Chapter 189 (1/2)
Chapter 189
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He wanted to touch her hand. As he was about to do so, a dark cloud drifted over and blocked the moon, causing darkness to envelope the landscape. Yan Xun stood there awkwardly with his hand outstretched. The snow on the ground was scattered about by the wind, onto his cloak. He appeared like a statue in the snow.
She had not met Yan Xun despite staying in the military camp for three days. Only on the fourth day did he travel down from the pass. When she saw him, she was in the midst of packing her baggage. Yan Xun walked in uninvited, without a soldier alerting her. The blinding ray of light shone from his back. Chu Qiao turned around and was momentarily blinded. Yan Xun was wearing a long, black robe, with golden dragon patterns embroidered on it. He stared at her deeply, remaining silent for a long time.
The light was blinding. The specks of dust could be seen floating around under the light. Chu Qiao looked at Yan Xun. In that instant, it felt like they were in Yingge Court many years ago. The young man had just come back from his martial arts training, all sweaty. He liked to stand behind her without making any noise, waiting for her to discover him. Back then, they were lonely. Other than each other, they had no one else. Unlike now, when they were surrounded by many people, they seemed to drift even further apart. Chu Qiao stood up and wanted to kneel down to salute him, but could not manage to call him ”Your Majesty”. Yan Xun walked up to her and held her hand. She did not resist nor look up. Her body was held in the man's embrace, while her forehead leaned on his chest. She could hear his lively heartbeat, which reminded her of the war drums at Beishuo City. The sky was bright; the landscape was colored a bright golden. The curtains of the tent fluttered in the air due to the winds. Chu Qiao widened her eyes, seemingly able to visualize the green grasses in the season of harvest. Her heart had drifted far away, and was no longer with him.
”AhChu, are you leaving?” Yan Xun asked in a low voice, but she did not reply. He let go of his hand, seeing her half-hearted gaze. ”AhChu?”
Chu Qiao raised her head and nodded. ”Yes, I'm leaving tomorrow.”
”The new year is coming. Stay with me.”
”There's no need to. I have some things to settle, I need to go back.”
Yan Xun replied stubbornly, ”Leave it to other people. I want to spend the new year with you.”
”The Quanrong people are coveting Meilin Pass. I'm worried.”
”They need to celebrate the new year too,” Yan Xun looked at her and said. As if nothing had happened between them, he continued, ”No need to settle this personally. I will send someone else to settle this matter.”
Chu Qiao remained silent and lowered her head, looking at the little circles of light forming on the ground, like a lattice. Yan Xun's mood brightened up as he said that he wanted to bring Chu Qiao to Xiling City to spend the new year. That was a new city that he had established. It was prosperous and lively. He had prepared a comfortable mansion and a personal room for her. He repeatedly emphasized that he had eaten a delicious snack while he was young. After he had recovered Yan Bei, he looked around for the chef who had prepared it for him. When he tracked him down, he realized that the chef had died amidst the conflict. Luckily, his son was still alive and had inherited his father's culinary skills. Presently, he was housed in the courtyard of Xiling City. He droned on and on, and started to appear naggy.
Chu Qiao listened for a long time before she looked up and said quietly, ”Yan Xun, I don't wish to stay here.”
Yan Xun was stunned as he appeared tongue-tied. His endless stream of words stopped. He looked at Chu Qiao and answered after a long while, ”You're still blaming me?”
Chu Qiao shook her head and replied calmly, ”It's just that I don't wish to stay here and pretend to be at peace with you, acting as if nothing has happened. When you have sorted out your thoughts and let go of everything, including your suspicions, I'll come again.”
Yan Xun stood there as the look on his face turned cold. He stared at Chu Qiao deeply, and then turned around to walk out. He took big strides; his shadow disappeared in a flash.
Chu Qiao sat on her bed, suddenly feeling fatigued. She felt that cold wars like this were meaningless, but she could not find another escape route for herself. The Quanrong people were still making trouble outside the pass. Furthermore, after the new year, spring would have arrived. She needed to make precautions in advance. Also, she had the trade exchange session coming up in spring. There were many things lying in wait for her, but she revelled in having errands to run. She smiled bitterly and helplessly as she continued to pack her baggage. This military camp was too suffocating; she did not wish to remain here any longer.
Yan Xun sat in the central tent, flanked by his generals on both sides. The atmosphere in the tent was suffocating as the generals were moody. It did not have the happy mood of the new year.
”If we go to battle, based on our abilities at hand, the Second Army can deal with 100,000 to 150,000 Xia troops. With a bit of luck, we can withstand the attacks of about half the Xia army's forces for two days. However, their frontline commander cannot be Zhuge Yue. A while back, at Queshu Valley, he killed over 2,000 of our people. The soldiers fear him. I'm fearful that the low morale of the soldiers will affect the outcome of the battle,” a general delivered his analysis.
Another person spoke up, ”Based on our scouts' reports, Zhuge Yue is not currently in the camp. It looks like he has headed back to Zhen Huang as the Xia Emperor is gravely ill. As Zhao Che's ally, he should support him in ascending the throne. However, there are rumors circulating that the Xia Emperor has decided his successor to the throne, and it is not Zhao Che.”
”The new year is coming. The Xia army is unstable in terms of morale. Zhuge Yue is not around too. If we take this opportunity to barge into Yanming Pass, it is a feasible idea. Your Highness, this is the military strategy map that the Military Strategy Department has come up with.”
Yan Xun scanned the map coldly, seeing all sorts of fancy writing scrawled on the paper. Cavalry troops at the frontline, shielded troops behind… It was but a strategy of frontal attack, flanked by backup forces at the sides. They were but ordinary military strategies. He frowned and looked at the commander, who was about 30 years old. Coldly, he questioned, ”Is this the strategy that you guys have come up with after working around the clock for over 10 days?”
The man was shocked, cold sweat trickled down his face. ”We have analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and ourselves, we have analyzed…”