainly did not expect that the latter would respond in such a “tit-for-tat” manner.
For a time, everyone was speechless, or rather, they had not yet recovered from the shock.
However, Wei Changtian ignored these, and after a slight pause, he continued:
“By the way, reply to Xu Sui Sui.”
“Just say I’ll be right there.”
“.”
【Save me】
【Be right there】
In just three simple words, Wei Changtian's decision was already very clear.
He would not only go to save her, but he would also go immediately.
“Huff!”
A gust of wind suddenly blew past, causing the corners of Wei Changtian's clothes to flutter.
After looking at the four people beside him, he didn't mean to explain anything, and after leaving the last sentence, he turned and walked towards the courtyard.
“Brother Chu, come with me.”
“.”
“Yes!”
Chu Xianping was slightly stunned, and then quickly followed Wei Changtian away, leaving only Zhang San, Yang Liushi, and Liang Qin looking at each other in place.
Their expressions were different, but they were all very surprised.
Among them, Liang Qin, who knew the least, was the first to recover.
“That... Sister Liushi.”
She was silent for a long time, and then asked in a low voice: “We shouldn’t be leaving today, right?”
“...Probably not.” Yang Liushi shook her head blankly.
“That’s good, then I’ll have someone put the luggage back first.”
Liang Qin nodded, and then turned and walked away, ordering the maids and servants to “unload the goods”.
Obviously, because she didn't know about the past between Wei Changtian and Xu Sui Sui, she felt that it was understandable for Wei Changtian to decide to help Xin Feng.
But Yang Liushi, who knew more, couldn't figure it out at this time.
It shouldn't be.
Haven't the young master and Miss Xu already broken up?
Why didn't he hesitate at all just now?
Even for the sake of the overall situation, shouldn't this matter be discussed with Chu Xianping and others first?
You should know that previously, when the Young Master encountered major events, even if he didn't discuss them with others, he would at least consult with Chu Xianping before making a decision.
But why didn't the Young Master seek anyone's opinion this time, and made a decision in such a short period?
It was as if he had to do this.
"Why?"
Yang Liushi subconsciously murmured a sentence, which happened to be heard by Zhang San next to her.
The latter hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"Madam, do you not understand why the Young Master agreed to Miss Xu's request?"
"Huh?"
Raising her head to look at Zhang San, Yang Liushi nodded blankly.
"Yes, I don't understand."
"Zhang San, do you know?"
"Uh, this humble one . . ."
Zhang San hesitated, as if pondering whether he could talk about this matter.
After a long while, he probably felt that there was no big problem, so he whispered in reply:
"Madam, it's normal that the Young Master didn't tell you about this."
"Previously, didn't you accidentally enter a teleportation array while searching for that little fox, and then disappeared without a trace? The Young Master was extremely worried at the time."
". . ."
Soon, Zhang San roughly described the events that happened after Yang Liushi mistakenly entered the Seventh Demon Land.
How Wei Changtian had Liang Zhen investigate the teleportation array, how he ordered people to be transferred from the capital to help, and the deal he made with Xu Sui.
These matters were not secrets, and besides, Yang Liushi was not an outsider, so Zhang San did not hide anything and told everything as it was.
". . . Just like that, the Young Master asked me to send a message to Miss Xu, inquiring about the situation at the teleportation array."
"Madam, you also know that ever since Miss Xu left after the Battle of Shu Province, her relationship with the Young Master has not been good, and the two of them have never exchanged letters."
"The Young Master may have been afraid that Miss Xu would not be willing to help, so he promised to owe Miss Xu a favor, which he would definitely repay in the future."
"That's why the Young Master decided to go to support Xin Feng without hesitation just now."
"Madam, of course, these are just this humble one's speculations, you can just listen to them . . ."
Looking at Yang Liushi's somewhat strange expression, Zhang San thought that the former was suspecting something, and hurriedly added the last sentence.
However, Yang Liushi remained motionless, standing blankly in place as if she had been petrified.
She really didn't know what Zhang San had just said.
Because Wei Changtian had never told her.
And now, when she knew these things . . .
Tears welled up in her eyes, and if there weren't so many people around, Yang Liushi would probably have cried out already.
"Madam? Are you alright?"
On the other side, Zhang San saw that Yang Liushi hadn't spoken for a long time, and couldn't help but ask nervously:
"That, this humble one probably shouldn't have told you these things, you . . ."
"Zhang San, I'm fine."
Yang Liushi suddenly took a deep breath and interrupted, "I won't tell my husband about this, you can rest assured."
"Uh, thank you, Madam . . ."
Zhang San scratched his head and muttered in a low voice with a sigh of relief, "The Young Master is thin-skinned, if he knew that this humble one told Madam about this, he would probably be punished . . ."
"Thin-skinned?"
Yang Liushi had already adjusted her mood, but she couldn't help but be stunned when she heard this.
"Why do you say that?"
"This . . ."
Zhang San realized that he had misspoke and was about to gloss over it.
However, he thought about it and felt that he had already said everything else, so it wouldn't hurt to say this last bit, so he lowered his voice and whispered in reply:
"Madam, you don't know."
"At that time, in order to save you, the Young Master not only promised to owe Miss Xu a favor, but also said to Miss Xu in the letter, cough . . ."
"Said that this time, he was begging Miss Xu."
"Madam, think about it, when has the Young Master ever begged anyone?"
"Especially Miss Xu, who had already parted ways with the Young Master."
"In this humble one's opinion, the Young Master must have felt that this matter was too embarrassing, that's why he didn't tell Madam about it."
"But in this humble one's opinion, this is nothing . . ."
". . ."
Lowering his head, Zhang San was still rambling on endlessly.
But Yang Liushi could no longer hear his voice.
Unable to hold back any longer, tears welled up in her eyes, she covered her mouth tightly, slowly turned her head, and looked at Wei Changtian, who was standing under a tree in the courtyard, listening to Chu Xianping speak.
Coincidentally, the latter also happened to glance in this direction at this time.
At this time, the two were about twenty zhang apart, although it was blurry, Yang Liushi could vaguely see Wei Changtian's expression.
And Wei Changtian seemed to be trying to show an attitude of "having everything under control", so that Yang Liushi wouldn't have to worry about Xin Feng's affairs, so he smiled at her.
". . ."
The waning moon had gone, and the new sun rose in the east.
Blankly looking at that figure, Yang Liushi only felt that the surrounding sunlight instantly became incomparably warm, melting all the doubts and struggles in her heart.
Su Xiu's words that "demons are ultimately demons", Wei Zhaohai's warning that she "must not bear children for Changtian", and the association between herself and Wei Changtian due to Tang Chen . . .
Yang Liushi didn't care about all these problems anymore.
She didn't care now, and she wouldn't care in the future either.
Because she knew that she had already obtained everything . . .
"Ah! Sister Liushi, why are you crying?"
Suddenly, Liang Qin's hurried voice interrupted Yang Liushi's thoughts.
The latter retracted her gaze, looked at Liang Qin's nervous face, and then looked at Zhang San, who was extremely uneasy, and smiled as she wiped the corner of her eye:
"I'm fine, I just accidentally got some sand in my eye."
"Sister Liushi, although I'm not as smart as you, I'm not so stupid."
Liang Qin obviously didn't believe her excuse, which was too fake, so she glared at Zhang San.
"Zhang San! Did you say something you shouldn't have and made Sister Liushi cry!"
"Speak up! Otherwise, I'll tell Brother Changtian!"
"Ah? Ma, Madam, this, this humble one didn't say anything . . ."
Zhang San didn't understand why Yang Liushi was crying in the first place, and now he didn't dare to repeat what he had just said to Liang Qin, so he had no choice but to mumble in response while looking at Yang Liushi for help.
The latter understood and smiled, grabbed Liang Qin's hand and walked away.
"Sister Liang, it's really not Zhang San's fault, it's just that I thought of some sad things just now."
"Oh? What sad things?"
"How can I tell you sad things, wouldn't that make you sad too?"
"But we are sisters, Sister Liushi, tell me! Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep for several days!"
"Um, let me think . . ."
"Sister Liushi! I knew you were lying to me!"
"Hehehe, where am I lying to you?"
"Look, look! You're smiling now! If you were really sad, how could you smile!"
"Ah, am I smiling?"
"Smiling so happily!"
"Then I won't smile . . ."
". . ."
Outside the courtyard gate, the maids and servants were still carrying the luggage from the carriage one after another, complaining in low voices that they had wasted their time this morning.
At the courtyard gate, Zhang San stared blankly as Yang Liushi and Liang Qin slowly walked away, feeling both uneasy and confused.
In the clear wind, the two women's voices grew smaller and smaller, and the corners of their white and blue skirts swayed gently with their steps.
Morning dew hung on the tips of several small grasses by the roadside, refracting the light of spring in the world.
(End of Volume Seven)
