Chapter 478: Chapter 463: Divergent Paths—Original Novel Extra (Part 5)
In the spring of the second year of Jian Yuan, they attacked Yizhou.
However, Shu is full of mountains, easy to defend and hard to attack.
Unless, there is cooperation from within and without.
"I’ll go assassinate Li Shu!" Tang Jiaojiao said.
"I will leave Li Shu’s life to you," Ye Qingrong said.
He had made the worst plans even before setting out.
Sneaking alone into Yizhou, assassinating Li Shu, and then disappearing without a trace.
He just didn’t know, when news of his "death" spread from Yizhou, would this girl be shocked and grieve for him?
Of course, he would surely reunite with her soon, so she wouldn’t be at a loss.
Yet deep in his heart, there remained a secret longing.
"You taught me the art of killing, is it just for me to wait until you bring the person tied up in front of me before I do it?" Tang Jiaojiao was unconvinced.
Ye Qingrong smiled helplessly.
No matter what, he wouldn’t let her go.
Tang Jiaojiao seemed to understand his determination, pursed her lips, and her voice lowered: "Back in Capital City, you said you had something to tell me... what was it?"
Ye Qingrong fondly caressed her temple, softly saying, "I’ll tell you when I return," seeing her eyes fill with light, he added, "I will definitely return safely!"
She gazed steadily at him, as if wanting to see into his heart.
Perhaps because some things were finally ending, and some were about to begin, or maybe because he had finally understood or decided something, Ye Qingrong’s emotions fluctuated under her gaze.
"Ah Jiao..." he sighed softly, caressing her face.
"Are you trying to tell me about my father and brother?" she suddenly asked.
Ye Qingrong was taken aback.
That’s not what he wanted to say, but this...
Ye Qingrong slowly nodded.
"Did you go to Liangzhou to incorporate the Liangzhou Army?"
Ye Qingrong’s heart jolted: "How did you know?"
Li Xingyuan indeed wanted him to incorporate the Liangzhou Army, but with the Liangzhou Army’s unrest, it was also to let him disappear first, then secretly go to Liangzhou to see the situation.
To see if it was related to the missing Duke Yan and his son.
If it was—
"Did my father and brother’s disappearance have anything to do with you and Li Xingyuan?" she suddenly asked.
Asked softly, closely, whispering in his ear.
The girl’s warm breath brushed against his skin, bringing many questions to the surface, clear and uncomfortable.
Ye Qingrong looked down at the sharp blade pressed to his chest and shook his head: "No."
"Really?" she half leaned against his shoulder, her head slightly tilted, adorably like a little bird depending on someone.
"Really, I would never lie to you," Ye Qingrong said softly.
Tang Jiaojiao chuckled lightly, her hand softly pressing against his chest, then curling upward until it landed on his neck.
"But you have always been lying to me..." she said, her fingers teasing his disguised Adam’s apple, a tear welling up in her smiling eyes.
Ye Qingrong wanted to wipe away that tear but couldn’t lift his hand, only softly saying, "Don’t cry... besides this, nothing else... I won’t lie to you again in the future."
"How can there be a future?" the girl said softly, her voice sweet and charming, but the blade in her hand pierced through his clothes, into his flesh, without hesitation.
"My sister said if I’m foolish enough to let the same person deceive me twice, she would disown me as her sister."
The moment the knife pierced, Ye Qingrong didn’t feel pain.
But after hearing her words, his heart began to ache.
He forced a smile: "Your sister never liked me anyway, if she returns, she definitely wouldn’t want you to be with me."
"Yes," she replied.
"Ah Jiao, you also deceived me," Ye Qingrong said.
The girl’s eyes welled up with tears again, and it was unclear for whom they fell.
Ye Qingrong sighed: "Don’t cry..."
"Before the New Year, Li Xingyuan got news that the Liangzhou Army was acting out of the ordinary, as if someone was secretly gathering the troops. We suspected it might be your father and brother returning, initially planning to take you..."
"Since you don’t trust me, go to Liangzhou yourself... there’s also your sister, she was saved by a passing Chief of Evil long ago. Later, someone saw her going towards the Northwest, perhaps she too is in Liangzhou;
"If you go... you can reunite with your family..."
The tip of the knife seemed to pierce another inch into his heart.
"Are you... trying to deceive me again?" the girl’s voice was hoarse.
Ye Qingrong felt heartache listening to her: "No, really."
At this moment, there was a knock on the door.
"General Ye?"
The girl in his arms stiffened.
It was someone he had arranged, it was the time he should be on his way to see Li Shu.
"I have a Jade Talisman in my pocket," Ye Qingrong said softly, "if you want vengeance, take it, someone will assist you."
She looked at him intently, her hand trembled slightly as it reached into his clothes.
His heart trembled as well.
"Ah Jiao..."
"I am Qin Xiao..."
...
Yizhou had been besieged for months, and the people inside were already anxious and filled with flaws.
Tang Jiaojiao changed into a maid’s attire and, after much trouble, finally got close to Li Shu.
She had seen Li Shu before, many times.
Once, he too was a favored son of heaven, youthful and heroic, how else could he have earned her sister’s affection?
But now, when she saw him, it felt like a lifetime had passed, he was a different person.
Thin, haggard, with an irritable brow.
Where could the elegance of the young Prince Jin be found?
When did it start to change?
This question flashed in her mind as Li Shu recognized her.
"Ah Rong?" he squinted his drunken eyes to identify her, beckoning her over.
The girl in pale blue attire, with a bamboo hairpin, walked quietly, her posture graceful, not like a charming willow or flower, but more like a radiant jade sword.
"Ah Rong, is it you?"
"Have you come to see me one last time? Or..."
The girl walked closer step by step, like layers of thin veils being lifted, revealing a face that was not the one he remembered.
Her almond eyes were bright with a hint of proud severity.
"Jiaojiao..." he murmured in a daze.
Once, he saw that beautiful, proud girl as his future wife, but later... he went mad...
"Who is Jiaojiao?" the girl leaned in and asked softly.
The beautiful almond eyes dazzled him, sinking him further into a stupor, dulling even the pain.
"Capture the assassin—"
"Your Majesty—"
In the chaotic shouting, the girl in pale blue with a bamboo hairpin was gone.
Only those almond eyes, full of ridicule, remained before him.
"Tang Jiaojiao... must be here to claim my life..." he whispered.
No one heard...
...
She walked out of the Palace and out of Yizhou City.
Amidst turmoil and chaos, she walked alone, heading north.
North was Liangzhou.
Whether Ye Qingrong was lying to her or not, she had to go to Liangzhou.
To find her father and brother, her sister, to find her lost family.
She passed by galloping warhorses, deadly long weapons, and indistinct angry shouts.
Until a casual conversation on the roadside caught her ear—
"...also ruthless... Ye Family... female general... assassinated... oh, little girl, are you alright?"
The tall, robust man hurriedly left his companion to help her.
Once he helped her up and had a look, he was stunned.
What a beautiful young lady!
But she seemed dazed from the fall, her pretty almond eyes misty, dim as if she had lost her mind.
"Miss, are you alright?" the man asked with concern, "Which family’s young lady are you? Where are your family?"
The young girl’s eyes gradually regained focus, woodenly saying, "I got separated from my family."
"Do you have a place to go? Hey, how can a young girl travel alone? I am Tao, from Capital City, if you’d like, I’ll escort you. If you don’t feel safe..."
She quietly listened and asked, "What did you just say... about General Ye?"
The man sized her up thoughtfully for a moment and cautiously asked, "Are you related to General Ye?"
She shook her head: "No, just curious."
The man hesitated: "General Ye was assassinated last night..."
A buzzing sounded in her ears, and she couldn’t hear the rest.
She turned rigidly to look back in the direction she came from.
Among the rolling mountains, the glaring sun reflected the bustling dust.
She had walked too far, no longer able to see the place they were last night.
In a daze, she seemed to see on the mountain path, a figure in white slowly walking, slim and elongated, not like a mortal.
Perhaps sensing something, the figure in white paused, looked back, and gave a faint smile.
This turbulent world, just as you wished.
(The End)
