Chapter 178 (1/2)
Chapter 178
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Finally, a soft sigh came from that man. At that moment, she trembled as she thought she had succeeded. But in the very next moment, he continued with a freezing voice, ”Proceed with the execution!” With a whoosh, a row of orderly sounds resounded, and following that, a dull impact rang out throughout the crowd. The entire proceeding was so fast that no one had the chance to cry out in pain. Blood spurted out into the sky and tainted the pristine white snow into a deep crimson.
Quiet. It was so quiet. Chu Qiao's blood froze up, as though her entire limbs were completely stuffed with ice. She grasped into the snow, and the snow that she grabbed was as cold as her heart, completely devoid of temperature.
”Commander He Xiao was inadequate in disciplining his men, as the other soldiers followed his lead in ignoring the military law. Bring them down, and give each of them eighty flogs. After which, they will be brought under detention by the first army.” The calm voice of Yan Xun echoed quietly in the open ground. No one made any sounds, as people merely begun to act in accordance with his orders. Their boots made creaking sounds as they rushed around in the snow.
”Master.” He Xiao's voice came from behind. He was almost kneeling on the ground, and his voice was exceedingly calm. Yet, one could hear the intense sadness that filled her voice. He told Chu Qiao, ”We have lost face for the Master. Please, Master, you have to take care of yourself.”
With the footsteps walking far into the distance, the crowds dispersed. In the intensifying wind, Chu Qiao's knees turned numb from her kneeling posture, as her limbs were frozen, unable to musters strength. Yet, she remained in that position and knelt there as the snow slowly piled up on her, creating one thick layer. A pair of white fur boots came closer, as Yan Xun stretched out his hand to support her shoulder. Upon sensing his touch, Chu Qiao jumped up, and stumbled back, as though she had been scalded by fire.
The bodyguards stood far away, back facing them. Yan Xun stood before her and did not speak. He merely remained in the posture that he intended to support her in, as his hand stretched out awkwardly. ”AhChu.” Yan Xun lightly called out to her. Yet, she seemed like she had already turned deaf. After seeking out her horse, she got onto it.
Today is so cold. Chu Qiao suddenly remembered how she actually felt that Yan Bei was warmer than the Tang Empire. Yet, she suddenly realized that Yan Bei was actually so cold, that her blood could freeze over, as though she had fallen into an icy abyss.
That night, Chu Qiao's sickness took a drastic turn for the worse. Before she had even left the army camp, she had already fallen from the horse. After being sent back to her residence, Lü Liu got so worried she started crying out loud. Guarding Chu Qiao's bed, Lü Liu cried her name out again and again. Drowsily, Chu Qiao opened her eyes and wanted to comfort Lü Liu that she would be fine and that she still had a lot of things she had not completed. Yet, when she opened her mouth, she could not say anything.
By the time she woke up, the maidservant was still at her side. Seeing that Chu Qiao had woken up, the maidservant was overwhelmed with happiness as she cried tears of joy. After eating her medicine, Lü Liu told Chu Qiao that Yan Xun had come a long time ago, and had been standing before her door for almost 14 hours.
”It is still snowing outside,” Lü Liu quietly informed Chu Qiao, while stealing a few quick glances to judge her master's reaction.
Chu Qiao lied on the bed, as many things flooded her mind. All those memories flashed past her mind like a flowing river, as the bits and pieces of the memories over that last eight years convened into one entire river. She realized that she had understood everything, and bore no resentment or anger. What she felt was merely intense disappointment.
In Zhen Huang City, in the Northwestern region, on the city walls of Chidu, on the battlefield of Beishuo, the soldiers of Southwest Emissary's Garrison had proven their loyalty with their lives. There was the young and handsome Feng Ting, the calm and mature Mu Rong, the smart and quick-witted Wu Danyu, and the righteous and stubborn Wen Yang, and many others. All these men were not saints; they were warriors who used their bodies as boulders and shields for others. They had definitely made mistakes before, and their ancestors had once betrayed Yan Bei and committed an unforgivable crime. Yet, from the moment they followed her in Zhen Huang City, they had already put their lives in her hands. Yan Xun was right. They were not loyal to him, but her, Chu Qiao. Yet, she did not have the ability to protect them. She carried with her the anticipation of this army. She had promised that she would make sure that their past mistakes were forgiven. She had once shouted atop the Chidu city walls that as long as they fought courageously to stop the Xia advance, they would become the heroes of Yan Bei, and that their names would be engraved in the history of military achievements of Yan Bei! Because of that, they followed her and protected the very Yan Bei lands that had ostracized them, and repelled enemies who were many times their number. Yet, her statue was erected into the hall of fame and became a well-known hero. Yet, they had been killed by their very allies.
What had she done? What had she exchanged for those young lives that were entrusted to her?
As though her chest had been weighed down by a huge stone, she felt the sweet taste of blood coming up her throat. Those soldiers had fallen behind her, yet she did not even have the courage to look back at them. When she left in such a hurry, she could only see a patch of red behind her.
”Lady! Lady!” Lü Liu forced open Chu Qiao's hands, only to see that her palms were already bloodied. Her nails had dug into her palms from her clenching her fists.
”Please go out for a moment. Let me rest alone for a while,” a quiet, yet exceedingly hoarse voice sounded out.
Lü Liu hesitated for a few seconds before she complied and vacated the room. The room immediately quietened down.
With the moon hanging in the sky, the wind intensified. She knew that that man was still outside. As long as she did not head out, he would still be around. He had always been such a stubborn person. When they were young, he had learned how to use the blade from her. Such a complicated system of moves took him merely one month to master. He had practiced day and night, and did not stop even when his hands and feet were covered with blisters. Until today, she could still remember how in that courtyard, he stood before the pillar practicing each and every move, while his gaze was firm like a tiger. He had always held too many things within his heart. Chu Qiao thought she had already understood him, but now she began to doubt her if she truly did understand him.
With her gaze starting to freeze up, tinges of determination flashed in her eyes. She suddenly got off the bed, and took two deep breaths. Merely wearing her pajamas, she ran off to the door, and rushed into his firm embrace. Upon feeling her warmth, Yan Xun was stunned. He had not thought that she would come out, or at least not that fast. Only until he felt her thin arms embracing his waist could he react, as he returned her embrace with an even tighter hug.