North Qi City
The sky was dark and gloomy, and the air was damp. The air was thick with the stench of blood and the sounds of battle.
"Shoot!" The dark sky was covered by the rain of arrows. It whistled as it rained down, causing blood red waves to form. The scaling ladders were broken and crushed. Ji Bei Hou's soldiers were like ants on the long ladders as they climbed up.
"Smash!" Not far away, Ji Bei Hou's catapults were being reloaded. Following an order, huge rocks were shot out. Occasionally, huge rocks would fly through the air and smash into the walls of the city. Debris and debris flew in all directions, and dust billowed everywhere. The soldiers pushed the trolleys into the city and raised the planks.
"Count, Ji Bei's bandits are using catapults." A general beside Count Zhong Qin frowned.
"Order the catapults to locate the enemy's catapults. We shall retaliate and teach them a lesson."
"Yes, Count." The general acknowledged the order and turned around to make the necessary arrangements.
Arrows rained down like rain, and the killing was intense. Huge rocks and boulders continued to fall from the sky. Ji Bei Hou looked at the city in front of him and laughed, "High Duke, the catapults will break in another four hours."
Before he could finish his sentence, a huge rock flew out from the city towards the catapults. One of the catapults was smashed into pieces. The general shouted, "How can the catapults be so accurate? Quick, smash them back."
The general shouted out in anger, as huge rocks were sent flying from both sides. The soldiers on the city walls were filled with vigor.
Count Zhong Qin did not speak as he watched from afar.
Grand Princess' Mansion
The Grand Princess had just returned to the Crown Prince's mansion. It was spring, and the flowers were blooming. As she walked along the corridor, she felt as though she was basking in the spring breeze. She held a piece of paper in her hands, and was filled with joy.
An old maid stood beside the Grand Princess and whispered, "Your Highness, which courtyard shall we return to?"
The Grand Princess raised her eyebrows and said, "That little girl Qianye must still be thinking about me. I shall go and console her. Ai, I wonder who she takes after."
The old maid replied, "The Canton Princess, if we were to ask who she takes after, I feel that she takes after you."
"What's so good about taking after me?" The Grand Princess sighed and said, "Let's go to the Canton Princess' courtyard."
"Yes, your Highness."
Small Courtyard
The Canton Princess sat in front of the zither while a maid boiled tea. The fragrance of the tea wafted through the boiling water.
The young maidservant raised her fan and glanced at the Young Canton Princess from time to time. The spring sun shone through the window with a carved paper lattice. It was so comfortable that she wanted to fall asleep.
The Little Canton Princess was a little upset. She stretched out her hand to play the zither.
His fingers casually strummed the zither, and only played one note. The Xiao Junzhu frowned. She had not even started playing the zither, but her heart was in a mess. She got up and started searching the bookshelf.
The bookshelf was filled with books. The whole column was filled with books about Wine Is Not Empty. The young Canton Princess carefully found a book and sat down in front of the zither to read.
At this moment, tea was served and the Canton Princess drank it while reading.
Wine Is Not Empty's book had a unique charm, it made the young Junzhu read it once, twice, thrice.
She was gently sipping her tea when she heard the sound of the door being pushed open. Seeing that it was the Grand Princess, the serving maid hurriedly stood up, "Greetings, Grand Princess."
At this point, the Canton Princess raised her head. Seeing that her mother had arrived, she hurriedly placed the book down, "Mother!"
"Are you so upset that you can't play the zither?" The Grand Princess walked up to the Canton Princess and asked.
Hearing these words, the Canton Princess lowered her head and didn't speak. Seeing this, the Grand Princess forced a smile and stretched out her hand to stroke the Canton Princess's head, "Little girl, why are you so much like me?"
She then handed the book over, "The situation in Ying Prefecture has improved. The Crown Prince and my brother have both heaved a sigh of relief. You don't have to worry so much."
As the Grand Princess spoke, the Canton Princess raised her head and looked at the Grand Princess, "Mother, is that true?"
"You, do you really think that mother will coax you on such matters just to make you happy?" When the Grand Princess heard this, she was so angry that she laughed, "You've been restless day and night, and have lost so much weight. And yet he doesn't even remember you. Look, he wrote this poem after conquering the city. It's not bad, but it's all about a man's pride. Ai, who knows how many people are worried about him now?"
The Grand Princess spoke out helplessly, "The Crown Prince was very impressed, and wanted to write a song to sing. He felt that your composition was very good, and wanted you to try it out. The poem is all here."
The Canton Princess hurriedly picked up the script and started reading.
"The rolling waters of the Yangtze River wash away the heroes.
Success or failure, everything is gone.
The green mountains are still there, and the setting sun is red.
A white-haired fisherman lives on the river, watching the autumn moon and the spring breeze.
A jug of wine, a joyous reunion.
How many things have happened since ancient times, and how they have become a joke. "
As the Canton Princess read, it was as if she could see time and space changing. The fisherman's boat, and the setting sun. She felt as if something was stuck in her throat, as she frowned. She was caught up in a certain situation. It seemed to make sense, but it didn't make sense.
Looking at the Canton Princess, the Grand Princess was very familiar with her daughter. She knew that this daughter of hers had gone crazy. Her daughter was tone-deaf and love-struck.
After some time, the Canton Princess regained her senses and looked at the Grand Princess, "Mother, I did write a melody, but I'm not sure if it makes sense or not."
The Grand Princess waved her hands, "Play the melody yourself. I won't rush you. When you're done, I'll come and collect it myself."
"Hee hee, mother, I knew you're the best." The Canton Princess spoke coquettishly as she sent the Grand Princess off. She then returned to her seat and mumbled softly, "Brother Pei's poems always move me, but there's still something I don't understand."
Naturally, she didn't know that this poem was written by Yang Shen. He was the son of the Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, Yang Ting He. In the sixth year of the Zhengde Era, he was the top scholar.
In the third year of the Jiajing Era, he was punished by the Imperial Court and was banished to Yunnan's Yong Chang Guards. He was pardoned six times but was never allowed to return home. In the thirty-eighth year of the Jiajing Era, he died at the age of seventy-two.
This poem was written when he was being demoted.
The Canton Princess couldn't understand this poem, but that didn't stop her from comprehending it. She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair as she concentrated on her thoughts.
After some time, she picked up the script. It was written by Pei Zi Yun, but the Canton Princess didn't know about it. As she looked at the script, she felt something in her heart, "The wine is not empty, this phrase resonates with me even more!"
"I ask the world, what is love? Straight to life and death. "
She mumbled softly, and then understood, "The world is long, if I don't have brother Pei to accompany me, the flow of time and the changes of people's hearts would be meaningless to me."
As she thought about this, something seemed to penetrate her heart. The Canton Princess took out her zither and played it a few times.
"I ask the world, what is love?"
Ask the world, what is love? "I ask the world, what is love?
Straight to life and death. "These were two different emotions. It could be said that" The Yangtze River flows east "implied the same meaning as" The passing of time is like a man, unwilling to part with day and night ". It implied that life was like water, flowing unceasingly, causing people to feel melancholy, emptiness and even despair. But" I ask the world, what is love? Straight to life and death. "To the Canton Princess, this was a deep emotion. Although life was like a dream, the separation was not an illusion.
Laughter, crying, sorrow, pain, bitterness, love, hate, all of these were not just a dream, but the meaning of life.
This was not to numb herself, but the reality of the dream. Or perhaps, because the human body was like a dream, the true feelings were especially real.
The Canton Princess came back to her senses when she heard the sound of the flute. She did not know how long she had been playing for, nor did she know if the flute really existed.
She could only remember that the flute and her zither complemented each other perfectly. What was even more rare was that the emotions and feelings conveyed were not wrong. It was not just a dream, nor was it just a simple feeling of happiness, anger, sorrow and joy.
The Canton Princess looked towards the direction of the flute, thinking that she should see someone standing by the window. But when she looked up, there was only a patch of peach blossoms, and no one was there. There was only a bird perched on a branch, chirping without any worries. The Canton Princess could not hold it in any longer, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
The rain continued to fall. Pei Zi Yun was leading the eight hundred cavalrymen, all dressed in straw raincoats, as they galloped along the main road. The rain continued to fall, and gradually seeped into their clothes.
Their entire bodies were wet and sticky, and they felt cold all over.
"Boom!"
The sound of spring thunder could be heard, as the sky gradually darkened. He led the cavalry forward, and when he reached Pei Zi Yun, he shouted, "Dao Master, it's getting late, and the roads are slippery. It's a taboo to gallop at night. We need to find a place to rest."
The rain continued to pour, and words could not be heard clearly. They had to shout. Pei Zi Yun thought for a moment and understood. He then relayed the order, and saw the officer beside him giving out orders. Before long, hundreds of cavalrymen pulled on the reins of their horses and stopped.
Pei Zi Yun wore his bamboo hat and looked around, and saw a small town not too far away.
There was a temple at the side of the town. Pei Zi Yun frowned, "How many miles are we from Bao Yang County? Where are we now? "
"Dao Master, we're about eighty miles away from Bao Yang County. We're now at Qing Ping Town." The officer replied loudly.
Pei Zi Yun thought for a moment, "Repair the town, and set up camp."
The order was passed down. Although it was raining, the cavalrymen set up camp on high ground. They took out their tents, spread out the camp area, and dug canals. Since the founding of the dynasty, the army was very strict. Very soon, a camp appeared in front of them.
Smoke rose up from the chimneys, as stoves were set up. Pei Zi Yun looked around, and saw that everyone was carrying water, cooking food, and feeding the horses were all done in an orderly manner.
Pei Zi Yun then led his personal guards into the temple. The main hall had two rows of rooms, and the windows were undamaged. A deity was worshiped in the main hall, but it was hard to tell what kind of deity it was.
At this point, the personal guard entered and carried a few wild chickens. He then said, "There's something like this nearby. I've shot a few of them to add to the Dao Master's meal."
"Mm." Pei Zi Yun smiled and instructed, "Clean up the room. I saw some firewood in the room. Bring it over to dry your clothes. Also, use whatever you need. Just give me some money before I leave."
As he spoke, he walked into the main hall and looked at the statue on the altar. He then bowed slightly and said, "This isn't a ruined temple. The statue still shines with spiritual light. I think it's just that there aren't any dedicated devotees in the temple. Since we've entered someone else's temple, no matter how big or small the deity is, we have to be courteous."
"Help me light some incense." Since their statuses were different, they couldn't light any incense as they pleased.
"Yes!" Someone replied as they lit the incense and bowed to the deity. Someone started a fire in the middle of the hall, and the sound of the fire crackling could be heard. He then filled a pot with water and boiled the chicken. He then plucked the feathers and washed the chicken clean. As for the innards, they were all thrown out.
Nobody bothered to take care of them. Salt and wine were poured into the pot, and the chicken began to emit a fragrant aroma.
Pei Zi Yun started a fire and used a wooden stick to poke at it. All of a sudden, his body trembled and he asked, "Why is there music coming from a nearby?"
"Dao Master, I didn't hear it?" Everyone looked at each other. One of them scooped up some chicken soup and offered it to Pei Zi Yun. He then smiled, "Or did I hear wrongly?"
Pei Zi Yun listened carefully, but he couldn't hear the sound of the zither. All he could hear was the sound of the camp. He couldn't help but wonder if he had heard wrongly.
At this point, the Plum Blossom in front of him lit up. Pei Zi Yun was startled and said, "This is too hot. I'll use it later."
As he spoke, he stood up and walked along the corridor. He then called out softly, "System!"
A Plum Blossom appeared in front of him as it grew bigger and became a translucent information interface. It floated in front of him, carrying with it a faint sense of light.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
