Chapter 54 (1/2)
Chapter 54
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
On the other hand, the Zhuge family was very confusing. Many people were willing to compare Zhuge with the Mus and the Helians. But Chu Qiao knew that the Zhuge family would not be so simple. Hidden under Zhuge Muqing's ordinary face, was his unfathomable, irreconcilable, and cunning calculations. The Zhuge family had been rich and powerful for 300 years. Deep down, this family did not look as gentle and powerless as it appeared, one could tell by looking at how Zhuge Yue and Zhuge Huai were raised.
In the army, Meng Tian, Le Xing and other generals, who mostly relied on powerful families and imperial power, were unable to form a powerful team. Secondly, seigniors lived in different parts. They were not strong enough to go against the imperial Xia.
20 years ago, seigniors in Jiang Nan area had once tried ganging up against imperial Xia. However, the result was that they were defeated and suppressed. King Ling of Lingxi, King Jing, and King Yan Shicheng were all survivors from that battle. The rest of the seigniors had vanished. Their family members were all killed and only 20% to 30% of them were still alive.
During the year of the massacre of the royal family, although King Yan Shicheng was not involved in this incident, he helped the other royal families plead for forgiveness, and as a result was incriminated. He was expelled from the Zhao's temple and had to change his surname to Yan. He was sent to Yan Bei and was not allowed to return to the capital.
Today, were there still people who remembered that the Yan family was also part of the royal family of Xia and grew up drinking the same breast milk as King Zhao Zhengde?
Chu Qiao smiled. Being the emperor was really not that easy. From the beginning of the construction of the great Xia dynasty, he had been losing his royal rights. Compared to the kings of Hua Xia, who all mastered military and political power, Zhao Zhengde was nowhere close in comparison.
At this time, she heard the sound of a door opening. Chu Qiao glanced at the window with her ears perked up.
”Miss, are you sleeping?” Lu Liu's voice sounded from outside the door. Chu Qiao replied, and the servant carefully walked into the room.
”Miss Chu, it is very cold tonight. Let me help you change the fire.”
Chu Qiao nodded her head and said, ”Has his highness come back?”
”Yes,” the servant replied, ”I heard Xiao Lizi say that the prince went to Jin Xiao Pavillion and invited several generals from the Dauntless Cavalry Camp for dinner. He also sent the dancers, given by Ji Wengting, to them.”
Chu Qiao was stunned and looked at the fireplace without saying a word.
”Miss Chu?” The servant called out to her.
Chu Qiao raised her head and replied, ”Yes?”
”If there's nothing, can I leave?”
Chu Qiao nodded and said, ”Yes, you can leave.”
”Rest easy,” the servant replied and closed the door. The wind outside suddenly became stronger and louder as it blew through the windows. The voice in the front yard gradually became smaller and everything returned to quiet.
In five days, Chu Qiao would start coaching in the Dauntless Cavalry Camp. It was obvious why Yan Xun treated the generals a meal. They agreed to be frank with each other, not to hide anything, and to trust each other forever so that they never felt hostile with one another. However, with age, some things just couldn't be said honestly to each other. For example, it was hard for her to tell him her messy relationship with Zhuge Yue, her displeasure with the aristocratic life, and that she did not like the other face Yan Xun put on when he needed to social.
However, there were still some things that would not change. The deep understanding of each other's hearts and their common friendship allowed them to silently do the best for each other. Without the need to say it aloud, when facing the bizarre outside world, they would always be close comrades. Through life and death.
Just like the night of a big snowstorm many years ago, she was looking for medicine when she was beaten up and wounded. She was covered in scars while taking slow steps in the midst of the heavy snow and embracing the precious herbs in her arms. She was on her way back when she spotted young Yan Xun, who was very sick, looking for her in the midst of the bamboo forest. He was softly shouting her name.
That day, Yan Xun was very ill but he still carried the wounded girl. He was pale and his lips turned purple as he walked alone in the dark night with the girl on his back. Even though he faltered, his expression was still very firm. He knelt in front of her bed and held her hand. He whispered to the girl, who looked like she was going to faint at anytime, that this life would not allow her to be bullied, and to stay strong. At that time, they did not dare to speak loudly at night. But that sentence stuck deeply in her mind and she was very grateful to him.
On the second day, Wei Jing brought people once again. Young Yan Xun, who had no power, had his pinky finger cut off. If not for Zhao Song's timely arrival, he could have had his whole hand cut off. That night, it was the first and last time Chu Qiao cried after she entered Sheng Jin palace.
When she was undernourished, she did not shed tears. When she was bullied, she did not shed tears. When she was being whipped and punished, all she did was widen her eyes and firmly memorize the enemy's appearance without revealing a trace of fear. But that day, when Yan Xun's finger got cut off, and he refused to let her see his wound, she could not hold it in and cried.