Ning Que had met Xia Hou for the first time by the Hulan Sea last year. Later, they had a close encounter in Tuyang City. At that time, although Xia Hou had failed in the fight for the "Ming" Handscroll of the Tomes of Arcane and was forced to reach an agreement with the Academy to retire, he was still calm and confident, and even had a hidden aggressiveness.
However, Xia Hou had obviously aged a little today. Although he was wearing a brand-new armor, his eyes were still cold and indifferent, and his body was still tall and straight like a mountain, Ning Que could faintly smell the musty odor of a damp woodshed for many years coming from this general.
Although the news that Xia Hou had been repeatedly assassinated by the powerhouses of the Devil's Doctrine in the Wilderness was strictly kept secret by the Tang Military Ministry, it still gradually spread and naturally reached Ning Que's ears.
"The Devil's Doctrine's method of eliminating traitors is more direct and powerful than I thought."
Ning Que looked at the back of Xia Hou, who was covered by the crowd in the distance. He thought that if Xia Hou's armor was really destroyed by the giant knife in Tang's hands, his originally extremely pitiful hope of success might be a little luckier.
Xia Hou was an imperial general with a glorious title. He was not someone like Censor Zhang Yiqi or Huang Xing, who could be easily assassinated. The most critical problem was that Xia Hou was still so powerful even though he was getting older. It was basically impossible for Ning Que to assassinate him without leaving any evidence.
The imperial court and the Academy tacitly allowed Xia Hou to retire peacefully. No one knew what the West-Hill was thinking. In short, Ning Que seemed to have countless backers, but in front of Xia Hou, these backers would not help at all. So under such circumstances, how could he kill Xia Hou?
In the 15th year of the Tang Tianqi era, a plan gradually formed in Ning Que's mind. However, every time he thought of this plan, even he himself felt that it was a little ridiculous, because no matter how he looked at it, there was no possibility of success. If others, such as Lee Yu, Ye Hongyu, or Chen Pipi, knew the true content of his plan, they would think that there must be something wrong with his brain.
In the whole world, probably only Second Brother and Chao Xiaoshu would agree.
Sangsang held her chin and looked at the crowd below the teahouse. She suddenly turned her head and looked at Ning Que with a worried expression. She said, "Why are you so anxious?"
Ning Que said, "I've been waiting for fifteen years. I think I'm very patient."
Sangsang said seriously, "Let's wait until he's older and we're stronger. Let's wait for him to retire in the countryside for a few years. Won't we be more confident then?"
Since she was a child, Ning Que did not want her to think about those bloody and cruel things, but it did not mean that he did not teach her. In fact, whether in Min Mountain or on the grassland outside the City of Wei, he had been instilling a certain concept in the little handmaiden — no matter the enemy was old, weak, women or children, as long as she could defeat the enemy, no matter how shameless it was, no matter how sad it was. She had to endure it until the most confident moment before she took action. Once she took action, she had to kill the enemy.
Ning Que smiled and said, "If we don't kill them now, Xiahou will really be old."
Sangsang asked in confusion, "Isn't that good?"
Ning Que said, "When he's older … I'm more confident to kill him. But I'm worried that what if he dies of illness? What if he really dies of old age? "
Sangsang did not understand, thinking that if Xiahou died of old age and illness, what was the problem?
She asked, "Isn't that good?"
Ning Que nodded and said, "Very bad."
Sangsang frowned slightly and asked, "Why?"
"Because Xiahou is not my enemy."
After a short pause, Ning Que continued calmly, "He is my enemy."
At this moment, the shopkeeper and waiters of the teahouse returned to the teahouse, excitedly talking about the troops they had seen on the street and admiring the power of General Xiahou.
Ning Que quietly listened to the discussion in the teahouse and shook his head.
"The enemy can die from natural disasters and man-made disasters, tsunamis, and rivers. As long as he no longer stands in our way, blocks our way, and destroys our business, it doesn't matter even if he chokes to death while eating or stinks to death while going to the toilet."
"But the enemy is different."
"When it comes to things like revenge, if it is dragged on for too long, it will gradually ferment and evolve into something else. Compared to killing the other party and making them pay for what happened in the past, the more important thing is to kill the other party so that they can forget what happened in the past and obtain true freedom."
He looked at Sangsang and said, "But whether it is to let the enemy pay the price or to get relief, the most important thing is to kill the enemy. And he must die in the hands of the enemy. He can't die by himself, he can't be killed by God, and he can't die in bed. "
Ning Que thought of that rainy year in the Eastern City of Chang 'an, the old blacksmith in the blacksmith's shop who died with his eyes open, and his white hair wet by the rain. He looked slightly lost.
"He can't even be old, sick, or haggard. It is best to be at the peak of his life. Only in this way can he bring enough pleasure to the enemy. And this is the key to revenge."
"Xiahou is already old."
Ning Que solemnly repeated what he had said before.
"If he is not killed, he will really be old."
…
…
General Xiahou returned to Chang 'an and first entered the palace to see His Majesty. Then he received the title of nobility from His Majesty in the court meeting and the respect of the courtiers.
After the meeting, he declined the invitations of several courtiers and went to the Military Ministry with his bodyguards to handle military affairs. He stayed in the small building in the meadow beside the Vermilion Bird Avenue for the whole afternoon. It was said that he had a long talk with General Xu Shi, the military leader of the Tang Empire.
The twilight gradually faded and the night shrouded Chang 'an. Xiahou left the Military Ministry. His bodyguards rode on horses with torches and escorted him to the solemn and luxurious Prince's Mansion in the Northern City.
The Prince's Mansion was brightly lit in the night. After an ordinary but old family banquet, Prince Li Peiyan of the Tang Empire took him to the study.
On the black desk, there were a few scrolls. The handwriting on the scrolls varied, and it was obvious that they were not written at the same time. There were some names written on the scrolls, and beside the names, there were detailed notes written in small block letters.
Zhang Yiqi, Chen Zixian, Yan Suqing, Lin Ling, Gu Xi, Huang Xing, Yu Shuizhu …
These names were either noble or humble, officials, civilians or soldiers. But they all had two characteristics in common. First, these people used to be members of the Tang Empire's military. Second, these people were all dead.
Li Peiyan looked at the names on the files. After a long silence, he said indifferently, "These people are all dead, so it means that some people who should have died are still alive."
Xiahou looked at a name on the file and said expressionlessly, "This person did not participate in it."
"He participated in the incident in the Yan territory."
Li Peiyan sighed and pushed the files on the desk aside. He looked at Xiahou and said worriedly, "Although there is no evidence, these names and the stories behind them can prove that our worries are right. There are indeed people in the Xuanwei General's Mansion who are still alive."
Hearing the name Lin Guangyuan, Xiahou's two thin eyebrows slowly frowned.
Of course he remembered who Lin Guangyuan was.
More than a decade ago, there was a Xuanwei General in the Tang Empire's military who was famous for his bravery. That general's name was Lin Guangyuan. At that time, many people thought that Lin Guangyuan was another brave general of the Tang Empire after Xiahou.
In the first year of the Tang Empire's Tianqi era, Xiahou killed Lin Guangyuan's whole family.
It was not because he did not like to be compared with this general. Although he was known for being overbearing and violent, he did not have the interest and hobby of killing people's whole families.
Xiahou narrowed his eyes slightly and his expression was a little complicated.
It was not because he felt guilty for the Xuanwei General. He had killed too many people in his life and had done more cruel and cold-blooded things. It was nothing to kill a general's whole family.
However, when the Prince Palace mentioned the name Lin Guangyuan, it reminded him of many things in the past.
More than a decade ago, the Empress passed away due to illness. The families in Qinghe County were eager to take action. His Majesty took the concubine named Xia Tian to travel south to the Great Swamp and watch over the disaster.
Xiahou received the secret edict from His Majesty and secretly returned to Chang 'an from Tuyang City with thousands of cavalrymen to guard the rear for His Majesty and assist the prince to temporarily oversee the court affairs.
He also received a secret edict from the West-Hill Divine Palace.
In the face of the secret edict from the West-Hill Divine Palace, he was at the peak of his life and wanted to continue to enjoy the respect of the people. Therefore, he calmly accepted the other party's request.
There was a bloody storm in Chang 'an and the whole Xuanwei General's Mansion was killed.
Xia Hou knew that by doing this, he would anger the Emperor who was touring the Great Marsh. However, he believed that with his achievements, no matter how angry the Emperor was, it was impossible for him to act against him without evidence. Moreover, he faintly hoped that in his anger, the Emperor would not confer the title of Empress to that concubine called Xia Xia.
He did not want his sister to become the Empress of the Tang Empire because he knew that it was a very dangerous thing. However, he did not expect that His Majesty still let his sister become the Empress.
Compared to these stories, how much blood and dust had stained the stone lions in front of the Xuanwei General's Mansion had never moved Xiahou, let alone made him sad.
…
…
In the study of the prince's mansion.
Li Peiyan looked at Xiahou and said bitterly, "It is not a big deal that Lin Guangyuan still has descendants in the world. But if the son of the general who is determined to avenge him has become the core disciple of the Headmaster of the Academy and Mr. Thirteen of the Second floor of the Academy, it will be troublesome."
Xiahou was silent for a moment and said, "Your Highness, you mean … Ning Que is Lin Guangyuan's son?"
Li Peiyan sighed and said, "I don't want to admit that it is true, but there is no other explanation except this."
"I personally supervised the execution of the Xuanwei General's Mansion. According to the law of the Tang Empire, there were very few people who could be exempted from punishment. They were all temporary hires without contract documents, so it is impossible for anyone to escape."
Xiahou looked at the slightly swaying candle on the desk and said expressionlessly, "Lin Guangyuan only had two sons. Their characteristics were all recorded in the book and I personally checked them."
Li Peiyan said, "Then it means that someone did something."
Xiahou said indifferently, "Even if Ning Que is Lin Guangyuan's son, what can he do?"
…
…
(Rubbing my hands, I will write one chapter today and two chapters tomorrow. This is the first day of the month. Everyone should vote for it. Hehe, thank you.) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it and vote for it. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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