Chapter 1272: Chapter 1267: Kowtowing in Grief
Li Tianfuâs consciousness was beginning to blur. It was almost with her last ounce of strength that she managed to sit on the Dragon Throne, her gaze directed toward the main entrance of the hall, tears seemingly welling up in her eyes, gradually blurring her vision. She couldnât help but sigh, âA heart filled with a desire to support the state, but no power to turn the tideâŠâ
As her words fell, the light in her pupils dispersed and vanished.
âYour MajestyâŠâ The Xiliang soldiers in the hall knelt and wept bitterly.
Some soldiers picked up their blades and shouted, âGeneral! Your Majesty⊠I have come to follow Your Majesty and the General!â
After speaking, they slit their throats.
That night, fires blazed across Yunjing City as captives surrendered everywhere, yet the main hall of the besieged Imperial Palace, cornered by the Ninth Prince of Yan and Bai Qingyu, saw no surrenders and no survivors.
Once there was no movement inside the hall, Bai Qingyu released Xiao Ruohaiâs supporting hand and slowly walked up the stairs to push open the hall doorâŠ
Xiao Rongyan, fearing an ambush inside, grabbed Bai Qingyuâs wrist, moved back two steps with the injured Bai Qingyu behind him, and signaled the soldiers to kick the door open.
Yue Shi led people forward and kicked the door open with a single strideâŠ
The brightly lit hall, filled with corpses, showed Li Tianjiao sitting at the highest place on the Dragon Throne, her eyes wide open, staring in the direction of the door. If not for her unblinking eyes, it would have seemed unbelievable that she was already dead.
Bai Qingyu, whose chest ached terribly, glanced at Xiao Rongyan standing protectively in front of him and could no longer hold on, collapsing straight backward.
âFifth Young Master!â Xiao Ruohai widened his eyes and rushed forward to catch Bai Qingyu, thus preventing Bai Qingyuâs head from hitting the ground.
âCall Doctor Hong quickly!â Xiao Rongyan crouched down and lifted Bai Qingyu onto his back, shouting to Xiao Ruohai, âHurry up!â
âYes!â Xiao Ruohai immediately turned and instructed someone to call Doctor Hong, then swiftly ran towards the sleeping chamber where Xiliang had earlier placed Bai Qingyu.
·
Dadu City, Bai Mansion.
In the Qinghui Courtyard, two children slept soundly beside Bai Qingyan.
Yet Bai Qingyan was sleepless that night.
Perhaps due to the connection between siblings, for some unknown reason, even when Bai Qingyan slightly closed her eyes, she would dream of A Yuâs childhood, recalling scenes of A Yu as a child learning to ride a horse, being thrown off, breaking ribs yet not shedding a tear, just shaking his head and remaining silent.
Bai Qingyan, unable to sleep any longer, got out of bed.
Nanny Tong, hearing the movement outside the curtain, quickly came in. Seeing Bai Qingyan already draped in clothing and sitting by the bed putting on her shoes, Nanny Tong hurriedly stepped forward, casually opened the bed curtains to glance at the two children, and said softly, âWhy is the young lady up? Itâs still early!â
âI canât sleepâŠâ Bai Qingyanâs voice was somewhat hoarse.
Nanny Tong promptly poured water for Bai Qingyanâthe water was warm, just right for drinking brought to Bai Qingyanâs lips.
Seeing her get up, Nanny Tong helped her sit on a soft bench. As Nanny Tong was tying the bed curtains together, she saw Bai Qingyan had already opened the hanging curtain, went around the folding screen, and sat down at the desk.
âYoung lady, you should rest more now!â Nanny Tong held a lamp as she approached the desk, putting the lamp down, only to see Bai Qingyan lifting a brush, dipping it in ink, and sketching a rough outline of a city on paper, studying the chart intently.
Nanny Tong suddenly felt that the Madam had made a mistake in the past; fearing that the young lady would read, she had removed all the books from the young ladyâs room, but didnât take away the brushesâŠ
Judging by the time, itâs been so long since A Yu was captured, Yunjing must have already erupted into battle over there!
Because in the previous life, Bai Qingyan was too complacentâafter her grandfather, father, and uncles led her brothers to the battlefield, she had never worried. Later, when the Bai familyâs male members all perished in the southern border, she was caught off guard.
Even though Xiao Rongyan is at the front lines, utterly protective of her siblings, Bai Qingyan still worries, speculating how A Yu will collaborate in the city.
Bai Qingyan repeatedly analyzed the battle situation in her mind, understanding her brother well enough to know he would position himself in the most dangerous placesâŠvisible to both Cui Shanzhong and Li Tianjiao, using himself to stabilize Li Tianjiao and Cui Shanzhong, making Xiliang believe he could become Xiliangâs trump card.
Bai Qingyan stood in front of the window, pushed it open⊠looked southward, feeling inexplicably anxious.
âOh my young lady!â Nanny Tong quickly closed the window, âItâs the coldest time right now, be careful of the chilly wind catching you, leaving you with a headache from the wind you canât cure in time!â
She smiled at Nanny Tong, raised her hand to touch the wild goose hairpin in her hair, believing that no matter what, A Yan would protect her siblings.
Perhaps due to the experiences of the past life, she always maintained vigilance and caution against any danger facing her family.
But, as her grandfather once advised her father, the fledgling will eventually grow up. How will she know her siblings need her to fly higher unless she learns to let go?
âYoung ladyâŠâ The Hidden Guard called softly at the window.
Perhaps seeing the lights on in Bai Qingyanâs room, the Hidden Guard finally spoke at the window.
Bai Qingyan attempted to open the window, but Nanny Tong stopped her, casting a stern glance at Bai Qingyan, âThis old servant will tell the Madam! This wonât allow the Hidden Guards to come again!â
Bai Qingyan: ââŠâ
She had to withdraw her hand and ask, âWhatâs the matter?â
âSpies have reported movements in Zhongxing City and Yangjiang City of Daliang, Commandant Lu has already sent someone to quietly move troops overnight!â The Hidden Guard hesitated, âDue to concerns about disturbing the young ladyâs month of seclusion, this wasnât reported at night.â
âAlright, I understand, thank you!â After Bai Qingyan finished speaking, she added, âHave someone inform Commandant Lu in the name of the Empress Dowager that this time those who intend to provoke our Zhou should be ruthlessly suppressed, the approach must be strong, to make other restless individuals scared of ever acting recklessly again!â
Bai Qingyan knew Commandant Luâs direct movement of troops must have received her motherâs tacit approval. Her motherâs intent was to let her rest in peace during her confinement, not to trouble her, so it wasnât reported to her.
The shadows of trees swayed outside, and the Hidden Guard disappeared again in Qinghui Courtyard.
As Bai Qingyan had previously mentioned, Daliangâs soft approach has run its course, if thereâs no firmness, those in Daliang might still think Zhou is weak, creating disturbances whenever they wish, which is quite troublesome.
Though Bai Qingyan, being from a family of generals, never feared war, ever since ascending the throne as the Emperor of Zhou, her considerations became broader. She still doesnât fear war today, but⊠she doesnât want endless fighting!
Therefore, despite respecting their loyalty to Daliang, Bai Qingyan will show no mercy to this Daliang instigation.
The future of Zhou will certainly grow better and better!
This time after the palace examination ended, her mother brought all the examination papers over for her.