diskusbooks #453 - Princess Tana's Wedding (2 in 1 order)
#453 - Princess Tana's Wedding (2 in 1 order)
At the same time, Jiekong also had compassion for the demon and deliberately left an opening, letting it escape.
Zhong Wuye watched all of this, her brow slightly furrowed.
Under the setting sun, the little boy's face was pale, the wounds on his body faintly visible in the dim light. He put his hands together and bowed deeply to Zhong Wuye and Jiekong, his voice trembling, "Thank you both, heroes, for saving me."
Zhong Wuye stepped forward, squatted down, patted his shoulder gently, and said with a smile, "It's nothing. Why would a child like you come to a place like this alone?"
The little boy's eyes reddened, and he lowered his head to hide his embarrassment. After a long while, he whispered, "I...I'm always bullied by the naughty children in the village. They are stronger than me, and I can't beat them. So I wanted to come here to find wild animals to build up my courage."
As he said this, his voice became even lower. Seeing this, Jiekong reached out to help him up, a faint smile on his lips. "You are very brave, child," he advised gently. "However, you are still too young and reckless, and almost lost your life. It's really too dangerous."
The little boy raised his head, his bright eyes sparkling with a different kind of brilliance. He stared intently at Jiekong and carefully opened his mouth, "That friend... Your martial arts are really too powerful. Even that terrifying monster was no match for you."
He changed the subject and suddenly said earnestly, "Can I ask you to take me as your disciple? I swear I will do my best, practice hard day and night, and one day I will be as brave and fearless as you!"
Jiekong heard this, shook his head slightly, and the smile on his lips grew stronger. "You are still young, and everyone looks like a hero to you, and I am no exception," he squatted down, patted the child's head, and said earnestly. "But you must know that the practice of martial arts cannot be achieved overnight. Moreover, if you regard me as an idol, you will only go astray in the future."
The little boy opened his eyes wide, looking at Jiekong with a puzzled expression. Seeing this, Jiekong continued gently, "When people are young, they are full of longing for external things and have great respect for idols. This is very natural. But as you grow older, you will find that everyone has flaws and shortcomings. Only by placing your faith in your own heart can you truly find your own path and gain extraordinary power."
He paused here, and after the child seemed to understand something, he continued, "So you don't have to be bound by me, and you don't have to blindly worship anyone. Only by transcending your dependence on others can you truly become strong and fearless."
The little boy lowered his head and pondered. After a long while, he raised his head and nodded to Jiekong, his eyes rekindled with fighting spirit. Zhong Wuye watched from the side, deeply moved by the conversation between the old and the young, and secretly sighed with emotion.
In just a few words, Jiekong eloquently explained the great truths of life, which was truly remarkable wisdom. The love that Jiekong inadvertently revealed also moved Zhong Wuye deeply. She silently prayed that one day, he would also find his own roots and belonging.
...
The afterglow of the setting sun enveloped a peaceful village, and in the hazy twilight, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys. Zhong Wuye and Jiekong walked side by side on the bluestone path, followed by the little boy who had just been rescued.
Jiekong's words just now stirred up waves in Zhong Wuye's heart. She occasionally glanced at Jiekong's profile, always feeling that this old acquaintance seemed to have a completely new demeanor today.
Yes, Jiekong grew up in a temple since he was a child, and he seemed to be pure-hearted and polite. But his eyes hid a tenacity that was no less than anyone else's, as well as an unyielding desire to pursue the truth. Zhong Wuye couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
Just then, the little boy turned his head and said to Zhong Wuye, "Big sister, are you also very envious of Jiekong's great martial arts? You must be very good senior brothers and sisters, right?"
Zhong Wuye shook her head with a smile, and was about to answer when she heard Jiekong say faintly in front of her, "Don't guess randomly. She and I just met by chance."
"Oh, then I was really rude," the little boy said with an embarrassed smile, and then lowered his head and quickly followed.
Before long, they arrived at a blue brick house, which was the little boy's home. As soon as they pushed the door open, a tall middle-aged man hurried out. Obviously, he was relieved to see that his son was safe and sound.
He reached out and hugged the little boy tightly in his arms, thanking Jiekong and Zhong Wuye repeatedly, "Thank you two seniors for traveling so far to rescue my confused son. How can I repay your life-saving grace?"
The little boy twisted and turned in his father's arms, explaining the cause and effect. The middle-aged man's expression froze, and he scolded, "You child, how can you be so reckless! Fortunately, these two seniors passed by, otherwise it would have been difficult to escape this disaster!"
Saying that, he hurriedly invited the two into the house to rest, and then arranged for his family to busy themselves, preparing game and wine. After a few rounds of wine, the middle-aged man said to Zhong Wuye, "It seems that the two of you are traveling from different places. I wonder what brings you here?"
Zhong Wuye was about to speak, but Jiekong had already spoken first, "I'm actually here to investigate an old matter." Saying that, he took out a gold token from his arms, with the character "Wu" engraved on it, exquisitely crafted, indicating the extraordinary status of the owner.
The middle-aged man's expression changed when he saw it, and he hurriedly took out a short gold necklace from his arms and handed it over.
"I used to work as a yamen servant in the Northern Zhou Imperial City. This token and necklace were the tokens bestowed by Consort Chen back then," he said with a sad expression, and then continued, "I heard that Consort Chen was framed that year and died in the palace. It was really a tragedy."
Zhong Wuye couldn't help but be shocked when she heard this, and looked at Jiekong in surprise. Jiekong's expression was calm, but there seemed to be a dark current surging in his eyes.
"It seems that this token is related to the old case back then," he said after a long while. "In that case, I expect that the informant who can solve the mystery of my life is in the Northern Zhou Imperial City."
The middle-aged man nodded and sighed, "Since that incident, many old things in the royal family have been deliberately buried, and it is really a dangerous thing to thoroughly investigate."
"But I am determined, even if I take such a risk, I must find out," Jiekong's eyes were firm, and he said goodbye to Zhong Wuye.
Before leaving, the little boy looked at Jiekong's figure, remained silent for a long time, and finally mustered up the courage to shout loudly:
"Brother Jiekong! I swear I will work hard to cultivate, and one day I will catch up with your footsteps and clear all obstacles on your way!"
Jiekong smiled slightly when he heard this, but did not look back, and only said lightly, "Take care of yourself." Before he finished speaking, his and Zhong Wuye's figures had disappeared into the night at the entrance of the village.
Jiekong learned from the little boy's father that the life token held by Jiekong was likely related to an old case that occurred in the Dayuan Imperial Palace, which involved the Empress Dowager, Consort Chen, and the late Emperor Jianyuan.
So Jiekong decided to go to the capital of Northern Zhou - Yuandu.
Zhong Wuye did not stop this decision.
...
The sun was scorching, and the air on the grassland was slightly rippling. Standing on the horizon was a majestic ancient city - Yuandu. The battlements towered into the clouds, and the arrow-straight city walls stretched for several miles, looking like a lurking dragon from afar.
Along the way, you can occasionally see yellow sand rolling, twisting out dreamlike scenes in the scorching heat. The leather felt tents of the Baihaba nomadic people fluttered in the wind, like standing sentinels. A group of people trudged through them with difficulty, and their robes were involuntarily soaked with sweat.
The city gate was vaguely visible, and a burst of chaotic noise came to meet them. When they got closer, they saw a very lively scene. Tens of thousands of camps were temporarily set up on the grassland, filled with merchants from all directions. Horse teams flocked in, bringing a strong animal smell and salty sweat. Mixed in with them were lamas twisting scriptures and chanting unclear religious mantras, which seemed a bit strange.
This is the "Crescent Moon" trading village, which gathers more than 20 foreign tribes such as the Arabs and the Beasts. It is said that they regularly move around this grassland emperor's capital. They live as they please and roam freely on this vast grassland. Shouts came one after another, making it very lively, making the distant city walls pale in comparison.
Just as Zhong Wuye and others were passing through this lively and prosperous "Crescent Moon", the Dragonborn remains in her arms suddenly emitted a strange blue cold light. The narrow beam of light shot towards the city, silently passing through the arrow stacks on the city wall, and finally fixed on the palace end.
"It seems that there are also Dragonborn remains hidden inside Yuandu," Qin Huan said in a low voice, his brow furrowed slightly. They were able to probe the movements of Dayuan from it, but these ancient remains were often used by foreign races as weapons of cruel slaughter. This power alone is enough to make people shudder.
Not far away, a team of armed men were carrying bright knives and guns, chattering about something. Zhong Wuye listened intently and heard a shocking news - Princess Tana of Tubo, who was captured by the Northern Zhou soldiers, was going to marry someone else!
"How is this possible?" Zhong Wuye exclaimed, and the gentle figure of Tana in the past could not help but appear in her mind. In her deep eyes, there was often a burning desire for freedom. How could that smart and straightforward Tana be willing to be manipulated by the Northern Zhou like this?
"It is said that it is for the marriage between Northern Zhou and Tubo to jointly resist the Nightmare Disaster in Dayuan," Jiekong said in a deep voice, his eyes dark and unclear. "However, the Northern Zhou side claims that Tana's groom is the young master of Tubo, but no one dares to be sure whether this is their lie."
Zhong Wuye remembered that Tana had lamented when she was chatting with her in the past that political marriage was unavoidable and was also the fate of a princess. At the same time, they learned that the Northern Zhou Emperor对外宣称, Tana's marriage partner this time was the young master of Tubo. If the two countries unite, they will form an encirclement against Dayuan to prevent the spread of the Nightmare Disaster in Dayuan.
"This is simply an exploitation and enslavement of Princess Tana!" Zhong Wuye's eyes widened in anger, and the scene of Tana's yearning for the future when she talked with her back then appeared in her mind, and she was suddenly overwhelmed with anger. "We must go and stop all of this!"
Jiekong heard this, suddenly raised his head and looked directly into Zhong Wuye's eyes, pondered for a long time, and then nodded slowly.
"Okay, but we must act cautiously," he stared at the top of the distant city tower with eyes like electricity, and said slowly,
"We are short-handed now, and we are weak. It is impossible to break into that strong city. We have to find a way to sneak in and then find an opportunity to rescue Tana."
...
The midday sun hung high, and the heat wave swirled in Yuandu's sky. Today is the auspicious day appointed by the Northern Zhou Emperor. Princess Tana of Tubo will marry an unknown Tubo nobleman, and the two countries will form an alliance to jointly fight against the Nightmare Disaster that is raging in Dayuan.
Inside the Yuandu Palace, there was a lively scene. On the shiny iron anvil, groups of blacksmiths waved their iron hammers, creating costumes for various distinguished guests. Silk ribbons flew together, and the embroidery workshops were filled with ink and brushes. Countless eunuchs and guards shuttled through the palace, busily preparing for this grand wedding.
The main hall of the palace has been renovated, majestic and magnificent. Embroidered ball lanterns hang above the eaves, and the whole body is golden and brilliant. Six-colored silk surrounds a stove, and lion iron statues stand on both sides. A wide corridor has been opened at the entrance, with dragon carvings winding up. Both sides are precious peony brocade cushions, bright red and eye-catching, even in the scorching sun.
On this day, distinguished guests came one after another on both sides of the corridor, surrounded by a group of guests in gorgeous clothes. There were dozens of foreign kings who submitted to the Northern Zhou, each with ulterior motives and fierce faces. They either wore silk robes, with colorful tassels swaying wildly from their waists; or wore sheep wool felt hats exclusively for nomadic warriors; or wore veils, only revealing a pair of narrow and sharp eyes.
"Look, isn't that the war god Zhuomang, who is famous on the grassland? He is holding a wolf tooth club and wearing a wild bear leather armor, which shows how fierce he is!" a guest said in a low voice, with a look of awe.
"Hmph, you say that chieftain wearing a floral embroidered robe and a blue silk tassel hat. He looks like a gentle wife," another guest looked at the short and fat chieftain with a pale red face and said with a smile.
At this moment, the door of the main hall was slowly opened, and a burst of palace music sounded loudly, warming up for the upcoming newcomers. The guests immediately fell silent one after another, and the venue was silent. Only a few eunuchs were holding incense candles, walking at the front, full of ambition.
Immediately afterwards, a team of red-robed women slowly walked out of the door, bowed their hands and saluted, gracefully and dignifiedly. They pursed their lips and applied light makeup, which made their eyebrows and eyes more affectionate and charming. These were Princess Tana's maids, wearing traditional Tubo palace costumes, which were very different from the luxurious style of Northern Zhou.
And at the end of the maids, a beautiful figure slowly walked out - that was Princess Tana herself. She was wearing a luxurious silk and feather dress, as white as jade, and auspicious Tibetan patterns were drawn on the cuffs, slits, and collar. She wore a gold silk soft pendant around her waist, and with her steps, it made a pleasant golden bell sound.
A head of bright black hair was combed smoothly and shiny, wrapped around her back, which made her porcelain white delicate face more prominent. Her eyes were as bright as a mirror, and a pair of almond-shaped eyes occasionally flashed with worry. Her dark eyelashes trembled lightly, setting off the faint rouge on her cheeks, which was even more evocative. Her cherry red lips were slightly pouted, what a stunning beauty with a full of style.
Several chieftains had not been able to stare away from her peerless beauty for a long time, and were a little obsessed. Some attendants couldn't help but secretly make a gluttonous swallowing sound, lingering in her swaying figure.
And Zhong Wuye was also stunned...
"Get ready to move!"