His words struck a nerve with Rong Huo, who looked at Liao Zhen with resentment, yet was unable to retaliate. He could only stare at the chessboard for a long time before saying dejectedly, “I’m done playing!”
Qingyun picked up a chess piece and flicked it at Liao Zhen’s forehead. “Don’t speak to the teacher like that!”
Liao Zhen quickly knelt in response.
“Your Majesty!” Before he could speak, Miao Jing rushed in. This man usually acted with caution, rarely showing such urgency.
As soon as Miao Jing entered, he knelt on the ground. “Your Majesty, scouts report that Fengtian has broken camp. Zhun City is now almost empty!”
This piqued Qingyun’s interest. “The poison couldn’t have worked that quickly! Where did they go?”
Miao Jing’s expression tightened. “Strangely, they’ve gone towards Mizan!”
“Mizan?”
“Yes.”
“What for?”
“That… we’re not quite sure yet!”
“…”
Qingyun fell silent, playing with the chess piece in his hand for a while before looking at Rong Huo. “What does the teacher think? What is Ruo Wen doing in Mizan?”
Rong Huo looked up. “Young master, if you don’t know, how could I possibly know?”
Qingyun fell silent again. Ruo Wen’s actions were completely unexpected.
At this point, Liao Zhen, aware of the gravity of the situation, quickly said, “Your Majesty, Na Zhan must also know that Ruo Wen has gone east. He will surely concentrate his forces to fight us. We must not be careless in tomorrow’s encounter!”
“Hmph!” Qingyun let out a muffled laugh. “I never planned to rely on Fengtian to defeat Na Zhan! It’s just…” He tossed the chess piece in his hand. “I have a feeling that Ruo Wen’s move to Mizan is Na Zhan’s scheme. Something seems fishy about this.”
Miao Jing nodded. “Your Majesty, rest assured. I’ve already dispatched more spies to investigate. We should have news soon.”
After a long silence, Qingyun waved his hand irritably. “All of you, leave. I need to think.” Everyone quickly withdrew.
After they left, the room fell silent. Qingyun frowned as he looked at the back of his right hand. The wound began to ache faintly, like being bitten by ants, itchy and burning…
Smoke rises from nowhere, how bewildering is the world of men,
Red dust falls like snow, a light wound between fingers.
Once vowed by the dry sea,
Who knew the flower tower would be left with only smoke?
Can’t wait, time flies.
Can’t wait, to compete for the green mountains.
Fire enters the cloudy valley, not waiting,
Sword tops the sky, and the angry sea disobeys.
This spirit,
Who wouldn’t be in peril?
This arrogance,
Who wouldn’t change?
Chapter 11: Snow Flying to Suppress Heaven
It was a long night, accompanied only by darkness and cold. At this time, how many refugees in thin clothes must be huddled together in small oases? Even if they were strangers to each other, they would cling tightly together. Just a little warmth was enough.
However, it wasn’t entirely like this. Take Huang Beishuang now, sitting in her carriage, wrapped in warm furs, with three maids holding her tightly, yet still shivering with cold. The warmth from others’ bodies couldn’t give her even a bit of comfort!
Ye Pei and the other two were so anxious their faces were covered in tears. Wu Jihai didn’t dare to look back, wishing the horses could fly so they could reach Mizan in an instant. Finally, after more than four hours of night travel, they arrived at Mizan’s border city, Fuping.
Fuping, Mizan’s largest border fortress, shaped like a crescent moon with its hook pointing downward, stretched for a hundred li. In 101 CE, it was incorporated into Mizan’s territory and finally saw peace. Lacking water resources and sparsely populated, it was a gathering place for missionaries. The city’s buildings were arranged in a square formation. Once, devotees chanted scriptures here for thirteen days to guide the souls of war victims, saying, “The body is like duckweed, the heart like the sea; pity the wronged souls in our world!” Hence the name Fuping (Floating Duckweed).
“Open the gate! We are the diplomatic mission from Yunpei!” Wu Jihai shouted anxiously at Fuping’s city gate, but the row of soldiers on the city wall remained unmoved. After a while, a man who looked like an official came out and replied to Wu Jihai, “Oh! General, please camp outside the city tonight. His Majesty’s entry permit won’t arrive until tomorrow morning!”
“Damn it! We’re at your doorstep, and you dare to block Queen Guanying’s carriage! My King of Yunpei has always been on good terms with your Worrying Vast King. Your words now, don’t you fear damaging the friendship between our nations? Please open the city gate immediately!” Wu Jihai was so angry his veins were popping out. To be blocked outside at this critical moment!
“General! Please don’t make it difficult for me. Without His Majesty’s entry permit, I can’t make this decision.” The official seemed unmoved by either soft or hard approaches, determined not to allow entry.
“You…” Wu Jihai was furious upon hearing this, but then he thought that at least they should let the Queen in to recover. He was about to negotiate when…
“General Wu!” Huang Beishuang poked her head out of the carriage. Wu Jihai quickly rode over. “My Queen, why don’t you enter the city first? Your wounds need attention!”
Huang Beishuang reached out and patted the armor on his shoulder, saying softly, “Form ranks, breakthrough!”
“My Queen?” Wu Jihai was stunned.