kingnovel Chapter 306: Brilliant as Sparks
Chapter 306: Brilliant as Sparks
Liao Zhiyi's body was taken out by the eldest princess and buried in the back mountain of Huguo Temple.
"Princess, I didn't expect that Liao Zhiyi was actually from the Zhenbei Army."
Shen Yanqing stayed by the eldest princess's side and helped her take care of Liao Zhiyi's funeral. Standing in front of the grave, he couldn't help but sigh.
The eldest princess also sighed.
"Once he died, the Zhenbei Army was truly gone. However, he also lived up to his mission. Before his death, he sought justice for the Zhenbei Army and redressed the injustice of the Zhenbei Marquis. Now, he can finally go see his brothers with a smile on his face."
Xie An and Skinny Monkey hugged each other and cried.
Although they had been together for a short time, Xie An already regarded Liao Zhiyi as his elder brother, brother, and comrade-in-arms in his heart. All his fantasies about battlefields, tough guys, iron-blooded people, heroes, etc. were confirmed in Liao Zhiyi.
Not to mention the skinny monkey.
It was he who dragged Liao Zhiyi all the way from the northern border to Shengjing.
"Princess, I think this matter is really strange..."
After all, Shen Yanqing had been in officialdom for many years, and after hearing the whole story, he couldn't help but have doubts in his mind.
The eldest princess pointed to the side and motioned him to go over there and talk.
When they reached a deserted place, the eldest princess said:
"I also find it strange. After this incident, Xiaojiu was also imprisoned by the emperor. This palace and Concubine Li wanted to visit her, but the emperor wouldn't allow it. There are also imperial guards guarding the princess's mansion day and night. I think Xiaojiu should know something."
Shen Yanqing sighed.
"The Ninth Princess and Liao Zhiyi are not destined to be together after all."
"Shen Yanqing, after this incident, I have figured out one thing."
"what?"
Just as Shen Yanqing turned around to ask, someone had already snuggled into his arms. The eldest princess pressed against his chest, her arms tightly around him, and her voice came faintly.
"I've figured it out. Pick the flowers when they're ready, don't wait until there are no more flowers to pluck. Shen Yanqing, I've always liked you. You rejected me back then, but I've missed you even more these days. I don't want to lie to myself, nor do I want to lie to you, and I don't want to waste any more time."
"Shen Yanqing, I know you like me too, right? Your eyes can't lie!"
The sudden confession shocked Shen Yanqing so much that he was at a loss for words. He clutched the hem of his clothes tightly with his helpless hands.
After rejecting the eldest princess's proposal at the princess's mansion, he suffered from torment day and night. But the more he wanted to stay away, the more he couldn't leave.
The Huguo Temple opened the Jishidi Hall, and more and more refugees gathered here. Seeing the eldest princess busy day and night, he couldn't bear it.
So whenever he had time, he would go to the mountain to help.
He helped open a school to teach the refugee children how to read and write. Seeing the children's daily progress, watching the barren hills around the Huguo Temple gradually turn into fertile fields, and watching the people rebuild their homes, the princess smiled.
He also had a deep affection for the Ninth Princess that Liao Zhiyi couldn't express, and the two had even teased each other, sharing the same fate.
"Shen Yanqing, life is short. Do other people's opinions really matter that much? One day, when life and death come, will you really not regret it?"
The eldest princess' words lingered in his ears.
A gentle breeze blew over the mountain, and the flowers in front of Liao Zhiyi's grave swayed slightly, as if saying, "Brother, I didn't make it in time, you better hurry up."
At this moment, Shen Yanqing finally made up his mind, raised his hands and hugged the eldest princess tightly in his arms.
……
In Shengjing City, the injustice of the Marquis of Zhenbei was redressed, and the people praised the emperor's wisdom and his willingness to sacrifice his relatives for the sake of justice.
As for whether someone paid the price of their life for this, they had no idea.
The imperial edict reached the military camp in Nanqi in the northern border.
The soldiers cheered and shouted "Long live the emperor!"
Song Ci cried bitterly while holding the imperial edict.
Although the injustice was redressed, my father will never come back.
She stayed in the tent all day and all night. The next day, when the tent curtain was opened, Song Ci's eyes were red and swollen, but he was dressed neatly in a new military uniform.
She walked into Prince Su's tent, knelt on one knee and performed a military salute.
"Your Highness, Song Ci, daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei, is here to join your army! I am willing to start from the lowest rank, serve Daqi, and drive out Beimang until all lost territories are recovered and peace and prosperity reign!"
There had never been a precedent of women joining the army in Nanqi.
Prince Su was a little embarrassed for a moment. Seeing this, Su Zhe, who was standing beside him, knelt down in front of the tent.
"Su Zhe also joins your army and is willing to start from the lowest rank of soldier."
When the news reached the camp, many of the refugees who had followed them south, including some who were strong and healthy, also flocked to the tent.
"Your Highness, we also want to join the army."
"Yes, we want to join the army. We want to follow General Song and General Su and fight back together."
"And us!"
"us!"
The crowd in front of the tent was furious for a while.
Su Yanzhi nodded to Prince Su, who walked to the front of the tent and pressed his hand.
"Alright! Since everyone is so dedicated to killing the enemy and serving the country, I will recruit you. Song Ci and Su Zhe will be appointed centurions, and you will be under their command."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
That's how it was settled.
After everyone in front of the tent left, Su Yanzhi took out another secret letter and handed it to Song Ci, which contained information about Liao Zhiyi.
"Captain Song, take a look."
Yesterday, following the imperial edict, there was also a secret letter sent by the princess. After reading it, Su Yanzhi and Prince Su sighed and felt that Song Ci needed to know about Liao Zhiyi's affairs.
After reading it, Song Ci remained silent for a long time.
She knew that Prince Su and Mr. Su played a crucial role in rehabilitating her father, but she didn't expect that someone else paid the price of their life for it.
"Your Highness, Lieutenant General Liao was a righteous man. My Song family owes him his life. He may be dead, but the spirit of the Zhenbei Army lives on. One day, I will have the Zhenbei Army's flag re-raised on the walls of Border City to comfort the spirits of all the Zhenbei Army soldiers who died for their country."
Prince Su nodded and said, "Captain Song, I believe you can do it."
Although some people's lives are short, they are as dazzling and shining as a meteor across the night sky.
Liao Zhiyi burned himself, but also lit up others.
Song Ci clasped his fists and said, "I will definitely live up to your highness's expectations."
After saying that, she said her goodbye and went out to train the troops. Of course, Su Zhe also went with her.
As soon as they left, Su Yanzhi took out the other half of the secret letter. The letter said that Duke Xie had suffered a stroke and the Ninth Princess was imprisoned. The eldest princess speculated that these things were done by the emperor.
"No need to guess, it must have been done by the emperor."
Su Yanzhi came to a conclusion directly.
He knew Emperor Jingde all too well. When Prince Su wrote to expose Prince Jing and he sent the witness back to the capital, he had already anticipated that this matter would not be easy. He was also prepared to endure the emperor's wrath. Unexpectedly, this wrath was ultimately directed at the innocent Liao Zhiyi and Old Duke Xie.
"Humph, he has always been like this."
Prince Su did not find it strange at all. His father was a selfish and heartless person, and he had realized this ten years ago.
Even when he had previously overturned his elder brother's verdict and the truth was laid before him, he refused to declare his elder brother's injustice to the world. Even Huan Ge'er couldn't openly recognize his ancestral roots and could only remain in the Pei Mansion as Pei Heng's son.
Is face so important?
"Sir, the matter of the Zhenbei Army has come to an end for the time being. The most urgent task is to capture Guazhou as soon as possible."