Love Affairs in Chang'an - Chapter 445
Chapter 445 Be As Strong As an Egg
Danbaulji rode his proud black-headed horse and was the first to charge out of Dafeichuan’s barracks. It was as if Lanzhou’s Golden Pearl Beauty was about to fall into the hands of others.
Soon after, 30,000 Kunlun cavalry among the 100,000 cavalry howled out like dark clouds covering the sky. Each knight raised his Tibetan scimitar and shouted loudly. It was as if he wasn’t going to war, but to get married.
In their eyes, the Central Plains was a paradise in their dreams, where gold was everywhere like clouds of beauties!
Gaer Qinling stood on the carriage with his hands behind his back. He watched Danbaulji lead the army and let out a long breath. He thought to himself, Danbaulji was a bit reckless and stupid, but he was indeed a first-class expert in destroying the city and fortifying the stronghold. It’s time for me to send troops to attack Shan Prefecture earlier. Even if I can’t take down the prefecture and county, I can still surround the city and fight for reinforcements-my two younger brothers are still fighting hard in the Yuyang Pass. As long as there was a war here in Shanzhou, the Yuyang Gate’s grain path would be completely isolated, and breaking through would only be a matter of time … In this way, the Lanzhou defense line would definitely collapse!
“Ma Ta He Long pointed his sword at the Central Plains. It’s just around the corner!” Gaer Qinling slapped the fence with his palm, his eyes shining brightly!
At the same time, the fake shepherd, Qin Mubai, threw down the sheep and the shed black-skinned shepherd horse, leaned on the back of the Fire Cloud Divine Horse and galloped crazily!
“Huoyun! It’s all up to you! Run as fast as you can!” Qin Mubai leaned on the horse and hugged the horse’s neck tightly. “The Tibetan army’s speed is at most two hundred li a day. It’s already past midnight, and they still need to set up camp in the middle of the night. It’s about fifty to sixty li away from Illusory Moon Valley. We won’t rest anymore. We have to rush to Shanzhou as soon as possible even if we’re desperate!”
Huoyun seemed to understand what he said, and his muscles suddenly exploded, his hooves fluttering wildly like lightning!
The north wind was like a knife, cutting through his face in pain!
Qin Mubai felt that he was frozen stiff, facing the wind, his eyes couldn’t open, and his nostrils seemed to be frozen.
Huoyun was truly capable of risking his life! He was carrying Qin Mubai all the way, but he didn’t seem to have the slightest intention of stopping!
…
Late at night, inside the Shanzhou Governor’s Mansion.
It had been several days since news of Qin Mubai’s death had been officially spread. The secretariat of the manor set up a mourning hall, the army will come to condolence from all over Zuozhou County. The citizens of the city were all sorrowful. They surrounded the governor’s mansion every day, crying and begging for help. They wanted to enter the mansion first to worship him with incense …
At the same time, Shanzhou City was also filled with nervousness. After retreating to the prefecture city, Guanxi Army entered the city and began to set up defenses. Under the order of Li Daozong, Lanzhou Governor Xiao Liang ordered the newly recruited 30,000 Lanzhou New Army and all the remaining soldiers of the other prefectures and counties to be transferred to Shanzhou to take part in the defensive operation, regardless of whether it was good or bad. The people in Shanzhou City also spontaneously organized some people, or donated money or helped build military houses, and even formed a lumbering team to cut down the forest for Leimu to assist the army in building the city defense.
As a result, all of the troops under the Lanzhou Governor-General’s Mansion, apart from those deployed far away in Yuyang Pass, were gathered in Shanzhou Outpost City!
Li Daozong had already sent a flying letter to the Imperial Court to inform Qin Mubai of his death, defeat Da Feichuan, and request reinforcements.
The current situation was extremely dangerous. With the loss of the Great Feichuan Gateway, Shanzhou would become the throat of life and death. If the enemy attacked this place, Lanzhou would be exposed to the Tibetans’ iron hoof scimitars.
In the River Dragon Region, dozens of provinces and counties were as powerful as eggs!
Li Daozong, the deputy commander-in-chief and temporary marshal, felt an unprecedented pressure and crisis. In the early years of the Southern expedition of the State, he had led the army, but at that time, regardless of whether he succeeded or failed, he would at most bear the consequences of the battle. But right now, no one in Lanzhou would be able to bear such a heavy burden with gritted teeth.
In the early years, when Emperor Li Shimin was still King Qin, he fought two bitter battles against Xue Ju in the west before deciding on the River Dragon. Now, several decades have passed, is Lanzhou going to fall into the enemy’s hands again?
Dao Sect Li was so anxious that he couldn’t sleep at night.
This place was half the territory of the Great Tang!
No one dared to lose this battle!
…
The men were busy doing something big, as if they had forgotten about a few special women.
Li Xueyan, who was originally ill and in a daze, saw Qin Mubai’s coffin and mourning hall with her own eyes after a bumpy journey. He had a high fever and was unconscious all day long. Occasionally, he would open his mouth and spit out a few words, all of which were “antidote”, “Mubai”, and “wait for me”.
Chen Yan and Tantai Shuangshuang, who had recovered more than half of their strength, accompanied her every day, worrying endlessly. From the moment Su Lianqing saw Chen Yan’s appearance, it was as if she had disappeared from the world, hiding far away and never seeing anyone again.
After a few days of forcefully injecting the soup, Li Xueyan’s fever finally subsided and she became much more sober. Chen Yan and the other two let out a sigh of relief.
That morning, Li Xueyan opened her eyes and suddenly said to Chen Yan, “Sister, can you do me a favor?”
Chen Yan was adopted by Li Daoist Sect, and Li Xueyan did not have any older sisters, so she treated Chen Yan as a biological sister and always had a good relationship with her.
“Alright, tell me.” Chen Yan replied.
“Can you go prepare a wedding dress for me?” Li Xueyan said.
“Marriage?” Chen Yan blinked her eyes in puzzlement, “What are you doing?”
“I want to hold the Underworld Marriage Ceremony with Mubai.”
“!!” Chen Yan was shocked. She opened her eyes wide and looked at Li Xueyan, speechless for a moment.
“Sister, can you help me?” Li Xueyan turned around and looked at Chen Yan, pleading.
Chen Yan sighed softly and nodded, “Wait a minute.”
“Thank you, Sister Yan.” Li Xueyan smiled pale and said, “I knew you would agree!”
“Why?” Chen Yan smiled and stroked Li Xueyan’s pale face as she said with pity.
Li Xueyan whispered, “Because at this moment, only you can understand my feelings. Even Father, he doesn’t understand …”
Chen Yan suddenly felt a pain in her heart. She nodded her head gently and said, “You should rest. I’ll be right back.”
Two hours later, Chen Yan returned with her phoenix crown and rosary powder.
Li Xueyan got out of bed, took a shower and changed her clothes. She sat in front of the bronze mirror and Chen Yan dressed her up.
Li Xueyan looked at herself in the bronze mirror and kept smiling.
“Sister Yan, have you held a wedding ceremony with Mubai?”
“No.” Chen Yan combed Li Xueyan’s long hair and replied, “I never care about this.”
“Woman, this is only once in a lifetime. How can you not care?” Li Xueyan’s lips curved upwards, revealing a sweet and sorrowful smile. “From today onwards, I am also a wife, no longer a child.”
Chen Yan’s hand suddenly paused for a moment. She frowned and said, “Are you trying to do something stupid?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Li Xueyan smiled and said, “Although Mubai has gone, he still has his mother, siblings, children, and you, Sister Gaoyang and Wu Meiniang. I’m not alone with you. I can live.”
Chen Yan was speechless as she silently sighed and shook her head.
“Sister Yan, do you think I’m stupid?”
“No.” Chen Yan said, “There are quite a few infatuated women like you in this world, but many more have hearts as hard as iron.”
“Sister, I don’t regret it.” Li Xueyan paused for a moment before suddenly raising her head to look at Chen Yan. Seriously, she said word by word, “Really, I don’t regret it!”
Chen Yan gently nodded and patted her shoulder. “I’ve seen a woman before who was intoxicated by love and crazy about love. I thought that was the limit of a woman. Now I understand that love is so deep that it can only be even more idiotic. There’s no limit.”
“Is the woman Sister Yan referring to as’infatuated with love and infatuated with love ‘my Gaoyang Royal Sister?” Li Xueyan said.
“That’s right, it’s her.” Chen Yan sighed and said, “She is really persistent, persistent to the point of insanity.”
Li Xueyan bit her lips and said, “I envy my royal sister very much …” It’s not that I envy what she got or gained in the end, but that I envy her courage and persistence. Compared to her, I am a pitiful coward. I lived so cautiously that I didn’t dare to take what I liked or say what I wanted. “When I dare to say that I want it, I don’t have a chance anymore … Why is Royal Sister Gaoyang so frank and persistent, yet I am so conflicted and hesitant?”
“People have their own natures, how can they be identical to others? You don’t need to belittle yourself. Your kindness and sincerity are incomparable to others.” Chen Yan stroked her hair and looked at the copper mirror with a smile. “Xue Yan, you are really beautiful today.”
“Is that so?” Chen Yan raised her hand and gently stroked Chen Yan’s face with her cold fingers. She said leisurely, “Sister Yan, you are the wisest and most magnanimous woman I have ever seen. There is really no pressure in your heart when you are with me, let alone worry about anything. Also, you are very good at taking care of people. Mubai must be very relaxed and happy when she is with you, right?”
Chen Yan was speechless. Scenes of what had happened in the small buildings in the suburbs of Xiangyang appeared in his mind once again.
Two hours later, it was already dusk. There were fewer and fewer people in the mourning hall of the secretariat’s mansion. Only Yuwen Hongtai was still sitting in the mourning hall, holding the tiger-headed golden spear that Qin Mubai had used. He held a piece of silk in his hand and wiped the tip of the spear with a cold expression.
“Third Brother, if that Tibetan barbarian kills him another day, I will bring up your spear and kill him!” Yuwen Hongtai muttered to himself, “If I can’t come back, I’ll bring this spear to you when I get to the Underworld. At that time, I’ll tell you how many Tibetan barbarians I’ve killed with this spear! You’ll definitely be happy to hear it!”
The remaining soldiers in the mourning hall who served the incense table and paper money gritted their teeth and clenched their fists until their bones cracked.
At this time, Chen Yan and Tantai walked into the mourning hall through the side door, supporting Li Xueyan who was wearing a phoenix crown and multicolored robe.
Everyone was shocked. Yuwen Hongtai stood up and widened his eyes. “Sister-in-law, what are you doing here?”
“Today, Her Highness Princess Wencheng is going to marry the young marshal.” Chen Yan said.
“Ah?” Everyone was dumbfounded.
“Sister Yan, there’s no need to alarm too many people. Let’s hold the wedding!” Li Xueyan smiled and said, “Everyone present is the guests.”
Yuwen Hongtai was dumbfounded and his mouth trembled.
“Hu–”
With a loud sound, a bright red bridegroom’s robe was wrapped around Qin Mubai’s coffin. Li Xueyan looked at Yuwen Hongtai and said, “General Yuwen, is that Major Marshal’s family weapon, the Tiger Head Golden Spear?”
“Ah? Yes … yes.” Yuwen Hongtai answered in a daze.
“Please bring it over and stand beside me.” Li Xueyan smiled.
Yuwen Hongtai walked over doubtfully and placed the tiger-headed golden spear beside Li Xueyan.
Li Xueyan raised her wrist and held the bride and groom into the Bu Xitang Hall, revealing that she was holding onto a white-haired red red silk sash. She tied one end to the tiger-headed golden spear.
“Sister, please change the red wax. Mubai and I … are going to pay our respects!”
…
At this time, in the tent of the military camp in the city.
Li Daozong, Hou Junji, Xue Wanjun and the army will assist, as well as Shanzhou county officials, are all gathered in the same hall, nervous shang feel city defense against the enemy.
After the army withdrew from Da Feichuan and returned to Shanzhou, even Hou Junji was unclear about what happened next. At this moment, Hou Junji was secretly anxious as he listened to Li Daozong’s orders. Qin Mubai, Qin Mubai, are you faking your death or really dead? Now that your eyebrows are burning, and you don’t see the next step, do you want to be anxious?
After the meeting was over, the generals went to work. The tired and exhausted Li Daozong heaved a sigh of relief and sat on the handsome chair, dizzy. Hou Junji stayed behind and prepared to talk to him about military affairs.
At this time, a small school came in to ask for an audience and handed over a letter.
Li Daozong lazily opened the letter and glanced at it. He coldly snorted and threw it onto the table. “Scram! Let him go!”
Hou Junji curiously picked up the letter and immediately laughed, “Haha, what a second young master of the Changsun Clan! Seeing the pressure of the army, he actually escaped back to the capital!”
Li Daozong glanced at him and said, “I know you have a deep enmity with the Changsun Clan, but you don’t have to worry about this kind of thing.”
“Why not?” Hou Junji laughed coldly and said, “I’m a marching Sima who specializes in military discipline. Changsun Huan said that he ignored the military law by saying that his mother was sick and went home without asking for permission. This is a violation of the Ten Severances Order!”
“Then what do you want?” Dao Sect Li casually said, “Capture him back and slash him?”
“Your Highness is wise. I was planning to do this.” Hou Junji answered solemnly, and then shouted loudly, “Someone! Issue a warrant to capture the fleeing general–Changsun Huan!”
“You’re crazy!” Dao Sect Li slapped the table and said, “Don’t cause any trouble in front of the enemy!”
“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to interfere in such a small matter.” Hou Junji smiled coldly and bowed to Li Daozong, “General, I’m leaving.”
Li Daozong’s face was tense as he watched Hou Junji leave the tent, his heart pounding. He thought to himself, “Originally, Changsun Huan was here to do some military work and show his goodwill to Qin Mubai.” He hadn’t expected that Qin Mubai hadn’t seen him for half a year, let alone a military worker, to curry favor with him. Now that Qin Mubai was dead, coupled with the critical situation, he had actually slipped away with the soles of his feet greased with oil! Such a lowly person should indeed be killed! Forget it, I’ll let Hou Junji take revenge on me! If Changsun Huan was really captured back, then his life would be doomed here!
