eurekapd Chapter 314 Xu Longxiang wanted to ask him directly!
Chapter 314 Xu Longxiang wanted to ask him directly!
Chen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze, but the die was cast and he had no choice but to proceed.
He forced himself to continue:
"Your Highness, this humble general believes that Liu Hongyan, who has served Your Highness for many years, is exceptionally capable and meticulous, and is not someone who can be easily bribed. Her betrayal this time may not be a genuine act of loyalty to Liyang."
His voice grew steady and faster, as if those words had been brewing in his mind for a long time.
"She personally stabbed Zhao Laosi, personally set up an ambush to kill him, and personally uprooted the intelligence network that the Northern Border had cultivated in Liyang for many years. These things seem like irrefutable evidence, but conversely, what if she wasn't a traitor? What if she was forced? What if she was enduring humiliation?"
He raised his head, met Xu Longxiang's gaze, and spoke slowly and deliberately.
"What if she did all this to gain the Empress of Liyang's trust, to plant a spy within the enemy ranks, to wait for an opportunity—an opportunity to launch a coordinated attack from within and without, and turn the tide in one fell swoop?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the hall fell silent once more.
But this time, the deathly silence was completely different from the one before.
The deathly silence just now was one of despair, suffocation, and the absence of any light.
But in this deathly silence, something is stirring.
Just as beneath the frozen surface of a river, undercurrents surge and spring waters await the breaking of the ice.
Xu Longxiang's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
The light surged from the depths of his pupils, dispelling all the gloom, all the despair, and all the weariness.
He recalled Liu Hongyan's face, her hair tied in a bun, wearing a blue cloth dress, standing under the porch, looking up at the plaque that read "Zhenyue Hall," her eyes shining like stars in the winter night of the northern border.
She said she could learn.
She learned it.
You've learned so well.
It's so good that it can fool everyone.
"That's right."
His voice trembled slightly with excitement, "That's right! That's exactly it! Liu Hongyan wouldn't betray me for no reason. She must have some reason, she must have some plan, she must—"
He suddenly stood up, the movement was so fast and so violent that his vision went black for a moment. He swayed and had to grab the table to steady himself.
"Your Highness!" Sikong Xuan stepped forward, wanting to help him up.
Xu Longxiang raised his hand to stop him.
"I am fine."
He took a deep breath and waited for the dizziness to subside before opening his eyes again.
"Zhao Qingxue's marriage into the Qin Dynasty and Liu Hongyan's defection to Liyang are definitely related. However, we have too little information to deduce anything. But if we could make contact with Liu Hongyan—"
He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.
If we can get in touch with Liu Hongyan, we can find out the truth.
That would tell us whether Zhao Qingxue was forced or did it voluntarily.
That way, we can know if there is still a chance for Li Yang.
That way we'll know if there's still hope for the North.
Sikong Xuan's brows furrowed slowly.
He remained silent for a long time before speaking, his voice low and solemn.
"Your Highness, this old minister has a question. Liu Hongyan was captured within the territory of the Li Yang Dynasty, before the marriage alliance between Li Yang and Da Qin was made public. Zhao Qingxue only announced her marriage to Qin Mu after that. Could it be—"
He raised his head and looked at Xu Longxiang.
"Zhao Qingxue first broke the alliance with the Northern Border, and then captured Liu Hongyan?"
These words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing most of Xu Longxiang's newly ignited hope.
He was stunned.
The beautiful picture of "Liu Hongyan enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens" that he had just pieced together in his mind was crumbling little by little.
He recalled the look Zhao Qingxue gave him when she said goodbye outside the east gate of the imperial city.
That gaze was complex and hard to describe; it contained scrutiny, assessment, and an emotion he couldn't quite articulate.
If she had decided to break the alliance earlier, if she had decided to marry Qin Mu earlier, if she had decided to abandon the Northern Border as an ally earlier.
Liu Hongyan was arrested not because she "endured humiliation and carried heavy burdens," but because "when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer."
Xu Longxiang's fingers slowly tightened on the table.
Two thoughts were clashing fiercely in his mind.
One person said that Liu Hongyan was a traitor.
One person said that Liu Hongyan was enduring humiliation and bearing heavy burdens.
One person said that Zhao Qingxue was forced into it.
One person said that Zhao Qingxue did it voluntarily.
One said, "There is still hope."
One person said, "It's over."
His head was throbbing more and more, and his temples were throbbing as if someone was hitting them with a hammer.
He abruptly closed his eyes, pressed his temples hard, and suppressed all those chaotic thoughts.
"Never mind."
He opened his eyes, and that stubborn light shone again in them.
"Whether Liu Hongyan's betrayal was genuine or feigned, and whether Zhao Qingxue's actions were forced or voluntary, I will find out the truth."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, "There are still three days until the wedding. I must personally go to Liu Hongyan and find out the reason."
"Your Highness!" Sikong Xuan's expression changed drastically. "You mustn't take this risk! Liu Hongyan is now Zhao Qingxue's person, which is equivalent to Qin Mu's person. If you go to her and something unexpected happens, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Fan Li nodded in agreement, adding, "Yes, Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable. Please reconsider!"
"Your Highness, please reconsider!"
Fan Li and the others also tried to dissuade him, their emotions running high and their words righteous and indignant.
Xu Longxiang frowned slightly as he looked at the resolute attitude of the crowd.
He had made up his mind, but it seemed he would have to resort to an even more extreme method to get these people to back down.
"Okay, stop arguing."
Xu Longxiang's voice was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap that exploded in the noisy hall.
Everyone fell silent at the same time.
Xu Longxiang leaned back in his chair, his gaze slowly sweeping across the faces of those people.
"Have you argued enough?" he asked.
No one dared to answer.
The hall was so quiet that you could hear the faint crackling of the candlelight.
Xu Longxiang withdrew his gaze and fixed it on Sikong Xuan's face.
"I ask you, have the commanders of the Imperial Guards of the Great Qin Dynasty agreed to our request?"
Sikong Xuan was slightly taken aback.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his lips parted slightly before closing again.
After a moment of silence, he shook his head.
"This man is extremely cunning, keeping us hanging on. He neither agrees nor disagrees. Every time we meet, he says ambiguous things, such as 'This matter is of great importance, allow me to think about it some more,' or 'This matter concerns our lives, we must be careful,' or 'Your Highness is a man of great talent and strategy, I certainly admire him, but—'"
That's enough.
Xu Longxiang interrupted him, a cold smile curving his lips.
"Once I storm the capital, the first thing I'll do is behead him."
Sikong Xuan frowned.
"Does Your Highness have a plan?" he asked.
Xu Longxiang looked at him, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"I have decided—" he said slowly and deliberately, "to ally with the Northern Barbarians."
The moment the words fell, the hall fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone was stunned.
They stared wide-eyed at Xu Longxiang, their pupils filled with unbelievable shock.
The shock was so intense that their minds went blank, and they even forgot to breathe.
Northern Mang.
The Northern Barbarians who fought with the northern border for decades.
The Northern Barbarians who had killed countless soldiers in the northern border region.
The Northern Barbarians, hated to the core by the men of the North.
A coalition with Northern Mang?
After a brief silence—
"Your Highness!" Sikong Xuan was the first to react, his expression changed drastically, and the color drained from his aged face, turning as pale as paper.
"How can this be! The Northern Barbarians and our Northern Border have been mortal enemies for decades! During the reign of the late emperor, the Northern Barbarians invaded the south three times, and countless soldiers of our Northern Border died. In the great battle twenty years ago, one hundred thousand soldiers of the Northern Border were buried on the border; their blood is still wet! Your Highness, how can you—"
"Your Highness!"
Han Zhang suddenly stood up, his weathered face filled with barely suppressed anger.
"This humble general disagrees! Those beasts of the Northern Barbarians burn, kill, loot, and commit all sorts of atrocities. My father died at the hands of the Northern Barbarians. My brother also died at their hands. Which of my brothers didn't have family members killed by the Northern Barbarians? Your Highness, you want us to join forces with the Northern Barbarians, this—"
He clenched his fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, and his knuckles turning white.
"This humble general would rather die in battle than join the ranks of the Northern Barbarians!"
"Your Highness!"
A civil official rushed out of the queue, his face ashen.
"The Northern Barbarians' wolves' ambitions are common knowledge. They've allied with us today, but they'll turn their backs on us tomorrow. This is like trying to get a tiger to give up its skin; it's like letting a wolf into the house! Once they seize the opportunity to march south, the northern border will be attacked from both sides, and then—"
He paused, speaking slowly and deliberately, each word like a sharp blade tempered in ice.
"The North is truly finished."
"Your Highness!"
Another voice rang out, filled with barely suppressed grief and indignation.
"The Northern Barbarians have been fighting with our Northern Border for decades. How many people have died, how much blood has been shed, how many enmities have been forged? Those hatreds cannot be resolved by a mere alliance. The soldiers will not agree to this. They would rather die in battle than fight alongside their enemies. Your Highness, you are pushing the hearts of the Northern Border soldiers to the brink of despair!"
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness!"
One voice after another rang out, and one figure after another knelt down.
They were angry, sorrowful, anxious, or heavy-hearted.
But on everyone's face, the same word was written—No.
Sikong Xuan stood there, the hem of his gray robe motionless, only his deep-set eyes churning with turbulent waves.
He looked at Xu Longxiang, at his pale, stubborn face, and the feeling of powerlessness in his heart grew stronger.
"Your Highness," he said, his voice hoarse as if sand were grinding against each other.
"The Northern Barbarians are not to be trusted. They have been fighting with the Northern Border for so many years, so many people have died, and so much blood has been shed. This enmity can never be resolved. Even if they agree to an alliance, it is only to use us to weaken the Qin army. Once we are both exhausted, they will reap the benefits."
"At that time, the North will truly be doomed."
He paused, then took a deep breath.
"Your Highness, please reconsider."
Xu Longxiang sat in the armchair, looking at the kneeling figures, and smiled.
The laughter was soft and cold, like the sound of ice cracking.
"Then tell me—" he said, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "what other good ideas are there?"
"The Qin edict has been issued, and I do not wish to participate. What else can I do but raise an army? Tell me, what else can I do?"
Inside the hall, there was a deathly silence.
No one speaks.
Silence spread through the hall, like an invisible boulder pressing down on everyone's heart.
Xu Longxiang leaned back in his chair, looking at the silent, bowed heads.
A self-deprecating smile slowly curved the corners of his mouth.
"Since there's no other way, then do as I say."
He paused, speaking slowly and deliberately.
"Let me go find Liu Hongyan first and ask her what she's up to."
Xu Longxiang's goal was clear: he wanted these people to agree to his plan.
So he made a request that no one could agree to, so that when he made his next request, no one would refuse.
As expected, the group exchanged glances, all somewhat hesitant.
Sikong Xuan hesitated for a moment before saying, "But Your Highness, what if..."
"What if what?" Xu Longxiang interrupted him, his voice eerily calm.
"What if she really betrays us, captures me, and hands me over to Qin Mu?"
Sikong Xuan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.
Xu Longxiang looked at him and suddenly smiled.
"Sir, Liu Hongyan has been with me for so many years. She is one of the people I trust most. I believe she wouldn't harm me."
Looking into his stubborn eyes, Sikong Xuan felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
He knew he couldn't persuade His Highness.
He's always like that; once he's made up his mind, nothing can change it.
Sikong Xuan sighed.
"When does Your Highness plan to depart?"
"Now," Xu Longxiang said.
He stood up, his movements still a little unsteady, but his back was very straight, like a sword that had been repeatedly tempered.
"Your Highness!" Sikong Xuan wanted to persuade him again.
Xu Longxiang had already turned around and was walking towards the palace gate.
"My mind is made up, sir. There is no need to persuade me any further."
He walked to the door, stopped, and didn't turn around.
"Zhao Qingxue is currently in the Qin Imperial City. Liu Hongyan must be there too. I will go find her now and find out what happened."
He pushed open the door, and the night wind howled in, blowing his dark python robe and the stray hairs at his temples.
He stepped forward and crossed the threshold.
Sikong Xuan stood there, watching the figure disappear into the night, and sighed deeply.
He turned around and looked at Tie Tu.
"General Tie Tu, you must protect His Highness's safety."
Tie Tu nodded without saying a word and quickly followed.
The black iron boots pounded on the gold bricks, making a dull "thump-thump" sound, one after another, before disappearing outside the palace gate.
Fan Li stood by the window, watching the figure grow ever more distant, his unease growing stronger.
He turned around and looked at Sikong Xuan.
"Sir, His Highness is going on his way—"
Sikong Xuan shook his head.
He didn't speak, he just stood there, gazing at the empty palace gate and the deep night outside.
The wind blew in through the crack in the door, ruffling his gray beard and hair, and his dark gray robes.
He stood there, like a silent statue.
Fan Li sighed, then looked at Mo Ya and said, "Let's go too. His Highness's journey is extremely dangerous and cannot be allowed to fail."
Mo Ya nodded without saying a word.
Fan Li and Mo Ya turned and left, following Xu Longxiang.
Outside the palace, the night wind howled.
Xu Longxiang walked briskly down the corridor, with Tie Tu following three steps behind him.
Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the eaves, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone slabs.
His steps were quick and hurried, and with each step, the dull ache in his chest intensified.
But he gritted his teeth and kept going.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
Find Liu Hongyan and ask her what happened.
Ask her why she betrayed him, ask her why Zhao Qingxue married Qin Mu, ask her what exactly happened.
A voice inside him said that Liu Hongyan would not betray him.
She must have had her reasons.
She must be enduring humiliation and hardship.
She must be waiting for him, waiting for him to come to her, waiting for him to rescue her, waiting for them to work together from the inside and outside to turn the tide.
The voice grew louder and clearer, overwhelming all doubts, all fears, and all despair.
He raised his head and looked south.
That's the direction of the Qin Dynasty's imperial city.
The person he was looking for was there.
There, he found the answer he sought.
He took a deep breath, stepped into the deep night.
........