Chuanzhou.
Although it was a frontier city far from the capital, the local people had lived and worked in peace and contentment for nearly a hundred years.
Outside the city stretched the continuous Hengshan Mountains. The mountains were thickly forested, and there were long - unmelted snow caps on the peaks. The harsh and perilous environment had blocked the invading steps of the Xiliang cavalry.
However, no one had expected that just over a month ago, the soldiers stationed at the foot of the mountains began to disappear one after another.
People thought they had had accidents in the mountains.
It was not until the Xiliang cavalry arrived outside the city that the flames of war began to burn.
The once - peaceful border city instantly turned into a living hell.
There were wails everywhere, and the people were in great suffering.
The city lord of Chuanzhou originally wanted to live and die with the city. Unfortunately, his trusted subordinate betrayed him. The city gates were opened, and the city lord and his wife were both killed by the Xiliang people's swords.
The once - red - tiled and high - walled city lord's mansion was burned black. The plaque of the city lord's mansion was wantonly trampled under the feet of the blood - thirsty Xiliang people.
From then on, the city fell.
Chuanzhou was lost.
The people were displaced.
By this time, the city lord's mansion had been occupied by the Xiliang people for some time.
Inside the mansion, the lights were bright, and people were feasting and carousing.
Outside the mansion, however, there were broken walls and ruins everywhere.
Hu Yan Longhao and Hu Yan Longchang were sitting in the main hall of the city lord's mansion, each occupying a side. They toasted each other from afar.
"Your Majesty is truly the bravest eagle on our Xiliang plateau," Hu Yan Longhao said with a smile.
Hu Yan Longchang seemed to enjoy the compliment very much. After laughing heartily, he also said, "Thanks to you, my brother and sister, for diverting the attention of those cunning Yan people. Only then was I able to lead our Xiliang troops to cross the perilous Hengshan Mountains."
Hearing this, Hu Yan Zhuoyi giggled and interrupted, "Both of you brothers are so talented and resourceful. There's no need to be modest and praise each other! The people of the Great Yan underestimated us arrogantly, but we took one of their cities by surprise."
The other two both laughed proudly. As they clinked glasses, they were gradually getting drunk.
Xu Xin, who was pouring wine on the side, hid her shock and for the first time remained silent obediently to lower her presence.
She was not shocked because the Xiliang people had captured Chuanzhou. The lives and deaths of ordinary people meant nothing to her.
What shocked her was that she now truly felt the cruelty and recklessness of the Xiliang people.
Previously in Xiliang, Hu Yan Longhao and Hu Yan Zhuoyi had insisted on making a marriage alliance with the Prince of Ning. She had really believed that Hu Yan Zhuoyi had fallen in love with the Prince of Ning.
But now she understood that Xiliang was not coveting the position of the Princess of Ning at all. Instead, they were eyeing the entire Great Yan Kingdom!!!
When she couldn't help but curiously ask Hu Yan Longhao what they would do if the Prince of Ning really agreed to the marriage alliance.
Hu Yan Zhuoyi replied with a strange smile that, of course, she would marry.
The creepy smile was still deeply engraved in Xu Xin's mind and would not fade for a long time.
Xu Xin thought she was already ruthless enough.
She never expected that the people of the Xiliang royal family would even put their own lives on the line.
Xu Xin could completely imagine that Hu Yan Zhuoyi definitely didn't care whether she would become a puppet. She would just stab Wei Ying without hesitation when he used her as an excuse.
Thinking of this, Xu Xin couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.
The Hu Yan family members were all crazy people, and they were as venomous as snakes and scorpions.
Just as Xu Xin was still in fear and serving dishes for Hu Yan Longchang, she suddenly felt a sharp pinch on the soft flesh of her buttocks.
Xu Xin let out a scream and turned around.
Then she saw Hu Yan Longchang looking at her with a lecherous smile.
"Brother, was she once the woman of that Prince of Ning?" Hu Yan Longhao unscrupulously sized up Xu Xin from head to toe.
Xu Xin lowered her head timidly and dared not say a word.
This reaction further stimulated Hu Yan Longchang's animal desires. He grabbed Xu Xin and pulled her into his arms.
Xu Xin originally wanted to struggle, but then she thought better of it and stopped.
At this moment, Xu Xin looked shy.
This pleased Hu Yan Longchang even more. He began to touch Xu Xin's body wantonly with his hands and murmured, "So, can I sleep with the Prince of Ning's woman? But..."
Hu Yan Longhao smiled and said, "Don't worry, brother. I've never touched this woman since I picked her up on the way. I've been waiting to offer her to you."
Hearing Hu Yan Longhao's words, Xu Xin couldn't help sneering in her heart.
She thought the two brothers had a deep - seated brotherhood. In the end, they still had their own agendas!
However, before Xu Xin could finish her internal mockery, she felt a sudden chill on her chest. Hu Yan Longchang actually tore off her clothes in front of others!!!
Seeing this, Hu Yan Longhao smiled lecherously, then pulled Hu Yan Zhuoyi and left the hall.
Not long after, screams of a woman came from the hall.
As Hu Yan Longhao walked, he laughed arrogantly. If Xu Xin could withstand his brother's torture, then he might really consider... whether to lure that woman, Chu Qing, here to avenge her.
...
In the Prince of Ning's mansion, Chu Qing was practicing martial arts with Wei Zhi.
Wei Ying had been away for about a month. During this period, they had exchanged letters twice.
The last letter was received yesterday. He had already arrived in Qingzhou.
Because she had forced the "little meatball" to the corner, her body was now in excellent condition.
Her martial arts skills had also improved by leaps and bounds.
Now, Wei Zhi's long whip could no longer get close to her body, and her long sword had once knocked Wei Zhi's long whip aside.
"The Princess is really amazing. I'm sure when the master comes back, you might be able to withstand fifty moves from him," Wei Zhi always called her the Princess when referring to Wei Ying. When not referring to Wei Ying, he would call her the master.
Chu Qing was originally a bit uncomfortable with this, but later she gradually got used to it.
Wei Zhi's compliment was obviously very sincere, but Chu Qing still pouted and complained, "What? Can't I still fight on equal terms with him?"
Wei Zhi paused for a moment, then said word by word, "Princess, I can only withstand about forty moves from the master. If the master shows mercy to you, you might be able to fight on equal terms with him."
"..." Chu Qing was a bit annoyed but didn't bother to argue with Wei Zhi.
After all, except in martial arts, Wei Zhi was basically not as good as Lu Luo.
However, sometimes things are so strange. Just as she thought of Lu Luo, the little girl came trotting over.
"Master, there's another message from the palace asking you to enter the palace!"
"???"
In just over a month, she had entered the palace about a dozen times. Almost every other day, either the emperor or the queen would send a message asking her to go to the palace for a visit.
She had spent almost as much time in the palace as in her previous life!
Although she understood the good intentions of the emperor and the queen, she really wasn't bored!
She had survived for so many years in her previous life, but neither of them had ever visited her when she was old.
Instead, after her rebirth, when she had new fun, they were afraid that she would feel lonely.
This kind of companionship had crossed the boundary of life and death, but it was a bit late.
Although she had no opinion about the emperor, this always reminded her of her previous life, and she couldn't help feeling a bit aggrieved.
They were never around when she really needed them, but now they were being so attentive.
Especially since this little rascal didn't even know her real identity!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got!
"I'm not going!" Chu Qing replied angrily.
"Just say I'm sick and not feeling well. I won't go to the palace today for fear of infecting them," Chu Qing added hesitantly, perhaps feeling that her anger was a bit inexplicable.
"Master... but this time... it's the Empress Dowager who is summoning you to the palace."