newbobooks Chapter 440 The New Emperor of Beili Ascends the Throne, 37 Pieces of Love and Romance (2)
Chapter 440 The New Emperor of Beili Ascends the Throne, 37 Pieces of Love and Romance (2)
After the court session ended, Lei Mengsha and Ye Xiaoying practically ran all the way to the Langya Prince's Mansion.
Just as the guards at the gate of the Prince's mansion were about to salute, Lei Mengsha rudely pushed them aside: "Get out of the way!"
The two walked straight into the front hall and saw Xiao Ruofeng sitting in a chair drinking tea, looking indifferent.
Lei Meng rushed into the front hall, his inner turmoil of doubts and anger finally bursting forth. He shouted, "Seventh Brother! Explain yourself!"
Xiao Ruofeng coldly raised his eyes: "What did you say?"
"The imperial edict!" Ye Xiaoying stepped forward, his gaze sharp as a knife as he stared at the seated Xiao Ruofeng and asked, "Was the late emperor's edict truly intended for Prince Jingyu?"
Xiao Ruofeng put down his teacup and stood up: "The imperial edict is clear, General Ye, didn't you hear it clearly?"
"Xiao Ruofeng!" Lei Mengsha was furious and, unusually, called him by his full name.
"We've been brothers for over ten years, you don't really think I, Lei Mengsha, am a fool, do you?"
The late emperor valued you most, and the entire court believed you would be the new emperor! Now, suddenly you've become Prince Jingyu. Can you say there's nothing fishy going on?!
Xiao Ruofeng's face darkened: "Insolence! This is the Langya Prince's Mansion, not a place for you to run wild!"
He stood up and shouted to those around him, "Get out of here! Close the door!"
Upon seeing this, the servants hurriedly retreated, and the hall doors were tightly shut.
Only three people remained in the hall, but Xiao Ruofeng's anger suddenly vanished, leaving only deep exhaustion.
He sat down again and rubbed his temples. "Second Senior Brother, General Ye... are you really forcing me to tell you?"
"Speak!" Lei Mengsha glared at him.
Xiao Ruofeng remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "The imperial edict was written by the late emperor himself. I, Xiao Ruofeng, swear to heaven that it has never been altered."
This statement is half true and half false—the imperial edict was indeed written by Xiao Chongjing himself, but he did switch the scrolls.
Lei Meng stared intently at him, seemingly trying to find a flaw in his face.
But Xiao Ruofeng's expression was calm, and his eyes were clear.
Finally, Lei Mengsha slumped down, saying, "Why...why your imperial brother? In what way is he better than you?"
“Your Majesty is meticulous, adept at strategy, and able to endure humiliation and hardship,” Xiao Ruofeng said softly. “This chaotic world needs an emperor like him. But I… have no ambition for such a ruler.”
"Your ambitions lie elsewhere?" Ye Xiaoying sneered. "So you're going to lead us to the southwest to fight Baili Luochen to the death?"
Do you know who that old Marquis was? Fifteen years ago, he single-handedly led his army to defeat the iron cavalry of Western Chu and capture the capital city of Western Chu, Luosang!
Now he commands over 200,000 Windbreaker soldiers, and has that little poisoner Wen Yanzhao helping him! How are we supposed to fight him?
Xiao Ruofeng looked at him: "So, General Ye is afraid?"
"Afraid?" Ye Xiaoying laughed angrily. "I, Ye Xiaoying, have never known how to spell the word 'fear' in my life! I'm afraid of you—afraid that you've been blinded by this throne and will lead your brothers to their deaths!"
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Xiao Ruofeng stood up, walked to the two men, and said, word by word, "Second Senior Brother, General Ye, I, Xiao Ruofeng, hereby swear: I will quell the rebellion in the Southwest! If I harbor even the slightest selfishness, may I be pierced by ten thousand arrows and die a horrible death!"
Looking at the resolute look in his eyes, Lei Mengsha suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity.
When did his junior brother, who used to confide in him and talk about everything with him in school, become like this?
"We'll be setting off in half a month." Xiao Ruofeng turned around. "You... get ready."
Lei Mengsha and Ye Xiaoying exchanged a glance, but ultimately said nothing more. They clasped their hands in a fist salute, turned, and left.
As they reached the door, Lei Mengsha suddenly turned back: "Seventh Brother, do you still remember what Master said?"
Xiao Ruofeng paused, his back to the camera.
“Master said that we brothers may go our separate ways in the future, but we must not lose our friendship and our aspirations must not change!” Lei Mengsha’s voice was hoarse. “Today… I don’t really recognize you.”
After saying that, he slammed the door and left. Ye Xiaoying watched Xiao Ruofeng's back, shook his head, and finally let out a sigh before chasing after Lei Mengsha's back.
Xiao Ruofeng stood still for a long time.
The sunlight outside the window was dazzling, casting his shadow long, almost touching the Haoque sword in the corner of the wall.
The two characters "镇国" (Zhen Guo, meaning "Protect the Nation") on the scabbard gleamed coldly in the light.
'Was I really wrong? Second Senior Brother, perhaps you'll understand my feelings in the future. Even if the campaign against the Marquis of Zhenxi is fraught with difficulties, I, Xiao Ruofeng, won't flinch. But what I fear is the estrangement between brothers... Alas..."
……
On the same day, in the capital of the Southern Kingdom, in the city of Crimson Flame.
In a side hall of the imperial palace, Emperor Nanjue was reading a secret report that had just arrived.
This emperor, who was over fifty years old, was tall and strong, with a scar on his face that ran diagonally from his brow bone to the corner of his mouth, a mark left from his battles in his youth.
"The new emperor of Beili... Xiao Ruojin?" He put down the secret report and sneered, "That old fox Xiao Chongjing actually passed the throne to this most mediocre son."
Hahahaha... As long as the Prince of Langya doesn't ascend the throne, then my Nan Jue has a great future ahead of him!
A man dressed in black sat below him, his face covered by a bronze mask, revealing only a pair of hawk-like eyes.
He was the Commandant of the Imperial City Guard of Nanjue, and the most trusted intelligence chief of the Nanjue Emperor.
"Your Majesty, although Xiao Ruofeng has not yet ascended the throne, Xiao Ruojin has appointed him as the Grand General Protector of the Nation, giving him control over all the troops in the land. He will soon be leading an expedition to the southwest." The black-clad captain's voice was deep. "This is an opportunity."
"An opportunity?" Emperor Nanjue narrowed his eyes.
“There is internal strife in Beili, and our army can take advantage of the situation to invade,” said the black-clad captain. “But we need to ascertain the situation first. I request that the ‘Eighteen Death Soldiers’ be sent to Beili to spy on military intelligence, and if necessary… to create some chaos.”
The Southern Emperor pondered for a moment: "Granted! But remember, it must be done secretly. The waters of the Northern River are deep; don't alert those old monsters."
"I understand!"
After the black-clad captain withdrew, the old emperor walked to the window and looked north.
Outside the window are the fire rose trees unique to Nanjue City, their color as red as blood under the setting sun.
"Xiao Ruojin... Xiao Ruojin... Baili Luochen..." he murmured to himself, "Brothers are fighting, rulers and subjects are turning against each other! Hehehehe... Beili will surely be thrown into chaos. It's time for Beili to return the land it swallowed from my Nanjue!"
……
Yunzhou, Sanqipu.
Morning light streamed through the window lattice and into the main room of the Shen family courtyard.
Shen Qiqi sat by the window, her needle and thread flying as she sewed a blue long gown.
The fabric was made of high-quality cotton and linen, which she specially bought from the town market.
Shen Qiqi's fingers are very skillful, but if you look closely, you can see tiny needle marks on her fingertips and thin calluses on the base of her thumb—marks left from years of needlework.
But she had exceptionally beautiful features, with arched eyebrows, bright eyes, and a pert nose that made her face even more stunning.
Even dressed in a simple cloth dress and with only a wooden hairpin in her hair, her natural beauty could not be concealed.
Shen Qiqi was concentrating on sewing the left shoulder of her long gown when the courtyard gate creaked open.
Ye Dingzhi stood at the door, looking travel-worn.
His gaze fell on Shen Qiqi, then on the clothes in her hand, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"Sister, look who's back!" Ye Xiaofan cheered as she stood beside Ye Dingzhi.
Shen Qiqi froze on the spot, and the needle in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
She looked at Ye Dingzhi, her eyes gradually reddening.
Ye Dingzhi patted Ye Xiaofan on the head and walked up to Shen Qiqi.
He knelt down, picked up the needle, and then took her hand.
Her hands were cold, and her fingertips were rough. Ye Dingzhi felt a pang of heartache when he saw the numerous needle marks and calluses on Shen Qiqi's hands.
“Qiqi…” his voice was hoarse, “I’m back.”
Shen Qiqi bit her lip, and tears finally fell: "It's good that you're back..."
"I'm sorry." Ye Dingzhi pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone..."
Ye Xiaofan, who was watching with great interest, suddenly blurted out, "Brother-in-law, do you know you're going to be a father?"
Ye Dingzhi's body trembled.
Shen Qiqi pushed him away in embarrassment and glared at her younger brother: "Xiao Fan! Go practice your sword!"
"Hehehe... Let's practice swordsmanship!"
Ye Xiaofan made a face, picked up his wooden sword, and skipped out the door, making sure to close it behind him.
There were only two people left in the room.
Ye Dingzhi grasped Shen Qiqi's hand again, his gaze falling on her still flat stomach, his voice trembling: "Really... pregnant?"
Shen Qiqi nodded gently, lowered her head, and her ears turned bright red: "Last month... the doctor said it's been two months already."
Ye Dingzhi's mind went blank. He suddenly knelt on one knee.
Looking up at Shen Qiqi, he said, slowly and deliberately, "Qiqi, believe me. Once the war in the southwest is over, I will give you the most magnificent wedding."
"I will let the whole world know that you, Shen Qiqi, are my lawfully wedded wife, Ye Dingzhi."
Shen Qiqi's tears welled up again, but they weren't from sadness.
She reached out to help him up: "Get up quickly... I believe you, I've always believed you."
Ye Dingzhi stood up and hugged her again.
This time, the movements were as gentle as if afraid of breaking some precious treasure.
Outside the window, the morning light is just right.
Ye Xiaofan practiced his sword in the courtyard, the wooden sword making a crisp sound as it cut through the air. He unleashed the moves of the Poetry Sword Technique, each step revealing the youth's agile movements and the nascent formation of his sword intent.
Inside the house, Shen Qiqi leaned on Ye Dingzhi's shoulder, whispering about the trivial matters of the past six months: a new piglet had been added to the family, her parents had used the money left by Ye Dingzhi to set up a tofu shop, how the business was doing, how her younger brother Ye Xiaofan was doing in his studies, and how the aunt next door had given her eggs and mulberries again...
Ye Dingzhi listened quietly, occasionally responding with a word.
His hand remained gently placed on her lower abdomen, which was still flat, but he could feel that a small life was growing inside her.
That was his flesh and blood.
It was his newest concern in this world, besides hatred.
"Dingzhi," Shen Qiqi suddenly asked softly, "Is the war in the southwest... dangerous?"
Ye Dingzhi was silent for a moment, then honestly said, "Danger."
"That……"
"But don't worry, I'll come back alive." Ye Dingzhi interrupted her, his tone firm. "For you, for the child, I will definitely come back alive."
Shen Qiqi stopped talking and just hugged him tightly.
Inside the courtyard, Ye Xiaofan's swordplay became increasingly rapid.
The final move of the Poetry and Sword Technique, "There will be a time when the wind will break the waves," saw the young man leap into the air, his wooden sword pointing to the sky. The sword energy stirred the morning breeze, startling the swallows under the eaves.
Swallows circled the beams three times, and Ye Xiaofan's figure also circled three times in the air. When Ye Xiaofan landed, the tip of his sword pointed to the sky, and the startled swallows flapped their wings and flew away into the distance.
In the distance, mountains rise one after another, shrouded in mist and clouds.
Further north, in the city of Tianqi, the army has begun to assemble.
……