008—Wang Jinglue (2)

Wang Meng erupted into laughter. “Yangping Duke, when you talk like this it really is like a child throwing a tantrum.”

Xuan Cheng glared at him.

Fu Jian also said, “Don’t become angry. What kind of grudge do you hold that even your own mother has become your enemy? Why don’t you return with me. These years, the Empress Dowager’s life has not been easy.”

Xuan Cheng did not dare to respond. He feared the people here, who acted so kind and gentle, and whose words were soft and mild. He feared that in time his own firm and resolute heart would soften, and then like that he would meet the vicious and merciless Empress Dowager Gou, who had forced her own son to suicide.

But what he could he do other than face her? At the very least, those turbulent memories that this body held had already vanished into smoke. He should have rejoiced, instead, that he hadn’t transmigrated any earlier.

Seeing Fu Jian’s sincere and fervent gaze, as well as Wang Meng’s wise and deep eyes, he suddenly felt a sense of hollowness. If he really were to return to his own time period after this, what would happen to them?

Therefore, he kneaded his rapidly beating heart, asking in a low voice: “Then what if I told you I wasn’t the Yangping Duke?”

Fu Jian smiled, startled, then burst into uproarious laughter. “Younger brother, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?”

“It looks like the Yangping Duke is too exhausted,” Wang Meng quipped.

“I’m telling the truth,” Xuan Cheng pressed urgently, standing up. His tall figure towered over the other two men sitting in the room.

At this time, a ray of sun escaped into the room. Narrowing his eyes, Fu Jian looked at him strangely. “Younger brother, you…”

“I’m not your younger brother. You have to believe me, I’m really not Fu Rong!”

There was a sudden silence that settled in the room. No one wanted to disturb the strange mood that now hung over the air, until the only sounds were of their quiet breaths.

Finally, a court eunuch entered the room, whispering something into Fu Jian’s ear. At once, Fu Jian stood. “Jinglue, the Yan Kingdom’s envoy has arrived. Let’s go.”

“Fu Jian,” Xuan Cheng said, seeing that he was about to leave. To Fu Jian’s retreating back, he called out, “Believe me!”

Fu Jian did not say anything. He only turned around, giving him a profound look. Wang Meng followed behind him, the two of them hurriedly rushing out.

Xuan Cheng stared at the still-steaming tea cups. At once, his head began to ache again.

The company had gone, but the tea was not cold yet. This world was too tender, and this place was too warm. Xuan Cheng really feared that he would become soft here.

“Professor Liang, I shouldn’t have made that bet with you. Wasn’t it just a topic? Even if I lost the bet, it didn’t matter anyways. All I wanted to prove was that people determined their own fate.”

This was Fu Jian’s first campaign against the Yan Kingdom. Wang Meng had advised to start off with an attack at the weakest point of their defence, in Luoyang. At first, there was no point to Fu Jian’s presence, something that Wang Meng himself had restated. But Fu Jian had still arrived, regardless. He said that his citizens were people of flesh and blood. On the battlefield, the swords and daggers had no eyes, and inflicted injuries on everyone. He couldn’t bear to see his people suffer, and had come to boost morale. The morning after they had successfully conquered the Yan Kingdom would be the dawn to a new and flourishing age.

Fu Jian, I am not your younger brother.

But I am your ally.

I am willing to help you, for the sake of your people, to create the dawn of an era of the Great Qin. We will bring together the nomadic people with the farmers to create one great kingdom.

Xuan Cheng gradually became familiar with the people and animals here. He was now in Luoyang, which had been the capital of the tenth dynasty in history. He had come here to help with the troops in attacking the Yan Kingdom. This campaign against the Yan Kingdom, the dashing commander-in-chief Wang Meng, Fu Jian and Fu Rong had all accompanied the troops.

By Fu Jian’s side was a court eunuch by the name of Nan’an. He was the court eunuch Xuan Cheng had encountered when he first woke up in the tent. The man himself was wise and kind, and served Fu Jian with devout loyalty.