The Slender Waist-Chapter 177 - 128: Blocking the Way to Question the Heart_2
Locals call it "Ghost River"...
In Bingzhou, there are water routes crisscrossing in all directions. Ghost River is about ten zhang wide, and Ao Qi led less than a hundred of his remaining men. How could they have escaped the pursuit of the Qi Army?
In fact, in everyone’s heart, Ao Qi was presumed dead on the escape route.
Otherwise, why did he not appear when Pei Jue’s army arrived?
Among Ye Chuang’s sobs, the image of Ao Qi’s face appeared in Feng Yun’s mind.
The young man’s countenance was handsome, lively and vivid, his every frown and smile seemed close at hand, and Feng Yun could not believe that such a vivid person could have simply ceased to exist.
But death is exactly like that...
Sudden.
Feng Yun gently let down the curtain and said to Wen Xingsu, "Big brother, is it possible for us to change our route and travel along Ghost River?"
Wen Xingsu guessed she wanted to search for Ao Qi and mused for a moment:
"Ghost River is treacherous and also guarded by Han Chuhu’s rebel forces on both flanks; I’m afraid it’s not advisable..."
Shentu Jiong tightened the reins and also looked back, "Right now, only this path through Hongye Valley is still under control of the Northern Yong Army, do not venture into other areas and risk danger."
Hongye Valley had just one narrow and winding trail, just wide enough for a carriage to pass, which was carved out by traders in the past seeking a shortcut. Apart from this single opening, Bingzhou was surrounded by the Qi Army, and the Qi Army and rebels were currently encircling both sides of the Hongye Valley. It was uncertain when it would be breached...
Feng Yun nodded in agreement.
Upon leaving Qijing Slope, Ye Chuang suddenly stopped.
"My lady..."
Feng Yun looked out, "Guard Ye, have you found something?"
Ye Chuang looked towards a new grave in the fields nearby without speaking, his eyes already moist...
There were no residents in Hongye Valley.
Apart from the recent ambush, it had long been deserted...
Feng Yun got off the carriage and walked slowly over.
The yellow soil of the new grave was already soaked through, and in front of it stood a wooden stake.
On the stake, words were carved with a sword.
"The tomb of Zhu Cheng of the Red Armor Army."
That handwriting, Feng Yun was very familiar with.
Just a while ago, he had been using that childish script to write her letters, telling her of amusing incidents in the camp. In the blink of an eye, he had become an "old general" who had experienced life and death. When he personally buried his comrade and wrote these words, what was he feeling?
Feng Yun stayed silent for a moment, then bent down to gather a handful of soil and placed two stones on top. Slowly standing up, she said to Ye Chuang:
"Guard Ye, may I ride for a while?"
With teary eyes, Ye Chuang was startled and asked, "My lady, can you ride a horse?"
"Yes."
Noble families often had the recreation of "shooting bets," and in Tai City, the prominent officials and well-known families would have their ladies participate, with most noble daughters being somewhat proficient in archery on horseback.
Feng Yun did not ride well, but she knew how.
Xiaoman came up holding an umbrella, sheltering her overhead. Feng Yun, holding the umbrella, got on the horse with her support, and traveled on the desolate trail post-war...
There was frequent rain in the mountains, making the road slippery, and her eyes were also slightly moist.
Was that day when Ao Qi had ridden down this very road?
Such a clever person, if he had died in battle, then what about her...
Feng Yun thought she would not feel any worse; yet, the pain felt just as intense. She even thought of Azuo and Azuo, and that Mrs. Cui waiting for Ao Qi to return for their wedding...
The young Ao Qi had yet to start his own life.
Wen Xingsu sat inside the carriage, having recently sustained an injury; they did not let him ride a horse, so he had the convenience to quietly watch Feng Yun riding ahead from behind the curtain.
The horse did not move quickly, and the rain started to drizzle down at some point.
Wen Xingsu called out softly, "Yunyun."
Feng Yun turned and looked back, a smile on her face.
Wen Xingsu said, "Your umbrella is askew; your hair is wet."
Only then did Feng Yun realize that rain had soaked her hair. She smiled faintly, readjusted the umbrella, and continued slowly towards Bingzhou along the battleground of that day in Hongye Valley.
The fresh blood on the road had long been absorbed by the earth and left no trace, but the thought of the entirely perished Red Armor Army still evoked uncontrollable sorrow among everyone.
Generals die in a hundred battles, their bodies returned wrapped in horsehide.
This shared empathy did not distinguish between friend and foe, because they were all warriors. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
The group traveled slowly, and as they approached Ghost River, Wen Xingsu had just ordered the attendants to be alert when they saw a line of people and horses quietly waiting ahead on the river beach. Counting them, there were several ox-carts and fifty or sixty guards, a considerable number.
Yet the flags on the ox-carts and the attire of the attendants were neither of Qi people nor Jin people.
At a glance, they were people from Yunchuan.
Feng Yun stared intently.
Who else could it be but Chunyu Yan?
She quickened her horse’s pace, leading the way.
"Why does the Crown Prince Chunyu linger like a lingering spirit?"
Chunyu Yan didn’t show his face; rather, it was Xiang Zhong who answered loudly, his voice brimming with laughter, with not a trace of displeasure.
"Oh, isn’t this Feng Ji? What a pleasure, what a pleasure. We’re here to deliver grain, just waiting to hand it over to the soldiers of the Northern Yong Army, waiting for the boats..."
Deliver grain?
How generous.
Feng Yun looked at their ox carts blocking the road to Ghost River Beach and frowned slightly.
"Could the Princely Heir please make way?"
Xiang Zhong replied with difficulty, "I’m afraid it will take us quite a while, please forgive us, Feng Ji..."
Though there was such a wide road, they insisted on blocking it with ox carts, preventing others from passing.
Feng Yun suspected Chunyu Yan did it on purpose.
"Princely Heir."
Feng Yun called out gently and bowed in front of the cart.
"Please be troubled to move the carts to let us pass."
Chunyu Yan gradually lifted the curtain, looked left and right for a moment, and shook his head, "The road here is narrow; there’s no way to make room."
Feng Yun’s face darkened, looking quite unsightly.
"Then may I ask the Princely Heir, how much longer will it take?"
Chunyu Yan said, "Two hours at least."
Two hours, by then it would be dark, and who knows what could happen; how would they go to Bingzhou?
Seeing her looking annoyed, Chunyu Yan lazily smiled with a weary look in his eyes:
"Feng Twelve, come here, I have something to tell you."
Feng Yun: "What is it?"
Behind a mask, Chunyu Yan leaned against the side of the cart in an indolent pose.
"If you want to know, come closer."
This person always liked to be enigmatic.
Feng Yun, with a cold face, rode her horse to the front of the cart and said, "Speak."
Chunyu Yan smiled faintly, and from behind the gently swaying veil curtain, his face seemed eerily cold.
"If I told you that the journey to Bingzhou is fraught with immense danger, you would still go, wouldn’t you?"
As Feng Yun smelled the alcohol, she realized he was holding a wine jug, and his eyes had a slightly drunken smile.
She looked at the Yunchuan servants carrying the grain and said indifferently, "We are going."
Chunyu Yan then said, "The army defending Hongye Valley, within a hundred miles, is controlled by the Qi Army and Han Chuhu. They won’t last until tomorrow noon."
Feng Yun squinted, "Did Xiao Cheng tell you that?"
Chunyu Yan smiled lightly, "I have eyes, I can see."
Feng Yun said, "Then I understand."
Chunyu Yan suddenly laughed, "Why are you even crazier than me?"
With no time to waste on further conversation, Feng Yun raised her hand in a salute, "Please be so kind as to make way, Princely Heir."
"Feng Twelve." Chunyu Yan’s eyes were half-closed, amused, and he looked at her with an oddly peculiar gaze, "It is said that in your childhood, you foresaw a war where the entire army was annihilated. Is this true?"
Feng Yun’s complexion dulled, and she stared at him, speechless.
Chunyu Yan said, "That war occurred in Bingzhou and at Hengqu Pass. Do you remember?"
Feng Yun’s eyebrows furrowed more tightly, and her expression darkened further as Chunyu Yan remained indifferent, as if he had come specifically to see her discomfort, casually stroking the contours of his mask, laughing quietly.
"At that time, the Qi Army held both numerical and strategic advantages; it should have been a battle they could not lose, yet they were utterly defeated. Tell me why..."
Feng Yun remained silent.
He continued to laugh and probe deeper.
"How could you, so young back then, have come to know of it?"
Feng Yun’s complexion turned pale, her eyes piercingly fixed on him.
"Crown Prince Chunyu, have I ever told you how much I detest others speaking of this matter?"
Chunyu Yan laughed, "No, you haven’t."
Feng Yun: "Well, now I’ve told you."
Chunyu Yan made a sound of acknowledgment, nodding his head with a smile that was not quite a smile, and asked,
"Why do you dislike its mention? Does it make you feel guilty?"
