#982 - Clouds cover the sun and swallows return to their nests (10)

What Su Qi's three kowtows represent is something everyone may have their own judgment on.

But no matter who it is, they should be able to feel the sorrow in the former's heart from this kneeling.

This is not sorrow for Jing Guoqing, nor is it sorrow for Da Qian.

This is sorrow for himself.

Perhaps Su Qi will become a more enlightened monarch than Jing Guoqing in the future, perhaps the people of Da Qian will live a better life than they do now.

But all of that will no longer belong to the former Da Qian, no longer belong to the former Su Qi.

Su Qi understands this, but he can't change anything.

So he can only use this method to express the remembrance in his heart for this dynasty that is about to pass away, one last time as a Da Qian person.

Then, one after another, righteous army cavalrymen galloped out of the palace, heading towards the mansions in the city.

Da Qian is destined to be sleepless tonight.

Although with the breaking of the palace, the outcome of this war of national subjugation has already been settled.

However, the subsequent consolidation of power is still a huge project.

Whether to keep or kill the former dynasty's officials, appease the people, reorganize the army... All of this will take at least several days, or even months, to handle properly.

Fortunately, Wei Changtian had already arranged helpers for Su Qi. Li Zimu would help the latter complete all of this as soon as possible, and then establish a new dynasty named "Han" on this land.

Great Han.

It's hard to say whether Wei Changtian's choice of this dynastic title for the new dynasty was mixed with "personal feelings", but at least it doesn't matter to this world.

Just as one righteous army after another rushed into the mansions in the city, bringing their masters into the palace for "trial", another group of people went straight to the small courtyard where Wei Changtian lived, led by Xu Quan and Yang Liushi.

"Young Master! Four seniors!"

He glanced at the bloodstains on the latter's armor scales, and then asked:

"How is it outside?"

"Reporting to Young Master, Lord Su has led the righteous army into the palace, and most of the defenders who did not surrender have died in battle!"

Xu Quan immediately replied loudly: "There are still a few rebels causing trouble in various parts of the city, but they are no longer a threat. The clearing will be completed by tomorrow morning at the latest!"

"Good."

Nodding, Wei Changtian was not surprised by this result, and the whole process was even smoother than he had expected.

He thought for a moment, then asked again: "What about Jing Guoqing's body?"

"It is still in the palace. Lord Su has sent people to guard it strictly."

Xu Quan said in a deep voice: "Also the corpses of the Jing family members are now in the hands of the righteous army."

"Then what about the Jing family members who are still alive?"

Wei Changtian narrowed his eyes: "Have you checked?"

"Miss Li has already checked."

Xu Quan truthfully replied: "Comparing the corpses according to the Jing family genealogy, only three people are still alive, all of whom are juniors in the clan and are not in the capital."

"Well, no matter where they are, find these three people and kill them within five days."

Wei Changtian instructed, paused, and then added: "Then bury all the corpses of the Jing family members in the imperial mausoleum."

"Yes!"

"."

Uproot the weeds and eliminate the roots, but not to the point of "scattering the ashes and bones", doing things too absolutely.

This is not because Wei Changtian is kind, but because since ancient times, unless there is some deep-seated hatred, few people would do such a thing as "digging up someone else's ancestral grave".

Because everyone knows that no dynasty can stand for eternity.

Today you become the emperor and dig up the imperial tombs of the previous dynasty.

Then hundreds of years later, when the next change of dynasty comes, the rulers of the new dynasty can also dig up your ancestral graves.

So, let's accumulate some virtue for Su Qi.

"Let's talk inside."

After briefly asking about the situation outside, Wei Changtian turned and walked back into the house, and Xu Quan and others immediately followed.

After all, although Da Qian is finished, there are still many things for everyone to deal with next, so naturally they have to discuss it carefully.

Just as they entered the house to continue their discussion, in another small courtyard not far away, Cui'er was leaning against the courtyard door, panting heavily.

The bright moonlight fell on her face, her expression both dazed and frightened.

Just now, Cui'er couldn't restrain the curiosity in her heart and secretly peeked out through the crack in the door.

It was these few glances that caused her to react like this now.

Rows of black-armored soldiers, rows of crackling torches, and a carriage with a small black flag hanging on it, with a terrifying celestial dog embroidered on the flag.

Cui'er had only heard some rumors about Wei Changtian and the Celestial Dog Army, but didn't know much about them, so she couldn't recognize that this was the dreaded "demon army".

But she could see that this was the army of the "rebels".

Most importantly, she saw that the carriage was parked outside Wei Changtian's small courtyard.

Soon after the rebels entered the city, someone found this place, and the formation was so grand. Cui'er didn't know at this time that Wei Changtian was a big figure among the rebels.

Of course, if it was just like this, it wouldn't be anything.

Just...

Recalling the elegant Young Master Wei, and thinking that this big figure had brought her three boxes of mung bean cakes this afternoon, Cui'er's mind was in a mess.

The "misalignment" of Wei Changtian's identity made her a little dazed and at a loss, and even more unsure of what attitude she should take to face Wei Changtian in the future.

And at this moment, she was not the only one with this mood.

"."

The bright moon shone brightly. Behind a dark wooden window in the courtyard, He Jing stood by the window, looking at Cui'er not far away in the moonlight, his mood also extremely complicated.

Even more complicated.

After all, compared to the simple Cui'er, he had already guessed Wei Changtian's identity.

Then, that unavoidable question appeared in He Jing's mind again.

Wei Changtian, why is he helping me?

In fact, He Jing already had an answer in his heart to this question.

Or rather, standing from his point of view, he could only come to this answer.

Whether it was the conversation between Wei Changtian and Cui'er in the courtyard yesterday, or the three boxes of mung bean cakes, Cui'er had told him everything without concealment.

Therefore, in He Jing's view, the reason why Wei Changtian did this was undoubtedly because he had taken a fancy to Cui'er.

Even if he couldn't understand why the famous Wei Yanluo would take a fancy to an ordinary maid like Cui'er, and couldn't understand why Wei Changtian would use this method to "capture her heart" instead of directly "plundering by force" as the rumors said.

But He Jing could only come to this conclusion at this moment.

So, what should I do?

Without a doubt, He Jing undoubtedly had different feelings for Cui'er.

In his heart, Cui'er was no longer just a maid.

If there was no Wei Changtian, he would definitely give Cui'er a title in the future.

But now... if Wei Changtian really wanted to take Cui'er away, could he refuse?

Rather than "can or cannot", this was more like a question of "dare or not".

"Hoo..."

He exhaled a heavy breath, his hands clenched tightly.

He Jing looked at the figure in the courtyard, his heart filled with struggle and a deep sense of powerlessness.

Because he knew very well that if Wei Changtian really did this, he would never dare to say "no".

He didn't dare to gamble his life, Cui'er's life, or the entire He family's life on Wei Changtian's "great kindness".

So if that day really came, all he could do was offer Cui'er up with both hands, perhaps even with a smile, not daring to show the slightest unwillingness...

Was this heartless?

If it were in a Jianghu story told by a storyteller, it undoubtedly would be.

He might even be sneered at by those detached listeners.

But did He Jing have a choice?

Without a doubt, the answer was no.

Of course, from God's perspective, discussing this now seemed completely meaningless.

After all, the truth was that He Jing was overthinking it; Wei Changtian wouldn't ask to take Cui'er away, and he wouldn't need to make a choice.

But He Jing's helplessness at this moment actually answered the contradiction about Wei Changtian.

You should know that for most people, "heartlessness" is not their intention.

So, Wei Changtian's previous "heartlessness" and "leniency" were not because he had a split personality, but simply because he was sometimes "out of options" and sometimes "had options".

And if you think about it from this perspective, Wei Changtian has never changed.

Even if he couldn't be as good as Xiao Feng, Xu Quan, and others, he had at least always done one thing.

That was, in situations where he "had a choice", he always chose...

Kindness.

The next day.

When the morning mist dissipated in the midst of a mess, the noisy capital city that had lasted all night finally returned to peace.

After last night's purge, all "resistance forces" in the city had been wiped out, and the occasional sounds of fighting had completely disappeared.

Thus, this great chaos had come to a temporary end.

The Great Qian garrison lost more than 80,000 soldiers in this chaos, and 300,000 surrendered.

The overall losses on the rebel side were about 50,000, including more than 10,000 from the Tiangou Army.

With more than 10,000 killed and the same number wounded, this was the largest casualty the Tiangou Army had suffered since its establishment.

Even during the decisive battle of Fengyuan, the Tiangou Army hadn't lost so many.

But Wei Changtian had no choice. After all, compared to the so-called rebel army with its scattered morale, he could only ensure everything was foolproof by having the Tiangou Army lead the charge.

Fortunately, the Tiangou Army's current establishment had expanded to a scale of 50,000, and these losses were not enough to hurt its foundation, and it would soon recover.

"Husband, where shall we go first today?"

In the small courtyard, after resting briefly before dawn, Wei Changtian quickly got up.

Yang Liushi helped him put on his clothes and asked:

"Should we go to the Tiangou Army to take a look, or should we go to the palace to see Su Qi first?"

"...Let's go to the palace first."

Wei Changtian thought for a moment: "Let Xu Quan keep an eye on the Tiangou Army for now. We can properly reward them after we return to Great Shu."

"Okay, then I'll go and have someone prepare the carriage."

Nodding, Yang Liushi quickly turned and walked out of the room.

Wei Changtian then tidied up his clothes and glanced at the "battle report" on the table.

The lines of numbers were not large, but they represented tens of thousands of lives.

However, as Wei Changtian had said to Su Qi before.

For a great battle that overthrew a dynasty, this number was already very small.

An incense stick later.

Walking out of the small courtyard and getting into the carriage with Yang Liushi.

Zhang San waved his whip on the horse's rump, and the carriage slowly moved, heading towards the alley.

"Husband, tell me about what happened yesterday!"

In the carriage, Yang Liushi, who had been holding it in all night, finally seized the opportunity to ask what exactly had happened in the palace yesterday.

After all, spies from all sides did not dare to enter the palace at that time, and the rebel army's spies were the same. No one knew how Wei Changtian had chased down Jing Guoqing, or what resistance the latter had put up, that he was able to hold on for a full hour.

And now that Jing Guoqing was dead, the only one who knew the whole process was undoubtedly Wei Changtian.

Yang Liushi was obviously very curious about this question, so she couldn't wait to ask as soon as she got into the car.

However, she waited for a long time and didn't see Wei Changtian answer. When she looked carefully, she realized that he was looking out the window, wondering what he was thinking about.

"Husband, what are you looking at?"

Following Wei Changtian's line of sight with a puzzled expression, she only saw a closed courtyard door.

Yang Liushi couldn't help but wonder: "Husband, what's wrong?"

"Ah, it's nothing."

Withdrawing his gaze, Wei Changtian came back to his senses: "What did you just ask?"

"I just asked what exactly happened in the palace yesterday."

Yang Liushi gave Wei Changtian a strange look and muttered softly: "If you don't want to say it, just say so. Why pretend you can't hear me?"

"Hahaha, I really didn't hear you."

Wei Changtian laughed twice and reached out to close the carriage curtain: "I was thinking about something just now."

"Oh, then can you hear me now?"

Yang Liushi obviously didn't believe his words, but she didn't ask any more questions, just rolled her eyes at him: "Can you tell me now?"

"I heard you, I heard you."

Wei Changtian responded with a smile, paused, and then slowly said in Yang Liushi's expectant gaze:

"Yesterday, I chased Jing Guoqing into the palace."

"Then he ran, and I chased."

"Finally, I caught up with him, and I killed him."

"..."

A total of three sentences, Wei Changtian finished speaking in less than five seconds.

Then, five seconds later, Yang Liushi's belated exclamation sounded in the carriage:

"Husband! You, you just know how to make fun of me!"

"What's the difference between saying that and not saying anything!"

"What do you mean he ran and I chased! I don't believe Jing Guoqing could run for a full hour!"

"Hmph! I don't want to talk to you anymore!"

"Hahaha, are you angry?"

"I'm not angry!"

"Oh? Weren't you not going to talk to me?"

"Husband!! I, I'm really angry!"

"Hahahaha..."

"..."

Amidst Yang Liushi's shouts and Wei Changtian's laughter, the carriage slowly drove out of the alley.

Zhang San had long been accustomed to Wei Changtian and Yang Liushi's occasional "flirting and scolding", and didn't even turn his head at this moment, just driving the carriage seriously towards the palace.

The morning breeze brushed past the weeds on the roadside, a drop of dew fell, and a round of rising sun rose.

The old ended, and the new began.