Chapter 731: The Sale |
The capital of the Song Kingdom. In a secluded palace, a girl sat before a mirror. She was as beautiful as a blooming lotus.
Maids bustled about, eager to serve her. But she only shook her head. She wished to wear nothing. To have her brows painted? No. To don a beautiful dress? No.
She desired nothing, merely gazing at her reflection in the mirror.
Even without any adornments, she remained captivatingly beautiful.
Her name was A Qiao, Emperor Mu Zho Zheng's most beloved concubine. It was said that she possessed the charm of a thousand souls.
Her lack of desire left the maids restless and unsure what to do. Then, each of them quietly glanced behind the curtain.
Behind the curtain stood Mu Zho Zheng. He waved his hand, dismissing the maids.
A Qiao also rose and began to leave. However, as she passed Mu Zho Zheng, she did not even spare him a glance.
Mu Zho Zheng suddenly reached out, saying mournfully: “Qiao, this is a difficult time. More than two million warriors are doomed to die if we don't agree. There are many people outside the palace, and the common folk will blame us. We had no choice!”
A Qiao calmly said: “Qiao understands, Your Majesty had no choice.”
Mu Zho Zheng: “Do you hate us?”
A Qiao offered no reply to that: “Seventy million gold, seventy thousand carts of provisions, and the lives of over two million warriors. Qiao didn’t think she was worth that much.” Having spoken, she cast aside Mu Zho Zheng's hand.
Mu Zho Zheng seized her, wanting to embrace and kiss her. But A Qiao pulled away, and looking at him, said: “They say Qiao is being exchanged for seventy million gold, seventy thousand carts of provisions, and over two million warriors. From this day forward, Qiao owes nothing to the great Song.”
Mu Zho Zheng froze, as she calmly walked away from him.
“Qiao, we swear to the heavens that one day, we will bring you back!” Mu Zho Zheng suddenly cried out.
A Qiao left without turning back. When she exited, the palace manager, Mo Gao, bowed deeply. Tears streamed from his eyes.
That day, A Qiao took nothing with her—neither jewels nor fine clothes, nothing at all.
Only a cloak covered her, and Mo Gao handed her a conical hat to conceal her face. Afterward, cultivators placed her on a spirit beast bird, and they flew away with her. Just as she had said, from that moment on, she owed nothing to the Song Kingdom.
She departed calmly and quietly. Thus, she was secretly escorted away.
They did not want anyone to know. The Yan Kingdom had also agreed to keep everything secret. However, it would be quite strange if they truly kept their word. Would Shang Jian Xiong truly let this shame remain unavenged?
Though they knew this could not be hidden from the world, they still escorted her away in secret for now.
Beneath the canopy, watching the receding black speck, Mu Zho Zheng clenched his fists. He closed his eyes and murmured to himself, “Qiao has flown away...”
...
“To all troops, Marshal Meng has issued an order.”
In the commander-in-chief's tent, the order was received. Xin Mao from Fuzhou looked at the order and said: “Gather the troops, we are retreating!”
“Understood!” the aide replied and left to carry out the order.
Elder Zu An De of Spiritual Sword Mountain asked: “Did the battle at Dong Yu River truly end just like this?”
Xin Mao: “We didn't fight at all. The Imperial Court and the Song Kingdom reached an agreement. The Song Kingdom has already paid the price; Emperor Mu Zho Zheng even sent his most beloved concubine to His Majesty. And our Imperial Court sent the Crown Prince as a hostage. Now, the two kingdoms will confront the Han Kingdom together. Marshal Meng wishes to release Luo Zhao. According to the plan, we will be the first to retreat, allowing supplies to pass through for Luo Zhao.”
Zu An De asked: “How did this come to pass? Weren't we supposed to crush Luo Zhao? If the Song Kingdom retains its strength, and the Han Kingdom attacks us, won't the Song Kingdom also be able to attack us again? What is Meng Shan Ming planning? We paid such a heavy price and painstakingly reached this current position. Why has everything changed so drastically?”
Xin Mao looked at him, handed him the order, and said: “Isn't Marshal Meng giving us a task? Marshal Meng said we should keep an eye on Wu Gun Lin. If Wu Gun Lin gives chase to the Song Kingdom's troops, then Luo Zhao will be in a difficult position, with his exhausted warriors and depleted provisions. He will likely lose even more men. And that would be no small loss for Luo Zhao!”
“Hmm? So that's it!” Zu An De looked at the order and nodded his head. Then he asked incredulously: “The Crown Prince has already been sent as a hostage. This is meant to be the foundation for an alliance. If we truly attack them, won't the Crown Prince be in trouble!”
Xin Mao scoffed coldly: “Elder Zu, does that truly matter to us?”
Zu An De furrowed his brows but said nothing.
...
“What about the aid from the Wei Kingdom?”
By the river, Meng Shan Ming asked from his wheelchair.
Gong Ling Ze replied: “Everything is en route by sea. It should reach the borders of the Yan Kingdom in a few days. It will all also be transported through the Southern Domain.”
Meng Shan Ming: “Leave one-third for the Southern Domain.”
Gong Ling Ze had no objection to this: “The monetary compensation from the Song Kingdom has gone towards paying for the aid from the Qi and Wei Kingdoms.”
“The Song Kingdom wanted to pay fifty million gold and fifty thousand carts of provisions, but His Majesty preferred less, just so long as he was given that woman. Don't you think this is excessive?” Meng Shan Ming asked in a cold tone.
Gong Ling Ze merely offered a bitter smile. He knew not how to reply.
Meng Shan Ming's gaze drifted to the turbulent river, and a sense of unease settled in his heart.
He now understood that Shang Jian Xiong still held sway among the three great sects. And replacing him would not be so easy.
Yet, the three sects were also understandable. In the current state of the Yan Kingdom, it was not the best time to change rulers. They did not need chaos. If Shang Jian Xiong desired something greatly, then the three sects had to compromise.
“Marshal, everything is ready.” Zhang Hu arrived and reported.
Meng Shan Ming, with a stony face, commanded: “We cross!”
Following his order, the Yan Kingdom army began crossing to the Yan Kingdom's side of the river.
Luo Zhao also began crossing back. Some from upstream, others from downstream. They did not interfere with one another.
...
In the pavilion, Hui Qing Ping sat primly. Meanwhile, Wu Gun Lin swaggered past impudently and shamelessly reached out to caress her chin.
Thwack! Hui Qing Ping struck him. Though they were already husband and wife, Hui Qing Ping was embarrassed by his public antics in broad daylight. Wu Gun Lin, however, was not.
She didn't hit him lightly; Wu Gun Lin's jaw throbbed with pain.
The Deputy Head of Tongxiang Palace, Dan Dong Xing, who had just entered, smiled bitterly. When he had first heard of Wu Gun Lin's intention to marry, he thought it was a joke. Who would have thought it would all become reality, and that he would actually acquire Hui Qing Ping?
He had been one of the marriage witnesses. The wedding was kept secret and conducted simply. There were only a few tables; the newlyweds performed the bowing ceremony, and that was it.
But the ceremony wasn't the important part. He had heard from a disciple in charge of guarding Wu Gun Lin: that Wu Gun Lin had already taken Hui Qing Ping even before the wedding. And that the very next day, Wu Gun Lin had gone to Tongxiang Palace to have his cheek treated.
For this, Dan Dong Xing revered Wu Gun Lin. He also revered Hui Qing Ping for being able to tolerate that pig.
“General, Madam.” Dan Dong Xing greeted them.
Regarding the title of “Madam,” Hui Qing Ping was not yet accustomed to it and did not respond to it.
Wu Gun Lin winked at Dan Dong Xing, then turned and left with him.
Once they were in a secluded spot, Dan Dong Xing said: “General, you haven't looked well recently. Perhaps you should be a bit more restrained?!”
Wu Gun Lin burst into laughter, then whispered, “What is it?”
Dan Dong Xing whispered in reply: “Meng Shan Ming sent a message. He orders us to cross the river and attack. Otherwise, Xin Mao will come for us. He is a man of his word!”
“Damn it!” Wu Gun Lin cursed. “Those old farts... Just you wait!”
Though he spoke like this, he was still afraid of Meng Shan Ming. Especially after Meng Shan Ming orchestrated the massacres in the Song Kingdom. It made his hair stand on end. Now, he was given a chance at life, but ordered to get out of the Yan Kingdom. He now had no reason to refuse.
He cared for his own life. And he was unscrupulous. First, Jin Jue contacted him, then he himself contacted Meng Shan Ming. He proposed that Meng Shan Ming buy him out from Jin Jue.
On one hand, he negotiated with Jin Jue; on the other, he negotiated with Meng Shan Ming.
Jin Jue seemed to have underestimated his shamelessness. Or more precisely, he underestimated his fear of Meng Shan Ming.
After all, he had spent many years under Meng Shan Ming's command. And he knew what kind of person Meng Shan Ming was. Now, if he no longer held value, Meng Shan Ming would simply kill him.
Though he was a scoundrel, he could ensure his own safety amidst the warring kingdoms. Otherwise, when Meng Shan Ming broke through the defenses at Dong Yu River, he could have long ago annihilated Wu Gun Lin. Ultimately, Wu Gun Lin managed to strike a deal with Meng Shan Ming, so that the latter would temporarily ignore him. And Meng Shan Ming led his troops deeper into the Song Kingdom.
In truth, while selling himself to Jin Jue and Meng Shan Ming, he had also secretly contacted the Song Kingdom's Imperial Court and negotiated with them.
He initially sought stability, and he would listen to whoever paid him.
Though it was despicable, Dan Dong Xing, amidst this chaos, saw how this audacious fellow managed to secure his own safety.
...
“They've crossed the river? They crossed without a fight?” Jin Jue was astonished and quickly snatched the report. He read it.
The reporting commander said: “That's correct. Luo Zhao's forces have already crossed the river back into their own territory. Meng Shan Ming did not interfere.”
At this moment, another person could be heard arriving from outside with a report: “Wu Gun Lin, upon learning that Luo Zhao had crossed, began gathering his troops. He wants to cross and attack Luo Zhao!”
“What?” Jin Jue took another report and read it. He furrowed his brows: “Has he gone mad? Even if Luo Zhao's troops are exhausted, Xin Mao is still there. Is he walking to his death? No, something isn't right...”