Chapter 1254: Chapter 1249: The Hallmarks of a Great Nation
Li Tianfu said she wanted to learn to dance, and Father and Mother invited the best dancers from Xiliang to teach her, only to make her happy!
Li Tianfu said she wanted martial arts, and Father and Mother had the most formidable warriors from Xiliang teach her!
But as for her? Just because she was the eldest daughter, when she said she wanted to learn to dance, Father said that one day she might have to bear the heavy burden of Xiliang and shouldnât learn things according to her preferences.
She also wanted to study martial arts like Li Tianfu, but Father said⊠she had someone to protect her, which was enough, and there was no need to spend effort on martial arts; instead, she should spend that time reading historical texts.
She cherished her sister and envied her, which is why she tried her utmost to care for her sister, safeguarding her sisterâs carefree existence, allowing her to remain Xiliangâs happiest princess, as if seeing her happiness meant experiencing that joy herself.
Li Tianjiao shook her head at this thought, forcing herself not to dwell on it, dispelling the gloom in her heart, and pretending that⊠when her sister killed Mother for the throne, that sister died together with Mother.
From the very beginning, Mother was wrong to send Li Tianfu for the political marriage.
If they hadnât sent her sister for the marriage but kept her by their side, found her a royal consort, and let her indulge in her mischief with Lu Tianzhuo, maybe⊠the two sisters wouldnât have met todayâs life-or-death conclusion.
Nowadays, the reason the Zhou army sieges the cities of Xiliang so easily is because Li Tianfu is in Zhouâs hands.
Li Tianfu had ascended the throne supported by the Tianfeng Kingdom before, while Li Tianjiao was seen as the incompetent ruler who introduced the Tianfeng Kingdom into Xiliang.
Now many Xiliang people and generals guarding the cities believe that Li Tianfu, the legitimate second daughter of the former Emperor of Xiliang, allied with Zhou and Yan Kingdom, expelled the Tianfeng Kingdom, and that Li Tianfu is the hero who drove away Tianfeng from Xiliang; hence, they are willing to follow her and overthrow Li Tianjiao, the traitor of Xiliang.
If not for her last-minute request to get General Cui Shanzhong, who had a strong appeal in Xiliang, she wouldnât have this military power now, but⊠this is Xiliangâs last remaining resources.
She hopes this Bai Qingyu can become Xiliangâs last hope for survival.
Li Tianjiao recalled Li Zhijieâs departing words, holding her hand and using his last breath to say that if it really couldnât hold, they should surrender to Zhou, at least to survive!
Because Li Zhijie believed Yan Kingdom had such an Empress Dowager and a young sovereign, with the Regent Prince eyeing the throne, it didnât seem like it could unify the world.
Instead, the Zhou Bai family, united as one, both military and civilians, exhibited the characteristics of a great nation capable of achieving world peace.
Later, when Li Zhijie was delirious, he began to ramble, saying he should have agreed to surrender to Zhou earlier, so fewer soldiers would die!
Li Zhijie hoped to see a peaceful era in his next life, without wars.
Thinking of Li Zhijieâs death, Li Tianjiao felt a sharp pain in her eyes, took a deep breath, turned, and left the bedchamber where Bai Qingyu was housed.
On the lavishly decorated gilded carved wood bed, Bai Qingyuâs eyes were tightly closed, and the candles placed on the agarwood stand suddenly went out before reigniting, flickering.
Xiao Ruohai landed silently from the beam in the grand hall, kneeling on one knee on the footstool by the bed, took out a white jade porcelain bottle from his chest, poured out a medicine pellet, and fed it into Bai Qingyuâs mouth, waiting quietly by the side.
After a brief interval, Bai Qingyu on the bed suddenly opened his eyes, furrowing his brows and clutching his chest, sitting up and glancing outside.
Xiao Ruohai lowered his voice and said, âFifth Young Master, everything is clear! Yunjing and the Yunjing Imperial Palace⊠roughly match the drawings given by Ninth Young Master, although some places have been altered, likely because Ninth Young Master previously attempted to assassinate the Emperor of Xiliang; the details, including the Xiliang city gatesâ guard rotation times, have been figured outâŠâ
Saying this, Xiao Rongyan took out the drawings he had made of Yunjing city and the Imperial Palace, even marking several detailed locations, such as certain small holes, that Li Tianjiao herself might not know about.
The drawings of Yunjing and the Imperial Palace were given when Bai Qingyun set out with the army.
Bai Qingyun had once bided his time in the Xiliang Imperial Palace, delivering a fatal blow to the Emperor of Xiliang, which sparked the chaos in Yunjing.
Bai Qingyan suppressed the discomfort from having just woken up, unfolded the map drawn by Xiao Ruohai, glanced at it, and his brows revealed a hint of amusement; he always knew his eldest young ladyâs foster brother was impressive, and Father had mentioned it before, but he hadnât anticipated the extent of it.
âNext, we need to get Xiliang soldiersâ uniforms, and have our Bai family soldiers covertly escape from the prison; is it easy to enter the prison?â Bai Qingyu asked.
âNot too difficult; through contacts the Third Young Lady left behind in Xiliang, Iâve already visited the prison once. Our brothers in the Bai family army are capable of speaking simple Xiliang dialects, though speaking more might reveal their identity!â Xiao Ruohai said.
âThatâs enough, weâll set it for tomorrow!â Bai Qingyu pointed at the food supply in Yunjing and then at the weapons depot, âFirst set fire to those two places, then burn other locations where General Cui Shanzhong hid food in the city, and simultaneously have our people switch to Xiliang military uniforms, pretending to capture escaping Bai family soldiers, taking advantage of the chaos to escape!â
âThat requires sending Xiliang military uniforms inside in advance; this is a very risky taskâŠâ Xiao Ruohai expressed his concerns, âSending stuff inside may expose the people the Third Young Lady left behind!â
âThis will test how capable the people left by the Third Young Lady are. Tell them itâs the last battle of life and death, they must exert all efforts! This mission⊠must succeed, it cannot fail, and cannot be exposed; succeeding makes them the heroes of pacifying Yunjing!â
âUnderstood!â Xiao Ruohai responded, noticing Bai Qingyuâs discomfort, promptly pulling out a reddish-brown porcelain bottle from his chest, âFifth Young Master, take this medicine firstâŠâ
Bai Qingyu waved his hand: âI estimate the Imperial Physician will start visiting frequently tomorrow; having a disordered pulse is better! Go handle the important tasks, and grind the medicine into powder, then mix it into the medicine they prepare for me!â
Adding the pill to the concoction, once the medicine is brewed, the medicinal strength will seep into it.
Xiao Ruohai worried the medicine provided by Doctor Hong might react with the prescription given by the Xiliang Imperial Physician, and quietly said, âHowever⊠if indeed thereâs a substance in this medicine reacting with the prescription from the Xiliang Imperial Physician, isnât this not very safe? I should find an opportunity to personally feed the Fifth Young Master!â
âDonât waste time on these minor matters! Focus on the most important tasks!â Bai Qingyu looked at Xiao Ruohai, âOnce all is arranged, you immediately leave through the moat, carefully exit, and inform Third Brother, have him lead troops to the north gate at your specified time!â