twin moon

Chapter 72, Scene [-], The First Battle [-]

In the tenth year of Yuansui, on July [-], there were only two days left before the departure of the army.It was already late at night, and the palace of King Ye was completely silent, only the brightly lit candles in the Shoucheng Palace of the lord Qi Heyin.

A group of Mo Lingwei surrounded one person and walked quickly from outside the palace, and after talking with the servant on duty at the door, the pair turned around and entered the inner bedroom carved with dragons and painted phoenixes.

The flickering candlelight reflected the servant's shadow on the paper, bowing and standing in front of the king's bed, singing.But before he opened his mouth to say a few words, he heard Qi Heyin's slightly hoarse growl:

"If he doesn't return to Xiyin, what is he still doing in the city? Let him go, I don't want to see him!"

The silhouette of the servant immediately knelt down in fright, and hurriedly exited the door after a few knocks, forcing an awkward smile on his face:

"This—Your Majesty, you have heard it too. The King is still seriously ill and is in a bad mood. Please go back."

"How about—you guys go back first. I will accompany Father Wang outside this door, and it's the same."

Now Qi Zixiu has grown a mustache on his lips, showing a bit of maturity.He turned his head away and waved his hand to signal Mo Lingwei to disperse, but his face was full of sadness, everyone seemed to be a loyal, filial and righteous prince.

Seeing this, the servant immediately stepped forward to persuade him: "My lord, although you are filial, it is not a problem to wait here like this. The autumn night is cold, and if you catch the wind and cold, this old slave can't afford it." what!"

However, Qi Zixiu just arched his hands, bent his knees and knelt directly on the stone steps outside the door.Seeing this, the waiter also knew that the other party had made up his mind, and it was not easy to drive him away directly, so he could only sigh and stand back in front of the door again, without further words.

At this time, the young prince was only wearing a thin brocade robe.The dew was heavy at night, and after kneeling for less than half an hour, a layer of white moisture condensed on his hair, and his whole body shivered uncontrollably.

"Why are you bothering, my son. Forget it, this old slave will go and plead with the lord for you. Even if he doesn't see you, let you go inside and wait."

The servant knew that although the prince in front of him was not as attractive as the plain-clothed kid in Guihongyuan, he was the heir apparent according to the rules of his ancestors.In recent days, the old king's health has not improved, but worsened. If there is no accident, the person kneeling in front of him will most likely be the future new king of Ye Kingdom.

So he graciously fetched a fox fur for the other party and draped it over his shoulders, then pushed the door open again and entered the inner bedroom.The relationship in the palace is complicated, and the servants are all exquisite people.I don't know what exactly he said to the lord, but when he came out again, he was already smiling:
"My lord, the lord finally allows you to go in."

"Then I would like to thank my father-in-law!"

Qi Zixiu also seemed to be relieved, stood up with the support of the other party, rubbed his numb legs, adjusted the purple gold crown on his head, and then walked carefully into the door.

"Ahem...Xiu'er... Listening to Eunuch Ma, you are planning to kneel outside the door tonight because you are worried about...cough cough...the widow's body?"

Only a few days later, Qi Heyin on the bed had sunken eyes, dark and purple lips, and one foot seemed to have stepped into the gate of hell.However, when he spoke, he was still full of aura, his eyes just glanced at Qi Zixiu's face, and the young prince immediately bowed down:
"Father is old, but my son can't always serve you. Now that you are suffering from a serious illness, your son can't sleep at night, so I want to pray for my father and talk about my filial piety."

"Among the widow's many heirs, besides Yin'er, you are the only one who has this kind of heart. The two of you brothers have had the best relationship since childhood. I hope that you can work together in the future. Don't waste your efforts as a father. Hope."

Hearing what the eldest son said, Qi Heyin finally showed a little relief on his face, but he still didn't forget to give him a whip.

"It's all Qi's blood, as it should be. My father's words, I will keep them in my heart!"

"That's...very good. But Xiu'er, tell me, did you do the right thing or wrong in ordering the dispatch of troops to crusade against the Peng Kingdom this time? Why did you always feel a little muddled in your heart after the court ended that day? But I don't even remember what Baili Aiqing said..."

"There is no mistake in what my father did in this matter. As the so-called raising soldiers for a thousand days is used in one dynasty, if my Ye country allows others to bully and swallow it, it will make other countries look down upon it. Once it loses its prestige, the suffering will be returned." Aren't they ordinary people?"

"You are out of the same nostrils as my brother Wang. But since you want to share the worries of the widow, the widow did think of one thing that you need to do, and it should be the last experience for you before taking the throne."

"Father and king have orders, sons and ministers should go all out!"

Hearing what Qi Heyin said, Qi Zixiu immediately knelt down in front of the couch, and made a solemn salute.

"For this long-distance attack on the Peng Kingdom, the widow handed over the full authority of the Lu division to the commander of Baili Aiqing. But as a result, there was a lack of a general in the boat division. Although Xie Xun recommended by Brother Wang was still usable, the widow But I always feel that this person's behavior is a bit too gentle, and he may be indecisive when defending against the enemy, delaying the opportunity of the battle..."

"So the father wants to order his son to be Xie Xun's lieutenant general, and to perform the responsibility of supervision and restraint as the son?"

Qi Zixiu was not stupid, he had already guessed before Qi and Yin finished speaking.

"That's right. Although King Jinghai is in charge of the commander-in-chief of the boat master, he is good at literature but not martial arts. The task of commander-in-chief is very heavy, and I am not very relieved to hand it over to Xie Xun. However, it is impossible to withdraw the commander in the middle of the battle. You, who practice martial arts and are familiar with the art of war, are the best choice for this commander."

As Duke Ye said, he propped himself up from the bed with his elbows, and looked at the eldest son earnestly with his eyes.However, Qi Zixiu didn't answer the words, he just raised his hands in front of his body and didn't dare to raise his head, looking very embarrassed.

This situation once again provoked Qi Heyin's anger to surge in his chest, and he couldn't help but grab the hand stove used to warm the quilt on the couch and threw it at the eldest son:

"Bastard! Didn't you just keep saying that you want to share the worries of the widow? Did you come here tonight to see if the widow took his last breath?!"

Seeing his father yelling, Qi Zixiu was even more afraid to speak, but dodged to avoid the hand stove, letting it clang and roll down at his feet.The charcoal fire in the hand stove immediately spilled all over the floor, which also attracted the servants outside the door to rush in in a panic, kneel down on the ground with a plop, and hurriedly put out the sparks that had already ignited on the bed curtain and carpet:
"The lord calm down, the lord calms down. Although the old slave doesn't know what the son said wrong, it must not be his intention. The old slave deserves to die, he shouldn't be brought in to disturb the lord's rest tonight, and he is willing to accept the crime and be punished!"

"Hmph, even you think that the widow's life is not long, so you started to speak up for the new master?! Although the widow is sick on the bed now, he is not confused! My ancestors of the Ye Kingdom have been heroes for generations, wise and brave. Mr. Shi, if you are timid and shrink back before the battle, then what kind of son? What kind of prince!"

As Qi Heyin spoke, he wanted to grab the long pillow embroidered with gold borders on the couch.However, the scolding just now exhausted the little strength in his body, and he fell down suddenly, but he couldn't get up again, only his chest was still heaving violently.

"The lord calm down, the lord calms down, the son already knows his mistake!"

The servant faintly heard that Lord Ye had the intention to abolish Li in his anger, and immediately rushed up and stroked the other's chest with his hands to comfort him, and secretly winked at the prince behind him, telling him to go quickly, lest Incur punishment.

Qi Zixiu also understood that he should not stay any longer, so he staggered and immediately turned around and ran out the door.His face was full of resentment and anger, and he didn't notice that at the same time as he was leaving, he walked gently into the long corridor in front of Shoucheng Palace in white clothes under the moonlight.

"Why did the young master come in without making a sound? Hurry up and get out, so you don't have to disturb the king's rest!"

The servant who had just waited for Qi Heyin to sleep saw the young man in white appearing in front of him in a daze. He didn't know how long the other party had been guarding the door, and immediately suppressed his voice and wanted to drive him away, his tone full of disgust.

Qi Ziyin never dared to raise his head.Even after receiving such a blank stare from the other party, there was no rebuttal.He knew that he, a concubine, was not welcome in the palace, but he stood there without moving:
"Eunuch Ma, how is your father's health?"

"Oh, the Lord just fell asleep. If there is something to talk about tomorrow, it's not too late to talk about it tomorrow. Can the young master stop causing trouble for the old slave?"

As the servant spoke, he reached out to push Qi Ziyin's shoulder.The boy hesitated for a moment, and only then nodded when he heard his father breathing heavily and evenly on the bed, then turned and walked out the door.

Unexpectedly, the king on the couch was not asleep.Hearing the voice of speaking, he knew that it was his youngest son who was coming, and immediately stopped and said, "Mr. Ma...is that your attitude when talking to the young master!"

Although his breath was weak, his half-opened eyes still shone brightly, and the servant was so frightened that he knelt down again with a plop:
"I don't dare, I don't dare. The lord needs to rest now, and this old slave is worried about your health—"

"Fart! You were very considerate when Xiu'er came here before. Leave me alone, you have nothing to do here!"

Amid Qi Heyin's scolding, the servant backed out resentfully, but did not go far, but leaned his ear on the door and listened to the movement inside.The white-clothed boy inside the door didn't know that the wall has ears, so he couldn't wait to ask:
"Brother Zixiu has also come?"

"The widow was almost pissed to death by that rebellious son, it would be better not to come!"

Speaking of the eldest son, the king couldn't hold back the anger in his heart, cursed a few words, and then coughed violently.Qi Ziyin quickly patted his father's chest with his hand:

"Father, brother Zixiu is also filial. Your body is important, so don't be angry."

"How can a widow not be angry? The majestic prince of a country doesn't even have the courage to lead the army to go to war. Since the Great Ascension and the establishment of the dynasty, all the princes of Ye Kingdom have to go out with the boat division before succeeding to the throne, and make some military exploits. Could this rule be broken in my hands in the end?"

"Father, do you want Brother Wang to go on an expedition with the ship and conquer the Peng Kingdom? Please forgive me for speaking bluntly, this is very inappropriate."

"Yin'er, how come you also help that rebellious son off?"

Qi Heyin couldn't help being surprised when he heard that the youngest son in front of him also opposed letting the eldest son lead the expedition.

Qi Ziyin continued:
"Brother Zixiu has been guarding Xiyin City for several years, and he has finally made some achievements. If he travels with the ship, the implementation of various government orders in the city will be harmful rather than beneficial. In addition, Chengguo and Weiliang have always coveted the wealth of our Wanzhou. In a fierce battle with the Peng Kingdom, these two countries may not take advantage of the situation. Xiyin is located in the upper reaches of the Yanjiang River, which is the main throat of Mulu City via the waterway. Take it easy."

Qi Heyin has always listened to the youngest son's advice the most, and seemed to be a little shaken for a while, and nodded slightly:
"Yin'er, what you said is reasonable, but Brother Jinghai doesn't know martial arts at all. Apart from Xiu'er, I really can't think of anyone else who can be worthy of this task. Besides, the expedition to the Peng Kingdom is of great importance. None of my descendants of the Qi family can take the lead, so how can we expect the soldiers to be heroic?"

"It's really inappropriate for Brother Zixiu to go to Mizhou this time. If the father and king really have no one to use, I will be willing to go!"

Hearing what the lord said, Qi Ziyin suddenly volunteered.And he didn't do this to fight for success, but he just felt that he needed to do something for his father who was terminally ill but still worried about Sheji.

Qi Heyin looked at the young son with amber pupils in front of him in astonishment, and couldn't bear to agree to the other party's request: "You child, you have known since you were a child that you love your elder brother, and you still do it now, but——"

Qi Ziyin knelt on one knee in front of the couch, but pleaded more and more sincerely:
"Father, my son has followed General Baili to practice martial arts and art of war for more than three years, but it's a pity that he is idle in the palace all day long and cannot perform them. I can take this opportunity to go out and practice for a while, and I hope my father will succeed!"

Ye Guogong couldn't help showing a gratified smile on his face:

"Forget it. It's not impossible for you to go, but you must be accompanied by someone to protect you from the army. In addition to your personal bodyguard Wan Shi, the widow wants to send some other people, I don't know what you want how?"

"No, no, brother Shitou is too verbose. I won't be allowed to do anything then. What's the point of going out with the army." The boy in white hurriedly shook his head.

"But if you don't let Wan Shi go with you, how can I rest assured?"

"I was recommended by someone. He and my minister are both students of General Baili, and their martial arts are also very strong. Now they are on duty in the Moling Guard—"

Hearing this, the expression on the king's face became complicated, with seven points of surprise and three points of unhappiness:
"Could it be that black-eyed boy? This is a matter of life, Yin'er, you have to think carefully!"

"Well, my son has thought it through clearly. I also know that my father has some prejudices against Jiang Yan, but I believe him!" Qi Ziyin nodded solemnly.

Although the youngest son's suggestion sounds unreasonable, Qi Heyin knew in his heart that this was indeed a solution to the current problem.After pondering for a long time, he finally agreed, but in his heart he loved his youngest son even more.

With the help of the candlelight in the house, Qi Ziyin took a pen and paper on the spot, wrote down the imperial edict according to his father's dictation, and helped the other party stamp it with the imperial seal.But just when he was about to open the door and leave, the old slave who had been standing outside the door to eavesdrop was holding up the hem of his robe and rushing towards the East Palace where the prince was resting.

(End of this chapter)