Chapter 1190: Dalon Trinling! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Bahram spoke at this moment. ”General, I know that this request is a little rude. Learning a language requires a great deal of time, energy, and money, and we will need to use General's resources, but in terms of money, we can take on all the expenses.”
The Great Tang had already lost many people in its effort to assist the Khorasani and rebels against Arabia. To make such a request at a time like this was somewhat unreasonable, but Bahram had to make this request.
”Hahaha, Great General Bahram, you've misunderstood!”
Wang Chong finally got up from his seat and then turned to Gao Xianzhi.
”Lord Protector-General, are you still worried about the problem of language?”
Gao Xianzhi said nothing, only glanced at Bahram's confused group, a complicated expression on his face.
Wang Chong silently smiled. In this coalition, the Khorasani and rebels depended on the Great Tang far more than the Great Tang depended on the Khorasani and rebels. While Gao Xianzhi was fretting over the language barrier, the Khorasani and rebels had been even more concerned.
”Great General Bahram, fellow commanders, be at ease. I can agree to this matter right here without any problem. Very soon, we will use all kinds of methods to set up Tang language classes in Khorasan and elsewhere as quickly as possible,” Wang Chong said with a smile.
”Ah!”
They had originally believed that there was little hope of this request being accepted, and they were now overjoyed to hear this news.
”Wonderful!”
”Many thanks, General, many thanks!”
All the members of the group were elated. The matter of teaching the Han language—or perhaps one could say 'the Tang language'—was progressing much more quickly and smoothly than Wang Chong had expected. After experiencing the power of the Great Tang, the rebel armies had a craving to understand its language. Wang Chong immediately called over Yuan Shusong and had him handle the specifics with Gao Xianzhi.
By the time Wang Chong emerged from the conference hall, the blizzard had come to a complete stop. As he gazed up at the gradually clearing skies, his mind was abuzz with thought. For some reason, he was suddenly thinking about Xu Qiqin in the distant Qixi.
I wonder how Qiqin is doing? Wang Chong quietly said to himself.
For the matter of administering Khorasan, Wang Chong had written letters to Feng Changqing, the various great clans, and also Xu Qiqin, but for some reason, Xu Qiqin had never replied, though the train of supplies had never stopped. Such a situation had never happened before, and Wang Chong couldn't help but worry.
I hope that Qiqin is okay.
Wang Chong thought for a few moments and then quickly went to his study. Flapflap! A few moments later, a messenger bird flew into the air and vanished to the northeast.
……
In the distant Qixi, snow covered the land, and in a house at the northwest corner, the winter plum blossoms had bloomed, exuding a pure fragrance into the air. Behind the plum blossoms, a white-clothed girl, her face showing faint signs of illness, was leaning on an open window and taking in the fragrance.
”Young Lady, let's keep the window shut. The weather is cold and your body is still weak. You should hurry and get some rest.” The voice of a maid came from behind her, tinged with both concern and worry.
”There's no rush.” Xu Qiqin waved a much-thinner finger. ”I can still hold on, and I rarely get a chance to breathe some fresh air. Just let me watch a little longer.”
”Girl, stop trying to persuade her.” The voice of a middle-aged woman came from the rear, tinged with a hint of warmth. ”Your young lady has spent so much time inside, and now her condition has improved and she's even willing to open the window and get some fresh air. Just let her be. In at most five minutes, we can come back to close the window.
”Come, Lady Xu; I've cooked you some ginger soup. Drink while it's still hot. It will cool down soon.”
At these words, a middle-aged woman dressed in simple clothes, appearing to be the very model of a traditional wife, walked over to the window and offered a bowl of ginger soup to Xu Qiqin.
”Madam Feng, thank you.”
Xu Qiqin turned her head and gratefully took the soup.
Madam Feng was naturally the wife of one of the Twin Walls of the Empire, Feng Changqing. While Wang Chong and Gao Xianzhi were battling on the front lines, all the matters in the rear, including logistics and resupply, had been left for Xu Qiqin and Feng Changqing. Xu Qiqin had succeeded in hiding her serious illness from others, but she had failed to do so from the ever-meticulous Feng Changqing.
The moment he learned that Xu Qiqin was seriously ill, Feng Changqing had immediately dispatched his wife and several famed doctors of the Western Regions to the Qixi Protectorate headquarters to take care of Xu Qiqin. The methods of those doctors and the care of Madam Feng had allowed Xu Qiqin to overcome this trial.
Although she had not completely recovered, her condition had greatly improved.
Once she saw Xu Qiqin completely finish the bowl of ginger soup, Madam Feng finally relaxed. But then she remembered something and said, ”Lady Xu, in truth, was this really necessary? Even now, you have not permitted the Young Marquis to know of your illness. But if you told him, I'm confident that he would quickly return to Qixi.”
”That's exactly what I don't want.”