Chapter 217 (1/2)
Chapter 217
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
As he spoke, the man realized that he had uttered the wrong words. How could Chu Qiao still be addressed as General, given that she had betrayed Yan Bei?
”General, I… I…” AhJing did not say another word as he turned to leave. The moonlight shone on his body, appearing as a pale shade of white.
Yan Bei missed her presence; it was not just that man alone. Fate was often so irreversible, just like an arrow which had been shot out from a crossbow.
AhJing shook his head slightly as he draped his heavy cloak over his shoulder for some warmth.
Hongye was woken up by the sounds of rain at dusk. She sat on the mat in the big lonely palace, as her greenish-blue robe was slightly tainted with sweat. As the cold wind blew towards her, chills traveled up her spine through the cold beads of sweat, causing some goosebumps to appear on her skin. She rubbed her skin gently, only to discover that her fingertips were colder.
On the other side of the mat, a clear, white letterhead lay there quietly. It had been slightly damaged, showing that it had been used many times. The look in her eyes was cold as the rain droplets fell to the ground, drop by drop. The chimes by the window started to resonate with a clear, pristine sound as the palace curtains swayed slightly and elegantly like a dancer swaying her waist.
The contents of the letter read:
”The situation is critical. Brother, you have three options. Firstly, you can eliminate the Nalan family and its young emperor, then imprison the eldest princess and kill the King of Pujiang. This way, you can assume full control of the political power in Song. Secondly, you can marry the eldest princess and give yourself the title of 'King of Shezheng'. This way, you can deal with the King of Pujiang, abandon the provinces along the eastern regions, and preserve the land by the capital. Thirdly, you can ask Xia for a union through marriage, but you cannot afford to rile up the royals of Xia, in case they are ousted and replaced. This person needs to have considerable military power, needs to be of an appropriate age, needs to be one of the noble aristocrats there with considerable backing and power. Most importantly, this person needs to be ambitious enough politically to covet after the Xia Empire. Once the wedding invitations are sent out, the King of Pujiang would not dare to dispatch troops towards the capital. Once spring is over, when Jiang Yong sends his army over to the eastern regions, the crisis will be averted.”
There was no need to study the letter further under the lights; everything had been internalized. Hongye leaned by the side of her bed quietly, a deep look in her eyes. There was actually another way, which was for Yan Bei and Song to form a union through marriage. Not only would the crisis regarding the King of Pujiang's rebellion be averted, Yan Bei's forces would be further strengthened. They would be able to sandwich Xia from the east and the west, reinforcing each other. However, he was naturally reluctant to do so. He had never thought about this before.
A man of appropriate age with considerable military power, born in the noble families of Xia and power-hungry. How many people like this existed in this world?
Hongye raised the corners of her lips, revealing a bleak smile.
Brother, you will not be able to let go after all.
Presently, Xia and Yan Bei were engaged in battle. The ethnic minorities causing disturbances in the northeast. Within the country, there was an internal power struggle; evidently, the royal family was on the verge of being destabilized. Song and Xia had not been in conflict for many years; their diplomatic ties were stronger than that as compared to Song and Tang. Furthermore, Song was an important trading hub which was prosperous. Xia would not give up the chance to form a union with Song at this time. However, this man that held military power, who was also the Chief Marshal of the Xia army, was the King of Qinghai. He had the backing of his powerful family too. How would he be so easily manipulated by others?
After the two major conflicts at Yan Bei, who wouldn't know of Zhuge Yue's devotion towards the General of Xiuli? Perhaps, in the eyes of an ordinary person, a dilemma between power and love beckoned for him. Which side would Zhuge Yue choose, when faced with this decision? However, she knew that this union by marriage was destined to fail, not because she knew Zhuge Yue well, but because she knew Yan Xun too well instead.
How would you sit back and watch your love rival form an alliance with Song, becoming the King of Shezheng? By making this suggestion, you would have been sure that this person was not easy to deal with.
By doing this, the conflict of Song would be temporarily averted. Zhuge Yue would be alienated from the political scene of Xia as well, having offended the officials of both Xia and Song. Furthermore, if he dared to reject the offer of marriage, the Zhuge family's economic influence in Song would be shot down by the royal family of Song. This way, Zhuge Yue's position in his family would be affected. Even if he was the absolute figure of power in Xia, he would be heavily implicated.
The resulting conflict between Qinghai and Xia would be the perfect opportunity for Yan Bei to strike, inflicting heavy damage on both armies.
She had thought of the various scenarios way beforehand, but did not verbalize her response for a long time.
Yan Xun was indeed formidable. His words were sufficient enough to brew up a torrential downpour in Xia. However, he did not expect one thing - his brother, Xuan Mo, was actually the eldest princess of Song, Nalan Hongye.
In the darkness, she squinted her eyes as she anticipated the storms ahead. All of her emotions and notions surfaced in her mind. He did not know that Xuan Mo was actually Hongye. She thought to herself repeatedly: If he knew, he definitely would not use me as a pawn for his ploy.
However, there was an underlying sense of bitterness and sorrow that she felt. After all, he was requesting that she marry another person.
Brother, you are a master schemer. We've known each other for 12 years, yet you are so careless. Xuan Mo is not actually Xuan Mo. Have you not realized this yet?
She gathered some strength at her fingertips to hold the white letterhead tightly. With a low voice, she muttered to herself, ”Brother, since you have this intention, what's wrong with me lending you a helping hand?”
Zhen Huang City then swiftly descended into chaos. Beneath the pot of boiling water, one could no longer make out what was bubbling within.