Xu Ziling’s countenance changed; he could not help thinking about Shen Luoyan, wondering whether she came with Li Shiji to defend Liyang together. If she died in battle and was buried with the city, wouldn’t Kou Zhong more or less bear some responsibility? How could he, Xu Ziling face this cruel reality?
All along, beginning with Kou Zhong wanted to contend for hegemony over the world with his heart and soul, they have been strolling around like in a dream that exist only in fantasy, that was so far away from the real world. However, listening to Li Shimin, it seemed like these two worlds unexpectedly merged into one, becoming a real, live event before his very eyes, no longer a distant dream. Kou Zhong’s road to supremacy had caused him and this person, who was originally a friend, a brother that he admired, to become mortal enemy on the battlefield that could only resolved by the demise of one side. Translated by foxs
Li Shimin sighed and said, “Two days before Dou Jiande laid siege to the city, Xiuning Gongzhu arrived in Liyang; because he has other matter, Fuma [emperor’s son-in-law] did not accompany her. Ay!” His love and concern for Li Xiuning was clearly exhibited in his speech.
Xu Ziling asked in heavy voice, “What is Shimin Xiong going to do?”
Intense murderous aura flashed through Li Shimin’s pair of eyes, he said, “Due to Wang Shichong’s malicious mobilization, the plan to come to Liyang’s aid is already not feasible. I have no choice but to disregard everything and attack Luoyang with all our strength. There will come a day where I will have to fight to determine victory on the battlefield with your good brother. That is what I, Li Shimin most unwilling to see, but other than that, I don’t see any other choice.”
Xu Ziling felt that Li Shimin regarded Kou Zhong as the only opponent who could match him; others such us Dou Jiande, Wang Shichong, and the likes were still considered nothing in his eyes. Sighing inwardly, he said, “If Kou Zhong knew that Xiuning Gongzhu is inside the City of Liyang, he would do everything he can to protect her, he will not to let anybody harm her.”
Smiling bitterly, Li Shimin said, “I absolutely believe that Kou Zhong would do that. But the fire of war is pitiless, no one can predict what will happen. Ziling arrived in time, if you were one day late, you would not have seen me.”
Xu Ziling shivered inwardly, knowing that tomorrow Li Shimin was going to lead the main forces out of the Pass, heading for Luoyang. This would be the most crucial in nature of the grand military campaign in the power struggle over the Central Earth; the effect would be profound and long lasting.
Li Shimin spoke seriously, “No matter what will happen between me and Kou Zhong in the future, I still esteem Ziling, whatever it is Ziling has in mind, please speak up, as long as it is within my, Li Shimin’s powers, I will certainly carry it through for Ziling.”
Xu Ziling felt his thoughts in a whirl; compared to the tragedy that might be happening at Liyang right now, other things suddenly became insignificant, but he had a faint feeling that the facts were not like this at all; from this, it was clear that he was deeply concerned of Kou Zhong. Because if any mishap – indirectly caused by Kou Zhong – happened to Li Xiuning, it would be a matter of regret, which would be an extremely cruel and severe blow to Kou Zhong. Based on his character, there was a very good chance that it might cause him to embark on the road of self-destruction.
Struggling hard to suppress all kinds of emotions, he explained his purpose in coming. Translated by foxs
Li Shimin pondered for a moment, he nodded and said, “Ziling’s suspicion of the Xiang Family, I have lots of similar feeling, only I did not know that Chi Shengchun might be Xiang Gui’s eldest son. This matter is extremely important. If Qi Wang knew clearly Chi Shengchun’s real identity yet he is still covering him, it is possible that he is not as he appears on the surface, giving his full support to Taizi [crown prince], but there must be another intention.”
Xu Ziling said, “Demonic school’s influence is far greater than we originally thought. Yang Xuyan is Shi Zhixuan’s successor; they also have Dong Shuni, this formidable chess piece, which they planted by your esteemed father’s side. Shi Zhixuan is a demonic school figure with the most outstanding ability, wisdom and demonic power in the last several hundred years, Shimin Xiong simply can’t not guard against him.”
Li Shimin revealed a helpless expression; his belly full of bitter water [fig. bitter complaint], he said, “The one that Yang Xuyan, this chess piece harms the most tragically is precisely Xiaodi. First, with thousand ways, a hundred plans they made Fuhuang [father emperor] interested in Dong Shuni, and then they instigated Fuhuang to send me to go to Wang Shichong to propose marriage, so that two Furen [madam] thought that welcoming Dong Shuni back to strive for favor against them was my crafty idea, and now she is the one talking by Fuhuang’s side entirely on Taizi’s behalf. You have seen it with your own eyes, in Yang WenGan’s incident, Taizi made a big mistake, yet in the end he only took a few words of blame and that’s the end of it. Fuhuang still listened to their instigation by not sending me, but dispatched Qi Wang to come to Taiyuan’s aid instead; how could my heart not lose hope? Were it not that Shi Xiaojie has high expectations of me, perhaps I would have abandoned everything and go with Ziling to roam the mountains and cross the forest to pass enjoyable days and be done with it.”
The contradiction in Xu Ziling’s heart was excruciating; he did not know how to persuade him. If he advised him to pull himself together, wouldn’t it be encouraging him to deal with his own brother, Kou Zhong? Without any better option, he changed the topic by saying, “Has Shimin Xiong considered that by attacking Luoyang, you might introduce a lot more hard-to-fathom variables in the City of Chang’an?”
The lightning light in Li Shimin’s pair of eyes flashing, he stared at him deeply for a moment, and then he said, “This is precisely the reason behind the delay in sending the troops in a punitive expedition to the east to Luoyang. If Liyang’s fall is not imminent, don’t think that tomorrow I will be able to start. Only one sichen ago I received the commander seal to lead the troops from Fuhuang’s hands; Ziling, do you understand?”
Xu Ziling said, “I wonder if someone’s afraid that after Shimin Xiong capture Luoyang, you might establish yourself as the emperor outside the Pass, and set up a separate kitchen [idiom: start of on a new path]?
Astonished, Li Shimin said, “Ziling’s view is very penetrating. This is indeed Fuhuang and Taizi’s greatest fear.” Translated by foxs
Xu Ziling returned Li Shimin’s sharp gaze, yet the tone of his voice was casual, as he asked, “Will Qin Wang do such thing?”
Laughing involuntarily, Li Shimin replied, “I want it so bad, but I know that I definitely won’t do such a thing. This is the first time I am going against the norm by revealing the feeling in my heart to anybody, because I really and fully trust you, Xu Ziling, also trust Kou Zhong. Because you guys have never told me, Li Shimin, even half a word of lies. Even more, the things you promised, none does not count. If you were my loyal followers, such performance is not the least bit strange, because we all have common interest. But the two of you have never relied on me, Li Shimin; you won your reputation by relying on your own hands.”
Xu Ziling was really touched from the bottom of his heart. This was precisely the reason of Li Shimin’s success and his charisma; the spirit in his bosom was not something that ordinary people could match.
Smiling wryly, Li Shimin said, “Xiuning’s affair, I do not dare to think about; I can only entrust her to the Will of Heaven. As soon as I received your oral message brought by Hou Xibai, I threw everything aside and came to see Ziling. After I leave tomorrow, Li Jing will give you full support. If you could completely uproot the Xiang Family’s hidden power in Chang’an, I will be very grateful to Ziling.”
Finished speaking, he rose to his full height and was gone.
The City of Liyang fell into Dou Jiande’s hands, the number of defeated Tang soldiers who surrendered reached eight thousand men, only Li Xiuning and about one thousand of her personal guards defended their property to the death inside the Dudu Fu at the heart of the city.
Li Shiji successfully broke the siege and escaped; the number of his personal guards who were able to leave with him was no more than a hundred men. Their defeat was dismal and tragic.
The loss on Dou Jiande’s side was also disastrous; injuries and deaths among his warriors reached thirty thousand men, which definitely impacted his strength.
Kou Zhong and Liu Heita arrived outside the Dudu Fu’s main gate. The two men looked at each other, the former revealed a pained expression. Liu Heita patted his shoulder and spoke in low voice, “While Dou Ye has not entered the city, settle this matter quickly, I will support any decision you make.”
Kou Zhong gratefully nodded his head. Leaping down from the Thousand-Li Dream, he walked over toward the Dudu Fu’s main gate. Immediately numerous-and-close-together archers appeared on top of the wall surrounding the Dudu Fu, taking aim at him as the target.
Kou Zhong untied the Moon in the Well and tossed it toward Liu Heita, who was still sitting on horseback. This action was purely some kind of goodwill gesture. With his martial art skill, with or without weapon, the difference was not much.
He took two more steps forward, raised both hands into the air, and said, “Xiuning Gongzhu, Kou Zhong is asking for an audience.” His voice was imbued by his power, so that it went straight into the mansion’s hall behind the wall.
The Tang soldiers knew that he should not have any ill intention, but knowing about his unrivalled martial art skill, they did not dare to slack off the slightest bit.
These eight hundred personal guards were personally chosen by Li Shimin for Li Xiuning from among the younger generations of his own troops; both in terms of loyalty and martial art skill, they definitely had no problem, everybody was ready to lie down their life for her. Translated by foxs
Li Xiuning’s quiet voice came out, saying, “Kou Zhong, just go away! As long as you don’t participate in the attack against us, Xiuning’s heart is grateful.”
Kou Zhong already guessed that her reaction might be like this. He responded, “In that case, Gongzhu might as well give your order to have me shot dead! I simply must speak face to face with Gongzhu, no matter what.” Finished speaking, he strode toward the main gate.
This showed how smart Kou Zhong was; he made the ready-to-die soldiers guarding the governor’s mansion not daring to release the arrow toward him without Li Xiuning’s order.
Under the gaze of the warriors from both sides, Kou Zhong went straight to the door of the governor’s mansion, picked up the doorknocker, and lightly knocked it only once.
‘Knock!’
‘Creak!’
The main gate opened inside a little; a young high-ranking military officer spoke to Kou Zhong in low voice, “Shaoshuai, please come in!” The tone of his voice was surprisingly full of respect and polite.
Kou Zhong flashed inside, only to see the guards were everywhere, each one had a determine-to-meet-death expression on their face, the atmosphere was heavy and dignified.
Patting the high-ranking military officer’s shoulder, he spoke indifferently but calmly, “Don’t worry! Gongzhu is going to go back to Guanzhong safely.”
The high-ranking military officer spoke softly, “Mojiang Li Laifu, I have seen Shaoshuai when I accompanied Qin Wang in Luoyang, afterwards I also met Shaoshuai at the Flying Horse Ranch. Gongzhu is in the main hall, please follow Mojiang.”
‘So that’s how it is,’ Kou Zhong mused; Li Laifu was willing to think for himself and act accordingly [idiom] to open the door for him, it showed that he more or less knew Kou Zhong’s relationship with Li Xiuning, he knew that right now Kou Zhong was Li Xiuning’s only chance of survival. Ay! Laotian [Heaven] really loves to play tricks on people. The first time he crossed swords with the Tang Army, unexpectedly he came across his first love, his sweetheart Li Xiuning.
Overtaking him, he spoke in low voice, “Is Chai Jiangjun here?”
Li Laifu shook his head and said, “Fuma Ye did not come. Just now we attempted to break the siege, but were unsuccessful, so we were forced to retreat and take our stand here.” Translated by foxs
‘Fuma Ye’ These three characters were like a sharp needle piercing Kou Zhong’s heart, he could not hear the rest of Li Laifu’s words.
Wearing military uniform, with majestic heroic spirit, Li Xiuning sat calmly in an imperial tutor chair facing the hall’s door. Standing on her left, right, and behind were more than a dozen personal attendants, which in just one glance it was obvious that they were martial art masters as well.
Li Xiuning angrily said, “Laifu! How dare you think for yourself and act accordingly; do you want me to chop your head first?”
Li Laifu dropped on his knees on the ground, the tone of his voice remained tranquil as he said, “Mojiang is willing to accept any punishment.”
Afraid that he might pull his sword to kill himself, Kou Zhong hastily pressed his shoulder and said, “It’s my fault!”
Li Xiuning’s eyes fell on his face, making contact with his burning gaze, and immediately she turned her head around to look at the garden outside the window. “All of you, get out!” she spoke in low voice.
All around her, the personal guards were stunned. One of them spoke in terror, “Gongzhu, he …”
Li Xiuning spoke indifferently, “I want you all to withdraw immediately. This is an order.”
Kou Zhong spread out his hands and said, “If I want to harm Gongzhu, I could do it any moment, there is no need to use contemptible deceit.”
Without any choice, the personal guards withdrew to the back.
“You too!” Li Xiuning said.
Kou Zhong was stunned. Pointing to his own nose, he spoke in doubt, “You want me to go too?”
Feigning anger coquettishly, Li Xiuning said, “Not you. Laifu!”
It was as if Li Laifu had just received the imperial kindness, an amnesty from the emperor; he crawled up and withdrew to the main entrance with head hung low.
Li Xiuning sighed and said, “Ay! Kou Zhong, what are you doing here? Since that day you rejected Wang Xiong [brother king], you should know that a day like today would come. The question is whether you kill me or I kill you!”
A hard-to-suppress tenderness welled up in Kou Zhong’s heart; he walked over toward her, went down on one knee by her chair, and looked up to carefully examined her clear, wan and sallow, but was still lucid and elegant like in the former times – graceful jade countenance. He spoke gently, “Gongzhu, please make prompt decisions, let me immediately escort you and your personal attendants to leave from the west gate. As long as you could reach Weihui, you could immediately return to Guanzhong.” Translated by foxs
Li Xiuning’s beautiful eyes emitted complicated, profound expression; meeting his gaze, she said, “How are you going to deal with the innocent people of Liyang?”
Patting his chest to give her guarantee, Kou Zhong said, “Dou Jiande has never been someone who loves to kill; his reputation is this regard is good, he will certainly treat the people of the city well.”
Hanging her head down, Li Xiuning spoke softly, “Are Li Jiangjun and Wang Shu [uncle king] dead?”
Kou Zhong replied calmly, “Li Shiji managed to break the siege and escaped. As for your Wang Shu, ay! He was … he was captured by Xiaodi!”
At first Li Xiuning showed a happy expression, but she quickly turned sad; she spoke in low voice, “Kou Zhong, you’d better kill Xiuning!”
Naturally Kou Zhong understood the beautiful woman’s heart, but at the same time he sensed a great difficulty, because Li Shentong had already been sent to Dou Jiande outside the city to be dealt with. Asking Dou Jiande to hand over such a valuable spoils of war, he himself felt that it was asking too much. If he were in Dou Jiande’s place, he certainly would not hand the prisoner over. In fact, by setting Li Xiuning free like this, he and Liu Heita would have to face unfathomable consequences.
Sighing bitterly, he said, “Is it possible for Xiuning to give Xiaodi a little time, let me try to ask for your esteemed Wang Shu back.”
Li Xiuning’s tender body severely shaken, she blurted out, “Oh, Kou Zhong!”
Kou Zhong stood up. Suddenly he was brimming with confidence. Forget about asking Dou Jiande to release Li Shentong, even if he had to face magnificent army with thousands of men and horses, he would throw his head and sprinkle his hot blood for Li Xiuning without the slightest hesitation.
With tears in her pair of beautiful eyes, Li Xiuning looked at him; she raised her jade countenance, which could cut Kou Zhong’s liver and guts to pieces, and sorrowfully said, “What was the reason of all these?”
Scratching his head, Kou Zhong replied, “I am afraid only Laotianye knows!”
He could not help reaching out to gently pat her face twice, his hand went soft, a burst of grief welled up in his heart, he wanted to speak, but nothing came out. This was the closest and the most intimate contact with Li Xiuning since he knew her.
And then he turned around and left.
Li Xiuning’s voice came like a wind blowing from behind, “Have you read the letter I wrote to you?” Translated by foxs
It was as if Kou Zhong had his acupoint sealed; he stopped abruptly. Embarrassed, and his mouth felt like it was full of bitter and astringent taste, he dejectedly said, “I did not dare to open and read it, I only put it inside a waterproof oilcloth bag and keep it with me; I hope it’s not destroyed for being underwater!”
Finally Li Xiuning could not restraint the tears from flowing out of her eye sockets. Waving her hand, she said, “Please take good care of yourself!”