"Cough, cough, cough … Wenbin …"
"Did we win? Or did we lose? "
Xu Bei's complexion was haggard and yellowish. His eyes were dark and bloodshot, and his forehead was tied with a grey headband. Yang Si had infuriated him, and Xu Bei was a sensitive and thoughtful person. Not only did he not get better after being bedridden, his condition worsened rapidly.
It was as if his entire being had been hollowed out. It was difficult for him to even turn over and sit up.
He held onto Han Yu's hand tightly with his skinny hand and turned his body sideways to face Han Yu. His widened eyes flashed with desire and urgency.
Xu Bei licked his dry and cracked lips and said in a hoarse voice, "Wenbin, tell me!"
Han Yu was dressed in a dark green Confucian robe. He knelt beside Xu Bei's bed in an upright posture. His calm eyes carried a chilling heaviness.
Xu Bei didn't know if it was the lighting in the room or if it was an illusion, but he noticed that Han Yu's long hair wasn't as black and silky as it used to be. Xu Bei couldn't help but hold onto Han Yu's right hand tightly. He stared at Han Yu's lips without blinking, hoping that Han Yu's mouth would reveal some good news.
Han Yu didn't speak for a long time. The two of them were in a stalemate in silence for a long time.
Silence was better than words.
Although Han Yu didn't say the answer, Xu Bei already understood.
"Did we lose? So that's how it is …"
Xu Bei let go of Han Yu's hand. His body that was lying on his side lost its support and he fell back onto the bed weakly.
He stared at the ceiling of the sleeping quarters with lifeless eyes. His already heavy and powerless body became even more tired, as if someone was dragging him down.
"I knew this day would come. I didn't expect it to come so soon. In the end, I underestimated Lanting …" Xu Bei's tightly knitted eyebrows relaxed. His expression was strangely calm, and there was no trace of the hysteria he had shown a few days ago. He asked, "Are they going to attack?"
Han Yu then said, "The enemy has already started to attack the city. The city is empty of soldiers and supplies. I'm afraid we won't be able to defend until sunset."
Xu Bei tilted his head to look at Han Yu. Even such a simple action seemed to require a lot of effort.
"Wen Bin, you and I are Lord and Minister. There is one thing that I, Pei Hou Yan, would like to plead with you. I hope that Wen Bin will consider it carefully …" Xu Bei panted and said in a weak voice, "Zhe County has already fallen into the hands of Lanting, but the whereabouts of the people in the residence are still unknown. Pei is worried … If Wen Bin has the strength to spare, please take care of them in the future and protect their lives. This way, Pei will be able to smile even in the underworld. "
Han Yu gazed deeply at Xu Bei. "My lord …"
"You don't have to persuade me. I know what to do. If I admit defeat to Lanting, according to her temperament, she will probably lock me up and treat me like an idler. As long as I know my place and don't cause trouble, I won't have to worry about my life for the rest of my life. However, this isn't what I'm seeking … "Xu Bei coughed a few more times. His calm eyes flickered with a scarlet color, as if a terrifying beast was lurking within. His gaze was firm and decisive." Furthermore … hehe, even Xu Lingwen has the courage to fight to the death. Why would I be afraid of death? If I drag out an ignoble existence now, I'm afraid that he will laugh at me to death! "
Han Yu pursed his lips tightly. His complexion became paler and paler, as if a thick layer of white ash had been applied to his face.
"Yes!"
Upon hearing Han Yu's promise, a faint blush appeared on Xu Bei's yellowish cheeks, as if he had been injected with a new lease of life.
He made a move to stand up, but Han Yu raised his hand to help him up.
"Wenbin, help me prepare a brush and ink. When the time comes, I'll have to trouble you to deliver my family letter …"
Han Yu helped him get the brush and ink. Xu Bei's fingers trembled as he lifted the brush. Before the tip of the brush could land, it fell onto the table with a clang. The ink splashed onto the table, forming several round black stains. He gritted his teeth and picked up the brush again. Although it didn't fall this time, the words he wrote were weak and feeble.
Rather than calling it a family letter, it would be more accurate to call it a suicide note left behind by Xu Bei for his family.
There was nothing special in the contents of the letter. He urged his son to study hard and become a talented person who would benefit the people of the world and the country when he grew up. He also urged his daughter to not forget the teachings of her parents and to be filial to her in-laws and to respect her legal mother after she reached marriageable age. He also urged his wife to take care of the family business. If she met a suitable man in the future, she could take half of the family's wealth and remarry.
When Xu Bei finished the last stroke, he had used up almost all of his strength.
Han Yu silently dried the letter for him, added wax, and loaded it into the letter.
"It's been hard on you all these years."
Xu Bei seemed to have lost all of his strength. He hunched his back and sat in front of the table, watching as Han Yu put the letter into his pocket.
Han Yu replied, "It's not hard."
For Han Yu, his past experiences were all attempts. Regardless of whether he won or lost, they were all invaluable experiences.
The only way he could avoid the same pitfalls in the future was to learn his lesson and avoid the same pitfalls in the future.
Xu Bei's lips opened and closed. His dry eyes seemed to be brimming with tears. He didn't say a single word for a long time.
The sun in the sky had already begun to incline to the west. Xu Bei said quietly, "Wenbin, you can leave. I want to be alone for a while."
Han Yu silently stood up and walked to the door before stopping.
"Xin Zhao, do you still remember that year when we first met in the waterside pavilion? When you and I talked about the situation of the world and expressed our thoughts, what did you promise me?"
Xu Bei was startled. His slow brain didn't react immediately.
He spent a lot of effort to search for that memory and said with uncertainty, "To look at the beautiful mountains and rivers together?"
Han Yu replied without turning his head, "Xin Zhao, do you still remember it? Are you going to break your promise now?"
"I'll have to trouble Wenbin to look at it for me." Xu Bei smiled bitterly. "If Lanting ascends to the throne, remember to come to my grave and inform me."
If he lost to such a person, he wouldn't have died in vain.
Although Xu Bei was born into an aristocratic family, he also wanted the world to be at peace. He was afraid that he wouldn't be able to see it now.
Han Yu's eyes dimmed a little.
"Alright."
Not long after Han Yu left, he bumped into Cheng Xun, whose clothes were stained with blood.
"Where's the lord?"
Han Yu replied, "In the house."
Cheng Xun looked at Han Yu from head to toe and suddenly understood everything.
"Why didn't you persuade the lord to break out of the encirclement?" Cheng Xun gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Han Wenbin, I originally respected you, but now I see that I was blind. As a subject, you don't do your best for the Lord. Instead, you want to let go at a time of crisis. What are you doing to the Lord? "
Han Yu said, "I tried my best."
He had used his final trump card, but he still couldn't kill Liu Xi. His defeat was inevitable.
Cheng Xun's anger didn't abate. Looking at Han Yu's indifferent reaction, he became angrier. He scolded, "If the master is humiliated, the subject must die. If the master dies, the subject must die too. Are you afraid of death? The enemy hasn't even entered the city, but you've already thought of all the escape routes. Are you trying to use us to curry favor with Thief Liu? "
Han Yu looked at Cheng Xun coldly.
"Fame is a worldly possession. I don't need to care about what others say. If you think I'm afraid of death, I have nothing to say. "
Cheng Xun was so angry that his fingers were trembling.
"You have betrayed the lord's trust!"
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